Issue 2 2022-23

SACRIFICING SUCCESS

HELPING HANDS

The buzzer rings. The scores are announced. The crowd goes wild. The success of a performance by any Noblesville team, whether that’s on the course, on the field, or on the mat, is an event celebrated widely by the community. Student athletic champions are revered, praised, and uplifted by us, as we’re amazed by their ability and envious of their accomplishments. These impressive feats are no longer few and far between at Noblesville. In 2022 alone, our school has brought home state champion trophies in girls basketball, soccer, cross country, and junior varsity cheerleading, and the boys brought home the prize in soccer, too. NHS made history this year by being the very first high school in Indiana to win three state championships in one day. Noblesville isn’t typically a school esteemed for our athletic prowess; though we’ve seen success in the past, central Indiana is a competitive region for any sport, so we often have to put up a good fight against neighboring schools. Despite this, we’ve seen unprecedented success in athletics this year. What’s changed?

On one hand, you could give credit to the athletic department as a whole; maybe we’ve finally found a coaching staff that works exactly how we need it to and who knows how to work with Noblesville athletes effectively. Maybe it’s our world class training facilities, allowing our athletes to train and perform at a higher level than ever before. Maybe it’s this era of Noblesville athletes; their drive, passion, and commitment to their respective sports is easy to see. But there’s more to it than that.

There are so many people behind the scenes of these athletic programs who never get recognized. The parents who pay incalculable amounts of money to support their children’s athletic dreams, who wake up early and go to bed late to drive their kids to and from practices. Parents who root from the stands, despite rain, snow, or sleet, all to support their athletes; they deserve some recognition too. And the volunteers, who spend endless hours behind concession stands or taking tickets, all for the benefit of the fans. Even the fans; what would the student section be without them? Loyalty to the Millers steadfast and unwavering, all of these groups make Noblesville sports events the spectacle that we know them to be. There are many people, not only our student athletes, who contribute to the success of our athletic department. It’s time to give them the credit that they deserve.

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One day out of the year, families gather to cel ebrate and give thanks for all they have— and what their ancestors have taken. Thanksgiving has been popularized as a celebration of colonial America and the friendly relationship between indigenous peoples and early settlers, but after centuries of intolerance and systemic oppression, Thanksgiving can no longer be seen as a festive occasion.

Although Thanksgiving is now centered on family, the holiday itself is still framed as an occasion which celebrates the original Native American and settler relationship. However, after the way Native peoples have historically been treated, Thanksgiving, and what it celebrates, is extraordinarily tone deaf.

In fact, as we’ve been taught in elementary school history lessons, the only reason a Thanksgiving feast was established was for a celebration marking the end of the original settlers’ journeys. But those lessons leave out a lot of important context.

Even as settlers were transmitting deadly diseases, forcing labor, and exploiting Native people, a narrative was constructed in which settlers were welcomed by Natives,perhaps in an attempt to quell the guilt of decimating and abusing an entire civilization.

European entitlement to resources and labor belonging to Native tribes was also related to the concept of Manifest Destiny, according to Brandon Swart, a U.S. history teacher at NHS. Manifest Destiny, particularly in the context of early America, refers to not only the desire, but perceived inherent right to land and resources

European explorers and settlers possessed. However, the blatant mistreatment of Indigenous peoples goes far beyond early American settlements.

Not only that, but the U.S. government allowed people to establish schools with the expressed purpose of erasing Native culture, and “assimilating” Indigenous children into traditional European American society and ideals. These schools enabled cultural erasure and abuse of children, by taking them away from their families, and banning participation in cultural beliefs or practices, whatever those may have been.

Property laws were made in a calculated, deliberate manner to take advantage of Indigenous Americans who married white Americans. If the couple had a child, that child would be listed as white on any sort of census or legal record. This enabled the legal, but unethical, transfer of Native property to the white population.

The Indianapolis Public Library states that Indigenous peoples in America often mourn on Thanksgiving day rather than celebrate. They mourn the genocide of their people, the centuries long oppression, and the ancestral land taken from their people.

While Thanksgiving does not carry the same weight for all Americans, it is absolutely imperative to recognize the shared history of native peoples and Europeans who settled in America; in particular, the history of oppression, exploitation, and murder of indigenous populations. Rather than celebrating people who stole from and murdered indigenous peoples, Americans should celebrate the resiliency and strength of Native peoples.

DAMAGING TERMS

The gloomy effects of hate speech

Anthony Pratt// anthony.p6758@gmail.com

The world has a monster that has been harming our nation. Every year it grows bigger and bigger, and recently, it has gotten significantly worse. Some deny its existence, some turn the other way, and some willingly keep it around. It has crept its way into the halls of our schools with the goal of ruining our culture and our environment. This monster? It’s the ever-increasing trend towards “hate speech.”

Hate speech usually appears as speech or writing that aims to threaten a particular group of people, usually on the basis of race, religion, or sexual orientation. According to a study from the U.S. Government Accountability Office, usage of hate speech in schools has nearly doubled in size from 2015 to 2018. And locally, the use of hate speech in Noblesville has grown as well.

In early November 2022, an orchestra student at NHS found hateful messages targeting members of the LGBTQ community scribbled onto the back of a music stand. The incident was immediately reported to school administrators. According to several students, the message had been there since the beginning of August. This means that for months, students had been exposed to clear and blatant hatred in a space that was considered by many to be a safe environment. A study conducted in 2019 by the National Center for Biotechnology Information found that students exposed to hateful terms potentially manifest symptoms of “heightened stress, anxiety, depression, and desensitization.” To make things even worse, the U.S. Government Accountability Office study found that academic performances of students exposed to hate speech can also take a dive, claiming that situations like this can lead to “poor school performance, including lower grade point averages, standardized test scores, and poor attendance.”

