Vol. 60, Issue 5 Special Music Issue

ZACH BRYAN REVIEW

FAVORITE SONGS OF 2023

BEST CONCERT VENUES

NICOLE SCIMECA

THROWBACK MUSIC MEDIA

BEST MOVIE SOUNDTRACKS

CULTURAL MUSIC

SCHOOL OF ROCK

THE DEATH OF RADIO

BEST HEADPHONES

MAINE SOUTH ‘WRAPPED’

CROSSWORD • HOW MUSIC DISCOVERY HAS CHANGED PRESENTING MAINE SOUTH’S IDEAL COUNTRY THUNDER LINEUP

Dear reader,

No matter who you are, it is likely that music has played a crucial role in your life. Music is something that defines both our society and individuality, and it shapes the way in which we express ourselves. Because of its importance in our lives, Southwords is taking a closer look at the world of music.

Whether it’s indie pop or rock and roll, we each have a genre that represents who we are and what we love.

However, music also holds the power to connect us, from listening to radio with friends, going to your first concert with family, or simply sharing the link to your favorite song with your peers.

Feel-good moments like these are why we choose to celebrate music in the first place-our playlists contain the soundtracks of our lives and our best memories.

The power of music is visible in the cultural importance we place on our musical idols like Taylor Swift and Drake and those of generations before us like Elvis and The Beatles. Despite who you enjoy listening to, there’s no better feeling than when you hear your song.

In this year’s special issue, we explore the best tracks, albums, records, concerts, and everything in between. Which streaming platform is truly the best? What is the most played track amongst our teachers and students? Which performer’s concert is the most popular?

It’s no secret the love we have for our tunes, and on behalf of our staff, we are excited to dive into the intricacies of everything music.

Sincerely,

Madison Basquin & Elizabeth Handley Editors-in-Chief

TIME SPENT LISTENING TO MUSIC:

YEARLY VS DAILY

A voluntary e-mail survey of 112 students asked how many minutes they spent listening to music in 2023 and how much time they spend listening to music daily. Approximately 9.5% of students spent 100,000+ minutes listening to music last year—which is nearly 70 days non-stop.

STUDENT SPOTIFY USERS’ TOTAL MINUTES LISTENED IN 2023

STUDENTS’ AVERAGE TIME LISTENED PER DAY

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Southwords is a student-run publication designed as a public forum for student opinion and balanced reporting on topics relevant to the Maine South community.

Unsigned staff editorials represent the consensus opinion of the Southwords Editorial Board. Personal commentaries represent the opinion of the author alone and do not represent the opinions of the publication nor District 207.

Student participation in the newspaper, whether through readership, submitting articles, or voicing comments or concerns, is encouraged.

Signed letters to the editor can be given to a member of the editorial staff or e-mailed to southwords@maine207.org.

Southwords reserves the right to edit material for clarity and brevity and to reject obscene/libelous submissions.

Editors-in-Chief

Madison Basquin

Elizabeth Handley

News Editors

Charlotte Chapman

Charlotte King

Samara Lefler

Commentary Editors

Eliza Goldwasser

Jacob Mascort

Emery Yates

Features Editors

Ava Jurek

Lilien Schirazi

Entertainment Editors

Sayde Feeley

Grace Halpert

Caitlin Vengazo

Sports Editors

Kyra Demeros

Brianna Giustino

Thomas Hurley

Production Editors

Rohan Cham

Lily Giambarberee

Anastasia Musyakevich

Adviser

Ceylan Yildiz

Mr. Stathakis

Radio listening shifts to streaming

Charlotte Chapman News Editor

The process of finding new music has completely transformed with the rise of social media and streaming services. While in the past, the radio was the primary outlet for music discovery, new technology has sparked a more modern approach.

“In high school, I often discovered new music by listening to the radio and hearing songs,” math teacher Mr. William Pankratz said. “But I hardly listen to the radio anymore.”

This shift away from radio listening seems to be common among teachers. Based on a voluntary survey of 31 Maine South staff members, only 29% of respondents chose the radio as their primary method of finding new music.

On the other hand, even more students have abandoned the radio. Based on a voluntary survey of 111 Maine South students, only 6.3% of respondents chose the radio as their primary method of finding music.

“I like listening to things like Spotify instead [of the radio] because then I can pick what songs I listen to and there’s no ads,” junior Madi Pierski said.

For teachers and students alike, the radio’s decline in relevance has

been largely sparked by the popularization of streaming platforms, which allow users to create more personalized playlists.

“Typically, I find new music by listening to suggested songs that Spotify gives me,” Mr. Pankratz said.

Spotify is just one of the many streaming platforms dominating the music scene. These kinds of platforms create curated playlists for users to listen to, which provides users with exposure to new and different songs or artists

While pre-curated playlists give users the ability to find different types of new music, many also enjoy building their own playlists.

“I like to listen to the Spotify playlists I’ve made because I have different playlists for different types of music genres or moods,” junior Dylan Ranalli said.

Most have found that the transition to streaming platforms has made it more convenient to discover new music.

“It’s become a lot easier to just find one specific song, rather than a whole artist or album,” sophomore Peter Sagmeister said.

See page 9

“Usually if I’m streaming, like on Spotify or Pandora, and just letting ‘Today’s Hits’ or some sort of playlist play, and I hear something that I like, I’ll find it and start following that group,” science teacher Ms. Alexis Liakakos said.

These playlists can be grouped by category and rely on user data to estimate what music each person would enjoy.

“Typically the [curated] playlists are pretty accurate and have songs I enjoy,” said Mr. Pankratz.

This is a significant shift from what many have experienced in the past. The digitalization of music has made access to new artists more simple.

“It’s become so much easier to find new groups and new sounds,” Ms. Liakakos said. “Way back when I was in high school and college, you’d have to go to the music store and see what was out there. And definitely, the radio was a great resource, but it was really just what was getting played. Now, I feel like you can find just so many things more easily.”

Streaming platforms aren’t the only new form of music discovery.

Social media has provided the opportunity to broadcast and exchange music on a large scale, prompting many to diversify their tastes.

“I use TikTok [to discover music] sometimes,” junior Elizabeth Bordini said. “[TikTok] has songs that are gems.”

TikTok, one of the most popular social media apps, has especially become known for its influence on music trends.

“I’ll hear a song in the background of a TikTok, then I’ll go find it and check other songs from the same artist,” Sagmeister said.

This form of music discovery tends to be more popular amongst students. According to the survey, 46% of students chose social media as their primary method of finding new music.

“Social media has definitely made me more aware of certain artists and genres that I previously wouldn’t listen to,” junior Natalie Causevic said.

Despite this shift to digital discovery, some still appreciate the radio’s nostalgia.

“I do [still listen to the radio]—I can’t give it up,” Ms. Liakakos said. “If I feel like just letting the radio decide [songs] for me and I don’t want to think about it, I kind of like that.”

 SPOTIFY KILLED THE RADIO STAR For those who stream music, it’s hard to ignore Spotify’s influence over the industry.

Rediscovering old music media

Charlotte Hartung Features Writer

As the music industry is everevolving into the digital age, there are still many students who enjoy and prefer listening to music the way previous generations did—on CDs or vinyl.

Although streaming services allow users to access their entire catalogues from anywhere, the comfort and familiarity of older, tangible music formats can more easily lead to a shared experience.

Sophomore Haley Woodruff started using CDs before they became popular after being introduced to them by her family.

“I started using CDs when I was eight because my parents have lots of them, so my mom got me a Taylor Swift CD to play in the car because we were going to the Reputation tour,” Woodruff said. “I choose to use them because my car is old and doesn’t have aux, and my parents also got me a CD player for my room.”

Sophomore Jayden Bublitz was first introduced to CDs after stumbling upon her parent’s collection one day. Immediately after discovering CDs, she was intrigued.

“I found a couple of my parents’ old ones at first,” Bublitz said. “It’s nice to be able to listen to one album

or genre at one time, so I started buying my own.”

Junior Caitlyn Button started using CDs after going into a used records bookstore.

“Someone was selling a majority of their Lana Del Rey CDs,” Button said. “I saw that as a sign and bought them. They were relatively inexpensive as the plastic cases weren’t in the best condition, but the physical CDs were in good condition, and that was all that mattered to me. Since then, I’ve grown my collection to select other artists, but I find that since CDs are significantly smaller than vinyl, they are much easier to collect and store.”

