HARBINGER May 2021
Classroom to Community APUSH students connect lessons from the past to community service today
A PROMinent Dress
Anyone who attended the 2021 prom knows this to be true: it’s all about the dress.
In Full Swing Meet the athletic trainer essential in student-athlete recovery and about unfortunate (but hilarious) injuries
Zionsville Community High School
TABLE OF CONTENTS 12-13 Prominent Dress
News
Opinion
4-5 Windy Indiana
14 Hold On to Hands On
Feature 6 Classroom to Community 7 Summer Internship Opportunities
15 Netflix No More
Sports 16 In Full Swing
8 Caffeine Conundrum
17 Hitting the Funny Bone
Student Life
18-19 Sports Highlights
9 Next School Year 10-11 Thankful for Teachers
Cover photo by Rosemary Papas
STAFF Print Editor Rachel Shultz Media Editor Riya Patel Web Editor Logan Seiler Video Project Editor Josh Nieman Student Life Editor Becka Bash
News & Sports Editor Kailey Wallenius Opinion Editor Mary Demarco Feature Editor Lucy Robinson Copy Editor Henry Holloway
Staff Members Brooklyn Brown Gretchen Drews Jack Farrar Dax Lara Sarah Maniscalo Elizabeth Rexing Jake Young
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@ZCHSNews
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EDITOR’S NOTE
W
ell everyone, this is it. We made it. It was a wild year of ups and downs, but we finished strong. I may not have been able to see all your faces this year, but I’m proud of everyone and their hard work and ability to adapt to all the changes thrown at us this year. I am so excited for you to see our May issue, and my last magazine here at ZCHS. As graduation grows nearer, I recognize the feeling of fear and excitement that arises when thinking of the future. This issue looks forward to the future quite a lot. We see the future of wind energy in Indiana, future summer opportunities, and hopes for what we will see next school year. The future can be a little scary at times, but we know that change can be good too. We can also take a look into the past and celebrate our accomplishments and reminisce on the things we miss. We had some outstanding sports moments this past year, and also some painful sport fails. We all know that this year was weird, but look how far we have
come. We’re able to finish the year together. Make sure to thank your amazing teachers. They had to adjust so much to make this year possible for us. They learned how to use new technology and went above and beyond to still give us a positive experience. I wanted to thank all of the members of the Harbinger staff, both print and media for pulling together six full magazines, weekly Harb Headlines, and an active social media page. It was hard and deadlines were tight, but I appreciate all you have done to make this year exceed all expectations. It’s been an honor telling your stories for the past four years. See you around, and good Rachel Shultz, luck next year! Print Editor
EDITORIAL
Just Keep Swimming! A
nd so the countdown to summer begins... we have less than two weeks of school! Yet, in some moments, freedom feels miles and miles away, stuck behind seemingly endless AP exams, tests, final projects, presentations, papers, end of year programs, ceremonies, games, tournaments, applications… the list goes on and on and on. This year especially, the end-of-year burnout is real and utterly exhausting. You know it and the Harbinger staff knows it, but let’s try to move past it, or at least push through it. Being SO close to the end is not an excuse to give up, but instead an excuse to finish strong. There is a lot of temptation to stumble past this year’s finishing line, but the Harbinger staff is rooting for you to cross that finish line, holding your head high and proud of all you’ve accomplished. As a school, we’ve overcome incredible odds: we finished our freshman, sophomore, junior, or senior years in the midst of a pandemic; we learned online, in-person, and with a hybrid of both; some of us even got vaccinated! We’ve
adapted to every possible unknown that’s been thrown our way this year and shown our Eagle resilience. We’ve accomplished so much already, so let’s finish our last couple of weeks off stronger than ever. Give it your all and the hard work will pay off. Go ace that last exam, nail that final presentation, rock that last paper; we believe in you! Stay strong, best of luck, and as our optimistic blue friend, Dory, would say, “just keep swimming!”
The mission of the Harbinger is to provide both the student body of Zionsville Community High School and the local community with the unbiased truth. The staff strives to handle every topic they take on with respect and objectivity, while also providing a source of entertainment and intriguing content for the reader. The Harbinger aims to reflect the true atmosphere of ZCHS by including students of all walks of life in the publication.
