The Wooster Blade, Volume MMXXIII, Issue #3

B R E A S T CA N C E R AWARENESS MONTH

Boo at Woo welcomes community to Follis field

On Oct. 27 from 5:30 to 6:45 p.m. WHS will be hosting the annual trick or treat tradition Boo at Woo at Follis Field.

Boo at Woo is an evening where students are able to represent their sports, clubs and organizations to help engage with the pre-k-4 stu dents of the district and their fam ilies.

Any high school organization is able to participate by speaking to Nate Steiner or the main office staff.

Steiner says the responsibilities of the clubs that sign up, “would be

to have a table to make as engag ing for the kiddos as possible. Each organization is encouraged to be as creative as possible. They will also be handing out candy to the kids.”

Boo at Woo was, “started a few years ago by some wonderful WHS students who wanted an opportu nity to interact with our elementary kids and family. It turned out to be a huge success and we have done it ever since.” Steiner said.

Boo at Woo is a wonderful oppor tunity to have younger students come to Follis Field and see the clubs, activities, organizations and students at the high school and pr povides older students with a great way to give back to the community.

Green Club students make environmental change

Grounds keepers make a great difference

ETHAN KEATING staff writer

The Wooster City Schools Grounds Departments, led by Department Supervisor Tony D’intino, Doug Butler, Matt Pidgeon and Bradley Over, are the unsung heroes of the district.

Doug Bennett, Boys Track and Cross Country coach for 24 years at WHS describes the quality of the Grounds Department’s work.

“It’s exemplary and the envy of most schools that host cross coun try meets…as evidenced by the praise that is heaped on them by visiting coaches,” said Bennett.

Over, an eight year member of the Grounds Department, described the daily responsibilities of the de partment.

“The work of a Grounds Crew member differs from day to day

and season to season. During the spring, summer and fall months, the majority of our time is focused on sports field...We also take care of all the mowing, mulching and land scaping in the district all during the warmer months, as well as special projects like tree removal and trim ming and maintaining trails like the Peggy Jo Carter nature trail and the Kean woods. The fall and win ter months are full of leaf removal followed promptly by snow and ice removal,” Over said.

WHS Athletic Director, Alex Mal lue, also commented on the skill of the Grounds Department.

“I know that many surrounding schools have wonderful grounds departments, but I would put ours up agains anybody’s. The quality of work that they do to make our school a wonderful place to attend a sports competition is unmatched” Mallue said.

Over said that he has, “a large background in art and graphic de

sign, as well as grounds work and managerial experience.”

He utilizes his artistic talents by painting the athletic fields at WHS. This often includes elaborate de signs such as script “W” on the baseball and softball fields, and large depictions of a general on the cross country start line.

Over commented on his inspira tion behind his artwork and how he hopes it will impact those who view it.

“As you can see being a #WooGroundsCrew member is a busy and sometimes hectic job ,so I am extremely grateful to be able to offer a little bit of my artistic ability to these kids, and although my art fades I hope it will stay in the mem ories of the kids who were able to play on the fields that I’ve paint ed,” Over said.

The WCS Grounds Department puts in countless hours of work to make sure that everyone who steps on campus sees it at its best.

Student Leadership Team gives student ambassadors a chance to make a difference

At WHS, there are a variety of clubs in which students can participate, one of which is the Green Club.

According to Green Club coadviser Scott Miller, the club aims to, “make a difference and change locally for the environment.”

Miller stated that one of the main goals of Green Club is to, “educate and share information with the students of Wooster High School on how to become better stewards of our planet.”

Additionally, Green Club founder, Lucia Perfetti (12), stated that club members hope to, “collaborate with the school on making WHS more sustainable alongside educating the student population about sustainability.”

Perfetti said she wanted to start

a club like Green Club when she realized that “I saw students my age who cared a lot for our Earth, but did not have access to resources that could help put these passions into making real change. Green Club was born out of the idea that everyone can make a change if they educate themselves on what can be done and implement this knowledge to make little adjustments that help positively impact the Earth.”

Erin Petruzzi, Green Club adviser, agrees with Perfetti’s statement.

“I agreed to support this group because I believe that they will make a difference. I think others should support the club because the goals of the Green Club are good for the community.”

Green Club meets at 7:20 a.m. every other Wednesday and is open to students in grades eight through 12.

Just recently, WHS principal Scott Musser created a student leadership team to serve as ambassadors of the student body and to serve as a liaison between the student body and administration.

According to Musser, the team consists of 24 students in grades 10 through 12 and represents a diverse group of students from different populations and backgrounds, a unique feature of the group. Students were nominated by staff and administration because of the leadership qualities they possess.

Musser explains the goals of the group as a work in progress.

“...We’re still in the infancy of what we are doing. I want the team to develop goals to accomplish and then my job is to help them

accomplish those goals… [the group’s goals] could be anything the student’s set their mind to,” Musser said.