According to Luminate’s “Top Entertainment Trends for 2023,” more than half of vinyl owners do not possess a record player—they just have them purely for the aesthetic.

Senior Nicholas Ingles appreciates his vinyl, not merely for the music, but also as wall art.

“I hang up my records that end up scratched or that I get duplicates of,” Ingles said. “The rest I play on my record player and I have about 70 records. I also like collecting records because you can get the same album with different colored vinyl, or even with different album covers.”

Although there are benefits to

HOW WE LISTEN TO MUSIC

both CDs and vinyl, many users prefer one over the other.

“I have both records and CDs, but I find myself using my record player more often than my CD player,” Ingles said. “I chose to hang up my records because I wanted my room to reflect me and I thought music was a great way to do that, and records looked the best.”

While CDs and vinyl may be the preferred media for collectors, many still use streaming services.

“I use YouTube music in addition to listening to my records, but I like being able to have a physical copy of my music because it enhances the experience of listening to the music,” Ingles said.

Airpods Max

“My Airpods Max have been a gamechanger. I originally bought them for their noise-canceling feature which is great for both exercising and study ing. However, they have also become a source of motivation and make me feel more produc tive. I would definitely recommend them. They are on the expensive side, but they are definitely a great investment for college.”

“I love my Sony headphones. They are noise-canceling but still have great sound quality. I also really like how comfortable they are and that they stay on my head. The price is significantly cheaper than competing headphone brands for simi lar quality. My headphones are a part of my daily rou tine. I wear them when I’m walking my dog, work ing out, or doing homework at the library.”

Sony MDR-ZX770BN Airpods Pro

In a voluntary survey of 112 Maine South students, 94.5% of respondents prefer streaming services as their primary media for listening to music while 4% of respondents prefer listening on vinyl, and 1.5% on CDs.

Vinyl and CDs are useful for students who want to turn to an alternative music source besides Spotify and Apple Music.

These sources allow students to connect with their family members and a new community.

“Although I do have a subscription to Spotify, I find that using a CD player is much more convenient for me than using my phone speaker,” Button said. “It’s also nice to have a sort of routine for me to do because even though it’s much simpler to just open the Spotify app and play the playlist I want to listen to, the routine of opening the CD case, plugging in my player, and doing all the little steps to get music is quite satisfying.”

What is your favorite type of headphone?

“I have been using Airpods Pro for a few years and can confidently say it was one of the best purchases I’ve made. The best version I bought was the one that contained noise-can celing. I believe that Air pods Pro are the best model of headphones because not only do they completely block out sound around you, but they are also very por table and light weight.”

Annamarie Milazzo ('25)

Maeve Rafferty ('25) Sofia Sclafani ('24)

SCHOOL

Rock OF 1 1 HAWKS

Maggie Sheehan FeaturesWriter

For many, music serves as an experience that brings communities together and unites people across continents. For members of the School of Rock bands, music is the gateway to a purpose and a road to the future.

Junior George Spiegel first found his passion for music at School of Rock, a music school located in Uptown Park Ridge. The pandemic left Spiegel, like many students, searching for a way to express himself during a time when so few businesses were open and many students felt trapped in quarantine.

“Over Covid, I lacked any opportunity for performance and music, and School of Rock was the only thing around that was still open," Spiegel said. "If anything, my start was because of convenience, but I'm so glad I discovered that world.”

Spiegel is a member of School of Rock’s House Band, which gave him the chance to play locally as a top performing student within the school, as well as being part of the All Star band.

"All Stars are audition based," Spiegel said. "One percent of students worldwide all come together to play in about six bands across the globe

and tour the US and Canada. I am a vocalist, keyboardist, and guitarist in a performance band and act as a student leader. I'm a fourth year House Band vocalist. I am also an All-Star vocalist and play a little bit of keys.”

Sophomore Campbell Foster is the head keyboardist in School of Rock’s House Band—something which he credits with helping him find a sense of belonging.

“When I first started learning music, I wasn't that invested in improving my skills," Foster said. "When I started to like to hear myself play, I started to practice a lot more, and my playing improved drastically. Then, I started to make friends who were involved with music both at School of Rock and Maine South, which allowed me to make some of the strongest friendships I have ever had.”

Mr. Timothy Spiegel, Maine South counselor and Spiegel’s father, observed firsthand additional positives of being involved in a band outside of school.

Involvement in music offers a safe space for students to grow and learn, as well as an opportunity for leadership.

“School of Rock is one of many

HEY NOW, YOU'RE AN ALL

organizations that ultimately provide a setting where teens can learn beyond the classroom," Mr. Spiegel said. "As a parent, a major benefit I have seen is stronger self expression,"

School of Rock has also expanded the bandmates’ view of the world through travel. As a team, they have taken trips throughout the world to perform gigs. Through these excursions, the bands’ eyes have been opened to new cultures and experiences.

“I am crazy lucky with performance events, including performing at Summerfest, playing in Portugal and Spain, touring the northeast with All-Stars, or playing at Lollapalooza,” Spiegel said.

School of Rock has made an impact locally as well. The local aspects of the band unite the town and spread ripples of kindness throughout Park Ridge.

“School of Rock’s greatest value is that it has provided such a community for many people,” Spiegel said.

Performing for a crowd has positively affected the band’s members and contributed to their personal development.

“The performances I have played have greatly boosted my confidence both on stage and in person,” Foster said.

Likewise, Spiegel discovered his own identity through music, and he aims to spread this enthusiasm for music to others through his performances.

“I find it hard to articulate how expressive and otherworldly music can be," he said. "On a very practical level, it has given me purpose, something to obsess over, and where I belong in this world. It has also given me the confidence to live my life as

authentically as I can daily."

Making music is truly a spiritual and transformative experience. Whether you have been playing an instrument all your life or just enjoy singing along to songs on the radio, music is a universal language that the entire human race can relate to.

"The only way to comprehend music is by partaking in the magic one way or another," Spiegel said. "It's genuinely the one thing everyone has an understanding of; it's a way to physicalize the human experience."

This transcendent experience acts as a shining spotlight of hope in today’s world. Music can transform the trajectory of your life, setting you on a path you never even knew you were destined for. For Spiegel, music is an insight into his soul and provides an understanding of his mind and heart that no other explanation can do justice.

“As a child, I remember wanting the superpower to make someone else feel how I'm feeling," Spiegel said. "I wanted to share the full scope of my emotions, joy, and frustration. This superpower I wanted is music and art in general."

Beyond the cathartic internal revelation music offers, it connects people with a bond so strong and unique that it causes a kind of joy and personal growth rarely found anywhere else.

“School of Rock genuinely is its own little subculture of the world now with over 600 schools," Spiegel said. "Through these gigs, I have relationships with many people from around the world and I'm eternally grateful."

Spiegel hopes his passion for music is passed and harnessed by others.

“Music is everything,” Spiegel said.

PARK PERFORMANCE Lead singer, junior George Spiegel (center), guitarist, senior Nick Bongiorno (right), along with other band members perform at Edison Park Fest this past summer. The band performed "Hard to Handle" by the Black Crowes along with other songs to their supportive crowd.

STAR

The School of Rock All Stars band toured the Northwest, including at the Underground Arts in Philadelphia, PA. Lead singer, junior George Spiegel (center) and other band members went on tour for 10 days.

PHOTO COURTESY GEORGE SPIEGEL

PHOTO COURTESY GEORGE SPIEGEL

WMTH radio navigates the world of podcasting

Katelyn Whitlock News Writer

For 64 years, WMTH radio has been known as “The Voice of Maine Township.” Founded at Maine East in 1959, WMTH has become one of the longest continuously running student radio stations in the nation.

A primary component of the WMTH radio is the variety of podcasts they produce in addition to their radio content.

“Radio has moved towards podcasting, and we’ve done the same thing, where most of the students are involved in their own shows,” WMTH sponsor Mr. Mason Strom said. “They have their own podcast shows and then I will take them and I’ll play them on the radio. They’ll also take them and they’ll upload them to Spotify or wherever people get their podcasts.”

WMTH podcasts take on a wide array of subject matter, from music to sports to highlighting the Maine South community. Because of this creative freedom, meetings are sparse, and most podcasters create their own schedule to come in and record.

