West Side Story Sports Update

westsidestory Winter Sports Update 2010 PRODUCED BY THE 2010.2011 INTRODUCTION TO NEWSPAPER CLASS DECEMBER 21, 2010 WSSPAPER.COM

Fun Facts About Mckenzie Favorite Color: Black, but on game days, green and gold

Mckenzie Piper ’12, number 35, playing for All Iowa Attack in 2010

Basketball Sensation Junior new to West High brings her love for basketball with her

F

rom Keokuk to Iowa City, Mckenzie Piper ’12 is bringing her basketball skills with her. Playing since first grade with YMCA basketball, she is now playing for West as forward and small forward.

Piper plays basketball outside of school as well. During the summer before her freshman year, she played for Iowa Select, and going into her sophomore year she played for Team Iowa. Last summer she played on All Iowa Attack, and plans to be apart of again this summer.

Piper hasn’t been at West very long, because she moved on November 7 to the Iowa City area. She does miss Keokuk a lot, but says she is happy to be playing

here.

“I have great friends on the Keokuk basketball team. I hope they do really well this year,” said Piper.

Even though she is the “new girl,” that doesn’t seem to be much of an issue for Piper.

“She fits in with the rest of us even though she is new to the team. It’s like we have known her for awhile,” said Danielle Chelf ’12, a teammate of Piper’s.

Piper is having a great time on the team.

“BJ, Wieck, and Coach P are all great coaches, we work hard in practice, but we have a lot of fun,” said Piper.

Piper hopes to continue her basketball career into the future. She says she plans on playing in college. She also said pros would be nice, but it depends how good she is.

“I believe that if she keeps working hard, she will be very successful,” said BJ Mayer, the girl’s varsity basketball coach.

Piper has many ways she is motivated, from coaches, to trainers, to teammates, to competition.

“Most of all I think motivation comes from within not from without. Like Michael Jordan said, ‘For the love of the game,’” said Piper.

-Katie Mons

Favorite Food(s): Golden Oreos-NOT double stuffed, keylime pie, Mother’s spaghetti squash casserole, Dad’s chocolate shakes Favorite Song: Firework by Katy Perry Favorite TV Show: CSI Favorite Book/Series: Hunger Games Favorite Place to Shop: Urban Outfitters Nicknames: Piper, Pipetastic, Pipe, Pipes, Kenny, Henny, Binny, Mckenz, Kenz, Kenzie, Mack, Big Mack, Queen Sheeba, You There Activities (besides basketball): Naps, Reading, Eating, Tennis, Movies, Sudoku, Making Bracelets

A look at the future The prospect of girls track without the superstar seniors of 2010

By Olive carrollhach

A new legacy of their own?

Meet the 2011 newbies!

Ashley Merrick

‘

Grade: Sophmore Event: Shot Put Personal Goal: “I

want to throw 35 feet... I don’t know if that’s good or not!”

Favorite thing about track:

Team bonding!

...........................................................

A

2010 freshmen pose with the team’s 1st place trophy after the State meet

line of exhausted girls rapidly thrust weights above their heads, their pink faces reflected in the mirrored walls of the weight room. Although to an onlooker their workouts may appear suicidal, these girls have a goal.

They want to win another state title for track. Not only that, track and field coach Mike Parker wants his girls to beat their last year’s all-time record of 24 points.

There’s only problem, half of last years varsity team has graduated.

The senior class of 2010 was the largest group of seniors Parker has ever coached. There were 16 of them, and among them were such stars as Courtney Fritz and Jessica Gherke. Gherke won 4 events at the state meet in 2010.

“That’s the part of a team most people recognize, the Gherkes,” said Parker, “But we couldn’t have won without the underclassmen, because put together, they scored more points at state than the seniors.”

The class of 2011 is feeling the effects of last year’s success. Being the oldest grade in any sport comes with a certain responsibility, but following such talented athletes, many of the current seniors are struggling to perform better than ever.

Kristen Eckman ’11 says she feels the pressure to succeed far more than she did during her other two years in

track. “There are only a few seniors in winter training, and leading the team with that small number is going to be pretty hard,” said Eckman.

According to Eckman, one of the most crucial parts of being a good leader as a senior, isn’t your time.

It’s keeping the team tight.

Taylor Fehlberg ‘11 has made it a a goal to remain active with track by coming to practice to see old friends, althoughy she can’t run due to a stress fracture.

With a full six months of training left before state, there is plenty of time to improve both relationships and records.

Distance girls must reinforce both their winter gear and their relationships three times a week when they take to the icy streets around West High. Injury at this point in the season is pretty common, because sometimes a runner reaches her physical peak too early, then hurts herself later like Fehlberg.

Another danger is simply the nasty falls from running in such icy conditions.

Although temperatures are low, the moral of the team is high. Good spirits are due in part to Coach Parker’s faith in what his returning girls can do.

“When I look at [the talent] and dedication we have coming back, I know the other teams have to make up a lot just to get to where we were before,” Parker said with a self-assured smile.

Kristen Lineback Grade:Sophmore

Event: Hurdles

Personal Goal: Make

varsity for the shuttle hurdle team Favorite thing about Track:

Running around the school at practice. “It’s funny to see people’s reaction with a bunch of girls running through the hallway.”

Emilia Szmyrgala Grade: Freshman

Event: 800s and 1500s

Personal Goal: “I don’t

want to slip on the ice!.”