Camryn Nelson (10) is a member of the student leadership team and said that she sees that the purpose of the group is to brainstorm solutions to problems seen in WHS and to make a plan to see those solutions through.

Nelson builds off the fact that the team is composed of students from different groups in the school.

“I discovered that each student in the meeting was very different, with individual interests and insights to bring to the table. Truthfully, I want to see what these kids have to say and I want them to hear new perspectives as well,” Nelson said.

Nelson goes on to say that she looks forward to creating, “a better relationship between faculty and

students overall” as a result of the student leadership team.

Alexia Kakanuru (11) is a member of the student leadership team and shares her experience with the group thus far.

“So far, I enjoy the people who were selected and I have greatly enjoyed the activities we do as they encompass true leadership qualities,” Kakanuru said.

Kakanuru goes on to say that she appreciates how the group is led by Musser, as it allows for the group’s ideas and discussions to be acknowledged and heard by someone in the administration immediately.

According to Musser, students in the leadership team will get specific training on different leadership techniques from outside organizations in the future. Rhys Florence-Smith (10), SLT member, said the group will meet monthly.

LILY CAMPBELL-LEHTINEN staff writer

MATTIE DUNLAP cover editor

BEN STAVNEZER feature editor

Brittany Wachtel

Students hand out candy at Boo at Woo in 2021. Boo at Woo allows clubs to sponsor a table and

candy out to community members.

Ethan Keating

Bradley Over uses his background in art and graphic design to paint elaborate designs at the starting line of the Wooster cross country course

Window Wonderland celebrates 20 year

BRITTANY WACHTEL co-editor-in-chief

For the past 20 years, the city of Wooster has been hosting Window Wonderland, the event that kicks off the holiday season for the Wooster community.

Window Wonderland is an event run by the city of Wooster project coordinator Kerri Manley-Still that is meant to highlight downtown businesses and spread holiday cheer across Wooster.

“The purpose of Window Wonderland is for it to be the true

kick-off to the holiday season. It is about spreading joy to those around us. It is a special time in our city to highlight its beauty. We do receive a lot of out of town visitors for this event...This event is about showcasing our charming town, while spreading Christmas cheer,” Manley-Still said.

Downtown businesses take the event as an opportunity to showcase their storefronts as a part of the window decorating competition. Businesses are also able to offer their services to attendees through holiday themed activities and advertisements.

People base votes on beliefs

JAELYN FREDERICK staff writer

Midterm elections are soon happening in Wayne County and many people are wondering what they should base their votes on.

Alexis Derr, an 18-year-old Wooster resident voter, said, “Voting is important because the people get to decide who will be the one to take responsibility for millions, I base my vote on their deals that they make to the people and how much they care about our country.”

Another 18-year-old Wooster resident, Devin Hartsoe, also thinks that voting is important and says, “Yes I think voting is important it gives people the right to choose who they want to lead their country for the next 4-8 years... and personally I base my vote off of how they handle things, how I’d want things to be handled in our country and how they’d plan to handle certain situations.”

Other people either base their votes off of the actions candidates make or the type of people they are.

Becca Hall, age 20, is a Wooster resident who also chooses who to vote for based on what candidates say they are going to do if they win, and says that “Voting is important because giving your opinion could

help determine what could happen in the future and every vote counts.“

A 24-year old Wooster resident named Randel Williams also agrees with Hall that every vote counts by saying, “I think voting is important because in many cases we are deciding who has the right to run our cities, states, and even the entire country. One vote may not seem like much but it can make a huge impact and it is one of our many independent rights.”

Adrienne Summers, a 27-year-old Wooster resident, states that voting can make a difference similar to how Williams says voting can make a huge impact. “I think voting is important. It’s important to use your voice and try to make a difference in whatever ways we can.” said Summers

Many of those interviewed voiced the importance of voting to improve the society they live in such as Williams, who said, “I base my vote on our community and independent rights. Many rights have been taken from targeted communities so I base my vote on protecting independent rights and making sure that we as Americans keep our freedom for ourselves and generations to come.”

Voters in the Wooster area are basing their votes on many different factors this election term. The Wayne County midterm elections take place on Nov. 8

Along with activities, there are many other factors that make Window Wonderland an event for families. Manley-Still says of the activities offered, ”Santa descends off of the Briggs Building to spread Christmas cheer and to hear what little one want for Christmas this year. Live Reindeer and horse drawn carriages on the streets, businesses and stores offer activities to the crowd to share some holiday spirit.”

Window Wonderland will take place Nov. 19 on the square from 3 p.m. to 9 p.m., with the tree lighting ceremony taking place at 7 p.m.

Sensory theatre helps increase accessibility

STELLA POWERS trends editor

For a long time, theater has been an incredibly popular form of entertainment; however, it has not always been the most accessible for all audiences.

