February 11, 2019
Volume 103 Issue 3
Park High School
2 What’s Inside
February 11, 2019
Table of Contents
Pg 3
Opinion
The geese in the park, Skiing vs snowboarding, A opinion on senior year
Pg 8
News
Cell Phones in study hall, profile: student teachers, MORP
Pg 4
Pg 5
Feature
Student serves as a page at state capitol
Pg 9 News
Entertainment
Musicians and their shoes, Into the Spider-verse, Local entertainment
Pg 10
Sports
Speech and drama state, Chamber choir Valentine’s show
Female wrestlers join team, Boys basketball conference standing
Pg 6-7
Characters of Livingston
The Murph, Vann Gravage, The Ficks, Cherie the barista, Aaron Schuerr
Pg 11
Sports
Divisional Preview of boys and girls basketball Student section dresses up
Geyser Staff Editor in Chief: Dana Baskett Artistic Director: Kaylyn Kuehn Entertainment Editor: Lily DeYoung Photo Editors: Gibson Erickson, Leinee Smith Sports Editor: Mark (Buddy) Murphy Video Editor: Chase Petrulis Production Assistant: Mcleod Versland Staff Writers: Brylea Beye, Henry Cornwall, Jamison Geyer, Eden Kirk, Peyton Murphy, Lukas Ridgeway, Terran Speake, C.J. Olds
3 Opinion
February 11, 2019
Those flocking geese! Let’s send them back to Canada! LUKAS RIDGEWAY Geyser Staff Writer
Imagine this. You wake up in the morning, and you start getting ready for school. As you finish eating your breakfast, you realize that your 5 minutes behind your usual schedule. While you shovel down the rest of your food, you hop into your car and start driving. Your everyday route to the school is through the park. It is your fastest way to get to school, especially if you’re running late. Looking at the clock, you realize that its 8:02. Already driving on the bend around the park, you think to yourself that you’ve timed your departure perfectly, showing up to your first period just before the bell will ring, but wait a second. As you look ahead you see about 50 grey specks littered across the road… the geese. A lot of people who live in the north side part of Livingston complain about the trains coming through in the “morning rush hour”. A lot of them blame the train on making them late for work, school, etc., but there is far worse problem than the horrid train. Only a small number of people have experienced the real roadblock that is far more frustrating than the train. These pesky and lousy birds, known as geese, find that the hard pavement, which people drive on to get to school, is the most comfortable place to rest on an early morning. Maybe they’re doing this on purpose? Maybe not. But all I know is that Livingston has a problem. For me, personally, it is physically impossible to get myself out of bed early, and if Park High is expecting me to show up to school on time, the geese need to go. A Canadian goose on U.S. waters waiting for summer to come back. I am a firm believer that these “Canadian” geese don’t have the right to live and set- Photo by Gibson Erickson tle on U.S. soil. In Montana today, Canadian geese have the right to fly into our land without anyone batting an eye. These geese come from Canada to just sit around and do nothing, while port the illegal geese in our park. They could also establish a fund to strengthus hard working people, trying to get an education, are stuck in a standstill at the park sur- en the security on our northern border. To the people of Livingston, stop comrounded by these dumb birds. I think that trump has the whole wall thing backwards and that plaining about the trains, and start focusing on the real problem in our town. we need to focus our security on our norther border, instead of our southern Mexico border. If nothing is done about this goose problem it is only going to get worse. Maybe this year’s Youth Legislature delegation should propose a bill to de-
Why skiing is better than snowboarding GIBSON ERICKSON Geyser Staff Writer Many terms are thrown from both sides at one another. Some include “snake,” “knuckle draggers,” “side scrapers,” “human groomers,” but the list always grows. The two divided groups have their differences, but these names are usually used by friends as playfully making fun of each other on the mountain. I am sure by now you can tell I am talking about skiers and snowboarders. Ever since the popularization of snowboarding in the 80’s there has been division between skiers and snowboarders. Skiing has been traced all the way back to the stone age, where Asian hunters would follow reindeer and elk herds with similar skis covered in fur pelts, that served as a sort of modern day ski skin. The invention of snowboarding came much more recently, and has been cited as being invented in 1965 by a man by the name of Sherman Poppen in Muskegon, Michigan. Since the popularization of snowboards in the 60-70’s, there has always been bad blood between skiers and snowboarders. I personally find the feud silly, but it isn’t worthless. It poses the question: Which is better? Skiing or snowboarding? If you asked me I would tell you skiing. Even though many of you reading did not ask for my opinion, I am here to share it with you today. Skiing is the better sport for countless reasons, but I will start with the obvious. It leaves more room for creativity. There is only so much that can be done with one plank. Snowboarding limits the rider to one board, and in terms of creative restraint, it leaves them with almost no room to grow. Skis are better for style, grabs, rails, and jumps. I know that not everyone cares about park skiing, but skiing if far more impressive than snowboarding in the terrain park. Secondly, skiing is a more natural motion and therefore easier
to learn. Where snowboarding makes you move your body in a way that feels unnatural, skiing only requires you to do is get in the front of your boot and point ‘em downhill. Although skiing is easier to learn, there is no issue finding more difficult terrain and nothing stopping you. Snowboarders have a very tough time traversing through bumpy, high terrain. When skiing, all you need to do is push your way out. There is no need to get on your hands and knees to crawl up the road like a monkey. The war will never end, but that doesn’t mean both sides don’t see eye to eye. They both have their differences, but we all share the same slopes, the same lifts, the same mountains, and often the same homes. My wonderful mother is a snowboarder, but I still love her dearly despite her sins.
