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FRIDAY, JANUARY 9, 2026 ~ VOL. XCVIII NO. 1 CO EDITOR-IN-CHIEF: AVA BERGMAN

CO EDITOR-IN-CHIEF: NINA BRANDON

Anderson High School 7560 Forest Road, Cincinnati, OH, 45255

ADVISOR: LAUREN OLSON

Ohio High School Athletes on NIL Trial Run

News

Anderson’s Senior Lobby created as a relaxing space and a way for seniors to make their mark. 2A

NIL now permitted for Ohio High School Athletes until December 4 By Brendan Lands Senior Staff Writer

Name, Image, and Likeness: three words that have taken the sporting world by storm this decade. Professional sports have dominated American media and culture for over a century; however, they have always had to share the limel i g h t with collegiate sports. What’s the difference between the two? Professional athletes, of course, get paid professionally. Meanw h i l e , historically, student-athletes have not gotten paid. But all this has changed; across the nation, collegiate athletes are getting paid for the use of their name, image, and likeness. This change gives fans access to things like personal player jerseys and sports video games featuring their likeness. This change was met with much criticism from sports purists, but little did they know that a far greater change was soon to come. Following the adop-

tion of NIL into the college realm, 44 states across the U.S. have allowed NIL deals for high schoolers, and Ohio could now make 45. Jamier Brown, a 4-star wide receiver from Wayne High School in Huber Heights, recently sued the Ohio High School Athletics Association for restricting high school athletes from

that NIL will soon be allowed in Ohio. With this change seemily imminent, we sat down with Evan Dreyer, head coach of the Anderson Raptors football team, this year’s Ohio Division II state runner-up to get insights on how this could impact high school programs. Dreyer gave his comments on the future of high school football. “It’s going to af- fect when and where kids commit t o

col-

sign- i n g endorsement deals. Brown, who is committed to play for The Ohio State University, claims that he has been offered endorsements worth over $100,000. While the lawsuit is still ongoing, a judge has issued an order, officially allowing NIL until December 4th. In addition, the OHSAA has scheduled an emergency vote on the matter, despite voting against NIL in 2022. With this vote and the pending lawsuit, many feel as if the writing is on the wall and

lege. If they commit early in their career, a university or collective will be able to pay them to stay committed,” Dreyer said. Anderson has built a brand with organizations like the Media Athletics Collaborative, countless student photographers, and consistent coverage from local news stations. “We have enough photographers and graphic designers to where we have built a brand… It’s all about displaying the good of what we do and highlighting the positive successes of our program,” Dreyer said. Dreyer remarked on his

Anderson Football Behind the Scenes A dive into the people, processes that make Friday night football possible

By John Sellins Sports Editor

Friday nights hold an important tradition here at Anderson High School: each week, at 7 PM sharp, hundreds of members of the student body come out to watch the Raptors football team play underneath the lights. But what one doesn’t see is the process that goes into each individual game, starting with the scheduling years in advance and ending with the AHS Alma Mater.

THE SCHEDULE Scheduling of all conference games usually takes place months—if not years—in advance. With football, the full schedule is released sometime in the spring, with all but one regular-season game scheduled by the Eastern Cincinnati Conference (ECC) board. The ECC games are drawn up every other year, with home and away teams alternating from year to year (for example, Anderson hosted Kings in Week 5

of the 2024 season; Kings hosted ing] school and confirm the times Anderson in Week 5 of the 2025 of the games to make sure we’re on the same page, and I’ll ask for season). them to send over their rosters… for Friday nights, you make sure GAME DAY There are several things that your roster is completely corthat go on during game day to rect, because you don’t want to prepare the team for kickoff. For have any blunders,” Martz said. A new logistical addition home games, the athletic departto game day preparations, unveiled ment stays busy, combing the turf in 2024, is the video scoreboard of Charles L. Brown Stadium early located behind the west end zone. on Friday morning. The graphics are designed by An“Myself or [athletic diderson’s Media Athletics Collabrector Chris Newton goes] out orative team (led by AHS teacher there in the morning [to comb Chad Weddle) and run by Anderthe field]. It takes about two hours, and you have to go three miles an son student Lyla Hurlburt (11). “That was definitely one hour…and you just go up and down of those processes [where] it’s gothe field,” assistant athletic direcing to take a lot of time to undertor Nathan Martz said. stand it because it’s new for evIn addition, rosters are erybody…most games it was easy, created and officials are assigned but some games there were some sometime during the week. Martz, tough technical parts,” Martz said. along with Newton and adminisThe board originally had trative assistant Debbie Welker, to be run out of a control room is in charge of confirming the game’s time and location with that bordered the weight room, other schools and referees. “I’ll email the [oppos- CONTINUED ON PAGE 2A

Ohio government implements a no-phone policy in public schools statewide

Photo by Konrad Fischer, Video Editor In compliance with new state legislation set by Governor DeWine and House Bill 96, the Forest Hills School District implemented their new phone policy to begin the 25-26 school year. The phone policy was put into place after legislation was passed by the state government in 2025, requiring schools to implement a full-day restriction starting January 1st, 2026. However, many school districts — like Forest Hills — implemented the plan at the beginning of the academic year. By Sosena Tefera, Staff Writer

Inside Now

responsibilities in this ever-changing world of NIL. “I have to make sure that our students are being handled in their best interests. I’m not going to hide and say it’s not out there, because it is coming and it’s going to grow fast. Whether it’s right or wrong, it is going to be allowed, so we have to make sure that we are at the forefront and do our best with our kids,” Dreyer said. Graphic By Maddie Kamp, Lead Graphic Designer

A&E

Check out a recap of “Dancing with the Stars” as its 34th season comes to an end. 3A

Opinion

Mimi Greisser dives into Ohio’s new phone policy. Ava Bergman shares her thoughts over forgotten holidays. 5A

Sports

See a wrap-up on the 2025 fall sports season as five teams paved their way to state. 7A

Back-to-Back State Finals Appearances for Raptors Football By Ella Dreier

Assistant Sports Editor Since the end of last year’s 2024 season, the Anderson High School football team began focusing on developing players to be able to step into the major roles played by the graduated seniors. The Raptors succeeded, having yet another strong season, winning the Eastern Cincinnati Conference, Division II Region 8, and Division II state runner-up titles for the second consecutive year. They fell to the Avon Eagles 37-20 in the State Finals, with an overall-season record of 14-1.

