The View Issue 7 Vol 19

page 12

The View Issue 7, Volume 19 Park Hill South High School April 14, 2017

With this issue’s center spread being about our planet and our nation recently dropping missiles in Syria I thought it would be fitting to talk about global responsibility. As a nation, we have adopted global responsibility. For example, recently Syria issued a chemical attack on its nation’s civilians; this was heartbreaking. We responded by bombing a Syrian airfield.

What rubs me the wrong way is that yes, Syria attacked helpless civilians and yes, the US found that inhumane so we took the matter into our own hands. But, the civilians that Syria bombed are people we aren’t letting into our country for safety. And it’s easy to reduce a place to its suffering, to associate the cities and people with war. My heart goes out to everyone stuck on the Syrian dysphoria. So, double standard?

“No you can’t come here but don’t worry, we will do whatever we can AFTER the worst possible thing happens” - The US in my head.

We are looked at as a superpower, but are we “super?” We have a good military, our economy has grown during Trump’s presidency and we have this great thing called “Disneyland,” which is pretty cool.

Yet, in San Bernardino, California two elementary school students were injured in a murder-suicide on April 10. What does this have to due with the chemical attack in Syria and our global responsibility?

We should take care of our stuff first, because people are dying here, too. It’s like a teacher who doesn’t understand the material. The teacher is trying to explain the lesson and the students have no clue what to do and chaos ensues as grades plummet. The US is the teacher and our students are the world.

We need to take care of ourselves first, to benefit everyone else.

Exuberant growth in the United States turns out to be enormously beneficial to other countries as well. That is what happened with Japan, Korea and Taiwan — and that is what is happening now with China and India. These countries are trying to keep up. As countries develop, their capabilities increase, new technologies and products are made to trade, to trade with the US. This is not saying our global responsibility soley resides in helping us. I want to help, I want my country to help. I want to be able to say “my country is the superhero and we can save everyone.” But we are not that right now. We have a responsibility to help, but we need to be useful.

Nevertheless, even if we are ambivalent that there is something special about America, there is no question that America holds an extremely large position in the international system. So, yes, we do have a huge responsibility as a country: to assist the rest of our world effectively and empathetically.

Anna

Preuss Editor-in-Chief

FEATURES

4

“I work at Em Chamas as a host and I really enjoy it. I’m in charge of making reservations, seating people, and making sure everything runs smoothly. I’ve worked there for a little over a year and my hours can range from four to nine hours.

Early in the week, it’s usually pretty slow so I’ll just bring my homework there and do it or I’ll do my homework before work so I balance school and work pretty well,” said

Anna Thompson, senior.

“I work at Edge. I coach gymnastics to kids from three to seven years old.

I work four days a week.

It was harder for me to juggle school and work last semester since I had harder classes, but this semester I’m taking pretty easy classes so it’s not as stressful,” said Cassidy

Laudie, senior.

“I work at Parkville

Children’s Cottage. I work

with 2- and 3-year-olds and I play with the kids, change their poopy diapers and feed them snacks. I love working there. I have really strong relationships with the kids and am always super excited to see them. I typically work from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m., right after school. I work on Mondays and Tuesdays and sometimes Fridays. It’s usually pretty hectic on Mondays since I also have volleyball but I manage my time wisely and usually get things done on time,” said Izabella

Pieper, senior.

Work Life

by SAVANNAH LU

It can be stressful to balance school and work on top of after school activities or sports. Here are how some South students take on that challenge

“I lifeguard at Fountain Hills Pool for Northland Pool Management. I only work during the summer and have been working there for the past two years. The pay is actually pretty good compared to other lifeguarding jobs, so that’s cool. I actually quit this year though because of how awful the management was. You have to have certain equipment at my pool in order to save people, but 80 percent of the time, we never had it. The managers were also super strict and mean all the time, which made it really dead and there was no energy at all,” said Noah Brizendine, senior.

“I work at Worlds of Fun and have been working there for three years. I work during the summer and sometimes during the weekends, too. My job is to hangout with the Peanuts gang!

I wake up the Peanuts, do the shows, and walk around the characters. My department is pretty chill and gives us long breaks so I can do my homework then,” said Faith

Nagel, sophomore.

“I work at Corner Cafe and I’ve been working there for about three and a half months. I’m a busser and sometimes I’m a dishwasher, too.

The work can get pretty tiring but I usually only work weekends.

My shifts are usually around six hours, so it’s not horrible.

It’s hard for me to juggle school and work since I’m also in track. I had to change my hours around that so that I could make it on time.

Sometimes whenever I come home, I’m just too tired to do my homework so I won’t do it at all,” said Judson Pierre, senior.

5

Growing up, you might have been told to surround yourself with positive inf luences and participate in activities that make you happy. You may have managed to achieve that, but yet, sometimes you can’t help but feel down. The answer to your downer dilemma may simply be found in the weather forecast.

According to Mercola.com, serotonin, a chemical in your brain that is linked to your mood, will increase and decrease due to bright light and contact with sunlight.

So essentially, during winter months and now the rainy season, body chemicals are greatly affected by either the lack or abundance of sunlight.

“Tryptophan, which is a precursor to serotonin… is actually activated by sunlight,” said Marcia Umscheid, science.

Since serotonin plays a large part in keeping human minds chemically balanced, a lack of it can lead to a lowering in mood. Moreover, a low amount of serotonin on a continuous rate can lead to a depressive state.

A pattern of depressive symptoms connected to certain weather seasons is known as Seasonal Affective Depressive Disorder (SADD).

“Most definitely, winter months are harder for me… it’s so much cloudier… that’s when [SADD] usually takes hold,” said Nicole Davis, senior.

PsychCentral.com reports that while most cases of SADD occur in the winter months when days are shorter and periods of light deprivation are longer, it is still possible to experience SADD in the spring and summer months.

“Areas that are really rainy [such as] London, England, have a high [rate] of these temporary affective disorder cases,” said Umscheid.

However, one who experiences SADD doesn’t have

to feel stuck for long. Since lack of UV light causes it, the solution is to receive more.

“Truthfully, getting exposed to UV radiation is the only way to overcome this natural biochemical depression,” said Umscheid.

Emma Hensley, senior and psychology enthusiast, suggests light box therapy as way to overcome SADD. “Often times the only thing you can do is light box therapy… essentially, you get a UV light and stare at it,” she said.

Even though the weather can affect brain chemicals and mood, there are solutions and ways to feel better.

“My doctor is always [saying], ‘you need to take more vitamin D!’,” said Davis.

Mercola.com also reports that taking vitamin D, surrounding yourself with greener spaces and getting out in the sunshine is a huge help to Seasonal Affective Depressive Disorder. Taking walks outside when the weather is nice and even looking at photos of nature can also help improve mood.

So even though it may be cloudy and dreary, keep an eye on the weather and go outside to soak up as many UV rays as possible.

5% of the US experience SADD yearly

4 out of 5 cases are women

6% of cases require hospitalization

Source: PsychologyToday and MentalHealthAmerica

Seasonal Affective Disorder affects many during rainy months

by ELLIE KNECHTEL

FEATURES

Most cases found in ages 18-30

FEATURES

6

A STyle That Sticks E

by ANNA PREUSS

“ lizabeth has always had a shine. An enchanting, charming and approachable light about her that is hard to explain. She is timeless.”