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Windy Indi
Indiana is ideal for wind energy, if it can overcome By Henry Holloway, Copy Editor
A
ccording to the American Wind Energy Association with conditions particularly suitable to wind energy in the northern region of Indiana, the state ranks 12th nationwide in the amount of installed wind capacity, with 2,317 Megawatts of energy as a whole. While rural counties are more accepting of wind as an alternative form of energy, many counties in Indiana have still shown strong opposition to utilizing it as a renewable alternative to fossil fuels. “Even though there are a lot of rural counties in Indiana, surprisingly they’re not rural enough,” Russell Hillberry, Professor of Agricultural Economics at Purdue University, said. Professor Hillberry led a 2020 study cosponsored by Purdue’s Department of Agricultural Economics and Purdue Extensions Community Development focusing on the various factors for counties that accepted wind turbines and those that didn’t, as well as the economic benefits and costs. Hillberry believes that sparsely populated areas where turbines don’t encroach upon other residents property are more likely to be accepting of wind energy. “[Benton and White Counties] were first because they have the best wind,” Hillberry said. “They accepted turbines before anyone else even knew that this was possible. Now they’re seeing the benefits.”
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Hilberry added, “There are counties like Tipton County where they had a wind farm but then decided they didn’t want more. It’s not that every county that has experience with them think it’s great, but Benton and White County seem to have a very positive view of turbines. They want more. I think one person we talked to in Benton County said ‘unfortunately we’re almost full.’” Hillberry also explained that advances in wind technology have allowed for larger and more efficient turbines. “The old ones in 2007 and 2008 are 80 meters higher,” Hillberry said. “The new turbines are 110 meters higher and the blades are bigger... So it just costs more to build those big turbines.” Bigger turbines produce more electricity. Also, they’re higher up in the air so the wind is more regular. Instead of producing at 33% of the time they’re producing almost 40% of the time. Some county governments have set up regulations to inhibit the growth of wind energy in their counties. “[The county governments] are the main thing holding everything up,” Hillberry said. “These companies could make money putting turbines into the ground and they could pay the local farmers and things like that. They would even be happy to pay taxes to the local government, but they’re not persuading the county governments that they
should be allowed to do this.” Hillberry said planning commissions put forth rules that make the process of setting up turbines difficult. “They make the rules in a way that makes it hard for the wind farms to operate,” Hillberry said. “Like this rule that the turbine cannot fall onto someone else’s property. Well, in some places they say it’s not only one length of the turbine, but it’s two lengths of the turbine. Even if it fell onto the property, it would still be like two lengths of the turbine away...That just makes it impossible for the companies to build and follow the rules if the properties are not really big.” However, there are lucrative financial incentives for landowners who allow turbines to be set up on their property. Hillberry explained that depending on the size of the turbine, landowners can be paid between $6,000 to $12,000 a year. Hillberry believes that much of the resistance to wind energy at the county level comes directly from rural residents. “The people who own the land generally want the turbine,” Hillberry said. “It’s just that their neighbors don’t want it because they’ll have to look at it and they won’t get paid.” Wind energy is also one of the more reliable forms of renewable energy. “Wind energy is great because unlike solar panels, wind turbines
iana
e obstacles
can operate all the time instead of relying on the sun,” junior and member of ZCHS Renewable Energy Club Abby Martin said. “Wind energy is also probably one of the most simple forms of renewable energy because it generates power in the simplest way possible, by spinning a turbine.” According to Purdue, White County received $2.3 million in property tax revenue from wind turbines ($94 per citizen) in 2019 whereas Benton County generated $4.3 million from wind energy ($492 per citizen). “If you just think about Indiana as a whole, we’d probably all get some benefits from having the wind industry here. There’s tax benefits and jobs and things like that,” Hilberry said. Hillberry believes that once Indiana residents see the economic benefits, they may view the turbines differently. “There is a lot of money that comes from these turbines,” Hillberry said. “Once the money is in people’s pockets, they might start having a different view than they had beforehand.” Hillberry also believes that the continuing advances in wind technology will only increase the size of the turbines. “They’re just going to get bigger,” Hillberry said.