Favorite thing about Track: Getting close to the other distance girls in track.

Art by Olive Carrollhach

Fields of

GREEN

(Top) Tanner Schilling, (Middle) Schilling and Steigleder, (Bottom) Quinn Steigleder

Written by Leela Sathyaputri

White shoes race across a freshly mowed field, deep green shin-guards flashing as the player kicks the soccer ball to his teammates. A bit of smooth footwork, and the ball is kicked back. The player shoots at the goal—and he scores.

It happens again and again, until the game is won, and the opposing team can do nothing to stop it.

It’s this kind of playing that caused the West High boys’ soccer team to never lose a game this year.

And it’s what lead Tanner Schilling, ’11, to win the title of “Most Athletic” at 2010’s Homecoming Dance, as well as what lead him to rank in the top 55 high school players of America (with Schilling being one of only ten juniors when he competed in spring of last year.) He will attend an official ceremony in Baltimore on January 15th, 2011, and will receive a plaque with his name on it in West High’s trophy cabinet.

Schilling was first notified of his ranking by the head coach of Colgate University, Erik Ronning, in an email on December 8th. He said, “At first I didn’t really know what to think about it. I wasn’t really happy, but not really sad.

Just saying I wasn’t either. Then, shock just kicked in. I couldn’t believe I could win an award like that, especially [competing with] the whole nation.”

The first thing Schilling did was text his girlfriend and co-soccer player, Quinn Steigleder, ’13. “I was really happy.

I was excited. And I was proud of him,” she said.

Schilling has a lot of practice backing him up; he started playing when he was just five years old— the result of a father and older sister who ran track and a mother who was a cheerleader, as well as plenty of encouragement to “try everything.” He thrived in this environment, joining Iowa City Academy (a soccer club) at the prompt of a friend in grade school, then going on to Iowa Soccer Club till he was fifteen, and EIU until he reached seventeen.

This year, Schilling is playing in the West Des Moines soccer club and is one of the seniors of the West High boys soccer team.

He says that the quality of West’s team has dipped because of last year’s seniors leaving, but that it’s “still really good,” to which Steigleder adds, “It’s always different when people leave.” However, both he and Steigleder (who is a member of West High’s girls soccer team) agree that the quality is sure to quickly rise again. Schilling says it’s because the team’s “chemistry (or teamwork) will be better,” and that “This year, we hope to exceed everyone’s expectations.”

Next year, Schilling will leave to pursue his dream of being a professional soccer player at Colgate University in New York.

“Being on the field takes everything else away. I don’t think about anything else. It allows me to be a different person. To be myself,” he said.

THE ATHLETIC COUPLE: How Much Do They Know About Each Other?

What is their...

QUINN

TANNER

..Favorite Sport to watch?

Quinn says Tanner’s favorite sports are: Football, basketball and soccer.

Tanner says: “[She likes watching] me.

Besides me...

Iowa football.

And ping pong.”

C O R R E C T ! ...Favorite Energy Drink?

Quinn says Tanner drinks: “He drinks Gatorade--bottled water during games.”

Tanner says: “I just drink Gatorade sometimes.”

Tanner says: “No, she’s a water person.”

Quinn says: “I drink Gatorade during the game and water in between.”

...Best Trait in Soccer?

Quinn says Tanner’s best trait is: “He’s fast.

He’s really fast.”

Tanner says Quinn’s best trait is: “[She’s] smart. Good tactics.”

Tanner says: “I’d say [my best trait is] speed or skill.”

Quinn says: “I don’t even know... Probably just what he said.”

C O R R E C T!

How Much do They Practice?

Quinn says Tanner practices: “Every day of the week except sunday. For clubs, three to four times a week.”

Tanner says Quinn practices: “High school, every day--for clubs, three [times a week].”

C O R R E C T !

Iowa is Heading to Tempe, Arizona Iowa’s true fans hope the Hawkeyes go down to Arizona and bring back the Insight Bowl Trophy.

By Nathan Peterson

Where The Rivals Go To Bowl Big 10 bowl games

Capital One Bowl (Orlando FL) Jan1, 2011 1:00 PM ET Alabama (9-3, 5-3 SEC) Michigan St.(11-1 ,7-1 Big 10) Gator Bowl (Jacksonville FL) Jan 1 2011 1:30 PM ET Mississippi St. (8-4, 4-4 SEC) Michigan (7-5, 3-5 Big 10) Allstate Sugar Bowl (New Orleans) Jan 4 2011 8:30 PM ET Ohio State (11-1, 7-1 Big 10 Arkansas (10-2,6-2 SEC)

Texas Bowl (Houston TX) December, 29, 2010 6:00 PM ET Illinois (6-6, 4-4 Big 10) Baylor (7-5, 4-4 Big 12) Ticketcity Bowl (Dallas TX) Jan 1, 2011 12:00 PM ET Northwestern (7-5, 3-5 Big 10) Texas Tech (7-5, 3-5 Big 12) Outback Bowl (Tampa FL) Jan.1, 2011 1:00 PM ET Florida (7-5, 4-4 SEC) Penn State (7-5, 4-4 Big 10) Rose Bowl (Pasadena) Jan 1 2011 5:00 PM ET Wisconsin (11-1, 7-1 Big 10) TCU (12-0, 8-0 MWC)

T

here are a lot of people that fly and drive to the bowl game. Stacey Strief, a teacher at WHS, wishes she could go again this year. At a previous bowl game, Strief said “ my car blew a tire and I made a sign and got on TV! I had so much fun!”