Photo by Carson Glen, Photo Editor

Same House, Same Hallways: Siblings On Staff High school faculty includes several sets of sibling staff members

By Caroline Barber News & Features Editor

Time News revealed that by the time an individual reaches age eleven, thirty-three percent of their free time is devoted to their sibling. Relationships established between siblings at a young age often carry into adulthood, and if the bond is strong enough, it may even result in sharing a workplace. Anderson High School has brought in multiple sets of siblings, all working under the same roof. Mrs. Orick, a biology teacher at Anderson, and her sister, Mrs. Gans, an administrative assistant, are two sisters who both share the same passion: education. While their relationship has remained the same inside and outside of school, they are able to spend more quality time with each other. “We have lunch together every day here. We talk every day, all day almost,” Gans said. This set of sisters enjoys working together and helping each other out. In the mornings when Gans needs help getting her kids to school, Orick will allow them to hang out in her classroom until they can get to where they need to be. “I think [having a sibling at work] is great!” Gans said. This isn’t the only sibling duo roaming the Anderson halls: chemistry teacher Mr. Good has taken full advantage of working with his younger sister, Mrs. Donohue, another administrative assistant. Together, they both help plan the spring Academic Pep Rally, along with hanging out at work during free time. Outside of school, they enjoy attending Reds games to-

gether and going to opening day every year. They also have one other sister, in between them in age, who teaches elementary school in Columbus, Ohio. A passion for education is evident in their family as well. “It’s funny when she’ll buzz in [my classroom] every now and then when I forget my attendance,” Good said. Anderson High School doesn’t house the only siblings in the district. Mr. Jeff Granger, a chemistry teacher at Anderson, has a younger brother, Mr. Brett Granger, who also teaches chemistry at Turpin. “We’ve always joked about one day switching it up. I show up to Turpin, and he shows up to Anderson, just acting like nothing is different at all,” J. Granger said. As if having the same name and teaching the same subject wasn’t enough, both brothers attended Ohio University for their undergraduate degrees, both studying education. “My brother is kind of like my shadow. Anything that I do, he’s going to do anyway,” J. Granger said. The brothers often check up with one another to see what’s going on in each other’s classes across the two schools. When the younger Granger first started teaching, the older Granger shared some of his techniques and ideas with him to get him started. “If you have a bad day or something, you know that your person is there [and they] have your back,” Donohue said.

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THE

RAPTOR REPORT

News & Features

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Senior Lobby Makeover past senior lobby tradition returns through administrative leadership and creativity

AHS seniors enjoy using the senior lobby as a peaceful study area. Will Santorelli, Photographer

By Carter Bosch Staff Writer

Anderson’s admin team has been hard at work to rejuvenate the senior lobby. This small nook is located to the right of the main stairwell and just in front of the conference room. There are future plans to expand this space and make it more personal to the graduating class. “It is good to realize how much kids care to leave a mark on the school…it makes me happy,” Kenzie Griffin (12) said.

Currently in the senior lobby, seniors signed one of the walls to show their AHS pride. These seniors saw it as a start to their final school year before they say goodbye to the school and a way to leave their mark on Anderson. Students are the main priority with the senior lobby and new traditions. The goal of the lobby is to help the seniors by giving them a place to decompress and spend time together.

“I want it to keep on growing. I want kids’ input and I want kids to use it,” Mrs. Bamber, assistant principal and head of the project, said. As students head toward graduation, they discover what they enjoy and find a love for those events, sports, or activities. Anderson has a wide range of people who have different passions and who want to leave an impact on the school during their senior year, while also encouraging others to do the same. “I would like to leave a passion for [theater and band],” Christian Hartzog (12) said. Bamber is already putting together a list of ideas for the new space. “[We want] more comfortable furniture, painting walls… I would love a fake plant there. I want it to be cozy,” Bamber said. There are future plans to make the senior lobby a more comfortable place for students. The goal of the space is to have it be somewhere seniors can relax and take a break from the excitement of senior year. Recently, a large “Anderson Senior Lobby” rug was added to the center of the space.

Behind the Scenes

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1A but has since become operational in the press box. A scoreboard operator works the board during all home athletic events. Road games present an equally massive challenge, as all of the team’s personnel, equipment, and other necessities must be transported to the opposing school. In addition to the helmets, pads, and players, notable items present for away games include the Touchdown Drum, the Raptor medical tent, and, sometimes, Rowdy the Raptor. “Mrs. Welker is the one who handles all the busing, and I can tell you from seeing her handle it, [it’s] definitely stressful, because you have no idea when they could call and say they don’t have a bus ready for a team,” Martz said. Fortunately, Martz explains, he can enjoy the game once it starts. “The lead-up is probably the most stressful. Because once it kicks off, everything’s smooth sailing,” Martz said. While the field is being prepared and the administrative tasks are taken care of, the team is hard at work to make sure they are also ready for kickoff. “Right around 4:30 or 5:00, depending on a home or away game, we go into the weight room and start getting ready for the game…then right on the field from there at 6 PM with Coach Szabo, [and then] the little details of that [such as] offensive meetings, defensive meetings, and special teams,” Anderson head coach Evan Dreyer said. Like the athletic department administrators, the football team and coaches have a myriad of pregame logistics to work through to assist them in calling plays and using the correct personnel. “[There are] so many little things that we have to ensure are ready to go, from equipment to headphones to game plans laminated. [We also have to know] whether it’s going to rain or not and then ensure the uniforms and all equipment is set up,” Dreyer said. In addition to his role as the head coach, Dreyer serves as the Raptors’ offensive coordinator, meaning he calls the plays while Anderson is on offense. He makes the decisions from the field, while Brian Veil serves as the defensive coordinator and calls plays from the press box. The Raptors wear three jersey colors throughout the course of the season: black (used predominantly for home games), white (for road games), and—debuting in 2025—orange. “As the season gets going and I think our kids create a little bit of enthusiasm, they [might] want to play a certain [uniform] combo, and we go with what they want,” Dreyer said.

Throughout the week, the players are required to watch film, which is compiled and managed by Veil. Located in a program called Hudl, the film contains videos of both Anderson and its opponents. The team makes sure to review both their and their opponents’ recent games. The Raptors also recently introduced a drone to capture aerial footage of their games. “What the assistant coaches do to prepare our kids is pretty special. Throughout the week we expect our kids to have [watched] 90 minutes of Hudl tape, and to take notes, too,” Dreyer said. As game time draws nearer, the team is ready for battle under the lights. The hard work is done; now it’ll be up to the players to go get a victory. However, there’s already been a significant number of workers who have made the game possible behind the scenes. “It’s a group of people that have helped us overall. You’re going from the stats you have before the game, and then you go into a video [session] with Mr. Veil and people who film the games to ensure our stats are kept correctly. It is awesome,” Dreyer said.

THE GAME Shortly after 7:00 PM, the Raptors pick up a first down. The crowd goes wild, the band plays and the speakers blast, “That’s good for a Raptors first down!” But whose voice is that? The PA announcer for all varsity football games is Tom Turchiano. He has been calling games from the press box (located above the concession stand) since 2021, but had experience before that, announcing for the local peewee (kindergarten through sixth grade) teams, the Anderson Wildcats. A communication major, Turchiano has made a name for himself at Anderson in five short years. “It’s absolutely my favorite job…It keeps you part of the game and the pageantry of high school football is the best environment period,” Turchiano said. The announcer has several iconic lines, ranging from, “It’s thiiiiiiiird down!” to “The Raptors have entered the Wake Zoooone Red Zoooone” (for which there is merchandise, by the way). With the team’s immense success in recent years, Turchiano has become an integral part of Anderson football. “It’s all about making it a good, fun environment for the kids, for the players, for the band, and for the community. That’s what it’s about for me,” Turchiano said. In addition, he volunteers his time and skills every game. “I chose years ago not to