You may have seen her walking the halls in extravagant, eye striking dresses, fresh f lowers in her hair and a paintbrush in her mouth.

But in a school of 1600, Elizabeth Ethetton, senior, is not just another body roaming the halls, just as she will not be another girl in a sparkly $400 dress at Prom this year. Ethetton will be turning heads for a completely different reason.

“I am making a duct tape prom dress.

It’s going to be beautiful with pastel colors and sky tones, with beautiful duct tape f lowers.” said Ethetton One roll of tape at a time, Ethetton is participating in the Duct Tape “Stuck at Prom” scholarship, a competition that awards its winner $10,000 for creating a unique and eye catching prom dress, entirely out of Duct Tape.

Ethetton’s story of fascinating creativity began from the moment she was born. Her mother Raynee recalls Ethetton as always being memorable and peculiar, in the best way possible.

“When she [Elizabeth] was little, she wanted paper and scotch tape. She created these amazing 3D animals.

When Elizabeth sets her mind to something, she not only does it to the best of her ability, but with determined creativity,” said Raynee.

It is important to note that the $10,000 prize is only awarded to one couple; the money earned goes down

as one’s placing in the scholarship goes down. Peculiar creativity is exactly what the Duct Tape scholarship is looking for. Along with an entire dress, Ethetton is making a matching f lower crown and clutch to go along with her dress. Creating all of this is exactly as hard and time consuming as it sounds.

“The inspiration for my duct tape dress is, ‘day,’ so to begin, I looked at pictures of sunsets and photos of the outdoors and nature. So, the dress is going to be filled with f lowers and bright colors. The dress features about four to five different colors. Just simply making the small f lowers is extremely time consuming,” Ethetton said.

But creating costumes and accessories is not new to Ethetton, who will be attending UMKC, majoring in Theatrical Costume Design.

“My ultimate goal is to reach people with my creativity. I want to allow people to become their character. Once you put on that costume, you are transformed into someone else; I want to do that for people,” Ethetton said.

Ethetton’s specialty does not lie solely in costume design, as she has been a valued member of South’s Stagecraf class for two years. Ethetton has also worked on every musical and play at South since her sophomore year.

“She is probably one of the most artistically talented students I have ever had teaching here. She has always had a knack for not only for the artistic side of things, but the mathematical side of creating, such as depth and perception. She is thoughtful in everything she does,” said theatre director Kyle Lackey.

Ethetton’s dress will be one out of the hundreds that enter every year, but those around her are not apprehensive to acknowledge her genius and likelihood to place in the competition.

“She’s very unique and very creative. She has this way of going about things that is completely different from anyone else. She tends to inspire people, whether she realizes it or not,” said Allegra Eccles, sophomore.

Turning heads and ripping tape is not the only thing Elizabeth Ethetton does with ease, Ethetton as a person is worth noting.

“She [Ethetton] in no way fits into a neat little box,” said Raynee.

“Elizabeth is adventurous, opinionated and fun to be around. I admire her and I’m still amazed to be her mom.”

Scan here to see photos of Ethetton’s Duct Tap dress >>

7 According to Coach Schneider and prevention.com, we tend to believe reduced fat and reduced sugar foods are healthier, but they actually aren’t. Reduced fats are substituted with saturated fats or trans fat. Those fats can lead to an increase in blood sugar and cholesterol.

Reduced sugars are substituted with fats. The fats replace the sweetness the sugar had.

REDUCED FATS

FEATURES

According to Real Simple, choosing dried fruit can be a little tricky. Consumers are put in the mindset that eating dried fruit is healthy, due to the obvious fact that it’s a fruit. However, while they are 100 percent real fruit, they are packed with sugar and chemicals. The process of drying fruit takes away the sweetness of the fruit, and adding sugar gives back the natural f lavor.

Dried fruit is then coated with a chemical powder that helps the fruit stay shiny and not lose its hold.

DRIED FRUIT

Don’t Be

FOOLED Is what you’re eating actually healthy?

Today's generation is all about trying to find more healthy alternatives when it comes to eating; whether that’s making a smoothie in the morning before school or eating a protein bar for breakfast, we are all trying to be healthy.

When walking through a grocery store, our attention is drawn to food that is labeled, “No Sugar Added”, “Reduced fat” and “Zero Calories”(source, lmao). Scrolling through social media we can find our favorite celebrities advertising for tea that claims to help you lose weight. While watching TV we see people advertising for pre-made dieting programs.

“Someone who looks ‘fit’ can advertise, let’s say fat free yogurt. They might eat the actual portion size, but in reality people eat two to three times the portion size,” said Amy

by MIMI RODGERS

DIET SODA

I t’s been known for a while that diet soda or soda in general is extremely unhealthy.

According to CNN, majority of the calories found in soda come from sugars. Drinking soda does not give you any vitamins, minerals, or any sort of nutritional value. Because soda is packed with so much sugar, drinking it can lead to tooth decay and diabetes. Drinking diet soda has been linked to an increase in depression and heart disease.

Schneider, PE. Many foods claim to be the “better” option and a “healthier” alternative. While for some products that may be true, but some labeling can be misleading giving us room for how it is interpreted. Here are four foods that you think are healthy, but actually aren’t.

GRANOLA BARS Granola bars are great breakfast/ snack when in a rush or on the go. Though granola bars provide a great source of fiber and contain f lax seeds and whole grains, Real Simple says granola is packed with sugar.

Most bars have organic sugars. but it is still sugar. Surprisingly, organic foods add more sweeteners and sugars. High fiber food doesn’t always mean you’re getting true fiber, high fibers means added fibers are being added to cover up the processed and refined grains.

“I feel like the reason we eat granola bars because usually they have chocolate in them or have something sweet in them,” said Paige Snider, freshman.

news

10

Promiseful night

by NATALIE MASTERS AND MICHAELA SANTANA When adults think back on their high school days, Prom is something that stands out to a lot of people. The dresses, tuxedos, music, food, after party; what’s not to love?

Although it’s a night many people look forward to, I can name a few downsides of Prom: the expenses for tickets, dresses, and tuxedos, and the stress of finding a group and figuring out plans for after.

The big question is: is it all worth it?

One plus side of Prom is the time spent with friends. It all starts off at pictures, where moments of prime beauty are captured. But before pictures, for most girls hours are spent getting ready. It’s a day filled with excitement and for a lot of people, some stress mixed in there, too.

After pictures comes the best part: the dance itself. That’s when the night really starts. You get to enjoy a nice dinner surrounded by friends, and then comes the part some people dread

and others look forward to: the dancing.

After dancing the night away, many people go to After Prom or for others, an after party at someone’s house.

Either way, it’s a joyful, long night spent with fellow Panthers.

As said before, Prom is not only filled with rainbows and sunshine.

First off, it can be hard to find an outfit you love. Not to mention the expense of the outfit is usually over $100. The tickets are $40 each, so these factors combined really do add up to be expensive.

And for most girls, it doesn’t just end there. If you go to a salon to get your hair and makeup done, that costs around $100 depending on where you go. Another negative part of going to Prom is the planning--that part rarely comes easily. Figuring out the group can be tough, especially if it’s a big one.

