Red Devil Post, Vol. 1, Issue 1

RED DEVIL POST

Damon West visited the Lowell community on Wednesday, September 7th, bringing with him a message of perseverance and positivity. West spoke to all students during a convocation held during the school day. He then met with community members at 5:30 p.m. in the LHS auditorium. The event was free to everyone in attendance. West told his story, a biography that included an upbringing with advantages, a turn toward drugs and burglary, and redemption while serving out a life sentence in a Texas prison. West was paroled for good behavior, and he’s taken his message to as many people as will listen. West is the author of The Coffee Bean, which you can read much more about inside the pages of The Red Devil Post.

Damon West brings coffee bean message to Lowell community

Masthead

Hannah Cano, Co-Editor-in-Chief

Sophia Emery, Co-Editor-in-Chief

Editors

Alyssa Andriese, School Counseling

Hailey Baran, Student Spotlight

Alyx Doty, Administration

Walter Kotlin, Class News

Morgan Laumeyer, School Culture

Madelyn Logan, Fine Arts

Hailey Moore, Sports

Olivia Perlick, Opinion

Ryleigh Potat, Pop Culture

Bella Silva, Community

Payton Williams, Sports

Writers

Savannah Amschl

Jon Budz

Emily Gerstenkorn

Gabby Morache

Daisy Ray

Jacquelyn Van Der Linde

Photographers

Alyssa Andriese

Hannah Cano

Emily Gerstenkorn

Walter Kotlin

Morgan Laumeyer

Alycia Ramos

Daisy Ray

Bella Silva

Payton Williams

Sponsor

Joe Gianotti

IN THIS ISSUE

ADVICE TO UNDERCLASSMEN

BEREAL SWEEPING LHS THE COFFEE BEAN MESSAGE

COUNSELING OFFICE’S NEW LOOK DAMON WEST

INDIANA’S FALLEN HEROES

LHS FOOTBALL

LHS GIRLS SOCCER

LHS VOLLEYBALL

MARCHING BAND

MEET MR. MCLINDON

MR. WHALEY HELMS THE LMRD

NEW LHS BELL SCHEDULE

START TO A NEW ART YEAR

STUDENT SECTION

TITANIC TURNS 25 YEARS OLD THINGS TO KNOW BEFORE SENIOR YEAR

Red Devil Pride

Lowell’s 12th man on the field like no other in the Region

by Walter Kotlin

Many high school students go to Lowell’s sporting events for different reasons. Some go for the thrill of the action, and some go because they have close ties to a player. But others go because they want to be a part of something, and on a Friday night in Lowell, that something is the vaunted student section.

The student section plays a big part in the excitement of an LHS football game. Sure, any crowd can clap and cheer, and they can follow the cheerleaders to participate in a chant. But with the cheerleaders on the track in front of and below the bleachers, their best asset is to lead the student section. Spectators would just be random and uncoordinated without them. But with them, Lowell’s student section turns into a part of the game. It offers a reliable and constant stream of cheers to keep the hip up at any game. A chant that can be heard across the field or that echoes through the gym pumps up the athletes playing and can deter an opposing team.

When asked why student sections are so important, one of this year’s student section leaders, Braelyn Carter, said, “. . . because it represent your school spirit, or in Lowell’s case, RDP.” The group of students who stand in a huddle at the bleachers are the source of all the pride that the student body can offer. Many students leave a game finding that their throat is raw and their voice is hoarse from the shouting. As Carter says, “. . . it takes a lot of spirit. It is also exhausting but total tally worth it.” Hailey Moore and Ethan Hernandez make up the other two captains, and they bring just as much organized cheer and excited as Carter.

The only way for the excitement to grow is if more people show up. Carter has been going to student sections her whole high school career, and as she says, “. . . it’s always a fun time, and a great way to hang out with friends. It also feels good to cheer for your friends who are on the field as well.” The chants are not difficult, anybody can get the hang of them, and all you have to do is follow the section leader to know what to say and when to say it.

Each game has a unique student section theme, which can be found on twitter @RDPsuperfans. Coming to games and participating with the theme are great ways to meet old friends and make new ones. “All different kinds of people from Lowell show up . . . it truly brings our school and community closer together,” according to Carter.

