ebel R February 6, 2015
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RevIew Roncalli high school
Volume 14:4
Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good. Romans 12:9
Helpful assistants
NE WS Page 2
Caffeine Take Over
Graduating class takes control of faculty positions for a day
BY PATRICK MURPHY Online Editor
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PHOTO BY PATRICK MURPHY
MINI ME: Senior Lee McAdams and AP art teacher Mr. Mark Stratton coordinated their outfits for the day. Just like an artist, the two made sure they had every detail from glasses holders to drinks.
enior assist day is a school day in which senior students fill the many roles of teachers and staff members, giving students another perspective of the school day. “It’s a way for students to see a day in the life of teacher or staff member,” said senior assist day moderator Mrs. Erin Bohn. “Students always say, ‘There is a lot of work that goes into running a school’,” said Bohn. Fifty-five seniors assisted teachers and faculty members on this day. Seniors Joe Gervasio and Emma Lawrie, chose to help their parents. “It’s fun to see the world through his eyes and see how much he rubs off on me,” said Gervasio, son of vice president for finance and facilities, Mr. Dave Gervasio. Lawrie witnessed the process of running the Rebel Spirit Store. “I did not know how to order spirit wear, know sizes, and guesstimating the items people want to buy,” said Lawrie. Other seniors assisted teachers, lunch ladies, and principal Chuck Weisenbach. Senior Bryce Bridgewater spent the day as principal. “I wanted to see all the things that he does to run this school and what it’s like to be in his shoes for a day,” said Bridgewater. Although some seniors assisted in classrooms, others decided to hit the lunch area. Renee Buckel and Clair Strange assisted lunch ladies. Buckle assisted Mrs. Deanna Smith in the cafeteria. Her duties included working the cash register and putting goldfish into salads. “I always talked to her before lunch and wanted to try and work with her,” said Buckel. Lee McAdams assisted his favorite teacher, art teacher Mr. Mark Stratton. “I really had fun in his classes. I had him for four years, and I also work for him,” said McAdams. Senior Assist Day was a combination of sweat and tears. Both the seniors and staff members worked together to keep the school running.
BRINGING THE BRAINS
Brain Game one of 16 remaining teams in WTHR competition BY LIZZY HOSTY Staff Writer
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hile not often recognized, the Brain Game team marches on through a rather successful season. These unsung heroes have done quite well both as a team and individually. “I feel like I’ve done fairly well this season. I’ve answered well on the math and physics sections. However, this is a team competition and we wouldn’t have been able to win without the important contributions from my other teammates,” senior Nicky Marino said. The Brain Game Team participates in something rather similar to an actual game show. The competitors sit behind podiums, hear the announcer ask the question, and press a button in front of them to answer. Whoever has the most points at the end of the game wins. One should not be intimidated by the stress load that comes in preparation. “I have been overstressed before, usually I just take a step back and do some stuff to relax myself: watch some people on YouTube, listen to
music, watch TV, or just work on some personal projects,” sophomore Cameron Wright said. Moderators and English teachers Mr. Anthony Walters and Mr. Marco Ray, try to create a relaxed environment. “There is not much of a time commitment. We practice once a week. If students like trivia, they should join,” Ray said. The team includes Marino, Wright, senior Adam Schubach, sophomore Nate Reeves, junior Hannah Fikes, senior Barbara Kratsios and freshman Liam Collier. “We are always looking for new members and the practices are usually open to anyone wanting to join,” Wright said. The team has only participated in one competition, and as they have won, will be competing next against Pike High School February 11. “I am proud to say that we are one of only 16 remaining teams in the state. At our next competition we will play for a prize of $2000,” Walters said.
PHOTO BY KENZIE PRINCE
With homework and extracurricular activities, teens turn to coffee for extra energy in the mornings.
FEATURES Page 3
Trivia Mania
PHOTO BY APKDAD/CC BY
Check out the buzz about the popular smart phone app, Trivia Crack. See what makes this game so addictive.
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Music
PHOTO BY MURRAY CLOSE/MCT
Take a look at the rebirth of vinyl records in today’s culture and learn about upcoming Indie artists.
SPOR TS Page 8
Girls Basketball
PHOTO BY PATRICK MURPHY
PHOTO BY ANTHONY WALTERS
BRAIN POWER: The Brain Game team, sophomore Cameron Wright, senior Nicky Marino, junior Hannah Fikes, and sophomore Nate Reeves defeated Brown County at its first competition. They will move on to compete against Pike next week.
The girls went against the Perry Median Falcons on Wednesday. They move to sectional play versus Cathedral on February 10th at Lawrence Central High School.
