FRANK LAFFERTY:
A LEGACY
1949-2017 Late RHS Wrestling coach Frank Lafferty passed away Feb. 15 after a hard fought battle with pancreatic cancer. Read pages 8-9 to learn more about the lasting impact Lafferty made on RHS.
THE
TALON ROCHESTER HILLS, MI // MARCH 2017 // VOL. 79 ISSUE 6
PAGE 2 || NEWS
THE TALON || MARCH 2017
NEWS BRIEFS:
4.
1.
Photo by Patrick Jordan
Photo courtesy of Creative Commons
1. RHS
2. RCS
3. STATE
4. COUNTRY
5. WORLD
When RHS students return from spring break this year, the SAT won’t be the only news around school, as the school will begin to shift its construction to new areas in the building. According to Principal Neil DeLuca, the construction takes a shift after spring break. “[After Spring Break] we are expecting the new band and choir room to open up,” said Mr. DeLuca. “The Media Center will be closed down, but we will service students in C001.” He adds, “The current band and choir room will be closed for demolition, [also] the athletic weight room will be nearing completion.” Mr. DeLuca says room C001, located by the the Media Center, will act as the temporary Media Center while the real one is under construction. Mr. DeLuca commented on the initial plan for Rochester during the summer as well. “This summer will be a blitze. The following Wednesday after we leave for summer, the whole school will be closed. I won’t even be able to get in.”
Authors in April is coming up for the elementary and middle schools, featuring authors Mike Wohnoutka for kindergarten and first grade readers, Lenore Look for second and third graders, Cynthia Lord for fourth and fifth graders and Neal Shusterman for middle schoolers. With a visit from the authors themselves, the schools have been participating in activities and reading centered around the authors’ books. Ms. Jaclyn Facca, first grade teacher at Brooklands Elementary, is a member of the “Rules Task Force”, a group of teachers and RCS staff working to spread awareness for disabilities in the community, based on Cynthia Lord’s book “Rules.” “This task force has been planning wonderful events and activities around RCS for about a year,” Ms. Facca said. “I have mainly been involved with bringing autism awareness to our K-5 students in a classroom simulation activity.” Each author brings something different to the children. “K/1 students have a very talented author/illustrator this year,” Ms. Facca said. “His books are humorous and show a lot of heart.” Brief by Lauren Karmo
On March 15, President Trump visited Michigan for a meeting on bringing back car production to the country. During the roundtable with auto-industry executives, President Trump discussed building new plants in Michigan, bringing back jobs to the country, as well as his feelings on the Obama Administration’s EPA standards. Senior Mary Murphy discussed her thoughts on Trump’s announcement. “I think I’d like to see more action, because usually you just see him talking about [policy] and then just signing something behind closed doors,” senior Mary Murphy said. For Murphy, the past executive orders and execution of policies by the Trump Administration has led to some distrust. “No one knows what [his policies are] about,” Murphy said. “I want to see his cabinet being more open and telling us how they’re going to bring back jobs and how they’re going to improve the economy.”
Congress is set to vote on a new GOP health care bill that will repeal the Affordable Care Act on Thursday, March 23, 2017. The Republican Study Committee is concerned that the bill will not get the 216 votes needed to pass due to the fact that the bill still has many changes to undergo. “You’re looking at some of the top conservatives in the House,” chairman of the Republican Study Committee Martin Walker told reporters. “We stand united today to move this forward for the American people.” The Bill that is lead by speaker of the House Paul Ryan is still undergoing changes. However, some people, inclduding junior Sophie Handley are skeptical that the bill will pass, even after the changes are applied. “I definitely don’t [think the Bill will be successful] because they changed the prices of [healthcare] just so the rich could get tax cuts,” Handley said. “In doing that, they took away some aspects of the plan that were good for poor people.”
A landslide tore through an Ethiopian landfill on March 11. Unfortunately, many people called the Koshe landfill home located right outside the country’s capital, Addis Ababa. Hundreds resided in makeshift homes among the city’s trash. The landslide not only took citizen’s homes, but also many of their lives. “It’s scary to think that this disaster could happen out of nowhere,” said sophomore Avneet Aulakh. “I feel bad for the people the landslide impacted.” Many people believe that citizens should not be able to live in such a dangerous location under the Ethiopian government’s watch. “The government has the responsibility to make sure their people are house in safe conditions,” French teacher Mrs. Archangeli said. The Ethiopian government has proposed a $120 million plan to turn the landfill into a source for clean energy in an attempt to clean up the area and focus on taking proactive measures. “When a tragedy like this happens it is important for us to do what we can to help,” sophomore Ashley Adiwidjaja said. “After all, we would want help if it was the other way around.” Brief by Elizabeth Bulat
Brief by Patrick Jordan
Brief by Ninotchka Valdez
Brief by Carly Craig
THE TALON || MARCH 2017
PAGE 3 || NEWS
NASA DISCOVERS NEW PLANETS The TRAPPIST-1 system sets records in space exploration
The TRAPPIST-1 system is as small in size as the distance between Mercury and the Sun, making it in danger of being struck by solar flares or intense radiation.
TRAPPIST-1A, the star this solar system centers around, is a red dwarf located only 39 light years away from Earth.
Trappist-1D
Trappist-1E Trappist-1F
Trappist-1C Trappist-1B Trappist-1A
ANGELA MAMMEL FEATURE EDITOR
At the forefront of space exploration, NASA recently discovered seven Earth-sized planets in orbit of a single star called TRAPPIST-1 outside of the solar system, marking the largest observed system of “exoplanets” in history. Located 40 light years away in the “habitable zone,” these planets have the possibility of supporting life due to their temperature and proximity to the red dwarf star. To continue uncovering facts about this new planetary system, telescopes on the ground, as well as space telescopes, plan to search for molecular activity and light wavelengths around them that could point to further discoveries about life outside of the solar system as a whole. “Because of their placement in…the habitable zone within proximity to the stars, finding water and life, by extension, on these exoplanets is definitely a possibility,” physics and astronomy teacher Mrs. Ortman said. “[NASA] is using data from all different forms of satellites and telescopes to discover these planets, and the next step is using another telescope that’s out in
Trappist-1G
Compared to Earth’s 365 day year, TRAPPIST-1E, F, and G’s years last 6, 9, and 12 days, respectively.
space to detect the elements that are indicative of life such as helium, methane or nitrogen.” TRAPPIST-1, named after the telescope used to merely study the star at the center of this planetary system a few years ago, is an ultracool dwarf, with a temperature around 5,000° F lower than our sun. Although scientists originally thought it best to search for exoplanets around sun-like stars, leading to a discovery last year of an Earth-like planet orbiting the closest star to our solar system, the bright nature of these stars made it difficult to see the extent of planets surrounding them. However, the dim light exuding around TRAPPIST made it obvious that masses would block the star at very frequent calculated times per day, leading to the utilization of hightech space telescopes to map and discover seven new planets. As technology such as these telescopes continues to advance, scientists progressively learn newer methods of making these groundbreaking discoveries about the universe outside of our solar system, much to the excitement of outer space enthusiasts like senior Gabi Rodriguez. “It’s very interesting to learn about the universe,” Rodriguez said. “I think this discovery is
one step closer to finding the confirmation of other exciting new concepts in space like life on other planets, or even other systems of planets like the one that was just found.” As NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope prepares to go into launch to study the infrared wavelengths and atmospheric makeup of the TRAPPIST-1 planets to test if life could be found upon their surfaces, many begin to make conjectures as to if they believe this life is possible. “These planets might be life-supporting because they may have the resources we need for life such as water, oxygen, a steady temperature or other life-supporting elements that could spur the growth of microorganisms,” junior Gita Kattimani said. “I think the existence of these substances on other planets is possible, but I won’t rule out the possibility that it won’t happen; it could go either way.” The discovery of so many exoplanets at once marks a groundbreaking period in the study of the universe, and the research methods used in the study of TRAPPIST-1 and its planets will continue to aid in future scientific findings.