ever want to get paid for it because I just don’t think that you should take away from the athletic budget. I think it’s important for all of those resources and funds to go to kids and for the betterment of the program and the community,” Turchiano said. As far as logistics are concerned, Turchiano arrives about an hour and a half prior to kickoff in order to spend time practicing pronunciations, scripts, and other unique facets of the individual game. “You kind of have to do the best you can. I go through the script—if there’s a band thing for halftime— and kind of familiarize myself with the flow of what we have going on for the game,” Turchiano said. His calls have been accumulated over time, and he is still adding new ones to his repertoire. “I listen to a lot of other people when I go to other high school games or other venues for college [like] Ohio State. I always take something away,” Turchiano said. You can see Mr. Turchiano announcing the game in Charles L. Brown Stadium on Friday nights from outside the press box. He typically sits on the left side if facing the box and always has a microphone in hand. On the other side of the press box, long-time sportscasters Dan Albers and Greg Ellis provide a play-by-play of all varsity games, home or away. The pair has been doing Anderson games since 1997, and has had plenty of memorable experiences along the way. “[At the beginning] I think it was great because there was a public access community [channel]…and we would do games, put them on VHS tapes, and we’d run it up to the station… and then they would put them on. They would show the games eight times during the week,” Ellis said. Since, USBN has found a new home at USBNSports.com. Games are free to listen to live and can be purchased for on demand viewing after the game. The broadcasts now reel in a myriad of weekly viewers, including several alumni and former players. “Dan [Albers] took us to another level because [he] came up with an Internet station, and it started very slow. We had like 10 or 15 people listening and now we have over 1,000 people tune us in every week,” Ellis said. The crew always makes sure to keep the broadcasts light on Friday nights. A listener who tuned in for Anderson’s Week 3 game at Little Miami on September 5 of this season might have heard musical renditions from The Sound of Music or cameraman Dale Adams’ impression of “Hee Haw.” “We all get together on Friday nights, and you can tell

we all have a good time. We don’t take ourselves too serious[ly]. We like to laugh and joke and make it fun…we make fun of ourselves,” Albers said. Like all the others involved in the process of the games, logistics are important when it comes to planning and being ready for gameday. USBN conducts its broadcasts from outside the press box, so there are occasionally weather- or technology-related issues. “[We have to] get the permission from the other teams [for away games]. The other thing that’s hard to coordinate is whether it’s going to rain or not. If we’re up top, we have no cover. And one year at Loveland, we were sitting at a table, and we literally had a tarp over the top of us,” Albers said. Albers and Ellis, along

with sideline reporter John Raymond, and head of scouting and former Anderson head coach Vince Suriano, also present the “Raptor Recap” on Tuesday nights. Each week, eight players (six from Anderson and two from the middle school teams) are recognized for their standout play during the week. The selected players typically interview with Raymond, and Suriano provides his thoughts on the upcoming game and how the opposing team likes to play. The show is hosted at Anderson Pub and Grill, but is also streamed live on USBNSports.com and is free to watch. Thank you to Nathan Martz, Evan Dreyer, Tom Turchiano, Dan Albers, and Greg Ellis for their time and insight into a Raptors game day.

PAGE DESIGNED BY nina brandon

Pink Goes Well With Green: A “Wicked” Good Preview

Arts and Entertainment

A preview of Wicked: For Good, sequel to Wicked: Part 1

Page 3A

A Perfect “10”

Dancing with the Stars breaks view records every week, with fan engagement skyrocketing

By Cate Overbey Staff Writer

Airie Davis (11) throws a Wicked-themed ballad flag during marching band practice this fall. Photo by Maryaam Vashi, Lead Cartoonist

By Scarlet Marques Staff Writer

Wicked: For Good is set to be released in theaters on November 21st, 2025. For Wicked: Part One, 9 million real tulips were planted to fill Munchkinland— an iconic location in the movie— making the setting feel real to viewers. This intensive design process was met with overwhelmingly positive reactions from fans. That being said, the intensive set design will be replicated in the sequel: Wicked: For Good. “The scenery and costumes were the highlight of [Wicked]...a lot of [the setting] is really real and actually built,” Lydia Armstrong (9), Intro-toFilm student and avid Wicked fan, said. The scenes and props aren’t the only real things in the Wicked movies. Over 1,000 costumes were designed for both movies, many of which are already on display in museums across the country, including a limited-time exhibit at Kent State University Museum. “[I’m most excited for] the costumes, [especially] Glinda’s really pretty blue dress. It was so cute seeing it in the promo,” Armstrong (9) said. Oscar-nominated director Jon M. Chu, who has also worked on popular films including Now You See Me 2, In the Heights, and Crazy Rich Asians, will be directing the movie with a star-studded cast.

Wicked: For Good was set up for success from the beginning. The cast includes Ariana Grande, a two-time Grammy award winner, starring as Glinda, Cynthia Erivo, Actress of the Year 2019, starring as Elphaba, and Jonathan Bailey, a well-known star in Bridgerton, playing Fiyero. “Ariana and Cynthia Erivo are so committed to their roles when you see them outside the [premieres]...which makes me think they’re also going to be better in this [movie],” Armstrong (9) said. The Wicked cast is often commended for portraying lovable characters that stay true to the musical from which the movie is adapted. Fans are truly excited to see their favorite characters in the new movie because of the actors' tireless work. “[My favorite character is] Elphaba…just her story, never fitting in, it’s good to think about how different people can be,” Clare Bomkamp (10), a fan of the musical and movies, said. Elphaba is a fan favorite. She changes fans' views of the Wicked Witch of the West, the infamous villain of The Wizard of Oz, into a misunderstood and honorable character. “Elphaba [is my favorite] because she’s misunderstood, and she knows what [she does] is right even though the other people may not think it’s a good thing to do,”

Stella Frye (11) sings the national anthem before the football team took on Withrow HS.

By Reagan Lynch

Arts and Entertainent Editor Participation in both high school performing arts and athletics is on the rise after a drastic decline during the COVID-19 pandemic. Several shared benefits can be learned from both performing arts and athletics, including: hard work, determination, time management, leadership, teamwork, and skill development. “[Band and Cross Country] make me good at managing my time to find out when I can do homework and still participate in my activities,” Caleb Horner (12), AHS Cross Country runner and Snare Drum player, said. Time management is a common theme among studentathletes who are also involved in some form of performing arts at school. “I am a student before I am an athlete, so making sure I am staying on top of homework and studying for tests and quizzes [comes first],” Stella Frye (11), member of the Dance team and Chamber Choir, said. Athletes have varying ways of excelling in their respective performing arts as well as their sport. “I take my violin home on weekends to practice.

I know I have to go to [cross country] meets, but I know I need to make time to practice,” Josie Liening (10), Violinist and Cross Country runner, said. Conversely, some athletes solely participate in performing arts during the school day. “It helps that the choir doesn’t have any after-school practices…I can participate during the day,” Frye (11) said. Both performing arts and sports help build a positive culture and positive relationships in high school. This can lead to a positive impact on students’ college/career paths. “I think [students] want to get involved in a lot of things. I’ve made a lot of my friends [in band],” Horner (12) said. However, student-athletes involved in performing arts deal with many challenges. “It definitely gets hard, [at football games] I’m dancing one second, and then I have to run and get in my spot to sing [the National Anthem],” Frye (11) said. Despite the challenges, more and more students are finding themselves getting more involved in their school, often in the form of arts and athletics, as well as finding time to appreciate other extracurricular activities here at Anderson. “Performing arts are a great way to show self-expression,

Mia Buscema (11), Intro-to-Film student and big Wicked fan, said. However, Elphaba is not the only fan favorite. The duality between Elphaba and Glinda creates a space for Glinda in everyone’s hearts as well. Elphaba is “wicked,” while Glinda is “good.” The contrast between the two creates an interesting dynamic throughout the story. “[My favorite character is] Glinda, obviously, she’s so groovy and so stereotypical, but in a fun way, it brings a new take on the ‘dumb blonde’ trope,” Armstrong (9) said. But what fans appear to be most excited for is the continuation of their beloved franchise. With the first movie receiving overwhelmingly positive reviews, it’s hard not to be excited for the sequel. “I cried. I laughed. I thought that [the movie] really emulated the musical,” Bomkamp (10) said. Just like most sequels, to understand the plot of Wicked: For Good, newer fans should first watch Wicked to truly understand the plot. “[The first movie] was really good…It sets up the story really well,” Buscema (11), said. Tickets in Anderson are available on AMC’s website as well as at other local movie theaters.