She thinks the score will be 31-7 because Iowa will be prepared for the game. There are a lot of Iowa fans that tailgate before the game. However, there are also many fair-weather fans which cause true fans to be upset. Missouri(10-2) has a better record than Iowa (7-5), but fans can’t give up hope or panic. Fans that are going the Insight Bowl game need to be supportive and cheer on the Hawkeyes.

10 Things You Didn’t Know About Sheila

No. 1 Although she is a fan of all sports, baseball is her favorite to watch. Her number one team is the Minnesota Twins.

2

She has freakishly large feet. Wearing size 11, it’s hard finding the right shoes to wear. “That’s why I don’t wear Uggs, my feet would look so big and awkard,” said Sheila.

By: Michaela Recker

Besides giving ice and taping kids up, there is more to Sheila Stiles then being the trainer, here at West High

3

Her first football game as a trainer, a football player got injured and his legs were at a ninety degree angle from his waist.

Sheila had to pop them back into place. “The team doctor said, ‘I’ll hold him down, you turn his legs, and I just kind of looked at him like he was crazy.”

4

She is a picky eater.She doesn’t like any vegtables what so ever. “When I was little I would sit at the dinner table and my parents would force me to eat some sort of vegtables...they still do that today.”

Along with vegtables, she dislikes most fruits to. The only ones she will eat are bananas, pears, apples, and peaches.

5

She is moving to a bigger, better room. Right now, it is way too small to fit as many people in that that need to be. The new room will be taking up three-fourths of the team room, in betweeen the big and small gym. She is expecting this by next year, or if lucky, this spring.

6

Her favorite color is grey.

“It goes with anything I wear. If you ever see me, I’ll most likely be wearing either:grey, white, or black. My sisters always make fun of me for it.” Sheila’s bridemaids dresses were even grey.

9

A hobby of hers is polar diving, which is jumping into a frozen over lake in the middle of winter. “When I lived in Michigan, my friend’s family would do it every year to celebrate the beginning of winter.

It’s a thrill,” she said.

Sheila and husband, Brad share their first bite of cake as husband and wife.

7 8

She worked as a trainer here for two years, then transferred to Michigan for five years before returning.

She didn’t like her husband Brad the first time they met. He was the head soccer coach who she thought was a jerk, because he always second guessed her work on his players.

10

She was a two sport athlete in high school, playing six-on-six basketball, and volleyball.

Sheila helps stretch Sheila Johnson ‘13 after basketball practice

What’s Your Favorite Memory of Shelia?

“When I explained to her that Catherine sounds a lot like Patrick when teachers say it, shecalled me Patrick the rest of the year and my name on her cupboard is Catherin Patrick Merdinger.”

-Catherine Merdinger ‘11

“When she told me she would look into the drama club for me because I came in with an injury all the time. one daywhen I went in for ice, she gave me a flier for S.P.I.T and the teacher’s name for Inro to Theatre.”

-Colin Forestner ‘13

“When I was doing physical therapy for my back, we named my back excercises after the way that people stand...some of them were pretty mean, but funny.”

-Mackenzie Haight ‘12

T E

The ing m m i Sw Issue

E

M

COLLIN MIKE KAISEN & DANIEL

:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: :::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: :::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: Diving into the lives of the four most :::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: inspirational guys on the West By:Jessica Carrillo :::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: High Boys’ Swimming team.

Photos by: Frank Weirche :::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: ::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::

The Swimming Issue

MEET THE SWIMMERS

Collin Kramer ‘11 Captain

How long have you been swimming?

-I swam for the first time in seventh grade on the junior high swim team. I have been swimming club since eighth grade.

Whats your fastest time?

-My best time is the 200 free: 1:58.47 What do you usually swim?

-I typically swim the 200 free, 200 free relay, 100 backstroke, 400 free relay How many hours do you swim?

-I swim two hours a day every weekday and one hour in the mornings on Tuesdays and Thursdays How do you prepare for a meet?

-I prepare for meets by eating granola bars, drinking fluids, and listening to music.

Are you going to swim in college?

-I will swim in college if I attend a small liberal arts school, which I am likely to do.

What do you do when swimming is over at West high?

-When swimming is over at West High I swim with my club for a month and then compete at club state. After that I take about a month off from swimming and start again in May.

Kaisen Yao ‘12 Varsity Swimmer

What is your nickname?

-Kaisen the Asian Sensation.

How long have you been swimming?

-I started right before I turned 11 so, 5and a half years ago.

What’s your fastest time?

-50 yard freestyle: 21.34 sec.

What do you usually swim?

-Anything less than 200 yards.

How many hours do you swim?

-2 and a half to 3 and a half hours a day How do you prepare for a meet?

-I rest alot, eat healthy food, relax, and I try not to worry about my races. I also do anything that will take my mind off of swimming.

Do you have any Superstition when it comes to swimming?

-Nope.

Are you in any other sports or a swimming club?

-Ping pong and I use to play tennis Are you going to swim in college?

-Yes, I plan on swimming D1 in college and competing at NCAAS. What do you do when swimming is over at West high?

-Swim for the local club, Iowa Flyers.