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february 6, 2015
News
www.roncallimedia.com
HOW TO SAVE A LIFE
Mental health awareness is prioritized after first hand experiences dealing with tragedy BY JOANIE DUGAN CO-EDITOR-IN-CHIEF
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n November of 2011, Roncalli suffered a major blow - the loss of a student at his own hand. Exactly one year later, another was lost by the same cause. Even more recently, at the beginning of the school year in 2014, Brebeuf and Cathedral suffered the loss of three students in just 23 days. These suicides have had a great impact on the Archdiocese of Indianapolis in addition to each respective school. Roncalli has taken several measures to raise awareness for mental health issues such as suicide, depression, and stress. Health is no longer just about one’s physical condition; rather, the importance of maintaining a healthy mental state is achieving more focus as a direct result of these tragedies. The Student Assistance Program (SAP) is the oldest program the school uses to help students. According to the program’s official description, SAP “seeks to identify students experiencing physical, emotional, social or spiritual difficulties”. Students are continually encouraged to report any behaviors, either their own or someone else’s, that may signal trouble. This school year’s efforts have focused specifically on recognizing the signs of suicide, and encouraging students to ask for help if they find themselves contemplating it. The problem, however, is the stigma surrounding the topic of mental health. Many students are not aware that it is okay to ask for help; in fact, it is strongly encouraged. “Sometimes, we find that students are afraid to come forward for either themselves or a friend because they think they’ll get into trouble. In order to really help, that stigma needs to be broken,” said RHS social worker Ms. Kelley Fisher. However, helping those who suffer with mental health issues is not the only key to addressing the subject; rather, awareness among the entire student body is the only way to efficiently make a change. Roncalli has begun a few initiatives to raise awareness among the student body, beginning with the signals program. The system was implemented to inform students of the warning signs of specifically depression, which was the focus of last year’s efforts. “Involving the students is key to raising awareness for these kinds of illnesses,” said Fisher. “They don’t get the same kind of attention as ones you can see.” While the school has the occasional assembly or video regarding awareness, the job is really up to the students. By discouraging the negative stigma surrounding mental illness and being comfortable helping both one’s self and others, mental health can receive the attention it deserves in order to prevent tragedy. “The only way to get comfortable is to keep talking. That’s the intent of everything we’ve been doing here,” said SAP team member Mrs. Kim Striby.
GREEN LIGHT—BEHAVIORS FOR A HEALTHY LIFE
GREEN
Is connected to community, family and friends
Has established relationship/s with a trusted adult/s
Will ask for help
Has positive self esteem and good coping skills
Healthy spiritual life / relationship with God
YELLOW LIGHT—PAY ATTENTION TO THESE RISK FACTORS AND SEEK HELP!
Yellow
Feelings of ongoing or repeated overwhelming stress, anxiety, depression, hopelessness
Lack of connectedness
Alcohol / drug use
Impulsive and/or aggressive tendencies
Previous suicide attempt or family history of suicide
RED LIGHT—STOP—GET HELP IMMEDIATELY!
RED
Talking, reading or writing about suicide or death
Saying things like “I am going to kill myself, or “I wish I was dead” or I shouldn’t have been born”
Significant change in behavior : Poor sleeping and eating patterns, mood swings, decline in school work
Giving things away or saying goodbye to people
IF AT ANY TIME YOU ARE CONCERNED FOR YOURSELF OR SOMEONE ELSE, ASK FOR HELP NOW! PHOTO SUBMITTED
RED LIGHT: Students and faculty are looking out for each other with the signals system. If at any time a student is concerned for themself or someone else, ask for help immediately.
SCREENSHOT FROM WWW.TODAY.COM/VIDEO/TODAY/53216194
STANDING UP TO DEPRESSION: Teen Kevin Breel stood up to depression by giving a TED talk about mental health. RHS students and staff viewed the video earlier this year with a discussion following.
Energy filled mornings
Growing trend of teen coffee drinkers shows both positive and negative effects BY AUSTIN ARTHUR
Sports Editor
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he halls are always filled with a few things every morning. There are always students trying to rush to get homework assignments done that they probably forgot about. Students will be gathered together in groups either talking or studying. And there will definitely be lots and lots of coffee. It’s no secret that when it comes to teenagers and coffee, the trend is one that has spread like wildfire. It’s not just present in the halls of Roncalli either, the trend is spreading nationally. According to the National Coffee Association, young people are now the fastest growing population of coffee drinkers. Whether it is fueled by the social aspect; the caffeine craving to make up for lack of sleep and too much time in studying, sports and late nights; the idealism of pop culture, or other possible factors, the numbers all say the same thing. According to the American Dietetic Association, the number of teenagers drinking caffeinated beverages has almost tripled since the 1970s. It also says that teens purchasing coffee in cafes or restaurants jumped by 12 percent last year. Considering that Americans are currently consuming around 350 million cups of coffee every day, and a growing percentage of that number is being consumed by teens, the statistics might startle some. PHOTO BY AUSTIN ARTHUR And, not only are more teens starting WAKING UP: Freshmen Erik Allstatt and Vinny Romano pour coffee in the cafeteria. The ritual of to drink coffee, research is showing morning coffee is very popular among students.
that they’re also likely to be life-long coffee drinkers. There is also a concern for the amount of caffeine being consumed. A 16 oz. Starbucks coffee contains about 320 milligrams of caffeine. To get that amount from a can of Coke, you would have to drink nine 12 oz. cans. The question many ask is whether drinking coffee at such a young age or at all has a detrimental effect on one’s health. There are many parents and researchers that argue not only is a cup or two of coffee not detrimental, it may actually be beneficial. The benefits of caffeine that can help students stay more alert during school hours as well as re-energize for sporting events and practices. Some parents also promote coffee shops as safe hangout places. “They provide a social gathering spot that’s hip and trendy but that keep teens out of trouble and allows parents some peace of mind,” said Kathy Lucas, mother of junior Tyler Lucas. On the other hand, if you research negative effects of coffee you will probably come across Roland Griffiths, caffeine expert and professor of psychology and neuroscience at John Hopkins University. “Caffeine is likely the world’s most used mood-altering drug and it does produce mood changes and physical dependence and withdrawal. It needs to be recognized as a drug,“ said Griffiths in his study, “A sip into dangerous territory,” in 2001. Studies have shown that caffeine can commonly disrupt teenagers’ sleep cycles, which can lead to issues like poor mood, aggression, impulsiveness, and loss of behavioral control, “Caffeine withdrawal can trigger headaches, lethargy, inability to concentrate, irritability, depression, mood changes, and in some cases: nausea, vomiting or achy flu-like symptoms,” said Griffiths in his study. When it comes down to it, there are undeniable positives and negatives for both sides of the argument. Is it addictive? Possibly. Is it life-threatening? Probably not.