Live from Hollywood, it’s Dancing with the Stars! ABC’s Dancing with the Stars is currently in its 34th season, with viewership being at an all time high. Each season, 14 celebrity stars are paired up with a professional dancer who choreographs and coaches the stars into dancers in a ballroom style competition. Each week a couple gets eliminated based on a combination of the judges scores and votes from fans across the country. This season, there are plenty of recognizable faces including Olympic gold medalist Jordan Chiles, wildlife conservationist Robert Irwin, and many more. This season the show has been leaning into social media influencers including Alix Earle, Dylan Efron and The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives stars Jen Afflack and Whittney Levitt. “I feel like they have been using a lot more social media influencers and because of this, they are getting more hype,” Sydney Ventura (12), a weekly viewer, said. Over the past few seasons, Dancing with the Stars has been using social media to their advantage, drawing in younger generations of viewers. “I feel like the social media makes people want to watch [Dancing with the Stars] more because it kind of gives hints of ‘oh this is what we are doing on the show, you should come watch’” Lilian Kristiansen (11) a Dancing with the Stars superfan, said. Stars and Pros alike have taken to social media platforms to promote their partnerships with TikToks, Instagram stories and more. Dancing with the Stars has also started a TikTok live show every week during the taping of the live shows giving fans exclusive behind the scenes of a show day. Fans enjoy the interactive aspect of the show where they can vote for their favorite couple week to week. Viewers have been

Mary Overbey (10) holds a "perfect 10" sign up while watching Dancing with the Stars.

breaking their own voting records weekly with the highest being 55 million votes on Halloween Night. Viewership of the show has increased dramatically this season. The season 33 finale averaged about 8 million viewers, whereas the season 34 premiere alone racked up close to 8.13 million viewers. The panel of ballroom expert judges consists of Carrie Ann Inaba, Derek Hough and Bruno Tonioli. Many fans question the fairness of the judges, because their scores seem to differ depending on the contest. Some fans argue that the show is about how the star grows throughout the weeks, while others argue it is based on the raw talent and complexity of the routine. “They have been judging Dylan on growth and not based on how good the dance is. Whereas if they were judging Andy based on growth, he would get eights not sixes,” Chloe Hibner (12) said. Fans were eager to tune into the season to see who will be crowned champion and win the mirrorball trophy. “[Celebrities] are being partnered up with these [pros] and having to learn so quickly and seeing a person do that is inspiring” Hibner (12) said. At the conclusion of Season 34, Robert Irwin and his partner Witney Carson took home the Mirrorball Trophy, while Alix Earle and Jordan Chiles took home 2nd and 3rd place. This was Carson’s second ever victory as well as the second for the Irwin family as Robert’s sister, Bindi Irwin, took home the trophy in Season 24.

whether that’s through orchestra, band, choir, or theatre. We have a great theatre program. I think everybody should go watch one of the shows. There is always something for everybody. If you are interested in [technical skills], there’s always something you can do, even if it’s not performing,” Frye (11) said. Sports and performing arts are great ways for anyone to become involved in their school. There are plenty of opportunities to check out the numerous clubs and extracurricular activities here at Anderson High School. It is a great way to make new friends and connections, as well as to set people up for success in the future.

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Arts and Entertainment

Life Outside of the Classroom Variety of clubs offered to enhance student life

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Creativity in the Queen City Cincinnati is city renowned for its art and creativity around the Tri-State

By Reagan Lynch

Arts & Entertainment Editor

By Lily Walsh

Staff Writer

Clubs are another way to meet new friends and be surrounded by those who share the similar interests. Anderson High School offers numerous clubs to be a part of, including the Open Mic Club, Walk Club, and Lumberjack Club. Mr. Walla, AHS history teacher, leads the Open Mic Club, which is a space for musicians, poets, comedians, and story tellers to share their art with others. Open Mic Club meets every Monday after school in room 221. For Mr. Walla, sponsoring the Open Mic Club was personal. Open Mic was something he frequently spent time doing in high school, so he wanted to create that space for students to share their art here at Anderson. “I’ve always done Open Mic myself, and I think it was my senior year of high school [when] I started going down to New Richmond and playing an Open Mic at a coffee shop down there with a few of my friends. It was kind of this really great creative outlet for me,” Walla said. Being involved in a club creates a community of people who all share a common passion. Open Mic Club allows others to understand the importance of their art and the importance of sharing it. Walla further explains how Open Mic Club has become a special community for all who are involved. “We have a weekly

[check-in, so] we also talk about what’s going on in our lives,” Mr. Walla said. New this year to AHS, Walk Club is sponsored by Ms. Malott, AHS history teacher and Student government leader. The club meets every Wednesday after school and every Friday before school on the track to promote health, community, and self care. Clubs are fairly simple to create. All that is needed is a teacher advisor, an idea, and some interest. For the Walk Club, Ms. Malott had an idea, and after getting students interested and gaining approval, she made it happen. Ms. Malott elaborates on her own thoughts and experiences that led to the creation of the Walk Club. “I actually had a back injury and walking was pretty much the only thing I could do at that point,” Malott said. Sports are one way to get involved, but Anderson’s club offerings are another way for students to participate in extracurricular activities. Walk Club is a way for students to keep active without outside of athletics. Walk Club can also be beneficial for those who want to get outside. “I think that we have a good amount of students that want to get outside, that want to move around, but all of the pressures and time of a sport are a lot. I think for those students that aren’t doing a club or doing a sport, it’s the per-

fect thing to just still be moving and getting outside,” Ms. Malott said. Mr. Bissinger, AHS English teacher, sponsors the Lumberjack club, in which students get together to wear flannels, eat pancakes, and discuss lumberjack news at IHOP at 6:45 a.m. Dates are chosen by club members Madeline Whiting (12) and Luke Patterson (12). “The people that do Lumberjack Club are the people I do theater with, and it brought me closer to them,” Whiting (12) said. Whiting (12) also said there is little pressure there is with being involved in the Lumberjack Club. “It’s just a very social club. You don’t really have to do any work,” Whiting said. Clubs can be an opportunity for those who have been wanting to get more involved at Anderson, especially freshmen. There is a great variety of clubs at Anderson, which are evolving and changing as the student body does. New clubs are being added each school year as an opportunity for students to get involved. For the most up-to-date list of clubs for the school year, check out the Anderson HS website under the “Student Life” tab, which details where and when clubs meet, as well as their faculty advisor.