Daniel Dai ‘11 Varsity Swimmer

[

How long have you been swimming?

-I have been swimming for about seven years What do you usually swim?

-I usually swim the 100 butterfly and 200 IM, plus the butterfly leg of the 200 medley relay. During the club season I swim the fly events again, but we also have the 200 fly added in as well. I also swim a bit of everything else when I’m bored.

How many hours do you swim?

-During a typical weekday we have two hour practices in the afternoon/ evening. I also lift weights with the swim team for an hour in the mornings before school three times a week. And on very rare occasions I go to the morning swim practices, which are held twice a week.

How do you prepare for a meet?

-I don’t really prepare for a meet as much as I prepare for my individual events. Before an event I like to try and calm myself to make sure I’m focused on what I’m about to do. Also taking deep breaths and staying calm helps me keep a more relaxed stroke, which is more efficient, in my opinion.

Do you have any superstition when it comes to swimming?

-My main superstition is that I like to keep myself dry before each race.

Also for some reason I have to wear my goggles outside my cap during practice, but inside my cap during a race.

Are you in any other sports or a swimming club?

-I participate in the Iowa Flyers swim club during the off season, but my attendance is spotty to say the least. I’m also not sure if you would count Kicker’s soccer as a sport, but I play that too Are you going to swim in college?

-I don’t think that I’m going to have too much time to swim in college.

I might do it to stay in shape but anything beyond that isn’t really in consideration What do you do when swimming is over at West high?

-After the season I usually attempt to go to club practice with IFLY,but I usually end up being pretty lazy and getting fat.

Mike Rogers ‘11 Captain

How long have you been swimming?

- I have been swimming for 3 years.

Whats your fastest time?

- My fastest time was the 50 free, 24.08.

What do you usually swim?

-My usually swim sprints, freestyle, backstroke and fly.

How many hours do you swim?

-Two to three hours a day.

How do you prepare for a meet?

-I eat a big lunch and I drink alot of water.

Are you in any other sports or a swimming club?

- I don’t swim club but I plan on doing tennis thos spring.

What do you do when swimming is over at West high?

-I lift and play intermural football.

Any last words?

-People that swim are the sh*t.

]

“Kaisen the Asian Sensation.”

-Kaisen Yao ::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: ::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: ::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: FOR ::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: PHOTOSTORY ::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: go to ::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: ::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: WSSPAPER.COM

Pros of Swimming -Swim meets are fun, and you can see your personal improvement.

-Most of the people on my team are pretty awesome. (Dai) -It’s a great way to stay in shape -Sometimes it’s fun -You don’t get all sweaty and disgusting when you swim -You get to show off your good chiseled body in a speedo. (Dai) -Scholorships - Get to meet new people - Easy way to get tan in the summer (Yao) -Works every muscle in your body -Important life skills

Cons of Swimming -The chemical effects of the pool (hair, teeth, lungs, etc.), -It can be very difficult, -I often push myself to my physcial limits in practice.( Kramer) -It’s pretty much the only sport where you can’t breathe most of time, because breathing makes you go slower -Waking up before the sun rises to go to practice/weights -Sometimes it’s not so fun -No matter how hard you try, you end up with dry skin that smells like chlorine -You have to get in the water, which is cold.

OLYMPIAN Butler swimming freestyle at a meet.

Swimming for the Gold

By Brenna Deerberg

Photos courtesy of Savannah Butler

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even days a week. Three hours a day.

The only exceptions are when there’s a meet, Christmas Eve, and Christmas. This is the typical swim practice schedule for Savannah Butler ’13. To some this many practice hours may seem excessive, but Butler has her sights set high.

“My goal [is to participate in] the [2012] Olympic Trials,” said Butler.

Her coach, Megan Oesting, said that Savannah has what it takes to accomplish this goal.

“Savannah is quite capable of making the time standard for Olympic Trials. She is already com-

peting at meets with swimmers of that caliber,” said Oesting.

Oesting and teammates of Butler agree that Butler is one of the more capable swimmers they know.

“Savannah is definitely one of the hardest workers I’ve ever met,” said teammate Kaisen Yao ‘12. “She comes to every practice ready to work hard, and pushes herself to her limit.”

Although Butler is very dedicated to her swimming, she still makes time for a heavy homework load and a few of her close friends.

“I’ve learned how to manage my time, but I still have to rush to get homework done. Sometimes I don’t have time, and it does affect my grades,” said Butler.

“The kids I swim with are really close, and we hang out a lot, but most of the time I can’t hang out with friends because I’ve got […] something swimming related.”

Butler is well on her way to achieving her goal. According to Oesting, to make Olympic Trials a swimmer must beat a certain time beforehand. The levels are: state level, zone level, junior nationals, and senior nationals.

During the Olympic years the senior nationals are the Olympic Trials. Butler

An Average Day in the Life of a Future Olympian Remember that infamous practice schedule? Well, here’s the full scoop.

5:30 Wake up

Butler posing with three-time Olympic Gold Medalist, Ryan Lochte, at a Grand Prix meet in Minneapolis, MN.

has already qualified for state level and zone level, and is steadily making her way towards the junior national level.

Her teammates and coach are optimistic about her chances of making it to the Olympic Trials.

“She went to a meet in Minnesota the week after high school state and swam with many swimmers who are at the Olympic Trials level,” said Oesting. “In fact, there were plenty of Olympians at that meet as well, so she is familiar with competing at the same meets as the elite level swimmers, and she can hold her own just fine.”

