Park turns North Shore south

Katie Nelson

Abby Bartleson

After tying 1-1 going into the third period, Girls’ hockey pulled off a 2-1 victory against North Shore Jan. 21. For head coach Ryan St. Martin, the third period comeback was a highlight of the game for the team.

“Overall, we had a good, consistent game. In the second period, we could have had a bit more energy, but we definitely came back in the third and that was a plus for us. It was a challenge at times but we came through,” St. Martin said.

Despite the win, which takes the team to a 9-11 winloss record, junior Camryn Witham believes it could have been a greater margin of victory.

“The game went okay and I’m happy that we won, but I think they could have been playing better,” Witham said. “I don’t think it should have been as close as it was.”

Sophomore Rowan Jansen said the team needs to work on consistency for its upcoming games.

“We definitely need to work on putting in all our energy during every period because sometimes we fall short,” Jansen said. “We should have started off a little bit stronger, our second period wasn’t great and we were playing sloppy.”

A lack of energy throughout the whole game is a skill that Witham said she also believes can be improved upon.

“We need to be playing three periods instead of only two. We started getting tired during the second period which prevented us from getting more goals,” Witham said.

Going forward, St. Martin said he hopes to focus on individual ability to elevate the team’s performance.

“We try to internally get better every day with either our confidence, skill, or knowledge of what we’re doing, as well as having good relationships. When we try to get individually better, as a collective (that) helps us out,” St. Martin said.

Park faces off against North St.Paul/Tartan at 7 p.m. Jan. 24 at the Minnetonka Ice Arena.

Aidan

Every year, the Loppet Foundation holds a festival called the “City of Lakes Loppet Winter Festival.” This festival takes place throughout the Twin Cities metro area, much of it on various lakes around the city and in Theodore Wirth park. The festival consists of a variety of events over a two-day period: Feb. 4–5. The events this year include cross-country skiing, fat-tire biking, skijoring and snowshoeing events — with both competitive races and casual tours, and activities for many.

The most popular event of the festival, a lights festival called the Luminary Loppet, takes place on Lake of the Isles. People from all over come to

When did you start gymnastics?

I started gymnastics when I was around four. I would do cartwheels and handstands at my house, and after my parents saw me tumbling, they got me into the sport.

What was your gymnastics experience like before coming to Park?

Before, I was at a club gym that I would compete for. My gymnastics experience was a little different there participate, making their way around the candlelit lake, whether that be by foot, ski or snowshoe. Originally set to take place on the evening of Saturday Feb. 4, the Luminary Loppet was rescheduled to the evening of Saturday, Feb. 18 due to existing weather conditions and their effects. More information on the rescheduling can be found on their website.

Marketing and communications manager for the Loppet Foundation, Devin Sundquist, said the foundation’s goal is to grow people’s love for the outdoors by holding competitions that anyone is able to participate in.

“Our mission is connecting people to the outdoors through experiences that grow community,” Sundquist said. “We want everyone to come together in a way that makes sense for them. So you don’t need to be an incredible athlete, you don’t need to be an absolute newbie, but we’re going to have something for everyone. It’s a really cool way to get people connected to the outdoors.”

Pat Hartman, assistant Nordic ski coach at Park, said he appreciates the accessibility of skiing in such a large city like Minneapolis, which the festival embraces.

“It’s really cool that in a major metropolitan area, we are able to ski this much,” Hartman said. “There’s so many people that ski in this big metropolitan area and we embrace it. That’s what this festival is centered around.” because practices were more rigorous. We would condition for 30 minutes, stretch, focus on two events and condition again.

How has the season been going so far?

It has been going great. I have made a lot of connections and relationships with everybody on the team.

What is the best advice you’ve been given? What is the best advice you’ve received?

My advice to other gymnasts or athletes is to never give up and challenge yourself constantly. Challenge yourself on some skills and don’t be afraid to try them. The best advice I have received would be to not compare myself to other gymnasts.

Junior Nordic skier Hanna Wilsey said she is most excited for the Luminary Loppet, as it is a good teammate bonding experience, as well as an opportunity to indulge in a complimentary hot treat.

“I’m looking forward to going to the Luminary Loppet, which is super fun,” Wilsey said. “I go out there with my cross country ski team usually, and I’m especially looking forward to the free hot chocolate.”

According to Sundquist, the festival can be accessible and entertaining for anyone wanting to participate, no matter their level of experience.