Art has been an integral part of the history and culture of Cincinnati. The city offers a variety of art, including traditional paintings, signage, modern abstract works, and photography. The Cincinnati Museum Center, the Taft Museum of Art, the American Sign Museum, and the Contemporary Arts Center are just a few of the places around the TriState area that showcase the rich history of art in Cincinnati. “Cincinnati is known for [its] arts, not just the visual arts; we have the Playhouse in the Park, we have so much of the arts. The city is known for it. There’s so much art, music, [and] dance,” Mrs. Broxterman, drawing and painting teacher, said. Cincinnati is renowned for its art, housing many major museums in a small area. “Within the downtown area, there are 3 world-class museums [the Taft Museum of Art, the Contemporary Arts Center, and the Cincinnati Art Museum] that show work, and not a lot of cities have that,” Mr. Stanyard, AHS photography teacher, said. The diversity of art around Cincinnati has helped preserve the history of the city. “There [are] so many stories that you would’ve never heard about. It shows a lot of Cincinnati’s history during the Civil War, World Wars. It shows what Cincinnati was doing during those important time periods,” Anna Losekamp (11), art student, said. The Cincinnati Art Museum is a traditional art museum. Built in Eden Park in 1886, this museum contains over 73,000 works spanning over 6,000 years. The museum aims to cultivate a more spirited Cincinnati through inspiring people and connecting communities. Among the permanent works, the museum also hosts several national and international exhibitions. The museum is currently showcasing “Rediscovered Treasures,” which highlights rediscovering and conserving art of Eastern Asia. “One of the neat things about Cincinnati is that the art museum is free. It is a world-renowned museum, and through [sponsors] has free admission,” Stanyard said. In addition to the Cincinnati Art Museum, the American Sign Museum is a fan-favorite among people. The American Sign Museum aims to promote the history of American signage through the

preservation and restoration of signs spanning almost 100 years. Founded by Tod Swormstedt in 1999, the museum quickly outgrew its temporary home in another arts center as the collection grew. In 2012, the museum found its permanent home in Camp Washington. “My favorite place [to see art] is the Sign Museum because of the picture opportunities. You can get so many really great pictures,” Losekamp (11) said. The Contemporary Arts Center is another popular art museum here in the Tri-State area. “The Contemporary Arts Center has one rule: the artist must be alive and currently making art,” Broxterman said. Next, the Taft Museum of Art is one of the most popular art museums in Cincinnati. “The Taft Museum is a private collection, and those people decided to leave their house and artwork,” Broxterman said. Built around 1820, the Taft historic house was purchased in 1830 by art patron Nicholas Longworth. Longworth hired Robert S. Duncanson to paint 8 landscape murals in the entry hall. These paintings have since been recognized as the most important pre-Civil War murals in the United States. In 1927, Anna Taft gifted the house and her collection of 530 works to the people and city of Cincinnati. Finally, the most notable museum in Cincinnati is the Cincinnati Museum Center and Union Terminal. Union Terminal—a historic Art Deco train station and National Historic Landmark—is home to the largest half dome in the western hemisphere, as well as the inspiration for the Hall of Justice in DC Comics. Constructed by Winold Reiss, the mural on the half dome is made of glass mosaic tiles. One side of the mural depicts the history of the United States, and the other side depicts the history of Cincinnati. “[Union Terminal is] so fabulously, artistically, skillfully done. It is historically brilliant and so original, most people when they look at it don’t realize that it was made of little tiny pieces,” Broxterman said. All in all, the art around Cincinnati is incredibly diverse, as proven by the numerous world-renowned museums. Artw tells stories of the past, preserving history and culture. In this instance, art is preserving the history and culture of Cincinnati.

Will Santorelli, Photographer Ronin McPhillips (12) works on his ceramics project while Ms. Honaker oversees her second bell class.

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The Forgotten Holiday Lands The most celebrated American holiday,

in the Stands

Thanksgiving, is overlooked in terms of celebration and spirit

For the Love of the Game: How NIL Will Impact High School Sports By Brendan Lands Lead Sports Columnist

For generations, Americans have played high school sports. Whether it was for exercise, brotherhood, friendship, or competition, everyone shared a common motivation: the love of the game. For the vast majority of student-athletes, varsity high school sports are the highest level of competition they will ever reach. High school sports promote discipline, confidence, and a sense of belonging. Introducing money into high school sports will taint the purity of our sports and lead to students competing for the wrong reasons. Student athletes discover their identity through sports. While on a team, young people find their group. Players form support systems among themselves and develop a sense of community. These sports can be a healthy outlet for teenagers across the nation, but when money gets thrown into the equation, team sports suddenly become focused on the individual. Once the goal becomes something more than just winning games with your team, the sense of community starts to fade. Another issue with high school NIL is the transfer process. Athletes will no longer grind and grow their small program. Instead, the best athletes in the city will transfer to the largest schools with the biggest brands, where they can capitalize most on their NIL opportunities. It may also completely transform the landscape of college football recruiting. Now, schools will be able to directly pay high school athletes to commit to their schools, benefiting larger schools. High school NIL deals will keep the small schools small and the big schools big on both the high school and collegiate levels. Students who participate in high school sports are left with a lifelong impact. They develop their resilience, confidence, teamwork, and leadership. These students form lifelong bonds with their teammates and reinforce ties to their communities. Often, athletes can find role models in their sport whom they can base their actions and work ethic on. These are the right reasons to play high school sports. However, when it becomes the norm for the best athletes to get paid, teens will start playing for the wrong reasons. Once we allow our young athletes to chase money, they will quickly succumb to materialism and a shallow identity. These young people will be quick to equate their self-worth as an athlete with the amount

By Ava Bergman Co Editor-In-Chief

After the closure of Halloween on October 31st, everyone switches into Christmas mode. After moving costumes, faux spiders, and family-size bags of candy to clearance, stores cover their shelves with ceramic Christmas trees and string lights, while TV channels begin non-stop streaming of Elf. Christmas carols and tunes fill up every radio station. People seem to always look over the holiday that falls between Halloween and Christmas: Thanksgiving. It's not that people do not celebrate Thanksgiving, in fact, according to Pew Research Center (PRC), 91% of Americans celebrate Thanksgiving. The PRC estimates 90% of Americans celebrate Chritsmas and the National Retail Federation (NRF) estimates that only around 73% of Americans celebrate Halloween. If Thanksgiving has more popularity than Christmas and Halloween, how come Americans only show little to no spirit for it? First, let's begin with decorations. Besides the occasional cornucopia or turkey wearing a pilgrim hat poster, there are none. So few people decorate strictly for Thanksgiving that there is not even a survey that estimates the percentage of Americans who do. For Thanksgiving being so highly-celebrated, it does not have nearly the amount of decoration options or decorators as the other holidays. It also lacks spirit in the amount of media, meaning movies or songs, that are about Thanksgiving. I assure you that if you were asked to come up with of money they can earn. This money will distort the priorities of student-athletes. Once players are paid, they will become athletes before students. Money will lead to so many other problems for these young people, including stress and entitlement. For all these reasons, money will muddy up the purity of the game. Student-athletes put in a lot of work, and it does make sense to compensate them. However, directly paying athletes is throwing them to the wolves of greed, money, and business, completely unprepared. Athletes are already getting compensated for their work in ways they may not even realize. In the wide world of sports, it’s so easy to get swept up in the entertainment, lifestyle, and money, but then we lose track of why we really play: for the love of the game.

