Spartan Voice: Issue 2 2022

The Spartan Voice

Photos by Amy Cunningham

FALL WRAP-UP Grease Review

By Wambui Ngunjiri

People of the world! We finally got to see the production of GREASE that many students worked hard to produce, so let’s review it

To start with, the acting was incredible There were over 60 people in this production, each giving their all and having a good time The main cast included Shelby Lair, Brandon Zhang, Andrew Porter, Grier Wiltse, Joey Kotkin, Aden Meyers, Erihana Vincent, AJ Nagabhushan, McKenzie Varenhorst, and Erin Rolfe There was an added level of complexity to the acting since the show takes place decades before our time What looked like a simple enough job required the hard work and dedication of each cast member and they delivered. They took personal time to memorize lines, understand their characters, and go on their character’s journeys When interviewed, each cast member gave a beautiful answer testifying to the emotion and depth they gave their characters and it shows on stage

The technical efforts of the show were inspired Every person did their part to ensure the audience was completely immersed in the 50s high school known as Rydell High The costumes added brilliant color and transcended not only the audience, but the actors Watching the actors progress from the beginning to opening night was incredible, but once everyone got in costume, the acting was cranked up to 1000% The lights added a beautiful ambiance to the show by not only guiding our eyes on where to look, but dipping the stage into shades of not color, but emotion The sound worked in the

same way by surrounding the audience and pushing them into the halls of Rydell Setting the stage is no easy task, but the crew was nicely choreographed to be able to get anything anywhere anytime. We thank the efforts of Jordan the set designer, Chadwick the costumer, Maya Rai the stage manager, and the incomparable Collegiate crew

The show, of course, is only possible with its leaders We all know our music director Mr. Webber, but this year he teamed up with two new directors for staging and choreography- Ms Lisa and Mr Mba We could never have done it without them Ms Lisa raised the acting to a new level, with new emotions; Mr Webber brought an entire cast, each with unique voices, into tune; and Mr. Mba created such lively and inspired choreography He motivated the cast with his motto: “When words aren’t enough, you sing, and when singing is not enough, you dance ” Each of them worked hard to bring our show to life and we owe them great thanks They also have stated how much they enjoy and admire the work of our Collegiate cast

Overall GREASE was a wonderfully done and received production It came with many positive reviews from people who were impressed with the beautiful singing, fast-paced choreo, and efficient technical elements Many were captivated by the quirky supporting characters, so shoutout to Cooper Winters (Eugene) and Melanie Reece (Teen Angel) Congratulations to everyone who put time and effort into the musical, you truly outdid yourselves.

The Global Situation

Ever since Rudy Gobert touched those mics two years ago the world’s just gone into a perpetual downhill spiral Thanks, Rudy (For those of you who don’t know, Rudy Gobert is an NBA player who said that COVID wasn’t real during a press conference, made a big show of touching all the mics, and then got the virus a day later, shutting down the league… and the world followed.

It is the perpetual spiral of horrible events around the globe that’s made me want to start the Global News section of the Spartan Voice Because I feel, unfortunately, that in America, we tend to be in our own bubble, barely aware of what’s happening worldwide Because of that, I believe we don’t understand the world's issues, not just our country, giving us a limited view of how we can help the world around us Horrible events around the world didn’t just start in 2020 They’ve happened constantly; it's our duty to open our eyes to these events to become real global citizens

It seems like there’s just been one crazy event after the next We had COVID for a good two years and its unrelenting variants, which have claimed millions of lives As soon as we thought we had overcome the worst, Russia decided to attack Ukraine The world wouldn’t let us get complacent

The war in Ukraine, which still rages on today, is a war of a scale most teenagers have never experienced To view the situation from an older, wiser perspective, I turned to Mr. Egan.

“I think the war in Ukraine is different from wars I have witnessed in my lifetime because the entire world, except the Russian government, is united in support of one cause I think the people of Ukraine have such a groundswell of efforts and a desire for their nation to be maintained that their enthusiasm is inspiring the world The NATO alliance is now united in a way it hasn’t been since 9/11, showing the support for Ukraine ”

Yet the war is only a fraction of the battles being fought around the globe In Iran, protesters continue to fight for women’s rights 22-year-old Mahsa Amini was killed by Iran’s “morality police,” who arrested her and beat her for not wearing the hijab by the country’s laws The Iranian government points fingers at anyone except themselves: the West, social media, and their own people. Despite protesters being arrested, harmed, and killed, the people of Iran continue to fight against the oppressive regime

In Pakistan, devastating floods have destroyed towns, affecting millions Now, the people of Pakistan face disease, homelessness, and a crippling economy Another massive battle and the people of Pakistan are losing North Korea has just launched two missiles at Japan and is expected to follow with further tests, possibly a nuclear one. The country, which seemed to have quieted down during the height of the pandemic, is raising its voice again in a violent way

As if all this wasn’t enough, the US economy seems to be heading toward a major recession. To understand the situation further, I talked to our beloved Economics teacher Mr LeVan

“We have high rates of inflation, which isn’t great. The Federal Reserve will try to fix that, which could hurt the economy Our GDP has decreased; however, our unemployment rate is at an all-time low of 3 5% As long as this success with curbing unemployment continues, I’m not certain we’ll enter a recession But if unemployment rises, and our current problems don’t fade, a recession is certainly possible ”

With all the problems the world has been facing over the past few years, it’s easy to feel downtrodden As if things will never get better That is why I write to face that hopelessness. Our world will always face problems Human rights will always be threatened War will always cause massive destruction Nature will continue to mow down everything in its path without regard for human life Our only weapons against these challenges are our voices and our hope As long as our voices are never silenced and our flame of hope is never extinguished, I believe humanity can face anything

Thank you, Sai Satvik Kolla

South America: Brazil Ousts Bolsonaro

By Satvik Kolla

After an intense runoff and perhaps the most polarized election in the country’s history, Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, leader of the Workers’ Party, has won the presidential election in Brazil against Liberal Party leader Jair Bolsonaro Lula’s win has sparked great joy in his supporters’ hearts and incredible anger in the hearts and minds of the opposition Bolsonaro supporters refuse to acknowledge their defeat and have protested the election results However, Lula’s transition into office remains smooth The majority of the international community is happy with the result, as Bolsonaro’s policies have been highly unpopular, crushing Brazil’s working class and accelerating the deforestation of the Amazon

Analysts say that the results of this election have pushed Brazil back from the brink of falling into total chaos However, there are still fears of a military coup Bolsonaro supporters are calling for the military to take action However, Bolsonaro himself has conceded that the “election is over” Whether this means that his push to remain President is over remains to be seen