Windmills stand in a field at the Wildcat Windfarm in Windfall, Indiana. photo by Henry Holloway
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CC
lassroomto ommunity
By Elizabeth Rexing, Staff
“B
e the change you wish to see in the world.” This phrase acts as an anthem for those wanting to make a difference. For AP US History (APUSH) students, the AP with WE projects are the perfect opportunity to bring these words to life. The APUSH course requires students to participate in service-based learning projects. AP with WE projects are sponsored by CollegeBoard in conjunction with the Canadian service organization, WE. These juniors participated in numerous community service projects dedicated to the environment, equal rights, poverty, and many more. Students participating in the project are required to link their project with a reform movement from history, including the Progressive Era and the Civil Rights Movement. “We are constantly connecting the reform that service learning is trying to accomplish with historic reform,” AP US History teacher Danielle Wilson said. “It was a natural fit, I think, in US History.” Juniors Emily Simmons, Rachel Rockwell and Luke Grieser connected their project to environmental movements throughout history. The group removed garlic mustard, an invasive weed, from Zion Nature Park. “We all have interest in preserving the environment and want to help Zionsville
Owen Readinger, junior, works on the frame of a house. photo submitted by Graham Bowden
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become a more environmentally minded community,” Grieser said. “Our project [helped] us better understand the current environmental situation in Zionsville.” The group dedicated time to bettering the park, while working to inspire more permanent actions. “We also hope to help raise awareness in protecting our nature and environment in Zionsville and encourage environmental awareness,” Grieser said. Junior Graham Bowden and his group, worked to combat homelessness through their work with Habitat for Humanity. “We helped build the framework for all the walls of the house,” Bowden said. “We helped provide a house for someone who otherwise might not be able to afford it.” Bowden, inspired by his dad’s work with Habitat, found that the organization was the perfect fit. “Once we decided on Habitat for Humanity, I was excited to be doing something helpful,” Bowden said. Wilson sees these projects as a valuable way to engage students in hands-on learning. “Personally, when I learn about something by reading or listening, that’s one thing,” Wilson said. “But if I can take that and apply it, to me, that’s much deeper learning.”
Volunteers work to lift the built house frames off a truck at the April 24 build. photo submitted by Graham Bowden
Bowden credits the project with expanding his worldview. “I think it’s always great to have hands-on experience relating to things we’re doing in class,” Bowden said. “It helps to get a real perspective on the problems in the world.” Ultimately, the AP with WE projects are giving students the chance to be the change they read about in textbooks. “When you volunteer your time, when you raise awareness, when you raise money, that is impacting our community,” Wilson said. APUSH teachers plan to continue the successful AP with WE projects. Wilson hopes students are inspired to continue advocating for community improvements. “There have been people all throughout history that have pushed for change and that have gone out and actually made change,” Wilson said. “This understanding is empowering [students], and giving them a voice. I’m hoping people will take something away from this project and understand that they themselves can be an agent of change.”
INDIANAINTERN.NET Students can create a free account at IndianaIntern.net. It covers the entire state of Indian and features potential internships for students. Extended Experiences Coordinator Adelpha Twyman said, “It’s a really great resource for students visiting
family in other Indiana cities yet [one can] still have the opportunity to intern with a company.”
PROJECT INDY
Mayor Hogsett has a program called Project Indy, in which students can seek employment. Students in Marion County are the primary focus, but students from here in Boone County are eligible as well! Anyone, aged 16 through 24 can join. Visit projectindy.net
to sign-up for a free account. WorkHere, a company founded by Zworks in Zionsville, also provides job opportunities based on the student’s location.