“It’s super low commitment on the radio side, just because everybody’s doing something different,” WMTH radio co-vice president junior Sarah Gardea said. “Maybe twice a semester we meet just to discuss what podcasts

are going on, but we’re basically here for guidance.”

For many students, involvement in WMTH radio has not only been a way to explore their passions or career interests, but also a communitybuilding experience.

“[WMTH] has been one of the coolest things I’ve been able to do in high school because I’ve been able to meet so many awesome people, been able to talk to them about their interests and learn more about them,” president of WMTH radio senior Jimmy Johnston said. “We’ve had the ability to get a lot of people to listen,

and that’s also kind of built a community.” Johnston is also the creator of the podcasts “By Hawks, For Hawks” and “Hawk Talk.”

When it comes to the radio station itself, there has been a shift away from live programming due to the change to block scheduling.

“I’d say 11 years ago, we were almost entirely live throughout the day, and students’ schedules were much different,” Mr. Strom said. “We were on a nine-period day back then, so it was easy for people to pop in for 20 minutes here and there. Since then, we’ve transitioned to almost entirely

pre-recorded programming.”

In an effort to generate more excitement around the radio, WMTH radio is planning a “Vinyl Hour” –a live segment in which records will be played live on air. The event will also be covered by WMTH TV, involving many students from both the radio and TV sides of the broadcastingfocused club.

“It’s really kind of bridging the gap between generations and hopefully bringing some new relevance to the radio because, mostly, it’s been podcasts and talk radio,” president of WMTH TV and Film, senior Tyler Demott said. “So, hopefully, we can bring back the music focus.”

Beyond WMTH radio, the club creates programming in other areas of media such as film and television. The TV and film portion of the club covers football games, fine arts events, and participates in film challenges and competitions. Many students in the club also take Advanced TV and Film or other broadcasting courses, applying what they learned in the classroom to create their own film or podcast.

WMTH radio broadcasts at 90.5 FM from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday, with Maine South being on the air Tuesdays and on a rotating basis on Thursdays and Fridays.

New Music Production Club brings together creative minds

Luke Compton News Writer

One of the newest clubs at Maine South this year is Digital Music Production Club.

“[The club] is a creative and collaborative professional development space for like-minded individuals to come together to fine-tune their craft,” club founder and president junior Kyan Guzman-Piwko said.

The club focuses on developing music using computer software. This offers a unique opportunity outside of the classroom for students to explore their interests.

“The club gets together to share ideas and help each other to learn how to use different DAWs (Digital Audio Workstations),” club adviser Mr. Matthew Hanes said. “They compose music together and have fun.”

The club meets every week to work on producing music. To maximize the experience members gain from the club, the agenda has a variety of activities for each meeting.

“Sometimes we’ll just have production sessions and collaboratively contribute to a project, other times we’ll have feedback sessions and give constructive criticism or opinions on the tracks that our members have made,” vice president sophomore Christian Valdes said.

This inspires connection and encourages students to work together in a group setting, bolstering the quality of production.

“It’s a fun, creative energy to have everyone sort of focused on one thing,” Guzman-Piwko said. “It’s an experience where you can very easily learn from people who are more experienced, and help out people who are less experienced. Overall, it allows for a very collaborative sort of production.

The scope of what the club has planned goes beyond the walls of Maine South as they look to give members outside input.

“What we’re looking into is… bringing over a Grammy-nominated

producer named Ralphie Rosario, and he’s going to just help out with giving feedback and talking about his experience,” Guzman-Piwko said.

Members find that the club provides a creative outlet for people to connect and embrace their individuality.

“I feel it’s a very good way for members to creatively express themselves in a positive and encouraging environment,” Valdes said.

This type of environment fosters collaboration among students and encourages creativity, leading students to push themselves, just as many of the music classes at Maine South do.

“I love watching the club members…riff off of each other and compose together and share ideas,” Mr. Hanes said. “It’s a very cool [and] different interaction with music than traditional classes like band, choir, [and] orchestra.”

MUSICAL MARKETING Digital Music Production Club brought a speaker and played music samples at the activites fair. As a new club, they have been trying to increase membership by emphasizing the unique opportunities available through the club.

PHOTO BY KYAN GUZMAN-PIWKO

RADIO REBELS WMTH seniors Jimmy Johnston and Matias Salemi show off the behind-the-scenes set-up of their sound booth. Johnston has created two WMTH podcasts, which the club plays on the radio station and uploads to Spotify.

PHOTO COURTESY SARAH GARDEA

Bringing cultures together, one song at a time

Ava Jurek & Lilien Schirazi Features Editors

Music is a powerful force. Not only does it help is express a variety of emotions, but it can also help connect people to various cultures. Cultural music can not only allow outsiders to connect with a culture, but it also strengthens the bond among people within the same culture, especially in families.

Maine South is home to a diverse community full of students with many different backgrounds— backgrounds that are united by a love of music.

Junior Diana Arias, who is Columbian, finds herself listening to and enjoying Hispanic/Latinx music. However, Arias also enjoys listening to other cultural music that is not of her own heritage, more specifically K-pop (Korean pop).

“Since I am Latina, I listen to a lot of music from my culture,” Arias said. “I also listen to K-pop because they incorporate dance into their music which not many Western artists do. It’s also catchy, and although I may not understand the language, music is a universal language. If that song is catchy to me, it’s a good song to me.”

Senior Loula Korovilas is Greek and has found cultural music to have brought her family together. From a young age, Greek music has shaped her life.

“I was introduced to ethnic music when I was born,” Korovilas said. “My dad loved to hear it and would always put it on while he burned some incense. Listening to Greek music has brought my family closer together. For instance, my mom was in Goya [a greek dancing troupe] and has taught me all the traditional dances.”

Arias agrees that music is a powerful tool that can bring people together, which she sees to be especially apparent in her family as well.

“Music is big in my family and the Hispanic culture as well,” Arias said. “It reunites my family and brings us closer together. It elevates us and gives us the energy to just have fun and enjoy the moment.”

Not only is cultural music significant and can help families and people of the same culture bond by listening to it, but it has the same effect on families through cultural dancing as well.

In sophomore Antonia Argionis’s family, Greek dance has encouraged all members of the family to connect, regardless of their age.

“At any Greek get-together or party, expect there to be dancing,” Argionis said. “There is always the first dance of the night, and then we continue until we’re too tired to do so. Even grandparents can’t resist standing from their chairs with aching knees and dancing. The only time my grandma never complains about leg pain is when there is dancing.”

Outside of being exposed to cultural music from parties or family events, senior Lyn Brush’s interest in Ukrainian and East European music first peaked from attending church and Ukrainian Orthodox services with their family.

“Attending Ukrainian Orthodox services every Sunday and having my family make up half of the choir has made me appreciate vocals and especially vocal harmonies more,” Brush said. “The music they played at Ukrainian camp when I was younger also

introduced me to some of my favorite songs of all time, and was a gateway to appreciating other East European music.”

Junior Ella Cedeno’s family’s ethnicity is West Indian. Cedeno’s family is from Trinidad, and cultural music plays a huge role for many students during various holidays. Cedeno has many traditions that are centered around cultural music during the holiday season.

“We listen to Parang at Christmas time, which is the traditional Christmas music in Trinidad,” she said. “Additionally, during Carnival time in Trinidad (February), we listen to a lot of Calypso and Soca. It’s not like we listen to it every day, so whenever I hear it, it’s like a clear indication that it’s a certain time of the year and I love it.”

However, for others, cultural music goes beyond special occasions like holidays or church.

Irish Club Sponsor and Career and Technical Education Teacher, Ms. Catherine Schroeder likes to listen to Irish music while completing daily tasks and throughout the day. She grew up listening to Irish music with her family, and listening to it now with her own family takes her back to when she was a child.

“You’ll hear Irish music most mornings while making breakfast for my kids,” Ms. Schroeder said. “I love Paddy Reilly and the Saw Doctors. I grew up listening to all kinds of Irish music and regularly listened to the Irish hour on the radio every weekend. I listen to Irish music and oldies music most often because it reminds me of great memories/times I have shared with my family.”

Although Cedeno doesn’t know anyone with the same cultural background in Park Ridge, she has been able to connect with her heritage through music. Not only does it bring Cedeno closer to her heritage, but also to her family.