Southeast Asia: Climate Crisis in Pakistan

By Joyita Dev

Each year, Pakistan experiences a monsoon season lasting from April through September This year, however, Pakistan’s monsoon season has accumulated more than 190% of the nation’s normal rainfall, causing floods that have brought devastation to millions of people Approximately 13% of Pakistan’s population is reported to have been affected by the flooding with millions of children are at risk for contracting waterborne diseases and several dead from drowning and malnutrition Countless water and healthcare facilities as well as homes have been destroyed due to the intense monsoon, leaving countless Pakistani people displaced

The cause of Pakistan’s record-breaking flooding is reported to be global warming Although Pakistan is responsible for less than 1% of global greenhouse gas emissions, Pakistan is considered as one of the nations most susceptible to the negative effects of global warming due to the nation’s diverse ecosystems Pakistan is home to glaciers, rivers, deserts, and mangrove forests Each year, the temperature of the monsoon belt in Pakistan increases by 0 18 degrees Celsius on average This increasing temperature, a result of global warming, caused

glaciers in Pakistan to melt, creating flash floods in nearby villages

Several individuals in Pakistan rely on the country’s natural ecosystems for their livelihood UN officials report that it could take up to six months for floods to recede in the areas most affected Even after the flooding recedes, however, countless Pakistanis are still left with the damage the weather event caused Additionally, climate change still proves to be a major concern in all of South Asia as record-breaking temperatures are predicted for the region this upcoming summer

Pakistan, a nation which produced a low amount of greenhouse gas emissions compared to other countires, is now undergoing the repercussions of climate change Innocent lives and livelihoods have been lost due to the world's negligence towards greenhoues gas emissions Pakistan is currently pushing the United States to lead a global effort that will aid nations that are most susceptible to natural disasters caused by climate change By aiding developing nations who are likely to experience these types of disasters fiscally, Pakistan hopes that fewer civilians will be impacted

“Happiness can be found even in the darkest of times if only one remembers to turn on the light.” – Albus Dumbledore

Africa: Humanitarian and Climate Crises Collide

By Wambui Ngunjiri

Within northeastern Nigeria, there’s a humanitarian crisis caused by an armed conflict between Nigeria, Boko Haram, and the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) Boko Haram is a militia that gained dominance over Nigeria in 2002, but, with the death of the Boko Haram leader in 2021, their power began to dwindle Unfortunately, there are still plenty of attacks occurring in the BAY (Borno, Adamawa, and Yobe) area of Nigeria Attacks consist of (TW) SA, kidnapping, and destruction ISWAP is a militant group that branched off from Boko Haram and fights Boko Haram Their own violence has displaced citizens, harmed aid workers, and overall adds to the problem There have been millions of displaced people in the BAY states and this is only expected to increase These people have been put in displacement camps that have been filling up every day to the point of crowding The people are in need of more humanitarian funding and awareness

After a prominent rise in West Africa, Ebola is making a comeback It was typically found in West Africa but it is slowly making its way through the East Uganda, for example, could be going back into lockdown Masks, working from home, and sealing public spaces have been slowly reintroduced into the country The Ugandan government has also been looking at trial vaccines Many other African countries have been advised to take similar measures, and the World Health Organization advises “supporting Sudan Virus Disease (SVD) readiness actions These include the activation of multi-sectoral coordination mechanisms for SVD; refresher training of rapid response teams; refresher laboratory training; activation/strengthening of community-based surveillance systems for SVD; community engagement and risk communication; reinforcement of points of entry (PoE) and assessment and reinforcement of case management capacities, among other activities ” Preparation measures are necessary to

Europe: New Faces of British Government

By Hannah Ternes

After being the first British monarch in history to celebrate her Platinum Jubilee in February, Queen Elizabeth II passed away in September 2022 at the age of 97 She was preceded in death by husband Prince Phillip, Duke of Edinburgh, in January and is succeeded by son King Charles III and wife Camilla, Queen Consort Prince William is now heir apparent, with children Prince George, Princess Charlotte, and Prince Louis second, third, and fourth respectively Upon his father’s ascension, William assumed Charles’s former title of Prince of Wales, and his wife Catherine “Kate” Middleton the Princess of Wales, a title not held since Princess Diana’s death Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex, and his two children, Archie and Lilibet, are fifth, sixth, and seventh respectively

The Queen’s state funeral, held on September 19 at Westminster Abbey, was attended by heads of state and other representatives from over twenty countries, including Queen Margarethe II of Denmark, who is the world’s only reigning female monarch following Elizabeth’s death The Kremlin (Russian government) was noticeably unrepresented at this event Elizabeth’s eldest son, Charles, and Camilla, his wife, will celebrate their official coronation on May 6, 2023

On the opposite side of Queen Elizabeth’s historically long reign, Prime Minister Mary Elizabeth “Liz” Truss of the UK announced her resignation from office on October 20, 2022, becoming the record-holder for shortest time in office of a British Prime Minister in history She formerly represented South West Norfolk in Parliament and was elected to succeed Boris Johnson after he resigned in

protect the people and hopefully quell this microscopic enemy Western and Central Africa have been targeted by climate change, causing several floods in 19 countries Large focus on other important issues has, unfortunately, caused negligence from both regions’ governments towards the climate crisis They were unprepared for the recent hits that have wiped out lands, displaced millions, and killed thousands The floods have also wiped out crops and taken out livestock with waterborne diseases, adding on to the food crisis that many African countries are experiencing There’s also a fear that, in recovery, food prices will rise, making the situation much more difficult for the people to endure Many humanitarian organizations such as the World Food Programme and UN agencies like the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees have been assisting countries, but there’s a dire need for donations and increased funding

Looking to the East, the Horn of Africa is facing the greatest drought in 40 years The drought has worked with the rising prices and COVID-19’s impact to increase food insecurity within the Horn Many citizens have been displaced in search for food causing large movement, decreasing sanitation, and increasing disease outbreaks According to the World Health Organization, “As people become increasingly food insecure, they also must make the impossible choice between food and healthcare, even as nutritional deficiencies make them increasingly vulnerable to disease ” Organizations like the World Health Organization and the United Nations International Children's Emergency Fund have been working to feed the hungry, give healthcare, and provide education to the many children who have been forced to put it on hold due to the situation Humanitarian efforts are calling for better funding to aid the people as well as calling for people to pay attention to the climate crisis worldwide and to try to make changes for the better

Europe: Impending Recession Looms

By Hannah Ternes

In 2009, when most Upper School students couldn’t yet name the seven continents, Greece revealed that it was far more in debt than its government had previously admitted, the event that economists consider to have started the European debt crisis of the 2010s This is linked to the Great Recession of 2007-2009, which was a period of global economic decline, especially in developed countries, of the greatest severity seen since the Great Depression The crisis was deemed “resolved” in the mid 2010s, but an exact date is difficult to pinpoint