SUMMER internship opportunities
By Sarah Maniscalo, Staff
LINKED IN
Linkedin.com is another great source! A majority of the internships and work opportunities require a high school diploma, so this is a great option for 2021 seniors. Linkedin is a worldwide
GLASS DOOR Students can find jobs through Glassdoor.com, another popular worldwide platform. Opportunities can be filtered by specific job, companies, salaries, and areas. This is a good source for upperclassmen and graduating serniors, as most listings have a salary.
networking site, the largest of it’s kind with over 740 million users. Students can create an account to begin recording their resume and creating connections in the community.
CHEGG INTERNSHIPS Internships.com has a wide variety of resources for high school students to find internships at https://www.internships.com/ high-school. Students can search through thousands of listings by area to find an ideal match. Create a profile to be matched directly with potential employers!
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CAFFEINE
c nundrum
By Becka Bash, Student Life Editor Walking through the halls of ZCHS in the morning, there are some constants that you are sure to notice. Almost everyone will be carrying a backpack or holding a phone, green shirt guy will be at the Wedge door greeting everyone who walks in, and there is one staple item that many students will definitely have. A lot of the students will have some sort of coffee or energy drink in their hands. “I guarantee that Zionsville students play a major role in keeping the local Starbucks open,” Julie Speer, health and physical education teacher, said. Many students consume large amounts of caffeine to help them get through the day citing the fact that it helps them stay awake. Students
“My caffeine consumption definitely varies. I usually don’t drink much caffeine, but I drink a lot more when I’ve had a lot going or my sleep schedule has gotten messed up.” -Amelia Winkelman, 12
also tend to use caffeinated drinks and items with caffaine in higher quantities during busy times during the school year. “My caffeine consumption definitely varies,” Amelia Winkelman, senior, said. “I usually don’t drink much caffeine, but I drink a lot more when I’ve had a lot going or my sleep schedule has gotten messed up.” It is not just students who consume caffeine frequently. In general, people have a lot of caffeine during the day. While Mayo Clinic says it is safe for people to consume up to 400 milligrams of caffeine per day, exceeding that number can cause harm to people’s health. Even constantly drinking low amounts of caffeine can create a reliance on caffeine. According to kidshealth.org “Experts consider 200–300 mg of caffeine a day to be a moderate amount for adults. But consuming as little as 100 mg of caffeine a day can lead a person to become ‘dependent’ on caffeine. This means that someone may develop withdrawal symptoms (like tiredness, irritability, and headaches) if he or she quits caffeine suddenly.” This means that constant caffeine use could cause a reliance that has harmful health effects. “I think the caffeine laden energy drinks are not healthy and many are also full of sugar,” Speer said. “It is a good thing they are not as popular as when they first came out. Whether
or not students consume too much really depends on the student’s ability to handle caffeine. If consumed in moderation, caffeine is not necessarily a bad thing.” As Speer described, caffeine is not all bad, and there are certainly some benefits associated with it. “Caffeine has it’s perks for sure,” Speer said. “A small amount can help jump-start your day and your metabolism. Too much can have negative side effects including shakes, jitters, and sleeplessness.” In moderation, caffeine can be a helpful way to get work done. Constant use of caffeine is when problems begin to arise. According to the Mayo Clinic, “Using caffeine to mask sleep deprivation can create an unwelcome cycle. For example, you may drink caffeinated beverages because you have trouble staying awake during the day. But the caffeine keeps you from falling asleep at night, shortening the length of time you sleep.” Caffeine can be beneficial, but it can also be harmful if over consumed. In moderation, caffeine is fine, but it is important to make sure you are not over consuming and harming yourself. “Two Cups of Trader Joe’s Bay Blend –no creamer –that is my morning go to java!” Speer said. “Would you really want to see me on more caffeine? I think not!” photo by Becka Bash
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Next School Year By Lucy Robinson, Feature Editor
What Students Want Reilly White, 12 “Definitely would want to keep the block schedule. It’s easier to keep track of classes than I thought, plus it’s easier to do the homework for each class. And changes I don’t want to continue include wearing masks and the cohorts, because those were just depressing.”
Kendyl Eber, 10 “One of the changes that I really like is the green and silver days, because it gives you a little bit more time to relax and plan when to do work. I don’t love staying at home three times a week, because it has made it more difficult to learn. I like being at home, but academically I don’t like it.”