Student Lukas Ridgeway JUMPS at Bridger Bowl earlier this year. Photo by Gibson Erickson
MY thoughts on senior year
HENRY CORNWALL Geyser Staff Writer “I believe senior year is the easiest year of high school,” said Generic High School Senior. Although you are able to choose most of your classes, by now you should have a grasp of how to make it through high school, and not having to take the harder classes you might have had to your last three years of high school really takes the weight off your shoulders. Yes, this makes it easier for you to make it through the school year, but your senior year should be about more than just making it easy for you to pass and have a good GPA. Although I chose my senior year to fix my GPA, I can say it wasn’t worth it to wait to get good grades. My biggest worry about senior year is coming down with senioritis and failing, but if everything works out for me and my fellow classmates, there will be nothing to worry about.
4 Feature
February 11, 2019
Shadows of the Montana legislation DANA BASKETT Geyser Staff Writer
I’ve never been one to be overlooked. I stand out; between loud clothes and even louder opinions, I don’t try to stifle myself. I’ve also always been someone to jump at opportunities that I think will help me learn more about my interests. Therefore, my week on the capitol was a special form of informative torture. The program was packaged as a week in Helena as a page on the house floor. The job of a page is to deliver notes and messages to the reps on the floor, as well as take out the recycling and other busy work. My aunt is our local house representative, so I was excited to spend the week seeing what she was doing. Before even packing, I was sent a package including job description, pay wage ($8.50 wow!), and the dreaded dress code. Now, if you’ve never interacted with a dress code, consider yourself lucky. There was one piece of this code that stood out to me much more than anything else: Nylons. Women are required to wear nylons with their skirts. I don’t even think my grandmas wear nylons! After spitefully packing a suitcase of pants, I set off on the drive to Helena. The benefit of staying with my aunt
meant that, after hours, I got to poke around the capitol while it was empty. It was quiet and still. The building itself is amazing; between the art and stainedglass windows, it’s worth the drive to see. Say what you will about the state of our country, but the state of our state is strong. In that first night I was able to
first day on the job. I’ve had a couple jobs, so I know what it’s like to be in training, but even then, I haven’t ever found it to be this condescending. The obscure rules go on and on, so I’ll just give you a couple of my favorites. Treat the representatives like kings and queens (that’s almost a direct quote), don’t use the pencils with erasers (those are for the reps), don’t use the main door to enter the floor, and don’t use the elevator. Needless to say, I think I have thighs of steel after all those stairs. We were on the fourth floor, and the things to deliver were on the first floor. The job consisted of delivering hundreds of printed notes from constituents to representative’s desks, delivering notices on committee meetings to desks, taking out the paper recycling, and distributing letters and pamphlets to mailboxes. However, scattered in these mundane tasks, we were lucky enough to meet our governor and Lt. governor, the staff of both the secretary of state and superintendent of public instruction. The week I was there also happened to be the week Senator Tester and Chief Justice McGrath were addressing Congress. Not that it’s important, but Senator Tester wore jeans to address the house; you can make of that what you will. Full Story on www.parkhighgeyser.com
listen in on a conversation between two representatives. The conversation was all about constituents, and their concerns for their people. It was refreshing to hear the people we elect so concerned about who they were representing. Back to a less refreshing thought, I have never felt so belittled, as I did that
Photo by Dana Baskett
Livingston House rep, Laurie Bishop (second row), listens to a bill being presented. Screen in the lower left is to call for a page, like a flight attendant.