Red Devil Pride

Coffee beans trump smushed carrots and hardened eggs

by Alyx Doty

The Coffee Bean Initiative is a year-long theme for the 2022-2023 school year. It will teach facility and students important life lessons, especially about perseverance and how to adapt to difficult situations. The lessons that Damon West learned from Mr. Jackson stuck with him throughout his time in prison and inspired him to become a public speaker. He passes on Mr. Jackson’s lesson and teaches us that we can respond to situations like a carrot, an egg or a coffee bean. A carrot becomes soft, crumbling in stressful situations. People who have this response often break down emotionally. An egg becomes hard on the inside, and people who have this response often shut down. A coffee bean, however, is able to adapt to situations and respond accordingly. They are able to cope with the stress and accordingly respond to a situation. Let’s strive to all be coffee beans this year!

LHS promotes engaging with problems: The Coffee Bean Message

by Hailey Baran

Lowell High School encourages students to be a coffee bean in difficult situations, but what does this strange statement mean?

Damon West’s true life, inspiring story kicks off the 2022-2023 school year to all students, staff, and anyone from Northwest Indiana who wants to hear his message. West, a former college quarterback, once had it all: a successful career and future in front of him. Then, he became addicted to methamphetamine. He turned his life upside down by falling in with the wrong crowd and committing burglaries. When he was finally arrested, West’s life collapsed into a 65 year prison term. West realized that he to make a change, and that change had to start with him. West met a man in prison named Mr. Jackson. Mr. Jackson gave him a special analogy to help him through his time. He told West to imagine prison as a pot of boiling water. If West were a carrot, he would turn soft in the water; if he were an egg, he would harden. West didn’t want prison to do either of these things to him. But, Mr. Jackson offered a third option, the coffee bean option. When a coffee bean is put into a pot of boiling hot water, it changes the water. Coffee beans don’t get soft. They don’t get hard. They transform the boiling pot of water, and West knew that he wanted prison to transform him into a better person. He brought that message to LHS on Wednesday, September 7th. West wants to see students across the globe evolve and transform, and he thinks the impetus must start with the individual.

School can be a stressful time, and it’s important to deal with problems in a smart way. Even if we don’t know how to properly deal with a stressful situation on our own, we must be problem solvers and find solutions. With an open mind, students can face their problems in a positive way.

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Red Devil Pride

Things To Know Before Senior Year

by Sophia Emery

The fresh start to a new school year often brings mixed reactions among the student body. While some dread the end to their summer break, others may be anxious, unsure of what to expect. Especially for students new to our corporation or freshman coming from middle school, some guidance regarding the unfamiliar environment can be often welcome and wanted. Along the way, you gain some reassurance as you learn the ins and outs of what used to be a strange environment for you. Some things, however, are better to not be learned through experience, but given as a forewarning. To put the years of high school experience others have had to good use, here’s a compiled list of things to keep in mind during your early high school years.

Senior, Kayanna Seely, reflected on her time in high school, emphasizing “don’t hesitate to try new things,” as these are the best years to discover what motivates you. She remembered, “I was just going to take the three engineering classes and breeze by high school, but I got put in machining. It really opened my eyes to new interesting things that helped me narrow down what I wanted to do after high school.” Although sometimes you may take a risk and find that something wasn’t

your passion, it's the experiences that make you a well-rounded person. Oftentimes, you'll find that you enjoy something more than you expected, and taking the leap to new experiences can lead to opportunities and life lessons. Anyone who is considering an extracurricular, should be encouraged to not be intimidated by the unknown, but to be intrigued.

Remember, high school is four years. One-hundred and eighty school days, and summer break is back around the corner. Thinking about life after high school seems like a distant dream, but when reality hits, you realize that time stops for nobody, and you are no exception. Take advantage of your high school years while you can. Expand your horizon of opportunities, and search for what you are genuinely passionate about.

Although sometimes it may not seem like it, your current efforts do pay off. The extra time you spend and your attention to detail make a significant impact on your high school experience and what you take away from it

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In the Classroom

Positive McLindon works to make LHS a better place on a daily basis

by Bella Silva and Morgan Laumeyer

The quick-witted Mr. Mike McLindon, known for his inspirational speeches and advocacy for empathy, highlights our teacher spotlight in this edition of the Red Devil Dispatch. McLindon has continued the legacy of the mentor program, which does so much good at Lowell High School. In the wake of mentor founder Christina Thomas’s passing, McLindon sees part of his job as continuing and honoring her legacy. Thomas saw her mentors as one of the crowning achievements of her storied career. Thomas provided McLindon with the inspiration to bring The Coffee Bean creator and motivational speaker, Damon West, to speak to the Lowell community.