“All of my family is from Trinidad, except for my sisters and me, therefore we’re surrounded by their music constantly,” Cedeno said. “It brings us closer together because the music is so extremely energetic and upbeat that it automatically makes you want to dance and feel happy.”

Although there are many influencing factors in teen lives, like social media or friends, cultural ties provide multiple foundations for universal connections.

“My music taste is absolutely influenced by my culture,” Brush said.

From stage to studio, Scimeca’s talent shines

Grace Halpert Entertainment Editor

Nicole Scimeca acted in her first show at only two and a half years old, playing Jane Banks at her aunt’s community theater. Since then, she has experienced a meteoric rise, as her talents have been showcased on Broadway, at the Steppenwolf, and in the film and television industries.

Scimeca began to audition before she was even in kindergarten.

“My sister started being interested in [auditioning], so I would just go on the auditions with her,” Scimeca said. “I started when I was three or four years old.”

Scimeca’s early work was primarily in print. She was featured in ads for iconic companies, such as Cheetos and American Girl.

“I did a lot of American Girl Magazines with the Bitty Baby [dolls],” Scimeca said.

Her first professional show was “The Sound of Music” at the Lyric Opera of Chicago, where she played Gretl.

Scimeca continued with professional theater, notably portraying young Anastasia, Prince Alexei, and a train boy in the original cast of Broadway’s “Anastasia.” Scimeca was only eight when the preBroadway show began, and nine when it transferred to Broadway.

Even with the pressures of Broadway, the cast and crew of Anastasia made sure that Scimeca could still be a kid. She would make up skits, create slime backstage, and do her youth supervisor’s hair.

“It was a blast,” Scimeca said. “It wasn’t even a job, it was just like having fun for two and a half hours every day.”

While on Broadway, Scimeca didn’t do traditional in-person schooling; instead, she was home schooled by her mom. She had a shorter school day to accommodate the schedule of her shows, but she was still learning the required materials.

“We would do three hours of school a day,” Scimeca said. “We were still following the curriculum of Roosevelt. I got the work from my teachers.”

Living in New York City allowed for Scimeca’s social studies schooling to be incredibly interactive and hands-on, given New York City’s rich history.

“We would visit [historical] places during the day,” Scimeca said. “We visited the spot where Alexander Hamilton was buried and learned more things about the Revolutionary War through experiences.”

Since her elementary theater experience, Scimeca has remained involved in professional theater: over the summer, she played Jo in the Steppenwolf original “Another Marriage.”

In addition to theater, Scimeca has worked in the TV and film industries. She portrayed Raeah Kirmani in Netflix’s show “Messiah,” Lainey Perry in the movie “Thrill Ride,” and was in a Season 3 episode of “Chicago Fire.”

“[Film acting is] a lot more subtle and a lot more real [than theater acting],” Scimeca said. “You have to be real for both, but theater is a lot more

character acting and a lot [more exaggerated].”

Aside from her acting talent, Scimeca is musically gifted as well. She has been picking up new instruments since she was just a little kid.

“I started with the piano,” Scimeca said. “I played Suzuki classical piano when I was a little kid.”

She later learned how to play the bass, guitar, and ukulele. Scimeca even started learning the drums this year.

“Music can create such emotion and make me so happy,” Scimeca said. “I love playing instruments because I feel so proud when I finally get that guitar riff or finally master that piano lick.”

She is also talented in the world of film and editing, having won several National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences awards for her work in WMTH, the broadcasting club at Maine South.

Scimeca blends her love of music and her talent in film and editing in an annual music video she makes to celebrate her birthday.

“I love making music videos—they’re my favorite,” Scimeca said. “Every summer I do a music video for my birthday because I think it’s so much fun.”

She stars in the video and her friends act as background dancers.

“It’s the perfect combination,” she said. “I get to learn a song on all my instruments, record it, make a music video, hang out with my friends, and celebrate my birthday. The best of all the worlds.”

Scimeca has created three birthday music videos so far: “Walking on Sunshine,” “I’m Still Standing,” and “I’ll Be There For You.”

Recently, Scimeca has been focusing on the performing arts at Maine South. She is currently in rehearsal to be one of the Leading Players in the upcoming Spring Musical “Pippin.”

As she continues to get older, Scimeca remains passionate about music and performance.

“I’ve been doing it for so long,” Scimeca said. “It’s just part of me.”

SIX GOING ON SEVEN Scimeca acts as Gretl in the Lyric Opera of Chicago’s production of “The Sound of Music.” Scimeca was only six years old during the show’s spring 2014 run.

IN THE SPOTLIGHT Junior Nicole Scimeca acts as Jo in the original play “Another Marriage.” The show ran from June 15-July 30, 2023 at the Steppenwolf Theatre Company.

PHOTO COURTESY NICOLE SCIMECA

The superiority of Spotify

With its clean user interface, ease of accessibility, and countless other features, Spotify has become the dominant streaming service for all music lovers-and it should be.

I was formerly an Apple Music user until I became increasingly annoyed with the continuous inconveniences I faced while I used it.

My issues began when I attempted to sign into Apple Music with my desktop computer at home and had to go through many obstacles just to access my account.

Since my computer was not an Apple product, every time I tried to sign in, I would be required to type in a verification code from my phone.

Not only this, but an email would be sent to me about a foreign login attempt.

This was worrisome because sometimes I would receive the notification randomly and would be unsure if it was me or someone else attempting to log in.

With Spotify, this is never an issue. Logging in is as easy as typing in an email and a password. This is something I am able to do on any device.

Spotify’s ease of accessibility is beneficial for those who own other kinds of devices besides iPhones.

My distaste for Apple Music was amplified when I learned that my dad was a Spotify user.

Out of curiosity, I navigated through the app and was amazed by the possibilities found within it.

Spotify’s algorithm creates playlists that are curated to your tastes. This allowed me to discover songs similar to ones I already like.

STUDENTS

A personal favorite feature is the Artists Radio playlists that accompany every artist on the app.

This feature makes it easier than ever to discover new artists similar to the ones I already enjoy.

The conveniences that Spotify provides don’t end there.

Other features such as the ability to like a song and have it be automatically sent to a liked songs playlist allow for a smoother user experience.

Furthermore, while listening on Spotify, there is an option where you can smart shuffle songs. This feature shuffles songs that the app thinks you will like along with the songs on your playlist.

This allows listeners to branch out of their comfort zones and discover new artists to expand their musical palette.

Even the ability to merely swipe to add a song to a queue was a feature I didn’t know I wanted until I began using Spotify.

Apple Music pales in comparison to the clean, convenient Spotify user experience.

Many Apple Music users may try to argue that Spotify and Apple Music are the same thing; however, even though they share features like live lyrics, curated playlists based on genre and similar song libraries, Spotify still comes out on top.

For example, Spotify allows you to add your favorite playlists, podcasts, albums, and artists to your library to save for easy access.

So, if you’re in the mood to listen to your favorite podcast or view your favorite artist’s discography, it’s all in the same, easily accessible place.

Additionally, another feature that Apple Music does not have is a free option for streaming music.

With Spotify, you can either pay for the premium version or you can use the free version with ads.

To use Apple Music, you must pay a fee of $10.99 per month for an individual plan.

While Spotify and Apple Music serve the same purpose, the creators of Spotify have paid meticulous attention to the little details of the app.

Because of this attention to detail, Spotify towers over Apple Music and is the superior music streaming platform.

STAFF

Emery Yates Commentary Editor

Perks of Being a Wallflower (2012)

This 2012 romantic thriller has songs that perfectly captures Charlie’s teenage angst, making it one of the best movie soundtracks. From the tunnel scene with “Heroes” by David Bowie, to the homecoming scene with Sam and Patrick dancing along to “Come on Eileen” by Dexys Midnight Runners, this soundtrack is truly iconic.

Guardians of the Galaxy (2014)

With its upbeat and dancable songs, this is the top soundtrack for any action movie. This soundtrack includes an incredible selection of ‘70s songs like “Cherry Bomb” by The Runaways and “Hooked on a Feeling” by Blue Swede, along with classics like “Ain’t No Mountain High Enough” by Marvin Gaye and Tami Terrell.