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New winter dinner menu
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5 Entertainment
February 11, 2019
Hiphop & flipflops; shoe fashion and rappers come together BUDDY MURPHY AND LILY DE YOUNG Geyser Staff Writers
Pop culture has been heavily influenced over the years by music, sports, fashion and maybe most importantly, sneakers. But what happens when an NBA all star or chart topper musician put out a pair of sneakers? Speaking of chart topping musical artists, Pharrell Williams will be dropping a Chinese New Year themed collaboration with Adidas. Starting the new year, brands like Nike and Jordan are dropping whole lines of Chinese New Years themed shoes. Here’s a list of some up coming heat for your feet *Flame Emoji* *Flame Emoji* February 11, 2019 Pharrell is dropping his Pharrell X Adidas Solar Hu Glide ST Chinese New Year’s and his Pharrell X Adidas Crazy BYW Chinese New Year’s. Travis Scott NRG’s releasing
x Air Jordan on February
33 14
You can look forward to Nike x Virgil Abloh Air Force 1 “Blue”s. These do not have a set release date yet but they will be coming out this June. The incredibly hyped Travis Scott x Air Jordan 1’s in Dark Mocha and Green will release in April. Finally the Yeezy boost 700 “inertia”s will drop sometime this spring. These are just some of the many sneakers coming up soon. Along with the Chinese New Year influencing upcoming sneaker drops, the NBA All Star Weekend also has brands cranking out new lines for the occasion. Every year, brands have been cranking out these lines for the time of the year. Obviously, Chinese New Year is pretty popular, but other holidays also receive their share of sneaker love. Easter and Christmas are hubs for pastel colored foot heat. Comic-con, Complex-con, and all those Con expos are also spotlights for exclusive sneakers, especially those created by celebs that aren’t athletes. Clout culture will always be influenced by athletes and celebs. Undoubtedly, sneakers will always be at the forefront of Clout fashion. As long as things stay the same, Adidas, Nike, Under Armour, Reebok and all of the sneaker brands will ruthlessly pursue top tier celebs to endorse their brand, and ultimately create a shoe under their brand.
Spinning a new Spiderman storyline JAMISON GEYER Geyser Staff Writer “Spider-Man into the Spider-Verse” was a top anticipated film released in December. The Film was based on the Marvel comic book series. This Spider-Man movie was not the ordinary story we all know to heart. This was about a kid named Miles Moralis, (Shameik Moore) who gets bitten by a radioactive spider and gains super powers. He eventually meets Peter Parker (Jake Johnson) to train him along with other spider people such as Gwen Stacy (Hailee Steinfeld) and Noir Spi-
der (Nicolas Cage). They will team up to stop the villain known as Kingpin (Liev Schreiber). What I loved the most about this movie is the fact that it was animated and comic looking and not live action. It really brought me back to my memories of reading Spider-Man comics in my room when I was a kid. I loved how that all different Spider-People are in one movie fighting a common enemy. The Spider-Verse is a bunch of different universes where Spider-Men/Women live about. I highly recommend watching this movie, especially to all the Spider-Man fans out there. I am looking forward to another upcoming Spider-man film coming out in July called “Spider-Man: Far from Home.”
L-Town events this February LILY DE YOUNG Geyser Staff Writer Just because it’s February doesn’t mean there aren’t things to do in Livingston. From concerts to trivia, L- town’s got it all. Here’s to a fun February! Chamber Choir’s Variety Show is tonight and tomorrow night at 7:00 p.m. in the Recplex . Flannel Republic is playing live music at Follow Yer Nose BBQ pop-up in
Emigrant February 16 starting at 5 p.m. L-Town Soup February 21, 6 to 8 p.m. at Pine Creek Lodge- a fundraiser where your $10 entry fee covers your dinner and a vote for your favorite local idea. The entry fee everyone pays will go to the winner! (Park High Green Initiative won this last year so show up!) If you want to save some money, Pine Creek Lodge has free live music at brunch every Sunday and $2 trivia teams every Wednesday night at 7p.m.
The Characters of Livingston
Pages 6-7
Every season is holiday season PEYTON MURPHY Geyser Staff Writer
On the east side of Geyser Street sits a lovely yellow house. A house that is year-round draped from roof to ground with decorations celebrating about every holiday that there is to celebrate. The front yard is equipped with colorful flowers, lights, spinners, animatronic figures, countdown clocks, and flags. On top of all the flare these decorations bring, the house is a very popular gathering spot for the local ducks of Livingston. The owners of such a household are none other than Ron and Sandy Fick. Hailing from Michigan, the two retirees relocated here permanently in 1992. “Sandy has always been a decorator ever
since I met her,” said Ron. They have been steadily collecting decorative pieces over the years in order to display their holiday extravaganza. They store their decorations in a storage unit and their garage. They use a van in order to transport all the decorations to and fro. “Christmas is by far our biggest holiday,” said Sandy. “Ron had to haul four full van loads for Christmas alone.” But the decorations don’t just stop at their doorstep. The extent of the decorations spreads it-
self throughout their household as well. They are huge fans of the holidays, and they like to think of their house as a public reminder of the upcoming celebrations. “If somebody drove by our house right now, they would see all of the hearts and remember that Valentine’s day is coming up. Then they would hopefully go get their wife or girlfriend some flowers,” stated Ron. When asked about the money put into this whole display and the treats and goodies that are gifted to the youth of Livingston around Halloween, Ron simply replied, “Money isn’t everything. You can’t put a price on a child’s smile.” And that is the mentality that this loving couple lives by: what good is money if you don’t use it to help others?