Many are unable to attend a theater performance due to various reasons, including sensory processing difficulties, which is why many companies have started doing sensory friendly performances.

These performances make various accommodations, including adjusting sound and lighting, allowing audiences to freely move around, and more, so that an audience that would not normally be able to enjoy live theater can have that opportunity.

The Great Lakes Theater company had their first sensory friendly performance in 2013. According to Kelly Florian, Director of Educational Services, they make adjustments both onstage and off.

“We might adjust sound levels so they’re not too loud, same with lighting,” shared Florian. “We may do away with some of the scarier entrances.”

Florian also says that they change aspects of the front of house, as well.

“We keep the doors to the theater

open, so that patrons know they are welcome to leave if they need to take a break,” said Florian. “We keep the house lights at half so they’re not in the dark.”

Florian notes that Great Lakes Theater also has a quiet room for patrons to go to if they need a break.

According to Dauphne Maloney, founder and director of Mansfield Youth Theatre, these performances provide a welcoming experience for families.

“One of the significant aspects of Sensory Friendly performances is that they provide a non-judgmental environment for all those in attendance,” shared Maloney.

Maloney notes that it is also important to anticipate a variety of needs for individuals.

Madison Kearney, a performer with Mansfield Youth Theatre, has performed in four sensory friendly productions. According to Kearney, helping provide access to those who may not normally get to experience live theater is a wonderful feeling.

“I think sensory friendly performances are very important because the ultimate goal of live theater is to entertain an audience,” shared Kearney. “Individuals who may not traditionally be able and/or comfortable to attend performances deserve this opportunity as much as everyone else.”

Cassandra Kurek, another performer who works with Mansfield Youth Theatre, has participated in nine different sensory friendly performances. According to Kurek, this is often many audience members’ first experience with live theater. “These performances are impactful for the actors and audience alike,” shared Kurek. “The actors have the opportunity to see firsthand how the arts can impact any individual seeing a live show for the first time.”

Sensory friendly performances have made theater more accessible for people who normally would not be able to experience the arts.

Santa looks over Wooster’s downtown, standing atop the Briggs Building before his descent to the square via a Fire Department fire truck ladder.

“I THINK SENSORY FRIENDLY THEATRE IS VERY IMPORTANT BECAUSE THE ULTIMATE GOAL OF THEATRE IS TO ENTERTAIN AN AUDIENCE,” KEARNEY SAID.

Photo courtesy of Kerri Manley-Still

News You Should Know

The Wooster Blade staff recognizes the multitude of both worldwide and local news and our inability to cover all news stories that need covered, so for this issue we chose to do a news in brief page. This page focuses on student voices and their coverage of the Ukranian War, the third grade reading guarantee, the new Supreme Court term and protests in Iran.

Groups criticize the Third Grade Reading Guarantee

CALEB SINGER-HOLDEN staff writer

In 2012, Ohio Governor John Kasich signed a law that would make third grade students pass a test at the end of the school year based on a specific third grade reading level.

If the students were to fail that test, they would be retained in the third grade for the next school year.

Currently, there is a new bill that was passed in the Ohio house, which would remove the law.

“This law does not take conditions like poverty into consideration. There are things that interfere with

student learning that educators have no control over,” Karen Linch, Cornerstone elementary teacher, said.

Linch said she felt that the Third Grade Reading Guarantee caused only stress and disappointment.

”I felt like a failure seeing my school’s test scores compared to the other elementary buildings in the district. I started the school year feeling defeated,” Linch said. She continued saying, “Teachers are learners; this law seems to expect all teachers to be experts right from the get go and that is just not the case.”

The Ohio Senate will be voting on this issue later this year.

Iranian Hijab protests continue

RHYS FLORENCE-SMITH staff writer

On Sept. 16, Mahsa Amini, an Iranian woman died of a heart attack after three days in the custody of the Iranian morality police after she took her Hijab off.

According to Amini’s father, in an interview with BBC Persian on Sept. 22, her body had bruises, indicating police brutality.

Amini’s death has sparked protests by the Iranian people over the right to remove a Hijab, a religious head

covering many Muslim women wear as a sign of modesty, privacy and pride.

As protests intensified, riots broke out, especially outside the prisons in the Iranian capital, Tehran.

Government response to the protests has been severe: as of Oct. 15, Iranian Human Rights Activists News Agency estimated a death toll of 233, including 32 children.

Meanwhile, as the protests enter their fifth week, some women of Iran continue to remove their Hijabs, openly rejecting Iran’s laws over morality.

Ukraine war updates

TRISTAN MILLER staff writer

In recent weeks, the war in Ukraine has turned decidedly against invading Russian forces and caused renewed hope for Ukrainian victory.

The Associated Press website features a live update panel concerning the Russia-Ukraine war. The website is updated daily by AP News editors.