According to Noblesville assistant principal Kevin Stuckwisch, disciplinary actions at NHS for hateful

language directed towards students could vary from “a restorative conversation to potential expulsion.” Studies have shown, however, that the responses involving suspension or expulsion do not work. A study from 2021 run by the American Institutes for Research showed that “more severe exclusionary discipline has a consistent negative effect [on] future reported behavior.” Similarly, it was found by University of Wisconsin researcher Clark Thelemann that “exclusionary discipline programs do not offer an effective intervention to student behavioral concerns.” So, what can a school do that would be more effective in limiting the use of hateful speech?

For starters, it is important to recognize that the students spreading hate are struggling themselves. The reason suspensions do not work is that they usually only lead to more anger and frustration for students, which ultimately leads to more hatred being spread. It would be significantly more beneficial for the school’s environment if the school were to work towards helping students realize how their actions can affect others, rather than simply punishing them and moving on. Secondly, the school should be encouraging students to speak out when they experience or witness discrimination. In 2018, it was reported by the Bureau of Justice Statistics that only 44 percent of bullied students had reported their experiences to an adult at school.

Schools should not be a space that students fear, but that has become an unfortunate reality for students across the country. The truth is that every part of a school suffers from this toxic culture; social environments get torn apart, academic success falls, unacceptable behavior increases, and hatred wins. Hate speech is a monster that has infested our society, but it is a monster that can be limited and brought down. Schools just need to put in the effort.

From 2015 to 2018, the use of hate speech being reported in schools in the U.S. has seen a significant increase. In the 2015-16 school year, 3,166 incidents were reported. Comparatively, the country saw 5,732 reported events in the 2017-18 school year, nearly twice the amount fromt he previous year.

Source:U.S.GovernmentAccountabilityOffice

TEACHING TEEN

Explore the life of Mackenna Johnson, an NHS junior who is also a student at Ball State University Brenzlee Johnson//jbree1433@gmail.com Santi Leon Torres//santilt23@gmail.com

You hear outdated, dark green lockers slamming and wet sneakers squeaking against the linoleum floor. Next thing you know, you’re staring at a bright screen in your bed, listening to your professor’s muffled voice over Zoom. Now you’re chasing after a six year old runaway, making sure each child leaves with their corresponding parent. Immediately after that, you’re at the forefront of an upscale eatery, finishing up the last of your homework in between each customer. School, college, teaching internship, and work; it’s just a regular day for NHS junior Mackenna Johnson.

Johnson’s schedule wasn’t always this packed. Just last year, she was just an overachieving high school student. It wasn’t until her father’s colleague, Carrie Lively, Executive Director of The Pursuit Institute, proposed a brand new path to Johnson’s dream career, that her schedule changed. Lively wanted a program for students who want to pursue a job in the field of elementary education—the job that Johnson has always dreamed of. Lively created a program which allows students to be enrolled in college, studying elementary education, while completing their high school education.

“This program started through Carrie Lively,” Johnson said. “She had the idea for a registered apprenticeship in teaching for Noblesville students to go,” Lively said, “A student who enrolls in this program as a junior will take coursework with Ball State University and Ivy Tech Community College, while earning high school credit,” Lively said. “The student will be employed and have the opportunity to apply what they are learning in the classroom in their job while earning certifications that will allow them to be employed and work with kids.”

This apprenticeship also allows for Johnson to receive a number of benefits, such as scholarship money, handson experience, and even graduating from college a year early. Another person to help make this happen, NHS assistant principal Kevin Stuckwisch, says the program offers a variety of benefits.

“Successful completion of the program means guaranteed admission to the teacher preparatory program at Ball State University,” Stuckwisch said. “[It] should save participants up to $25,000 in tuition, because the entire first year at Ball State will have been completed before the student sets foot on campus.”

Balancing this huge opportunity with her personal life can make things challenging for Johnson.

“While I love the apprenticeship, at times it can be stressful,” Johnson said. “I have to balance my honors and

Although Johnson says she is handling the pressure well, that might not be the case for some people. NHS counselor Cosette Fehribach says a packed schedule may not be suitable for all students.

“Students realize they need to drop some responsibilities in order to have more recovery time. The key is balance, knowing yourself, and adjusting as needed,” Fehribach said.

Even with all the different responsibilities lying on Johnson’s shoulders, she still found a way to maintain equilibrium in her life, even though it wasn’t easy at the beginning.

“Finding a balance between working two jobs while also completing college work and high school classes was extremely hard at first,” Johnson said. “I learned that I needed to plan out my day and communicate about issues or problems I was having with my professors and teachers, so by planning out my day and the assignments that I needed to complete, I knew what I needed to finish and by what day.”

While a schedule like this carries some stressful moments, the opportunity also presents some life-changing ones. Just last month, Johnson and Lively were able to go on FOX59 to explain this internship in depth.

“I was super nervous because I had never been on TV before,” Johnson said. “But it was such an amazing

ACP classes at the high school while also taking college classes and working two jobs.”

Mackenna Johnson helps a student at the Boys and Girls club. She assists here after school for her apprenticeship.

Photos provided by Cosette Fehribach

opportunity. It was fun going behind the scenes and meeting all of the hosts.”

Carl Johnson, senior architect at BSU and a former Noblesville Schools board member and Johnson’s father, supports his daughter’s choice and is excited to see how far this program will take her.

“Mackenna works hard to relate to others she works with and create a fun atmosphere,” Carl said. “There’s a genuine sense of excitement surrounding not only what she’s doing but what the people she interacts with on a daily basis.”

Though this program is still in its beginning phases, Johnson is handling the pressure and the workload well, and is continuing to work toward the job of her dreams.

“I have always loved working with kids and I believe kids are my passion.” Johnson said. “My goal is to have a calm classroom where kids feel safe and they come to school everyday wanting to learn.”