Trappist-1X Photos courtesy of Creative Commons
“[The discovery of TRAPPIST-1] is one of the greatest discoveries in astronomical history- it’s the equivalent to us realizing that we have eight planets in our solar system or that those planets revolve around the sun,” Mrs. Ortman said. “Now, however, we’re realizing there are new planets that exist outside of our solar system, which will lead to the discovery of even more exoplanets in the future as technology progresses. This breakthrough is also important due to the technological advancements it will cause, creating a better future for science as a whole. “I think this discovery is fairly groundbreaking because it opens up new possibilities for science that will only continue to grow in the future,” Kattimani said. “I think it’ll inspire new growth in technology, as well, so that space crafts can travel to examine that distance from a closer point of view than ever before- if all works out perfectly, we may even be sending humans to these planets.” Many, such as Rodriguez, hope that this discovery and the inevitable discoveries to come will inspire people to go into scientific fields of study and be involved in testing even bigger hypotheses
about the inner workings of the universe. “It’s going to encourage more people to get into the science of the universe and space and going into NASA,” Rodriguez said. “People will be more interested and aware of what’s going on because of the huge news of this discovery, they may even be inspired by this and work to a goal of discovering more interesting questions about the universe for themselves or with their teams in NASA and space exploration.” Mrs. Ortman also hopes this discovery will inspire young people to go into astronomy, and recognizes that massive breakthroughs such as the discovery of these exoplanets provide information to study in many areas of scientific research. “I hope that inspires more people to go into science, especially astrophysics and the study of space sciences in general,” Mrs. Ortman said. “This impacts all fields and disciplines of scientific study, as well, because it involves geologists understanding what the planet is, chemists discovering what elements make up its atmosphere, and biologists understanding the life forms on it. So whatever field that kids go into, it’s going to impact them in some way or another.”
THE TALON || MARCH 2017
PAGE 4 || NEWS
NATIONAL WOMEN’S HISTORY MONTH March Honors Female Accomplishments KATHRYN CHATMAN STAFF WRITER
Since 1987, the month of March has
been recognized as National Women’s History Month. What started out as simply International Women’s Day expanded to a week, and now the entirety of March is a celebration of not only the accomplishments women have made in the progression of their own rights, but also in the betterment of society. “National Women's History Month is important because it's important to recognize the women before us who have rallied, protested, and fought for the rights we have today,” Junior Alexa Luttrell said. “Recalling our past leads us to focus on what's best for our future.” English teacher Ms. Julie Kuslits identifies as a feminist because she feels that a woman should not rely on others to “steer her course.” According to her, it's important to recognize women’s achievements that are often overlooked. “There are not enough women in history books. [In the] Oscar-nominated film ‘Hidden Figures,’ I didn’t know about those women,” Ms. Kuslits said. “Those kinds of things need to be on display, and I think that we need to have more focus on the achievements and contributions of all people, not just white males.” Each year, the current U.S. president proclaims March the national month to commemorate Women's History. For 2017, President Donald Trump commenced the month by declaring that Americans “will continue to fight for women's rights and equality” in and outside of the U.S. Overall, Ms. Kuslits defines such women’s rights as the access to the same opportunities as their male counterparts. “Women's rights include having the ability to be the best you can be, and to have your government and laws supporting you, and that attempt to find success,” Ms. Kuslits said. “Women’s rights would be being able to make decisions about your own body, to have no limit on your earning capacity [and] your educational opportunities.” For Lutrell, women’s rights are defined as not simply equality, but also equity. “Women should be treated fairly in comparison to men,” Luttrell said.“For example, equality would mean that men and women would have the same reproductive rights, which doesn't make much sense. Equity means no matter what gender you identify as, you are treated fairly based on the circumstances you are faced with.” The first wave of the feminist movement
TAYLOR SIMMONS STAFF WRITER
in the U.S. is dated back to the late 19th century, when women recognized the importance of having a voice in politics, in order to guide the policies and legislation that affected them. “The most important events in women's history to me are all the times women stood up for simply being a woman, like Susan B. Anthony and Carrie Chapman Catt, who were huge with the struggle for women's voting rights,” junior Bridget Reynolds said. For senior Hunter Cremen, who “most definitely” considers himself a feminist, one of the most significant events in female history is one that suffragists passionately advocated for a century ago. “One of the most important moments in women's history is when they obtained the right to vote, because it brought them one step closer to equality and was a major historical victory,” Cremen said. For Ms. Kuslits, pivotal moments in women's history include times when women made strides in breaking the glass ceiling. “[Important events] would be the first vice-president candidate, Geraldine Ferraro; the first female candidate for president, Hillary Clinton; the first female Ceo’s of fortune 500 companies and the first female presidents [of companies],” Ms. Kuslits said. “Some of my favorite writers [wrote] where mostly men were published in the past. Not that many people know it but there are female poets that had to publish under a pseudonym for a male because otherwise they wouldn't get published.” After the first wave of feminism ended with the passing of the 19th amendment, a second wave came about during the civil rights era of the’ 50s-’70s, under which the crucial Roe v. Wade case granted women reproductive rights over their own bodies, and the Equal Rights Amendment became a discussion. Now, there is a third wave of feminism that focuses on tackling the unfair expectations for women in society, such as rape culture, slut shaming and body image. “Feminism is about progress, and although it is true that much progress has been made on the topic of women's rights over the years, feminism will not be put to an end until women are not viewed as less than men,” Luttrell said. “Many people, men and women both, grow up with internalized misogyny that leads them to believe that women are the weaker, more fragile and overall [the] lesser sex. We can put an end to this by teaching young girls and boys that women are worthy of the same respect,
recognition and rights as men are.” Modern day feminism not only focuses on diminishing destructive social constructs that are placed on all genders, but also on solidifying the efforts of previous movements, such as eliminating the wage gap and getting women more involved in STEM careers. “Women still are faced with the glass ceiling. Too few women are tenured professors. Too few many make the same amount as men. I think all of those things leave room for improvement,” Ms. Kuslits said. “[Also] when women speak they need to be listened to and valued just as much as their male counterparts. And I think for the most part we’re making great strides but I do worry about the future.” In regard to challenges, Reynolds agrees with this sentiment. “Challenges we face are unfair pay and opportunities given to us. We are looked at as a weaker gender but that’s not the case. To overcome it would to be change everyone's mind, but that won't happen because people form opinions and keep them,” Reynolds said. Current female exemplars include women from all backgrounds and communities. One of Lutrell’s favorite females leaders is Beyonce, who advocates for for women, people of color and the LGBTQ community, as well as promoting self-expression. Reynolds enjoys actress Emma Watson’s outspoken opinions. Some influential women in Cremen’s life have been RHS teachers Mrs.Pierce and Ms. Burke. “I think influential women find a happy balance between raising a family, and a fulfilling career. I don’t want to come across as a feminist who is anti-men, anti-marriage, anti-family, anti-establishment. You can be a really influential woman and have a good balance in all of those areas,” Ms. Kuslits said. “Influential women are also good role models for young girls. I do think someone like Michelle Obama right now is someone who really impresses me as an influential woman.” Cremen believes that modern feminism is important because there are still several obstacles keeping women from equality. “Feminism is still relevant today because women are still not entirely equal to men. Issues like the wage gap are still roadblocks, but with enough people supporting gender equality these issues can be fixed,” Cremen said.