www.roncallimedia.com
Features
Meet the teachers
february 6, 2015
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The Rebel Review introduces two more new faces this year
BY MCKENZIE BEESON
Staff Writer
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n every new edition, The Rebel Review features two teachers who have joined RHS this school year. For this edition, it will be teachers Jen Kocher and Caroline Reuter. Jen Kocher teaches geometry and algebra 2. Though she is new as a teacher, she has been part of the Roncalli family for nine years. She used to be the freshman cheer coach and is now the head coach. “Freshman cheer coaches are at the bottom of the totem pole of faculty and staff,” she said laughing, “but I never felt like that. Everyone at Roncalli has always been very welcoming.” She said her favorite part of Roncalli that sets it apart from other schools is the family atmosphere. Before she began teaching at Roncalli, she taught the same subject to college students at Ivy Tech. This teaching experience was different because it was different students in a very different atmosphere, but there were similarities as well. “At both schools, the students want to be there, and they want to learn. That makes teaching so much easier,” she said. Aside from teaching and coaching, Kocher has been judging competition cheeralong with coaching tumbling and dance since she was in high school. At home, Kocher spends time with her two children and husband, Andy. Caroline Reuter is a new sophomore religion teacher, and is also a part of the A Promise to Keep program where she assists student members with their presentations. Outside of Roncalli she is involved in the Echo program at Notre Dame, a 2-year service-learning formation program, where she is working on her Master’s in Theology. For high school, Reuter went to an all-girls school in
New Orleans and has marched in Mardi Gras parades with her school’s dance team. Though it was an all-girls school, the school had a similar atmosphere to that of Roncalli’s. “[It] had many long-standing traditions like Roncalli does that created a strong school culture and community,” she said. Reuter’s favorite part of RHS are the students and working with them. “They motivate me to become a better teacher each day, and their love for the school is contagious,” she said. Reuter’s interests and hobbies include cooking, letterwriting, traveling, dancing, and the arts.
BY KENZIE PRINCE & JOANIE DUGAN
FAMILY FIRST: (above) Jen Kocher ringing in the new year with her husband and two children. Kocher is a math teacher and varsity cheer coach.
PHOTOS SUBMITTED
NOTRE DAME GRAD: (left) Caroline Reuter is a new religion teacher. She takes classes online and during the summer to receive a Master’s degree in Theology as part of the Echo program at ND.
Trivia Crack is becoming more and more popular with students BY TAYLOR TOWNSEND
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Students are low on money and need some ideas for their perfect Valentine’s date
Design Editor & Co- Editor-in-Chief
Addicted to trivia
Staff Writer arious apps that are sold on the iOS and Android markets go through phases of fame. Flappy Bird flew through the nation in a flurry of frustration; within a couple of months, those same flying bird enthusiasts were cheering when the creator took the impossible game off the market. Many apps have come and gone, but the current trend is Trivia Crack, and Roncalli is going through the same fascination with it as the rest of the world. Released in October of 2013 by the app publisher Etermax, the game is the top-selling application for both free apps as well as paid apps (the paid being different in the way that users do not have to experience the ads that would otherwise be scattered throughout the game). The game is similar to Trivial Pursuit, where users have to answer questions and work on gaining game pieces in the given categories. For each three questions correctly answered, the player has the chance to win an Entertainment, Art, Sports, History, Science, or Geography piece if they answer their fourth question correctly. However, players have other ways to jump around all of the questions, such as power-ups or the ability to land on the crowned slice of the wheel, which allows him or her to simply go straight to the piece-winning question. Despite all of the ways to make answering questions easier, the game itself is a simple concept: try to win all six pieces before the opponent does in the allotted 25 rounds. What makes Trivia Crack so addicting, causing players to work on answering hundreds of questions per week? Maybe it’s the simple design and instructions, or maybe it’s the competitiveness in knowing that many of one’s friends are participating in the game as well. “Trivia Crack is as much as its name sounds, it is like crack and one of those games I cannot stop playing,” said junior Mark Jones.
$5 date
“I had always been told by my dad that I was basically full of useless information. Playing the game and answering some of the questions, I do realize that I really am full of useless information. I am fond that there are a wide variety of questions that are asked,” Jones said. Currently, he’s making use of his fondness for trivia to bring him to the top of leaderboards. Senior Julia Martinez has gone through the same process, going so far as to gain two different second place awards for her weekly rankings against friends. “I liked earning various achievements for my account. Above all, the most addictive aspect of Trivia Crack is playing against my friends. It gets super competitive depending on who you play,” Martinez said. Whether it be the competitiveness or the likability of the facts presented, Etermax has definitely made a fortune with the application, especially considering the fact that over 5 million people have liked the game on Facebook alone.
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ith Valentine’s Day quickly approaching, teens are pressured to impress their significant other or special person in their lives. On a high school budget, this task seems daunting or maybe even impossible. A dozen roses costs anywhere from $20-$40 and an average dinner could cost $30. However, there’s a cost effective alternative that saves money and relieves the pressure from the day. Rather than coughing up a lung to pay for a lavish date, set aside $5 and come up with a unique date that no one could forget. Members of the Rebel Review staff asked students and teachers what they would do with only $5 to spend and this is what they came up with: “I would get hot chocolate and go ice skating in the park.” -Senior Abby Whalen “I would take a girl to McDonalds and order off the dollar menu.” -Junior Adam Eads “I probably would take the $5 and buy some chocolates and go to the dollar theater, but I don’t think I’d go on a date with only five bucks.” -Junior Kyle Petroff “I would have a picnic with $4 worth of food and a $1 daisy.” -Sophomore Gabe Otley “I’d go to the state park, or the dollar movie theatre.” - Math teacher Jeff Small
PHOTO SCREENSHOT OF HTTPS://APPS.FACEBOOK.COM/TRIVIACRACK
SPIN TO GO: Trivia Crack offers a variety of questions, ranging anywhere from common-known information to others that few would know. Sometimes, it requires a shot in the dark, but other times the player can figure out the answer with the aid of Powerups.