On Aug. 29, Ukrainian armed forces launched a massive counterattack aimed at recapturing large regions in the south of the country that had been previously taken by Russia.

A week later, a second offensive began in the north to retake key cities like Kharkiv and these attacks have been very successful.

According to the Ukrainian president, Volodymyr Zelensky in a speech given Sept. 12, Ukrainian

forces successfully liberated more than 6000 sqaure km from Russian control as reported by Sana Noor Haq fron CNN on Sept. 12.

Russia has been in an almost constant state of retreat since August and Ukraine has nearly been restored to its pre-war borders in many places.

Unfortunately, the Russian government refuses to admit defeat or negotiate peace, sparking fear from many in the west about how the war can be fully resolved.

The possibility of nuclear escalation, along with larger military drafts, has been threatened many times by Russian president Vladimir Putin.

Most recently, in late September, Putin announced a new draft,calling up more than 100,000 reservists to fight in Ukraine, Even though Ukraine is currently winning the war, it is very hard to tell how the conflict will fully resolve at this point in time.

Top: Woman in Iran cuts off her hair in protest of the Iranian Hijab protests which attempt to control the Hijab wearing of women.

Bottom: Damage to a Ukraine village due to continued attacks from Russia. President Vladmir Putin is now threatening nuclear attacks and larger military drafts.

New Supreme Court term begins

NORA LEVY sports editor

A new Supreme Court term has started and with this, there are new faces and new issues. The new face on the court is President Biden’s new appointee, Justice Ketanji Brown-Jackson who has now been sworn in to replace Justice Breyer.

One important case being heard by the court in their 2022-23 term is Sackett v. Environmental Protection Agency (2022). According to ballotpedia.org , the case will decide, “how to interpret the Clean Water Act to decide what land falls within the EPA’s wetland regulatory jurisdiction.”

Sackett v. EPA could have many implications on the future of our Earth. In an October 3

article from earthjustice.org, it is emphasized that “If polluters can act with impunity and without environmental review, the consequences for wetlands connected with lakes and rivers could be catastrophic.”

Another important upcoming decision is Merrill v. Milligan. Oyez.org explains that, “Alabama created a redistricting plan for its seven seats in the U.S. House of Representatives. One of the districts in the plan is a majorityBlack district. Registered voters and several organizations challenged the map, arguing that the state had illegally packed Black voters into a single district while dividing other clusters of Black voters across multiple districts.”

The NAACP Legal Defense Fund explains the impacts of Merrill v. Milligan will be widespread as,

“the court is also examining the role of race in redistricting nationwide.” The ramifications of the Sackett v. EPA and Merrill v. Milligan court cases will be important for future generations.

WHS History Dept. member Bryan Ehrlinspiel also emphasizes that the opinion written by Judge Thomas concerning abortion, “opened up the possibility to over turn laws that cover contraceptives as well as the current law allowing same sex marriage.”

Many important cases with ramifications for everyday Americans may come before the court as a result of the opinion written by Justice Thomas.

The impact of these decisions may be highly impactful in the future of pollution and the Earth, not to mention the voting rights of citizens across the nation.

Fair use photo courtesy of euronews_persian on Instagram

Fair use photo courtesy of npr on Instagram

BCAM shows value in checkups

MOLLY BYRNE cover editor

According to BreastCancer.org in an article from Sept. 27, during the pandemic, annual exams were overlooked by many, but annual mammograms can oftentimes lead to the discovery of breast cancer. The month of October is recognized as the month dedicated to breast cancer awareness, meaning it is essential to promote the importance of these annual exams as well as what age to start getting them and where young adults can find these services.

In a Sept. 18, 2019, article by the Cleveland Clinic, it was stated that 5% of breast cancer cases are found in women younger than the age of 40. This statistic points to the fact that all women should be aware of the risk factors for breast cancer.

As stated in the article from the Cleveland Clinic, women diagnosed with breast cancer at younger ages are also more likely to have genetic mutations, which can predispose them to breast cancer.

It is also crucial that women report any change they notice in their breast tissue to their physicians, such as lumps or skin changes.

While screenings are not recommended for women under the age of 40, women with a family history of breast cancer should initiate screenings at least 10 years earlier.

According to an April 27 article published by the Mayo Clinic, some risk factors for women associated with breast cancer include family history of breast cancer, radiation exposure, obesity, and drinking alcohol. In the same article from the Mayo Clinic, a few suggestions for people to engage in, in order to promote better health, are to exercise most days of the week, limit alcohol consumption, and maintain a healthy weight, as well as eat a healthy diet.

People taking preventative measures and understanding one’s risk for breast cancer can help be a starting point for many young women. A decrease in mammogram appointments during the pandemic is due to the fact that

according to BreastCancer.org in an article from Sept. 27, most hospitals and medical facilities canceled or delayed elective procedures, including breast cancer screenings.