Thomas Paine In his essay ‘An Occasional Letter on the Female Sex,’ Thomas Paine, one of the United States’ founding fathers, wrote: “The husband...indulges himself in idleness, and devolves upon his wife the whole burden of his domestic affairs. He disdains to assist her in any of those servile employments. She...is seldom permitted to have any conversation or correspondence with him.” This explains how women’s roles were unfairly limited to compliancy with her husband’s demands, a view that was far beyond his time.
Coretta Scott King While most may know her solely as the wife of late civil rights activist Martin Luther King Jr., Coretta Scott King was an established activist in her own right. She aided in founding the National Organization for Women, which advocates for women’s reproductive rights, ending violence against women and the rights of minority and LGBTQ communities. She even hosted one of NOW’s first conventions. King was also a leader in the Civil Rights Movement, and made in effort to make sure African American women were not excluded from the campaign for rights.
Eleanor Roosevelt The wife of President Franklin D. Roosevelt, Eleanor Roosevelt was the first woman to extend her duties as First Lady past simply hosting dinners and balls. Before her husband took office, Roosevelt was involved in organizations such as the International Congress of Working Women, dedicated to women’s labor issues, and the League of Women Voters, which advocated for women’s suffrage. Roosevelt also wrote a newspaper column topics addressing topics such as female employment and career opportunities, female involvement in war, and equal rights.
THE TALON || MARCH 2017
PAGE 5 || FEATURE
CHARTER SCHOOLS
Debate heats up over various school choices ZIPPY TILLER
STAFF WRITER Charter schools are becoming increasingly popular across the country. The new Secretary of Education Betsy Devos and her family, who are from Michigan, have been instrumental in the increased development of charter schools in Michigan, which are known to have more lax oversight laws. When it comes to this heated debate, many people know either nothing about charter schools or have very strong opinions. Emotions tend to run high with the charter school versus public school debate due to the fact that some believe charter schools take away from public school resources. Public educators are one of the groups that share strong opinions. “I think charter schools in some instances have done some good things, working with specific target groups and what not,” Language Arts teacher Mr. Frank Gollon said. “The problem is that sometimes they are more interested in making money than educating kids.” PACE Academy principal Mrs. Jamila Whitaker, however, has a different viewpoint on what they are doing for children’s education. “Charter schools offer parents and students a choice in their educational process,” Mrs. Whitaker said.“Charter schools tend to offer lower class sizes, more ability for individualized education and a more stakeholder centered environment.” The real question many parents and educators have is whether or not charter schools are truly benefitting their children’s education. “Charter schools are not confined by the limiting structures of bureaucracy that many traditional public school districts have to contend with,” Mrs. Whitaker said. “This freedom allows charter schools to implement
innovative practices and offer students and parents opportunities in learning they would not necessarily receive from their neighborhood schools.” However, these freedoms do not necessarily soothe Senior Mariam Kaakarli’s fears about charter schools. “I just don’t like the idea of them because it mostly benefits the privileged, at the sacrifice of those who can’t afford it,” Kaakarli said. “It segregates education based on socio-economic class. In cities like Chicago, that leads to resegregation between different races, where ethnic minorities have statistically lower incomes.” Kaakarli’s fear of resegregation is not too far fetched. 56 percent of charter school students across the nation live in the city, or more urban areas, and two-thirds of the charter school population is nonwhite. “It’s the idea that you have schools that are in rough shape in a lot of the urban areas so it’s easier for them to come in and give the impression that we can do much better,” Mr. Gollon said. “But as they’ve seen in Detroit, the charter school results have been equal to or below public schools in Detroit.” Mrs. Whitaker agrees that these schools, too, often cannot provide their students with adequate resources and opportunities. However, she does point out that they offer an alternative to the local public school. “If a poor family by district rules is confined to the neighborhood school that is performing poorly but there is a charter school across the street that offers smaller class sizes, fine arts education, and extracurricular activities (that the traditional public schools in urban areas many times don’t offer) that provides them an alternative that the district is not willing to give,” Mrs. Whitaker said. Another gripe that mainly public educators have with charter schools is that they are not always held to the same
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standards as their public counterparts. “When you have public schools being tested one way and charters being exempted from testing, then you’re given an unequal playing field,” Mr. Gollon said. Often, charter schools are compared to public schools in the absence of an equal playing field. “Plus charter schools don’t have to release their test results, so in terms of comparison to standard public schools, if you dont know how the charter school is actually performing that’s where I see a problem,” Mr. Gollon said. Nevertheless, Mrs. Whitaker says that charter schools are held to the same, if not higher, standards than public schools. “Charter schools, in my opinion, are held to an even higher standard because we have several entities that have expectations that we have to meet,” Mrs. Whitaker stated. Mrs. Whitaker feels this question of accountability put on charter schools is not accurate or fair. “I think it is a major myth perpetuated by traditional public schools that we are not held to the same standards,” Mrs. Whitaker said. Whether a person believes charter schools are beneficial to children’s education or not, the reality is that the number of charter schools across the country is rapidly growing. More than three million students are educated through charter schools. Texas, California and Florida have some of the fastest growing charter school populations in the country. Parents and public educators should expect that number to keep growing, especially with Betsy Devos as the new Secretary of Education. Mrs. Devos is a huge advocate for school of choice. It is likely she will try to implement and create more successful charter schools during her four year tenure.
Charter Schools by the Numbers
2,519,065 Number of the total public school enrollment charter schools acccount for
50%
Percentage of students that attend charter schools in Detroit only perform as well or worse than Detroit Public Schools
513,400
Found in California, this is the largest number of students enrolled in largest school
60%
Drop in percentage of Detroit Public Schools enrollment from 2015 to 2016
Charter Schools Pros and Cons Pros
Cons
1. Gives parents and students more of a choice/ more flexible
1. More focused on making profits than children’s education
2. More specialized attention/courses
2. Go after target groups, so aren’t really a “school for all”
3. They foster innovation
3. Aren’t held to the same standards as public schools
THE TALON || MARCH 2017
PAGE 6 || LIFESTYLES
SPRING BREAK STAYCATION TAYLOR GARBER STAFF WRITER
Read a new book
Relax/catch up on sleep
Everyone has that book they’ve been wanting to read but have been so busy with schoolwork that it can’t be read. Pick it up and start reading! Take a break from hanging out with friends or away from technology and enjoy the lost art of literature. If you need author suggestions, check out J.K. Rowling, Mark Twain, Virginia Woolf, Maya Angelou, or Jack Kerouac. Look at some different genres and pick a book that seems best fit for you.
After winter and midwinter break, students need to catch up on sleep and relaxation. Get the app “Headspace” and try it out once a day for 15 minutes to meditate and relax. You could also go to sleep really late watching your favorite show and sleep in - you don’t have to wake up to an annoying alarm.
Visit the Detroit area
Go to a museum
Go to downtown Detroit and be a tourist. There’s so much to do in Detroit - explore, eat at nice restaurants, and go shopping. Make the most out of the city and even take some pictures to look back on.
Depending on what you like, whether it be art, science or history, visit a museum. Popular museums near the Rochester area include the DIA, Charles H. Wright Museum of African American History, Michigan Science Center, Museum of Contemporary Art Detroit, or Henry Ford Museum.
Take pictures
Movie marathon
Head to a park or out in nature and take pictures. Whether it be of yourself, friends, family or nature, use your phone or camera to shoot some memories that you don’t want to forget. When you’re bored over break, you can take a second look at the pictures, edit them, and post them on social media to show the world your photography skills.