Claire Mitalski, 11 Amanda Pfeiffer, 11 “I like how the final exams this semester are lower stress than previous years. In almost all of my classes I have a unit exam or some type of project that is only worth 15% of my final grade. The tests are also open note, which I really like because I’m not the best at memorizing names and dates. So having my information written down makes it easier. During past finals weeks I would stay up really late studying and feel sick because of how anxious i was. But this year, I like how I only need to focus on one unit. I really hope that full time block scheduling doesn’t stick around after Covid restrictions have been lifted. The long periods are draining for me. I don’t like sitting in my seat for 90 minutes listening to a lecture or doing busy work.”
“I would like to see the attention given to our mental health continue after Covid. At the beginning of lockdown, I feel like the guidance counselors really made an effort to reach out to us and check in on how we were doing, and I think that is really important for people struggling with mental health issues. A change I don’t want to stick around is the number of lunches we have because it makes it much harder to socialize with people. One of the things I look forward to every day is seeing my friends, and we don’t really have time to chat during school or even after it when we have homework or clubs, so lunch is the main place we get to talk and have fun. It’s much harder to do that when the lunches are split into so many groups.”
What May Actually Happen Schedule “So the plan is to return to the schedule that we had planned for this 2021 school year, which would be a seven period day on Monday, a block on Tuesday, a block with a late start and mentor access period on Wednesday, seven periods on Thursday and seven periods on Friday. The plan is also to return to our original start time of 8:30. So 8:30 to 3:40.” - Principal Tim East
Vaccines & Masks
Lunches
Tests
“We’re hopeful to have to return to three lunches as everybody gets vaccinated and it’s safer, with three lunch periods everybody’s day runs a little bit smoother, particularly on the seven period day. We have built a schedule just to be prepared, that would allow us to have four lunches on a seven period day and four lunches on a block day.” - Tim East
“So it is harder to know what [a student] can do independently, when you’re working at home. It’s just not the same as coming into the class and taking an exam.” - Tim East “What I would not like to see continue are “tests/quizzes” on Web Assign. I am ready to go back to pencil and paper tests where the students actually have to show mastery of the material.” - Teacher Scott Kubly
“Vaccine requirements are actually driven by state statute and the health department. So the required vaccines that you have to have every year, and people who head off to college, they’ve got to have a new round of vaccines, those are all determined by the state health department. And not all vaccines are on the list. So we’ll have to monitor what comes from that. We’re not sure where the COVID vaccination will fall on that list. If I were a betting person, I do not think it’s going to be a required vaccine next year. But we’ll have to wait and see. And you’re right that that same thing comes with masks. Right now we’re continuing to follow the health department’s guidelines.” - Tim East
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Here are a few students giving their favorite teachers a shout out!
“[Mrs. Harrison] always approaches class in a way that brightens my day and makes everyone smile. I always look forward to her class because she is a very fun person to be around!” - Kailyn Feeser, 10
“Mrs. Gregg is always willing to be flexible and is eager to answer any questions we might have! She keeps a great class structure but leaves room for us to catch up if we get behind and is always happy to help us get back on track. She truly wants the best for her students.” - Sophie Shank, 12
“Mrs. Harmon is one of the nicest teachers at ZCHS. Harmon never fails to make us laugh. She is always making learning fun and putting in every ounce of effort to make sure we not only have fun in her class, but that we learn something as well.” -Marley Sharpe, 11
“Mr. Landrum does a fantastic job of making the band room a fun place to be. He’s always cracking jokes and interacting with students, and always brightens your day.” - McClean Carter, 11
Thankful fo Spanish teacher Mrs. Alessandrini
“My favorite thing about teaching is building relationships with students. When I first started teaching, I didn’t realize how important relationships are, when you go into it you are focused on the content, but once you are in it for a while you realize the content matters a lot less and the relationships you are able to build with people matter so much more because that’s what lasts.” - Lindsay Alessandrini
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In honor of teacher appreciation week last week, here are a few amazing ZCHS teachers sharing their favorite things about teaching and some fun teaching moments. Reporting and photos by Kailey Wallenius, News and Sports Editor
Science teacher Mrs. Kirk “I had a student, who at the beginning of the year told me she hated science, and she was going to hate my class, and I went ‘okay you are my favorite kind of student,’ and then at the end of the year, she wrote on my board, ‘thanks, I sort of like science now,’ and that is my favorite memory. I cracked a little bit of that shell.” - Susan Kir
or Teachers French teacher Mrs. Engelhardt
Social Studies teacher Mr. Coffey “The thing that I cherish the most from being a teacher is when I have a student comes to me and want to talk about things that happen in their life because they know that I get it, that I understand, and that I care about what is going on.” - Jenna Engelhardt
“[My favorite thing about being a teacher] is definitely the kids, you all make the day incredibly fun, getting to see your personalities and getting to see you grow up a little bit. Especially with what I teach, with US History and the juniors and Economy with the seniors, I get some of the same students again, so having students come back to my class for another year and seeing them grow and develop is really cool.” Justin Coffey said.
