Issue 5

the

reporter

Paola High School • 401 N. Angela • Paola, KS 66071

Blood Drive

4 (feature)

If you really knew me...

8-9 (features)

1 in 646

Girl take fourth in Salina “It was really cool going my senior year and I’m really proud to have been part of the team.”

-KayLee Farmer, senior “We were a close team which made it fun and we bonded more on and off the court,”

-Tiana Moala, sophomore

After the bomb threat

hali wimbush design editor

whitney mcdaniel reporter

“It was a really cool experience. I felt like I was Ben Mclemore from KU. It was hard to believe that it was really happening until we finally got on the court. I have faith in our team, we’ll be back again next year,”

Winter sports wrap up

11-12 (entertainment) 14 (sports)

Making a State-ment

-Lyndsee Johnson, sophomore

April 2013

Photo by Caleb Hecker

Top: Sophomore Lyndsee Johnson looks to pass off to sophomore Tiana Moala against Fort Scott on March 9.

The girls lost the game, taking fourth at the State tournament.

Right: Junior Remick Paulsen beats the Tonganxoie defender for a layup against in the first round of the state tournament March 7. The Panthers finished the season with a 19-6 record.

Bottom right: Taylor Williams, freshman, goes up for a lay-up against Tonganoxie March 7. The team beat the Chieftans 55-38.

Left: Senior Kaylee Farmer shoots a jump shot against Fort Scott on March 9. Paola tied for the best finish for a girls basketball team.

Photo by Caleb Hecker

Photo by Journey Capettini

While Patricia Bouton, sophomore, sat in guitar class Jan. 16, a student returned from the bathroom talking about a bomb threat that written on the bathroom wall.

“I’m like ‘What an idiot? Who does that?” Bouton said. “Ironically, I found out it was my brother. It was my idiot.”

While the scare of the bomb threat ­‑ for which her brother, junior William Bouton, was charged with a felony threat - seemed to die off for most, Bouton continues to feel the effects of her brother’s decision.

William Bouton’s court day was on March 29. Bouton has been expelled from the high school he’ll have to attend counsling and recieved a fine according to Bouton.

To Bouton, William is still her brother, whom she joked around with and teased.

“I always joked like ‘Oh yeah, William’s going to be in jail one day,” Bouton said. “When it actually happened, it was not what I was expecting. I cried a little bit and he started making faces at me.”

Bouton said it’s easier to talk about what happened now, but in the beginning that wasn’t the case.

“When I first found out I thought it was going to be more like ‘Oh I can’t believe that was her brother’ and just putting me down,” Bouton said. “I don’t want people to look at me like I’m a freak because my brother did this, I don’t want them to look at me like ‘Oh she’s so pitiful, she has such a harsh life.’ It was actually more like they didn’t know what to say, so they just didn’t talk to me.”

Bouton said peers still show disapproval.

“Some people try to take it further,” Bouton said.

She recalled when a classmate asked her why William was going to the Miola basketball games since he got out of jail. Bouton said the girl said it made her feel uncomfortable.

“I’m his sister not his guardian,” Bouton said.

Friendships have helpd Bouton cope and have altered her perspective.

“My brother did it because he was bullied,” Bouton said. “He holds his anger in until one little elbow to the face, which was what happened that morning, became too much,” Bouton said the incident occurred during a game in P.E. when he was accidently elbowed coming down from a shot.

“William was fine and then he went to the bathroom, wrote on the wall, left and he got caught,” she said.

Because her brother was different, he was a target for bullies, Bouton said.

Photo by Rochelle Alexander

Coach Stuart Ross calls a play at the first game of the tournament March 7 against Tonganoxie in Salina. The girls beat Ottawa in the substate championship March 2 to qualify for state .

Update: see page 4 Photo by Journey Capettini

Bouto

2 (quick news)

The Reporter • April 2013

15 2

Compiled by Jackson Setter

quick picks highest seed to ever make it to the Sweet 16

68

number of teams invited to play in the NCAA tournament

number of teams in the Sweet 16 from Kansas

3

number 1 seeds still in the tournament

Food fight for Sandy Hook Developmental Leadership will host the school’s first food fight.

On Monday April 1, students can participate in food games to help contribute money to benefit those affected in Newtown, Conn.

“There will be games such as egg roulette and a game where you find gummy bears in a pile of whipped cream with your face,” senior Caylin Smith said.

All proceeds will be used to help build the University of Connecticut’s Memorial scholarship

fund. The fund is to help support the college cost of those affected by the shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary School that took the lives of 20 children and six staff members.

Admission will be $8 and will take place in the field behind the greenhouse.

“We’ll have an actual food fight, and the idea is to then clean up with a water balloon fight [at the end],” Smith said.

- Whitney McDaniel

Time malfunctions About half of the clocks in the school are not working. According to Principal Phil Bressler, the clock system is in need of repair.

“They’re old,” Bressler said.

He said the problem isn’t with the clocks themselves, but rather the connection between the clocks and the main system.

“The bells work, but the wiring between the clocks and the main unit is probably what is causing the issues,” he said.

Bressler said that he is uncertain if they will replace the clock system.

“I don’t know if we will buy a new system, because the students have devices with them that will tell time,” Bressler said. “We do plan to replace the bell system in the future.”

He said that the fate of the clocks is not set in stone.

“As to what the clocks look

like, we don’t have a definitive solution yet,” Bressler said. “We have looked into atomic clocks as a replacement.”

Atomic clocks synchronize themselves with radio signals sent out by the government. Therefore, a clock in California and a clock in New York would read the exact same time.

Freshman Creighton Youk said the malfunctioning clocks are very annoying.

“On a scale of 1-10, I give it a 10,” Youk said.

Youk said he never knows what time it is.

“I get in trouble for trying to check the time on my phone,” Youk said.

His solution is simple.

“We should just get new clocks,” he said.

- Jackson Setter

Photo by Journey Capettini

Junior Cayman Long celebrates at the Girls 4A State Tournament in Salina on March 7. Many students dressed up in beach theme to support the girls team in their win over Tonganoxie.

Matches fund banquet This year’s Data Match was a fundraiser for the Academic Banquet.

Members of Student Council were in charge of this fundraiser and raised approximately $175 after payments to the Data Match website and shipping.

Data Match is a questionnaire filled out by students and the matches and answers are calculated. The results are then shipped back to the school where participants paid $2 to receive their results.

This isn’t the first year Stuco had done a Data Match.

“It’s been four years,” said Justin Elliott.

Junior Mitch Sloan was one of the Stuco members passing out the results. Sloan said students were shocked to see who was on their list of matches.

Elliott said he hopes for this fundraiser to become a yearly occurrence.

“We had a lot of positive feedback,” said Elliott.

- Katey Colwell

New sponsor restarts SADD

Missy Thompson, athletic director secretary, is the new sponsor for SADD. “SADD has been around for a while,” Thompson said. “It was around even when I was in high school.”

It has been in the high school for many years but was “lost” Thompson said until it was brought back at the beginning of this school year.

SADD is a student-run organization that has been around for more than 30 years. SADD stands for students against destructive decisions. Its mission is to provide students with the best prevention tools possible to deal with the issues of underage drinking, other drug use, risky and impaired driving, and other destructive decisions, according to the SADD website.