A WEEK iN THE LiFE OF MACKENNA JOHNSON

On

On

After

After

black days, Johnson attends blocks 1 and 3.

gold days, Johnson student assists at Hinkle Creek for blocks 2 and 4.

blocks 2 and 4, Johnson works on her college classes.

Johnson ends her shift at The Nesst, she finishes the day with some homework.

Mackenna Johnson and Carrie Lively visited the studio of Fox 59. Johnson discussed being the first person to participate in her unique internship.

IllustrationbyS.LeonTorres

As Noblesville High School’s production of “Chicago” neared its opening night, the show was faced with a dilemma. The problem? Stagehands began dropping like flies.

Staying late after school for four to five hours at a time, memorizing lines, responding to cues, and collaborating with dozens of people at a time is certainly a daunting task. Running scenes for cast and crew members is similar to what athletes experience in practice — an endless cycle of drill after drill; a repetitive process that sometimes seems to have no end in sight. For some crew members, the demands of the job became too much, and their sudden departures began to impact the rest of the production.

Sophomore Stevie Miles was one of three remaining stagehands, and he became all-too-familiar with the stress of producing a musical.

“It’s [hard] trying to fill in the void,” Miles said. “It makes me really mad. I mean, you made a commitment.”

Sophomore Emerson Phillips was this year’s assistant stage manager, and she witnessed the resignation of many crew members firsthand.

“Our crew is essential to our production’s success,” Phillips said. “It isn’t helpful when people leave on impulse.”

Because of the absence of multiple crew members, those who stayed on set began to feel the pressure. Junior Maitri Patel was an assistant deck manager for “Chicago”, and worked directly with those same stagehands who felt overwhelmed.

“With some stagehands quitting, the remaining stagehands have had to work twice as much to combat the needs of the show,” Patel said.

Because of the sudden obstacle this year’s crew was presented with, they were forced to adapt. Senior Trevor Greenlee, this year’s student director and production stage manager, became very familiar with pushing through challenges in the face of other adversities.

“Without a stage manager, all cues would be so difficult to go together, especially since a lot of the time sound and light cues will happen simultaneously,” Greenlee said.

As a result of their numerous responsibilities, many crew members admitted to feeling stressed.

“This show is very lighting heavy,” Greenlee said. “That means a lot of cues throughout the show, which can become a lot to undertake in a two hour period.”

Backstage workers often have to make adjustments to their personal lives during the three-month period that musical preparation is in session, and juggling their own needs with their crew duties can become a difficult balancing act.

Greenlee shared these frustrations. He is also the chair of Noblesville’s Thespian Troupe and a member of both Singers and MadJazz, positions that carry their own difficulties. “Chicago” only added more to his already-overflowing plate.

Miles also faced struggles during his time as a stagehand.

“School can definitely be hard, especially because you don’t get a lot of sleep during these weeks,” said Miles. “It’s hard to focus in class.”

Some crew members wish they received more recognition. According to Patel, the audience doesn’t always realize all that goes on underneath the curtain.

“The audience mentions how the show and the cast were amazing, but rarely mentions the crew, who worked as much as the cast to produce the show,” Patel said. “There isn’t enough appreciation for all the crew, who play a very important part in bringing the show to the audience.”

Crew members may still feel underappreciated as the spotlight shines into a blank space onstage — a space that’s meant to represent the entirety of the crew at the end of the show. However, most backstage workers don’t feel dismissed by their fellow cast members.

“In some productions, the actors and the crew simply did not associate themselves with one another and the crew was seen as the ‘second choice’,” said Greenlee. “But in this show, the actors have been really appreciative and really care for the crew.”

English teacher Greg Richards instructs stage production classes that focus on stagecraft and stage technology. He is proud of the members of this year’s musical, cast and crew alike.

“The musical is six weeks of problem solving, and no two shows have the same challenges,” Richards said.

Patel appreciates the memories the theater has given her.

“My favorite part of working on the musical is the people I meet,” Patel said. “I have had the chance to meet so many amazing cast and crew members while also creating new friendships and amazing experiences.”

photo by A. Paul

features OPENING THE CURTAIN

The backstage crew of “Chicago” deserves their own round of applause

Aubrey Paul brepaul101@gmail.com Tori Rowe torir248@icloud.com

Cast members of this year’s school musical, “Chicago”, strike a pose in the midst of song. The show was produced throughout the entirety of the fall season and was live November, 17, 18, and 19.

ACCEPTING REJECTION

What does rejection do to the brain and how can we cope with it?

positive thoughts, remembering that no one is just a number. Challenging negative beliefs would be the first step in dealing with worries of not being able to succeed in life and replacing them with positive thoughts. But are students missing something by the time they roll around to college?

Missy Backs, a former NHS student who currently works in the admissions department of Ball State University, knows what colleges might be looking for when new students are

“We look for some key factors. In terms of academics, we’re looking at their G.P.A., as well as the Core 40 diploma, and then what kind of classes they are taking. Following that, we also look at extracurricular activities,” Backs said.

The letter you have been waiting so long for finally comes. Reading the letter with a big rejection stamp on it, you slowly start to burn the evidence with no regret.

after friend gets called to the sides of the gym, you’re the last choice again. Years go by and the memory disappears until you sit isolated in your middle school class and your teacher announces another group project, due by the next week. Looks spread across the room as everyone scurries to each corner of the class. Alone once again, rejected. Just like that. The stored-up rejection throughout life extends to your senior year in high school, your future and what it will make of you, all the pressure is on.

The many types of rejection people face every day can have effects on how the brain might function or how it might communicate with the rest of the body. College rejection though? It’s much different, especially in experiences, what might a college look for in you. Do you have what it takes? Or does your mindset tear you down?