Project X (2012)

This 2012 comedy showcases some of the best party songs of the century. It has tracks that anyone can dance to like “Tipsy (club mix)” by J-Kwon and “Trouble on My Mind” by Pusha T and Tyler the Creator. When talking about Project X, you must mention the genius use of “Pursuit of Happiness” by Kid Cudi during the party montage.

The Breakfast Club (1985)

The movie is filled with songs that range from slow, like “Love Theme” by Keith Forsey, to upbeat, like “Fire in the Twlight” by Wang Chung. Also, this movie would not be what it is without “Don’t You (Forget About Me)” by Simple Minds, playing in the background of the final scene.

Baby Driver (2017)

This 2017 action movie is packed with some great songs. The movie is centered around music, so a good soundtrack was essential. It starts off with an intense high-speed chase to “Bellbottoms” by the John Spencer Blues Explosion. The sound track also includes songs like “B-A-BY” by Carla Thomas, “Harlem Shuffle” by Bob and Earle, and “Brighton Rock” by Queen.

Hayden Magad Commentary Writer

My First Concert

“Looking back on it, I think our seats were really good. If I’m remembering right, there was a catwalk from the stage and we were pretty close to that. We were on the floor.”

- Ms. Alyssa Hayden

“I think it was the perfect concert to be my first. I just remember being really excited, especially that my parents brought me along when I was so young.”

- Keira Lawrence

“My friend and I made our own concert t-shirts of New Kids on the block, and we had our side ponies and all the neon—just what you would expect from the late ‘80s/early ’90s.

- Ms. Melissa Dudic

“I remember two different artists performing: Evanscence and a violinist [Lindsay Sterling]. My dad and I are fans of Evanscence and the rest of my family likes the violinist, so we really enjoyed it.”

- James Macdougall

“I remember how amazing all the music was inside this beautiful historic place. I had never heard sounds like that before. It planted a seed at an early age to become a musician myself.”

- Mr. David Hutter

Ms. Alyssa Hayden and her friends were thrilled to rent a limo for the ride to see the Backstreet Boys in concert.

Concert

“I’m really looking forward to hopefully seeing this artist again. It was a great experience and I still listen to his music every day.”

- Tyler Washburn

“It was a family concert. All the family members were rocking out to the Beach Boys. It was something that we could all enjoy—that cross-generation connection.”

- Ms. Katie Kaye

“I play piano, so I remembered that he played lots of Mozart songs. I stayed and ate dinner with my dad at Symphony Center. They had a formal dinner for guests.”

- Adam Cywinski

“They had a very multi-generational following. The fans were of all different ages. They were the first rock band to play live with a symphony orchestra, so it was history in the making.”

- Mr. Stephen Schade

“I remember the energy was very fun— lots of young people and families. Everyone was singing along and just seemed really excited to be there.”

- Ava Kontuly

Whether you went as a child with family or waited hours on Ticketmaster for a chance at scoring tickets to the hottest show, everyone remembers their first concert. Students and staff reflect on their first live music experience.

Based on voluntary survey responses of 67 concertgoers

12%

of students’ first concerts were Taylor Swift concerts

The venues mu ic that define Chicago

Eliza Goldwasser Commentary Editor

2. House of Blues

Chicago is the home to numerous unique concert venues. Here are Maine South’s top five, according to a voluntary survey of 58 students.

1. Chicago Theater

With its fantastic acoustics and historic architectural features, the Chicago Theater is an iconic Chicago concert venue that is a favorite among Maine South students. Built in 1921 in the Loop, the theater has grown with the city. Popular performers like Aretha Franklin, Kelly Clarkson, Dolly Parton, and Van Morrison have graced its stage. Although the theater is currently thriving, it faced demolition in the 1980—only being saved by a nine-million-dollar restoration. We are glad it was, though, because it is an amazing place to see a concert. The grand staircase and lobby, along with the intricate murals on the auditorium’s ceiling create the perfect atmosphere for live music.

The House of Blues was founded upon the idea of “Unity in Diversity.” The Chicago location opened in 1996, and it has become a hub for music lovers of all ages. Located in River North, House of Blues is nestled beneath Marina Towers, another unique landmark in Chicago. If Southern-inspired food is your go-to, the House of Blues is the place to be, as it houses a restaurant and bar that deliver comfort-food favorites. Its auditorium houses up to 1,800 people, and it’s hard to find another venue with such an intimate feel, due to its small size and community-oriented entertainment selections.

3. Salt Shed

TheSalt Shed is the most recent addition to Chicago’s iconic venues, as it opened to the public in February of 2023. Since 1930, the Morton Salt warehouse has been a recognizable sight for commuters on the Kennedy. In 2015, after 85 years of serving the Chicago community, the warehouse shut down and developers jumped on the opportunity to develop a space where people can come together to enjoy music and other creative endeavors. The developers’ commitment to preserving the building’s architectural integrity has created a venue unlike any other. The Salt Shed offers both indoor and outdoor spaces where you can enjoy music during all four seasons. Outfitted with state-of-the-art sound systems, it is a great acoustic and entertaining venue.

4. Aragon Ballroom

Oncecalled “the most beautiful ballroom in the world,” the Aragon Ballroom has transformed in its nearly 100-year lifespan from a traditional ballroom to a roller skating rink to a boxing venue, and finally to the music space we now know and love. With the ceiling painted as the night sky and ornately carved balconies, it is a beautiful place to see a show. However, it is often referred to as the “Aragon Brawlroom,” as you’re packed in like sardines, which can lead to pushing and shoving. Also, since the venue is quite old, it has the tendency to get overheated given how tightly packed it is. However, for many, the venue is the place they grew up going to concerts at, and nothing can beat nostalgia.

5. Huntington Bank Pavilion

With its incredible view of the Chicago skyline, the Huntington Bank Pavilion is an amazing place to see music. Originally an airfield that was the victim of a midnight demolition, the amphitheater has grown substantially since it was first opened in 2005. It can now accommodate 30,000 people, and performers like Hozier, Dave Matthews Band, Conan Gray, Greta Van Fleet, and many others have played at this venue. The Huntington Bank Pavilion gives all the summer vibes—with cool breezes coming in off Lake Michigan and a sky full of stars on a clear evening. Located less than a mile from the Museum Campus, the venue is in the perfect location if you’re looking for a fun-filled day followed by spectacular entertainment and a breathtaking sunset.

ILLUSTRATIONBY ANASTASIA MUSYAKEVICH

ILLUSTRATION

Zach Bryan proves to be in top form at the ‘Quittin Time Tour’

social media many times, so when he announced he was performing it, the stadium went silent, and then burst out into applause afterwords.

The crowd started with great energy; however, once Bryan played his song “Nine Ball,” the atmosphere got even more electric.

The song was accompanied by the music video, starring Matthew McConaughey, playing on the big screen hanging above the stage.

Emery Yates Commentary Editor

Zach Bryan opened his “Quittin Time Tour” in Chicago on March 5 at the United Center. The tickets for this concert went on sale on Sept. 6, so for seven months, fans have been eagerly awaiting his arrival. Thankfully, it was well worth the wait.

Bryan had two opening acts. The first was a country music artist named Levi Turner. The second was a band called The Middle East.

Turner was a great choice for an opener as he has a very soul-filled voice that makes you want to sing along.

However, The Middle East was an odd decision. Their music was very mellow and did not suit a stadium concert.

In fact, when The Middle East announced that it was their last song, many people began to cheer.

Luckily, this did not dampen the mood when Bryan came on the stage at 9 o’clock.

From the opening note of “Overtime,” the whole stadium was on their feet ready to sing along.

Bryan started with some of his older tracks like “Open the Gate” and “God Speed.”

He also debuted his song “The Great American Bar Scene.” He announced to the crowd that it was the first time he had ever performed the song live.

Bryan had previously posted about the song on

However, the biggest moment of the night happened when Bryan brought out singer Kacey Musgraves.

They played their hit duet, “I Remember Everything.”

The song started with just Bryan on the stage, but midway through, Musgraves came walking out of the tunnel and everyone in the venue started cheering.

As this was the first night of the show, no one knew what to expect, but it was certainly not this.

Musgraves’ appearance made the song more exhilarating than it ever could have been.

However, the privilege of seeing Musgraves was only awarded to those who attended the March. 5 show. As this was the opening night it is expected that there would be some kind of surprise, but those who attended the March 6 and 7 shows were disappointed in the absence of Musgraves.