“The fun thing about the Winter Festival is that there’s really an event for anyone. It’s not just something where all of a sudden you’re jumping in and doing a 37-kilometer race.” Sundquist said, “If you want to go snowshoeing, if you want to skijor or if you want to be on your fat bike. If skiing and orienteering is your thing that’s really awesome,”

The City of Lakes Loppet Winter Festival takes place Feb. 4–5, and the Luminary Loppet on Feb. 18.

Are you proud of any specific accomplishment in the sport this year?

I’m proud of my beam dismount, which is a cartwheel arabian. I’ve never done it in a competition before. I’m proud of placing second on bars at the (Minnestoa Girls Gymnastics Officials Association) meet.

Who or what has been your biggest inspiration in the years you have been doing this sport?

My biggest inspiration was one of my old coaches. I really looked up to her because she did an amazing job coaching me. She pushed me and because of it, I would be 10 times better than before. She was more of a harsh coach and that motivated me to be the best that I could be.

“ Sometimes texting is bad for teens because after a long period they can get addicted, which is not good.”

Ami Davis, freshman

Taylor Voigt

As technology and the world in general advances, there’s always controversy about “the way things should be.”

Ever since cell phones and texting have become more accessible, people have questioned whether or not they’re used too much. Teens are some of the biggest users of cell phones and messaging, and while there are valid reasons to be concerned, it can still be very helpful for that age group.

A lot of communication that happens through teens’ phones is small — making plans with friends, letting someone know that they arrived safely and asking parents what’s for dinner are just some examples. These messages don’t need a full phone call and most of the time can’t wait until they see that person face-to-face. Even for things that could be discussed over the phone, texting allows teens to tell that person whenever they need, instead of having to wait for a moment when both people are available to talk. Using texting as a main form of communication is not only convenient, it’s timely.

For longer conversations, many teens still prefer texting because it allows them to think about what they send before they send it. Especially for more introverted teens, this can take a lot of stress away from longer discussions with friends or family. When in-person or on a phone call, people are forced to come up with responses in seconds, and it’s very easy to make mistakes or say things before thinking about them. While it doesn’t seem like a big deal to many people, this can be alarming for introverted or socially-anxious teens.

While texting can raise concerns, such as having less experience with face-to-face conversations, it does more good than bad. It’s not extremely harmful to teens and it makes sense for it to be their main way of communication in the world we live in. From sending quick messages to being more comfortable having long conversations, texting is one of the most effective ways to communicate.

Modesty Manion

Texting has become one of the biggest technological advancements in the way that we communicate. It has grown to be a part of our daily life, especially as the world becomes more and more revolved around technology. However, there are negative ramifications that come along with texting being our main form of communication.

The biggest issue with our increased dependency on texting is how it detracts from our vital social skills. Being able to send a text to someone instead of calling them or talking to them in person is convenient, but it also makes it more difficult for younger people to interact with those around them. The most prominent example I’ve seen of this is in the situation of ordering a pizza. I have friends who are scared to make a phone call to order a pizza, and would rather not get a pizza at all than have to order it. Although this seems insignificant, the implications that small roadblocks like this have on a person’s communication abilities become more impactful later in life.

Our reliance on texting has even made its way into the dating scene, where couples are breaking up over text rather than in person. By hiding behind their screen, they are able to

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avoid the confrontation, circumventing that important skill of confrontation. Because the person doesn’t have to see their partner’s reaction, it almost dehumanizes the action, which is why it’s happening at an increasing rate.

A big part of normal human interaction that is lost in texting is non-verbal communication. Things like facial expressions, tone, eye contact, gestures and body language heavily influence how we interpret the way things are said. Texting eliminates all of these aspects. This creates an impersonality within conversation, and oftentimes leads to misunderstanding and misinterpretation. The biggest example of this that I have experienced is the “oh ok” text. In the texting world, these two words can mean a variety of different things, but the inflection of the statement is up to the interpretation of the reader rather than the sender. It can be perceived as nonchalant, sorrowful or even arrogant. This can result in unintended hurt feelings or just general miscommunication, which is never easy to navigate. When talking in person, these issues can easily be avoided or resolved, but texting does not provide that level of mutual understanding.

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Texting is appopriate at certain times. If you’re quarantined at home it can be helpful, but if you’re in a group it makes no sense. Just start a conversation with someone.”

Texting is a good form of communication for teens. It helps them connect with others and gives them easier access to their friends.” must be signed and should be no longer than 250 words and may be e-mailed or submitted in room C275. Anonymous letters wherein the publication name does not know the identity of the writer will not be printed.

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