From a student’s perspective, a college’s rejection can be upsetting. Michael Moller, a former Noblesville High School student, started applying to many schools, including Purdue University, facing the experience many seniors encounter every year.

“I had always thought I would go to Purdue [so] I was really upset at first. I really didn’t know what my other options were,” Moller said.

Moller’s rejection merely mentioned that he should reapply, leading Moller to second guess himself, if he could get in to try again.

“It turns out [that] they had a large enrollment in that school with higher G.P.A.s,” Moller said. “I realized that it was not God’s plan for me, and now I’m at the University of Cincinnati, and I’m extremely happy and doing well,” Moller said.

University admissions experts emphasize keeping

After the COVID-19 pandemic, many students struggled to live a normal school life. Backs says BSU takes that into consideration when it comes to new students on their campus.

“Students might come to us when their grades weren’t so great in one year because their life was upended, so we accept the student for who they are and the experiences they’ve had instead of just the numbers they provide us,” Backs said.

Rejection can greatly impact a person’s mental health. But how might rejection impact a student’s thinking? One mental

health expert with Connections of Hope said that if someone should choose to tell themselves they have no hope because of rejection, it will alter the way a person’s brain functions, changing the neural networks in the person’s brain which will lead them right into more rejection.

Communicating rejection to a student applying to a student’s top college choice isn’t something admissions officers look forward to when application time comes around. Specifically, Ball State accepts around 5,000 students each year, a small number of the applications it receives.

“There is never an instance where you’re going to want to reject a student,” Backs said. “We really do believe that everyone has the opportunity to grow at Ball State.We are mainly looking at your potential to succeed.”

ItiIIIIIII.noir

“It’s not that we don’t think a student with a low GPA won’t succeed...it’s is that workload going to be too much?”

-Missy Backs, College Admissions Administrator

sacrifices for success

Showcasing the people behind the scenes who make Miller athletes winners

Gabriel Fryling//gabegoblue@icloud.com

Caitlin Hall//hallc7544@gmail.com

Carter Swart//carterbracken30@gmail.com McKenzie Vitale//mckenzievitale@icloud.com

The sun is still asleep when a unique and dedicated group of parents rise to greet the day, packing their cars full of snacks, equipment and posters. The miles on the odometers climb as they drive back and forth, to and from school, dropping off their kids only to pick them up again a couple hours later. As NHS celebrates the accomplishments of its many athletes, the invisible hands of many parents hold up that same trophy too. From late night spaghetti dinners to early morning practices, parents of student athletes here at NHS are not only sacrificing their time and money, but their whole lives to support their children .

parental support

In late October, four Noblesville athletic teams, cheerleading, girls soccer, boys soccer, and girls cross country competed for state titles. And in late October all four teams brought those titles home -three of them in single day- marking a historic day for Noblesville High School. Brinkley Cooper, a girls cross country state runner, has seen first hand the lengths her family went through to help her be a champion.

“Before every meet my parents would wake up early to drive me to the school, then they would drive to the meets, then back to the school after to pick me up,” Cooper said. “They make tons of sacrifices for us and don’t think twice about it.”

Supporting athletes doesn’t just revolve around the track or field. Parents often find themselves dedicating their entire workplace to the teams.

“Every Wednesday we run to [Megan Hazelrigg] Pilates studio for a class,” said Cooper. “She has helped us and given us the resources to stay healthy throughout the season, prevent injuries and help us get stronger.”

Maintaining the health of their athletes is a priority for parents, but so is rallying Millers together to support their journey to state. Julie Montgomery is a sports photographer as well as a mother of a son and daughter on the varsity soccer team. She can normally be found on the sidelines at games, capturing celebratory moments for the athletes.

“It’s worth it. Every memory I can capture for these kids makes it worth it,” Montgomery said.

Montgomery understands how difficult it is to win a state championship, Because of this, believes that everyone’s participation is necessary, whether they are on the field or not.

“Every parent out there is dedicated. It takes a village, the behind-the-scenes work is tremendous,” Montgomery said.

One parent who does a lot of behind-the-scenes’ work is Annie Page, the mother of varsity football player Drew Page. A mother of three, Page goes out of her way to help support her middle child’s football team, and all this extra effort doesn’t go unnoticed, especially to the other players on the squad.

“Annie Page is a big supporter of the football team,” says junior, varsity football player, Jack Letourneau.

Even though parents cannot jump directly onto the playing field and change the outcome of the games,

Page believes that the team parents’ role is to make the season as fun as possible.

“I don’t have any control over [the] season, the outcome of the season, or any of those aspects. But what I can do, and what the other volunteers can do, is take care of the players,” Page said. “[We] make sure that the parts that we do are fun for those players, and that they feel cared for.”

Page has been working with the football team for several years, but recently she has taken on the role of head parent volunteer. But Page isn’t alone in taking up this daunting task, as she had a circle of support around her.

“I was really lucky, I had a lot of wonderful people surrounding me who helped out and pitched in,” Page said. “Through that, I’ve been able to get to know these boys really really well.”

Supporting the team has allowed for her to bond with the players, something that she will always cherish.

“I love cheering them on, and I love being their team mom. It’s really fulfilling to be able to do the things that I have done with the other volunteers,” Page said.

As her middle child finishes his final season of high school football and awaits his new challenge at the collegiate level, Page wonders what it will be like for this

Annie Page cheers on her son Drew at one of his junior year football games. Drew is currently a senior who will .

“It’s kind of an unknown territory for us, and I don’t entirely know what to expect of it. It kind of makes me cherish the time I have left with him,” Page said.

Not only are the athletes on the field dedicating their time to athletics, but the cheerleaders on the sidelines are also bringing home state titles. Betsy Stevenson, the mother of Emily Stevenson, a sophomore cheerleading state champion, lets the girls know how much she values their work.