Dana Abbott was the sponsor three years ago.

When she left, no one sponsored SADD until Principal Phil Bressler talked to Thompson about becoming

the SADD sponsor.

“I was against it at first,” Thompson said, “Not what SADD stood for, but that I had a new job and a lot more responsibilities, I didn’t need another one.”

Thompson later decided to become the sponsor of SADD. SADD funds Red Ribbon Week and brings in guest speakers to help student prevent destructive decisions, Thompson said. She said she would also like SADD to help with “Project Graduation” later on in the future.

Sophomore, Kenna Haley said she agrees with the ideals of SADD. “We enlighten the students with the consequences of bad decisions,” said Haley. “We encourage students to make better choices to better their life.”

- Chase Mercer

(news)

The Reporter • April 2013

3

Student blood donations save lives KAYs blood drive on April 3 helps patients in local hospitals natalie eppler reporter Last fall, 69 students donated blood during the KAYS blood drive. Sophomore Kaiser Mittenburg was among the donors.

“I thought it was a good thing to do,” Mittenburg said.

This was Mittenburg’s first donation. To prepare for the donation, Mittenburg “drank a bunch of water” and was only a little nervous before giving blood.

The spring drive will be April 3 at the high school.

Every two seconds one person needs a blood transfusion, and every year, 5 million US patients need

“

“

I just love helping people.

- Mia Crapisi, senior

blood transfusions, the Red Cross Blood website said.

“I think most give out of a sense of charity,” Stuart Ross, KAYS sponsor, said. “They do it because it helps save a life.”

To donate, donors must be at least 16 years of age and weigh 110 pounds, Ross said.

If these requirements are met and 16-year-olds receive parental consent, donors can donate at local blood drives.

After donating for the first time, many choose to do it again.

Seniors Lucy Statts and Mia Crapisi have donated many times.

Statts and Crapisi said they were nervous before donating the first time, but wanted to make a difference in someone’s life.

For every pint of blood donated, up to three people can be helped, the website said.

For this reason, junior Gunnar Karr chose to donate blood.

“I just figured I had something someone else needed that I didn’t need,” he said.

The process of donating blood takes between one and three hours, some donors said.

“I just love helping people,” Crapisi said.

Photo by: Lexi Loya Junior Gunnar Karr donates blood at the KAYS fall blood drive on Oct. 3. At the drive, 69 students donated.

“One pint of blood can save three lives” 45%

Red Blood Cells

Uses: Treatment of Trauma patients, in surgery, anemia, blood loss and blood disorders.

Job: Carries oxygen to the cells.

Platelets

1%

Uses: Treatment of cancer patients, organ transplants and surgery.

Job: Stops and prevents bleeding.

Plasma

Uses: Treatment of burn patients, shock and bleeding disorders Job: Protects body from infection and keeps red blood cells in place.

55%

Information Courtesy of Red Cross Blood website. Illustration by Natalie Eppler

913-980-8722

Have a story idea?

Tell someone on the Reporter staff.

4 (news)

The Reporter • April 2013

The deciding factor

Choice between stability or passion in careers can be tough for students camille mars reporter

Before becoming a teacher, Rebecca Johnson worked at Home Depot for a year and a half. Realizing she wanted more, she went back to college and got a degree in environmental engineering.

This combined her two interests, math and the environment. Johnson then made the decision to become a teacher, partially based on the location of her job.

Stability versus passion. There are pros and cons to both when deciding on a career path.

Stability risks the chance of becoming bored, but is not an economic risk.

“It was hard to raise a family and commute. The commute was too long,” Johnson said. She recognizes the benefits of both a choice based on stability and passion, and recommends pursuing a passion while young, knowing that one can always change later on.

“A pro [of choosing a job based on stability] is knowing that long term you have a job that you may not be most passionate about,

Update : cont’d from page 1 “We went to watch the Bully movie and I thought that highlighted a lot of stuff that happened to him,” she said. “They find the smallest difference and they make it a huge thing.”

If the bullying issue were to have been adressed at a younger age the outcome might have been diffrent for William said Bouton.

“I think it would have helped other students emotionally, if the bullying issue were addressed,” Bouton said. “But William was already in the volcanic zone, you know hold it in until one thing happens and

but that you enjoy. Then you can seek life outside of work,” Johnson said.

Junior Jenna Ratzlaff would like to be in the comic or entertainment industry, but considers it unlikely she will pursue a career in those fields.

“I want to be successful and not feel trapped by my job or otherwise,” Ratzlaff said.

Even though art is her passion, she does not want to question her stability.

“Although I love drawing, there just isn’t enough certainty,” said Ratzlaff.

Eric Haefele, freshman, said it is more important to be passionate about what one does than to have stability. He hopes to pursue journalism after high school.

Haefele hopes to accomplish a good family with enough money to satisfy.

Sophomore Cheyenne Ward said some people choose a job based on stability because it ensures their income and benefits. She said it is more important to be passionate.

“If you don’t enjoy your job then you won’t want to go to work,” Ward said. “I it all explodes over that,” Bullying has increased with the technological age.

When Jeff T. Hines, vice principal, was growing up there was only one computer that had the internet in the school.

“There was no calling them and harassing them,” Hines said. “Bullying happened from 8 to 3:30. You can’t go home and hide from it anymore.”

Hines used a reference often used by Principal Phil Bressler to describe how a bully’s mind might work.

“If you go out to our vending machine and you put 50 cents in the vending machine and your candy gets stuck, are you

Photo illustration by Hali Wimbush

think it’s important to have stability. Passion is just more important.”

She hopes to be an equine veterinarian and to be the vet of a Kentucky Derby race horse.

Matthew Bergman, senior, aspires to be an actuary. He enjoys working with numbers and the business aspect of things. Understanding the reasons people choose a job based on passion, he said he feels passionate about his chosen career path.

“They like it and they are optimistic that things will come out right,” Bergman said.

Growing up, Todd DeYoung wanted to going to put another 50 cents in?” Hines said. “Some will give up, some won’t give up. Their 50 cents is their taunt to you. Their candy bar is your reaction. If you don’t give them a reaction, they’re going to try another. If you’re the vending machine and you don’t report it then you’re taking it out on other students.”

The procedure to address bullying is listed in the front of agendas, Hines said.

“We use a three-step process,” Hines said. “The key thing is how it’s received not how it’s perceived,” Hines said he wants the student body to know that bullying can only be addressed if the

be an airplane pilot. The first job he pursued out of college was as an industrial engineer.

Then, he became a healthcare consultant.

Finally, he reached his current profession as a teacher.

He became a teacher because he “wanted to explain things to young people about what their options were in life,” DeYoung said.

DeYoung said he believes students will be better at what they decide to pursue if they are passionate about it.

“If you’re happy, the money doesn’t matter as much,” DeYoung said. victim or a friend of the victim reports it.

“I can only do and implement those steps if it’s reported,” Hines said. “If you don’t report it, you take the opportunity away from a trained professional to help.”

Bouton agreed that reporting the bullying could have helped William, but he did not report it to school officials.

“I think because instead of him talking about it openly to me and my mom because I know he got bullied wheather he tells me or not because I could see it on his face I think it was more that he kept it in and kept it in and it was that small little trigger that let it all lose,” Bouton said.