Bryan also played his hit song “Dawns,” which, for many fans, is how they discovered his music, making the performance of this song a spectacular thing to hear.

One of his final songs was his internet hit, “Something in the Orange,” a song that led to Bryan’s rise to fame in 2022.

The whole stadium was encased in an orange light throughout the performance, which added to

the warm summer ambiance of the song as a whole.

Finally, for his encore, Bryan played arguably his most famous song, “Revival.”

After finishing the initial song, Bryan began to introduce each of his band members.

After each member was introduced, they would do a solo, and the crowd would sing the chorus over again for each band member.

You could tell that the whole stadium didn’t want the concert to end as they were singing the lyrics with all their might; it was an almost deafening sound.

The concert ended around 11:15, so Bryan’s set lasted about 2 hours and 15 minutes.

It was a show packed with soul-filled music and an incredible atmosphere, leaving many fans saying that they will “Remember Everything.”

OPENING NIGHT Zach Bryan performs his bittersweet love song, “Tourniquet.” He performed three shows at the United Center from March 5-7.

Your 2023 Hawkify Wrapped is here.

One of the fun features of using Spotify is that it summarizes your listening data at the end of the year.

Here are Maine South students’ results, based on the voluntary survey responses of 90 students.

Top Artist

1 Taylor Swift

2 Green Day

3 Lana Del Ray

4 Nirvana

5 21 Savage Minutes Listened

20,000 - 30,000

Top Albums

1 Utopia

2 Stick Season

3 Lover

4 GUTS

5 For all the Dogs

Top Genre

Match the teachers and students to their

Most Listened to Song of 2023

Think you can guess the students’ and staff’s most-listened-to song? Take this quiz to find out!

How Far I’ll Go

After the Storm

Mr. Paul Bellisario

Loula Korovilas

5.

Ms. Leah Politi

3.

Mr. Kevin Stock

4.

Ava Amelio

Ellie Goulding

6.

7.

8.

1.

E.

Maeve Lawlor

Charles Havens

Mr. David Hutter

2.

THE MUSIC CROSSWORD

ACROSS

2/27/24, 12:24 PM

6. This music company pulled their artists’ music off of the TikTok platform.

9. This plays at Maine South football games after a touchdown.

11. The Chicago Blackhawks’ goal song.

14. This 2023 Maine South Spring Musical won Best Production in Illinois.

16. This artist skated onto the stage at Super Bowl LVIII.

17. This P-shape technology item is often a grave annoyance for teachers in class.

18. Pitchfork is one example of this kind of event.

19. A live performance from an artist or band.

20. This is often played before American sporting events.

28. The fandom-created name for a fan of female rapper Nicki Minaj.

Using the clues below, complete the crossword by filling in the boxes with all things music. E-mail a clear photo of your completed copy to southwords@maine207. org. The first person to submit will receive a Southwords t-shirt! Good luck!

Crossword Puzzle Maker: Final Puzzle

29. Singer Zach Bryan’s “Quittin’ Time Tour” made a three-night stop at this Chicago venue.

30. One of its many stages is called Perry’s.

31. Look back at this school year’s December issue of Southwords for our Grammy’s Best New Artist pick for 2023.

1. The most-viewed Super Bowl halftime performance headliner.

2. See page 9 for a hint on this green and black streaming service.

3. This song won Miley Cyrus her first-ever Grammy.

4. This tropical rock artist who penned “Cheeseburger in Paradise” passed away in 2023.

13. The seventh word in the Maine South Fight Song.

15. An international entertainment and music magazine with a “Hot 100” list.

23. This rhythm video game that was first released on the Wii requires players to match on-screen choreography.

21. This music genre (kind of) rhymes with Maine South’s mascot.

22. This popular musical premiered its movie trailer during the 2024 Super Bowl commercial.

24. The most populated section in the Maine South Marching Band.

25. Known as the “King of Pop.”

27. This rapper with a “directional” daughter was born in Chicago.

34. The best-selling band of all time.

35. Yearly recap of one’s Spotify statistics.

36. This Florence and The Machine song played during passing periods at Maine South this year.

38. An instance at award shows when nominees are “robbed” of an award.

39. Consistent recap of what one is listening to each month on Apple Music.

40. As of 2024, this artist is the moststreamed male artist of all time on Spotify.

Glinda in the “Wicked” Musical. 12. The last name of a famous singer Southwords has written about more than twice this year.

26. Three or more notes played

32. Song played by the Maine South band at the beginning of the fourth

33. This song debuted in the 2018 movie “A Star is Born” sung by Lady

37. A 1978 musical following two teenagers, Danny Zuko and Sandy Olsson, through their teen love story.

Student-athlete

HYPE SONGS

Kyra Demeros & Thomas Hurley Sports Editors

The right song choice before a critical sports competition can have a major impact on any athlete’s frame of mind, but which tunes are the best for the job? Eight Maine South athletes give their picks for the “hypest” songs in their playlist.

“Everlong” - Foo Fighters

Recommended by Charlie Migon

Instantly recognizable to football players for being played in the locker room before every game, Foo Fighters’ 1997 alternative hit emotionally fuels the team. “When I hear the guitar slash down and the drums in the intro, adrenaline flows through my body,” senior Charlie Migon said. “At only 20 seconds in, I feel as if I can run through a wall.”

“Blitz” - Destroy Lonely

Recommended by Jake Eckhart

Destroy Lonely’s ode to his financial success is a hyper-confident racing soundtrack for junior Jake Eckhart, who credits the song for giving him a good mentality. “It amps me up before a meet, workout, or really any big event I have coming up,” Eckhart said. “It’s one of my most listened-to songs and I can always count on it to improve my attitude.”

“The Pursuit of Happiness”

- Kid Cudi

Recommended by Natalia Rajchel

Combining Kid Cudi’s hip-hop roots with rock duo Ratatat’s electronic vibe and MGMT’s neo-psychedelic influences, this 2010 staple is recognizable for a reason. “The lyrics make me feel I will have a better performance,” freshman Natalia Rajchel said.

“Drunk in Love” - Beyoncé

Recommended by Karly Georgiopoulos

One of the most famous songs off of Beyoncé’s aptly named 2013 surprise album, “Beyoncé,” this pop banger incorporates mystic vocals, a catchy beat, and verses from Kanye West and Jay-Z. “It puts me in a good mindset and gets me excited to play out my match,” junior Karly Georgiopolous said. “It’s really upbeat and has a high energy.”

“All of the Lights” - Kanye West

Recommended by Olivia Skora

Although this track is part of Kanye West’s acclaimed 2010 album, “My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy,” 14 other artists including Rihanna and Kid Cudi contributed vocals on the track. The song has a distinct brass line and intense lyrics. “It always gets me ready and gives me energy right before I’m about to run,” junior Olivia Skora said.

“Skyfall” - Adele

Recommended by Sean Schermerhorn

While hype songs tend to be upbeat, production-heavy rock or rap classics, some athletes prefer a more cinematic feel, such as Adele’s pop ballad hit from the 2012 James Bond movie. “The dramatic build up of the song is the best part, in my opinion,” junior Sean Schermerhorn said. “It makes me feel like I’m in an edit.”

“Selah” - Kanye West

Recommended by Michael Glushkov

Other athletes put more emphasis on the deeper meaning in their hype songs. Kanye West’s 2019 Christian hiphop song, “Selah,” is one of these songs, rooted in church choir vocals and a military drum beat. “Many verses and stories from the Bible are referenced and serve as a reminder of a motivating force in my life,” junior Michael Glushkov said.

“Take Care” - Drake

Recommended by Julia Van Roeyen

This memorable club hit comes from Drake’s 2012 album of the same name. Powered by the hypnotic beat and Rihanna’s striking vocals, the track is immediately empowering. Its comforting lyrics bring an extra layer of confidence to the listener. “‘Take Care’ is easy to sing along to and gets me excited,” junior Julia Van Roeyen said.

Girls’ track wins 11-team Maine East Invite

Brianna Giustino Sports Editor

After a solid performance at the Nike Cabin Fever Invitational on March 2 where the girls’ track team placed third overall, both levels of the team won the Maine East Invite on March 8.

Senior Reese LaBorne set the school record for high jump, clearing a height of 1.62 meters.