How a Future Olympian Trains Classroom Time “Sometimes we watch Olympians and analyze their stroke. Sometimes we watch ourselves, or talk about how we act in the pool, and [our] goals.”

In the Pool “We have a 1000m warmup then go right into the sets.

Sets are usually incredibly hard with not a lot of rest time, but we somehow make it. Our coach expects the best from us, so that’s what we give her.”

Environment “Practice isn’t all [intense.] We have a lot of fun, joke around, and try to encourage people and help each other through the sets. We love each other, and we can’t stand one another, but it makes it easier when we swim together.”

5:45 Leave for weights

6:00 Weights

7:15 Breakfast, finish homework

8:00 School

4:25 Swim practice

7:45 Go home

8:00 Dinner, family time

8:30 Homework, pack for the next day

11:45 Go to bed

{ } “O is for Obsessed�

-Olivia Fairfield

Fairfield reacts after scoring the game winning point for the final game of the Iowa State Volleyball Championships at the U.S. Cellular Center in Cedar Rapids. West High beat Ankeny 28-26

Top 5 Accomplishments of Olivia:

Winning State Volleyball in 2010

Placing 5th at Junior Olympics with sisters Christiana & Hannah

Being a starter her

Continuing the Fairfield Legacy

Olivia Fairfield Bump. Set. Spike. More like SLAM for West High’s Olivia Fairfield.

This junior had some pretty big shoes to fill when she first arrived to high school three short years ago. It’s safe to say now that she’s exceeded expectations. Olivia has come from a large family, with six other siblings. Sister Emily (’12) is a senior this year and is dance captain for the West High Poms Dance Team. Olivia herself danced for ten years while juggling Volleyball before ultimately choosing the court over the stage in the seventh grade.

She has stuck with it ever since, thankfully. She has been on the varsity team since being a sophomore playing Middle Hitter and plans to continue through college. The most intriguing aspects about the sport for her are her teammates and fun atmosphere.

It is sure that this rising star has made a name for herself at West.

Olivia Mekies, (’12), a Defensive Specialist, has been friends with Fairfield since they starting playing in the sixth grade.

“Ever since then, I have just loved being around her.

She’s energetic, supportive, encouraging, and hardworking. She brings a lot of positive attitude to the team and makes everyone work harder and do better.”

Having two Olivias on the same team can, at times, get confusing. “Whenever people say our name, we both turn because we both think they’re talking to us. A lot of times, we say the same things… it’s pretty weird.”

Mekie’s favorite memory thus far with Fairfield was at this year’s home game against Cedar Rapids Prairie.

“We ran inside the school all over just looking for a janitor to unlock the girl’s locker room before the game.”

Another close friend and teammate Hannah Infelt (‘12) describes Fairfield as “outgoing, nice, caring and just someone you always have fun with. The two met while in elementary school at Wickham and to Infelt, Olivia has always been someone she can count on. She added that like Mekies, her most memorable moment this season was winning

r Sophomore year

By: Quentin Misiag

State. Fairfield and Infelt looked at each other and hugged and screamed.

Times of singing Taylor Swift songs in Fairfield’s car come in a close second.

“She got me addicted,” Infelt said of Taylor Swift’s music. She also said that her favorite quote or saying of Fairfield’s is “O for Obsessed.”

During games, volleyball gets pretty intense for not just the players, but also the fans. Hundreds of West students took off school during the State Meet in Cedar Rapids on November 10, 12 and 13 to show their support for their dedicated team.

This season has undoubtedly been an emotional roller coaster, especially at state.

“After we finally won, I cried because I knew I would never forget that moment. I got to share that with my teammates and friends,” smiled Mekies.

Like many athletes, Fairfield has a few rituals she tries to live by to get her mentally prepared for games.

“I run through the hallways with the team and I have my own stretching routine. I also have to do handshakes with everyone before each game.”

Fairfield’s biggest inspirations are her friends Kiah and teammate Shelley Stumpff. Many also may not know that on the court, Fairfield goes by an entirely different name.

“Her nickname is Betty because Olivia is sometimes too hard to pronounce when someone gets her attention,” Mekies said.One of the most influential people in Fairfield’s life right now is Varsity Volleyball Coach Kathy Bresnahan.

“She’s a good player, energetic and works really hard improving her technique and strength in the off season. She brings a lot of height to the game which is a real advantage. She shot down Ankeny at the State Championships and will be a three year starter coming next year.”

After high school, Bresnahan sees Fairfeild playing at the next level (college), getting stronger and accomplishing any goal. Her favorite memory of Olivia (or “Betty the Yetty” as she referred to her), is hoisting the State Championship trophy, always being goofy and being a fun person on the team. According to her coach, Fairfield has become much stronger as a player, with better jumping and has taken a leadership role on the team. Living off of her coach Scott Sander’s famous quote “Next Ball”, there is sure to be more for Olivia Fairfield to serve up and spike in the coming years.

Being on a State Volleyball team for 3 years Making Second Team All State

WITHOUT A DOUBT

BY SHIRLEY WANG Hannah Merrill ‘14 often skates at the Coral Ridge Mall in Coralville right Merrill skates at the Cedar Rapids Ice Arena every morning at 6 left

“99% of the time I love skating; that 1% happens when I’m having a bad day or when I’m falling on stuff... but it usually goes away soon; every day is a new day.”