Photo By Peyton Murphy
Ranger returns to home field
Everyone’s favorite barista John Rollins. Again, John talks about the 86’s. “We’re very open to who ever wants to come in, as long as they’re good people, nice people and don’t demeine anybody else.” Cheri talks about the people that come in. “We are busier than we were, but I’d If you walk in, and she doesn’t address you by your name, you’re say for the most part it’s a pretty steady clientele, nice people, because if the minority there. If she doesn’t have your usual memorized, your the they’re mean like I said, they don’t get to come in. More families movminority, and chances are, you don’t spend enough time in coffee crossing here to raise their children, so I know more children and families then ing. Cheri Wright is the barista at there used to be.” Livingston grows coffee crossing that we all know with Bozeman resulting in popuand love, and have been for the lation and demographic shifting. past ten years. She’s done some “I’ve been friends things that aren’t included in most with Johnny for 15, 20 years. barista’s job description. He needed another person at his “I had to hide Murph’s coffee shop, and so I found mydog, Mojo, from the dog catchself as a barista. That was over er multiple times.” (See Murph’s 10 years ago.” Cheri and John go bio on page 7) “We’ve had to 86 pretty far back according to her, some people just because of their so far back that Cheri says that inability to coexist with others “she basically owns the place.” and realize that, yes, in fact, oth “Well since I’ve er people may opinions that difbeen here for 10 years, I’ve seen fer from yours. I’ve had to deal 10 classes graduate. It gets hardwith violent mentally ill people, er and harder every year to watch which is obviously a serious situyou guys go, it makes me sad, but ation most times. I’ve had to use I get to go to a lot of parties in some WWE moves in the past. June.” I mean, who doesn’t want It’s been a couple years since I their barista at their grad party? Photo By Buddy Murphy used one though. I don’t know, She’s the one that got you through the day with your cup of coffee evwhat do you think Johnny?” Cheri Cheri Wright (Right) embracing John Rollins (Left) in the kitchen area of refers to the owner of the busi- Coffee Crossing ery morning for four plus years.
BUDDY MURPHY Geyser Staff Writer
ness,
Sandy (Left) and Ron Fick(right) in their brightly decorated home
Hooking a role in the film world The man, the myth, the legend, the Murph GIBSON ERICKSON
After the filming of “A River Runs Through It”, Geyser Staff Writer Gravage received a few smaller roles acting in commercials. Gravage is currently 33 years old and is working as You may have seen his boxy, green moving truck driving a land surveyor at Hallin and Associates. He still enjoys around town. You might have seen his small, wiry haired Jack RusLivingston local, Vann Gravage, discovered his fly fishing as well as golfing, biking, and skateboardsell Toy Poodle mixed dog walking down the street. You might have love of fly fishing from his involvement in the proing at Livingston’s new skate park. During the winter even heard his booming, thick Jersey voice. Many students know duction of “A River Runs Through It” in 1992 when months, Gravage enjoys skiing, bowling, and tying flies. Mark Murphy as the father of students Buddy and Timmy Murhe was just seven years old. The film was filmed in phy, but very few know him past the accent and the ridiculous antics. Livingston and is based on Norman Maclean’s novelMurphy moved here from Spring Lake, New Jersey in 1991 after la about two brothers that are devoted to fly fishing. visiting here frequently to see friends and, because “I’m the heating man Gravage, along with several other children from and it seemed cold here,” he said. Murphy jokes about heating, but he Livingston, found the opportunity to audition for the film said that work has created lots of relationships in Livingston for him. from an ad in the local newspaper. For the audition process, When Murphy first moved here, he did small contracting jobs and Gravage was asked to answer a few questions. Gravage worked at the Murray. He claimed that working at the Murray made him very believes he was selected to play Young Paul Maclean popular around town and helped him meet lots of the people he knows today. because of his “goofy” responses during the audition. In the nearly 30 years he has lived here, he has connected with the Gravage expressed that he did not strugcommunity. He said the community and relationships are the most imgle while playing Young Paul Maclean because he portant things that make Livingston great, and he doesn’t want to see Livgot to play a child, at which he was already an exingston turn into another “homogenized American town” like Bozeman. pert. While filming, Gravage was directed in what Murphy finds a lot of unique, interesting people in Livingston and to say and how to act because of his young age. says that it isn’t hard to meet people and have great relationships here. As a child, Gravage enjoyed interacting with the other people involved in the film such as Brad Pitt, who played Paul Maclean, and the director Robert Photo Courtesy of Vann Gravage Redford. Gravage also like playing around the film set. Vann Gravage holding a monster trout
EDEN KIRK Geyser Staff Writer
February 11 , 2019
Photo By Gibson Erickson
The Murph spending some quality time with his beloved dog, Mojo