Get a bunch of friends together or even do it alone; have a movie marathon night! Watch Netflix on your bed or make a fun blanket and pillow fort in your living room and watch what you’ve been putting off viewing Some shows and movies to check out include “Stranger Things”, “Santa Clarita Diet”, “Man Men”, “The Giver,” or “The Fundamentals of Caring.”
Road trip
Explore a new city
Go for a two or three day trip somewhere up north or to a nearby state and just sight see. Frankenmuth, MI has beautiful sights and shops, and Great Wolf Lodge in Sandusky, OH is a huge indoor waterpark you can visit if you want to enjoy the water. Get a few friends together and just drive around if you want to go for an adventure - cruise on the highway and stop at places that seem interesting.
Don’t stay in Rochester or the areas super close to it - go explore! Head to Royal Oak, Birmingham, or Ann Arbor and explore their downtown areas. Grab some nice food or go shopping and wander through the streets of an unfamiliar city. Take in the new sights and sounds, and enjoy the moment.
Photos courtesy of Creative Commons
PAGE 7 || LIFESTYLES
3 BEAUTY DIY’S LAUREN ALISON
Instructions: Have out a couple of clear nail polish bottles. Take any type of eyeshadows, colors or pigment- it does not matter, as long as the eyeshadow is not intended for any future use. Take the nail polish and scrape it into a baggie. Once the eyeshadow is in a baggie, start to crush up the eyeshadow into a fine powder; any clumps will make it more difficult when mixing. Funnel the eyeshadow out of the baggie with a sheet of paper, and put it into a bottle of clear nail polish. Once the powder is in the nail polish bottle, shake the bottle until the nail polish is completely mixed in, and then the nail polish is ready!
Thoughts: The nail polish itself was pretty fun to make. Other than having fun making the actual product, this DIY was pretty much a dud. Once all of the powders were mixed in, the nail polish was kind of hard to apply. The eyeshadow can’t be perfectly mixed in when the mixing process only consists of shaking a bottle. Because of this, the pigment can be pretty uneven. One of the main negatives of this whole experiment was trying to take the nail polish off. Having tried many nail polishes in my life, taking off the eyeshadow polish is the equivalent to taking of glitter polish, which is next to impossible to remove. Not only was it difficult to take off, but it was also a very messy removal. The eyeshadow seemed to separate and proceeded to get all over my hands. Overall, buying nail polish seems a lot easier and does not cost much more than making it yourself. Between buying the bottles of clear polish and the eyeshadow, this DIY can be just a much money as the regular stuff. If there is a certain color that you want that just isn’t on the market, then this is fine, but for everyday use, this is just impractical and unnecessary.
Instructions: In a small mixing bowl, add your honey or agave and then mix in the olive oil. Slowly mix in the brown sugar, which will act as the exfoliant in the lip scrub. Once the brown sugar is mixed in, add in the vanilla extract. Mix everything until it is thoroughly combined. One the mixture is complete, pour the mixture into the small container for any later use. To use the lip scrub, place it all over the lips and scrub it in with your fingers and rub your lips together a little bit. Once done, you can either lick the scrub off or wipe it off. Use your favoite lip balm to finish it off.
Thoughts: This scrub was fairly easy to make and had little clean up. It also smells really good. At first, when mixing the olive oil and honey together, the mixture smelt really bad, and I was kind of worried that it would be disgusting. Once the vanilla was added, the scent became very strong and overpowered any of the olive oil smell. The scrub itself worked fairly well. I was a little skeptical at first, mostly because the scrub was a little more watery than what I am used to, but it actually did get the job done. I made this scrub with two other people, and they also really liked it. My lips felt free of a lot of dead skin, though definitely not all of it. Once the scrub was taken off, my lips felt pretty dry, but after some lip balm was applied, everything felt smooth enough. I went into this feeling kind of skeptical, mostly because I use and love the lip scrub from Lush, which is the popcorn one. I have to say that though this DIY scrub worked, I do like the Lush scrub better. Overall, it worked, and if you have all the ingredients and want a lip scrub, then this is perfect. It just isn’t as great as the Lush lip scrub.
Instructions: If you have a lot of hair or long hair, double the recipe. Combine all of the ingredients and either whisk or blend them together. In damp hair, spread the combination throughout evenly and thoroughly, while being mindful of the ends. Once the mixture is spread throughout, tie your hair up and cover it in either a shower cap or saran wrap. Let your hair set for about 30 minutes to an hour. Once the specified time has passed, wash out your hair with shampoo and conditioner. Because there is oil in this, it might take more than once wash to get it completely out.
Thoughts: I have heard a lot about how egg is supposed to be very good for your hair, so I decided that I would choose a mask that had egg in it to test if it really worked or not. The mask was easy to make, though coconut oil can be kind of messy to work with. It also took a minute to separate the egg yolk from the whites. Once all of the ingredients were mixed together the paste looked gross, and was a bright yellow. The application was easy enough, and the wait time was short, being only 30 minutes. I actually kept my mask on for about 45 minutes. The washing out of the mask is actually the hardest part of the whole process. I shampooed my hair about three to four times and noticed the next day that there was still a little left in one part. This mask worked great. My hair was soft and had hardly any tangles, which is something I deal with every time I straighten my hair. Lately I have also been having a lot of flyaway hairs, and this mask seemed to calm those down a fair amount as well. Overall, this mask worked great. I have done just coconut oil masks before, and I have to say that this mask worked better. I guess that the whole egg thing is true.
COPY EDITOR
Nail Polish Supplies: Clear nail polish, eyeshadow, baggies and a sheet of paper.
Lip Scrub Supplies: 2 tsp of brown sugar, ½ a teaspoon of honey, 1 tsp of olive oil, ¼ teaspoon of vanilla extract, and a container
Hair Mask Supplies: 1 egg yolk, 2 tbsp of coconut oil and 1 tbsp of honey.
THE TALON || MARCH 2017
PAGES 8-9 || SPORTS
THE TALON || MARCH 2017
F R A N K LAFFERTY: A LEGEND
REMEMBERING
COACH LAFFERTY “One of my favorite moments with coach is this one time after I destroyed this kid on the mat throwing him around like a rag doll, I would go ask him for any criticism and he said, ‘Paul you’re too strong don’t hurt me’ with a joking smile and he gave me a butterscotch candy.”
A tribute to the late wrestling coach OLLIE NAJAR OPINION EDITOR
Paul Leo, senior
LAUREN KARMO SPORTS EDITOR
On Feb. 15, Frank Lafferty, varsity wrestling coach of 12 years, passed away at age 67 after a hard-fought battle with pancreatic cancer. His loss was felt by his student-athletes, colleagues, friends and community members. He is remembered as a well respected coach by his peers, a strong mentor to his athletes and a caring friend to those with whom he was close. His legacy as a wrestler and coach will succeed him, with 38 state qualifiers, 25 all-state wrestlers, three district titles, one regional championship, and a 223-165 record, as well as getting inducted into the Rochester Athletics Hall of Fame last year, being named 2013-14 Regional Coach of the Year, and being inducted into the National Wrestling Hall of Fame in May. He will be missed. Economy teacher and friend of Coach Lafferty, Mr. Erik Vernon, explains the impact the loss has had on the team. “It’s been tough but the kids have handled it well,” Mr. Vernon said. “He was such a great influence and father figure for many of the kids, especially the seniors, that his presence is missed.” The team has been struggling with the loss of their coach, and the athletes have been very supportive of one another as they go through this hard time. “After he passed away it was very very rough for the next couple days,” senior Christian Nguyen said. “When they called all of the wrestlers down the news was brought out to everyone who didn’t know already. Obviously everyone cried, but it made us closer as a team. Family is the number one quality of our team and Coach Lafferty taught us that.” While lamenting the loss of Coach Lafferty, many remember him fondly for his humorous and caring personality, as well as the lasting impact he has had on their lives. Nguyen recalls his coach’s favorite qualities.