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he glided gracefully, stroking the ice, with full knowledge of what she was doing and how she was doing it. Speeding now, she flips backward and goes; it seems as though she has eyes at the back of her head.

A flick here, an arm there, and up Hannah Merrill ’14 goes. Merrill spins with arms tucked in tightly and lands neatly on those 3/20ths- of-an-inch blades.

Since she was two, Merrill has dedicated almost her entire life to pursuing a huge goal. For Merrill, it’s figure skating in the Olympics. But getting that goal isn’t as easy as saying it. There are experiences to be had, lessons to be learned, and of course, a whole lot of practice has to happen.

October through April is figure skating’s training season for competition season, which is March to November. So during the winter, Merrill prepares for what’s to come by practicing every day of the week.

On weekdays, Merrill gets up at 4:30 am and drives up to Cedar Rapids to practice, then gets to school at the

beginning of second period, her first period being open. Two times a week she’ll go to Fit2live, a fitness center that trains aspiring athletes. On weekends, she practices about three hours a day.

For some, this might be too much. But for Merrill, it’s about perfect.

“Ninety-nine percent of the time I love skating; that other one percent happens when I’m having a bad day or when I’m falling on stuff, but it usually goes away soon; everyday is a new day,” said Merrill.

The hours certainly pay off for Merrill during competitions. Merrill has gotten in the final rounds several times in Regionals, her biggest competition of the season. Out of 100 skaters, only 20 make it to finals. Unfortunately, this previous year Merrill couldn’t compete in Regionals due to a knee injury that also put her out for four of the other six competitions.

Merrill says her short term goal is to make it to Nationals, the competition that only takes winners from Regionals.

Her achievements are not done alone. There are others who definitely impact what she does. Merrill has a primary coach who works on jumps and her competition piece (also known as a ‘program’), a secondary coach who supervises her practices with the primary coach’s instruction, a choreographer who makes up the program, and a third coach who trains Merrill in jumping by using a harness to hold her in safety. Plus all the strength trainers and masseuses to keep her going.

Merrill’s primary coach,Tanya Street-burgess, works with Merrill throughout all the ups and downs of the season.

“Shes doing every well; shes overcome some injuries that are hard to overcome and shes manged to take some time off for recoverery and still get to the point she was before.” Tanya StreetBurgess Sometimes all of this can feel a bit overwhelming.

“I think I’ve missed out on a lot of things like summer camps, sports[…] so I’ve missed out, but I’ve also done a lot,” said Merrill, who isn’t bitter about it.

However, when competition time comes, nerves take over and Merrill must prepare herself for the performance she will have to give in front of the large audience and six judges. Merrill helps keep nerves under control by distracting herself during the program.

“I have words or little things I say to myself before jumps,” she said. Things like ‘keep your shoulders back’ or ‘go faster’; keywords she has heard from her coach during practices.

Jumps, for Merrill, are both the best and worst part of figure

“I want to see how

far I get; I love to my whole life.”

skating.

“We’re on these tiny tiny blades and sometimes you know in the air you’re going down and if you try to get out of it, it will hurt,” said Merrill.

On the other hand, jumps can be something to look forward too as well.

“It’s a really cool feeling; it just feels like your flying.”

Stephanie Englehardt ’13 is a former figure skater and she sayd she understands the love/hate relationship with jumps.

“It takes a lot of falls to get it right; I love them when I get them but hate them when they cause me bruises,” said Englehardt.

Merrill’s constant practices do not go unnoticed; sometimes she will be practicing and people passing by will take photos of her.

Merrill is part of the USFSA, the United States Figure Skating Association. As a member of this club, she has to go through eight levels to fully be able to compete for the Olympics. Merrill is in the sixth level currently, and since it takes about a year to go on to the next level, it won’t be long before Merrill will be at the Olympic skill level.

“I want to see how far I get; I love to skate; it’s been my whole life.” said These luggage/ Merrill. chairs are very popular among skate; figure skaters at competitions above

it’s been

A lifetime of skating...

Hannah’s first time on the ice is at age 2 in Connecticut Merrill moves to Iowa at age 5 and starts taking lessons at the Coral Ridge Mall First competition at age 8 in Ames, Iowa At age 9, lessons are taken in Cedar Rapids, where figure skating is more serious Merrill hears about a good coach and travels to Springfield, Illinois to learn from her at age 11 A stress fracture in her shin puts Merrill out of the season Hannah takes online school until 7th grade, which is when she moves back to Iowa City b/c of friends, but continues to take lessons with her teacher from Illinois every weekend, and spend the rest of the week with Merrill’s teacher in Cedar Rapids

Bailey (on the far left) recieves 2nd place at the Iowa’s USGWA (United States Girl’s Wrestling Assosiation) State Championships

Bailey (on right) wrestles at the December 16th wrestling meet at Kennedy Highschool.

Wrestling, a girl’s sport?

By Tyler Voss

Jasmine, or as her friends and family call her, Jazzy, poses for the camera.

When you think of wrestling, you think rough, tough, and sweaty men. But this isn’t the case for this West High School girl, Jasmine Bailey ‘14.

Bailey started wrestling when she was in kindergarten just like her older brother. The first time she was officially on a wrestling team was at Northwest Junior High; now she is on the West High wrestling team.