And of course, finding a date can be stressful for some.

Why are YOU excited Gavin Redman for prom?

“So I can spend the whole night hanging with my girlfriend.”

Payton Stalcup “To hang out with all my friends for the night, and get fancy.”

Christian Holferty

“To hang out with my friends and dance.”

Reece Wurzer “It’s much different than Homecoming and Courtwarming.

Long dresses, different venue and only juniors and

Putin Puttin’ in influence

by NOELLE AG Depending on the outcome of the French election, France can take a turn for the Fascist Now we all know that Russia has alleged ties to US elections, but intelligence is predicting they could also target the upcoming France and Germany elections. Vladimir Putin has sided with French Presidential candidate Marine Le Pen when they had a one on one meeting at the Kremlin on March 24.

Russia has said they have no intention of meddling, they only want a dialogue with a variety of politicians, but they also told us they weren’t involved in our elections when evidence is now showing they were. It’s sort of understandable that a lot of the French are concerned of them getting into the same mess as we are in now.

Le Pen is against immigration, Muslims and the EU. She wants to

have a strong security tie with Moscow to combat Islamic groups and promises to recognize Crimea as part of Russia. Le Pen is the president of The Front National, an extremist, fascist group in France. Her being president can lead to a rise of fascism and racism ideology across Europe. Since the start of her campaign she has also been facing legal investigations involving the European Parliament assistants and party financing.

Her main opponent Emanuel Macron’s campaign website has had thousands of attempted hacks to get in their database. The registered campaign attacks come from an IP address in Ukraine, which they suspect is a working campaign in Russia. Sound familiar?

RUSSIA RIPPING CALIFORNIA

Is it possible that a patriotic movement in the US is based in the belly of the beast?

Since the election back in November, there have been posts on Twitter and Facebook about #Calexit, which is the idea of California separating itself from the United States.

However, it turns out that the leader of the organization Louis Marinelli lives in Siberia, Russia, and the building the are in was provided by the ADR (Alternative Dispute Resolution), and is rent free. They call it a California “embassy” in Moscow. He got invited in September last year to a conference funded by the Kremlin called the “Anti-Globalization Movement of Russia”.

Nigel Farage has been hired to promote the idea for at least California to split in two. It’s a way for Russia to take the US “down a few pegs,” according to Rachel Maddow.

Why California? Well, if they were to secede from the US, that would make it the sixth largest economy in the world, passing France and India with a GDP of $2.5 trillion. The state’s economy grew

by 4.1 percent in 2015, compared to the rest of the country with a growth of 2.4 percent.

Russia is far from innocent at this point. As a country we have to stay informed and stay cautious when it comes to political movements like this, and find out who is really behind it before we make a mistake.

11

Or Disc n rim o i t c i na e t t o On

mp Tru t en sid e Pr

a mb usli M ‘ ’s

“Not all Muslims have the beliefs of extremists...” would be destroyed,” said Hamdi.

Banning entire countries may seem like a new thing, but America has done similar things before.

“Start with Obama, he deported more illegals than Clinton and Bush combined, except he did it with a scalpel instead of a meat cleaver so it didn’t really hit the news,” said Brad Peck, Social Studies.

So the kind of drastic measure that President Trump has put in place has a precedent.

The reason why the executive order has been said to be unconstitutional is because the seven countries that were banned have the largest Muslim populations.

“The fact that beforehand [the Trump administration] came out and said that that was their intent, a ban based on their religion, is why it’s been

the ba n

’s

co ns t it

u

tio called into question based on [the ban’s] onstitutionality,” said Peck.

On Feb. 4, the ban was halted by the federal government, restoring travel for citizens from the seven countries.

On March 16, President Trump attempted to put into place a new travel ban. The new order exempts Iraq from the seven countries, and allows citizens of the six banned countries who are legal US residents or have valid visas to enter the US-including those whose visas were revoked during the original ban. But a federal judge from Hawaii ruled to (yet again) halt the ban nationwide.

“The opinion of this so-called judge, which essentially takes away law enforcement away from our country, is ridiculous and will be overturned,” President Trump wrote on Twitter.

Now the ban is in the hands of the court process. If the executive order is deemed constitutional, it will stay. If unconstitutional, the travel ban will go away but extreme vetting will still take place to keep America safe. ty

Feb. 7, a protest took place outside Sen. Blunt’s office in downtown Kansas City. Many civilians call this “the Muslim ban.”

“I understand that we’re [the government] trying not to have terrorists in the United States, but I don’t think banning all Muslims are necessary,” said Faisa Hassan, sophomore.

According to The Huffington Post, only 6 percent of terrorist attacks in the United States have been carried out by muslims. The people that cause fear are the extremists.

“Not all Muslims have the beliefs of extremists. The extremists aren’t our whole religion, they’re not the whole group of people. There’s 1.2 billion per se Muslims, and if all Muslims were like that then whole countries

verd ict of

li na

Jan. 27, President Donald Trump issued the executive order: “Protecting the Nation from Foreign Terrorist Entry Into the United States.”

Civilians from Iran, Iraq, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Syria and Yemen face a 90-day visa suspension before entering the country. Refugees from Syria are banned indefinitely.

“I’ve seen it [the ban] rip families apart, and the fact that people in need who live in states or countries that are politically unsafe or too violent, but can’t leave or come here is sad,” said Hamdi Abdi, senior.

The day the ban was signed, airports were frenzied into a panic. Up to 60,000 foreigners had their visas revoked and green card holders were not permitted into the country.

“I was a bit scared at first, then it lead to me to being confused and seeing if it [the ban] was actually going to happen,” said Abdulwahab Abdi, sophomore.

America has responded to the ban in outrage. There have been several protests at airports and official buildings.

On

inal

news

n io

Pr

ca holding its breath fo s Ameri r the n ’ ha f

by ANNE PRICE

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10

Making Her Way to South

by MADDIE HILL

Dr. Kelly McNabb retires after 40 years in education, leaving an assistant principal vacancy to be filled by Dr. Beth Esco

Dr. Kelly McNabb has been an assistant principal at South for the past 11 years and taught at Park Hill for 29 years before making the move to South.

Throughout the last 11 years, McNabb said she couldn’t imagine not working with teenagers and interacting with the staff here at South. “ The conversations I can have with teenagers is what makes all of the tough decisions okay, I get chills thinking about working with kids younger than high school students,” said McNabb.

Even though McNabb is ready to retire, she knows that it is going to get more and more difficult as the end of the year approaches and her career in the Park Hill School District comes to an end with it.

“I have mixed feelings, mostly because of my time here at South, mostly because my time here has been full of great memories, but it is getting to a point where I want to explore my options,” said McNabb.

McNabb’s final year at South has been full of memorable moments.

“This year alone we have had a banner year here at South; I mean athletically alone we had many teams go far into the postseason, not to mention academically, we have thrived in all fields and subjects,” said McNabb.

Success is very important to McNabb. It has played an

important role on her decisions as an assistant principal.