“I’d obviously go to Taco Bell!” -Senior Sarah Elam
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february 6, 2015
Features
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Heat in the underground
As more and more music is accessed online, independent artists are on the rise BY LUKE POHOVEY Feature Editor
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record deal is widely regarded as when someone makes it in the music industry; a sign that an artist has proven he or she belongs in the business. For years, the dream of a deal with a record company was what drove artists and created a hard work ethic. For example, many rappers in the 1990’s spent years in the underground scene, releasing mix tapes and selling them on the streets in the hopes of gaining enough popularity to catch the interest of a record company owner. This same work ethic can be found in other genres as well. Now an internationally known band, the Black Keys from Akron, Ohio, were formed in 2000 but didn’t make a major label debut until 2010. They spent a decade going on brutal cross country tours in lead singer Dan Auerbach’s van trying to gain a following large enough to get signed to a major label. This hunger for success can create masterpieces in the music world, but, this standard is being challenged. Like every other modern industry, the music industry has been turned upside down by the rise of the internet. Suddenly, artists didn’t require the sales campaigns, advertisements, or television and radio appearances to gain exposure for their music. A prime example of how the internet can serve as a platform for an artist’s creativity would be Ok Go’s 2005 hit, “Here it Goes Again.” By shooting a music video of the band dancing on treadmills and uploading it to YouTube, they achieved success in a way never done before. The video won a Grammy and an MTV Music Video Award, and the over 24 million views that the video received cemented the band’s place in pop culture and in the alternative rock scene. In the past decade, a number of artists have started to become independent, realizing the opportunity that being self-employed can present in terms of room for creativity. Mainstream music has always had a stigma of being empty, with no real meaning behind its lyrics. This is largely because record companies want the content released under their label to be accessible, thus selling more records. On the other hand, there is also a large number of underground labels that give artists the space to be creative, realizing that backing off of an artist helps to coax brilliant content from them. A new rise in mix tapes has also taken place. Although different from the cassette tapes of the 1980s, these digital, online-downloadable albums remain similar to their ancestors because they are free, and are usually released directly by an artist.
PHOTO BY JESSICA SARAH/CC BY
BACK IN BLACK: Hailing from Akron, Ohio, the Black Keys (made up of drummer Patrick Carney and Guitarist/Singer Dan Auerbach (pictured above), perform on stage at the Bottle Rock in Napa in 2013. The Keys toured in clubs and in the underground alternative scene before their first major label release in 2008.
All in all, music is an ever changing area of entertainment, and independent artists are the newest wave in a long line of technological related movements. Without the constraints of a major label to hold them down, musicians can let their ideas run wild and reflect these ideas in the songs they create.
Records back on the rise Sales of vinyl records have increased in recent years BY ZALEN NICCOLINI Staff Writer
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n 1993, if someone was to listen to music primarily in a vinyl record, people would assume that they were just nostalgic and reliving once great memories, but this is no longer the case. Vinyl sales are rising drastically, and the medium that was once thought of as dead is coming back bigger than ever. “Vinyl sounds better,” said junior Spencer Grow. “I enjoy the sound of mp3, but records sound so much more pure.” Since 1993, vinyl sales have risen from about 300,000 in 1993 to 9.2 million in 2014 according to a statistic by Statistica. People are flooding record stores to buy their favorite musicians both for purposes of collecting, and even playing. “I inherited my uncle’s vinyl collection, and have also went to a store in Tennessee to get a record player,” said Grow. Grow has purchased albums such as Metallica’s “Ride the Lightning” and “The Jimi Hendrix Experience”. From old to new, records are back in a big way. Vinyls sales are up 49 percent from last year, sticking with the tone of what it has been like for the past decade. Sophomore Connor Cleary has partaken in this vinyl movement as well. “I think vinyl is coming back in a big way. I enjoy listening to them and even have a pretty nice record player,” said Cleary. Connor has bought the Of Monsters and Men album “My Head is an Animal”, and has frequently listened to it, and he is not the only one listening to a current artist in the old art form. The Daft Punk album “Random Access Memories” (released in 2013) sold 19,000 albums in vinyl out of 339,000 released. Although the number appears
small, it is a giant step in the comeback of vinyls as a form of listening to music. In mid 2014, Billboard reported that 6.5 million vinyls had been sold so far. Vinyl music makes up 3.5 percent of all music PHOTO BY ZALEN NICCOLINI sold today, according to Nielsen Sound- RELIVING RECORDS: A worker at The Exchange in Castleton shuffles through Beatles’ Scan, 10 years ago, that number was at records. Stores like The Exchange have had mas.2 percent. sive increases in record sales in the past decade. “I went to a record show with my parents and have really gotten into records since then,” said sophomore Madison Sisk. Record stores sales as well as sales at events like a record show have skyrocketed since this trend has begun. Stores that seem obsolete are getting numerous teens and adults wishing to buy the albums of the past, and even modern day albums. The biggest seller of vinyl currently is Jack White and his album Lazaretto. The album sold about 75,000 copies just of vinyl. The majority of people that purchased this album on vinyl, where underaged. The comeback of this seemingly ancient music is hitting the younger generation most of all. From modern to classics, vinyl is flying off the shelves of local record stores, causing most to have to stock up. In a matter of time, record stores may be back in the power of the music world. OLD SCHOOL: The music industry has seen a rise in the interest of vinyl records among young people. The long-held ritual of visiting a record shop is still alive thanks to the rising subculture.