“Along with his record and amount of state wrestlers, I think one of his greatest achievements is how he influenced so many people,” Nguyen said. “Everyone loved him, and the fact that he was so influential made everyone try to become a better person. No matter who you were, you’d always show him respect because of how awesome he was. And he’d do the same to you.” Coach Lafferty’s legacy will live on. Senior Paul Leo comments on how he has affected and touched the lives of those around him. “It has been rough on the whole wrestling community,” Leo said. “So many people have either coached/wrestled with and for him. Trying to replace Lafferty will be near impossible, his program will always continue to be alive though.” Talk of replacement for Coach Lafferty has been limited, however, many agree that it will be difficult to find someone up to par with the late coach, and an inevitable adjustment will be felt by wrestlers in upcoming seasons. “When it comes to filling in his shoes I believe that it will be a very difficult task,” Nguyen said. “Not only in technique that needs to be taught, but also adjusting to a new coach. It’s gonna be hard for future wrestlers to adapt to the new environment
that the new coach brings, as well as adapting to the coaching style of the new coach.” The imminent prospect of a new coach, while necessary, is something most are not looking forward to. The loss of Coach Lafferty has really hit hard for many wrestlers, and he is greatly missed. “It’s more lonely almost,” sophomore Gabe Hurst said. “It’s harder. But wrestling ended short after, so it’s not as big. But next season, it’ll be way different. [To replace him would be] impossible in my opinion.” Mr Vernon shares that despite the loss of the coach, the team will continue preparing for next season, with off-season conditioning starting in the middle of March. “We have great leaders on the team, and they have made sure that we continue to practice, train, and act the exact same way Coach Lafferty would have wanted,” Mr Vernon said. Nguyen reminisces over what he will take with him from the experiences he’s had with with Coach Lafferty. “I’m gonna miss his personality the most,” Nguyen said. “He was a very loving and funny man and he would always know how to lift your spirits up. Having Coach Lafferty in the room would always make the atmosphere a thousand times
“Everyone loved him, and the fact that he was so influential made everyone try to become a better person. No matter who you were, you’d always show him respect because of how awesome he was. And he’d do the same to you.” Christian Nguyen, senior
better. He was always just a happy go lucky guy, but also a very intense and serious person come practice time.” Mr Vernon also remembers Coach Lafferty fondly for the memories and good times they’ve shared. “I had the privilege of working with Coach Lafferty for 10 years,” Mr Vernon said. “It was a great experience. He was a great man and a great mentor. He brought a lot of great life experiences with him and had an awesome perspective on life. He has made a huge impact on my life and my career. I am going to miss him incredibly, but I am very happy to be able to call him a friend.” Coach Lafferty always tried to be there for his wrestlers and friends, and that is a quality most remember dearly. “[He was a] great man,” Hurst said. “Whenever you needed him, he was there. He always supported you and he was a great guy in general.” Many wrestlers saw Coach Lafferty as more than just a coach, but as a friend, role model and father-figure who cared for his team with a full heart. “Coach was such a caring, passionate person,” Leo said. “He never gave up on anyone and always saw everyone’s potential.” The legacy of Coach Lafferty will live on beyond the mat. The lessons and life experiences he taught will stick with those he shared them with. “Coach Lafferty has taught many people other than wrestlers how to care for others,” Nguyen said. “He always made you laugh and he knew how to make people better and see the good in them. He always said, ‘It’s hard to love someone you don’t like, but that’s the beauty of life.’ Coach Lafferty made loving people look easy.”
“When he would tell his stories, which were highly inappropriate for anyone that wrestled ever. They were funny for the room. It’s kinda what made him our own.” Gabe Hurst, sophomore
“I was expected to lose [my first district tournament match junior year] but came out on top in the end. I could hear everyone cheering me on, including Coach Lafferty. At the end when my hand was raised, I saw him smiling and cheering and when I walked over to him he was just super ecstatic that I won.” Christian Nguyen, senior
PAGE 10 || ENTERTAINMENT
FAVORITE OLD TV SHOWS
THE TALON || MARCH 2017
Students discuss their favorite old TV series MAGGIE ROEHLING BUSINESS MANAGER
The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air “This is my favorite old show and I like to watch it with my older brother,” senior Charlie Ward said. “The first time I watched it was with him on a Saturday morning. We bonded over Reese’s Puffs and ‘Fresh Prince’. I love this show because it’s funny, but it also tackles real world problems. Throughout the show, Will’s uncle teaches him how to be a man, because he never had a dad growing up. I like the very last episode of the show because it moved me to tears. It was a very emotional ending to a great show. The TV show also has an iconic theme song, which is very catchy.”
“The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air”, which first aired in 1996, is about a street-smart teenager from West Philadelphia who gets sent to move in with his rich aunt and uncle in Bel-Air.
Drake and Josh
Full House
“It’s fun to watch Drake and Josh get into shenanigans, and it was the base of my childhood,” junior Brit Botkins said. “My dad and I used to watch it together and I made a lot of friends in high school over the fact that we both love ‘Drake and Josh’. I also used to watch it with my cousins because I love them and it was fun to share that experience together. The show is really relatable. My favorite episode was when Drake and Josh dressed up like Irishmen and talked weird and spied on their little sister Megan while she was on a date. They talked and acted really weird and it was funny to see them act that way in a movie theatre, and say made-up words that made literally no sense.”
“It’s my favorite old show because I like how innocent and family-based it is compared to today’s kids’ TV shows,” senior Cate Bennett said. “I discovered it with my older brother one day and we used to watch it together on Saturday mornings before breakfast. It brings back memories of my younger years and what my life used to be like as a child, because that’s when I watched it the most. It’s about a huge family living under one roof. Basically their two uncles and their father raise the daughters to be strong women. My favorite memory of the show is when Michelle sticks up her thumbs and says, ‘You got it, dude!’”
w
The old-school Nickelodeon show, “Drake and Josh”, is about two step brothers with opposite personalities.
First airing in 1995, “Full House” is a comedy that revolves around Danny Tanner, his brother-in-law, and his best friend, as they raise his three daughters.
Spongebob Squarepants
That 70’s Show
“My favorite old TV show is ‘Spongebob Squarepants’ by far,” senior Nair Ali said. “My brother and I used to watch it everyday after school. I didn’t have all the TV shows when I was in elementary school, so I would always watch ‘Spongebob’ at my friend’s house. I like the show because it makes me feel like a kid again... it makes no sense sometimes, it still humors me. The show has a lot of adventures, and you’ll never get bored of it. My favorite episode of ‘Spongebob’ is the one where he got sick and wasn’t himself, but then he finally went to the doctors after being scared of it. There, he got used as a sponge to clean things and he ended up being well again and loving the doctors.”
“‘That 70s Show’ is my favorite because it’s so funny and they’re all really good friends who go on crazy adventures together,” junior Sophie Handley said. “It’s fun to watch couples like Michael and Jackie interact because their relationship is so funny and weird. Also, Eric, Fez, and Donna are amazing and so funny, like the things they do and the way they act make me and my friends laugh every time. They all just goof around and go through life and learn lessons. My favorite memory of the show is when Donna thought that Eric was cheating on her with this other blonde girl and she went into the restaurant where they were and caused a huge scene when actually Eric was being faithful.”