“I liked the sport and I had no reason not to start wrestling.” Bailey said.

“I think it’s good to have a girl on the team, the team supports her but, it can be hard because she sometimes struggles because she’s not as strong.” said a

Wrestling Checklist, for GIRLS: a singlet sweats

headgear

food

fellow teammate, Jackson Voigt ’14.

To increase her strength and become a better wrestler, she, of course has to practice. Practice consists of warming-up, practicing technique, going live and conditioning; this varies from sprints to jumping rope.

When the meets finally arrive Bailey has to remember not to forget her wrestling shoes, a slicker (the official hair cover), headgear, warm-ups, and food. She also wears the same singlet (wrestling uniform) as the guys.

“We do support her, we treat her like every other individual on the team,” said Maezz Khalid ’14, another teammate.

“Wrestling a guy is the same for me as it is for any wrestler. I am part of the team and I feel like I am treated like it.” Bailey ‘14 said.

workout clothes

a slicker (hair cover)

Freshman

national judo

competitor What is judo?

-a martial art

practiced around the world -Winning is done in several ways: -pinning your opponent

J

Bailey with the U.S. Junior National team in Peru, in 2007.

asmine Bailey ’14 has been she’s practicing judo she competing in judo for the goes to the Fieldhouse and past four and a half years, works with her two coaches. and has met with plenty of “I train first with technique, success. At age eleven she had then with Randori. Randori already started competing at is literally ‘free practice’; it is national tournaments, only where you put all the technique one year after her first practice. together into live competition She has also competed at in [a] practice,” Bailey said. international tournaments in Her determination is wellPeru and Canada. known to her friends.

In sixth grade she “[Bailey] works went to the Jita Kyoei, really hard – she a tournament in Peru, spends a lot of as a member of the time on judo,” said U.S. Junior National Jennifer Wu ’14 a team. Despite having friend of Bailey’s. to move up a weight It isn’t difficult for class, she placed third Jasmine Bailey ‘14 Bailey to explain at the tournament. why she finds it “I traveled with my worthwhile to spend mom and coach. They and so much time on the sport. judo were the only familiar “The best thing about judo things there, everything is when you hit a throw else was new,” Bailey said. perfectly and it is effortless.

Bailey started judo in the The mentality of judo is that summer of 2006, when her when that happens, both brother began to cross-train the thrower and the person for wrestling. She practices who was thrown are smiling“ twice a week in the spring because it is an amazing thing. and summer, and wrestles in the fall and winter. When

-“choking” them... this is cutting off their blood supply, not their air.

-to “armbar”

someone - this is so dangerous only 18 year olds are allowed to do it.

-No hitting or kicking is allowed -Colored belts are worn to illustrate your level -Has been an

Olympic sport for women since 1992.

Photo of a blue gi by www. mizunomartialarts.com

by Amelia Moser

Serving Up Success

By Blake Oetting Game, set, match. Most tennis players hear this more often than not. Some hear it more than others. And there are those who hear those three words almost every time. Adrienne Jensen ’13, a former student at West, is one of these players. And she has been hearing a lot more since she moved to Kansas City, MO to pursue tennis.

“I have been playing tennis since I was six years old, but last year I felt like I hit a wall and wasn’t progressing in any aspects of my game. And I could see that I needed to make a change or I would have a difficult competeing at the level I wish to do so,” said Jensen.

Jensen’s former coach from Iowa City, Mira Radu agrees and supports Jensen’s decision to move.

“Adrienne wasn’t getting the time required to fullfill her potential while staying in Iowa, the move is her shot to fullfill that potential,” said Radu regarding the move.

With almost an 80% winning percentage, Jensen is seeing first hand the payoff of training hard, and training often. But Jensen had to make some sacrifices along the way, she had to drop out of West, completely devote herself to tennis, move from her hometown, and, the hardest part according to Jensen, say farewell to her friends who she has known since first grade.

“I have been fortunate enough to have very good friends in Iowa City who keep in touch with me on a daily basis, and who are very supportive of my situation and of what I am doing. No matter where I am in the world, I know my close friends back home will always be here for me at the end of the day,” said Jensen.

Something else she has had to give up, is the social life of public school. Jensen takes online courses now for about five hourse a day. This is the only way to balance her education and her busy tennis schedule.

For someone who doesent know much about the sport of tennis, they might ask, why move to an entirely different state just to pursue tennis?

Couldn’t she just continue here? Jensen’s response, and others who have moved to pursue their sport, would be to look at the numbers. Jensen’s national rank has rose nearly 400 spots after the move, and is now ranked in the top 100.

Also, she is in the top ten in the Missouri Valley (the reigion including Missouri, Iowa, Oklahoma, Kansas, and Missouri). Jensen also recently won the Iowa Endorsment tournment. Which is a competiton between the top 16 players in the Iowa reigion (even though Jensen lives in Kansas City, she is still registered in Iowa).

They might also be asking, Why Missouri? What do they have that the other five states don’t. Well there are two things that they hold superior over the other reigions. One, they have

‘14

an impressively large number of talented players. These players are key to practicing real life situations in matches.

And two, they have a level of coaching that you cant find in the rest of the reigion.

So, moving to Kansas City has made a great impact on her tennis game. And Kansas City is the right place for her to improve her tennis game to where it could be. But the big question for her, and for the Iowa City West girls tennis team (state runners-up last year), is will she return?