“Ever since I found out about the record, it was something in the back of my mind that I had the potential to reach,” LaBorne said. “Once I’m outdoors with my spikes, I’m hoping that I can get to 5’6” to break the outdoor record [which is 5’4”].”

The team’s success at both invites was reflective of their hard work at practices. They follow a consistent practice schedule.

“At the beginning of the week, we do lots of hard workouts, so we can build up endurance and work on maintaining running form when we are tired,” junior Josephine Hennes said. “Then, on days before meets, we work on specific skills and have less intense practices to get our bodies ready to run their best.”

The team practices collaboratively to refine their relays, but athletes also get feedback from coaches to help them improve their individual events.

“The practice environment is always very positive,” LaBorne said. “We love to talk and make practice fun while also improving our skills and growing as a program.”

The girls especially enjoy track meets due to the healthy mix of competition and motivation.

“My favorite thing about track is that there are so many different events to showcase each individuals’ strengths,” Arcuri said, whose winning time in the 3,200 was 11:10. “I have the opportunity to compete in many different events as low as the 400 all the way up to the two-mile. I love to race in the 4x800m relay and the 4x400m relay as well.”

At the beginning of the season, the team persevered with the process of finding a new coaching staff. Even though they didn’t have a permanent coach at first, the girls stayed positive for the time being. This January, Coach Sam Johnson started her first season as the girls’ track coach.

“At first, I was hesitant about having new coaches because I loved the old ones so much, but our new coach, Coach Sam, is an amazing coach and has helped so many of us improve our times with hard workouts and lots of encouragement,” Hennes said. “She knows what my teammates and I are capable of and pushes us to our full potential.”

The team and coaching staff work to make sure the practice and meeting environments are positive and

encouraging for everyone. They do this by motivating one another at practice and meetings. This allows the team to be closer and create friendships with each other.

In fact, this connection is one of the key parts of the sport.

“My favorite thing about track is all my teammates,” junior Kate Dunleavy said. “There is no better feeling than when you’re running a race and you can see and hear all your friends cheering you on.”

Boys’ track in preparation for outdoor season

Thomas Hurley & Alex Jackiewicz Sports Editor & Sports Writer

Theboys’ track team competed at the Nike Cabin Fever Invitational, where they placed 13th out of 17 teams overall. Four individual athletes—senior Conor Foley, juniors Owynn Garrelts and Sean Schermerhorn, and sophomore Niko Kokosioulis—won their respective events. Kokosioulis broke the indoor sophomore record for the 200-meter dash by half a second.

Although meets are already happening weekly, many athletes on the team view the indoor season mostly as a time for self-improvement, not necessarily the fastest times.

“For me, indoor is just a warmup for outdoor,” senior Conor Foley said. “The end goal is to test my fitness before the outdoor season starts. Foley placed first in the 800 meter run—roughly half a mile—with a time of 1:58:52. This time ranks him tenth in the state of Illinois.

“The indoor season is the time for

athletes to work to get better at whatever event they do,” junior Owynn Garrelts said. He won the 3,200 meter run, which is about two miles long, with a time of 9:36.15.

While some athletes see indoor racing as an introduction to the outdoor remainder of the season, it creates some unique challenges.

“During the indoor season, you’re more restricted, and it’s hard to move around the track, so usually times are a lot slower,” sophomore Niko Kokosioulis said. He broke the sophomore indoor 200 record at 23.49.

Despite the challenges of running on indoor tracks, runners are able to improve their times and prepare themselves for the outdoor season by strategizing within the race. Particularly in long-distance events, pacing is critical for performing well.

“I usually don’t try to take the lead early in the race,” Garrelts said. “I start off by running in the middle of the pack. Then, I move up to the front group and hold on for almost the entire race until the last lap. At that point, I just give it my all, outkick the

front runners, and beat them.”

At the Cabin Fever Invitational, Garrelts followed this methodology closely.

“After the first lap I was around fifth or sixth place, but I started to move towards the front of the pack after the first mile,” he said. “I cruised behind two other guys up to 400 meters to go and ran to the front.”

In shorter events like the 4x400 meter relay, there’s no time to wait.

“When the race started, I quickly got up to my maximum speed and held it for about 100 meters,” Schermerhorn said. “By the last 100, I was in second place, but I was right behind first, so I sprinted again and was able to barely overtake the other runner.”

Besides having a race plan, runners depend on team support.

“Seeing other guys do well is the best motivation for me,” Foley said. “I’m motivated by some of the younger or newer runners, who have had huge PRs even this early in the season. It’s cool to see how fast people improve when they really start train-

ing hard and enjoying the sport.”

“Coach Kacprowski is a huge motivator for the team,” Schermerhorn said. “He pushes every athlete to their best and won’t settle for anything less. But Kacprowski isn’t the only motivator; everyone on the team supports one another.”

Coach Kacprowski looks forward to the outdoor season as much as his team.

“I can’t wait to see how great the late-season payoff will be from all the hard work the kids have put in thus far,” Coach Kacprowski said. “This group of 125 track athletes is constantly working, constantly moving forward, constantly improving.”

Other runners find more drive from within.

“My motivation mostly comes from wanting to give it my best effort at every race and practice,” Garrelts said. “As long as I give it my all, there’s no point in being disappointed in my performance.”

The indoor season will wrap up at the CSL indoor track conference meet today, March 15.

GET AIR Senior Reese LaBorne clears the bar at the Hawk Relays meet on Feb. 16. Less than a month later, on March 8, she would set the indoor school record in high jump at 1.62 meters, approximately 5’ 4”.

PHOTO COURTESY EYRIE

Athlete spotlight: Teddy Flores earns state title

Katie Johnston Sports Writer

Senior Teddy Flores has made history in Maine South’s wrestling program. After a 48-1 season, Teddy ended the season by winning the State championship in the 120-pound weight class, becoming the most-decorated wrestler in Maine South history.

Flores is the first wrestler from Maine South to win a championship state title since Tom Neusus won 56 years ago.

Flores’s journey has been long but very rewarding. He wrestled for all four years at Maine South and was a state qualifier for three of those years. He had been training for over a decade and his hard work paid off through his accomplishments this year.

“I am super grateful and it was an unbelievable journey,” Flores said.“I started when I was six, and have been

wrestling for pretty much my whole life.”

Throughout his high school career, he has been a three-time varsity captain, while being on varsity all four years. Flores was All-Conference four times, and won Conference and Regionals three times. He won Section als and qualified for State twice, earning All-State honors both times.

Besides his individual accomplishments, Teddy has led his team to numerous victories during the regular season.

Flores attributes his success to his training and will power.

“I started winning bigger matches and gaining confidence be cause I was training harder and wrestling better,” Flores

Four boys wrestle at state

Katie Johnston Sports Writer

This season the boys’ wrestling team sent four competitors to state, including senior Teddy Flores, juniors Luke Morrison and Tyler Fortis and sophomore, Gavin Hoerr.

With four wrestlers having gone to state, Head Coach Kevin Hansen, is unbelievably proud of his boys. Senior Teddy Flores won the state championship for his weight class.

“Teddy earned that award and worked immensely hard to get good enough, and then accomplished that goal,” Hansen said.

After this success, The boys wrestling team was able to look back on their achievements, and intense practices in order to acknowledge their hard work all season long.

Morrison was proud of his performance this year and aims to return to the state tournament next year.

“I always learn from matches and try to keep my goals strong,” junior Luke Morrison said.

The team often keeps their eyes set on their goals, which helps them stay on track. With this in mind, the captains implemented mandatory lifts every morning.

“The practice environment is really tough,” junior Jack Handley said. “We all work hard and work towards our goals.”

said. His teammates, such as junior Luke Morrison, another State qualifier, have expressed how much of an influence Flores has had on his wrestling career.

“He is the best and a great sparring partner,” Morrison said. “He has taught me more than anyone else.”

fan for a long time and have always wanted to go, but I didn’t want to wrestle in college at first,” Flores said.

His mindset changed after he started seeing his successes grow and becoming a serious competitor in his weight group.

The wrestling culture has grown significantly this year. Both the coaches and wrestlers are working hard to create a legacy. The program hopes to create the same success that happened this year in the years to follow.

“Our main goal is to repeat what Teddy did, and prepare our wrestlers to be state finalists,” said Hansen.