TERRAN SPEAKE Geyser Staff Writer Not many people can say that they’ve been the O.G. of a sports teams, but Matt Pierson can. Pierson was on the very first soccer team at Park High and has been in involved with the sport ever since. Being the only A school in the district that had a soccer team, they had to play bigger schools such as Billings and Bozeman. He played soccer throughout high school and decided to further it in club teams, travelling teams, and college. Pierson started his coaching career as a senior in high school, coaching youth soccer. After he found that he was passionate about teaching kids about the game of soc-
cer that he knows and loves, he de- to prep work and waking up earlier cided to continue coaching. He later in the morning than usual. I do all became the director of coaches in my personal work before the season Livingston which involves creating starts because the season gets crazy.” training programs for other coaches. He’s also the director of club teams in Livingston and is the highest licensed coach in the area. Pierson plans to continue coaching. “They haven’t fired me yet! Doesn’t matter if you’re the best coach, somebody is always going to be unhappy about something you do,” says Pierson. But being a soccer coach isn’t a full-time job, so what does he do in the off-season? Pierson owns Highland Livestock and just recently purchased the neighboring ranch, the Mission Ranch. Balancing ranching and soccer have been a Photo from Tina Haines difficult task, but not an impossible Matt Pierson once played soccer for one for Pierson. “It all boils down PHS and now coaches here
Painting in the perfect place
The painting process for him starts with an on location small idea. He’ll paint out a scene and take a photo to refer to later, but it is critical to stay away from painting purely off photos because it doesn’t Art is more elegant when it is simpler. Like convey the same “energy” as being there in the moa story, you don’t explain in great depth the colment. The feeling is different. He spoke of paintings or and type of pants you were wearing or every asof waves that had a perfect freeze frame splash saypect of your surroundings. You give a vague deing “there is no way you could see that” inferring scription of everything but focus on the important that it had to be from a photo. “I could spend the rest details. This is how Aaron Schuerr feels about painting. of my life figuring out what a wave is,” Schuerr says. Schuerr lived in Bozeman for 10 years before If he likes the moving to Livingston smaller version, he to buy a house in about could spend weeks 2005. Like many peomaking it a larger ple in town, he’s an version. Some paintartist. He paints landings are sent out to scapes with oil pastels shows, not sold, then and acrylics and is reworked. One paintoften found painting ing, he says he started landscapes in Yellowin 2016, and finally stone. This past sumthinks is done. He remer, he spent about worked the color of three weeks painting the sky and tone of on location in The Park. the painting. “I think In addition to it’s more important to painting in Montana, be true to the feeling he has also painted in in that location than Morocco and is gearthe topographical reing up for a plein air ality,” he explains. painting in Maui. Plein After living air painting, is a fancy here for 15+ years was of saying paintSchuerr commented Photo By Dana Baskett ing outside, Schuerr on how he’s “never says. With about 25 Aarn Schuerr breaking out a smile for the PHS Geyser staff felt like the poor guy” other artists invited, in Livingston. “It feels they’ll spend the week painting as much as they can like I belong to something here.” Schuerr said talking then framing about four and putting them in a show. about the small group of people he’s become close with.
DANA BASKETT Geyser Staff Writer
8 News
February 11 , 2019
TNT adds MORP to dance lineup for b-ball season TERRAN SPEAKE Geyser Staff Writer There’s homecoming, formal, and prom, now get ready for morp! Park High’s very own TNT club is putting on a new dance this year and it’s called morp. Does this name possibly look familiar? Well, it’s just
prom backwards. So instead of getting all dolled up for prom, just come in jeans and a t-shirt! No dress clothes necessary. As a TNT member, coordinating dances is probably the most important part of the job; and on top of the all the dances TNT already puts on, they’re deciding to put on another one. Both Riah Grandpre, an active member
of TNT, and Caitlin Chiller, the TNT advisor, think that morp will be a good way of promoting student bonding and coming together to have fun. Chiller says “I think we’re going to have a lot of fun. The theme is glow in the dark, 80s, kind of fluorescent...it’ll be something fun to do after the game.” Morp has never been done before, according to Grandpre.
“They didn’t do it [morp] last year, or from any of the years that I’ve been in high school.” Since this is a new dance this year and its casual, there is a small budget for the dance. There was about $200-250 left over from formal that is going to be the budget for morp. And to zero the balance, the revenue from tickets should equal expenses.
The dance is the same night as Senior Night of both basketball teams. The theme for the games and for the dance is fluorescent/glow in the dark. Chiller hopes that people will just stay at the school after the games for the dance since they’re already decked out in their glow in the dark accessories.