“I enjoy anything that allows students to be successful. Whether it is journalism, debate or sports, they all give students an opportunity to succeed and fit in with others that enjoy the same things they do. It is important to keep those activities open and thriving because they make high school a very enjoyable time for students,” said McNabb.

Since McNabb will be leaving, Dr. Dale Longenecker, principal, has been on the lookout for a good replacement. As of March 14, 2017 Dr. Elizabeth Esco was hired to take on the role of assistant principal.

“She has been an administrator for many years and is very well prepared for this job and is very excited about what is to come,” said Longenecker.

Esco will be officially starting on July 1 and is looking forward to getting to know the student body better.

“My door is always open, I am willing to help with anything anyone needs,” said Esco. “Also I am talker so at football games or other events come and ask me questions.”

Esco is very excited to make the card reward system better.

“I am currently working on a survey for students to give me feedback as to how they would like the system to work. I am hopeful that the student body is as excited about positive rewards as I am,” said Esco.

As this year comes to a close South says goodbye to a familiar face and looks forward to the change that is to come.

From random Parkville residencts to a KKK member, the Missouri River has proven a threat to many lives

Missouri

Mystery

The Missouri River: large, ominous and sometimes dangerous. We all likely pass it on the way to KCK or to English Landing Park. But recently, a disappearance has led to more and more people realizing the darker side of the river.

Many people know the story of Toni Anderson. She was pulled over before her disappearance, but some people don’t know that she texted that she was being pulled over again, after being pulled over earlier that night. The text would be the last time anyone heard from her for a few months.

After several months with no leads, Anderson’s was cold case. It was largely believed by many, and her family, that she was a victim of Human Trafficking, according to Fox News.

Many people already know she was found in the river, but not many people know how they found her. A small, volunteer force, used new technology to scan the area and river with detail and found her car, which had a body inside. The Star reported the KC Police eventually identified the body as that of Anderson. According to the police, there was no evidence of foul play.

According to CNN, Anderson’s family believes she tried to turn around on the boat ramp. Around the time she disappeared it was snowy, and there was believed to be some ice on the ramp at the time. Because of this, she slid in and this, mixed with the shock of the cold water caused her death.

Andrew Morales, junior, knew quite a bit about the story of Anderson.

He said, “I believe there was no foul play, and she was

RiveR

by DUKE MADDOX

confused and went down the boat ramp.

It’s really sad and unfortunate, and shows you need to be careful around rivers while driving.”

Laim Dai, junior, was at English Landing Park when Anderson’s body was being recovered. He said he remembered the car being pulled out of the river.

Because of Anderson‘s story, several South students have learned how to get out of a car should they accidentally end up in water.

Many people have different strategies of getting out of the river.

Dai’s strategy is a almost right, but still a bit off.

“I would grab my possessions first, then open the window,” he said. “The pressure on the outside of the car prevents you from opening the door.”

Grace Anne Wiley, junior, said, “I’d definitely put my life first, and get out as soon as I can.”

In an emergency situation, you should always put your life first over any items that do not benefit your survival.

Anderson’s situation was far from the only time someone died in the Missouri River. According to The New York Times, in 1995 the Missouri River became infamous for the disposing of bodies. In addition, the f lood of ‘93 killed 32, and left English Landing Park and downtown Parkville under 15 feet of water.

Another interesting death occured this year in February: the death was of Frank Ancona, a self proclaimed KKK Imperial wizard.

According to CBS, he was missing for around three days. His body was found near a family fishing area. His wife, who planned to divorce him, was prosecuted for the murder.

Either way, there are definitely some strange mysteries surrounding the river, And Tori Anderson and many others who have died in the river, will not be forgotten.

Scan here for water safety info>>

11

SOUTHSIDE

news

S.T.E.M. South’s Robotics program looks to conquer the northland, then the world

by ADAM FRAZIER

C

ontrary to popular belief (such as Will Smith’s “iRobot”), Robots are our friends, not our foes. 40 students at South have taken this concept and run with it.

South’s Robotics/STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Math) club is the strongest it has ever been and its members only plan on improving the club.

Headed by Daniel Henson, math, South’s Robotics team placed 23rd out of 61 teams at the regional level in Oklahoma City during Spring Break, narrowly missing out on a spot at the worlds competition.

“This is improvement on previous years,” said Henson, “If we would have one more match, we would have been in the playoffs.”

These competitions involve building a variety of robots and having them perform a variety of tasks. Whichever team’s robots perform the tasks the quickest and the best wins.

However, these competitions are just a small portion of what the club does. Much of the club’s time is spent fundraising for its robots and trips. Sharon Burns, Senior Robotics Business Captain, describes this process.

“We get new sponsors every year and in previous years we have had sponsors like Google, we also put on our own fundraising events such as Trivia night,” said Burns. “We do all of this so we have enough money to build the robot.”

The Robotics program takes around $18,000 each year to operate.

This covers competitions, travel and the actual robots.

Another aspect to the club is community outreach. South’s

Robotics Club wants to spread knowledge about robotics and help expand the robotics community in the local area.

“My goal is to expand the program and get more students involved,” said Henson. “To improve our community outreach, we are planning on starting a junior robotics league and elementary lego leagues.”

Students involved in the robotics program take away a lot more than just knowledge about electronics and robotics.

“I have already learned a ton already about electronics and mechanics,” said Ben Eason, junior Electrical Captain. “I’ve also learned a lot of people skills and business skills.”

Many students join the robotics program not only because of the new information to learn and people to meet, but also because of the scholarships available because of participation in robotics.

According to firstinspires.org, in 2017 there are over $50 million in scholarships available for students who participated in robotics.

The South Robotics Program is a tight knit group, as members grow very close to each other over the course of the year. For Junior Mechanical Captain Ethan Purdy, it is more than just electronics and engineering.

It isn’t all robots, according to Purdy: “We become a family.”

The STEM/Robotics club continues to grow stronger and stronger similar to how a stem grows in a plant in nature. Next year, Henson and the robotics program hope to harvest what they’ve grown over the past few years and earn a bid to the worlds competition.

BEN EASON ELECTRICAL CAPTAIN

DANIEL HENSON COACH

ETHAN PURDY MECHANICAL CAPTAIN

SHARON BURNS BUSINESS CAPTAIN

Sea levels will rise by

7-23 inches

If everyone in the world lived the way people do in the U.S., it would take five

Earths to provide enough resources for everyone

by the end of this century due to global warming

Humans throw about

30 billion tons

of Carbon Dioxide into the atmosphere every year;

100 times

as much as volcanoes do

The Arctic region may have its first completely

ice-free summer by 2040

Facts provided by the National Wildlife Foundation and the Environmental Protection Agency

nature doesn’t have a plug.

DEBATING CHANGE Science says the Earth is getting warmer, but skeptics still disagree.

Will an agreement come before it’s too late?

The past three years have been the three hottest years on record. Though still minuscule increments, it is proven that the world has been warming consistently, with 16 of the 17 hottest years on record occurring since 2001, according to nasa.gov.

Many people believe that people should do things to help prevent artificial climate change.

“One thing they could do is recycle. Americans don’t recycle enough,” said Kadin Mahmood, junior.

However, many people are discouraged by the fact that one person can’t change the world.

“The small impact every person in the US can make is far outweighed by the pollution from China with their low environmental constrictions,” said Joe Cummings, junior.