Furthermore, as noted in the aforementioned article, in April of 2020 only 317 mammograms were done, which is only 1% of what was done in April 2019, as well as only 1,452 diagnostic mammograms were done in April 2020.

Locally, in Wooster, there are a number of resources and facilities that perform mammograms as well as other services to the community, such as; The Woman’s Health Pavilion, Cleveland Clinic and Wooster OBGYN. Both Wooster OBGYN and the Woman’s Health Pavilion are located at Wooster Community Hospital.

All of these facilities are resources to be able to access healthcare for mammograms or just to speak with a physician about getting screened and family history of breast cancer.

While breast cancer is far more likely in women, men are also susceptible to breast cancer and should also be aware of any changes in their chest region. According to the CDC website September of 2022, men should also look for symptoms such as swelling or redness and irritation of their chest. Some risk factors for men include many of the same risk factors for women; however, some differences include Klinefelter syndrome and liver disease.

While breast cancer is diagnosed all year round, the month of October is dedicated to those who have lost their battle to breast cancer, currently fighting breast cancer or know anyone who has been affected.

According to the aforementioned Cleveland Clinic article, it is critically important to get annual check-ups in order to stay on top of health issues by getting scans or speaking with a physician if something has changed.

While the COVID-19 pandemic majorly decreased the amount of mammogram scans given to patients, new breast cancer cases are being diagnosed using mammograms, oftentimes from annual exams.

Organizations offer support for breast cancer

REBECCA LAY staff writer

As October serves as Breast Cancer Awareness month, it is a good time to review in what ways we can help those who have been diagnosed with this disease.

In the United States around 264,000 cases of breast cancer are reported in women per year, and something to consider is that 2,400 men are diagnosed with this disease as well per year (according to the CDC).

Help can be given during any stage of cancer and support can be given by volunteering, as well.

If you are not able to donate, then you can volunteer for any organizations. The organizations that you can donate to include the National Breast Cancer Foundation, Breast Cancer Research Foundation, and Living Beyond Breast Cancer.

Helping those with breast cancer can also start with early detection. One organization that helps with early detection is the National Breast Cancer Foundation, which utilizes donations to help provide mammograms, breast health education and a supportive community to help patients deal with the mental aspect of a diagnosis and treatment.

The Breast Cancer Research Foundation, which is a private

fund and, along with other organizations, helps breast cancer patients treatment. This foundation helps with new advancements in cures and understanding for this disease, and for more specifically metastatic breast cancer.

Another organization to donate to and that helps people after they are cleared of cancer is Living Beyond Breast Cancer, which is dedicated to helping anyone with this disease throughout their treatment and after their cancer is gone.

If you are unsure about what center you would like to donate to, you can always donate to the BCCP, the Ohio government’s fund for those that are affected by breast and cervical cancers.

Drama Club:

Students prepare for ELF

OLIVIA HINER co-editor-in-chief

The WHS Drama Club will be performing Elf the Musical on Nov. 12 and Nov. 13, and Nov. 18 through Nov. 20. According to Drama Club Director Brett Hiner, he chose Elf because, “It’s a fun show and the Drama Club, in its history, has never done a holiday show before… I thought it would be fun for the greater community of Wooster to watch.”

Hiner also discussed that something that makes this show unique is that all of the music is original and it is not just classic Christmas carols. In looking at why people should come see the show, Hiner said audiences will be, “Highly entertained, number one. They’ll laugh, number two. And, we are legitimately doing things on stage no one has ever done before. They will see things that have not been done on the PAC stage.”

For many of those involved in the show, it will be their last musical with the Drama Club, although the club traditionally does a play in the spring. Hiner, who described the club as a family, notes that while he knows it will be bittersweet for seniors, he also said that “it’s part of the process. It’s cliche to say it, but everyone should be thankful for the opportunities they were given the five years they were here, whether that’s a lead or that ensemble. What a gift it is to perform.”

One of the club’s seniors, Caleb Singer-Holden, is playing the lead of the show, Buddy the Elf;. This will be Singer-Holden’s fifth

year in the Drama Club and along with performing as a lead in the show, he also serves as the Drama Club president.

Over the years, Singer-Holden says he has learned a lot about, “Communication, and being there in the present… Being a lead, having roles above people made me realize I need to talk to people…”

With Elf, Singer-Holden is most looking forward to, “The experience of having my last show. Making sure everyones having a good time. Just being there with all of my friends for the last musical of my high school career.”

Another one of these seniors is Ben Stavnezer, who serves as the tech head of Drama Club. With Elf, Stavnezer said he is looking forward to using, “New screen technology… because it should add a lot to the performance.”

He stated that “the energy and humor that Elf will bring will be amazing.”

When looking at this being his last show, Stavnezer said that it feels bittersweet.