McLindon attended Indiana University Northwest to achieve his bachelor’s degree and recently finished his Masters at IU Bloomington last spring. His career started at Hebron Middle School, where he taught 7th and 8th grade social studies. He decided to become a teacher due to his teachers in highs school, “not giving up on me when they probably should have.” He is determined to be like the teachers he admired the most, and his compassion inspires students to push themselves to be as successful as they can be.

In the classroom, McLindon teaches the peer mentor, government, and dual credit government. Using traditional teaching methods such as slideshows and notes, McLindon transforms what has always been seen as teacher centered strategies into students centered ones. In short, McLindon makes sure every students knows their stuff.

Outside of school, you can see him supporting his daughter in softball and cheerleading, alongside his son and wife. McLindon is the girls varsity softball head coach and also coaches boys freshman basketball.

McLindon’s principle source of support is his wife. “She uplifts me and is a role model for what I hope people see as my positive attitude,” McLindon noted. McLindon believes his path to success in teaching is to build connections with students. His hopes consists of ensuring that all students are supported while growing their education and securing constant mental support that they need.

We love you Mr. McLindon, and we thank you for making Lowell High School and better place to learn!

In the Classroom

New band director embraces Lowell’s hometown pride

by Walter Kotlin

The 2022-2023 school year marks the first time that Mr. Devan Whaley will teach band at Lowell High School. Not only does he have an ensemble of skills like mallet percussion and other musical instruments, but he also possesses a trained voice after studying choir for many years. In his first week, band kids learned new ways to support their sound and breath with better techniques using traditional choral exercises. Singing and practicing proper breathing form can make playing feel more natural, enhancing the sound of the band.

Along with teaching his craft, Whaley values strong relationships with students. In his own words, “...there’s a market difference between your first day teaching and your fifth day teaching. Just from saying a couple inside jokes, learning more about people, students knowing that you care what they do outside of your class.”

Whaley directs the Lowell Marching Red Devils and their Beatles-themed show this fall, and has potential jazz combos in the works for later in the year. Because of his love of singing, he continues to be a member of the barbershop quartet, “The 5 Cannibals.”

Lowell has left a good impression on Whaley as well. He said, “...just unpacking at my house, I had like five neighbors come up to me and say hi, and that’s never been what I’ve experienced…It’s been pretty nice.” In a positive environment, a deep desire to educate and an endless supply of jokes, Whaley gives Lowell High School a new way to learn music and have fun with it.

Devils’ Advocate

LHS acclimates to new bell schedule

by Olivia Perlick

Lowell High School has adopted a new bell schedule for the 2022-2023 school year. It consists of two traditional days (all days), and three days of different combinations of numerous classes in addition to the advisory period.

With this new schedule in place, it poses many new challenges for students, such as remembering where to go and at what time of the day. Alexis Perlick commented on the new schedule by stating, “It is different almost everyday and more drawn out than it needs to be.” In addition to that, she described the schedule as, “Confusing.” Alexis isn’t the only student who is not in favor of the new schedule. An anonymous student described the schedule as, “Ludicrous”. When that same student was asked their least favorite part of the new schedule, they stated, “That it makes my life ten times more confusing.” continued on page 21

Advice to underclassmenLove, a senior.

by Savannah Amschl

1) Stay focused. Your years at LHS will get distracting. Parties. Dances. Football games. But, you will learn very quickly, if you haven’t already, that prioritization is the key to life. I’m not saying that having fun and hanging out with your friends isn’t important; it is. But, setting goals and making those the priority is important.

2) Don’t compare yourself to others. I know. It’s something you've hard for a long time. Whenever you look at your progress and start comparing yourself to others, it affects you negatively. It then creates an unfair comparison. Things aren’t always as they seem. You are a unique individual with a lot to offer to LHS.

3) Walk in the halls. Don’t run. Don’t doddle.

4) Suck up to your teachers. I just mean, work with your teachers and not against them. Make life easy on yourself.

5) Respect the people around you.

6) Don’t worry more about the future than the present. The future will come, and you can only be ready for it by optimizing the present.

7) You can simultaneously be alone and not lonely.

8) Listen more and talk less, but talk with a lot of people.

9) Find your passion.

10) Life isn’t perfect. Problems arrive. Solve those problems without making mountains out of mole hills.

Counselors’ Corner

Who Are The School Counselors, and What Services Do They Provide?