New phone rule causes a stir in study halls ANGEL SHERDAHL Geyser Staff Writer This year was the first in many years that classroom teachers are responsible for study hall. After first semester, these teachers met with Principal Lynne Scalia and guidance counselors to discuss changes that needed to be made in study hall procedures for second semester. Due to teacher and par-
ent concerns, students in study hall are now not allowed to use their phones. When a computer is needed, students can check one out from the library. Last semester, some students weren’t utilizing their time and parents worried their kids were spending too much time on social media, Scalia said. After the rule was announced, six students in the seventh period study hall chose to take off-campus instead.
Photo by Leinee Smith
Ms. Brown in the shop.
Many students listen to music when they do their homework and are upset because now they can’t. Junior Olivia Wellbrook said she did witness many students in study hall last semester who spent the whole period on their phones, doing things like playing games. Although she said she doesn’t have a problem with kids uing their devices to study or listen to music, “to an extent, it’s a good rule,” she con-
ceded. “I feel like, if that’s what they have to do, then losing music isn’t that bad,” she explained. Junior Scarlett Saile disagrees with the new rule. “It’s stupid. I can’t look up anything, instead I have to go back through and waste a lot of time just to find something in my notes, that could’ve taken me three seconds to look it up,” she said. Students who don’t comply with the rule are first given a warning, and upon the second
Photo by Leinee Smith
Julianne Harris during Health Enhancement.
Larry Habermas
offense, they are given a referral and must pick up their phone at the end of the day from the office. “If a group of students feel the need to change a rule, they can get together and talk to a dean/ administrator to try to change the rule,” Scalia explained. She said many school policies and procedures have been influenced by student input over the years, citing the examples of the student dress code and drug testing policy.
Photo by Angel Sherdahl
Student teachers come to PHS C.J. OLDS Geyser Staff Writer Three student teachers are working at Park High this semester: Julianne Harris, Ms. Brown, and Larry Habermas. Harris, who is student teaching under Nancy Haglund and Brittney Hampson, is working to get her major in health enhancement and her double minor in family and consumer science. She takes interest in hunting,
fishing and even cooking. She has played a lot of sports and coached, which lead to her choice of major. She had prior experience in teaching children about health enhancement before coming to Park as a student teacher. Brown, who is student teaching under Industrial Technology teacher Jamie Isaly, likes to be more hands-on in the classroom, which influenced her decision to become an industrial technology teacher. Her
dad also taught as a shop teacher. She is interested in baking and restoring her 1979 Corvette. Habermas, who is student teaching under Health Enhancement teacher Nancy Haglund, is working to become a coach. He enjoys giving back and helping kids. He feels like it is an opportunity to give back to his teachers. Habermas used to teach in the military and helped teach at a Head Start. Previously he coached football and boxing.
9 News
February 11 , 2019
Chamber choir shows love for show tunes LEINEE SMITH Geyser Staff Writer
The annual Park High Chamber Choir variety show will occur on Feb.11 and 12 this year at 7 p.m. This show will consist of a variety of solo and group performances that correspond with the show tunes theme. The variety show occurs annually in order to raise money for choir traveling and supplies. There is an entrance fee of $15 for adults and $10 for students. Everyone attending is allowed a free dessert. The opening performance, “That Thing You Do”, will be performed by all chamber choir participants. It will be followed by many solo and group performances such as, “Sweet Child of Mine”, “Hallelujah”, “Gimme Gimme”, “Sweet Home Chicago”, “Part
of Your World”, and “Stars”. The seniors will be performing “California Dreamin’”, and the juniors will sing “Bohemian Rhapsody”. The closing song performed by all chamber choir members is the “Greatest Show” from The Greatest Showman. Each student will be performing no more than three songs each, whether it is a group or solo performance. Erin Peterson states that chamber choir has been preparing for this show since the end of December. According to Nancy Curtis, the variety show has been put on for nine years with amazing turnouts. This year, she hopes for the turnout to be better or just as good as it has been in previous years.
Chamber choir dances as they sing “The Bright Side of Life” by Eric Idle.