In December 2015, the Paris climate deal was made where almost 200 countries signed an agreement that set goals to limit temperature rises and hold governments accountable for reaching those targets according to theguardian.com.

However, in March, President Trump put in an executive order for E.P.A. administrator, Scott Pruitt, to start the legal process of unwinding President Obama’s E.P.A. regulations for cutting greenhouse pollution from coal-fired power plants according to nytimes.com.

Many people are skeptical of how real climate change/global warming is.

“You only gain more funding by creating a problem and blowing it out of proportion, meaning that claiming there is a large problem and creating a problem fuels their research and secures their job,” said Cummings.

Others believe that there are just too many facts from too many organizations to deny it.

“There are a lot of facts that support climate change is real. If you look at it, the rate at which the polar ice caps are melting has increased steadily…

[Denying] is a foolish way of thinking because if we

by BRET VANICE

continue to deny the facts we will only go further and further beyond the point of control,” said Mahmood.

This is a popular debate among politicians and scientists. Recently there was a debate that blew up on the internet between Bill Nye the Science Guy and Tucker Carlson on his Fox News show.

Bill Nye was asked questions by Carlson, but was continuously interrupted. According to Carlson, Bill Nye said, “skeptics of global warming suffer from the psychological delusion of cognitive dissonance.”.

Carlson, a skeptic himself, however a selfproclaimed open-minded person, argued with Nye about the hard statistics that prove whether or not global warming is affecting us as much as researchers say.

Scientists predict that without a change in how people treat the environment, we will begin to notice drastic changes all around us.

“Things are getting hotter, seasons are later than they used to be, [climate change] is a thing, and if you’re saying that it’s not, you are in denial,” said Megan Carson, art.

Another plausible reason for denying climate change could be that we don’t see many of the effects here in Missouri.

“We use the majority of [non-renewable resources], but it doesn’t affect the United States.

It affects small islands and the people who use an eighth of what we use as far as energy, but they’re the ones affected,” said Colvin.

The topic will continue to be debated, but only time will tell whether or not global warming is as impacting as some researchers claim. We will also find out over the years how fast man is accelerating climate change. The Earth has been around for a long time, and it doesn’t seem right to let it fall apart on our watch.

OPINION

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The 57 million Netf lix subscribers racked up an astounding 42.5 billion streaming hours in 2015. Since then, the number of subscribers has grown to 93.8 million, and an estimated 70 percent of them binge-watch series, according to the 2015 Netf lix analytics report.

“They have so many TV shows. You can just sit down and next thing you know it’s five in the morning,” said Spencer Denney, senior.

You may be asking yourself, how are people able to spend that much time watching movies and TV shows? Well, the many Netf lix enthusiasts of South can tell you how they do it.

by ZACH NAY

Popular Four popularly binge-watched shows at South include “Shameless”, “Breaking Bad”, “House of Cards” and “Stranger Things”.

Reccomended With just under 100,000 movies and TV series to choose from, there’s no way you can watch them all. At times it can be hard to sort the bad shows from the good. “‘Bates Motel’ is pretty good. It has this eerie and spooky vibe, but is still easy to follow,” said Matthew Cuzner, Junior.

“It’s easy to watch, but if you follow the plot it is much more satisfying than, say, a comedy series,” said Christian Holferty, Junior.

“I like most the cooking shows on Netf lix.

‘Chef’s Table’ combines cinematography with cooking and it’s very interesting,” said Alicia Walker, social studies.

“‘Scandal’ is just as dramatic as the title makes it out to be. It’s filled with drama-you can’t watch just one episode,” said Madelyn Judah, senior.

Upcoming: May 2017 SEASON 2

May 12

SEASON 2

May 19

SEASON 2

May 5

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OPINION

Catching up on sleep Night owl or not sleep is a necessity to everyone.

by CRISTINE GURROLA

How South students W fall asleep 22% Fan

30% Silence

26% Netflix/Youtube

22% Music

e all know that sleep is a necessity to our bodies and brains… so why do people have such a hard time getting sleep?

“Even if you don’t think you have a sleep problem, your night-time habits might be reducing your quality of life more than you think” said ABC Health and Wellbeing.

Information gathered from National Sleep Foundation says a teenager should have 8 to 10 hours of sleep, and teenagers who do not get enough sleep can develop disorders such as narcolepsy, insomnia, restless leg syndrome or sleep apnea.

“I need my phone to go to sleep,” said Claudia Choy, sophomore.

Choy informed that in order for her to go to sleep she needs to be watching a show on Netf lix or Youtube. Choy goes to bed around 11 p.m. or at times 3 a.m. and wakes up around 6:30 a.m.

The blue light that emits from your phone causes a reaction in your brain. Your brain sends a signal to your body which naturally produces melatonin; melatonin is a hormone that regulates sleep. Although when looking at a phone or computer screen the light sends signals to your brain causing the melatonin to stop being produced and making your bodies and minds stay awake.

A

good way to get more sleep at night is by turning the brightness low on your phone or computer and turning your phone over so the screen won’t tempt you to check. Recently in the latest IOS update the program and allowed users to make a night shift mode therefore letting the screens of an iPhone have more warm colors and allowing people sleep at night and aren’t tempted to pick up their phones.

“At night I usually play roadtrip to sleep which is the playlist that helps me go to sleep, and at sometimes I can hear the music in my dreams” said Vincent Morrione, sophomore.

According to Mayo Clinic a few ways to get more sleep is by making a sleep routine, paying attention to what you eat and drink, and limiting the amount of daytime naps “Naps are amazing! I love taking them and I try to take as many as I can.” said Claudia Choy, sophomore.

A nap should last about 15 to 20 minutes and napping longer will make someone fall into a deeper sleep. Naps can improve alertness, energy and even mood.

A

t South, some students have a habit of going to bed late and waking up early to do their homework. “ I usually go to bed around midnight and wake up around 3:00 a.m. to start my homework,” said Emily Nowe, sophomore.

Nowe explained that going to bed around midnight and waking up around 3 a.m. helps her because if she immediately does her homework as she gets home it’s harder for her to concentrate and she needs some rest from dance earlier that day. Therefore, Nowe gets some rest and wakes up to do her homework making it easier for her to focus.

“I need to be in complete silence, have all my homework done, taken my medicine, and make sure I am worry free or else I will not sleep,” said Bailey Martin sophomore.

Martin explained to that if she doesn’t have all the things crossed off of her to do list she can not go to sleep knowing the fact that she hasn’t completed something. Due to recent surgery Martin has to take medication, but along with that medication she takes a melatonin supplement which helps her go to sleep.

Everyone has their ways of sleeping, and getting the rest they need, whether it’s getting 8-9 hours of sleep or 3-4 hours. Sleep is a necessity and somehow someway we all must get some.

Hours of sleep south students get 9+ hours 5-7 hours 3-4 hours

8-9 hours

OPINION

16

RESTRICTED

rights

by ELYSSA BEZNER

Students’ freedom of speech rights are limited by several laws.

T

“ he dirty secret about freedom is that it breeds responsibility.”