Yet European governments can’t rest easy yet, as another recession looms on the horizon Most European economies escaped 2020 without taking too much of a hit, though the UK suffered from the sharp decline in tourism This predicted recession, which experts say will officially begin in late 2023 or early 2024, is a complex, multifaceted creature

The European Union has seen millions of refugees fleeing from war-torn countries including Syria, Iraq, Afghanistan, and now Ukraine The European Commission estimates that in January 2021, 5 3% of people living in the EU were not citizens of the EU While not all of these people are classified as refugees, this gives a decent figure The World Bank estimates that the refugee population was at 2 8 million in 2021, and that number has likely increased since the Russian invasion of Ukraine in March 2022 These numbers do not include the asylum seekers in the European countries who are not part of the EU: Great Britain records 135,000; the Balkans are refuge to 10,000; Norway lists around 55-60,000; and Moldova, which shares a border with Ukraine, houses over 90,000 refugees from Ukraine

September Her time in office lasted forty-five days The previous record-holder for shortest term as PM of the UK, George Canning, died in office after 119 days, lasting more than two months longer than Truss’s six weeks Truss was the third woman to serve as Prime Minister, after Margaret Thatcher (1979-1990) and Theresa May (2016-2019)

YouGov, a platform that periodically polls users and compiles approval ratings for politicians, reports Truss’s approval dipped to ten percent two days before her resignation Over the course of her six weeks in office, multiple international news sources have described her as “incompetent ” In September, she introduced tax cuts of 45 billion British pounds (50 billion USD) that the government could not afford in Britain’s current state of steep inflation The bill was received poorly and led to Truss firing the Chancellor of the Exchequer (senior minister and chief executive officer of the British treasury) Kwasi Kwartang

Truss will be replaced by former MP Rishi Sunak of the Conservative Party, who is a British-born Hindu of Punjabi Indian descent At 42, he is Britain's youngest modern prime minister since the 1820s

And then there’s, of course, the major detail of Russia ruthlessly cutting the gas supply to Europe by 88% in the last year All WCS sophomores through seniors know from Mr LeVan’s economics class that when there’s a shortage, price increases Countries that have been dependent on Russia for gas are seeing sky-high prices, and if a government can choose the thing that will hurt the economy the most, they’ll likely choose gas And labor But gas High gas prices stretch beyond just the average citizen filling up their car: limited access to gas means that it’s more expensive to drive, meaning the average citizen will drive less and visit fewer places they don’t need to go to, like nail salons or movies or even retail stores; to export goods via truck; to fly airplanes; and many more And not only is the gas that you put in your car affected; energy is, too European officials are calling for people to take shorter showers to conserve energy

Climate change is an expensive struggle as well France saw historically high temperatures this summer and in October experienced temperatures as high as 30 degrees Celsius (86 degrees Fahrenheit) Only 1 in 10 European households has an air conditioning system, compared to 9 in 10 in the United States, China, and Japan Culturally, Europeans hold disdain for air conditioning systems and have resisted them for decades, and with most of Europe usually experiencing cooler temperatures, they haven’t been considered necessary or appropriate too expensive for little benefit And with the Russians strangling the EU via gas supply, ACs are just implausible

While American economists say a recession is likely in the US’s near future, it isn’t predicted to be of the same magnitude as Europe’s Partially due to the gas shortage in the 1970s, when OPEC exercised its cartel power by producing less oil for the United States in disapproval of its policies regarding Israel, the United States is the largest oil-producing country in the world and isn’t as affected by Russia’s new power play as European countries That doesn’t mean that post-pandemic inflation isn’t choking Americans, though Check out Satvik Kolla’s “The Global Situation” for Mr LeVan’s take on the United States’ economic crisis

Tennis Recap

By Emma Mantovani

Another successful tennis season has wrapped up for the girls this year! Throughout the entire eight week season, all 39 girls on the team traveled throughout all parts of the state to compete They had many victories, learning experiences, and great memories The season culminated this past October in Topeka, Kansas, for the 3-2-1A State Tournament where the six girls were able to culminate for the team this year’s season Emma Mantovani received her third state singles title and Lara De Carvalho ended a fantastic freshman season with 6th The sophomore duo of Laney Conrad and Julia Herrman received their first doubles title and fought off the terrific duo of seniors Kinsey Nichols and Tatum Bhargava The entire team also won another state team title, culminating a fantastic season

This title was the 59th one for coach Dave Hawley, who announced his retirement this November Coach Hawley has been the rock for the WCS tennis program for the past couple of decades and his retirement marks the end of a brilliant era of tennis Coach

Girls Golf Goes to State!

By Hyemin Choe

The girls’ golf season has finally come to an end! I want to talk about the difference between last year’s girls’ golf compared to last year’s golf season and highlights of this year’s season This year’s girls’ golf season felt faster than last year Five girls participated last year, but Margaret and I were the only two girls participating in girls’ golf Even if we decreased three members, we had advantages and disadvantages throughout the year According to Mr Widener, the main disadvantage was the inability to compete as a team in any of our tournaments, which created a whole other level of competition and camaraderie It is right that competing as a team and individual is a whole different situation I thought it would’ve been great if we were competing as a team because it encouraged us to improve since we focused on a common goal The advantages were we could spend time on our weaknesses

Throughout the season, my driver and iron shots suddenly got wrong, so I could manage and improve my focus on those shots during practice Mr Widener said the advantage of having only two girls on the golf team was he was able to spend much more time focusing on the needs of each of us

and spending more time following each of us at the tournaments as well

This year’s season highlights are Margaret and I qualified for State for the second year in a row! Mr Widener's expectations for this season were both of us qualifying for State again and Margaret winning her second State title This year his expectations were accurate that both of us made it to State, and Margaret won her second State title!

On the State tournament day, the conditions were harsh The temperature went down about 20 degrees Fahrenheit Since we needed to continuously walk and hit golf balls on the 18-hole course for about six hours, our hands got dry and our lips torn Within the challenging situation, I tried my best but could not make it to the second day, but Margaret won her 2nd state title Coach Widener said he is proud of Margaret and I We improved our stroke averages by six strokes compared to last year by seeing both of us I enjoyed being part of a team with Coach Widener and Margaret this year Even though this is my last year joining the golf team, I will always support and cheer for Margaret, and other teammates will participate in the future

Siblings Sprint

By Satvik Kolla

Our Spartan cross country team had an incredibly successful season this year. Twelve runners ran fiercely at various meets throughout the fall, achieving reat individual and team successes

he boys’ state-qualifying team was made up of CJ and Will Meyer, Mason art, Price Johnson, and Cooper Ryan s a team, they finished an impressive eventh Congratulations to all of the unners on an impressive season!

ut the center of our discussion today re the stellar siblings, CJ and Will hey are some of the fastest runners he school, and the state, have ever een CJ and Will both finished a espective 3rd and 4th at the state meet For CJ, it was his last state meet ver So I sat down with him and sked how he felt about his high school career in cross country

“I think my career was pretty successful There were definitely some goals that I didn’t accomplish that I would’ve liked to, but overall, I’ve improved each year and set myself up with a hungry mentality that will help me as I continue the sport ”

And of course, I took the time to ask him about Will, who still has two years to go

“I’m very confident that he will exceed all of my personal records in the coming years He’s developing very well and very fast, and I hope that he can become a state champion by the time he graduates ”

As CJ graduates, he’ll be handing off the baton to his brother Will, who will undoubtedly achieve great success as one of the leaders of the team

WCS #BandFam Does it Again!