Fun Boutique Items!

Full Service Salon!

15% coupon off any one boutique item

15 S Pearl, Paola, KS

(features)

The Reporter • April 2013

Will you go to prom with me?

5

Prom builds

Guys find creative ways to ask girls to prom katey colwell feature editor Junior Lucas Wilson asked junior Allie Ozier to prom with a jar of peanut butter.

“We went on a picnic. As I was getting the bread out, I asked her to open the peanut butter,” said Wilson. “The note was inside of the lid.”

Wilson said he came up with the idea, but a friend suggested he take Ozier on a picnic.

“I wanted to be creative and original,” said Wilson.

Prom rolls around every year. Couples go together, friends go in groups and some get asked.

Prom will be April 20 and the theme will be “TransPROMinental,” or around the world.

Wilson and Ozier have known each other since sixth grade. Wilson said Ozier is a good friend and he thinks the prom experience would be more fun to go with someone he knows really well.

Junior ExZavier Miller is taking senior Kourtney Huffman to prom.

“We’re good enough friends,” said Miller.

Miller and Huffman dated for five months and he asked her to prom by writing it on a white board before taking her to dinner. When they got back, Huffman checked the board and said she would go with Miller.

“It doesn’t really matter

how you ask [girls] to prom, they will say yes,” Miller said.

Miller said things shouldn’t be awkward because of the break up.

“It’s her senior year,” said Miller.

“I already made the commitment.”

Just like Miller’s commitment to Huffman, junior Tera Brandt has committed to go with Matt Sommer.

Brandt said yes to Sommer after he asked her to prom with a fortune Photo courtesy of Mariah Keyser cookie.

“I have a lot of Junior Mariah Keyser got asked to prom with a teddy bear dressed in a tux. free time,” said Keyser was on e of the girls who was asked to prom in a unique way.

Sommer. “It just came to me.”

“He put a Build-A-Bear niors were,” said Trigg. “So I Sommer taped the fortune in a tuxedo in my locker,” took a stand.” cookie to Brandt’s locker one said junior Mariah Keyser. “I Trigg asked senior Sarah day after school and the next thought it was cute.”

Rourke to prom by covering day she said yes.

Hecker recorded his voice her minivan in sticky notes “It was so creative and in- asking Keyser to prom and that said “prom?” on each genious,” said Brandt. put the custom voice-box in sticky note.

Brandt and Sommer are the bear.

“It took him five hours to ready for prom. She has her “Every girl wants to feel write and put them on my car,” dress and he has his tux. How- special,” said Hecker. “Find- said Rourke. “I was really surever Sommer might need a ing a creative way to ask was prised he went to the trouble, lesson in dancing before prom the best way I could do that.” but it was really cute.” night.

Senior Zach Trigg agrees Asking girls to prom isn’t a “He asked me to teach him that the creative route is the competition between the boys. how to dance,” said Brandt. way to go.

“But if it is, I’m winning,” Senior Caleb Hecker had “I was sick and tired of said Trigg. assistance from a bear. hearing how creative the ju-

Need to knows Prom

After-prom

Start: April 20 @ 7 p.m.

End: April 21 @ midnight

Start: April 21 @1 a.m.

End: April 21 @4 a.m.

Where: PHS gymnasium

Where: Fairgrounds

Photo by Jackson Setter

Sophomores Courtney Shultz, Chase Holub, Jessica Wright and Emily Mucklebauer help out with prom builds.

Photo by Jackson Setter

Juniors Madison Auten and Allie Ozier paint a poster while assisting in prom builds on Jan. 28.

Photo by Jackson Setter

Junior Mackenzie Getz paints a dragon for this year’s theme“Around the World”on Jan. 28.

Photo by Jackson Setter

Prom sponsor Whitney Lanier and Junior Trey Taylor work together to finish prom builds on Jan. 28.

Theme:TransPROMinental Theme: Vegas Photo by Lauren Wood

Junior Allie Ozier paints shoe boxes for prom on Feb. 8.

6 (opinion)

The Reporter • April 2013

Mean Girls

Photo illustration Photo by byLibby LibbyRayne Rayne Mean girls are manifesting the school with their cruel ways and sassy attitudes.

Take a chill pill

Have a seat, honey

she said

he said libby rayne opinion editor

When I graduate from this high school I won’t remember it as a school filled with mean girls and drama.

I’m going to remember it as a place that has opened me up to a fun life and good people.

A lot of students (mainly girls) are not going to see it that way. Even now they don’t see it. They view this school as a treacherous place where they get verbally attacked on a daily basis. Or they are going to make it apparent to everyone they run this school and no one person will stand in their way.

Several girls are the reason our school has the ‘mean girl’ reputation.

Whether they are giving dirty looks, making a status on Facebook or a Tweet, handing out witch-slaps like they’re candy, throwing a couple “self-defense” punches, or just being plain mean, the school’s morality is slowly going down the drain.

Now if you are like me, you don’t really get involved with all of the pointless drama. We go with the flow. We see these things happening, we hear about them, but we never get involved. Drama and fighting is a foreign thing.

In fact, I find it all a little bit humorous.

I just don’t understand: how does something escalate like that? How does

it go from ‘Best friends till the end <3’ to ‘She has been talking trash about me, she is dead to me. She will regret the day she crossed me.’

All this Twitter and Facebook drama is happening and I’m just sitting here being endlessly entertained. The lengths people will go to just to get their point across is beyond me.

I don’t consider this bullying. With stuff like this, normally the victims are provoking the perpetrators. But to be fair, a lot of the time people also have a special talent for sticking their noses into other people’s business.

I consider it to be conflicting personalities, inconsiderate behavior and sassy attitudes.

So here’s my solution for the mean girls and the victims: take a giant step back and rethink everything you know.

If you’re mad at someone, at least have the dignity to handle it in a mature way. Being nasty will get you nowhere in life.

If you are offending someone, stop poking the bear. You need to be more elusive in whatever you do or have some respect and step off.

There is also a path where you can stand up for yourself. Stand your ground without involving or offending anyone else.

Mean girls. Like totes ugh. I will never understand why girls behave the way they do.

Do they think hurting someone else gets them somewhere in life? Maybe the Juvenile Detention Center.

I personally have never experienced the wrath of the mean girls.

In fact, I’m deathly afraid to get caught in the middle of a mean girl frenzy.

Fists of fury and words being shrieked at extreme decibels doesn’t sound inviting to me.

Within the past year, the girls fighting over other girls being all over their man have escalated.

I’m not trying to call out anyone specifically, but it seems that this is the primary cause for all fights lately.

You are not going to spend the rest of your life with the person you are currently with.

Most of you guys will go to different places across the country. If you do happen to stay with the same person, then snaps for you.

One thing I will never understand is why girls talk about how much they hate drama, yet they also seem to be the root cause of the drama.

They always talk about how they want to get away from drama and how

jackson setter reporter their life is full of drama.

What really grinds my gears is when girls take it onto a social media website. It may provide some cheap entertainment, but have some virtue.

There are numerous amiable ways to settle this debacle outside of the Internet.

It seems like people of this generation were raised without basic morals.

Straight up calling out someone on Twitter or Facebook (with sentence enhancers) is just not a righteous thing to do.