Photo by Peyton Murphy
Speech and drama’s record numbers place at state
Addie Pittman and Keaton Ramm. Pittman coaches 11 of the stuThis year’s Speech and dents while Ramm coaches two. Speech and Drama Drama club had the largest numteaches students how to enber of students participating than gage audiences through sevin any other previous year, and eral events. Clara Jones, Brithey hope to have even more anna Pittman, and Megan members next year. Out of the Sarrazin perform dramatic 13 members of Speech and Drama, nine qualified for state which solos. Dramatic duos are exewas held on Jan. 26 in Belgrade. cuted by Sidney and Mikayla Speech and Drama is a Denniston. Humorous solos competitive program offered at are performed by Izzi Perty, Park High where the students pre- Illana Pattberg, and Henry pare pieces to perform in front of Sullivan, and humorous duo audiences. They prepare for their is done by Herbert Hoy and competitions by meeting with James Duncan. Erin Peterson their coach twice a week to prac- and Sofia Ross participate in the tice. The coaches this year were pantomime event where the per-
EDEN KIRK Geyser Staff Writer
formers express meaning through nary rounds. Each round is made gestures, and Summer Melin does up of eight competitors. From a dramatic oral interpretation. here, they are judged on their performance and the top two participants compete in the final round. At state, all the Park High participants made it to the semi-finals. After competing at the semi-final level, five students made it to the final round. Jones received second place, Pittman placed sixth, and Sarrazin placed seventh for their dramatic solo performances. Peterson placed second and Ross received seventh for At competitions, partici- their pantomime performances. pants compete in three prelimiWhile performing for au-
diences, the participants develop important communication skills. The Speech and Drama program at Park High School is designed with the hope of helping students become comfortable speaking with an audience. Speech and Drama member Izzi Petry states that her involvement in the program has benefited her in many ways. Petry said “Being part of speech and drama has definitely benefited me. It has helped me with my communication to large audiences, helped me with my confidence, and helped me be patient and respectful towards others.”
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February 11 , 2019
Cunningham and Bergdoll making history in wrestling
Photo by Gibson Erickson
Cunningham in action at a recent wrestling practice.
MCLEOD VERSLAND Geyser Staff Writer Typically, when you think of wrestling, you only think of boys and not girls. This is be-
cause wrestling is predominantly a male based sport, but this is beginning to change especially at Park High. The Rangers now have two female wrestlers, Molly Cunningham and Maya Berg-
at times with cardio, weight lifting and the lack of other girl participants in the sport. When asked what it was like to be a girl in a predominately male sport, Cunningham said that it’s a lot of hard work because the boys are expecting an easy win. She also said that it can be uncomfortable because they must wrestle boys as well. Bergdoll and Cunningham in their team Bergdoll agreed with photo. Cunningham, saying that it can be tough at times because doll. Both girls started wrestling they must wrestle boys most of because they thought it seemed the time especially in practice. fun and some of their friends When one of the girls doesn’t also wrestled. Ever since, the come to practice, then the other girls have had a blast wrestling girl is stuck with wrestling with even though it can be difficult
Boys gear up for final conference games
boys about the same weight. Coaching girls is a new experience for coach Ben Hahn, he is seeing an increase in the popularity of the sport for girls. Hahn would like to eventually see the sport split so girls wouldn’t have to wrestle with the boys to make it fair. However, Hahn is super proud of Bergdoll and Cunningham for the courage they have shown. Cunningham and Bergdoll have been wrestling this season in the JV division and have been doing well, Hahn said. They have been consistently competing in matches and having a great time throughout the season. The girls are looking forward to finishing up the season and gaining more experience for their future wrestling careers.
Rangers seek to secure position in state playoffs BUDDY MURPHY Geyser Staff Writer This season, the boys varsity basketball team has found tremendous success in their conference.The boys have won all four of their first conference games. Initially, the boys won the first conference matchup at home against the Havre Blue Ponies easily by 15 points. A couple weeks after that, the boys traveled to Belgrade to play the Panthers, and feasted by beating them by 30 points. The next week, the boys geared up for what would be the second hardest conference game of the year. The Fergus County Golden Eagles came to town on a snowy night. The game was an absolute dog fight, with Park digging themselves out of an early hole and beating Fergus by seven points. Just three weeks ago, Park made the cross state trek up to Havre to play the Blue Ponies for the final time this season in the regular schedule. The Ponies came better equipped, but Park still came out on top by seven points. The boys played their toughest game this past Friday, February 8 in Lewistown. Results were not available at presstime. This upcoming Saturday, the Belgrade Panthers come to town for senior night. Some of the varsity boys commented on what they think the key to conference success has been. “Just working hard. We’re a scrappy team. We’re not always the biggest, our starting five, one guy over
six foot, so just being scrappy and fast. Good defense. On top of that, we’re a family oriented team, we all love each other,” senior Morgan Rosberg said. “One thing that definitely helps us is our speed and quickness. No one is faster than us. We always full court press,” said senior John Waddell. “I think we’ve been playing a lot better team ball then we have in years past. In years past we’ve had players that are out to get theirs, but this year it’s a team effort, we definitely have players that if they wanted they could go out and score as much as they want but we’re so much better now that they take the time to make the extra pass, set the screen,” said senior Peyton Murphy. “I think a lot of our success has come from a lot of the work that pretty much all of us have put in in the off season. Along with that we’ve all been doing it together so we’re used to playing with each other and knowing how we play,” senior Mcleod Versland said. “Having trust in each other and playing with each other. We go to tournaments together and just learn how we play together,” junior Sage Mcminn said. The boys played their toughest conference game last Friday. Seeing how referees have called games in Fergus’s gym in the past and the talent that is on Fergus’s team, it will no doubt be a challening game.Results were not available at press time.