By Joyita Dev

At Goddard Eisenhower High School, several Wichita Collegiate school band members auditioned for the All-District 1234A Band and All-District Orchestra Before auditioning in front of a panel of judges, the students had to prepare an excerpt of a song chosen by the Kansas Music Educators Association At the audition, the students had to perform a randomly selected major scale, a chromatic scale, their song excerpt, and had to sightread a piece After a grueling audition process in which students competed against students from an 11-county area of Kansas, sixteen Wichita Collegiate students were selected to perform in the KMEA 1234A All-District Band and Orchestra at Wichita East High School on December 5th! Congratulations to these talented students and good luck to them as they prepare for All-State auditions in January!

Senior Hyemin Choe - 3rd Chair Flute - 1234A Band

Freshman Charlotte Pigg - 9th Chair Flute - 1234A Band

Junior Ayaan Parikh - 8th Chair Violin 2 - Orchestra

Senior Brandon Zhang - 1st Chair Percussion - Orchestra

Junior Sam Cline - 3rd Chair Tuba - 1234A Band

Senior Aden Fayziev - 7th Chair Trumpet -1234A Band

Senior Joyita Dev - 2nd Chair Bass Clarinet - 1234A Band

Sophomore Shouvik Dev - 2nd Chair Oboe - 1234A Band

Junior Paul Mines - 2nd Chair Percussion - 1234A Band

Sophomore Arman Issa - 3rd Chair Percussion - 1234A Band

Senior AJ Nagabhushan - 7th Chair Percussion - 1234A Band

Senior Nasseem Eldika - 7th Chair Trombone - 1234A Band

Sophomore Cari Reagans - 10th Chair Trombone - 1234A Band

Junior Mona Bagai - 4th Chair Trumpet - 1234A Band

Freshman Claire Marquardt - 18th Chair

Clarinet - 1234A Band

Freshman Cooper Winters - 19th Chair

Clarinet - 1234A Band

Photo submission by Amy Cunningham

Photo by Johnny Abromeit

By Satvik Kolla

When coming up with a movie to write about, I struggled Nothing out in theaters caught the attention that I thought was worthy of writing about There were good movies, but nothing great. It took a timeless classic from 2002 to realize that the shiniest gems can also be some of the oldest ones

I cannot believe that Spirited Away has been around for twenty years, and I watched it for the first time on Halloween I mean, what was I doing with my life?

In short, if you have two hours of free time, put everything aside, get your family and friends, and watch this movie

Spirited Away takes your breath away (sorry, bad attempt at comedy) But seriously, this movie is the perfect example of the power of animation and how animation is meant for everyone. Because animation is a medium, not a genre. It’s a medium with the power to convey simple, heartfelt messages using storytelling techniques that a camera cannot hope to match

Without giving spoilers, I will say that Spirited Away is the most powerful film I have seen Because it takes the story of a ten-year-old girl trying to escape the spirit world and save her parents and turns it into something more. Hayao Miyazaki uses the two beautiful hours of the film to make environmental commentary and notes on kindness, hard work, and the power of love It is rudimentary yet complex at the same time

Perhaps Spirited Away’s greatest aspect is its visuals Every frame is drawn with painstaking detail, but some stand out more than others Pay attention to the frames where nothing is happening in the movie; that is where the magic of Studio Ghibli comes to life. Enthralling pieces of art, combined with music from legendary composer Joe Hisashi, etch the scenes into the viewer’s mind It is beautiful and worth crying for I teared up :)

Oh yeah, the music It’s so good I made it my ringtone. You know music is good when you’re replaying it repeatedly a perfect audio complement to the movie’s visual prowess. Joe Hisaishi, I bow to you, sir

I know it’s hard to believe how incredible this movie is from my review, but please, take the leap of faith Even if you are not used to animation, take a chance I promise you; Spirited Away is not a movie for children or animation lovers. At its core, it is a movie about life, with characters, music, and a message that pierce the heart of any viewer

Glow Show and the Amazing WCS Marching Spartans

By Joyita Dev

The most awaited event of the Wichita Collegiate Marching Spartans’ timeline and the performance that Victor Harris and every person in the stands is most excited for each year is the Glow Show The fluorescent green stick figures that light up the football field for 11 minutes remain iconic, but they are also the cause of great confusion When the lights finally turn off and the suits turn on, it’s impossible to recognize people During the Glow Show this year, my mom accidentally recorded only Hyemin Choe’s amazing conducting skills instead of my own Understanding where to march to also becomes difficult in pure darkness, but the Wichita Collegiate Marching Band delivered an amazing performance this year! In addition to their shows on the home football field, the band and drumline performed at the Baker University Marching Festival, earning a remarkable II rating for band and a I rating for the drumline performance

Congratulations to the Collegiate Marching Band for a fantastic marching season this year Please make sure to come and support the band at future concerts this year, so you can keep up with their amazing music!

(Mr Mykel, please add this movie to the Humanities Curriculum)

(You can stream it on Netflix – I promise this is not an ad)

It’s Past Halloween, But It’s Always the Right Time for Spirited Away

Photo by Langley Overman

Photo by Langley Overman

StuCo Trivia!

Ovi Davis

Get to know your StuCo representatives!