Their main way of talking to people is through an electronic device, rather than face-to-face. Although it seems that meeting face-to-face has resulted in severe consequences.

Girls, don’t think your flying fists of fury make you attractive.

Don’t get me wrong, I like girls who can hold their own, but absolutely bashing everything in sight is trashy, not classy.

It is not worth it. Do you really want to get suspended for something childish that can easily be solved? Ain’t nobody got time fo that!

Some of you girls need to quit your YOLOn’ and swerve. Take a seat and get a reality check, you aren’t the next MMA fighter.

(opinion)

The Reporter • April 2013

7

staff editorial w

Complainers beware...

Everything is due tomorrow, and I haven’t even started because I was too busy hanging out with my friends last night.

I don’t have any free time. I have to go to practice, rehearsal and then my job tonight after school. When am I supposed to get all this stuff done?

Everyone has heard this before.

If you who say this constantly, this is for you.

You seem to think you are the only one who is busy. Well, newsflash. We all have things we have to do. We are all busy so get off your high horse and deal with it.

You aren’t the busiest person in school, or even the biggest procrastinator. You are only looking for attention and it is getting old. If you

don’t agree, keep reading.

Let’s start with three causes of procrastination according to the mindreality website.

• Feeling overwhelmed • Perfectionism • Lack of discipline The list goes on, but let’s stick with these three.

Let’s break these down one by one and find the flaws.

• Feeling overwhelmed o I get it you have a lot of work to get done, but saying there is too much to do is a lie. Maybe, if you actually started the work, you might find it takes less time for you to do it, than it takes you to complain about how long it takes to do.

• Perfectionism o Is anything ever perfect?

• Lack of discipline o It is perfectly normal to not know where to start, but you still have to start, we all do. Do a little at a time don’t make yourself do it all at once. Just get it done and stop complaining.

You are not as busy as you think. This feeling that we all have too much homework each night, and there is no way humanly possible that you can get it done is you psyching yourself out.

According to the National Education Association each student should be given no more than 10 minutes of homework per grade level per night. In other words, freshman should have, at most, 90 minutes of homework each night and seniors should have two hours

We all have things going on, get over yourself of homework every night.

I have never actually had to sit down and do 90 minutes of homework a night, let alone two hours.

English teacher Eric Long said he gives an average, average being the operative word, of 10 minutes of homework to his freshman and 30-45 minutes to his seniors. Math teacher Lisa Collier said most math classes generate work that is usually finished before the school day is over.

Since I know you are too busy to do the math, I will do it for you. So far you have a total of 10 minutes of homework for freshman and 45 minutes for seniors, and no that’s not all.

Science teacher Todd Deyoung said his freshman receive 10 min-

utes of homework and his seniors, 15 minutes of optional homework.

Social science teacher Mike Smith said he gives out 10 minutes to his freshman and seniors.

This brings us to a total of 30 minutes of homework for freshman and 75 minutes for seniors for core classes.

Kindergarten teacher Jenny Nash said she gives out an average of 15 minutes of reading homework and 5 minutes of math per night. A total of 20 minutes a night roughly. Only 10 minutes less than the average freshman receives from their core classes.

If you still think you are too busy, then keep it to yourself. I don’t want to hear it anymore.

Down with mashed corn Using your planner leaves brain room to think lane harris reporter It was Feb. 7, 2012. A Thursday.

I hadn’t realized I had planned on dancing at homecoming, babysit the mail lady’s kid, and drive to Lincoln, Nebraska the next day.

I panicked.

I’m not the only student in this school who gets so loaded down with obligations, or an occasional panic attack, it turns my brain into mashed corn.

The staff members at PHS know this, which is why you get that magical book every August: your planner.

It fits neatly into the smallest backpack pocket.

It’s ready to do its job—keep

your life in order.

Sadly, most end up on eraser shelves, in the library lost and found, and sometimes in—gag— the urinals.

Students don’t use their planner to their full potential.

If you list what you need to do, your problems are out of your brain, leaving space to think.

Then, you go through and check the things you’ve completed.

Your life will be neat and organized.

You can get more stuff done and feel more accomplished.

You also won’t get caught having to be in three places at once.

the

reporter the staff

Volume 88 Issue 5

Editor-in-Chief: Caleb Hecker Design Editor: Hali Wimbush Feature Editors: Katey Colwell, Aly Johnson Opinion Editor: Libby Rayne Reporters: Tristan Barnes, Katie Biggs, Natalie Eppler, Lane Harris, Camille Mars, Whitney McDaniel, Chase Mercer, Brooke Prothe, Jackson Setter Ad Manager: Marissa Bergman Adviser: BriAnne Chayer

mission statement The Reporter is for the students, by the students.

The goal of the Reporter is to give the students a voice, and provide an open forum of ideas while maintaining an ethical publication with unbiased coverage.

editorial policy

It is the policy of the Paola Reporter, to provide a forum for student expression, voices in the uninhibited, robust, free and open discussion of issues. The Reporter encourages students to write letters to the editor or submit articles for the editorial page. We reserve the right to edit content. Material that contains libelous or obscene information will not be published.

Material that will cause a disruption of school activities is also prohibited. Authors must provide their full name. No articles will be published with an alias.

(features)

The Reporter • April 2013

The Reporter • April 2013

If you really knew me...

Students give voice to the struggles they face natalie eppler reporter aly johnson feature editor

Anonymous* ...you would know how strong I really am.

You would know that maybe I’m not as “bubbly” as I appear.

When I was first approached to tell my story, I didn’t know if I could—if I was ready for that. But with the help of family and friends, I have realized I am. If I can reach out to someone or stop someone from going through what my family and I went through, it will be worth it.

So, here’s my story.

I’ve struggled with depression all my life. You could say it runs in my family. Along with that came a distorted view of myself—that I was ugly… worthless.

This made me an easy target for Ken*. He called me beautiful. I had never had anyone pay attention to me like that before, let alone an older guy.

I didn’t pay attention to how he evaded questions or pressured me to do things I was nowhere near comfortable with. I thought I was in love.

So, when he pushed me too far, too fast, I forgave him. I told myself it was because he desired me and he told me it was my fault and that I wanted it.

It took me a very long time to

Anonymous*

For help go to:

• Elizabeth Layton Center- supports those dealing with anger management, depression, self-harm, suicide, etc. o Phone Number: 913-557-9096 o After hours Crisis Service- 800-241-1266 o Suicide Hotline- 1-800-SUICIDE o Suspect Child Abuse- 1-800-922-5330 o Website: www.laytoncenter.org/ o Address: 401 North East Street Paola, Kansas 66071 • For Sexual Abuse: http://rainn.org/

Statistics:

• 1 in 6 women will be a victim of rape during their lifetimes • 44% of those victims will be 18-years-old or younger • 1 million people will attempt suicide each year • 90% of all people who die by suicide have a diagnosable psychiatric disorder at the time of their death • More than 1 in 10 people say they have trouble controlling their anger • 1 in 10 adolescents suffer from a mental health disorder of any kind Information from the teenage anxiety, rainn, afsp, teen suicide and anger manage websites

...you would know that when I was 13 I was put into foster care.

I was upset, but thought it might change something in my life.