School Counselors provide support to students in the areas of academic planning and career exploration, and also help with the management of social and emotional issues. We have five Counselors at Lowell High School, who are assigned to students alphabetically based on the student’s last name. There is a Google Form on the Student Hub that a student can use to request an appointment with a counselor. Students can also email their counselor directly.

If there is an urgent matter, students can come straight to the Counseling Office.

The Registrar and Counseling Secretary are also housed in the Counseling Office.

Let’s meet the Counseling Office staff!

Mrs. Denise Houser, Director of Guidance (Seniors Only P-R)

Mrs. Houser is in her 12th year as a school counselor, 4th year at LHS, and she is beginning her second year as the Director of Guidance. She is originally from Bourbonnais, IL. She has an Associate’s Degree from Kankakee Community College, a Bachelors of Science in Criminal Social Justice from Lewis University, and a Master’s Degree in Professional and School Counseling from Olivet Nazarene University. She is married to her high school sweetheart, and they have one 7year-old son, 2 boxers (Floyd & Leonard) and a saltwater tank full of fish. She loves to read and loves flowers. She is fascinated by celebrity gossip and enjoys binging TV shows.

Counselors’ Corner

Mrs. Brynn Denton, School Counselor (A-D)

Mrs. Brynn Denton is in her second year at Lowell and eleventh year in total as a School Counselor. Mrs. Denton is an alumni of LHS. She got her BS in Psychology and her Master's Degree in School Counseling from Purdue Calumet. She also coached Gymnastics at Lowell while in undergrad and graduate school. She is married to her high-school sweetheart and they have 3 sons, two who attend Oak Hill; her oldest is 19. In her free time, Mrs. Denton likes to take naps, cheer on the Chicago Cubs and Bears, and play with her three dogs: Cubbie, Ivy, and Bank

Mrs. Lora Bish, School Counselor (E-K)

Mrs Bish is excited to be back for her second year at LHS. She previously worked as a School Counselor at Merrillville High School for 11 years. She received her BS in Human and Family Studies and Master’s Degree in School Counseling from Purdue Calumet. Before becoming a School Counselor, she worked at the Ross Township Trustee’s Office assisting families in need and also worked at the Lake County Juvenile Center, helping at-risk youth. She and her husband of 10 years have a four-year-old daughter and a Siberian Husky.

Ms. Julie Witkowski, School Counselor (S-Z)

Ms. Witkowski has worked in schools for about fifteen years, as both a School Counselor and a Dean of Students. She was raised in Chicago and previously worked in Illinois. Prior to working in schools, she worked as a mental health professional in hospital, agency and private practice settings. She has a Bachelor’s Degree in History, a Master’s Degree in Counseling, and a post-Master’s certificate in School Counseling, all from Bradley University in Peoria, IL, as well as a Master’s Degree in Educational Leadership from University of St Francis in Joliet, IL. She is passionate about her two daughters, her dog Mickey, Disney, genealogy and live music. Her favorite TV show is a toss up among Friends, New Girl, and Psych.

Counselors’ Corner

Mrs. Autumn Dexter, School Counselor (L-R)

Mrs. Dexter has been a school counselor for 9 years. This is her first year at Lowell High School. She has a Bachelor’s Degree in Human Behavior and Family Studies, and a Master’s Degree in School Counseling both from Purdue University Calumet. Mrs. Dexter is married with two kids, a stubborn dog, a gorgeous cat, and four chickens. She loves going to concerts, vintage clothes, and roller

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Mrs. Kelly Chavez - Registrar

Mrs. Chavez has worked at Lowell for 7 years. Need an official document for college? Mrs. Chavez is the person to contact. In addition to being the registrar, she also coaches varsity basketball and freshman volleyball. She loves anything sports related, especially when she can share it with her husband and their three children. They also have four dogs, a Boxer and three Boston Terriers. Her favorite TV show is Friends.

Mrs. Angie Hernandez - Counseling Secretary

The Counseling Office welcomes a new secretary this year! Mrs. Hernandez previously worked at the Virtual Academy & Opportunity Center at LHS. She graduated from Lowell High School, but has lived the last 17 years in Crown Point. She is married with three daughters, 18-year-old twins and a 12-year-old. Her favorite pastime is watching my daughters play soccer. Her favorite TV shows are crime documentaries.