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a P ROMi n e n t photos by Maddie Patrick
DRESS
By Anna Schubert, Guest Writer
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ll eyes are set on the goal of saying “yes to the dress’’ as girls swarm at stores trying to find their ideal look and posts fly up on Facebook to claim a dress. Each prom season the quest for the perfect, one-of-a-kind dress is extreme. “We’re all just looking forward to an event that is a classic high school experience,” senior Lily Cross, creator of the ZCHS Prom 2021 Facebook page, said. Prom is a big deal, and that shows in the pretty penny that will be spent in preparation. A survey done by Visa revealed that an average of $919 is spent on prom for US families. Going out of the way to find a dress like no other prompts stores, and others, to play along, so as to prevent the hurt feelings that come when all efforts are lost and someone has the same look.
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“I like seeing everyone else’s different dress and associating that with them and their style at prom.” -Lily Cross, 12
“Some girls really emphasize the fact that they don’t want someone else having the same dress,” Cross said. “It’s a bummer to walk in and see someone else wearing the same dress and I like seeing everyone else’s different dress and associating that with them and their style at prom.” This night of dressing up and dancing is
planned to a tee, from the tiara to the fancy shoes. “In most cases, prom is a girl’s first opportunity to really feel glamorous,” Lesley Jane, owner of Lesley Jane formal dress boutique, said. Many students have taken to a dedicated Facebook page as a place to share and ensure no similarities. “It is very competitive and adds a lot of pressure to finding a dress early,” senior Abby Pickell said. “When I was going dress shopping, I had to keep scrolling through Facebook to make sure I didn’t have the same dress as someone because I was nervous that someone would be mad.” The page also functions as a place to receive support and positivity from those excited for the big night.
“It’s a fun place to see everyone else’s dresses and it’s good to share that experience with the juniors and seniors, especially this year,” Cross said. To help girls find dresses that are unique, many stores have created dress lists to only sell one dress to each school. One particular store to start this trend was Lesley Jane. “At first, it set me apart from other shops selling dresses,” Jane said “Now, other shops do what I do: keep accurate records of names, style numbers, and schools so there’s not a duplication at a school.” The dress lists have helped to reduce the number of dress repeats at prom, but they have not been eliminated. The reactions of girls who learn about someone having the same dress vary and some care, while others brush it off. When Pickell heard news of another girl with the same dress before prom last year, she felt unphased. “I wasn’t worried about having the same dress as someone because they were not in my friend group and we weren’t going to take pictures together,” Pickell said. Though indifferent to the dress repeat, something pushed Pickell to find another dress for prom 2020 anyway. Kailee Rockers, another senior going through the same experience said, this year
“In most cases, prom is a girl’s first opportunity to really feel glamorous.” -Lesley Jane, owner of Lesley Jane boutique
was the one chance for seniors to put on that special dress. She was so excited to wear the dress that made her feel like a princess, yellow like Princess Belle is made of tulle and complete with sparkly flowers and a v-neckline. “I was more disappointed and sad than anything,” Kailee Rockers said. “I’ve just been waiting to wear this dress for two years now,” Everyone deserves to feel glamorous on their prom night. However, spending $1,000 on Prom or $50, it comes down to enjoying yourself. This outlook can be achieved in any prom dress, even if 100 girls are wearing it. “I think it’s really important for each girl at prom to feel like she’s a rock star,” Jane said.