“Spongebob Squarepants”, the series about a loveable sponge, follows the adventures and endeavors of Spongebob and his group of friends in the underwater city of Bikini Bottom.
Originally airing in 1998, “That 70s Show” follows the lives of a group of teenagers living in Point Place, Wisconsin from 1976 to 1979.
PAGE 11 || ENTERTAINMENT
BEAUTY AND THE BEAST
THE TALON || MARCH 2017
The live-action remake of the Disney classic delights audiences ANGELA MAMMEL FEATURE EDITOR
Movie theaters across the world are abuzz with Disney magic as the live action remake of the classic story of “Beauty and the Beast” is finally out in screenings. Featuring
Emma Watson (“Harry Potter”) in the iconic role of Belle and Dan Stevens (“Downton Abbey”) as the Beast, the talented and starstudded cast made the beloved tale come to life through this colorful reanimation. Set in France in the mid-1700s, the widely-cherished film follows an outcasted young woman named Belle as she wishes for adventure, and finds it when she daringly trades places with her father after he was captured by a beast. When Belle begins to explore the castle she is now hostage in, the personified objects within it tell her of a curse that has been put upon them which transformed their once-human
figures into such furniture until a spell is broken. Although the beast treats Belle harshly near the beginning of the movie, as they spend more time together, a heartwarming love story emerges between them and breaks the curse, and Belle learns to look beyond the surface of those she meets for the beauty that lies within them. Although some entered the theater skeptical of Disney’s new wave of live action remakes, this movie absolutely proved to be worth the price of admission. Through including a brilliant new score by Alan Menken on top of all of the beloved songs from the original, the remake brought the animated movie to life perfectly, as well as adding even more magic to the story. Songs such as “Evermore”, a ballad near the end of the movie about the beast’s fear that he will never see Belle again after he sets her free,
added depth and emotion to the story, drawing viewers into the narrative even further. The movie also included an incredible number of special effects in an attempt to bring the magical story to life, and the charming use of these effects during scenes such as the iconic “Be Our Guest” number, wherein the enchanted objects of the castle prepare Belle an extravagant dinner, filled the hearts of the many Disney fans who have grown up with this story. The part in the beginning of the animated classic where the beast’s curse is explained through illustrations of stained glass was completely re-imagined in live action for the remake, adding yet another factor of excitement to the movie for those who know the story by heart, and helping the cartoon translate to this new medium in a wonderful way. Although all of the acting in the film was perfectly executed, one of
the criticisms this movie has drawn is the prevalent auto-tuning of Emma Watson’s voice during most of the songs- the tinny quality to her voice caused by this editing detracts from the immersiveness of the story to an extent. In addition to this, Disney widely publicized that Lefou, the villain’s sidekick, would be their first gay character, but far too much media attention was focused on this, as the “gay moment” they had built up for weeks occurred at the end of the movie and only lasted for a second or two. Seeing a childhood favorite spring to life in a reimagined fashion on screen is an experience like no other, and although it had its flaws, due to the amount of nostalgia and Disney magic it exuded, the movie receives a 4.5/5 star rating.
THE TALON || MARCH 2017
PAGE 12 || OPINION
LITERACY
Reading has greater effects than many would think LAUREN ALISON
COPY EDITOR
It’s a beautiful spring day. The birds are chirping, the sun is shining and the weather couldn’t be better. Taking advantage of the spectacular weather, you decide to go to your favorite spot at the park, and maybe even make a small picnic out of it. The only thing that would make that day better is your favorite book. According to a study conducted in August 2016 by the U.S. Department of Education, National Institute of Literacy, 14 percent of the U.S. adult population cannot read. This does not necessarily mean that they cannot read at all, but simply read below a basic level. Though these people still have some semblance of an ability to read, that is still not something people should be okay with. On a much more global scale, there are about 775 million people who are illiterate or close to being completely illiterate. A number like that should be very troubling. Though that is roughly around 10 percent of the world population, that is still around 8 million people who cannot read, which is more than the populations of the U.S., Canada and Mexico combined. Think about it- that is the entire North American continent and then some. There are some people who would ask why proficient reading is so important. Isn’t reading at a basic level enough? The answer to that question is no. While it is great that people with a basic understanding of reading can interpret signs, menus and letters in the mail, there is a lot more to life than being able to get by without any true grasp on anything more than what surrounds you everyday. Reading can have numerous benefits that many people would not expect. Take stress, for example: a 2009 study done by the University of Sussex found that by monitoring participants’ heart rates and muscle tension, it took participants just six minutes to start to relax once they had started reading. Another huge benefit of reading is its ability to sharpen the mind. According to The Official Journal of the American Academy of Neurology, people who engage in mentally stimulating activities, such as reading, both earlier and later in their life, experienced slower memory decline. For people who don’t often mentally engage themselves, memory decline was experienced 48 percent faster than the average group. Other benefits include greater empathy, better writing skills, vocabulary expansion and stronger analytical thinking skills, just to name a few. Without semi-proficient reading skills, a number of negative side effects can indirectly occur. There have been numerous studies that have linked poor reading abilities to prison. According to the Literacy Project Foundation, three out of five people in prison can’t read, and 85 percent of juvenile offenders have problems reading. Along with criminal problems, there is a clear link between literacy and welfare. Three out of four people on welfare can’t read. It has also been found that 20 percent of Americans read below the level needed to earn a living wage. Poor literacy rates lead to more crime, fuller prisons and more people on welfare, which can often cost tax payers money. It has been estimated that approximately $20 billion is shelled out by taxpayers because of illiteracy. In order to increase literacy, people need to want to read. Reading for pleasure is something that is important to literacy as a whole. If someone is being forced to do something, then it is probable that any effect it could have had would not resonate with that person. The same goes for reading. If someone is forced to read a book, it is likely he or she will not take the time to actually listen to the words or learn a lesson from it and hopefully try to grow from the experience. According to the Pew Research Center, the percentage of people who do not read a single book in a year has risen from 8 percent in 1978 to 23 percent in 2014. That’s not to say that books are the only form of reading- there are other forms such as short stories, poems and magazines, but the benefits in between differ. Informative articles, stories, biographies and informational texts all expand the mind in different ways. Some of the things that all of these forms have in common is their abilities to expand vocabularies, incite better analysis and expand general knowledge. No matter what form of reading takes place, it will always have a positive impact on the mind. Maybe mix it up a little bit sometimes. Novels aren’t for everyone. Many people have short attention spans and that is understandable. If novels aren’t what click because they are too long, then read a short story. There is always an alternative. In a day and age where everyone wants instant gratification, reading has become a little out of date, mostly because it seems as though nobody has any time these days. Nobody is constantly doing something twenty-four-seven for 365 days. There are always 30 minutes here or an hour there. Take a little time out of the day to read. It doesn’t have to be for hours on end, just a chapter here and there is fine. March is the month for reading, so go find a great book and read!