“I support the girls,” Stevenson said. “I make sure they all know how proud I am of them.”

Supporting the girls is a priority, but so is erasing a stigma many cheerleaders say the face day to day.

“Everyone has this misconception that [cheer] is just sitting from the sidelines, and it is far from that,” Stevenson said. “It is a true sport, and these girls are true athletes who work themselves like little machines.”

Sibling Support

In addition to parents, the rest of an athlete’s family can also experience the stress of supporting their competitor’s sport. Kendall Cooper, sister to soccer player Brinkley Cooper, says how her household balances sports and being a family.

“We go absolutely everywhere together so being so close I tried to help in any way I could,” Kendall said. “We didn’t get to spend as much time together as normal, but I’d say we were together as much as we could.”

The race to state placed a tremendous amount of stress on each member of the Brinkley family, but they worked together to make the best of the challenge and set the cross country team up for success.

“The mental capacity running takes up for [Brinkley] is a lot, “ said Kendall. “Sometimes that is very overwhelming and puts stress on the whole family. We spent as much time in church as we could because that always put things into perspective.”

Significant Others’ Support

To accomplish such feats, it’s not only parents and players who make sacrifices. The task requires everyone they know to pitch in, from friends to significant others. This large time commitment makes an impact on every aspect of an athlete’s lifestyle, forcing them to try and find new ways to spend time with the people they value, while still focusing on their sport and academics.

“Even after a long day of school, practice, and work we always try to find time in between or even after, even if it’s only for 30 minutes,” said sophomore cheerleader Emily Stevenson who is dating varsity football player Cole Richardson.

Having a significant other during the season can be a challenge to any athlete, especially when the team reaches the postseason. Extensions to the season can require everyone involved to become creative in order to find time in their busy schedules.

“We will never be able to make up for missed practice,” Stevenson said. “But we can always make up time with each other by going out to eat or stopping by after a practice.”

Relationships often face issues like this every season, as athletes struggle to find balance between school, sports,

and dating. These challenges force students to make sacrifices in their lives every week.

“We try to find small things to do together such as lunch after school or hanging with friends after a game,” said senior Laina Lillge who is dating varsity soccer player Noel Peña. “Even little things mean so much, as long as I get to spend time with him. I don’t care what we do,”

Being a student athlete and a committed partner in a relationship can place a lot of stress on the shoulders of an athlete, and finding balance can be difficult.

“A majority of the boys on the team are seniors, which means they have a lot to deal with at once,” Lillge said. “Current classes, college search, work, social life, relationships, and soccer definitely took a toll on all of them.”

Athletes especially recognize how a schedule like this can take a mental tol. But the players recognize how much the support from the people around them matters…dedication matters.

“I don’t think [varsity players] prioritize soccer too much, but they let the outcome of each game get the best of their mood,” Lillge said. “I think there’s a place for constructive criticism and improvement, but everyone has off days, which is completely fine. Games should not define them, sports are supposed to be fun, so let it be fun.”

wwwwwwBecause the boys on the varsity soccer team love their sport, it can become their first priority, leading them to make a choice of their sport over other life opportunities. Decisions like this often require them to miss out on some of the typical high school experience.

“During homecoming, they could barely enjoy it because they had soccer Thursday, Friday, and Saturday that week,” said senior Maddie Frost, significant other of varsity soccer player Adam Eberhart. “Last year, they even had away games during prom.”.

For state champion athletes, figuring out how to balance these demands never come easy. But in the end, for the winning teams at NHS, all their hard work, on and off the field, paid off with a collection of state titles.

Photos provided by Julie Montgomery and Annie Page

The boys soccer team huddles together duirng their run to this year’s state championship. Julie Montgomery, mother of senior Jackson “Monty” Montgomery, captured the moment.

“[Adam Eberhart] has made lots of sacrifices to play soccer,” Frost said. “We only really get to hang out on the weekends because of how much practice they do throughout the week. He really has sacrificed a lot of his free time to play soccer, but he loves it, so I think it’s worth it.”

“I love getting to watch him grow as a person and as a player too,” said Emery Hammes, who is dating varsity football player Carter Richardson. “I’m really happy overall with the way he’s played throughout this year’s season.

As Instagram posts and articles celebrate Nobles-

ville’s athletic achievements, one may not know the behind the scenes work it takes to get there. Early morning practices to emotional family bonding, it takes multiple hands in the game to bring the team to success. So the next time you see the trophies on the wall or the medals strung around the necks of the athletes, and instead of blowing it off as some other win, think about all the people who aren’t pictured or highlighted in the morning announcements and what they have done to help bring the success home.

Location: Michael A. Carroll Stadium Date: October 29, 2022

The Millers sweep the soccer state as the boys defended their 2021 state title as they defeated Columbus North 1-0. The girls also won their 3rd state title in 4 years as they defeated rivals Carmel 1-0.

Location: Beaver Materials Field Date: October 28, 2022

The Miller Football defeats Zionsville in a 35 to 10 blowout win as the team wins their first sectional game in almost two decades.

Location: LaVern Gibson cross country course Date: Octcober 29, 2022

The girls cross country team wins their first ever state championship ending their great season in spectacular fashion. The boys placed fifth in state, their best finish in over a decade.

(Above) The varsity girls soccer team run out to the field in celebration, as shot by Julie Montegomery. (Below) The cheer team poses for a photo before a football game.

features PASSION OR PLANNING?

past experiences so much that she signed up for a class that has a similar objective to Best Buddies.

“[I was] inspired to join Best Buddies [because] I’m in peer tutoring, and we help to take care of the kids who have special needs in the school. I have them for my first block,” Weaver said. “I help them with their gym [class]. I also have them during AL and help to get them around.”