1. Which member would name their pet dragon Donald?

STUCO Reps

Student Body President: Katherine Grace

Class of 2023

President: Emma Mantovani

2. Which member has pets named Beaux and Hollow?

3. Which member would name their pet dragon Charizard?

4. Which members’ favorite part of being in StuCo is the StuCo sweatshirt?

5. Which member’s dream vacation would be in the Maldives?

6. Which member has a pet named Chloe?

7. Which member’s real life superpower is being swaggy?

8 Which member’s favorite pet is their cat named Teddy?

Vice President: Conner Jones Treasurer: Gerald Albert Secretary: Saad Malik

Representative: Jude Cunningham Class of 2024

President: Erin Rolfe

Vice President: Omar Al-Tabbal Treasurer: Mason Hart Secretary: Brett Wetta

Representative: Yazan Bakdash Class of 2025

President: Will Meyer

9. Which member would like to visit Dubai if they could go anywhere in the world?

Vice President: Sabrina Hunt Treasurer: Nico Enegren Secretary: Will Strecker

Representative: Harry Ling Class of 2026

10. Which members’ favorite part of being in StuCo is being a voice for the student body?

11. Which member’s favorite class is AP Lit. & Comp. I?

12. Which member’s favorite part of being in StuCo is being a part of decision making?

13. Which member wanted to be Batman when they grew up?

14. Which member’s real-life superpower is scheduling?

15. Which member’s favorite part of being in StuCo is planning homecoming?

Fat Bear

Ovi Davis

President: Sadhakshi Sivaraman

Vice President: Lara de Carvalho Secretary: Elizabeth Timsah Treasurer: Brian Mattar

Representative: Alex Richardson

Greggegan Conspiracy

Vivian Baughman School Conspiracy

Mr. Rob Egan was sick. This isn’t altogether unusual; the unusual part was that the name of the substitute teacher was Mr. Greg Gegen (try saying that three times fast) I wasn’t the only one to find this funny and a little strange, and many of us think the name sounds fake or made up. Therefore, a couple different conspiracies have emerged. Is Mr. Gegen a failed clone? Is Mr. Egan a twin separated at birth? Some people think that Mr Gegen is Mr. Egan’s evil double. However, nothing evil happened the entire week, so this theory is out. Others believe that Mr. Gegen was actually Mr. Egan in a trench coat. It is believed that Mr. Egan wanted to observe our behavior when he wasn’t present. I consider this theory debunked, because Mr. Gegen wasn’t actually in a trench coat. False information! Personally, I believe that Mr Egan was abducted by aliens, and they sent down a replacement so no one would notice his absence. However, we noticed. We definitely noticed.

I cornered Mr. Egan about these claims, and all he had to say was, “That is patently absurd I think his answer was a little cagey and left a lot unsaid. I will be gathering more evidence to support my theory and will expand upon my claim in the next issue.

As citizens of the United States of America, it is a privilege nay, a duty to exercise the right granted by the Constitution to make the common people’s voices heard To throw away one’s vote is to shirk the responsibilities one owes to the brave men and women who gave their lives to maintain this freedom. Worse yet is to commit voter fraud to deny one’s fellow citizens this right which is held so sacred in the election of a false champion. It’s unfortunate, then, that the most important election of the year was riddled with fraud and a low voter turnout.

Late in the day, over 9,000 fraudulent votes were cast, nearly resulting in the election of a false champion. Thankfully, these votes were caught and discarded, and the Fat Bear Champion of 2022 was declared to be 747, repeating his 2020 title This is truly a win not only for 747, but also for our future; rival bear 435 or Holly, as she likes to be called may have been elected as a false representative of fat bears, but democracy came through.

Fat Bear Week is an extremely important event which raises awareness of fat bears by turning bear weight gain into a competition. Katmai National Park and Preserve documents the appearance of bears when they come out of hibernation, and then right before they begin to hibernate when they have gained enough weight to survive the winter. Being a keystone species in their ecosystem, it’s necessary that the bears make it to spring. Fat Bear Week encourages bears to gain weight with the hope of gaining glory, too. This year, Holly the slacker almost won this prestigious title through fraud, discounting the distinction for bears like four-time winner Otis, who works hard to become the fattest bear at Katmai National Park every summer by eating too much salmon to fathom

The Spartan Voice canvassed the seniors at WCS to determine how many eligible students truly care about the actual important election which occurred this year. The Voice found that while about 33% of eligible students voted on August 2nd and about 38% of eligible students voted in the midterm elections on November 8th, only 1 senior voted in Fat Bear Week 2022. Not only do WCS students completely disregard the wellbeing of this great nation’s finest, fattest bears, but they are also willing to commit fraud on the Voice’s survey One senior who shall remain unnamed for his own protection lied on the survey, claiming he voted for the Fat Bear Champion this year. When asked why he claimed to care so deeply about the fat bears, Michael told the Voice, “I didn’t think it mattered.” He and countless students like him are not innocent bystanders; they are contributing to the problem. If people would take Fat Bear Week as seriously as they take less important elections like midterms, Holly may not have even made it to the final bracket.

Regardless of Fat Bear Week’s obvious importance to the nation’s ecosystems, it is also important to vote for elected officials. The Spartan Voice encourages all eligible students and faculty to vote in local, state, and national elections if able. 38% of eligible student voters is great, but WCS can do better Get to the polls and make your voice heard!

What type of Pie are you???

Haley Walston

Vivian Baughman

Nothing too interesting is happening in this corner of the world At least, nothing interesting for those who live there, but the rest of the world may argue otherwise. There are rumors that an Aragog-size spider has moved into the Wombeyan Caves near Sydney There have already been several people reported missing, although the Australian government is denying anything of the sort. Meanwhile, in western Australia, people are growing uneasy at the large groups of kangaroos gathering on the horizon Many are worried about an impending war against the kangaroos, who have reportedly been seen creating weapons This is major news for the zoologists of the world, as it was previously unknown that kangaroos were capable of creating such tools. Meanwhile, conservationists are cheering for the kangaroos as they prepare to reclaim their territory However, this does nothing to ease the fears of the people in the estimated kangaroo takeover zone

1. What do you like to do on the weekends?

a. Party b. Be a gym bro c Spend time with your family d. Stay at home and watch tv e Eat and sleep

2. What's your favorite type of pie? a Apple pie b. Banana cream pie c. Strawberry Rhubarb pie d. Pumpkin Pie e. Pecan pie

3. Whats your favorite animal? a. Tiny dog b Raccoon c. Little bunny d Hamster e. Cute old cats

4 Whats your favorite drink? a. Iced pumpkin spice latte b monsters c. dr pepper d. Herbal tea e Water

5 Whats your favorite movie genre? a. Romcom b. Horror c Romance d. Comedy e Action

Points: -A = 1 -B = 2 -C = 3 -D = 4 -E = 5

If you scored in between 10-18 then you are pumpkin pie! You like basic things and try your best to keep up with trends. You're a little spicy, always ready to serve up some attitude You have a kind caring side that only the people closest to you get to see. You're best served with some whipped cream, so you probably have a sweet friend who has to apologize for your mean comments, but overall you are a good person who cares about the people around you!

If you scored in between 19-26 you are pecan pie Some people like you a lot, some don't even notice you. Your humor is underrated, even if most of your jokes are dad jokes As a pecan pie you want everything to go your way, you're the most organized person in every room You're a little salty, always taking everything to heart. You're easily offended but it's ok cause you can't hold a grudge if you forget things easily. You are kind hearted and put others before yourself.