Stage Manager Hannah LoGiudice (12) said she is looking forward for audiences to see how fun this show is. . “ A lot of our shows in the past have been big musicals based on movies… and Elf is just a really, really fun show.”

She echoed Hiner’s sentiments in saying that “Elf is something that hasn’t been done on the drama club stage before.”

Tickets for Elf are currently on sale on ticketpeak.co/ whsdrama/events $12 for adults and $10 for students and seniors.

Performances for Nov. 12, Nov. 18 and Nov. 19 begin at 7 p.m., while the Nov. 13 and Nov. 20 are 2 p.m. matinees.

Timeline features horror

looking for a deeper scare.

2000s:

James Wan’s 2004 film Saw, a gruesome thriller about a killer who forces his victims to go through deadly games in order to survive, was an instant hit with audiences. Although the film received mixed reviews, anyone who loves gory horror films will love Saw

LAURA RAPPORT a&e editor

Watching horror movies, in my opinion, is one of the best ways to celebrate Halloween. Although horror movies have been around since the late 19th century, I will be naming what I think are the best horror movie from each decade since the 1990s going up to the present day based on my personal enjoyment of the film, critical reception, and popularity. Information was acquired through Rotten Tomatoes.

1990s:

The Silence of the Lambs, released in 1991 and based off of the book of the same name by Thomas Harris. Starring Anthony Hopkins as the evil Dr. Hannibal Lecter, and Jodie Foster as Clarice Starling, a young FBI agent, The Silence of the Lambs is arguably the best psychological thriller ever made, and it is perfect for those who are

2010s:

The Babadook follows Amelia and her 6-year-old son Samuel, as they are haunted by a monster from a children’s book, named Mr. Babadook. The film is masterful in the way it portrays the terror that Amelia and Samuel experience, and I would recommend it to anyone looking for a good scare.

2020s:

The final film on this list is The Invisible Man, released in 2020. Based off of H.G. Wells’ 1897 novel of the same name. The film follows Cecelia, a young woman in an abusive relationship with Adrian Griffin, an optics engineer. They break up, but shortly afterwards, Adrian commits suicide. However, even after Adrian’s death, Cecilia is tormented by him, leading her to believe that he found a way to turn himself invisible. The film’s themes of domestic abuse and psychological torture make it suspenseful and a great thriller.

2022 Wooster Girl’s Cross Country runs fastest team times in school history, including many PRs

JACKSON STANSIFER & CALEB KOSTOHRYZ staff writers

Over the course of the fall, the Wooster girl’s cross country team has established themselves as the fastest team in the school’s history.

This title was solidified at the Wayne/Holmes Invitational on Oct. 8, where the team’s top five runners had an average time of 19:54, becoming the first Wooster team ever to have an average under 20 minutes. En route to this achievement, varsity runners Audrey Miller (12), Mattie Dunlap (11) and Gabi Signorino (10) also ran three of the top five all-time marks at Wooster, finishing in 19:35, 19:36, and 19:36. Olivia Hiner (12) and Ani Tzonev (9) finished close behind, with times of 20:10 and 20:26.

Marion Dix (2022 WHS alum), a former Wooster cross country member who is currently running for Miami University, said that during her time in high school, she saw the running program at Wooster develop into a competitive and supportive program that has led to the success of her former teammates during this season.

Dix explained that “having people who push each other to do well while also supporting each other on and off the course really helps to create a successful team environment and a successful team.”

The team’s success throughout

the season is due, in part, to the efforts they put in over the summer, beginning in early June. Dunlap said that this summer training has played a crucial role in the team’s success during the season.

“The hard and intense training the team completed over the summer definitely contributed to our success as it gave us a strong foundation to go off of when training in-season,” Dunlap said. It was also during this time that the team’s assistant coach and first grade teacher at Kean Elementary, Maureen McKeown, who also ran at Wooster and holds the school’s sixth fastest all-time mark, realized the immense potential of this year’s runners.

“We knew about halfway through the summer that this team was different, they were special. With some new additions to the team this year, we have been able to [not] only get better mentally but also physically as a team,” McKeown said.

With the help of McKeown, who began coaching this season, Holly Pope has coached the girl’s cross country team for the past three years. Pope said that another important factor in the team’s success has been the encouraging culture they have culminated throughout the season.

“We are striving to create a culture that keeps our athletes hungry, unified and is something that will continue in terms of numbers of athletes, new people to the sport, and something that the middle

school girls are looking forward to,” Pope said.

Nora Levy (12) built on this idea, as they explained the importance of strong bonds between varsity and JV runners, and how these bonds motivate members of the team to perform well, in order to share the joint success of the entire team.

“In my four years of running, we have grown into a team that has tight bonds even between grade levels. Our tight group of people has allowed us to run better, support each other more and has made us more competitive in races,” Levy said.