five Halloween movies, you could do so in a heartbeat - maybe scary movies, like Nightmare on Elm Street, Scream, or Halloween, come to mind. Or, perhaps, you think of more lighthearted movies like Hubie Halloween, Casper, Hocus Pocus, or Goosebumps. If you were asked to do the same for Christmas, you could probably think of millions. Elf, A Christmas Carol, Home Alone, The Santa Clause, the list could go on. But if you try to come up with one Thanksgiving movie, it's nearly impossible; in fact, there are hardly any that exist. A classic like A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving is one of the few. Some may argue films like Planes, Trains, and Automobiles or Instant Family are Thanksgiving movies just because of the time of year the stories take place, even though they do not have lots of Thangiving themes. Songs also carry a similar story, that being that there are none for Thanksgiving. From the morning of November 1st all the way until December 25th, radio stations play Christmas carols non-stop. According to Spotify, there are upwards of 194,000 different songs. If you simply walk around a store, odds are you will hear someone humming one of these tunes or the store speakers blasting them. Granted, there are very few Halloween songs, but there are definitely more than for Thanksgiving, as expected. Halloween still has “Spooky, Scary Skeletons” and the Ghostbusters’ theme song, but Thanksgiving once again has nothing. So what is it? Why do Americans indulge so heavily in Thanksgiving but fail to show spirit for it as they do for Halloween and Christmas? We need more Thanksgiving movies and songs to enjoy while we celebrate the holiday with family and friends. We need more decorations that can keep the Christmas trees and wreaths in the attic until it's their holiday’s turn. After Halloween, it's Thanksgiving. As Americans, it's our job to show more appreciation for the holiday that has been so important for bringing people together, sharing thankfulness, and creating memories for so long.

OPINION No Phone Zone

Exploring Ohio's new phone policy and why it is not as bad as students have claimed

By Mimi Griesser

Managing Editor

At the start of the 2025-26 school year, Ohio set new laws for students' access to cell phones. It is now required that each student be prohibited from using their phone from the first to the last period. Last fall, many schools like ours operated around a rule that allowed students to be on their phones only during lunch and passing periods. Although it is agitating to be stripped away from our devices, it does offer benefits. To start, teachers have shared how their classrooms used to be silent during advisory or when there were a few minutes till the bell rang. This is because students were hooked on their phones, doomscrolling on TikTok, or texting friends instead of having conversations with the people at their tables. Now, with the ban on phones at school, students can build more relationships with the people around them instead of staring at a screen inches from their faces.

Another benefit from the new changes in our state's phone rules is staying on top of work. Before the new laws were implemented, some teachers still made their students keep their phones tucked away during specific parts of class to keep them free from distractions. However, in other classes, such as a study hall, students' phones were always available; they were kept on their desks, and eventually, students were scrolling through Instagram instead of finishing their assignments. But, having new policies where students can not use their phones gives more motivation to finish work on time, as well as being more efficient without texting other students during class time that was given to complete an assignment. Although it is nice to be allowed to scroll on our phones from time to time, we will ultimately be more focused without constantly being on our devices. In addition, students should accumulate less homework during the week because it was completed during the school day.

AI Use in School The use of aI forces humanity to decide if it is benefical...or not By Maryaam Vashi Lead Cartoonist

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Sports Reds Pitcher Brent Suter Speaks at SALT Meeting Suter returns to FHSD after attending Ayer Elementary and Nagel Middle

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Back-to-Back! Golf Teams Make State for Second Consecutive Year Both the men's and women's golf teams make appearances at the Division I State Final at Firestone Country Club IN October

By John Sellins, Sports Editor Major League Baseball pitcher Brent Suter made an appearance at Anderson’s Student Athlete Leadership Team meeting on Friday, November 7th. Suter, 36, just completed his 10th major league season. He spent 2024 and 2025 with the Cincinnati Reds before electing free agency on November 5th. The Harvard graduate explained that being a good teammate is as important—if not more important—than playing well on the field, court, or pitch. “When teammates talk about [Hall-of-Famers who were bad teammates] decades later, they're saying, ‘Ah, he wasn't the best teammate.’ That's what people remember years and years from now: what kind of teammate you were and how you supported others,” Suter said during his speech. After attending Ayer Elementary and Nagel Middle Schools for his primary education, Suter attended Archbishop Moeller High School, where he played both the baseball and basketball. “The Raptor”—Suter’s official nickname per MLB.com— also elaborated upon his routine that prepares him physically and emotionally for game days. His advice is something that is even applicable to high school students. “I try to give myself until midnight of that night to, ‘Woe is me’ [after a tough game]. I give myself some space for that…[but

then] I try to turn the page. I started journaling…in 2020, when I started writing down everything: thoughts, what I was doing workout-wise and armcare-wise, thoughts and results of the game, and what I was thinking out there, and the disappointment if it was bad. Something about [putting] pen to paper can really be therapeutic,” Suter said. Suter was named the 2025 Marvin Miller Man of the Year at the Players Choice Awards last month. His display of sportsmanship, candidness, and passion on and off the field has inspired SALT members to emulate him as an athlete and as a person. “My biggest takeaway [from Suter’s speech] is that being the best player on the field doesn’t always mean you are a leader. [Suter] didn’t play much his junior year [of high school], but he stayed committed to his teammates and that made him a better leader off the field,” Andrew Harves (12) said. At this time, the free agent’s next season is still to be determined. He has expressed to several Cincinnati newspapers that he would be interested in the possibility of re-signing with the Reds for the 2026 season, but also has acknowledged that retirement isn’t out of the question. For now, Suter is happy to work on his golf game and spend time with family as he takes some time off from the grind of the baseball season.

GIRLS SOCCER MAKES STATE FOR 3RD TIME IN SCHOOL HISTORY, FIRST IN OVER A DECADE the raptors defeated st. ursula 3-2 in regional final to advance to the state semifinal By John Sellins, Sports Editor The AHS girls soccer trip to the state tournament hangteam made the Division II state ing in the balance, junior goalsemifinal after a thrilling 3-2 vic- keeper Leah Peter blocked a St. Urtory over St. Ursula at Bellbrook sula shot to keep the Raptors alive High School on November 1. in the OHSAA postseason. 2025 marks the third “She did it! And the Raptime in school history the Raptors tors win! And the Raptors win!… participated in the state tourna- Lucky seat! Thank you, lucky seat, ment. Anderson finished runner- thank you!” Newton said in his up in 1988 and advanced to the video post on X of the game-winsemifinal in 2010. ning save. The lucky seat was #8. In the regional final, “The game [Saturday] Ava Bergman put Anderson on was a great fight. Everyone on the board in the first half, and the the team kept pushing all the way teams entered the locker room through until [penalty kicks], and tied 1-1, per AHS Athletic Direc- it was an amazing moment when tor Chris Newton via X, formerly we won it in PKs,” Anderson forTwitter. ward and defender Maddie Boggess In the second half, Nina (11) said. Brandon scored a goal in the 63rd Despite strong play from minute to give the Raptors a 2-1 the team, Anderson fell 1-0 to lead, per Newton. However, the Anthony Wayne at Ryan Field at Bulldogs struck back with a goal of Wapakoneta High School. Peter their own to tie the match at two collected seven saves in the match. and force an overtime period. Anthony Wayne went on to win After two scoreless over- the State Championship over time periods, the match progressed Hudson by a score of 3-2. into a penalty shootout. With a