Many students are simply clubs members, but some like senior Daniella Tuesca, the president and cofounder of the Latin Student Union (LSU), take higher positions. LSU is an example of a club at NHS giving the student body a space to embrace their culture and ethnicity. Clubs like these tend to have a large number of students, giving students involved a home away

“I wanted to be able to create a space for a lot of new Venezuelan students coming into the school,” Tuesca said. “So I figured it would be good bringing all the Hispanic students in the school into one space.”

who have joined clubs at NHS this year for a variety of reasons. Perhaps they want to fill the rest of their day with an activity they enjoy. In many cases, people look at students who participate in multiple clubs and the immediate thought is that students joined only to beef up their college applications. But that’s not always the case.

“I was inspired to join these clubs because I heard it was a great way to meet new people. Also, I wanted to do more and decided to pursue some of my interests,” Nair said. “Now, I continue on with my interests to build my portfolio for college.”

While some students pour everything that they have into a select number of clubs, other students strive to be a part of as many groups as possible. One of these students is Nair, a member of nine clubs at NHS. The thought of putting the clubs on her college application floated through her mind, but that doesn’t take away from the fact that she initially joined because the clubs sounded like an ideal way to pass time.

“I did [Best Buddies] freshman year. I’m just a member of the club, but I wanted to get to know more of the kids,” Weaver said.

Weaver stays passionate about the club, even years later. Best Buddies is one of the many clubs available to students at NHS that promote helping others both in and out of the classroom, focusing on pairing students with disabilities and without disabilities. Weaver enjoyed her

While some clubs are focused on helping the community as a whole, LSU under Tuesca’s leadership focuses on providing a community for the Latin students of NHS.

“We play Jeopardy and Quizlet Lives. Sometimes we go to the gym and play soccer. It’s some place we can all go and have fun without worrying what language we’re speaking,” Tuesca said. “Whenever I’m planning, [I] try and picture myself as if I was just a member and I think ‘What would I want to do?’”

Students at NHS experience the fun projects and activities clubs have to offer, as well as the other worthwhile aspects of clubs. Most students join clubs to meet others who share the same passions and interests as them.

“[Joining clubs] definitely made transitioning from COVID years easier. Every club I’ve been in is very welcoming and I sometimes find people in classes or in the halls,” Nair said. “Since I know these people and I know I work well with them, school work becomes easier and enjoyable too. I feel like if I didn’t join the clubs, I would be having a harder time than I am.”

Is the stereotype true? Do students join clubs

IllustrationbyS.L.Torres

features IT’S HARDER THAN

IT LOOKS

The custodial and maintenance staff do more than you probably realize Andie

Harmon//andielynn8@gmail.com Heather McQuinn//heathermcquinn31@gmail.com

When you arrive at school every morning and it's spotless, do you ever wonder who helped make it that way? Meet and maintenance worker Larry Dawson. These staffs complete a variety of tasks each day, from cleaning the school’s plumbing, heating system, and anything else that falls apart during the school year.

While students have a two month break for summer, custodians continue to work.

“There's always something going on,” Reynolds said.

Working to keep the school clean is a full time job for custodians.

“Some people work on the weekends, [or] overtime at ball games,” Odle said.

When a student makes an unnecessary mess, that just adds another task to a custodian’s already full plate.

“Be aware that this job is not really easy,” Reynolds said.

When students destroy school property, it doesn’t just affect the building; it affects those who work to clean it.

“It makes us feel sad,” Reynolds said. “They want to come in here and destroy the school… but we worked hard to clean up and [make everything] look nice.”

way? Meet custodians Anna Odle and Wanda Reynolds the school’s hallways and cafeterias to fixing the

Dawson believes that students should respect not only the maintenance crew, but the building itself.

“If you can respect your school… you have people coming in, and they

see all that,” Dawson said

Dawson wishes students respected the amount of effort it can take to repair broken items.

“[Some students are] breaking the paper towel holder or toilet holder paper towels, taking toilet lids off and stealing them. And there’s a lot of work involved in fixing that.”

Photos by H. McQuinn and A. Harmon

features

STRINGING FRIENDSHIPS

The conductor is not the only connector

Becca Garber// beccag9757@gmail.com Olivia Gonzalez// vialiin06@gmail.com

One hour, thirty minutes—every other day. Melodies are throwing themselves at one student from every direction. She’s sitting, watching, and observing. At first glance, everyone in the room seems together, united by the common purpose of creating and portraying music. But in reality, they are merely fifths of one whole.

Senior Alison Engel is a member of the school’s Symphonic Orchestra. Her love for the cello, combined with the experiences of her friends in the organization, is what sparked Alison’s fondness of the orchestra. It’s what ultimately drew her to choosing to pursue it throughout her middle and high school years.

“Going into middle school, I knew that I wanted to play an instrument, but I had trouble figuring out which one,” Engel said. “But the way [my friend] talked about her experience with orchestra was a big motivation to join. I also just absolutely loved the way the cello sounded.”

Engel began playing in her middle school’s orchestra

in sixth grade, and she has continued to play throughout her high school career. During Engel’s freshman year, the orchestra social committee - a group dedicated to bringing students together - was formed. “The social committee is a group started for mostly the symphonic orchestra, that has the goal of better connecting the people in the orchestra,” Engel said.

The connection in orchestra is something that is important to Engel. She wants everyone to feel as though she is a person that they can come to in a time of need.

“My goal as a senior in orchestra has been to be a person that’s approachable,” Engle said. “I want people to feel like they can come up and talk to me if there’s something that I can help with,”

Students in the orchestra say Engle creates a welcoming environment to those around her. This comfort not only greatly influences her fellow musicians, but also sets expectations for the groups she helps lead.

David Hartman, orchestra director has watched Engel evolve into the person she is today.