Community Pride

The Indiana Fallen Heroes project honors veterans and their families

On July 29, 2011, Army Specialist Augustus J. Vicari gave his life in service to America. At the age of 22, he was killed at Paktia, Afghanistan when insurgents attacked his unit with an improvised explosive device. His mother and father, Mike and Evelyn Vicari, along with his aunt, Vicki Vicari, have taken up the mantle of the Indiana Fallen Heroes project, which honors veterans and their Gold Star families. When the originator of the

program moved to Ohio, the Vicari’s, along with another family, who had lost their child six months after Vicari’s death, knew they had to keep the project visible. While the Indiana Fallen Heroes project is most recognized by its solemn attendance in parades across the state of Indiana, it is much more than that. Coat drives and scholarships, along with about twenty-five annual events honor the men and women who paid the ultimate sacrifice for our country’s freedom.

Vicki Vicari wants people to know that the project is made possible by volunteers across the state of Indiana. It takes 150 people to march with the placards that honor our countrymen. Vicari said, “We included those who have

taken their lives as a result of their service. Many of those families feel that their loss is less import; it isn’t. The lives lost because of service to our county is something that is basically overlooke. Our goal is that they are never forgotten, that their sacrifices and their families are never forgotten. We know that our displays hit a nerve. People may feel uncomfortable by the reality of it, but at the end of the day, if they feel anything at all, we’ve accomplished our goal.”

Vicari calls herself the vocal leader of the project, but she wants to stress that it’s a group effort. She could never pull off twenty-five events a year without the help of many people, including students from around the state of Indiana, who might first become aware of the sacrifices of our men and women as they march through small towns, exurban communities, and the larger cities throughout Indiana.

The Indiana Fallen Heroes project can be found online at indianafallenheroes.com. A list updated on the first of this month honors 7,279 veterans and their families from across America.

Modern Minute

Take a breath and BeReal for a moment

by Gabby Morache

I’m in the cafeteria eating lunch, and I see everyone’s faces light up with excitement as they quickly pick up their phones: It’s BeReal time. We’ve got two minutes to quickly snap a picture for all of our followers to see. We take pictures of ourselves, our friends, our lunches, our outfits, or even the gum stuck under our tables. A BeReal post can be whatever we want it to be. It’s the most authentic and candid app ever brought to social media. It’s in the name: just BeReal.

If people don’t already know about BeReal, it’s the hottest social media platform for teens at this moment. BeReal allows users to post unfiltered photos of themselves once a day. It was developed by French creator Alexis Barreyat in 2020. The app didn’t gain much popularity until recent summer months when monthly users jumped from 921,000 people in July of ’21 to 21.6 million people exactly one year later. That number then tripled to 73.5 million users in the next two months.

BeReal is fairly simple. At a different time each day, BeReal alerts users that it is time to post. Whether a person is at the beach, eating a sandwich, scooping up after their dog, working out, or just laying around, BeReal asks them to take a front and back camera pic within a two minute window. Users have access to other posts, which they can then comment on. If a person fails to post in the two minute window, they can still take a BeReal later on. It just shows the person’s followers that they posted late. By the EXACT minute.

The goal of BeReal is to give people an outlet to post authentic content. Unlike other social media apps like Instagram or Snapchat, BeReal is meant to give unedited, imperfect pictures. BeReal looks to eliminate the false realities that dominate other social media platforms. BeReal doesn’t have edit or filter options. Posts show the flaws, insecurities, and struggles that everyone has in an attempt to normalize these things. If regular social media has caused an epidemic of mental illness and low self-esteem, BeReal fights to combat those illusions.

BeReal wants to change the definition of imperfection. If flaws are ordinary, don’t they cease to be flaws? BeReal is the start of something new, and it's counting on users to sit back, trust themselves, love authenticity, and just be real.

Modern Minute

At 25 years old, Titanic deserves another viewing

by Jacqueline Van Der Linde

December 19th, 1997. Director James Cameron releases a film that would soon become his most famous work- Titanic. Titanic, starring Kate Winslet and Leonardo DiCaprio, is an epic tale of grandeur, tragedy, and that youthful spark of new love. With such a passionate director behind it, it’s no wonder the film became the cultural phenomenon it is today.

Cameron made sure each scene was as historically accurate as he could possibly make it. He gave each background character the name and personality of an actual Titanic passenger. Going as far as to tell each actor to study their given person, no matter how minuscule they may seem. Then, during filming, he instructed them to interact and speak just as their given person would- even if it wouldn’t be picked up by microphones or used in the final cut. This gives the film such an authentic “hustle and bustle” atmosphere just like the average passenger felt on the real ship.