(L-R) Aubrey Lunn (11) tees off at the Queen of Hill golf match. Ben Trigg (12) reaches for his bag while his mother caddies for him at King of the Hill. Photos contributed by Stella Straubel

By John Sellins, Sports Editor “I think our first goal [is to]...get to districts. If we win the district, that's fine, but our biggest goal is to get to State. And then we just want to beat ninth place,” girls golf coach Darin Hausberger said in an interview on September 3. Anderson girls golf placed second at the sectional tournament on September 23, won the district tournament over Sycamore by one point on October 8, and achieved eighth place at the state tournament on October 12 and 13: mission accomplished. “[The second day] I knew the greens better and I knew the places I didn’t want to be. We had our practice round, but it’s different when you go out and actually play the round, under pressure” varsity golfer Aubrey Lunn (11) said. Besides the team’s success, a few individuals stood out from the state performance, as well. Ellie Lamkin (12) finished in 16th place overall—posting a 157 in the tournament—the best score of any girl in Anderson history. Aubrey Lunn (11) also shot a career-best 163 en route to a 26th-place finish in the state. She was one of three Lunn sisters, alongside Sara (12) and Rachel (9), to compete on the varsity team this season. “[Playing against my sisters] makes it more competitive. It makes it fun when you beat them,” Aubrey Lunn (11) said. This year marked the third time in history the girls team made the trek to state and the second consecutive year at the Firestone Country Club in Akron; the Raptors finished sixth in 2006 and ninth in 2024. Their total score of 680 in this year’s state tournament set a new school record for the lowest such total at state. “I'm excited to work with the sophomores over the

summer so we can get ready to try to do something [similar] next year,” Lunn (11) said. Anderson also completed another undefeated dual match season at 12-0, going 8-0 in the Eastern Cincinnati Conference. The Raptors now have a 28-0 record since October 4, 2023. The boys team also finished with the best score (627) and place (tied for sixth) in school history at the state tournament. They, too, made their third-ever appearance (1970, 2024). “[Head coach David] Lunn always says, ‘Leave a legacy.’ I think that we cemented ourselves in history by [making State] backto-back years. It's really cool and it was a great experience,” varsity golfer Charlie Straubel (12) said. Marshall Morency (12) led the way for the men at state, tying Upper Arlington’s Will Mangas for fifth place overall with a score of 145. Morency was named First Team All-Ohio, a distinction given to the top five individuals in the state. Charlie Straubel (12) and Ben Trigg (12) also finished in the top 50 at 28th and 46th, respectively. “[Making state] was my focus from the day after the state tournament event last year because I put myself in a decent spot to make first team All-State, but I didn't end up doing it. That's what I worked towards all year,” Morency (12) said. In addition, Anderson remains the only team in the Eastern Cincinnati Conference to make the state finals tournament since the ECC was founded in 2012. The team hasn’t lost head-to-head against another conference member since August 21, 2024, a streak that has lasted 15 matches and over 400 days. 2025 also marked the second year ever where the top two golfers by average in the ECC were from the same school: Nathan Arnold and Aaron Wade ac-

complished the feat for Milford in 2016, but now it has been replicated by Anderson’s Morency and Straubel. Much of the Raptors’ success in both programs came from the experienced team leaders; six of the thirteen players between the two varsity teams were seniors. Seniors Ellie Lamkin and Sara Lunn both ranked in the top 10 in the ECC. The average grade of the boys team (11.7) was the highest in the conference, and their state performance was driven by Morency, Straubel, Trigg, and fellow seniors Reed Young and Drew Platton. Although each team had its struggles on the first day of the tournament, they rebounded nicely for Day 2 for two great tournament performances. “We came in more confident, and we played more freely the second day,” Straubel (12) said. “We knew what to expect. The first day, there was tougher weather, and I think that affected us a little bit. I think it took a little pressure off the second day. We just went out there and played. I really think playing in the Kiley Cup at the beginning of the year helped us to prepare ourselves for the two days at State.” The appearance of both organizations marks the fifth and sixth time that an AHS team has made state in two consecutive years (dance in 2006-07 and 2020-21, and football in 2007-08 and three times from 2023-25). “I want all the underclassmen, especially those on the golf team, to try and be like us [and to] try and beat us. I want [the records] to be broken. I got a text right after State from the guy who previously held all of the records about how he couldn't be happier… It’s been almost 40 years,” Morency (12) said.

“Trickey” Treat elijah trickey represents ahs at XC State finals for first time By Kate Duncan, Staff Writer Sophomore Elijah Trickey competed in his first State Meet this fall as a cross country runner. Trickey had run a 18:14 5K last year and this year he ran a 16:17 at regionals to qualify for state. Trickey had made major improvements from last year and said that it is because he has put in substantial work and training. Trickey also made second team all ECC, and although he was the only individual to go to state, he has hopes for next year. “[I hope to] get to state again, hopefully as a team,” Trickey (10) said. Coach Kerry Lee, head cross country coach and math teacher at Anderson, believes that Trickey has had a major spike in confidence this season. “Him also believing he can do the harder workouts and putting himself out in the front, not only in practice but also in meets, [shows his increase in con-

fidence],” Lee said. As Trickey was the only runner from Anderson to compete at state, he needed a strong team to support him. He mentioned what the team aspect is like when competing. “[My team] cheering me on during the race really helped a lot,” Trickey (10) said. Coach Lee also mentioned attributes of Trickey’s that helped him grow into a state-qualifying runner. “He has got a lot of gifts, and then when you put in the hard work and believing in yourself, you can go all the way,” Lee said. When Trickey competed in state, he earned 48th out of 215 opponents and ran a 16:27.38. He has already put together his goals for this offseason to be a state contender next year. “ We are going to be running all winter, so we are trying to get 35-40 miles in,” Trickey

(10) said.

Although the cross country season has ended, Trickey will be competing in winter track, which is a new addition to Anderso’s winter sports offerings; he also will compete with the men's track team during the spring athletic season.

Photo by Scarelt Marques, Staff Writer

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SPORTS Pin Perfect: Girls Wrestling Newest Page 7A

Addition to AHS Athletics Offerings team has kicked off their debut season in winter of 2025

The Grind Behind the Glamour The AHS Dance team performs during the halftime of a Raptor football game. Photo by Carson Glen, Photo Editor

AHS Dance Team pursues perfection as they leap into their busiest time of year By Nina Brandon, Co Editor-In-Chief

The Anderson High School Dance Team has been refining techniques and practicing performances since the summer. As they continue to perform during football games, both on the sideline and at halftime, they are also beginning to prepare for basketball and competition season, making the winter easily their busiest time of year. With the arrival of their new coach, Victoria Smith, a Cincinnati Bengals cheerleader, the team hopes to embrace the journey of growth and climb the ECC rankings, as well as place high in the many competitions they partake in. However, their preparation so far has been anything but easy. To learn their competition dances, the intricate routines in many different dance styles that are performed before a judge, the team spent many summer days inside, learning the choreography, sometimes for eight hours at once. However, despite their summer workouts, practice never ceased when the school year arrived. Sophia Holmes (11), an AHS dancer since her freshman year, shared details of the rigorous schedule. “We learn a new dance during football season every week for halftime,” Holmes (11) said. The continuous cycle of learning a new routine on Monday and perfecting it by their Friday

night performances is certainly demanding. To ensure their dances are clean before Friday Night Lights, the dancers put an incredible amount of time and effort into their art. Competitive dance is particularly challenging because the entire team must have synchronicity; therefore, the group practices almost every day after school and works on the weekends. On top of that, many dancers belong to studios outside of the AHS Dance Team. Members of the team dedicate this time and effort because of their devotion to their teammates, and what connects them: their love for dance. Becca Hiler (11), AHS Dance Team Co-Captain, began dancing at the age of three, marking this year as her fourteenth year of the sport. “I basically eat, sleep, and breathe dance,” Hiler (11) said. The team’s dedication to embracing this workload is what has made them successful in the past, and what the team hopes will make them perform their absolute best at the many competitions they have coming up. “Hard work pays off in the end, and I can already tell a huge difference in me personally, and my teammates,” Holmes (11) said.