THE FACTS 21%
OF AMERICAN ADULTS READ BELOW A 5TH GRADE LEVEL
70% OF
PRISON INMATES ARE FUNCTIONALLY
ILLITERATE 19% OF HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATES CAN’T READ
13% OF UNITED STATES ADULTS CAN’T READ
1 IN 4 CHILDREN IN AMERICA GROW UP WITHOUT LEARNING HOW TO READ
Who reads more, men or women? Roughly 50% of Women read
36% of men read
PAGE 13 || OPINION
THE TALON STAFF Adviser: Mrs. Facca Editor-in-Chief: Ninotchka Valdez Copy Editor: Lauren Alison News Editor: Carly Craig Feature Editor: Angela Mammel Lifestyles Editor: Amanda Capaldi Entertainment Editor: Makenzie Shubnell Opinion Editor: Ollie Najar Sports Editor: Lauren Karmo Design Editor: Morgan Gallagher Business Manager: Maggie Roehling Staff Staff Staff Staff Staff Staff Staff Staff Staff
Writer: Kathryn Chatman Writer: Grace Crites Writer: Taylor Garber Writer: Marissa Neely Writer: Patrick Jordan Writer: Taylor Simmons Writer: Tori Wendt Writer: Zippy Tiller Writer: Bianca Mow
THE TALON POLICY The Talon is the official student publication of Rochester High School. We are now available both in print and online editions. Check out rochestertalon. com, @rhstalon on Twitter, @falconsofrhs on Instagram and like The Talon on Facebook for more great content. The print edition of The Talon is issued monthly during the school year and is devoted to the interest of the student body, parents and alumni of RHS. The Talon strives to create a publication that is informative, entertaining, accurate and professional. The mission of The Talon is to accurately, truthfully and professionally report on events and issues that are of interest to the student body, entertain readers and serve as a valuable archive of the happenings of the school. The views expressed in The Talon are those of the staff or individual staff writers and do not necessarily represent the views of the administration. The editors encourage communications and reactions from students, alumni, parents and friends of the school. All communications must be signed, but signatures may be withheld from publication upon request. The Talon values feedback from the community on its articles and other media. However, we maintain the right to censor inappropriate dialogue in comments.
MEMBERSHIPS
STAFF EDITORIAL:
THE TALON || MARCH 2017
Are Charter Schools Superior? The desire for alternatives to traditional public schools has been addressed in various ways. A rise of homeschooling sprouted most significantly in the 1970s, but on top of that, charter schools arose as a concept. Charter schools, which recieve state funding, but they are different from both public and private schools in many ways. They are schools funded by various organizations, along with the state, that encourage the focus of the charter school, as well as the parents of the pupils attending the school. The question is whether or not charter schools are actually more effective than public schools at helping students achieve specific learning targets. Charter school supporters argue that these schools have more flexibility because they are not bureaucratic institutions. They may offer smaller classrooms, often with more staff than students, making a more intimate learning experience. Some charter schools also claim that they are better funded for the arts, such as band, choir and art. They also argue that charter schools can prioritize specific departments as they see fit, setting their own curriculum and distributing the funding accordingly. On the other hand, others point out that there is limited data to support that charter schools are superior to or help students any more than public schools. Many people are also concerned about the education offered by schools that may not be monitored closely enough by the state. The concept of privatized schools can be viewed as unconventional as well, with the idea that a “good citizen” should participate in the nation’s bureaucracy and trust the system established. Charter schools gained popularity in urban areas due to the underfunding of public schools in inner cities. Families searching for more options sometimes look to charter schools to ensure their children get a good education. However, it is difficult to measure and monitor the success of charter schools. Because charter schools vary so much from state-to-state, according to the Center for Public Education, there are not many major studies that have been able to fully evaluate their overall effectiveness. In a staff poll, 12 Talon members believed that charter schools were not more beneficial than public schools, while three voted that they were more beneficial. Regardless of the bias of having a staff of all public school students, it is evident that charter schools are not viewed as more advanced or impressive to most Talon staff members. In the eyes of parents, decisions about the education of their child are major, and one can understand the concerns some have with public schools, so looking for other options is fair. However, the lack of information or organization towards the foundation of charter schools raises questions. Public schools are well organized and have thousands of dedicated staff members. Although charter schools have more freedoms in some ways, it does not necessarily mean they have a better organization or curriculum for their students. Also, many charter schools are run by for-profit institutions, so questions arise about their concern for the success of the students. There is also very little information that can support the claim that charter schools educate students better than public schools. In that perspective, charter schools are not more effective than public schools.
“I think charter schools are a different option for education, they don’t have an impact on the success of a child.” Maggie Roehling, senior
“In theory charter schools are a good idea for education options. However, I believe that charter schools in reality are poorly constructed.” Morgan Gallagher, senior
“Charter schools are not successful oftentimes; our focus needs to be on fixing the public education system.” Carly Craig, senior
PAGE 14 || SPORTS
MORGAN MICHAUX:
THE TALON || MARCH 2017
A long skate to the World Championships MAKENZIE SHUBNELL
ENTERTAINMENT EDITOR Since the age of eight, junior Morgan Michaux has held an avid passion for figure skating, and has been consistently working to achieve her goals. Her years of hard work and dedication have been leading up to the moment when she and her team would be able to compete in the ISU World Figure Skating Championships, and on Feb. 25, they knew they would be able to do just that. Skating has been a part of Michaux’s life for years now; however, it wasn’t always a competitive sport for her. “I was originally on a team at the Onyx called Phoenix, and then they didn’t have a high enough level for me, so then I ventured over to Dearborn and they had higher level teams for me to extend my skating career,” Michaux said. “I skate out of the Dearborn Ice Skating Club, or DISC, in Dearborn with the Crystallettes. This will be my third year with [them].” Now that she has found a home with her new team, Michaux is hard at work training on and off the ice. Coach Holly Malewski works with Michaux in the majority of their training. “As a team, they train 11 hours on ice, five hours off ice per week,” Malewski said. “Individually they are required to do a minimum of four additional on ice sessions and five workouts a week. Their individual sessions are monitored by reporting a time stamped photo to our team ‘GroupMe’ app.” Michaux spends a lot of her time working on technique, new
routines and even specific skatebased workouts for competition. With Worlds being in Colorado Springs, the team will start specified training techniques to prepare for the competition. “Actually, we have to do like altitude training and stuff, kind of start that now, so we do intervals, which is like three minutes of hard skating and then one minute rest,” Michaux said. “So for 12 minutes you have to go nonstop and that helps build up your stamina. We normally only do that like one day a week, but now we have to do it on our own time, too.” This updated training schedule has
everything to do with the team’s involvement in the ISU World Championships, and the event alone has caused a shift in training. However, they didn’t always know they were going to compete. “Personally, the season has be beyond challenging and rewarding,” Malewski said. “In the beginning,
we took 10 skaters that had never competed at this level. That is 50 percent of our team. We knew it would take a special group, willing to make personal sacrifices and hold themselves and each other accountable.” Of course, while goal setting is important, the Crystallettes make sure they make the most of the road to Worlds count with inspiring routines and a close-knit team. “The journey, for me, is the same as it is for the team,” Malewski said. “We have all enjoyed the climb. We play the song in the locker room at every competition before we skate. It inspires us. Our short
THE FACTS
program, ‘Lean on Me’, started as a tribute to my sister and co-coach, who battled breast cancer last season. In the end this program had a personal thumb print to each skater on the team.” This season in particular has been especially important, considering the team’s qualification to compete in the 2017 ISU World Figure Skating Championships this April. The announcement was made after the Crystallettes placed second at their second national competition in Berlin, Germany. “We were literally in tears, hysterically crying,” Michaux said. “All of that hard work and dedication that you’ve put into this sport since you were like, five, all just paid off.” The emotions were equally
heightened for coach Malewski. “Every emotion inside came bursting out,” Malewski said. “First, I hugged my sister as tight as I could. Then I looked at our team, with tears of pride and joy in my eyes I thought to myself, ‘We
(skaters, coaches and volunteers) achieved this together. We are the 2017 US World Team. We are proud. We are honored. We could not have done this without each other!” Along with a strong team comes a strong support system, and even Michaux’s mother, Mrs. Lisa Michaux, was filled with pride in her daughter’s success. “It has been pure joy to watch Morgan excel in her skating career,” Mrs. Michaux said. “I cried when I found out Morgan and her team made it to World’s. When it was finally announced that Morgan was going to the World Championships, I witnessed her happier than I have ever seen her. She and her teammates were hugging and crying, a memory of a lifetime.” As her career continues, Michaux continues to excel not only in her technique, but as a leader and a teammate as well. “I must add, Morgan was chosen to stand on the podium for her team,” Malewski said. “This is the first time in the 31 years we have coached together that my sister and I chose a rookie. She earned it with her positive attitude, work ethic and ability to put the success of the team first. She leads by example and is truly loved and respected by her teammates and coaches.”