6. What type of dream do you have most often?

a When you have a dream about a random person and the next day you have a crush on them b. Falling to your death c. Super hero dreams (or you save the day) d. Grade anxiety e confusing /random

7. What is your biggest fear? a Public speaking b. heights c needles d. spiders e. the ocean

8. Which of these things annoys you the most? a. Bragging b. When you forget something c When people talk too loud and interrupt you d. loud chewers e. Children

9 Whats your favorite type of music? a. pop b. country c classical d. alternative e rock

10 What's your favorite holiday? a. your own birthday b 4th of July c. Valentines day d. Halloween e Christmas

If you scored 27-34 then you are apple pie! Your a sweet caring person even if you are a bit shy. You give the best hugs but make fun of people (in a loving way.) If you scored a higher number you may even be a la mode, making you an extra sweet person. You might be a little too sweet, you trust others too easily, meaning you may or may not have a few toxic people in your life that you are too afraid to get rid of.

If you scored between 35-42 then you are strawberry rhubarb pie. You are unknown to a lot of people, but once someone gets to know you, you're one of the best friends they could have You're not afraid to take chances and are willing to work through all your problems. Personally, I think you're definitely underrated! You're the best at giving advice, but never listen to your own guidance You judge yourself too harshly but you're able to give amazing pep talks to all your friends.

Delphi Nepotism

Satvik Kolla

Members of Ithaca and Corinth

I’m sure you’re all incredibly enraged that OUR principal, Mrs. White, shows blatant favoritism to the House of Delphi. It’s not even subtle.

BLATANT She goes up with her microphone and practically yells to the whole world how she loves Delphi more than us. I bet if Mrs. White could make every house the House of Delphi, she would

It’s uncontrollable favoritism Every time we gather in our houses, we fear it. That is why I set out on a mission… To uncover the roots of Mrs. White’s favoritism and bring the truth to us all So that we may fight a FAIR contest the next time out

Satvik: “Is the House of Delphi your favorite?”

Mrs. White: “Absolutely.”

Satvik: “Why is that?”

Mrs White: “Because we’re simply the best ”

Satvik: “Do you not think it’s unfair?”

Mrs. White: “No, because they're my house.”

Satvik: “Do you think you've made people angry?”

Mrs. White: “That’s probably not the only way, but hopefully, everybody's a good sport

Satvik: “What do you think needs to change for Delphi to win next time?"

Mrs White: “We just need to challenge ourselves every time, and we do that by being loud and proud and showing more favoritism." Well, you heard it, folks. Mrs. White will remain a staunch supporter of the House of Delphi. Members of Corinth and Ithaca, we must continue to bear the winds of this blatant favoritism and continue to win Members of Delphi enjoy this favoritism. But dread it, run from it; defeat

If you scored from 43-50, then you are banana cream pie. Banana cream pie is kinda like pudding, kinda sloppy and soupy, but it's a bright happy yellow color You are probably a person who hides their emotions and only talks to your close friends. Once someone knows you they think you are really fun to be around, but you are easily judged or you judge others easily. You can be quite sour and you hold on to all of your grudges, but you're a good therapist friend who listens to everyone's problems, even if your advice isn't the greatest.

Sweater Tips

by Julia Longsworth

As the holiday season approaches, many of us are tasked with the feat of making an ugly Christmas sweater If you’ve had the unfortunate incident of finding yourself sitting with a mangled mess of a red polyester sweater, tangled tinsel, and hot glue, you’re not alone Uglifying a Christmas sweater is an art, and one that is difficult to master However, this can be the year that you finally win that ugly Christmas sweater contest! It just takes a lot of glue gun burns, and using these even hotter tips, of course

1. Embrace the tacky! What makes an ugly Christmas sweater ugly? Well, coming to terms with the fact that it’s not supposed to look good is a nice place to start Whether you want to create a kitsch Kris Kringle out of felt or attach ornaments to your sleeves, go for it! More is better!

2. Prep! As mentioned above, the goal of this article is to avoid being surrounded by a barrage of sleigh bells and googly eyes at midnight the night before you have to show off your festively fantastic sweater So, to make your life a lot easier, it’s best to have a concrete idea of what you want to create, as well as buying all the necessary materials to do so Extra hot glue and some ribbon are some things you might need to add to that list

3. Make it (somewhat) practical. If you’ve gotten swept up with ideas of LEDs and pounds of glitter, I’m here to bring you back to Earth Yes, the key to winning an ugly sweater contest is rooted in creativity and tackiness However, there is some practicality that has to be assumed when creating your perfect sweater Remember that you have to actually wear the sweater for a period of time There’s no point in creating one if you’re stuck being insufferably itchy and uncomfortable throughout the day!

4. Consider your audience If you are a preschool teacher wearing an ugly Christmas sweater, you should probably be wearing something different than a high schooler might Now, I’m not saying that winter wonderlands and Santa can’t apply to all age groups But, if you were to wear asweater with a TV character on it, you

should probably make sure that the type of sweater with a TV character on it, you should probably make sure that it appeals to the demographic you're wearing it for There’s nothing worse than having 20 people ask you, “What’s that supposed to be?”

5 Be creative! We are in 2022, people Gone are the days of simple glitter and pipe cleaners We need lights, electronics, something that is different from your run-ofthe-mill sweater! It’s fairly easy nowadays to grab a string of LED lights and string them around your sweater, or even to add some glow in the dark paint to your masterpiece If you’re really good with technology, the limits are nearly endless!

A Merry Masterpiece: The Muppet Christmas Carol by Ovi Davis

Are you looking for a faithful retelling of one of the most important Christmas stories of all time? With some of the most historically accurate costumes that you’ll ever see on film? One with stellar actors? With beautiful songs? Then look no further than the 1992 classic, The Muppet Christmas Carol

First, The Muppet Christmas Carol takes its accuracy to the source material, Charles Dickens's A Christmas Carol, extremely seriously The story is all there, but more shockingly, many of the small details stay the same, with a lot of the dialogue and narration lifted straight from the pages of the book. Using costuming, the movie stays in period, making every Muppet and human look like they could believably be walking around London in the 1840s (or the 1820s in flashbacks, a small detail that helps bring the viewer into the time period)

Second, Sir Michael Caine’s performance as Ebenezer Scrooge is jawdropping Caine took his performance so seriously, he pretended that the Muppets were real people and that he was performing with the Royal Shakespeare Company throughout the making of the film Also, for those of you Muppet enthusiasts, The Muppet Christmas Carol was the first major Muppet film production following the deathof Jim Henson in 1990, marking Steve Whitmire’s debut as the iconic Kermit the

Frog, who took the role of Bob Cratchit, and Whitmire does an excellent job maintaining the beloved character’s iconic voice, personality, and mannerisms