By Ella Dreier, Assistant Sports Editor Women’s wrestling is currently the fastest-growing sport in the United States, and the 2025-26 season marks the beginning of girls wrestling legacy for the Raptors that has been in the works for the past few years. Athletic director Chris Newton explained that while the process of adding a sport to the school is not simple; Anderson was lucky to have resources already available to ease the process. For example, the school already possessed a space dedicated to men’s wrestling and some of the necessary equipment, helping to make the transition smooth for the team. “We are the luckiest group in the world to have [Coach Morency]... If we didn’t have her, it would be very difficult,” Newt said. Head coach Heather Morency has had children of her own wrestling for the last 17 years, and has seen what it has done in regards to life beyond the sport, requiring hard work, discipline, and accountability.

The girls wrestling team recieves instruction from varsity boys wrestling coach Brad Gaertner during an after school pratice. Photo by Stella Straubel, Contributing Photographer

“When all of the girls were coming forward and saying that they were interested, I just couldn’t sit back and let it not happen for the thirteen girls we have,” Morency said. Of the team’s thirteen girls, nine are freshmen, and are all from different athletic backgrounds. “We have all first-year wrestlers… so the short term [goal] is to go out and get as much mat time as we can to get experience and to learn,” Morency said. The girls have developed

a strong team culture in the short amount of time they have been a part of the team. They continue to grow and learn together as the season progresses, acting as the building blocks for the hopeful future of the program. “Our first match was absolutely phenomenal. The energy and enthusiasm in the gym for those girls was incredible,” Newton said. Students have one chance to catch the team at home during their inaugural season: January 14 will be their sole home competition this season.

Women’s Volleyball completed the year with an overall 17-8 record (13-5 in the ECC) during their fall season. 1. Karly Otto (11) prepares to serve the ball against Turpin High School. Otto was the team’s starting libero. 2. Lex Braddock (11) jump serves during the Turpin match. The team lost in a fifth tie-breaking set to the Spartans. 3.The varsity team huddles up as their assistant coach, Alex Mulvey, gives a pep talk between sets during the Turpin match. While the team lost this first match-up, they beat the Spartans later in the season at home in four sets. Photos by Carson Glen, Photo Editor

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five teams make state appearances in one season for the first time in school history Raptors compile .752 fall sport winning percentage, seven teams post winning seasons By John Sellins, Ella Dreier, Leah Szabo, and Kate Duncan Sports Editor, Assistant Sports Editor, Staff Writer, Staff Writer Anderson High School had another successful fall sports season. Several teams earned conference and OHSAA postseason titles. Individually, many athletes took home conference and state awards. The Raptors broke records in multiple sports, setting high standards for future Anderson athletes.

Women's Soccer The women’s soccer team had a successful season, posting a 14-5-4 (4-1-4 ECC) record. The Raptors won regionals before

losing to Anthony Wayne in a nail-biting state semifinal. To reach that point in the tournament, the team had to overcome several challenges during the regular season. “Halfway through the year, we had a big tough spot [where we weren’t] winning a lot and [we were] tying [games],” Allison Black (11), varsity soccer player, said. Not only did the team achieve great success, but the individual players did, as well. Nina Brandon (11) set a conference record with 32 goals in a season. She was named ECC Offensive Player of the Year, and Brandon, Ava Bergman (11), and Maddie Boggess (11) all made the All-ECC First Team.

Cross Country Elijah Trickey (10) made the cross country state

championship, placing 48th of history to win back-to-back 215 participants. This year marked league titles after going undethe first in which a male run- feated in regular-season play ner from Anderson qualified for for the second year in a row. the state tournament since 2011. Though there were the many “He has got a lot of gifts, seniors who graduated after last and then when season, Owen [he] puts in Scalf (11), Jorthe hard work dan Davis (11), and believes in “It shows how hard they Tysin Weaver himself, [he] (11), and othworked and how could go all ers filled in the the way,” cross determined they were to gaps smoothly. country coach carry on the tradition,” AnKerry Lee said. derson defeated Trickey Big Walnut 29Matthew Stanyard 22 in the state (10) improved as the season Football Coach semifinal on went along, November 28 running a perbefore falling sonal-best 16:17 at regionals and a to Avon 37-20 despite a strong sec16:27.38 at state. He was nominated ond half on a frigid night in Canto the 2025 All-ECC SecondTeam. ton at Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium.

Football

The football team advanced to the state semifinal for the third consecutive year and the state championship for the fourth time in school history. Anderson also became the first team in ECC

Men's Golf The men’s golf team went a perfect 9-0 in ECC play en route to a conference title. Marshall Morency (12) won the ECC Golfer of the Year Award, and head coach David Lunn took

home Coach of the Year honors. In the postseason, the team placed 3rd at the Sectional Tournament, 2nd at the District Tournament, and tied for 6th in the Division I State Final. Morency (12) tied for fifth overall individually in the championship, earning a spot on the All-Ohio First Team. Charlie Straubel (12) and Ben Trigg (12) also placed in the top 50 golfers individually at the State Tournament.

Women's Golf The women’s golf team also went undefeated in match play, posting an 8-0 conference record to claim its third ECC title in four years. The Raptors advanced to their second straight State Final, finishing eighth with a score of 680. Ellie Lamkin (12) placed 16th in the tournament, and Aubrey Lunn (11) finished 26th. In addition to their postseason success, Darin Hausberger was named ECC Coach of the Year, and Aubrey Lunn won the ECC Golfer of the Year Award.

1. Ellie Lamkin (12) watches her approach shot at the OHSAA Girl’s Golf State Final. Lamkin placed 16th of 71 in the individual rankings with a score of 157. 2. Maddux Snider (12) warms up before the game vs. Kings. Anderson defeated Kings 49-24. 3. Ava Bergman (11) kicks the ball upfield to a teammate in their game vs. West Clermont. 4. Freshman Rachel Lunn views her tee shot at the OHSAA Girl’s Golf State Tournament. Anderson placed 8th overall. 5. Nick Pastura (12) lines up on defense before a play against the Turpin Spartans. 6. Kennedy Hill (10) looks for a pass from her teammate in the game against West Clermont. 7. Brayden Moore (12) gets ready to run a route in the game against Milford. 8. Junior Allison Black runs up the field in the West Clermont game. 9. Ben Trigg (12) tees off on the first hole at King of the Hill 10. Marshall Morency (12) puts in on the 18th hole to secure the win at King of the Hill.

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Photos by Carson Glen, Photo Editor, and contributing photographers Stella Straubel (9) and Ruby Celenza (9).

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