If you knew my life before foster care, you would know I got in trouble a lot and hung out with the wrong people. The smallest things made me mad and I didn’t know why.

If you were part of my foster family, you would know it set my life into chaos, but it helped me work my problems out. My foster family taught me how to get along with more people and to adjust to their needs.

If you met me a year ago, you might see that with lessons learned and the realization that anger

come forward, and I only did so with the strength of my mother behind me.

With the help of my family, friends, and a very special detective, I realized that what Ken did was wrong and that to keep him from doing the same thing to someone else, I needed to come forward.

I also realized my view of myself was wrong. It took something lifeshattering for me to realize that I am a beautiful and strong young woman with her whole life ahead of her when I look in the mirror.

Ken is currently awaiting justice and I’m taking my life one step at a time.

Some days are more difficult than others and I have many where I don’t want to wake up. Then I look at my mother’s face, my dad’s, my sisters’, my brother’s, my friends’, and I know that I am loved.

What I want you to take away from my story is that you are a unique individual with worth and so much to offer the world, and if anyone has tried to take advantage of you, you deserve better.

Rape and sexual abuse need more awareness. I’m sharing my story to raise that awareness and let you know that it’s okay to come forward.

made life a lot worse, I moved in with my grandparents.

If you understood how God affected my life, you would know that having someone watching over me has kept me on the right path and lets me know that someone believes in me.

If you understood my thoughts, you would know that I now try to ignore my anger and play video games to let my anger out.

Counselor Justin Elliott said that when dealing with anger, it helps to identify what triggers the anger and what indicates you are getting mad. After determining what causes the anger, try to come up with strategies and techniques to control it.

Anonymous*

...you would know that since I began high school I have felt like I can’t be myself around people without being put down for it.

You would know that I feel like, in our school, if you don’t fit the mold of the “perfect person”, you in turn get judged and people view you as being below them.

If you really knew me, you would know that fear is the main thing that holds me back from being myself at school.

You would know that I am scared of getting bullied so I do whatever I can to fit in. I feel like if I even just acted silly, some people would be very mean to me and that scares me.

If you really knew the people I admire, you would

Anonymous*

...you would know that anger broke my hand twice.

You would know that anger became a problem for me in middle school when my parents got on to me and lectured me because I cared less about school and more about sports.

If you lived in my house, you would know that when my dad gets angry and threatens to take my phone away, I get mad and start being disrespectful. It keeps escalating and I have to sit in my room, lay there for a while, and kind of cool off.

If you were a fly on my living room wall, you would see that I get mad often. About every other night my anger is a problem and I get super mad about once a week.

If you understood me, you would know that to help

know they are the ones who can freely express themselves and be bold without caring what other people think.

If you really knew me, you would know that I would be much happier if I felt like I could be who I wanted to be at school, but since I have to constantly watch what I say and how I act and who I hang out with, I can’t enjoy my high school experience much.

“A lot of people put on a mask,” Deanell Wieland, guidance counselor, said.

“They don’t want others to judge them or know what they deal with.”

Wieland said students should never judge one another because they don’t know anything about each other’s life or past experiences.

manage my anger I have talked to my friend’s dad and my coaches. It usually helps if they’re listening and not trying to lecture me.

If you knew how I felt about anger, you would know that I think a lot of people probably have it on different levels, but some can put up with it better than others.

If I could give advice to someone dealing with anger, I would say that violence and anger aren’t always the answer and they can lead to stupid stuff like breaking a hand.

“There are varying degrees of anger,” Counselor Justin Elliott said. “Some students need to talk to someone about their anger while others need to take medication to manage their anger.”

*Names changed/kept anonymous at the discretion of The Reporter staff

For more “If you really knew me” stories, go to www.phsjournalism.com

10 (academics)

The Reporter • April 2013

Artist

“

hali wimbush design editor

Profile: Alicia Schoenberger,sophomore How long have you been in band?

Do you plan on a career in band?

“Since sixth grade.”

“No but I plan to minor in it.”

What instrument do you play?

Do you prefer one type of band over the other?

“Flute.”

Headjoint

“Concert band.”

What does band mean to you?

“First.”

“It’s one big family where you can go and express yourself.”

Keys

“Being able to complete a challenge.”

How do you feel about the assignments give in band?

How often do you practice?

“You’re not assigned much, you’re just expected to practice. You get out what you put in.”

“Flute lessons every Tuesday for one hour and then three to four more hours a week.”

Lip plate

Body

What chair are you in band?

What inspires you the most?

“

of the month

Not all band kids are geeks. What we do is important to us.

- Alicia Schoenberger, sophomore

Foot joint

Photo Illustration by Hali Wimbush

The Call takes viewer on a thrilling, gory ride Chair-gripping movie has twists, turns, but doesn’t avoid typical thriller cliches hali wimbush design editor

movie review

Art courtesy of Sony Pictures

Rating: 5 of 5 phones

“911 what’s your emergency?”

The Call was a tension-filled, heart-racing movie where the thrill was kept on high.

The Call is a movie told through the eyesight of 911 responder Jordan Turner, played by Halle Berry.

Turner has spent her career assisting those in need and perfecting herself in emergency situations.

A call from a teen girl named Leah Templeton, played by Evie Thompson, changes her life.

Templeton is stuck in a house with an intruder and like any rational person, Templeton dials 911.

Turner is on duty that night and answers the call.

She is is shocked to hear a teen girl screaming on the other end. Jumping into professional mode, Turner address the issue and informs Templeton on the proper procedures.

Halle Berry got the chance to show off her true beauty while sporting her natural curly afro. Instead of being displayed as the seductress, she normally is Berry was portrayed as a determined and compassionate mother figure.

Michael Eukland, who played the estranged kidnapper, was unnerving. The truth to his part lay within his eyes.

The acting done by Abigail Breslin was phenomenal as she portrayed the terrified kidnaped teen.

The demonstration of ways to communicate with the world outside of the trunk was outstanding and it really made me open my eyes to the cars around me.

The constant action packed into this movie allowed it to be full of surprises as well as some ‘awe’ moments.

The twists and turns within ‘The Call’ allowed for a constant edge.

However, a downfall to ‘The Call’ was the surprise gory details; don’t get me wrong, if you like psychological thrillers with a little bit of gore, you’ll enjoy ‘The Call’ very much.

This psychological piece left me on edge, even after we left the theater.

Later during the week while shopping for cars I was constantly checking trunks and the back seat.

The entire plot for ‘The Call’ was past paced and there were never any scenes where the observer was left asking why.

Despite all of the good remarks though, there were a few clichés that you see in most thrillers, such as the mysterious lack of service when service is needed for life. There were only a few clichés were I had the urge to yell out at the screen, knowing that they wouldn’t hear me or for that matter care what I was yelling.

If you’re looking for a slight thrill and a look into the mind of a psycho, The Call is definitely a good movie to go see.

11

(student life)

The Reporter • April 2013

Stearns: pride symbol Freshman Michael Stearns told people he was gay in the sixth grade.

“Every single friend of mine that was a guy didn’t want to be my friend anymore, so I became friends with more girls instead,” Stearns said. “I got picked on a lot. A couple of times I got pushed into lockers some kids would knock my stuff out of my hands and kids would call me names when the teachers weren’t looking.”

Stearns had to cope with judgment on his own.