Costume designer Deborah Lynn Scott won Titanic its eighth Oscar award for her costume designs alone. She came up with such unique yet fitting outfits for a movie set, at the time, 85 years in the past. Dresses with corset tailored waists and layered skirts. Accessories like extravagant, feathered hats and silk gloves. Any fashion lover would have a ball watching the movie for the costumes alone.

The most impressive detail, however, lies in the film's run time. Within three hours and fourteen minutes, the story is split into two plot lines that switch back and forth as needed to progress the story. One storyline is set in modern day, the other being told in flashbacks from Rose’s voyage. The time of these flashbacks added together equals the same time it took the Titanic to sink. 2 hours and 40 minutes exactly! Along with that, all the scenes were time accurate to the real event. When the Titanic hits the iceberg, it makes contact with the side of the ship for 37 seconds. This is the exact amount of time that Cameron films his ship crashing.

Titanic is a masterpiece, both for its moving story and entrancing visuals. By the time a viewer sees people jumping into the freezing ocean, they’ll start holding their breath along with them!

Artistic Endeavors

Start to a new art year

by Madeline Logan

The 2D Art, Painting, and Drawing classes are putting together their first art collaboration in the office. Look out for the Coming Soon sign in the office! Mrs. LaPage has big plans for the art classes!

The art classes are starting out strong this year with their decorative letters and numbers for the main office. The office is usually barren without it’s students art, so this year they are making a brand new Coming Soon 2022-2023 sign for the office!

I asked a couple of questions to LHS art teacher extraordinaire, Mrs. Roni LaPage, to get her input on the upcoming year.

ML: What are you most excited about this new year?

RL: I would say the new faces. They don’t know what they are in for yet. And the new relationships I can form. I’m also excited to have my returning students and see what new things they can create. Oh, and the ideas for my new projects are also exciting. The skill of students is always improving. I want to push my students this year even more. Ms. Rivera and I are very happy that the program is growing more and the amount of new students seem like they really want to take an art class instead of needing to take it

ML: What are some of the new ideas you have for projects?

RL: My paining class has expressed an interest in gouache, for example. We are going to bring new materials into the projects. Hopefully, we can get a little messy and have a larger scale project in drawing, too. I really want to do a large collaborative project this year with all my art classes. We haven’t been able to do one in recent years because of Covid. There’s many new and old faces in the art classes this year, and it’s always exciting to see the diverse amount of art that comes from that. If you want to take an art class during high school, don’t be afraid to try it out! Whether you have never picked up a paintbrush or are a master artist, the art classes allow you to grow and show off your creativity. no matter the experience

ML: We’ll be sure not to miss out on the upcoming art that’s coming our way!

Artistic Endeavors

Sgt. Pepper’s marching red devils look to ride yellow submarine all the way to state and let it be

by Hannah Cano

Welcoming to the field…. The Lowell marching red devils performing their throwback show, The Beatles! Selections of the music for this year include “It’s been a hard day’s night”, “Yesterday”, and of course the crowd favorite, “Hey, Jude”. Leading the season for the very first time, Mr. Whaley has designed this show to truly showcase the talents of our musically inclined marchers. The season started off with a BAM! The team got together two weeks before school started and participated in a rigorous training camp, lasting for 10 days, sometimes 9 hours each! Upperclassmen are optimistic for this show, stating that with the upbeat, nostalgic music, this year will be a show no one will want to miss. Conducting the show, senior drum majors Hannah Cano and Cooper Gregar-Skillman are proud of the hard work put in by the team, and will demonstrate their skills with some very special dance moves before the show. Underclassmen have quickly obtained new skills and have proved themselves on and off the field. Marching band has taught them valuable musical coordination skills that just can't be taught in the classroom. Don’t miss the preview of the show, now available at your local red devil football home games. As John Lennon famously once said “I hope someday you will join us!”

Courts and Fields

Volleyball spikes the field at Hobart Tourney

by Emily Gerstenkorn

The Lady Red Devils are starting off their season strong at their first Hobart tournament invite. They played Wheeler, Hammond Central, River Forest, and then faced Hobart in the championship game. They beat all the teams in 2 sets. Many players stood out for their consistency throughout the day. Alex Delgado served 15 in a row. Madison Hall also had a run of serves. Trinitie Litner had amazing kills and blocks against all the teams and worked hard to keep the team going. Our two outside hitters, Gabi Leoni and Ava Copak, played a big part in keeping the teams spirits up. Lowell’s retired JV volleyball coach, Sherri Mitchell, was a line judge in the championship game and did her job while also supporting the team. After 2 hard losses the week before, the girls are stepping it up and taking over the court to make this season the best yet.