Who knew your rights did not apply all the time? When you stepped through those double doors at seven in the morning, you were stripped of your First Amendment Rights, that as a student, you are more restricted in your freedom of speech when compared to the average human.

There are two court cases that decide student’s rights.

One, the case of Tinker V. Des Moines, rules that students do not lose their First Amendment when they step on campus. However, the case of Hazelwood V. Kuhlmeier rules that schools and their principals have the right to review and censor student publications if it is in the interest of the school.

The conf licting two cases have put students in a tough spot. The Hazelwood ruling has been called “excessive control” by the New Voices movement. Broadcast journalist, Katie Kriz, sophomore, did not know about these rules and thinks more students should be aware.

“I feel restricted, in a way, because there are actual real issues, and even though they may not be totally “school appropriate,” they still need to be put out there and people need to know about them. They make a difference,” said Kriz.

At South, there has never been an organized protest on campus, and principal, Dr. Dale Longenecker, has never practiced prior review, because he says that he doesn’t usually need to.

“Ms. Palmer and I have a very good relationship. She does an excellent job as the adviser. I don’t want to be a newspaper adviser, that’s her job,” said Longenecker.

The guidelines for student’s organized protest is that it must be peaceful and unobtrusive. In the case of Tinker, the Supreme Court ruled in their favor because they only wore black armbands to protest the Vietnam War, and did not disrupt class. “[Demonstrations] are probably going to get shut down pretty fast, simply because it disrupts our mission. Our mission is to get you to class. The courts have upheld over and over that schools are not a place to have protests,” said Longenecker.

Palmer, is keenly aware of these rules.

“It coudn’t be a club or a class that [protested], if you did it on your own and organized it, it would be protected,

as long as it didn’t disrupt class,” said Palmer.

Recently there has been a piece of legislature fighting its way to the Senate. “The New Voices” bill is an act which will, if passed, guarantee the rights of student journalists and leave no possibility for them to be censored.

Longenecker points out that without these rules in place, students will have no failsafe for any mistakes they might make.

“We always hate those rules, but they kind of take the pressure off of us… You have to be responsible for your actions, you have to be responsible for your pieces,” said Longenecker.

Longenecker argues that there is no complete freedom of speech. The views are represented by each publication which has responsibilities to its advertisers, and its publishing company. Censorship is a constant.

If freedom breeds responsibility then the world must be responsible. The rights of student journalists may change very soon, and with it must come carefully handling the new freedoms. Look at newvoicesus.com/missouri/ to find out more and get updates!

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OPINION

by REILLY SCOTT You know how most people have dogs? Well, these students don’t.

Morgan GreenField: Python

Name: Charlie Favorite Food: Rats, but he goes the whole winter without eating Favorite Activity: Sleeping, occasionally escaping from his cage Greenfield got Charlie as a birthday present in fourth grade.

Kyle Werth: Chinchilla

Name: Chubs Favorite Food: Raisins Favorite Activity: Hopping “Chubs is the softest thing I’ve ever held” said Werth.

Unforuntately Chubs is now blind.

Jessie Carolan: Rats

Names: Meechy and Issa (named after rappers) Favorite Food: Balanced grains, veggies and fruit Favorite Activity: Cuddling and climbing on stuff around the house Carolan decided to buy a rat because she “could buy two rats for the price of one fish.”

Anna Hermelink: Cockateil

Name: Maggie Favorite Food: Sunf lower seeds and cereal Favorite Activity: Walking around the house “Sometimes I catch Maggie walking on our dogs’ backs, kinda like she’s giving them massages,” said Hermelink.

Frankie Marconi: Teacup Pigs

Names: Rigby and Liz Favorite Food: Celery and Cheerios Marconi admitted that he has fed them bacon once.

Favorite Activity: Grazing in the backyard Marconi’s favorite thing about having pigs is “their oinks.”

OPINION

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Local Legends

If you haven’t been to these three local legends of the Northland, you are missing out.

by MAX GHASEMI

Leo’s Pizza -

If you have lived in the Northland and haven’t tried Leo’s yet, you are missing out on a local legend. Leo’s has been open for over 40 years and is a family-run pizzeria that offers the best pizza around. They offer quality St. Louisstyle pizza with crisp crust. The thing that sets them apart from all the other pizzas is the thick layer of Provel cheese on top which serves as a trademark for Leo’s Pizza.

Leo’s is a small pizza parlor in a strip mall. The restaurant inside is not that big, and when you walk in you can tell it has been there a while. The counter is toward the back where you place your order and just behind them you can see them freshly preparing the pizza’s. I ordered a plain cheese pizza and in about 15 minutes I was ready to feast. The pizza was signature with its cracker crispy crust and its thick layer of provel cheese. The pizza is so filling yet at the same time I found myself eight pieces deep before it even crossed my mind to slow down. I have been getting Leo’s ever since I was a little kid and I don’t plan on stopping anytime soon.

In-a-Tub- If you are looking for authentic traditional Mexican

food, In- a-Tub is not for you. In-a-Tub has been around since 1955 and is called by Kansas City Star a “Northland Tradition”. In-a-Tub provides their own twist on tacos by deep frying them and topping them with powdered cheese. The uniqueness of the taco makes it a must try for anyone and really sets it apart from the rest.

In-a-Tub is a tasty little taco joint that gave off a Mexican-type vibe which is fitting to the food they serve. I got the beef and cheese tacos along with some onion rings. For a fast food place, I would have to say the onion rings blew my expectations out of the water. I can say the same with the tacos. The tacos were deep fried, stuffed with seasoned beef and powdered cheese, and topped off with some taco sauce. The simplicity of the food is one of the best parts about it, and in the end I would suggest going through the drive thru.

LC’s- Down the Street from In-a-Tub, you can find another gem of

the Northland. LC’s is one of the more popular local burger places in the Northland and I think everyone was happy to see them bounce back from their devastating fire three years ago. I had to go see how LC’s competed against the newer burger chains like Freddy’s.

The inside of LC’s had a very calm and old fashioned feel, as the place has been open for more than 40 years. I ordered a cheeseburger, fries, and a lemonade, and in about three minutes I was served all my food. The burger was mediocre; the meat itself was good, but the toppings were a disappointment. The fries were nothing special. I was surprised how much the receipt was, but later I learned they had to bump the prices up after the fire. In the end, I think the hype exceeded the food and experience quality.

Family

19

FOOD

The Norsworthy family owns 54th Street Bar and Grill. The “Five Four” is based here, in Kansas City, with one restaurant in Zona Rosa.

Sage Norsworthy, junior, said, “A long time ago my grandpa quit his job and with every dime in his pocket, took a gamble at opening his own restaurant. Through hard work he raised the business to where it is today.”

Now Michael Norsworthy, Sage’s dad, runs the 27 restaurants while hoping to make that number grow.

Norsworthy says, “The perk of having a family business is that I can always rely on a job opportunity, plus being able to eat for free with friends every once in awhile.”

Pizza Shoppe

OPINION

The Northland is a mecca for family-style dining. Whether it’s a well-known food chain or a local restaurant, there’s something for everyone. That being said, it’s no surprise that several South students’ families own some of those restaurants

by HALLIE VANDEVEN

54th Street Bar and Grill

Pizza Shoppe started in 1967 when Richard Ryan, grandpa of Kevin and Nick Ryan, sophomores, opened the restaurant.