“When I would talk to my friends, they didn’t really know what to do because we were so young,” Stearns said. “Books helped me a lot because I was able to escape what was going on and pretend I was in another world.”

Stearns said he is not a big fan of real life. He likes fantasy novels that give him a different reality than this one.

Now that Stearns is in high school he is more confident with himself.

“Coming out made me more outgoing,” Stearns said. “I was always really shy before and I wouldn’t want to do a lot. Now I am more comfortable being around other people and I’m able to be more myself.” Stearns wears things to symbolize gay pride. “I’m kind of out there, so I just taped a [gay pride] flag on my shirt,” Stearns said. “A bunch of people just stared at me like, ‘wow he is… OK look

away’ and a lot of the guys moved away or kept an eye on me so I wouldn’t hit on them or something.”

Stearns said he is often stereotyped.

“Apparently I’m supposed to hit on every straight guy that I see,” Stearns said. “I am also supposed to act more feminine. I do sometimes, but it’s not to fit into the stereotype.”

Though Stearns has gone through a lot since he came out, he wouldn’t change that he did.

“I’m glad I came out,” Stearns said. “It has taught me to be tougher towards bullying. It was a bad experience and I would never go back to middle school for anything, but because of that situation I’ve become stronger in the sense that I don’t let things get to me like other people do.” Photo by: Tristan Barnes Stearns is not open with everyone about his sexuality.

“If I’m meeting someone new, I avoid mentioning that I’m gay until I feel comfortable with telling them,” Stearns said. “I don’t tell my dad’s family because they are all really super religious and would try to change it if they could.”

Stearns said when religious people say they are going to pray for him it bothers him.

“I know what God says about being gay to an extent but I don’t want you to pray for me,” Stearns said. “I am comfortable with who I am. I am who I am. “

Sims-West: manager

Photo Illustration by Tristan Barnes

Franz:

future bestseller

Dylan Sims-West, sophomore, opens the curtains during rehearsal. “I wouldn’t really like to be on stage more,”SimsWest said. “I enjoy being backstage.”

As assistant stage manager Dylan SimsWest, sophomore, carries a lot of responsibility.

“After we set up the stage, we usually have a very large checklist that we have to go through,” he said.

Sims-West job doesn’t stop when the curtain rises.

“I have to make sure that everyone gets on and off on time and that the props are ready when they need to be,” SimsWest said. “Basically I make sure everything runs like it’s supposed to.”

Junior Noah Franz said one day he dreams of becoming a writer. He is currently working toward that dream with his novel, The Unspoken Code between Lawnmowers.

Franz said the book is about a teenager whose friend leaves and how he copes with the loss. It is written through a series of flashbacks from the friendship and present-day coping. The title is touched upon in the beginning of the book.

“The title has to do a lot with the fact that at the beginning of the book I have this extended metaphor of everyone being a lawnmower,” Franz said. “We’re all assigned to duties that we perform by interacting with one another even though we are not directly speaking to each other.”

Franz said he chose the word lawnmower to match a complicated metaphor so a person would have to read the book to understand it.

Franz said he sees himself producing more novels in the future.

Sims-West attends every rehearsal and rehearses in his own way along with the actors.

“During rehearsal I learn what has to go where and I write into my script when props go on by circling what line it goes on and what person says the line,” he said. “I end up memorizing it.”

Sims-West has high hopes for his high school theater career.

“I want to eventually be stage manager and might be able to senior year,” Sims-West said. “I enjoy being backstage.”

Courtesy of Jacob Weers

Jacob Weers, senior, plays his guitar. “When I get bored I go over to peoples housed to play for them,”Weers said. Weers wants to continue to play music but he also wants to work with animals.

Weers: music lover Senior Jacob Weers loves music.

“There is a quote by James Hetfield that I really like,” Weers said. “It says, ‘If it wasn’t for music I’d be dead and I’d much rather be alive than dead.’ This describes what music is to me.”

Weers plays the guitar but he recently traded his for a PA system.

“I like guitar and plan on continuing it but my main focus right now is on vocals because that’s where my interest has always been,” Weers said.

“Vocals take less patience.”

He plans to one day play for a live audience.

“Very few people get to play in front of a huge crowd, but I’d like to play for a decent-sized one, preferably with some of the people that I look up to in the music industry,” Weers said.

Modern music is not Weers personal preference.

“I think music is becoming more and more narrow-minded,” Weers said. “Dani Filth said, ‘music has to evolve and adapt to survive.’ I agree with him, but

“As I mature, age and grow it will be easy to write a book about someone in college while I’m in college or a book about summer during the summer,” Franz said.

He has advice for other writers.

“One of the little pearls of wisdom my parents always told me is to write what I know,” he said. “A lot of the most influential writers write simply because they are writing from their own experiences.”

His own experiences have taught him this as well.

“One of my first novels that I started back in sixth grade was the cliché fantasy genre that most authors tend to start out in because they want to do something completely creative,” Franz said. “I got bored of it really fast.”

Now Franz writes semi-autobiographical novels that are more suited to him.

“This is just me expressing my opinion on things in my own life such as friendships or God,” Franz said.

at the same time I think music is becoming all about the same thing. Genres such as rap are all about gangs and drugs. With metal, you get bands that straight up talk about Satan and with country you get artists that only talk about partying. I’m not into that.”

Weers said he likes to listen to heavier music, but when he plays it is always softer.

“When I’m playing the guitar I lean more towards relaxing music,” Weers said.

Next to music, animals are Weers biggest passion in life.

“I will literally put my animals to sleep and then shake then awake and put them to sleep again,” he said. In the future, Weers plans to go into a career involving animals and keep music as a side job.

“As much as I would love to go into music I have to look at what will pay the bills,” Weers said. “Music doesn’t, unless you are one of the few that are actually able to get successful in the business.”

Photo by Lane Harris

Noah Franz is working on his latest novel. He has plans to write future books as well.

12 (entertainment)

6 4 6 / 1 to pse in A glim

left page: tristan barnes reporter

The Reporter • April 2013

Gallagher: third grade thespian

f... o e f i l the

the

right page: lane harris reporter Courtesy of Natieya Gallagher

Natieya Gallagher, senior, was in Seussical the Musical in 2003. “I’m a really quiet person and I don’t talk that much, and [my friends] get excited to see me doing something outside my comfort zone,” Gallagher said.

“First I was nervous for my first play at The Culture House,” Natieya Gallegher, senior, said.

“I was really young. I wanted to do the main part because it was Narnia and I loved that book and the movie and everything.”

Gallagher said The Culture House is in Olathe and has its own theater school.

“It’s a mixture of theater, dancing, acting and singing. You can do instruments. They teach you about anything in the arts,” she said.

Gallagher, who has been in nine plays, two of them in the school, said her older sister, Kaylee, influenced her to be involved in theater.

“She’s the one who started me on theater,” Gallagher said. “Through doing plays together we grew closer because we share the same interest in stuff.”

Ghallagar said it’s good to get nervous on stage.

“Don’t be afraid,” she said. “If you are nervous, use it because it will help you out. Don’t judge yourself and think you’re not good enough because you actually are and if you think down about yourself then it won’t be good. If you actually put yourself in that character and go a little crazy, it will actually turn out better than you thought it would.”