JV runner Kyia Wolf (11) who has been on the team for three years now, agreed with the importance of outflowing support and camaraderie on the team, despite any outcome.

“One thing has always remained constant; no matter what place you come in or what time you run, there will always be incredible amounts

of support coming from all around you,” Wolf said.

Going into the OCC Championships on Oct. 15, varsity members of the team had many different individual goals, but nearly all of them were focused on placing in a way that would allow the team to be more successful.

Signorino (10) and Hiner (12) said they hoped for First and SecondTeam OCC honors, respectively, which they both received, while Dunlap (11) said she simply wished to place as high as possible to help the team perform well.

Hiner, one of the team’s senior captains, also explained how expectations of the team as a whole shifted when fellow senior captain, Audrey Miller, suffered an injury going into the week of the conference meet.

“I think we did have high expectations to start with; I think Pope wanted another trophy. Unfortunately, we didn’t get that, but we still got third. Audrey had an injury so that kind of changed how we thought about it,” Hiner said.

As Hiner mentioned, the team still placed third in the meet, only one point behind the team from Mount Vernon, despite the loss of Miller, their lead runner.

On Oct. 22 (this feature has been submitted on Oct. 21), the girls will head to the district meet at GlenOak High School. Miller (12) said that the team aims to qualify to the regional meet, in hopes of continuing their historic run.

Fall Sports by the Numbers

3Singles titles won at the 2022 OCC Girl’s Tennis Championships - Ava Mathur (10), Minnie Pozef sky (12) and Alexia Kakanuru (11)

9Ninth place finish at the Boys Golf Sectional Tournament

11Eleven wins during the regular season for the Boy’s Soccer Team

111Meetings between the Or rville and Wooster Football Team, Wooster has won 7 of the last 9

6Most goals scored in a Girl’s Soccer Game this season

4OCC Volleyball Championships in a row

72022 All OCC Boy’s Cross Country Honorees

First Team All OCC Girl’s Golf Performers

Photo by Maureen McKeown

The Wooster Girl’s Varsity Cross Country team walks back to the start line after warming up for the Wooster High School Cross Country Invitational, where they placed ninth out of 22 scoring teams.

2022 All OCC Girl’s Cross Country First and Second Team selections

First Place at the Wayne Holmes Invite

First and Second Team All County Selections at the 2022 Wayne Holmes Invite

Three of the Top Four Individual Times in Wooster Girl’s Cross Country School History

1Two senior captains, Olivia Hiner and Audrey Miller

Total combined wins from all fall varsity sports teams.

“WE KNEW ABOUT HALFWAY THROUGH THE SUMMER THAT THIS TEAM WAS DIFFERENT, THEY WERE SPECIAL.” MCKEOWN SAID.

Information courtesy

gowoo.org

THE WOOSTER BLADE

Editors-in-Chief Olivia Hiner, Brittany Wachtel Graphics Managers Nora Levy, Ben Stavnezer

Head Photographer Nora Levy, Ben Stavnezer

A & E Editor Laura Rapport

Cover Editors Mattie Dunlap, Molly Byrne

Feature Editor Ben Stavenzer

Focus Editor Grace Kostohryz

On Campus Editor Hannah LoGiudice Sports Editor Nora Levy

Trends Editor Stella Powers

Views Editor Brittany Wachtel, Olivia Hiner

Staff Writers Lily CampbellLehtinen, Laynee Eslich, Rhys Florence-Smith, Jaleyn Frederick, Ethan Keating, Caleb Kostohryz, Rebekah Lay, Tristan Miller, Jamie Ogle, Caleb Singer-Holden, Jackson Stansifer

Artists Nora Levy, Olivia Hiner

Photographers Brittany Wachtel, Ben Stavenezer, Nora Levy, Lily Campbell-Lehtinen, Hannah LoGiudice, Ethan Keating, Molly Byrne, Caleb Kostohryz, Rebekah Lay, Laynee Eslich, Caleb SingerHolden Adviser Kristi Hiner

The Wooster Blade is a biweekly student publication printed every other Friday by the Newspaper Production classes at Wooster High School. The Wooster Blade is designated as an open forum and follows publishing guidelines as established by district-wide publications policy protecting students’ freedom of expression. All copy, art and photography are property of The Wooster Blade and cannot be reproduced without permission. Letters to the editor are limited to 300 words and The Wooster Blade reserves the rights to print and edit as per length and content. The Wooster Blade is a member of Quill and Scroll, National Scholastic Press Association and Columbia Scholastic Press Association. Letters and inquiries should be addressed to The Wooster Blade, 515 Oldman Road Wooster, Ohio 44691. The Wooster Blade can be contacted at 330-345-4000 ext. 3210. The newspaper can also be found at thewoosterblade.com

BLADE staff prints first issue since 2019

After almost three years of publishing all online issues as a result of COVID safety protocols, The Wooster Blade is proud to release our first printed issue.