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Hold On To Hands On By Mary Demarco, Opinion Editor
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leep, school, lab in-person. homework, “We can’t do labs in repeat. Sound fascience classes and we can’t miliar? This is the roudo things with other people tine we’ve all become and when they took all of accustomed to thanks that away it was so diffito dear old Covid-19. cult,” Hanshew said. “It’s Many have said they like now there’s nothing feel as if they’re repeatto do.” ing the same day over All of the hands-on and over again. activities that have been If you think back, turned into online examelementary school nevples take the fun out of er seemed this bland. learning. It’s hard to get enYes, we were learning gaged with a class when you times tables and passcan’t get physical examples ing out cupcakes on of the material. Senior Rachel Shultz and friends at a 5th grade class party. photo submitted by Rachel Shultz our birthdays but there “In Anatomy I was was always something supposed to do like 15 exciting to look fordifferent dissections and have more hands on and interactive lessons, ward to such as a field trip or a reward for labs with blood testing and all sorts of stuff instead. collecting enough box tops. but now it’s all just a simulation,” McCoy “If there’s a field trip where you have to Due to both Covid-19 restrictions and said. “And we don’t even do half of that do stuff, you have to know what you learn the fact that we’re in high school and not stuff. They cut out all the curriculum that in class to be able to participate in the field fourth grade anymore, our daily routines we actually enjoyed. It was a bummer.” trip and go do something,” sophomore Erin can be tough and tiring. We are in need of It’s difficult to get excited for certain McCoy said, “Say you’re going to do some something to break up the day to day grind. engineering thing; you have to know certain subjects when there’s nothing to look “There’s nothing special or something forward to. It feels draining and overly equipment and what they do. So then you to look forward to which is something that learn that in class and then you can use that repetitive. I miss from being younger,” sophomore “There’s no motivating thing to get equipment to make something.” Alexa Hanshew said, “I would look forward this assignment done,” sophomore Louise Finding opportunities during a panto going to school but now you just go to MacKay said. demic to have more engaging methods of school, learn, see your friends, then leave. You don’t realize what you had until it’s learning is very tough on teachers, which There’s nothing exciting happening.” gone. We’ve all learned this the hard way. is understandable. Many can think back to The blessing and curse with growing up There is just so much to appreciate with in-class activities we did last year that aren’t though, is that our brains can handle the in- able to be done since March of 2020. So, labs, field trips, and group projects that we take of more information and we can work teachers have had to find safer ways to cover didn’t know what we had until we found longer and harder. But that doesn’t mean we the same material. ourselves without it all. should work 24-7, right? Often, it seems that So, with every chance we get, grasp onto One thing many students dread are the we’re simply memorizing Quizlet flashcards online simulations that are often assigned in the exciting opportunities. Appreciate what to then go and take a test and forget the your teachers are doing, and look forward to science classes. They can be hard to follow information the next day. brighter days ahead, even those without box and tedious at times. It seems nothing like It would be more beneficial if we could it would be if a student were doing the same tops and cupcakes.