“Ali has been a great influence on the cello section but also the entire orchestra. She fosters a group dynamic that creates high expectations through caring for each other rather than demanding high expectations from each other,” Hartman said.

Community is not the only thing that Engel looks to make better. She also hopes to make a better name for the school’s orchestra program, a group Engel feels is overlooked by many at the school.

“My goal is to be an advocate for the orchestra, to make us more seen within the school and to have the same status as the other members of the music department,” Engel said.

Engel says she wants to bring people together through school activities like orchestra, as well as going out of her way to helping others in her personal life feel more comfortable. Engel’s best friend, Emma Soder, believes that Engle does just that.

“Alison is the first person I go to when good things, or bad things happen to me, and I know that my life is so much better for having had her in it these past seven years,” Soder said.

Friends of Engel believe she is a person who others feel they can come to whenever they need, a way for her to build her social relationships.

“Ali makes me feel more connected to the present, she helps me get out of my head and when she’s around nothing is more important to me than the present time with her,” senior Matthew Crosby said.

Engel says the orchestra’s social committee is a way of building relationships and bringing people together. She particularly enjoys the community she has helped build and how it has become much more than just one person.

“I like the feeling of knowing that you’re a part of something bigger than yourself, and coming in every day, or every other day and getting to be a part of that,” Engel said.

She’s a life changing woman, the kind of person who makes every day better without trying. - senior Matthew Crosby

“ ”

“

”

Alison is incredibly smart and talented, and a super supportive friend.

- senior Emma Soder

sports THE VOICE OF THE MILL

Looking back at the legacy of a beloved teacher and announcer

Maria Celis//celismariavalentina@gmail.com Max Habel// maxwellwhabel@icloud.com

On game nights, Kevin Cole would take control of the basketball floor. He would control the stands and control the baskets and control the crowd. Not as a player on the court, but as the voice of the Millers. Miller fans who came to watch the games and support the team could feel the sense of pride that Cole would project with his voice every time he spoke through his microphone.

While students in Cole’s Spanish classes, where he was known as Señor Cole, consider him to be a great teacher and amazing person, he was also, in many student’s opinions, the best announcer Noblesville basketball has seen. The voice of the Millers since 2008, Cole passed away in the summer of 2022 after a long fight with cancer, and his fans say his presence will be sorely missed.

“There is a significant hole left behind without Señor Cole, not just in the basketball community, but Noblesville culture in general. Señor Cole embodied what it meant to be a Miller, and had enough school spirit for most of the entire staff combined,” math teacher Jason Giordano said.

One of Cole’s biggest fans, former NHS teacher Butch “B-Rob” Robbins says Cole had a huge impact on the Noblesville basketball program.

“His voice will be missed and his sense of humor when he was announcing will be missed. It will be different not seeing him at the scorer’s table,” Robbins said.

Another Miller who will miss hearing Cole behind the microphone is math teacher Amanda Giordano.

“It was evident that he loved being here and his positivity and love of all things NHS, Millers could always be felt and heard in his voice,” Amanda Giordano said.

In addition to his love of Noblesville, NHS Athletic Director Leah Wooldridge says Cole had a profound impact on the Miller basketball community.

“As an announcer he brought that same excitement and passion to game nights to provide our fans with an experience that they will never forget.” Wooldridge said.

In addition to the fans, Cole also made it a priority to create the best atmosphere he could for the players. His ability to make a home for both the Millers and their fans was, in many students’ and teachers’ opinions, something unique to him. And according to Marc Slain, a Spanish teacher at NHS, Cole always made sure to appropriately honor the players.

“Every time he announced a game, he wanted to make sure that it was done right and that the players were respected,” Slain said.

But Cole was also a teacher, one who would put his students before himself. And because of that affection for his students, he attended many Miller sporting events and extracurricular activities. Social Studies teacher Eric Gundersen says Cole was a fan of all NHS students.

“Mr. Cole’s time here was far greater than basketball…he was a supporter of all things Noblesville,” Gundersen said.

In supporting all things Noblesville, Cole was an advocate for his students and especially for their time in his class.

“He loved Noblesville. He loved announcing Miller games… but most of all, he loved teaching. He cared about students really learning the Spanish language and culture,“ said Alison Cole, Kevin Cole’s wife and an eighth grade teacher at NEMS.

In honor of Cole’s love of the Spanish language and his dedication to his students, the Conversation Club, along with many teachers around the school, worked together to have a bench crafted in his honor, a specially-made a black-and-gold bench to represent his love of Miller sports.

“The bench is located in the commons on the west side of the stairs. He would often sit and talk with teachers and students before school in that same location,” Slain said.

In addition to being in remembrance of Cole, the bench also reminds students and teachers who walk past of his values and commitment to NHS, his students, and Noblesville basketball.

“Having the bench placed there in his honor will be a wonderful reminder that Señor Cole is always a Miller,” Amanda Giordano said.

In honoring his school spirit, the bench also includes a plaque that says “In Loving Memory of Señor Kevin Cole. Always a Miller” One of the most notable ways that Cole was always a Miller during his fight with cancer, was the way he prioritized his students and his passion for teaching and Noblesville High School because ultimately it made him feel better while doing what he loved.

“He told me he would rather feel horrible from cancer and help his students than feel horrible from cancer and sit at home. I will always respect and remember that dedication. While he wasn’t always able to do that, he did his very best to always show up and make sure that his presence at NHS made a difference,” Slain said.

To many at NHS, students and staff alike, Cole was a man of many titles: a Miller, a teacher, a family man, a friend, and a Miller basketball announcer. Crowds at the Mill, filled with students, teachers, and friends, will remember his as a great entertainer.

“I will always remember Señor Cole was a man that truly had a passion for helping kids, loving NHS, and loved representing Miller Nation behind the mic in creating the best atmosphere in high school basketball,” Wooldridge said.