Kinaman: American traveler Courtesy of Paige Wiseman

Paige Wiseman, sophomore, spends hours practicing for rodeo competitions.

“When you’re competing you feel such a rush because you know half the kids in the world have never had the opportunity to compete in rodeos,” she said.

Wiseman was recently selected for the 2013 Tin Haul team, in which she applies to represent the Tin Haul Boot company.

Wiseman:

competitor

Scott:

animal lover

“You work all week and you’re in the arena for the least amount of time you can be,” Paige Wiseman, sophomore, said.

Wi s e m a n c o m p e t e s i n rodeo and spends hours training her horses, all to spend six to eight seconds competing in the ring.

Wiseman competes in goat tying.

“The goat is staked on a 10-foot rope 100 feet from the start line

and 40 feet from the gate,” Wiseman said.

Her horse drives the goat to the end of the arena where she ties three of the goats legs together in the least possible amount of time.

Wiseman said rodeos are “one of the most fun things you’ll ever get to do.”

“All my rodeo friends are great people to be around,” Wiseman said. “I have a great time.”

“Since I was little my mom has told me I was really good with animals,” Emily Scott, freshman, said.

“Last summer I had a pet deer,” Scott said.

“She was a baby and couldn’t find her mom.

My dad found her at his work site and brought her home and we had her for the whole summer and then let her go.”

Scott said she kept baby Bambii in her garage and fed her goat’s milk and mashed corn two to three times a day.

Scott said she was upset letting the deer go.

“I actually cried,” Scott said. “We don’t know what happened to her after that.”

Scott now owns Milo, a year-old black lab that likes to play with her cats.

“Being on the mountains, I felt free,” Hannah Kinaman, junior, said about how she felt when she visited Colorado. “I felt like that’s where you could conquer the world.”

Kinaman said she wants to travel.

“I want to go pretty much anywhere in the world,” she said. “I’d really like to go to France or Italy or any of those places, or go to the beach in Hawaii.”

She said she has been to several states.

“I’ve been to Colorado, and Washington, Oregon. I’ve been to Florida and some of the other closer states like Nebraska, Missouri, and Oklahoma,” she said.

Kinaman said her mom inspired her to travel.

“As a kid she did a lot of traveling,” Kinaman said. “It’s made me want to go to different places around the world and see what kind of things are in each state as well.”

She said she is going on a mission trip to Colorado in June to help children and help restore buildings.

“I think it will be an eye-opening experience and I think it will help me look deeper into what it really is to walk in the christian life,” she said.

Kinaman said traveling may not seem fun at first, but it’s worth it.

“If you haven’t traveled it’s a good experience and you should try it,” she said.

Hannah Kinaman , junior, at Elephant Rock, MO. “[I] want to go to different places around the world and see what kind of things are in each state as well,” she said.

Kinaman said she wants to go to the grand canyon before she graduates.

Courtesy of Hannah Kinaman

“My mom ran over him when he was a month old,” Scott said. “He’s OK though.”

Scott said there was bruising on its organs.

“I’m surprised he survived it because he’s so small,” she said.

Scott said pets offer comfort and security.

“We have them inside until they’re big enough to be outdoor pets, and they will go to the bathroom inside,” Scott said. “It’s mostly my job to clean up after them. Same thing with Courtesy of Emily Scott the cats because their litter is nasty,” Scott said.

Scott said she might be an animal caretaker Emily Scott, freshman, hugs her cat, five-year-old Napolean, Jan. 30. Scott or a veterinarian when she’s older. said cats are cuddly.“I have two cats and I had two fish who died,”Scott said.

13

(sports)

The Reporter • April 2013

Tournamental caleb hecker editor-in-chief March is upon us. With it comes the madness of the NCAA tournament, for college basketball fans, the Christmas day of sports.

The impossible upsets of Cinderella teams (George Mason in 2006, Butler in 2010 and VCU in 2011), last second buzzer-beaters (Christian Laettner in 1992) and extra basketball courtesy of overtime (KU in 2008). These irregularities make the hype that surrounds March Madness what it is, but it seems the thrill of March has been here for a while.

Midnight may never come Before March even began, 19 unranked teams managed to beat top-five opponents, the most in one season in the last five years, according to the ESPN website.

TCU beating the University of Kansas in Fort Worth is one of the biggest college basketball upsets of the year and one of the biggest ever. KU, ranked fifth in the nation at the time, rolled into town expecting to have an easy bounceback win against the Horned Frogs whom had yet to win a single game in the Big 12. TCU had other plans, however, and managed to beat KU 62-55 for its first and only win in conference play. The loss was so bad Kansas coach Bill Self called his team the worst to play in a Kansas uniform since James Naismith coached, at the dawn of basketball as a sport.

The recipe for upsets has been perfected in the NCAA tournament, by a team which admitted its first student 16 years ago, and became a Division I school two years, Florida Gulf Coast Univer-

sity. FGCU shocked the nation by beating Georgetown in the 15-2 matchup, but it wasn’t done their however as they also managed to become the first 15-seed ever to make the Sweet Sixteen with their victory over San Diego State.

Buzzer beaten The first sign of the mayhem that graced college basketball came Dec. 15. Seventy-seven days before the beginning of March.

The Butler Bulldogs (no stranger to March Madness) matched the top-ranked Indiana Hoosiers shot for shot in a game that resulted in overtime. Walk-on Alex Barlow sent in a floater at the buzzer to win the game. From that moment on, insanity ensued.

Then, first ranked Duke lost twice in January with its shocking 27-point defeat to, then unranked, Miami. Louisville took its turn at No. 1 and dropped three straight in January. Kansas was ranked second when it dropped three straight in February.

During the first three rounds of the NCAA tournament, the only team to hit a game winning shot has been Ohio State one from Aaron Craft propel them over the Iowa State Cyclones and the other from LaQuinton Ross to knock out Arizona in the Sweet 16. Even two desperation heaves resulted in a win others clanged off the iron leaving teams in despair.

No stranger to overtime OK, so you like all the overtime games in the tournament. Well, if you have been paying attention you would have seen the three-and-a-

half hour game between Louisville and Notre Dame on Feb. 9. Notre Dame won the game 104-101 in the longest game of the season.

According to the ESPN website, Feb. 23 saw nine games go past regulation, with a double, triple and quadruple overtime game among them, something that hadn’t happened since 2002.

Arguably the most entertaining overtime game of the season came on Feb. 10 between two teams ranked in the top 10, Ohio State and Michigan. With two of the game’s best guards, Michigan’s Trey Burke and Craft of Ohio State, squaring off, they didn’t disappoint. With less than a minute left in overtime, Burke drove to the basket with what looked like an easy lay-up to seal the victory.

Craft stole the ball and had the ball knocked out of bounds by Burke.

Craft then had his shot blocked from behind by Burke in what essentially sealed the deal for the Wolverines.

The biggest and probably only disappointment of the tournament has been the simple fact of no overtimes in any of the 52 games played thus far, but there is still time for that to change.

So, if what happened in the regular season was chaotic, how could you have expected anything different in the tournament?

This story went to press on March 29.

He said, she said opinions on March Madness

hali wimbush design editor It was decided my sophomore year of high school I would not be allowed to write sports.