Due to remote learning during the COVID pandemic, The Wooster Blade was unable to find the time or printer to be able to print physical copies of our publications. Upon returning to school in-person, finding a printer proved to be difficult due to both inflation and supply chain issues.

Currently, only one member of our staff, Hannah LoGiudice (12), has been a part of a staff that has produced a printed issue of our paper, so this issue has proven to be a learning experience for all members of our staff and editorial team. On Campus editor LoGiudice says that she is, “Excited, especially that the new members of

BLADE can experience the differences that come with printing a paper as opposed to just publishing online.”

Our editorial staff is excited for the printed issue because we believe that this will increase accessibility for all community members, especially our student audience. For those who were unable to access our online publications, having a printed issue provides an opportunity for all members of our community to read the work of student journalists.

Although we are excited for our transition to physical editions of our paper, we are still going to continue our publication online at thewoosterblade. com.

The importance of accessibility of local news coverage is increasingly prevalent within the Wooster community.

Currently, The Daily Record and The Wooster Weekly are the only printed publications in Wooster. The Wooster Blade is the only publication that focuses on the viewpoints of students, activities and athletics happening within Wooster City Schools and provides a student perspective on issues happening outside of our high school walls.

The Wooster Blade staff acknowledges that without the support of our community members, being able to print our publications would be increasingly difficult.

We would like to thank those who support The Wooster Blade in any aspect, whether that is through advertisement sales, providing a source for our journalists or reading our publications.

Artists in K-Pop industry face mistreatment

THE VOICE OF WOOSTER HIGH SCHOOL

K-pop is a worldwide sensation with BTS, Blackpink, Aespa and 2NE1 being some of the most popular groups.

Aespa and 2NE1 performed at Coachella 2022, and Aespa had a float for Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade in 2021. Though K-Pop might seem as though it is all glitz and glamor in terms of appearance, is that really the case?

According to Koreaboo, a K-pop centered news source, “he [Bang Chan] was known as one of the JYP Entertainment trainees who’d trained the longest.”

Bang Chan trained for eight years before debuting, and the biggest worry he had was if he would make it in the industry before leaving his home in Australia.

Along with eight years of training, most K-pop idols, though the company an idol is under does not make it obvious, are forced to partake in extreme diets.

According to Koreaboo, Momo from TWICE revealed that “...she went to extreme methods to lose weight when she was a trainee.” The extreme methods she went through were eating ice cubes for a week straight in order to lose lose fifteen pounds.

Unfortunately, these extreme diets are the case for many idols.

Though people continue to enjoy and consume K-pop, it should be said there are many flaws in the K-pop industry.

Popular TV shows do not glorify serial killers

cannibalism.

Upon the release of the series, a slew of controversy arose surrounding the purpose of docu-series that focus on serial killers.

As seen in the 2019 Netflix film about serial killer Ted Bundy, entitled Extremely Wicked, Shockingly Evil, and Vile, Netflix has had many run-ins with such controversies.

BRITTANY WACHTEL co-editor-in-chief

The series follows Dahmer (played by Evan Peters) as he begins his pattern of criminal acts including murder and

Much of the drama surrounding such shows stems from the belief that such shows glorify serial killers and make viewers admire them.

In an article from the New York Post, published Sept. 27 by writer Lauren Sarner, a series of tweets turning Dahmer into a sex symbol are highlighted, with one Twitter user saying, “Jeffrey Dahmers mugshot definitely gives something i didn’t

know or think it would give.”

While such shows do highlight the brutal murders of such killers, I do not believe that these shows glorify these killings. For a viewer to watch a show in which the main character is a murderer and still believe that the character is attractive is known as hybristophilia.

One flaw of these shows is that the content can be triggering for the families of the victims. Rita Isbell, the sister of victim Errol Lindsey, said of the show on Twitter, “It’s retraumatizing over and over again, and for what?”

Although there are aspects of such shows that are triggering to viewers, by putting the blame on the creators of these shows, an actual mental fixation of serial killers is being swept under the rug.

WHS student’s voting preferences this fall

RHYS FLORENCE-SMITH staff writer

During the week of October 9, 74 students, ranging in grades from eight through twelve, took The Wooster Blade voting poll,

on which they were asked five questions.

In addition to a provided QR code, the poll was also randomly distributed through teachers’ classes.

In the poll, 8% of the poll respondents said they are currently

able to vote. A question asked for the poll respondent’s political affiliation, which showed that 36.5% of the students who took the poll affiliate with the Democrat Party, 17.6% identify with the Republican Party and 27% said they have no party affiliation.

JAMIE OGLE staff writer

On Sept. 21, director Ryan Murphy released the Netflix original series Monster: The Jeffrey Dahmer Story