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February 11,2019
Students show spirit with basketball themes BUDDY MURPHY Geyser staff writer
Retro night, 80’s Workout, White Out, Spirit night. This latest basketball season, dress up themes have been set for the home basketball games. In past years and seasons, themes have come and gone. Hawaiian, Black out, neon, camo, our student section has seen it all. This year, our student section has dressed up in purple and gold for spirit night and the band dressed up in neon polyester for 80’s workout video night, but the best theme according to students was by far Retro night. Zach Roberts said “ Definitely Retro Night. It was funny. A good time.” Retro night wasn’t just a favorite among students, but players too. John Waddell, a boys varsity starter, said “When we went Retro Jerseys, and the
entire student section went retro, that was pretty sweet to see.” Warren Hanson, a regular in the front of the Student Section said, “my favorite was probably the throwback night. Listening to the old tunes and seeing the team in the retro jerseys is definitely cool.” With only two home games left in the season, I asked some students what they would like to see as dress up themes for the rest of the season. “I want everyone to shave their heads so they look like me. Then when they shoot free throws, we bow and blind them from the shine,” Zach Roberts said. “Floral night. I have a sick button up T-shirt that I cut the sleeves off. Or space night. Puffy coats and moon boots. That’d be dope,” Hanson said. There isn’t anything anyone
would love to see more than Warren Hanson in a sleeveless T-shirt. “Yeah a Hawaiian night would be dope. Maybe a black or white out. We haven’t had one of those yet this season.” Morgan Rosberg, a senior varsity starter, said. “In class, I’ll talk to the kids and ask them what they think would be fun. We usually end up talking about the latest stupid online trend and see if we could make that a theme. It’s usually something easy and fun that everyone can get behind.” Garrett Stannard, director of Park High’s pep band, said. With the “MORP” dance after the senior night game being neon themed, the senior night game will be neon themed, and the home game against Big Timber will be either White out or Black out.
With all of the themes that have come and gone this basketball season, other sports will be looking to have a list of
themes as well. Other sports have had themes before, but not as consistently as this season.
Photo by Gibson Erikson
The cheerleaders lead the student body in a cheer during the theme “throwback” in a game between Park and Townsend
Basketball rolls into divisionals with high hopes BRYLEA BEYE Geyser staff writer
Photo by Gibson Erikson
John Waddell fights for the ball against a player from Townsend
Next week, the boys Varsity will head to Divisionals in Billings with high hopes of making it to State. This season has been a success for the Rangers in numerous ways. In Conference play, the boys are 4-0 which gives them an advantage heading into tournament play with their first round being a bye. Having a good conference record also sets them up for a more favorable road to the divisional championship. In addition from their conference success, they have many off the court accomplishments that they attribute a lot of their priorities to. Recently, head coach Layne Glaus and the boys have been doing a lot of team bonding. These include, going and watching former teammate, Laden Ricketts, play for MSU and taking turns holding team dinners at each other’s houses. “The best part about this basketball season must be our brother hood; everyone on the team is so close to each other. When anyone needs
something, we always are of this is attributed to the way there.” Brendon Johnson says. they approached the season. In Part of the big confidence the pre-season, they did expecbooster these boys have, comes tations of their teammates, how from their recent win against they can improve as a player and Lewistown who are second in the improve relationships outside of conference and have only lost to basketball. “When we click, all of Park. “It feels really good having us work well as a team, but somethat record. Beating Lewistown times when we are losing, we tend definitely brought gave us a lot to try to do it ourselves which of energy” Johnson states. When makes it much harder to win the asked about the strengths the game.” Skylar Higgs says. OverPark high boys have, “We get all, Higgs and the girls think straight buckets; our defense that the goals have helped their is pretty good and play good mindset for the season and will as a team” Johnson states. continue to do it next year. Higgs The boys’ preparation concludes with the best part for Divisionals are explained as of the season being “All of us going to the gym and just trying get along pretty well and try to get as many shots in as possi- to make it as fun as we can”. ble. “We’ve had some history of To prepare for Divisionnot making it to Saturday, but I’m als the Girls haven’t decided to happy to say that I think we have do anything drastically differa really good chance to making it ent. “We usually just try to focus to State this year.” Johnson ends. one game at a time and in pracMake sure to come out and sup- tices usually do about 15-minport your varsity boys in Billings! ute workouts along with other The girls have improved drills”. “Our goal for Divisiondramatically from last season. als is to make it farther than we Their 6-9 record (1-3 in confer- did last year, which was making ence play) has put them in a good it through the second day.” Higgs position post season play. Much ends. State will be held in March.
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February 11, 2019