Lowell girls soccer posts best effort vs. CP in five years

by Olivia Perlick

The Lowell Lady Red Devils soccer team played a tough match against the Crown Point Bulldogs. The game ended with a score of 3-1, which is the closest game they’ve experienced versus CP since 2017.

Each player fought hard for the entirety of the game. Their toughness and

continued on page 21

Courts and Fields

Football shows poise and character but drops opener against Crown Point

Old Leather Helmet remains at CPHS

by Payton Williams & Hailey Moore

After a devastating loss to the Crown Point Bulldogs (42-0) , our Red Devils are coming in hot for the rest of the season. We talked with senior football players, James Langen and Riley Bank, after the game to hear their thoughts on Red Devil football. Even though the loss was tough, it was still the first game of the season, and there is a long way to go. In the interview we asked the seniors how they will use the Crown Point game to push them forward and improve as a whole. Bank and Langen both agreed that this was their wakeup call and it lit a fire under the team that they will use as a driving force for the rest of the season. Since they have a lot of younger players, it is important to show them what Lowell Varsity is like. In the last week of practice, the team has really been working on getting more depth on both sides of the field, and speeding up the game on their behalf. Langen believes that the game should not be looked at like a loss, but as a learning opportunity to fix your mistakes. Bank also stated that there is a strong brotherhood on the team that is continuing to grow day by day. Langen mentioned that having this strong bond and knowing that the person next to you is all in, is a great thing to have while on the field. They will use this brotherhood and connection to reach their goals of winning conference and sectionals. When Bank was asked why Lowell football is such a great program to be a part of he answered that you learn life lessons and get to be a part of something greater than yourself. Knowing this is what will give the Red Devils the advantage over every team and push them into success.

Courts and Fields

Girls soccer crusades past Illiana Christian

by Alyssa Andriese

On August 18th, the Lady Red Devils took on Illiana Christian for their second game of the season. The team was led by Allie Mecha (Junior), Dusty Stoner (Junior), Morgan Hutton (Senior), and Emily Valdivia (Senior). It was a rough start for the ladies as Illiana Christian soccer girls came in ready to play knowing who they were playing up against. Last year the Lady Red Devils beat Illiana Christian 4-1, so Illiana Christian soccer girls knew how they were going to play this year. The Lady Red Devils started off with the ball, passing the ball back to the defensive line for them to then bring the ball back to the offense. The Illiana Christian girls had won most of our balls whether it was a drop kick from our goalie, Reagan, their goalie, or even just a simple pass from player to player that didn’t quite make it to the person they were making a pass to. Reagan made some beautiful goalie stops, including a PK she stopped after we had a handball inside the box. The first goal of the night was made by Allie Mecha bodying the ball into the goal as Morgan Hutton crossed it from a corner. Illiana Christian soccer girls ended up scoring after one of their players crossed the ball straight into the goal, right over Reagan's head as she reached to grab it. That didn’t stop our Lady Red Devils. Our defensive line brought the ball up, passing out to our winger, then passed the ball to Allie Mecha who got trapped, making a quick pass to Morgan Hutton who boots the ball straight into the goal, making the score 2-1. For the final goal of the night, Allie Mecha scores on a free kick, outside of the box after Sam Guerra gets fouled. The Lady Red Devils had a great game that ended in 3-1 win, 2 yellow cards from two of the players, and giving the opposing team a penalty kick. The defensive line did a great job, staying defensive and holding back Illiana Christian. Can’t wait to see what else this team brings this season!

Girls soccer player Alyssa Andriese and manager Sophia Emery celebrate with a gatorade and some leis at the football game.