However, when March comes around and everyone’s getting out their brackets, there’s not, much on my mind besides shopping.

See, I always believed that “March Madness” was just an easier way to say “It’s the biggest sales of the year!” So, instead of taking my time to properly look at the mascots, I take the time and the dedication to make my own person bracket.

A bracket that carefully lays out and portrays the true meaning of March Madness. A delicate infrastructure of the complexity of sales, clothes, bargains and more, it’s just like the basketball bracket but with more of my own personal flair.

Forever 21 Forever 21 Hollister Savers

Forever 21

Savers

Victoria’s Pink Charlotte Russe Charlotte Russe

Target

Charlotte Russe

Charlotte Russe

American Eagle American Eagle Kohls

A girls bracket to shopping

A girls bracket to shopping

Now, I’m aware that the events to my bracket don’t necessarily correlate. However, it’s my bracket and I invite you to try shopping at any of the above stores. The more expensive stores didn’t make it to the end of the bracket because they might offer a few deals here and now but at the end of the day the other stores offered better deals and nicer clothing options.

When March rolls around and everyone’s pulling out their basketball brackets. I’ll be printing off a blank bracket and hitting up Oak Park Mall to find the best shopping deals. Not as many people go shopping during March Madness either because they’re all to busy at home watching sports.

14 (sports)

The The Reporter Reporter • March • April 2013

Winter sports

wrap-up

Athletes reflect on the season that was in winter sports caleb hecker editor-in-chief

Spring is finally here and with it comes the end of winter sports. Junior basketball player Lucas Wilson said he was happy with the way the season went.

“I was proud of how we did compared to how we were expected to do at the beginning,” Wilson said.

Boys basketball coach Dave Cash said he was also happy with how the team performed despite the .500 record “I am very proud of these young men,” said Cash. “We had a very tough schedule, so every night out was a challenge for our guys.”

Freshman basketball player Morgan Laudan said she had some favorite parts of the season.

“I really enjoyed being able to see everyone runnning out on

the court after we won sub-state,” Laudan said. “Winning our first game at the state tournament was fun too.”

Sophomore wrestler Keith Peuser said his high point for the season was during competition.

“I beat a kid from Louisburg that I hadn’t been able to beat,” Peuser said.

Laudan said the season wasn’t all good.

“The worst part was losing the second and third games at the state tournament because I got the most upset because the season was over,” Laudan said.

Senior swimmer Patrick Kennedy said he is going to miss swimming.

“This season was my last chance to swim all out,” Kennedy said.

Photo by Jessica Schasteen

Junior Ben Rodriguez swims at a home meet on Jan. 9.

Rodriguez qualified for state in the 4x 100 yard freestyle realay,

Photo by Tristan Barnes

Photo by Aly Johnson

Joe Pomatto, senior, wrestles at the Eudora tournament on Dec. 7. Pomatto took first in the tounament and went on to win the state title in the heavyweight divsion.

Sophomore Jake Robison shoots a jump shot in a game against Ottawa on Feb. 12. Paola lost the game and finished with 10 wins and 10 losses.

Have a story idea?

Contact a Reporter staff member.

Head to Toe Women’s Apparel New Arrivals!

New shirts & shoes

25% off any 1 new spring item 8 East Peoria

913-294-2777

Spring Has Sprung

Your account at Citizens State Bank of Paola gives you the convenience of 48 area branches and ATMs plus free checking, free online banking, bill pay and mobile banking. citizensstatebankpaola.com 3 E. Wea | 1600 E. Peoria | 913-294-2321

15

(sports)

The Reporter • March 2013

Sharp future

State Javelin thrower Drew Henn returns to track with a stunning record.

“To improve daily at practice and meets.”

brooke prothe reporter

Did you expect to do that well?

“No, I didn’t think I would but I knew I had a chance to place that high.”

How did you do in track last year?

“I got second in state at javelin.”

“From the eighth grade year until now.”

What are some tips for throwing successfully?

How do you plan to accomplish these goals?

“Work hard at practice.”

What do you wish to improve on as a coach this season?

“Communicate daily expectations and spending more time with the jumpers.”

What do you wish to improve on as a team this season? “unselfishness”

“Hopefully since I’m the only one returning from state as an underclassman, I’m hoping to get first place at state.”

“Win state in javelin and as a team win state.”

”Mr. Purbeck introduced me and ever since then I’ve loved it.”

How long have you been throwing javelin?

How do you think you will do this year?

What are your goals for this year?

How did you get interested in javelin?

What are your goals and expectations for the track team as a whole this year?

What steps are you going to take to make these improvements?

How do you plan to accomplish these goals?

“Make sure everyone is at practice and working hard so we can perform at our highest potential.”

“Have team meetings and individual discussions to model what a team is.”

-Mike Smith, Coach

Bottom: Giovonni Carettee, junior and Jennifer Winsnewski, junior lead the group in skis.

“Have confidence in yourself.”

Cace McDowell, sophomore practices the butterfly stretch during track.

16 (features)

The Reporter • April 2013

Life changers

Books, movies, experiences and people that have changed their lives katie biggs reporter

Anna Darling , freshman

Life of Pi- Yann Martel “It has made me think more about how I want to be spiritual and how to better accept my friends beliefs and to never take anything for granted.”

Cordell Cox , freshman

Life of Pi- Yann Marte “It was a book that changed the way I think about important things like religion and life in general.”

Lexi Weidman, freshman

Ping Zheng, junior

The Perks of Being a Wallflower- Stephen Chbosky “It was inspiring. It opens your eyes to people you wouldn’t usually notice.”

Stone Fox- John Reynolds Gardiner “This book is easy to read, but tells me a lot of stuff and lets me know when met with difficulties, don’t get down, get up!”

Greg Morgan, teacher

Losing mom to cancer at 9 years old “It taught me to cope in a measurable way and set goals to achieve instead of letting the situation drag you down. Live every day like it is your last, you never know!”

Kyle Wokutch, freshman

Broke femur “I look at crippled people in a different way since I was in a wheel chair for six weeks.”

Anonymous

Brother had a stroke “We were no longer allowed to play rough and I had to stop playing football because it was thought to have been caused by that.”

Xaiver Campos, sophomore

Riding the mamba “It taught me to live life to the fullest.”

Zach Fisher, junior

To Save a Life- 2009 “It shows that the simple acts of kindness and including others, making them feel important can virtually save their life.”

Has diabetes “I recently found out I have diabetes. I have to check blood sugar, take insulin, count carbs, etc.”

Jessica Kramer, junior Click- 2006 “It made me realize to cherish good times and bad.”

The Breakfast Club- 1985 “It showed that everyone has problems, not just me.”

Rachel Reynolds, freshman

Nick Sloan, sophomore

Nathan Staats, freshman Coach Ross “He taught me that I will not be remembered as Tanner’s brother, but as me.”

Janet Ward, teacher a dorm director “She was a substitute dorm director when I was in college–a substitute mom–we developed a close friendship until her death. I had a deep respect for her guidance and wisdom.”

Kenna Medlen, junior

Johnny Cash “I got clean and he reminds me of my uncle.”

Audrey Robinson, freshman Alexis Steele “She is my best friend. Always has been and always will be.”

Gage McMullen, junior CJ Rivera “He saved my life because I almost committed suicide.”