Kevin said, “Basically everyone in our family has had a part in the business at some point in their life.”

That being said, it clearly shows how owning a business like this can impact your family in a positive way.

Pizza Shoppe is a pizza place across the midwest and is famous for “The Pink Stuff.” According to their website, Pizza Shoppe is one of the oldest and longest-held, single family owned businesses in Kansas City.

Nick said, “It’s really nice to have a go-to place to eat whenever you want and it’s a good spot to go eat with friends.”

Additionally, Pizza Shoppe sponsors many programs at South like the track team. They’re truly a family style restaurant and one that is involved in our community.

There are almost 37,000 McDonald’s around the world; it’s the second largest franchise in the world. So it’s crazy to think that such a large food chain is tied to South. Senior Parker Bell’s grandpa bought 10 stores in 1967 and then sold five to both sons.

Owning a business comes with its fair share of pros and cons. Bell says that a few pros are always getting free food and that he gets to pick his work schedule.

Bell said that his family owning a McDonald’s has impacted his family by “definitely giving us a strong financial stability, and we work with my uncle a lot.”

Although McDonald’s is a major chain, it still provides its benefits to the Bell family.

McDonald’s

SPORTS

20

PANTHER PROFILES

by MATTHEW DIELEMAN and TRIPP PARSONS

Andrew Aswegan In his last season at South, center fielder Andrew Aswegan is looking to make a major impact on school’s baseball program, not only with his own performance, but with the impact of leadership and experience on the underclassmen.

Baseball has been a part of Aswegan’s life since the young age of five, and although he can’t continue his career at South next year, he will be taking his talents to Crowder College after what he hopes to be a successful post-season.

“I feel like we can take Districts this year with the team we have,” said Aswegan The past two seasons,South has fallen District rival Staley, but Aswegan believes that this season will be the year that South will surpass the Falcons.

Emily Day

the

to

With volleyball season over and track season just starting, Emily Day, senior, is looking forward to qualifying for State three years in a row. Although she signed her National Letter of Intent to Saint Louis University to play volleyball, her love for track helps her improve her cardio and leg strength to be the best she can be.

Day competes in the 4x100, 4x200, 4x400 and the long jump.

“Emily is a very dedicated runner and is always pushing others to do their best day in and day out at practice and at meets,” said Grace Dieleman, sophomore.

The ultimate goal for every athlete is to qualify for the State Championships and that is Day’s number one goal this season.

In the practice meet in late March, Emily placed well in all the events she participated in.

With the short track season ahead, Day is hoping to do as much as she can in a few short weeks to excel in her final season.

An exclusive look at four of South’s spring sports athletes

Ryanne Serrone

Ryanne Serrone is entering her second season as a varsity player, and as a junior, she has taken an upperclassmen role, which comes with leadership on and off of the field. This is Serrone’s 12th year playing soccer as she has been playing for multiple club teams since the age of four.

Serrone is looking to play soccer in college and so far she has caught the eye of many universities including Baker University, Emporia State, and her favorite so far, Fort Hays University.

“I see myself more as a leader this year as a junior, I could really feel the transition between sophomore year and junior year,” said Serrone.

Playing left forward, Ryanne will be looking to score a lot over the course of the season.

Zach Bischler

Zach Bischler is a senior golfer looking to redeem himself from the previous season. Not only does he have confidence in himself his coaches and teammates do as well.

“Zach was very upset about last seasons results and has been golfing all the time and getting better everyday and I have full confidence he will qualify for State this year,” said Harrison Feaster, junior.

After finishing two strokes short of the State cut last year, he is on track to becoming an All-State golfer this season. Bischler is a very consistent golfer and always plays well no matter what conditions he is faced with on tournament days. In just the second match of the season he tied for first place, shooting just two over. He tied with Sam Parrot who placed second at the State Golf Tournament last season.

Bischler has many colleges that have interest in him playing at the next level.

“It was never a goal to play college golf but I have always had it in the back of my mind, if I find the right school I will definitely play at the collegiate level,” he said.

The District Championship is played at the same course Bischler tied for first place at, so he will be looking to capitalize on his experience.

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and then there was o

SPORTS

e

The 2017 NCAA Tournament had everything basketball fans want in college basketball

by JACK BEUERLEIN This college basketball season was filled with stellar highs and all time lows. Throughout the season, college kids had the opportunity to develop into NBA ready men. This March Madness tournament brought new stars into the picture.

Tucker Horn, junior, thinks very highly of one of those new stars.

“Tyler Dorsey of Oregon is an elite player. He has had at least 20 points in every single game this tournament, and he even has the name Mr. March,” said Horn Dorsey was definitely a player to watch in this year’s tournament. While shooting a spectacular 66 percent from the field and averaging just under 25 points, it always seemed like he did whatever it took to help his team win.

Another player outshined Dorsey and is the MVP of the tournament, according to Josee Gentry, junior.

“Frank Mason was the MVP of the tournament because he’s 5’11” and averages 20+ points per game. He’s a very level headed player and an overall outstanding athlete,” she said.

Mason was most certainly a player that was hard to miss because of his awards that he acclaimed. Mason was awarded AP player of the year, and the highest honor in college basketball, the Naismith Award. His small stature only gives him that much more reason to be such a fierce competitor while averaging 20+ points and five assists.

Throughout the tournament, teams emerged to the face of stardom.

South Carolina, for example, made it to the Final Four as a seven seed. Alec Ommen, senior, thinks that South Carolina is a very underrated team.

“Before the tournament, I had not paid attention to South Carolina

basketball at all. I knew they had a good Coach in Frank Martin, but I never knew that they were capable of going deep into the tournament,” said Ommen.

The Gamecocks were a second half team, outscoring opponents by 54 points. They have a really deep bench and all the confidence that it takes to get as far as they did.

While South Carolina was this year’s Cinderella team, teams like Villanova who many people had making it back to the championship, lost in an early round shocker.

In the round of 32, Villanova was taken down by a very underrated Wisconsin Badger team.

According to FiveThirtyEight.com, Villanova had a 15 percent chance of winning the tournament and a 24 percent chance of making it to the championship. Both of these percentages were the highest out of all the teams in the tournament.

Horn expected a lot from Villanova and they let him down early.

“Villanova seemed like they had everything it took to make another run at a championship, it’s disappointing to see them make an early exit because I feel like that really screwed up a lot of brackets,” Horn said.

This was an exhilarating season of college basketball. With so many future NBA all stars and high powered teams, this season was one to remember. All in all, the NCAA tournament ref lected all of the possibilities that can happen in basketball. With a number one overall seed losing in the second round, and a seven seven seed in the final four, the tournament was the perfect end to a perfect college basketball year.

“Villanova seemed like they had everything it took to make another run at a championship.”

TOURNEY WINNERS & LOSERS Cinderella Team

best underdog

Biggest Bust

most predictable

mvp

best newcomer

SPORTS

22

side

North laxin’

Lacrosse gains popularity among South athletes

s a multi-year veteran of the Northland Lacrosse program, I have had the pleasure of seeing the evolution of the team.