PHOTO BY KRYSTIAN OLSZANSKI/CC BY
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Entertainment
February 6, 2015
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From the runway to the heart How a local business went from being small to prom central of the greater Indy area
BY MEGAN POWELL Co-Editor-in-Chief
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ust the words school dance can terrify just about anyone. From picking the right dress to getting the right flowers and everything else in-between, prom season is one of those stressful times. Yet, RaeLynn’s Boutique trys to help make the stress and the anxiety go away. “My experience was really great because the girls there were super helpful. They ordered and shipped my dress since it wasn’t in stock,” said senior Shelby Eaton. RaeLynn’s Boutique opened on November 28, 2008 by Alison McDaniel who is the owner and founder. “The next day after we first opened my son was born. I was a brand new mom and was a new store owner, which was stressful. Even though this was not my first time working in retail, this was the first time owning my own business,” said McDaniel. When the store first opened McDaniel only had five dressing rooms and 250 dresses. On the first day of business four dresses were purchased. Now, they have about 2000 dresses in stock and 18 dressing rooms. “What I love about RaeLynn’s the most is that there are a ton of options of dresses. Also, the floor layout is helpful because all the dresses are sorted by color and then by shade,” said junior Haley Vandagrifft. With prom well over two months away, many upperclassman will brush off the idea of prom 2015 for a few more weeks to see all of the dress options come into stores. “Shopping early is very important, one to just be done with it and two we, RaeLynn’s, registers your dresses. Some people might wait till spring break or go to Chicago to do their shopping, but we buy from the same people that those businesses got their dresses,” said brand manager and buyer Steph Wolfred. There is nothing wrong with shopping for that one special dress later, but it might be gone the second it gets put back on the rack. “When a designer says they will cut 10,000 dresses, that is not just for the United States but for the world,” said Wolfred. Trending this year for prom is red carpet ready attire. Designs from funky and edgy, high neck, lace, trains, and floral prints are hot this season. Not only do they sell top-of-the-line dresses from designers all of the world, they also have tuxedos for gentleman that will match their date along with a discount, as long as their date purchased their dress from the boutique this prom season. “RaeLynn’s is a fun, magical, inspiring and honest store, but more importantly is family centered,” said McDaniel,“ Even if someone does not buy anything we try and give them the RaeLynn’s experience.” Gentlemen may be asking what they need to do now regarding prom. It is strongly encouraged for girls to have their dress purchased early. The first
step for guys would be to ask the important question, “Will you go to prom with me?” “When asking a girl to prom just have fun with it and if you’re not comfortable going extreme that’s fine, but whatever you do, you have to have flowers,” said senior Greg English. This is one of two nights that girls will be able to dress up in ball gowns and feel like a princess or a star on the red carpet. To kick start the experience of prom 2015, the newspaper staff has a challenge for dance goers. Send in a video of being asked to go to prom, either by a date or a group of friends, and send the material to 116000@student. roncalli.org by February 20th at 11:59p.m. and enter for a chance to be featured in the the coming issue. The winner will be selected by the student body via the Rebel Review website, www.roncallimedia.com.
PHOTO BY MEGAN POWELL
SEARCHING FOR THE ONE: Senior Stephanie Davis looks around to find the perfect dress for this years prom on April 18th at the Children’s Museum. Johnathan Kayne from Project Runway All Stars was at the boutique to help girls find their dream dress and to show off his latest prom line at the 2015 RaeLynn’s Fashion Show.
Cars of yesterday, today and tomorrow The story of the American car throughout the years, and how far they have come BY MICHAEL SCHIEFELBEIN
Staff Writer
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here’s no denying how far cars have come in the Cars to Americans are a symbol of freedom past years. Eco-friendly cars were a rarity in the and style. Cars allow people to get to their de1990s, and now they are more common than sired destinations we seek to go to. Cars such as ever on the roads. Most new inventions for cars these the Ford Mustang and the Chevrolet Corvette are days are for safety and the accessibility of the driver. American icons that have lasted through the test If you would have told someone in the 1980s that cars of time. The Mustang, undeniably the king of the would have rear view cameras in the back of their car American muscle car, is one of Ford’s most notato help them backup, no one would have believed ble cars ever produced. The Corvette has has been you. being produced through seven generations, and is Safety in cars has also come a long way since cars another huge American icon. It was a revolutionfirst came about. Things such as seatbelts and airbags ary car when it first came out in the early 1950’s, were not required in cars at the beginning of producand is still considered one of the most collecttion. The seat belt wasn’t required to be put in cars up able cars ever made. Both the Mustang and the until 1966, still it was not a requirement for passenCorvette have been used as pace cars in Indiana’s gers to wear their seat belts until 1984. The airbag was own Indianapolis 500. a instituted in the 1980s and continued to become “I love mustangs because there is a model for more common in cars through time. Other safety feajust about anyone,” said senior Nolan Dalman. tures such as the antilock brake system caught on in In the future, car manufacturers hope to make the 70s and 80s. vehicles that drive themselves and park without PHOTO BY PATRICK MURPHY Comfort features such as heating, air conditiondriver assistance. Companies such as Nissan are DRIVING IN STYLE: Senior Nolan Dalman, is ready for his ing, seat warmers, and radios are now very commonly close-up next to his 2009 Black Ford Mustang. The Ford Mustang teaming up with NASA to one day be able to is the second-longest-running sports car nameplate in the U.S., found in vehicles. Go back to a hot and humid 1969 make cars that can do these things according to after the Chevy Corvette. summer day, and only about 50 percent of cars in the The Economic Times. They plan to work five years U.S. had air conditioning. So if you had to take a long together while trying to make cars that will drive car ride there was a 50/50 chance of either riding with the windows down themselves while giving off low emissions and a high safety rating. or the car was nice enough to have AC.