“At this point, I am not sure when I will return to Iowa City, I am taking this move year-by-year. This is a complicated decision because it involves not only me, but also involves my family.”

With all of this training, everyday you can expect to see great things from Adrienne Jensen, either on the professional, collegiate, or high school level. Success is inevitable for this tennis dynamo.

Whats your favorite memory of Adrienne?

“Jumping on her trampoline during the during the summer,”- Alli Peterson

“Knocking over food at the grocery storie,”- Quinn Terrell ‘13

“Swamp mat and King Kong,”- Kyle

SPORTS December 21, 2010

kick ‘em hard...

AND KICK ‘EM AGAIN

By Bori Kim Every summer, soccer becomes one of the most popular sports among the high school students. Soccer is pretty popular among girls as well as boys. Katherine Yang’11 is a student who really shows well on her love toward soccer. She joins the soccer team every season.

“I really like to play soccer because I feel aggressiveness when I am playing soccer,” Yang said. “I also like soccer because it is both a team sport and contact sport, and I really like the intensive sport.”

She has been playing soccer since she was only five years old. When she was young, she used to play soccer with her brother and her brother’s friends.

“When I was young, I felt like I liked soccer very much whenever I played with boys,” she smiled.

“I really like to play soccer Yang kept playing JV soccer during her freshman, sophomore and junior years. She because even went to State with the varsity team when she was sophomore. Unfortunately, I feel aggressiveness when however, she couldn’t play soccer last summer since she has some problem on her knees. According to her, soccer players need to spend lots of time practicing during the I am playing soccer season.

“My team and I have been practicing for about 12.5 hours a week,” Yang said. While she was on the soccer team, she used to serve as a defense, striker, sweeper and stopper. As she played soccer, she emphasized, she noticed the strengths and weaknesses within herself.

“I think aggressiveness is my biggest strength as a soccer player and my weakness is my proneness to injuries,” she said.

Another important reason why Yang came to like soccer concerns her affective affiliations to the team. She experienced lots of things while she was playing with her team members. She enjoyed working on a team, a team which supported her lot when she did something wrong during the game, she stressed.

“The most important thing I have learned is that the player needs to be respectful to his/her teammates, not just complaining to them for something,” Yang said. “A good soccer player is a person who can respect other players and has good sportsmanship.”

Although Yang could not play soccer for the last couple months, she is going to play soccer whenever she has time to play.

“I will play soccer whenever I have time to play. I don’t have any specific plans to play soccer in college next year, though,” Yang said.

.”

Rosenthal David, a formal soccer coach, also has good impression about Yang.

“Yang is always positive, energetic and supportive. She knows how to support her team members even though she wasn’t play,” David said.

“Yang’s first strength as a soccer player is speed. She is really fast athlete.”

1997

Katherine started to have intrested in soccer when she was in Kindergarden.

2007 Became freshman at WHS. Joined JV soccer team.

2008 Sophomore year: went to the State competition with the varsity team

Gina Thayer’11 has been playing soccer with Yang, said that she liked Yang because she is always energetic and it makes her happy.

2009 Junior year: played soccer in JV soccer team.

Hurt her knees while she played soccer.

2010 Senior year: couldn’t play because of her knees

Dancing Through Life

By Camila Segar

When did you start dancing? “ I started dancing when I was about five. I was young, but it was a good way for me to learn discipline and use up my great 5-year-old energy.”

Cami Hippee

What is your favorite thing about dance?

“My favorite thing about dancing is the sense freedom it brings me. I can express any emotion I want and share it with people. Performing has always been my favorite part. I love being on stage in front of a crowd.

It’s a kind of feeling I can’t find anywhere else.”

In The Spotlight:

Do you get nrevous? “I love performing. I don’t usually get very nervous until right before I go on stage for the first time. Once I get out there I lose my nerves and enjoy the moment.”

If there are any ways to personalize your costume what do you do? “Me and my friends like to have fun in dance class. Usually we try to find outrageous colored leotards and sometimes we wear dance skirts with detailed floral patterns. Mostly we like to wear “warmers” which can include legwarmers, shorts, armwarmers or jackets and my personal favorite: fuzzy overalls.

what do you do before you perform?

Before I perform I always take a moment to be by myself and focus. There’s a certain mindset I have to get myself into before going out on stage. Usually this involves getting into character and visualizing a perfect performance.”

Do you want to become a professional dancer?

“The option of becoming a professional dancer has always been on my mind, but I’m not sure what I want to do yet. Being a professional dancer is extremely hard and usually you can only dance until you are 30. It would be a lot of work but I would be doing something I love, which is important to me.”

What is your favorite costume or most outrageous costum?

“I love wearing pancake tutus. But my most outrageous costume would probably come from performing the Nutcracker.

One year, I was a Chinese dancer so I wore really thick chopsticks through my hair. They hurt a lot, but they were fun to play with!”

How many hours do you think you spend dancing a week?

“Last year I was dancing around 20 hours a week, but with the stress of a busy schedule this year I dance a lot less. It’s a lot of work to have dance and school, but I still enjoy it even though it brings me a lot of stress sometimes.”

How many differnt types of dance do you do?

“I focus mainly on classical ballet, but I also have done jazz, modern and broadway. I used to take tap, but I wasn’t very good.”

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