From the time I was a little tyke running around with little more on my mind than the post-game snacks, to the current season pushing for a deep playoff run, I have always loved the guys I was surrounded by.

As an elementary player, I watched the varsity guys and thought of them as pros. The speed and proficiency of their passing and catching was nothing short of incredible to me. Now as one of those varsity players, I look across the practice fields and see the youth teams practicing and can’t help but smile. Our program is growing and the future of lacrosse north of the river is bright.

“I have been playing lacrosse for as long as I can remember.

I play with the Northland Lacrosse program and also with True Kansas, Kansas City’s elite travel team. It’s cool because I get to play with a lot of the best talent in the city on my travel team but I also get to rep my area with Northland.” said Jake Fisher, sophomore, and attackmen for True and Northland.

Fisher is an example of what the Northland program is capable of.

He has had the opportunity to play with the True National team and has been invited to the FLG Legit 120 camp in New York, an Invite Only camp, comprised of the best 120 players on the continent.

Northland’s younger programs have the potential to put out similar caliber talent, capped off by the current eighth grade team, who look to defend their city title this May. “I love seeing the younger guys putting in work to try and better their game. Their potential is exciting and I look forward to getting to work with them in the coming years.” added Fisher.

Another star on the Northland team who has an impressive resume is sophomore Isaac Henn. Henn, who also plays with True, was selected as an All-Star at a tournament in Chicago. He consistently

Jake Fisher, Soph.

contributes to tournament titles across the country with his travel team.

He is a face-off specialist and has an unimaginable face-off conversion rate so far this season with Northland. Face-offs occur at the start of every quarter and after every goal. This is an extremely important job, as there can be upwards of 25 face-offs in a single game. Being able to win those face-offs can earn you a ton of “free” possessions, so having someone who is so consistently good it is a huge asset.

“I’ve loved being able to play with Northland for so many years.

I learned the basics of the game there and wouldn’t be where I am today without the coaching I had from the staff at Northland,” Henn said.

The sport has a huge growth potential and more kids than ever are picking up the stick and gaining interest in the sport. Northland was once the laughing stock of KC lacrosse but with the current varsity program doing damage in the league and youth programs consistently winning titles, the historical powerhouses south of the river are starting to bite their tongues.

From the first team the Northland ever fielded barely 10 years ago to the current team of up and comers, there is truly no limit to what could be next. Just be prepared to watch Northland alumni making an impact on the collegiate field in the near future, something that everyone would’ve laughed at just a few years ago.

OPPONENT DATE BLUE VALLEY NORTH

19TH

BLUE VALLEY

22ND

PEMBROKE

25TH

TIME

LOCATION

6PM

PARK HILL

BLUE 12:30PM VALLEY HS 6PM

Spencer Denney, Issac Henn, Soph:

PARK HILL

SCHEDULE

A

by BRAEDEN DENNEY

PHE N O H S M O R F

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SPORTS

by GARRETT OSBOURN

Ask yourself what your mile time is?

Nine minutes? Eight Minutes? Maybe seven? What if I told you we have a freshman right here at South who can run a mile in a little over four minutes?

Chris Dupree, freshman, has not gone unnoticed as track season starts back up. This speed demon has shocked everyone in the city with his highly impressive stats.

Although all of Dupree’s events are very impressive there are some that are just unheard of, starting with his 400-meter dash. Last year, during Duprees eighth grade year, he ran a 400 meter dash in 48.7 seconds. To give you a comparison of the average runner, the average high school runner in decent shape runs a 400 meter dash in 70 seconds.

A lot of students, and even coaches, are asking themselves, why doesn’t this student play other sports where his speed could be put to greater use? With a lot of star football players departing South this year, some see Dupree as the best candidate to take over the star spot. However, Dupree

disagrees.

“My dad likes me running track, and my mom will not let me ever play football, because of injuries,” said Dupree.

Although Dupree can perform very well in all events, he favor the 400 meter dash. His speed in this even absolutely obliterates any average runner in decent shape.

“I think it’s one of the hardest in terms of distance, I’ve been focusing on distance since I was 10, and it’s what I know I’m best at,” said Dupree.

Dupree is a crazy talented freshman athlete, and has big plans for his future as a track star. When asked about his college plans were he had no hesitation in saying he has his sights on Texas A&M. “I’ve watched them run for a long time now, and they have the best runners. I decided this year, and haven’t taken much time to research colleges, but junior year I’ll be open to other colleges,” said Dupree.

So if you’re a fellow freshman, or even a sophomore, pay attention to your fellow student athlete, Chris Dupree.

He is destined for big things, and you don’t want to miss it!

SENIORS STRIDING

by MJ WALKER

TOWARD STATE

This year track has 32 seniors who all want to end their high school careers in a storm of glory. Senior year always means a little bit more and is a crucial year for those who want to run in college.

Seniors at South are determined to show their skills and make a run to the postseason. Many of them have run at State before, but competing in it as a senior can mean a lot to someone like Brendan Briody who has run all four years at South.

Briody says, “I am looking forward to this postseason and we have a good chance of going far in many things this year.

Briody is one of the distance runners on the track team. He runs the 800m,1600m, and 400m races. He is one of the leaders and he hopes to lead them to state for his final year of track.

Last year the track team placed top five in one of events at the state track meet.

Coach Clay Lenhert said “We can push past the hump and land in the top three this year in a variety of events. I expect our seniors to help lead us there.”

South’s track team has had a reputation for being consistently good. This season isn't looking any different and there is still more potential.

Chris Dupree is only a freshman, but he is already making a huge impact this year by being one of the fastest kids on the team. He is learning about being coachable and how to be reliable from seniors like Michael Garrison.

Garrison ran the 4x400-meter dash at State last year. The 400-meter race is not one that is liked by many people, but Garrison has set his mind to become not only one of the best here at South but also one of the best in the state.

Garrison said, “I just go out there and run. The 400-meter is what I want to be known for.”

Some people that come to track meets only come to watch the runners but they forget the other side of the name: field. The field events are sometimes overlooked but they are very competitive too.

Katie Allen is one of South’s varsity high jumpers and she has a chance to jump in State for her final year at South.

Allen said, “Track is special the way in that you are constantly competing; with your teammates for a varsity spot and when facing other schools.”

This competitive drive is what has been keeping her addicted to track and the people around her.

Allen said, “I will miss the sense of family from track.

Everyone supports everyone and wants the best for the other and that is what is really unique about track.”

This year will be Lexi Applequist’s last year but she is looking to make it last as long as possible. She is a varsity thrower and really likes being on the team and making friends with the other throwers at South and at meets.

Applequist said, “The throwers are kind of our own little group and we can visualize our progress through fun games that Coach Singletary comes up with.”

Each senior hopes to have a great impact this year and years after. They will always be role models and they hope this season will be as memorial and victorious for them.

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ATHLETE OF THE ISSUE name: Andrew Aswegan FOLD

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college

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PANTHERS

senior center fielder fun fact: committed to crowder

DIRECTIONS 1. Cut out the Paper Panther from the sheet and then cut out marked areas that tell you to “cut out” 2. Fold along edges that say “fold” 3. Use tape to secure your Paper Panther 4. Use Paper Panther to cheer on your South athletes