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Opinion
february 6, 2015
www.roncallimedia.com
Love and hate relationship Valentine’s Day is fun for some but stressful for others unsure of how to celebrate BY EMILY GANT
BY LUKE POHOVEY
News Editor
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alentine’s Day is a day full of love and generosity and has been for generations, but it may be coming to a point where fewer people start to care about it. Valentine’s Day is great when you have a spouse, but if you have just started dating it may be a little more stressful. As a young couple, you don’t know what to get the other person or what they really like, so it’s a lot harder than you think. Some girls set the expectations too high for their date and think that they are going to get a lot of things, but the truth is, boys don’t often have that much money to spend. I think that you shouldn’t feel obligated to get him or her anything expensive. Valentine’s Day is about showing your love for someone not about material things or receiving gifts. You can do so much for the other person without having to buy them something expensive. You could go for a walk in the park and have a picnic, make a homemade dinner, watch Netflix with popcorn and candy, surprise them with a card saying how much they mean to you, or you could just simply buy a box of chocolates. Valentine’s Day has lost its value over the years and that’s sad. People now think that Valentine’s Day is just a day to get candy or gifts when it is actually about loving and caring for one another. It’s one thing to be serious with your spouse, but with your date, you should just relax and not take the holiday too seriously.
Features Editor ove, by many teenagers, is seen as annoying. Or pointless. Or a plea for gifts. However, this simply is not the case. Valentine’s Day is day that focuses on more than just the gifts. Today, many people perceive the day to be completely material, full of empty gestures between couples. These couples exist; they are the ones that see Valentine’s Day as a day only to get free stuff. However, a majority of couples and single people understand that the day can be a great opportunity rather than a hassle. It’s an opportunity to show appreciation for one another, tell a person how you really feel about them, or an opportunity to meet someone new. The thought that love is annoying, or that it’s only for material gain, is preposterous. In high school especially, a lot of people can get caught up in hating on the holiday because they don’t have a valentine. Don’t get hung up on this, use the day as an opportunity to tell the person you can’t keep off your mind how you really feel. High school love is hard to come by; don’t feel left out because your friend who has been dating someone for two weeks says he or she is in love. They probably aren’t. All in all, Valentine’s Day is nothing more than a day in February, it’s the meaning that society puts on the day that leads to hurt feelings. It can mean something different to every individual depending on their circumstance. That being said, Valentine’s Day isn’t just romantic. Use the day to tell everyone you care about how much they matter.
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The way the game has changed Referees are beginning to play a larger role in the outcome of NFL games BY BRAYDEN STEGEMILLER
Staff Writer ince the beginning of the NFL in 1922, referees have been around and involved in games. The way they have officiated games though, especially in the last decade has completely changed. Referees used to let both teams play without any controversy. Nowadays, it seems as if penalties are called on almost every other play. By doing this, their margin of error grows dramatically and are bound to miss calls or make many more incorrect calls. If referees just let both teams play only calling major penalties, there would be a lot less controversy in the NFL. Some say referees just make more and more calls in games because they are biased on who they like and do not like in the NFL. Others say some referees want their names to be known. Starting this year in the playoffs, the NFL has named certain referees to “allstar” crews. These crews are supposedly comprised of the top referees in the NFL. They were off to a very bad start though. Many controversial decisions were made that some say have dictated the outcomes of some of the games of the playoffs. In the first round game between Dallas and Detroit, a penalty flag was thrown on a very obvious, textbook defensive pass interference on Cowboys linebacker, Anthony Hitchens. The flag would later be picked up by referee, Pete Morelli, without explanation. The Cowboys later went on to win 24-20. In the week after, though, a change of events occurred on a play late in the fourth quarter on fourth and six. A pass from Tony Romo to Dez Bryant was ruled a catch, but later overturned after Green Bay coach Mike McCarthy threw a challenge flag on the play. After review, the pass was ruled incomplete, and Green Bay went on to win 26-21. Some say the Cowboys got what they deserved because of what happened the week before.
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PHOTO BY TROY TAORMINA-USA TODAY SPORTS/CC BY
CHANGING CALLS: NFL referee Ed Hochuli makes a call on the field during a game between the Broncos and the Texans. Hochuli was also one of the referees apart of the “allstar” crews.
The Rebel Review Staff Editor-in-Chief: Joanie Dugan Editor-in-Chief: Megan Powell News Editor: Emily Gant Features Editor: Luke Pohovey Sports Editor: Austin Arthur Design Editor: Kenzie Prince Online Editor: Patrick Murphy Managing Editor: Anthony Greene Staff Writer: Lizzy Hosty
Staff Writer: Joe Schroeder Staff Writer: Michael Schiefelbein Staff Writer: Kenzie King Staff Writer: Zalen Niccolini Staff Writer: Brayden Stegemiller Staff Writer: McKenzie Beeson Staff Writer: Taylor Townsend Staff Writer: Barbara Kratsios Adviser: Mrs. Julie Albertson
Editorial Policy We accept letters to the editor from all faculty, staff, and students. They can be e-mailed to jalbertson@roncalli.org or delivered to room 203. Please keep these letters short, roughly 200-300 words. They will be accepted under the circumstances that they are signed and noted to which article it is in response. Letters that contain misinformation or are meant to libel another will not be published. The decision to publish these will be decided by The Rebel Review adviser Mrs. Albertson. We also accept photographs and articles written by students, teachers, and staff members. Some material courtesy of American Society of Newspaper Editors/MCT Campus High School Newspaper Service.