Finally, the music is beautiful and indescribably Muppet-like, but never superfluous; just like in a good stage musical, the songs are meaningful and function to advance the plot and characters, while also being entertaining My favorite song is “Marley and Marley,” sung by Scrooge’s ex-partners in business, portrayed perfectly by the iconic duo of Statler and Waldorf. It’s spooky, it’s Muppet-y, and it’s honestly just really good. It functions to progress the plot, taking the place of the scene in which Marley’s ghost visits Scrooge and tells him what awaits him in the afterlife “Your future is a horror story written by your crime” is a line from the song that packs a punch for both Scrooge and the audience, making us all realize that if Scrooge continues on his path of avarice, he will be condemned to a terrible life after death

Movie Review: How the Grinch Stole Christmas by Dahlia Issa

Have you ever found yourself stuck trying to find the perfect movie to watch during the holidays? Then keep on reading, ’cause you’re in for a treat How the Grinch Stole Christmas is a family and fantasy holiday movie that will leave you with some extra Christmas spirit This movie leaves people with core memories in their hearts, and it is certainly not a movie you can forget Not only is it a classic, but it reaches for your inner-child joy and will leave you laughing and delighted. This movie is based on one of Dr. Seuss’s tales, and it begins with a lonesome, grumpy green Grinch who decides to destroy Christmas for the kind people of Whoville As he tries to ruin anything Christmas-related, the Grinch’s plans suddenly change when he finds this loveable little girl named Cindy Lou Who At that point, everything in the movie gets a little mixed up and things find their way back to how they should be To find out the rest, you must watch the whole movie

Many families gather around their living rooms to watch this movie together because of how enjoyable it is to them. How the

Grinch Stole Christmas makes you smile and warms your heart with holiday cheer. Countless people have probably already read the book, which makes watching the movie all the more exciting. It is beginning to get chilly outside, and winter is on its way This means Christmas is right around the corner and it’s time to get moviewatching! Go grab your friends, family, or pets, make some hot cocoa, put on your Christmas socks, and snuggle up on the couch Finally, you are ready and all you have to do now is watch How the Grinch Stole Christmas, and all your holiday wishes will come true!

Movie Review: Trading Places

by Johnny Abromeit

No matter what race, what religion, what background you come from, holiday traditions are essential during the giving season Although my family doesn't have any long-time traditions, one of the things we do during this time of year is watch the comedy Trading Places. Now, you’re wondering how this is a Christmas movie. It is situated in the city of brotherly love during the jolliest time of the year Trading Places is about two men that are in two polar opposite places in this time in their lives Louis Winthrop is a young, successful, and most importantly, privileged, stockbroker Life takes a change when the owners of Duke and Duke, Mortimer and Randolph Duke, place a singular one dollar bet that anyone who hasn't been accustomed to the life of luxury and wealth can succeed the same way Louis Winthrop does. This is where we meet Billy Ray Valentine (Eddie Murphy). His life is in shambles when he is approached by Duke and Duke Combined with the lack of intelligence and opportunity, it is safe to saythat Billy Ray has been through many struggles throughout his lifetime Duke and Duke go to Billy Ray and ask him if he’d like to come be a stockbroker for them Billy Ray, never having this type of opportunity and also having the lack of knowledge in this situation, he proceeds to accept their offer But since Billy Ray is coming into Duke and Duke, he will replace Winthrop’s old job. As Billy accepts the life.

keys to his house that Duke and Dukerovided, it’s as if he is starting his new life Now for Winthrop, he is framed by Duke and Duke. Mortimer and Randolph have so much power throughout their company that they make everyone who knows Louis forget about him and act as if he isn’t a thought. He is kicked out of his house and moved onto the streets, which is previously where Billy Ray had been for many years before Through these two situations Louis and Billy Ray are put in, they gain new experiences and new relationships which ultimately bring them back to each other, and from there, the unthinkable happens

Christmas in Korea

by Jiwoo Lee

Christmas is one of the big, if not the biggest, holidays in the United States. Although South Korea also celebrates Christmas, there are not as many traditions related to the holiday. But there is a traditional holiday everyone celebrates at the end of the year in South Korea, Seollal Seollal is the Lunar New Year It will be on January 22 in 2023, but the date differs every year A fun tradition of Seollal is having a dish named Tteokguk Tteokguk is a soup made with clear or white broth with thin slices of chewy rice cake called Tteok, minced meat, green onion, and egg, with dried seaweed sprinkled on top Almost all Koreans enjoy this soup on Seollal. Not only does Tteokguk taste amazing, but it also has a fun tradition tied to it. To talk about this aspect of Korean culture, you need to know that everyone ages one year on New Year's Day in Korea People say that one bowl of Tteokguk makes you age one year This saying is why many people consider this soup a mandatory tradition for New Year's Day Often, people will joke about not aging or aging more than a year depending on how many bowls of Tteokguk they have It is a fun tradition Koreans enjoy when celebrating the new year!

Ovi's Snow Ice Cream

by Ovi Davis

Ah, December A time of joy and cheer

You cuddle up on the couch and watch your favorite TV show You’re not planning to leave the house anytime soon not in this weather But you have an inescapable craving for something sweet The best way to remedy that is the warmth provided by a treat that is easily made using ingredients found in your own home and outside.

Ingredients:

8 cups fresh, clean snow

1 cup milk or milk substitute

1 tsp vanilla extract

1 pinch fine salt

OR, for richer ice cream: 6 cups fresh, clean snow

1 can sweetened condensed milk

Directions:

1. On a snowy day, scoop fresh, clean snow into a large mixing bowl

2. Add ingredients, including any additional ingredients you may be craving like cocoa powder, chocolate chips, fruit pieces, chopped nuts, etc.

3. Mix until your arm burns and your fingers are numb from the biting cold (or until ingredients are distributed evenly)

4. Enjoy

5. Realize that it’s literally freezing inside and you are eating ice cream as if it were 100 degrees. Every waking day is the same as before. Will you ever break the cycle? Look at you, bundled up under piles of blankets as if you have not brought this upon yourself Inside you are screaming, but no one can hear you All you have left is snow ice cream as cold as your soul

6. Pray to whatever god will hear you that you did not ingest any harmful substances from the snow in your yard You don’t know what goes on out there, at night, in the cold.