Top

Bottom

cated

them

right: Kevin Cole calls the action at a Noblesville basketball game at the Mill at Noblesville High School.

right: On November 9, 2022, Cole’s colleagues dedi-

a bench next to the cafeteria stairwell in honor of Cole. They wrote their memories of Cole and what his legacy meant to

on notes, which they put on the bench. Here, Spanish teacher Thomas Doering reads the notes left by teachers.

PhotoCredits:Background,M.Celis;TopRight,M.Sebbas;Bottom Right,M.Habel

Check out millermedianow.org for up-to-date stories, videos, and more...

ifestyles BLIND DATE WITH A BOOK

If you’re looking for love—the fictional kind—this blind-date book guide is for you

Morgan Trowbridge// morganrocks270@gmail.com

With winter approaching, the time to enjoy the cozy outdoors is no more. Now, the second you step outside you’re greeted with wet snow and freezing temperatures. Struggling to find warmth, all you want to do is cuddle up with a blanket and a good book, but what to choose? You have a stack of unread books in the corner of your room and several recommendations from friends on a list in your phone, but it’s too overwhelming. You want something now. Something new and unknown. Something to fall in love with.

Grab a hot cup of tea and your favorite scented candle. Curl up on the couch and turn on some instrumental music. It’s time to get ready to go on your blind date. Get ready to fall in love by answering the questions down below and we’ll recommend the perfect title for you. Flip the magazine over and you’ll find your match.

Do you like short reads?

Sometimes long books can be boring and drawn out, especially if reading is not your thing. This book is about:

• Black girl power

• Concerts, parties, and more typical teenager fun

• Death, imprisonment, and so much more

• Sung harmonies are the key to a musical friendship

If this sounds interesting to you, find Book B down below.

Maybe mystery is more your style?

A fast-paced suspenseful thriller to keep you on your toes can be quite enjoyable. This book is the first of three and consists of:

• Mazes, riddles, puzzles and codes

• A twisted love triangle

• Young detectives

• The idea that wealth and fortune aren’t everything

If that description sounds exciting, then Book D is perfect for you.

What about a ghostly jump scare?

A strange, yet inventive tale taking you through hallucinations that teeter on the line of reality and nightmare. This psychological thriller will make you wonder if it’s actually paranormal includes:

• A freak “murderous” accident

• Scary scenes full of corpses and danger

• Charm and trauma duos

• Love found in a dark time If you are ready for a good scare, check out Book C.

How about a rainy day romance? With a twist of magic?

This is the first book in a series of two, following a teenager in Boston whose life flips upside down with one simple phrase: “It’s my birthday.” This story includes:

• Shocking self discoveries

• Prophecies of magical lies and truths

• Powerful governments overthrown by… faeries

• True love always finds a way

Check out Book A if this is your choice.

Here are your results...

Book A - The Girl Who Never Was by Skylar Dorset

Book B - Muted by Tami Charles

Book C - The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer by Michelle Hodkin

Book D - The Inheritance Games by Jennifer Lynn Barnes

PhotobyM.Trowbridge

TAKE A BREAK, BEFORE YOU BREAK

As the first semester comes to and end, the brains of studying students are in need of a breather

Madeline Smith//madelinerosalie921@gmail.com

Stuck in the studying sludge of the school weeks between Thanksgiving break and winter break, stress piles higher and motivation falls lower, with only the sweet anticipation of creamy hot chocolate and dreamy snow days keeping you afloat. Deadlines seem to arrive quicker, final exams rule your thoughts, and studying replaces your spare time. Overcrowding your mind with notes, homework, and tests cause your mind to be overwhelmed, depleting your focus and restricting your understanding. Here’s what the experts suggest. Don’t allow studying to become a struggle; before you break your brain, give your brain a break.

Go on a Walk:

When you feel trapped between English annotations, math problems, and history notes, take a hike on a tree-lined path. Maybe take a bike ride on a nature trail. Observe the green hue of leafy trees and inhale the fresh scent of the earth. Simply immersing yourself in nature can improve your mental alertness and enhance your memorization skills for when you get back to learning. An outdoor walk may be the inspiration you need to generate creativity and solve difficult problems.

Clean your Space:

An unmade bed with pillows strewn about like sticky notes pasted chaotically, reminding you of assignments. A pile of laundry stacked high—it’s folded fabric mimicking the pages of textbooks. A crowded desk, overrun by school supplies, reflecting the overwhelmed state of your mind. An environment without clarity creates a mind without clarity. Pause and take a few minutes to organize your surroundings in order to organize your thoughts.

Breathe:

In and out. Inhale and exhale. Simply slowing down and focusing on the natural process of breathing can reset your thoughts and restore your understanding. A short meditation session, such as a breathing exercise, can reduce feelings of anxiety by releasing tension and stress throughout your mind and body.

Exercise:

Stretching your arms, loosening your neck, or flexing your hand may not be enough to release tension. A more efficient solution is to engage in exercise. Any physical activity, such as a short workout or a yoga routine, has been proven to increase brain activity and cognitive function, as well as refocusing concentration and strengthening memory.

Read:

When you have been endlessly flipping through homework packets and textbook pages that cause your concentration to dull, escape into an alternate reality. Dive into the reality of the fictional characters and the twisting plot of your favorite book. Read a chapter or two of a cherished novel in order to sharpen your concentration and revive your attention span.

Create Art:

As you study, doubt in your academic abilities may begin to creep into your mind and cloud your thoughts. Will I get a good grade? Are my answers good enough? Relieve yourself of any doubt through creating art. Whether it’s a simple sketch or a complex masterpiece, a dedicated time to express creativity and imagination can boost your confidence and help you feel more engaged as you continue learning.

Brain breaks contribute to many health benefits that create a calm and concentrated mindset