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Sports
february 6, 2015
Rise of the hoops
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Basketball team is making huge strides this season
PHOTO BY STEPHANIE DAVIS
BY ANTHONY GREENE Managing Editor
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he Rebel boys’ basketball team has had an impressive start this season so far winning 12 of 15 games. The Rebels are looking to push forward and keep this hot streak going. “I believe our fast start can be attributed to a few different things. First of all, this team has accepted its roles as well or possibly better than any team I have coached here in my 13 years,” said head coach Michael Wantz. “Also, we have a very mature team. Our top six guys are seniors. They have been through the battles and have a ton of experience. Lastly, we have been incredibly efficient on offense. We are also keeping our turnovers down so we are getting a good shot each possession,” said Wantz.
Entering his 13th season as the head boys’ basketball coach for the Rebels, Wantz has a career record of 18989 for a winning percentage of 67.9 percent. He has had double digit victories every season as head coach of the Rebels, and this season has been very impressed with the play from senior guard Jimmy King. King’s numbers have drawn defensive pressure every game, but he he has still been able to score big numbers. “Something coach says is everyone is going to take me away first, so everyone has got to step up and be able to make plays and knock down shots. I think in the second half of that game[Beech Grove] we kind of saw that and a few weeks ago against LC, Max stepped up and hit some shots,” said King. King is averaging 24.9 points per game this year and is showing how much he means to this team. In the game against Beech Grove, King was guarded heavily and only had 3 points in the first half. In the second half, King came alive and scored 23 points and still faced the same defensive pressure. The Rebels have been surging as of late, winning their last five games decisively. “We all just get along well. We know each others strengths and weaknesses and we’re always there to back each other up,” said King. The Rebels next game is tonight at Bishop Chatard at 7:30. The team’s final home game, senior night, is next Thursday versus Cathedral.
PHOTO BY PATRICK MURPHY
GETTING ON THE RIGHT FOOT: Senior Joe Swan gets a defender to bite on a fake. The Rebels have had much offensive success averaging 61.4 points per game this season.
Landing on both feet
Gymnastics team starts its season off right with four wins BY TAYLOR TOWNSEND
Staff Writer
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t takes amazing core strength, a strong sense of determination and discipline, and a positive mentality to achieve the success that the Rebel Gymnastics team has already gained. On a large mat with only their teammates, competitors, and some chalk on their hands, they go to perform acrobatic stunts that compare to looking as if they do not have a single bone in their body. With 11 girls (one of them being a manager), the team has a long history of victories, dating back to 2000. Notably, the 2009 and 2012 seasons feature record-breaking statistics, with a 15-0 and a 14-0 winning season, respectively. The girls have spent their practices working to perfect their performances for each category that they compete in, including beam, vault, pole, and floor, as well as all around. Sole senior Lauren Lahey has achieved great feats this season already, gaining second place in the beam and bars categories, and a first place in vault, floor, and all around at the last meet against Shelbyville. “The team is more dependent on me [this year]. Freshman year, I was the fourth spot on varsity so they rarely took my score. Now, they count on me. Which is fun, but it’s also very challenging,” Lahey said. Likewise, junior Madysen Strykowski had success during the meet on January 29th against New Palestine finishing sixth place in bars. “My first year was so nerve-racking. I was so nervous and scared but now it’s second nature to me, so I’m not as nervous,” Strykowski said. Other wins from the meet versus Shelbyville include juniors Emma Wrege and Anna Marie Lawrie gaining second and third places all around, respectively. Wrege also won a first in bars and Lawrie finished first on the beam. The Rebels won the competition against Shelbyville with a score of 99.8, with Shelbyville receiving a score of 87.75.
PHOTO BY PATRICK MURPHY
STRIKE A POSE: Junior Anna Marie Lawrie shoots an ending pose to her routine at the New Palestine/Cathedral meet at The Gymnastics Company. Along with her fifth all around, Lawrie had also won a third in floor and fourth in both vault and bars.
PHOTO BY PATRICK MURPHY
JUMP FOR JOY: Senior Lauren Lahey advances towards the board as she competes in the vault category. For the three meets they have already competed in this season, Lahey has a first, second, and a third place on the vault.
SWIMMING TO VICTORY: Junior Eddie Huck competes in the 100 Backstroke at the Marion County Championship. Huck was the eventual champion.
Making history Swim teams near the end of season; begin sectionals BY JOE SCHROEDER
Staff Writer
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ast issue the Rebel Review previewed the Boys’ and Girls’ Swimming and Diving season. Since then the most notable performance has been junior Eddie Huck’s first place in the 100 backstroke at the Marion County Championships, the first ever for any simmers in the program. The team also made school history at County finishing third place. Huck holds school records in the 200 and 400 medley relays and the 100 backstroke. In addition, the team rattled off wins against Indian Creek, Lawrence Central, Cardinal Ritter, Decatur Central, and Franklin Central. Leading up to the Marion County Championships the girls’ team faced Indian Creek, Lawrence Central, Cardinal Ritter, Franklin Central, and Decatur Central, going 4-1 over that span. In the Marion County Championship the girls finished eighth out of 15 teams, with sophomore Noelle Dalman and senior Brooke Sullivan recording lifetime bests in the 200 IM and 100 free respectively. Over Christmas break both teams participated in a Holiday Invite at the IU Natatorium, with the boys placing fourth and the girls finishing fifth. Since the return to school the boys team has beaten Speedway and Herron. Also for the first time in school history took home first place in the Perry Meridian Invitational. The team suffered its first loss of the dual/tri meet season to Warren Central. The boys also placed first in the Brebuf Invite and beat New Pal and Greenwood for an all time best 11-1 record. Since the break’s end the girls team placed fourth in the Perry Invite, won against Speedway, Warren Central, and Danville. Throughout this stretch they were also defeated by Cathedral and recently placed 9th in the Brebuf Invite. Lady swimmers that have advanced to Sectional Finals will compete tomorrow at Franklin Community. The boys will compete in sectionals starting February 19th at Franklin Community.