Not only has the growth of the program become visible, wrestlers have noticed an increase of their own abilities.

“You don’t have to be a stud your freshman year to do well,” Morrison said.

Teamwork in the wrestling program is also a key part of the culture. The boys use each other both as support and competi tion.

“My teammates kept me humble and helped me keep my composure,” Fortis said.

The influence of the team members mentor ship will be necessary to be successful in future years. They all strive to support one another

“There is a lot of po tential for the next decade with all the younger wres tlers, we all just need to con tinue working hard,” Morri son said.

Flores will be wrestling at the University of Michigan in the fall. He committed earliering offered a spot at his “I have been a Michigan

“I knew it was the only place that I wanted to go. I committed immediately after they offered,” Flores said.

As Flores leaves Maine South, he leaves a legacy of greatness behind him.

“I have wrestled so long and yet it is still hard to believe that someone from your school can win State,” Flores said. “But I feel that winning State shouldn’t be hard to believe anymore and should be a goal for the team.”

SWEET VICTORY

Mazurek wins state race

Kyra Demeros & Thomas Hurley Sports Editors

Atthe IHSA state meet on Feb. 24, senior swimmer Dominic Mazurek placed first in the 50 free, second in the 100 free, third in the 200 free relay, and eighth in the 400 free relay.

“Dominic’s talent is undeniable, but his legacy will be related to two things that I think are much more significant: his hard work and motivated mindset that encouraged everyone around him,” Coach Donald Kura said.

By the end season’s end, Mazurek held eight school records. Additionally, he was an eight-time AllState and nine-time NISCA All-American athlete.

“Dominic was one of the best teammates and genuinely one of the nicest young men to be around,”

Mr. Kura said. “His contributions to the Maine South program and how he is perceived around the state is a testament to the person he is day-in and day-out.”

To celebrate his achievements, Mazurek was invited by the mayor to receive an official proclamation from the City of Park Ridge.

“It was an awesome opportunity for me to be recognized from the city for something I did in the pool,” Mazurek said.

The journey to get to State can be physically and mentally exhausting for athletes, but he did not let any adversity get in his way.

“The hardest part is the mental battle with myself, whether fatigue or nerves,” Mazurek said. “I overcame it by just tuning out my head and focusing on the fundamentals that I have been practicing all season.”

This success will leave a lasting impact for Mazurek and boys’ swim and dive.

“The legacy that Dominic will leave to future swimmers is multifaceted and impressive,” Mr. Kura said. “Dominic will graduate as the most decorated athlete in the history of the Boys Swimming and Diving program.”

As Mazrurek reflects back on his four years in the boys’ swim and dive program, he remembers the highlights and memories with his teammates. He hopes that when he graduates, he will have left a legacy.

“I want to be remembered as dedicated, positive, and a team player,” Mazurek said. “I hope my teammates learn the value of hard work, sportsmanship, and teamwork from me.”

Teddy Flores raises his arms in victory after earning the state title on Feb. 17. Flores defeated Jason Hampton from Joliet Catholic Academy.

CHAMP Senior Dominic Mazurek smiles after swimming the 50 free. His time of 20.21 earned him first at the state meet on Feb. 24.

March 15, 2024

Vol. 60, no. 5

Babakhani looks to connect with community

Charlotte King News Editor

The District 207 Board of Education has approved Dr. Antwan Babakhani as the next principal of Maine South. Dr. Babakhani has worked in education for 19 years and is currently an Assistant Principal of Student Services at Niles West High School.

Dr. Babakhani’s work in education began as an English teacher. After obtaining a master’s degree in reading, he went on to become a reading specialist and discovered his passion for educational leadership.

“I realized that I love working with my peers and adults to help improve the teaching and learning conditions,” Dr. Babakhani said.

After earning his PhD in educational leadership, Dr. Babakhani stepped into his current role at Niles West.

At the start of the hiring process, there were 42 applicants. Interviews consisted of three rounds, including both online and in-person meetings with different hiring committees.

While some might dread the intense

process, Dr. Babakhani found it to be beneficial.

“It was super rich because through the questions, you got to see the mindset, hopes, and dreams of administrators, teachers, support staff, and students,” Dr. Babakhani said.

Along with his wealth of experience, Dr. Babakhani was selected for his natural connection to the school’s community.

“I think that all of the different focus groups, which consisted of parents, students, teachers, and administrators, were able to connect with him,” incoming superintendent Dr. Tatiana Bonuma said. “They felt that he would be a good listener and that he would be highly involved in the school community.”

Despite not officially starting until this summer, Dr. Babakhani has already begun immersing himself in the Maine South community. Recently, he attended the incoming freshman activites fair, where he was able to meet many current students involved with clubs and athletics, as well as future students.

This mindset has resonated with the administration, only confirming their confidence in the decision.

“In the short time that I have known him, he’s really somebody that will put his 500% into continuing the great things at South and continuing to improve things and make it better,” Dr. Bonuma said.

Dr. Babakhani’s experience in education has taught him the importance of understanding each school’s unique community.

“The most important thing any leader can do in the first year is don’t come in with an agenda and don’t think you’re going to change anything,” Dr. Babakhani said. “Come to understand the people, learn, and see what you can do to support.”

“My first day is officially July 1, but my philosophy is if you wait for your first contractual day—you’re behind,” Dr. Babakhani said. “To me, right as I’m closing things out at Niles West, my mind and my heart are fully here right now.”

This process is especially important to Dr. Babakhani.

“I am excited about learning and listening genuinely,” Dr. Babakhani said. “I want to know all of our students in all of their capacities, in classrooms and hallways, and more.”

Pittges leaves lasting impact with his positivity

Samara Lefler News Editor

OnFeb. 6, senior Devin Pittges passed away after a lengthy battle with cancer. He was known for his cheerful attitude, even through his health challenges.

Many in the Maine South community remember his positivity.

“I taught Devin last year in Computer Science Intro as well [as AP Comp. Sci this year], and he was always the type of person who was happy,” math teacher Mr. Guccione said. “He never came into a class without a positive attitude.”

Devin’s peers also admired his welcoming persona.

“Devin always had a bright energy and smile, and he had a great sense of humor,” senior Tyler DeMott said. “He was always easy to talk to and could get along with everyone.”

In addition to his optimistic attitude, Devin cared greatly about his family

and others around him. He was close with people at Maine South, especially his counselor, Ms. Diane Spillman.

“I think the fact that we were able to spend 20 minutes just sharing stories about our pets exemplifies my relationship with this kid,” Ms. Spillman said. “All he wanted to do was be a normal

kid. It’s who he was; he just wanted to be the regular kid that came to Maine South.”

Devin also greatly impacted his teachers.

“He was a super classy individual and he was one of my favorite people that I’ve known at Maine South over 20 years,” English teacher Mr. Garrett Fechner said. “He’ll truly be missed.”

As a student, Devin liked learning and helped others when he could.

“He was a little bit of a mentor to some kids, and I know some particular kids in [class] would always value his help, even sometimes over me,” Mr. Guccione said.

Devin had a close relationship with other students, especially in his Chinese class, as they stayed together as a group for multiple years.

“Devin was the heart and soul of our Chinese class—he made us a community,” senior Brendan Owens said. “I enjoyed coming to school every day

just for that class and Devin was the one who made it enjoyable.”

“Devin always brightened my days at school,” senior Jack Haley said. “Just coming to class and seeing his smile always made me happier. His positivity was contagious.”

Teachers and students alike looked forward to their interactions with Devin. He enjoyed sports and talked about them frequently.

“He didn’t have a class before mine, so every day, he would be 10 minutes early to my class and we would just sit there and talk,” Mr. Fechner said. “Usually, it was about the Bears, and he knew what he was talking about.”

Devin found joy in whatever he was doing and has inspired many in our Maine South community.

“It’s so sad that a boy died so early in life, but it was just so amazing to watch him live because he really lived life to the fullest,” Ms. Spillman said. “He will be tremendously missed.”

1111 S. Dee RoaD • PaRk RiDge, illinoiS 60068

PHOTO CREDIT EYRIE

PHOTO CREDIT DISTRICT 207

PRINCI-PAL Dr. Babakhani was selected as Maine South’s next principal. His impressive experience and natural connection made him stand out among applicants.