Morgan Michaux shows her American pride after a national competition in Berlin, Germany. Photo courtesy of Morgan Michaux.
THE TALON || MARCH 2017
PAGE 15 || SPORTS
CHEER TEAM IS BACK-TO-BACK
Varsity Cheer team wins 19th State Title (14th MHSAA) for Division 1 TAYLOR SIMMONS STAFF WRITER
Photo by Taylor Simmons
Photo by Victoria Wendt
Back-to-Back State Champs: Sydney Asuncion, Megan McMurray, Hope Fryer, Sam Ellison, Mataya Sykes, Morgan Libby, Zy Turner First Time State Champs: Karlyn Kelley, Chanler Ross, Riane Parr, Christina Shepich, Kallie J, Cayleen Reedy, Ally Kalaf, Elizabeth Kravick, Julia Couch, Kelley Virkus, Isabella Duhanaj, Bernie Duhani, Natalie Vecasey, Bailey Carlson, Vanna Wilke Coaches: Varisty Coach Susan Wood, Junior Varisty Coach Amber Scott, Freshman Coach Katelyn Kapanka Crouching down on the mat, hand-inhand, squeezing with everything they have, listening as the announcer goes down from 8th place--the girls on the RHS Cheer Team are slowly getting closer and closer to finding out if they will become the 2017 Michigan State Champions for Division 1. As the announcer gets to the second place winner, the girls know whoever does not get called right then will be the State Champions. The announcer says three words that will impact these athletes’ lives forever. The runner-up this year is Sterling Heights Stevenson. The girls, parents and fans are now screaming and crying of happiness in the Deltaplex Arena in Grand Rapids, finding out that the RHS Cheer Team is back-to-back State Champions. Senior Sydney Asuncion has been a varsity cheerleader for three years. She is now a two-time State Champion. “It feels really great and very special to win all four titles [leagues, districts, regionals and states],” Asuncion said. “There was definitely more pressure to win [states] again, especially because we went undefeated [in 2016], it was the first time going back to back since 2007.” Senior Hope Fryer has been on varsity for two years and is a back-to-back state
champ as well. She explains how the state words for rounds one and two. She taught us competition is set up and what happens all the lessons we needed to push ourselves to throughout the whole event. where we are now. Her methods are unique “States is structured like our other and really effective for our whole team.” competitions, but it’s also live streamed on Asuncion continues to talk about her the MHSAA website,” Fryer said. “The top personal struggles and how she overcame eight teams who advanced from regionals them. are there and we all have random slots for “My biggest personal struggle was trying when we go in our to stay focused,” rounds. There’s round Asuncion said. “Our team’s whole goal one, two, then three. “As a senior, some After the third round, things started to throughout the entire season all the teams wait in was to prepare for states. There become repetitive, the mat for awards. so I really had was more pressure this year to The announcer starts to find a way to become state champions and to stay on track and with eighth place, maintain our title from last year.” keep leading the then works their way to announcing the team in the right runner-up and then direction.” Hope Fryer, senior state champion.” Junior Karlyn Fryer explains how Kelley has just there were a lot of finished her first struggles this year, but year at a varsity they overcame all of it with the help of their cheerleader for Rochester. Kelley talks about coach, Susan Wood, who has been in the some of the struggles that the team has had program for 35 years and has won 19 state and how they pushed through it all. titles. “[Our team had] so many injuries,” Kelley “Without Woody, we wouldn’t be where said. “There was many competitions where a we are today,” Fryer said. “We wouldn’t have girl had to sub in on very short notice, but we our awesome round three or the powerful overcame it and worked hard.”
The RHS cheer team pushed to achieve their biggest goal, to win states. They have continued for years after 2009 to get another title, up until last year, when the Cheer program took home the 2016 State Championship. Fryer explains how the pressure was higher than ever to grab the title again. “Our team’s whole goal throughout the entire season was to prepare for states,” Fryer said. “Every competition this far was just in preparation for states. There was more pressure this year to become state champions and to maintain our title from last year.” For the sophomores and juniors who have never competed at states, the pressure was higher than some of their more experienced teammates. “Personally I struggled a lot with my nerves,” Kelley said. “The pressure to do good is so high. Before every round three, me and my stunt group talk over what we all need to do and I also pray with Isabella Duhanaj.” “Being a league, district, regional, and state champ is the best feeling ever!” Fryer said. “Having these titles makes us so much more intimidating to other teams at the deltaplex. I had so much confidence and trust in this team for when we went to states.”
PAGE 16 || SPORTS
THE TALON || MARCH 2017
SPORTS BRIEF “I am determinded to beat Stoney Creek this year. I also really want to try to be league champs again this year because I don’t think the program has had it happen before ”
“Some changes to our season or program have to be that we’ve lost around half of our team so we’ll end up having a mainly fresh and young team compaired to in the past.”
Claire McPherson, girls lacrosse
Taylor Isenberg, tennis captain
captain
SPRING SEASON PREVIEW Boys Baseball BIANCA MOW STAFF WRITER
This year’s baseball season is already well underway and the boys are excited. Tryouts were held March 13-17. The boys have been working extremely hard to get ready for this season and they are ready to represent their school in a sport they love. Most of the players have been doing some practicing inside and outside of school to prepare for tryouts and the season itself. Some have been with their own teams and others have been practicing with others who are trying out. “I have been conditioning at the high school three days a week after school and throwing three days a week before school since January,” freshman Collin McMullin says. “I also practice twice a week with the travel baseball team I play for, as well as practicing at home.” Many said they have been playing the sport for a while and they are ready to play for the Falcons. All that off-season practice can help students be at their best for tryouts. Even freshmen have the chance to make varsity or JV. “It [freshman making varsity or JV] does happen,” Varsity Coach Eric Magiera said. “In previous years we have had a few make JV each year, and maybe one or so make
varsity.” Trying out for any team gives athletes an opportunity to meet others who have the same interests as them or reconnect with old teammates. “I’m excited to be playing with friends who used to be on the same travel team,” freshman Ryan Jackson said. Coach Magiera is also excited for this season. He has a lot of returning players who helped the team accomplish great things last season. “We won Districts and Regionals last season and we return most players this year” Coach Magiera said. “We are preparing for a strong post-season run.” He is also excited to get the season started and start teaching the players the game. “I look forward to actually coaching the game,” Coach Magiera said. “During the offseason we focus on strength and speed, but there is very little baseball development. I am excited to get to actually teach the game.” Every athlete needs to improve something so they can help their team the best they can. Other than working on everything, each player has a specific skill they want to improve.
“I personally need to work on my pickoff moves when pitching,” McMullin said. Coach Magiera knows what he is looking for in a strong player this upcoming season. “We want guys to be strong, fast and smart. These three things go handin-hand with baseball,” he said. Even though the guys are excited for the season, they do have a few things they are not looking forward to. “I am not looking rainouts during this upcoming season,” Jackson said. Overall, the players have been working extremely hard to prepare for this season and they are ready to start playing and representing the Falcons. “I love playing baseball and I miss it during the winter,” McMullin said.
Photo Courtesy of MI Prep Zone