PHOTO BY STEPHANIE DAVIS
DIVING IN: Senior Brooke Sullivan competes at the Marion County Championship. Sullivan recorded a lifetime best in the 100 Free.
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Sports
february 6, 2015
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MASTERS OF THE MAT
Wrestling team showcases consistent improvement throughout the season BY JOE SCHROEDER
Staff Writer fter years of success and then a some struggles, Roncalli wrestling is steadily improving with individual and team talent. This season it appears that the wrestling team is back on track. With tournament wins over New Castle, Zionsville, Shelbyville, and a Class AA Championship at Connersville, the team has excelled. “The expectations coming into this season weren’t very high,” sophomore wrestler Pat Waugh said. “But after we won a couple of tournaments, I think we achieved them,” Waugh added. The young team, led by undefeated senior Conner James, has experienced some success in both dual and tourney matches. “Our team has the potential to go anywhere this season,” said Waugh. The Rebels have a head coach with a lot of high school wrestling experience in four-time state champion Lance Ellis. “Coach Ellis and all of the coaches play a huge role in the team’s success by being great motivators, teaching us properly, and pushing us to our best efforts,” Waugh said. “He is an amazing coach with a lot of knowledge,” said junior wrestler Quinn Cecil. With James still undefeated on the season, and son of Coach Ellis, junior Nick Ellis, wrestling well, there is a lot of buzz as to how far some Rebels can go in individual state. Both James and Ellis are in tough weight classes with James at 182 pounds and Ellis at 132 pounds, but hopes are high. “I believe Nick Ellis and Conner James will advance to the state finals,” Cecil said. The team has other strong talent in different weight classes, and these wrestlers may not receive as much attention but play a huge part in team competition. “Our strongest weight classes would have to be our middleweights, where we are most solid and consistent with wins,” said Waugh. Two of the middleweight wrestlers that consistently help the team are senior Jake Mappes at 160 and Waugh at 138. This is Mappes’ last shot at individual state, and some of his teammates feel he has a shot in his tough weight class. “Jake will have a chance [at state], but it will be a fight, because he has a very hard weight class,” said Cecil. The wrestling team has a unique bond that helps them to push through tough practices or heartbreaking losses. “The team is a family,” Cecil said. “We have each others backs, and know everything about one another. No other team compares to the bond we have.” The team continued this success at Sectionals with junior Josh Hiatt, sophomore Tyler Smith, Jake Mappes, Pat Waugh, Nick Ellis, and Conner James all advancing to Regionals, which will take place tomorrow at Perry Meridian.
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PHOTO BY JULIE ALBERTSON
KEEP THE STREAK ALIVE: Senior Conner James wrestles against Muncie Central on Senior Night. James won the match, keeping his undefeated season alive.
PHOTO BY JULIE ALBERTSON
REFUSE TO LOSE: Senior Jake Mappes attempts a takedown in his triple overtime match against Muncie Central. Mappes celebrated a win on Senior Night after three overtime periods.
Sectional play underway for girls’ team The Lady Rebel basketball team finishes regular season play and enters sectionals BY KENZIE KING
Staff Writer
I PHOTO BY PATRICK MURPHY
EYES ON THE PRIZE: Junior Rachel Titzer focuses on the basket during the game against Columbus North. Titzer led the team scoring 15 points and adding 6 rebounds.
PHOTO BY PATRICK MURPHY
DRIBBLING WITH DETERMINATION: Sophomore Paige Saylor tries to get through two Columbus North defenders. The Rebels lost 53-40 while Saylor added 15 points and 3 assists.
t’s now or never and Lady Rebel head basketball coach, Stan Benge, knows it. “If we do not win the game in front of us the season is over. Each opponent is an opportunity for us to get better and play one more game,” said Benge. As of February 3rd, the number 8 ranked Lady Rebel basketball team held a secure record of 17-6. On February 4th, the Rebels faced the Perry Meridian Falcons to complete their challenging regular season schedule. Now that it is officially post-season, the team has shifted all of its focus to sectional play. “I am pleased with the regular season and the improvement. Although pleased not satisfied as we need to get better to do well in the State tournament,” said Benge. Benge has high expectations for the team, knowing what they are capable of and the improvement that can still be made. “We need to improve in all phases of the game. Rebounding, defense both individually and as a team, and offensively scoring in half court sets and transition,” said Benge. Senior Halle Harris is on the same page as Benge, understanding what it is going to take to make a run in the State tournament. “We need to improve on readiness and focus. Not only in games but in practice as well. If we play an entire game with full intensity and effort, no one in the state can beat us and I’d be willing to bet on that,” said Harris. Junior University of Kentucky commit Lindsey Corsaro has been a huge key to success this season. Corsaro reached the 1,000th point mark of her career on December 9th in the opening round of the Marion County tournament game against Ben Davis. She has also recently been recognized as Indiana’s District 2 Subway/IBCA Player of the Week for the second time this season. However, Corsaro doesn’t take all of the credit for her achievements. She contributes much of her success to her teammates. “My teammates make it easy to be successful. Since all of my teammates are great players, the other team has to pay attention to each one of us. Since they can’t just focus on one person, it makes it easy for any one of us to step up when we need to,” said Corsaro. On January 24th, however, Corsaro knocked knees with a defender and landed awkwardly on her left leg, causing both ligament and meniscus damage. She will be out for the remainder of this season. The Rebels will face rival Cathedral in the opening round of sectional play on February 10th at Lawrence North at 7:30 p.m.