The Holidays

by Andrew Porter

The holidays are almost here

Joy to spread and so much cheer With all that glee it’s clear to see The holidays are near

The holidays have now arrived We can leave the wait behind Everywhere the lights are seen With toys kids are surprised

Though some I may not celebrate Other days are just as great With Hanukkah, then Kwanza too For all these days we just can’t wait

Family Traditions

by Andrew Porter

With many generations that have passed Traditions are created

My family plays games and has a blast Others become elated

To make homes for little gingerbread men Or spin the dreidel for fun

With hopes of gimel to win once again Knowing you are number one

Starbucks - First off, I began with the cult classic: Starbucks I like to think of Starbucks as a neutral coffee shop I should mention that, for the sake of fairness, I ordered an iced vanilla latte from each of the coffee shops The coffee isn’t bad, a little burnt tasting in my opinion, but definitely not the worst coffee I’ve ever had The appearance of the store was fairly nice The slightly dimmed lighting and the clean, modern look of the shop makes it a calm, clean place to get some work done. Although it can get pretty busy and noisy at certain times of the day, the actual study factor isn’t bad. Overall, I give Starbucks a 5/10

Reverie Coffee Roasters - Across from Wichita East High School sits Reverie Coffee Roasters One of the appeals of this shop was the fact that they actually roast their own coffee beans in a roasterie building behind the main coffee shop itself However, I didn’t really find the coffee to be something super unique. It was definitely very strong-tasting, but apart from that, there wasn’t much difference to most of the other drinks I tasted on this list The inside of the building is very modern with concrete floors and sleek black walls Being one of the more popular spots in the city, Reverie is consistently pretty busy Still, the shop maintains a quiet atmosphere that is ideal for studying Reverie earns a solid 7/10 from me

Coffee Daze - A new coffee shop has just popped up in College Hill! Coffee Daze recently opened in late October of this year,and it’s been a busy first few months The space is very clean, with a whole wall of floor-to-ceiling windows The drinks there are very good, and they even have some fun seasonal beverages! As the shop has recently opened, it is still experiencing that new business rush However, I feel like that influx of customers is for a good reason Coffee Daze gets an 8/10.

Happy Holidays!

by Julia Longsworth

‘Twas the night before finals, and all through the school not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse! At least, not outside of school hours. This time of year, most of the Collegiate Upper School students are hastily preparing for finals. Not to mention, many seniors are working diligently to finish up their college applications It certainly suffices to say that it is a very busy time all throughout the campus Even so, everybody here at the Spartan Voice wants to wish you a very happy holiday season No matter where you may be over the break, we hope that you are staying warm and safe We are looking forward to seeing you all again next year, and putting out our next issue!

Study Spots

by Julia Longsworth

With finals fast approaching, many of us are finding ourselves studying in various coffee shops around Wichita in hopes of getting both caffeinated and concentrated Of course, you have your classic chain cafés, but there are many great local spots that definitely deserve more attention So, I have set out to not only introduce these shops to many of you, but give an honest review on each I have three criteria for my ratings: taste of the coffee, appearance of the shop itself, and, most importantly, would I be able to actually study there?

Leslie Coffee Co. - Located in the Delano district, Leslie Coffee Co. has one of the best locations in the city. The shop operates inside what was once an old bank from the 1900s Between the vintage tile and stunningly intricate emerald green coffered ceilings, Leslie Coffee Co has, by far, the most amazing interior on this list The space is not the only great thing about this spot, either The coffee is amazing, a perfect blend of bitter coffee and sweet vanilla I, personally, love to study here It’s also worth noting that Leslie Coffee Co is home to one of the Wichita Community Fridge, a nonprofit that focuses on providing food for unhoused people. A great atmosphere, delicious coffee, and a business that supports charity: what more could you ask for? Leslie Coffee Co snags a solid 9 5/10

Speaking of which, flip to the last page of this issue for a QR code for the Spartan Voice Remind. We will be announcing our next meeting there, so make sure to join it if you are interested in writing for our next issue! We really do depend on staff writers and guest contributors to make this whole thing happen, so please reach out if you’re interested Additionally, we would also like to issue a special thank you to all of our contributors, whether that be stories, photos, or any and everything else! We are so lucky to have such a supportive and talented community And of course, we would like to thank you all, the readers!

Holiday Crossword

by Haley Walston

Winter Sports Preview

By Conner Schupbach

After a successful fall sports season with championships in tennis, cross country, and golf, the Spartans will look to continue winning in the winter sports Those teams looking to have good seasons are boys’ swimming, bowling, and boys’ and girls’ basketball.

Boys’ swimming is coming off one of their best seasons in school history, finishing third at state After losing key contributor Joseph Gadalla, who graduated in 2022, the team will need to find new strengths “I’m looking forward to seeing what the guys can do after losing core players and getting good new players,” says junior Derek Yang, preseason swimmer of the year. “I think we have a good chance to surpass where we were last year” Joining Yang will be seniors Adam Sandid and Brady Hunt, juniors Paul Mines and Mason Hart, and sophomore Harry Ling The group hopes to once again go toe-to-toe with the 5A powers of swim at state later this year

Bowling will try to qualify for state this year against a field of 4A and 5A schools Leading bowling as he has the past five years will be Mr Stewart, who said, “I’m stoked We have several senior returners who have been bowling in the offseason, putting in the work, finding their swing I’m excited because we have the biggest team I’ve had and a stacked coaching staff, ready to make our team into champions.” Bowling returns most of their players from last year including senior Michael Goldberg and juniors Sam Cline, Keisuke Takahashi, and Carter Garcia

Boys’ basketball came up short of qualifying for the state tournament in Hutch last year, but will look to have more success behind a revamped roster. Led by senior Quentin Fair and juniors Brett Wetta, James Shackelford, and Robby Rasberry, the Spartans will sport a more athletic roster than years prior with new freshmen that look to start and returning sophomores and juniors looking for an increased leadership role in the promising young team With youth, however, comes inexperience and the Spartans will have to grow and find how to play as a team quickly as the season starts December 6 against Parsons at home

While the boys’ side is going through a transition phase with an influx of underclassmen, it is nothing compared to the overhaul that the girls’ team is experiencing.

Led by lone senior Erihana Vincent and new coach Dylan Heath, the Spartans can only move upwards after a disappointing season last year A key issue for that team was simply a lack of players Despite having mostly upperclassmen, including senior Ellie Munds who went on to play in college at Hastings, the Spartans only played seven, allowing for little to no rest for the starting five. That won’t be the case this year as the team will have over ten players, allowing the starters to get rest and underclassmen to get opportunities to play off the bench “I think we’ve had some great practices We have a lot of girls out this year Hope everyone can come out to see the team against Parsons next week,” said Erihana Hopefully for all winter sports there are good seasons and progress towards the goal of regional and state championships.

Editors:

Ovi Davis

Joyita Dev

Satvik Kolla Julia Longsworth Haley Walston

Copy Editor: Hannah Ternes

Featured Writers: Johnny Abromeit

Vivian Baughman

Hyemin Choe

Joyita Dev Dahlia Issa Satvik Kolla Jiwoo Lee Emma Mantovani Wambui Ngunjiri Andrew Porter Conner Schupbach

Photo Contributions: Johnny Abromeit Amy Cunningham Langley Overman