Courts and Fields

Scores from throughout fall sports

Girls Cross Country

4th at Crown Point Invitational

Varsity Football

New Prairie 24, Lowell 7

Lowell 21, LaPorte 14

Crown Point 42, Lowell 0

Freshman Football

Crown Point 14, Lowell 12

Girls Golf

Lowell 205, Highland 250

Lowell 216, Merrillville 256

Lowell d. Whiting

Lowell d. Hammond Central

Kankakee Valley 176, Lowell 207

Lowell 209, Andrean 210

Boys Varsity Soccer

Lowell 2, Kankakee Valley 0

Lowell 7, Hebron 2

Lowell 2, Wheeler 2

Kouts 2, Lowell 1

Girls Varsity Soccer

Lowell 3, Kankakee Valley 1

Crown Point 3, Lowell 1

Lowell 11, Hammond Morton 0

Lowell 2, Hammond Central 0

Girls JV Soccer

Lowell 5, Hammond Morton 0

Lowell 2, Kankakee Valley 1

Crown Point 9, Lowell 0

Lowell 10, Hammond Central 1

Boys Tennis

7th at Macy Invitational

Lowell 3, Andrean 2

Valparaiso 5, Lowell 0

Lowell 4, Hobart 1

Munster 5, Lowell 0

Rensselaer 4, Lowell 1

Portage 4, Lowell 1

Lowell 4, New Prairie 1

Hanover Central d. Lowell

Varsity Volleyball

3rd in Kankakee Valley Invitational

1st in Hobart Invitational

Merrillville 2, Lowell 0

Lowell 3, Highland 0

Kankakee Valley 3, Lowell 1

Lowell 2, Wheeler 0

Merrillville 3, Lowell 2

Freshman Volleyball

Lowell 2, Highland 0

C Team Volleyball

Chesterton 2, Lowell 1

continued from page 4, Coffee bean message

LHS teacher, Mr. Mike McLindon spearheaded West’s visit to the Region. McLindon said, “I discovered West’s story about three or four years ago. At that time, he and former, celebrated guidance counselor, Christina Thomas, read West’s book and decided to use it with their peer mentors. “I loved the message behind his story,” McLindon said. McLindon stated that West has gone through a lot, but he was able to change his life. He was able to impact his environment, which was the number one thing that helped him define his odds. McLindon noted, “My goal everyday is to inspire someone in some way, and West’s seemingly simple message helps me pursue that goal.”

continued from page 5, Senior year

academically. Kayanna Seely added, “I’d also say high school is as hard as you make it out to be . If you take the bare minimum, you’ll skate by but not really get much done. But if you challenge yourself and take harder classes, it will be a little more intense, but it will be more worth it in the end.” People who put in the extra work do in fact get rewarded, whether it be immediately reflected in grades or later in your high school career. High school is a time to prepare you for your years beyond graduation, so real life skills are crucially important to develop.

Everyone has been told to “approach every challenge with a good mindset,” but when put into practice, it can be easier said than done. High school is supposed to be challenging. If you Karen’t challenged academically, you aren’t really learning or pushing yourself. But, when faced with difficult situations, what separates those with success versus failure is approach. High school doesn’t need to be four years to dread and stress about, but it can certainly be a time for you to lean and grow as a person.

continued from page 8, Bell schedule

With having to go to at least 5 classes in one day, not every LHS students is disappointed with the change. Some students expressed that they like the shorter class periods. From an anonymous source, when asked about the new schedule, the student described it as “useful”. The same student also described the schedule as beneficial since they see their teachers on a regular basis.

Despite these new challenges many students and teachers are experiencing, they are still in the early stages of mastering this schedule. The way Maggie Shultz said she will overcome the struggle of the new schedule is with, “Repetition”. Therefore, the new schedule may be difficult to work with right now but some students appear to be optimistic and ready to work through this new change.

continued from 17, Girls soccer vs. Crown Point

determination especially showed in the first half, when the Crown Point goalie dropped the ball. The goalie went to pick it back up, bu Kaelen Lulinski was quicker, tapping it into the goal. Her speed gave the Lady Devils one goal, putting them ahead 1-0. The Devils used the positive energy and excitement from the goal to hold off Crown Point from scoring during the first half.

Lowell managed to prevent the Bulldogs from scoring for roughly fifty-five minutes of the eighty minute game. Then, ten minutes into the second half, Crown Point scored. Even with the game knotted at 1, Lowell never gave up. Crown Point managed to put two extra points on the board throughout the the the rest of the second quarter, which earned the Bulldogs the 3-1 win.

This game is arguably one of the best Lowell has played in years. They are a quick team, who uses speed to their advantage. The girls triangle pass well, creating openings around their opponents. Even though they didn’t defeat Crown Point, they sent notice to other NWI teams.

You can support the Lady Red Devils soccer team at their next home game, Thursday, September 15th, at 6 p.m. against Boone Grove. September 15th is also senior night.