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photos by Gretchen Drews
NETFLIX No More By Gretchen Drews, Staff
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ooking for a way to unwind, you open up Netflix and search for that favorite show. You think about how you can’t wait to relax as you type in the name. As soon as you hit enter, you can’t believe your eyes when it only shows you related titles. Surprised, you double check the spelling, but then you realize Netflix has yet again taken off one of your favorite shows. Your day is officially ruined. This is just one of the many reasons why Netflix, for lack of a better word, sucks. So let me tell you why your frustration isn’t worth the money. Just by looking at Netflix on the surface level, it has been spiraling ever since 2020 when they began taking off some of its best offerings, such as “The Office”, followed by the show “Friends” and “Parks & Recreation.” According to Jumpshot, the removal of three of the top five most watched shows on the streaming service in 2020 quickly led to outrage. If Netflix continues to lose popular network shows, I don’t think they’ll be getting too many more new subscriptions in the future. In addition, a lot of smaller shows such as “I Am Not Okay
With This” or “Everything Sucks!” get maybe one or two seasons and then boom, they’re gone. Shows such as these that actually have good representation for PoC or the LGBTQ+ community and have a good plot with interesting characters are simply axed. It’s frustrating for those who enjoy the shows and are able to better identify with characters. So, why is Netflix removing all of your favorite shows? Sometimes it’s due to filming restrictions because of the pandemic or sometimes the majority of viewers simply don’t like it. While there are all kinds of reasons, the most common reason is because of a little thing called licensing. Licensing is essentially when a network allows a streaming service to show its content for a profit in return. Licensing agreements are what the network and streaming service enter together which basically states how much money each are getting from the deal, and most of the time when Netflix loses a show or movie it’s because one of those licensing agreements expire. So, when you really think about it, it isn’t necessarily
Netflix’s fault, it’s more so the network; however, it’s super annoying when you go to watch your new favorite show and it says the show will be removed in a couple weeks and you’re still only on season one. Another thing about Netflix that always bugged me is that there are some excellent shows that aren’t available in the US, but they are in other countries. From sitcoms like “Big Bang Theory”, “Brooklyn 99” and “Modern Family” all the way to cartoons like “Rick and Morty” and Adventure Time” to classic movies like “Forrest Gump”, “Pulp Fiction” and “The Matrix”, Americans are seriously missing out. Due to these reasons, Netflix is becoming more unpopular as a lot of people are beginning to turn towards other streaming services such as Hulu or Amazon Prime out of frustration. In addition, a bunch of networks have been starting to create their own streaming services with their own exclusive content. Apple
TV+, HBO Max, Disney+, and Peacock, which allow users to bundle a plethora of services, all came out just in this past year. I couldn’t imagine what it’d be like if all these networks kept producing their own streaming services because paying for all of them might be too expensive. Then again there might be an option to bundle! Oh wait... isn’t that just cable? At this point, you might just be better off canceling that subscription of yours to prevent yourself from getting wrapped up in that money hungry battle of the streaming services that’s about to begin.
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In Full Swing
The ZCHS Athletic Trainer helps student athletes through injury and recovery
By Brooklyn Brown, Staff
S
oftball players diving for home plate, football players being tackled to the turf, and cheerleaders landing on their feet after soaring high in the air. Young athletes’ bodies can be put under serious pressure. Luckily, ZCHS athletes have certified athletic trainer Kaleb Defreese looking out for them. Defreese has been an athletic trainer for four years and has spent the past two working in Zionsville under the direction of team physician, Dr. Amy Corrigan. He keeps electronic medical records up to date and takes care of the training room, but his diverse set of duties do not stop there. “Athletic training is a very unique profession in that you have a lot of responsibility and pressure to keep student-athletes at their very best,” Defreese said. “Yet, you get to watch sports and get paid for it.” Defreese provides a wide range of services to students including emergency care, therapeutic intervention, prevention services, clinical examination, diagnosis, and rehabilitation. He also often supervises sports practices and covers games that are hosted by the school. “I will make a decision whether an athlete can participate and if their injury requires the athlete to visit a doctor,” Defreese said. “I will not allow any athlete to continue to play if I believe the athlete may injure themselves further.” On occasion, out of eagerness to return to the court or field, student-athletes can disagree with his decisions. In emotionally trying situations like that, Defreese works to form positive relationships with student-athletes to help them process the emotions they might feel during recovery. “Being there for them in ways of encouragement, positive reinforcement, emotional support, and compassion whether it is keeping them off the field or court or helping them go through the injury process,” Defreese said. “Having a good relationship can
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help that athlete trust you Athletic trainer, Kaleb Defreese. photo submitted by Kaleb and your decision making Defreese whatever the situation might be.” Defreese said he helps about 1,000 to 1,100 student-athletes each year. “The thing I enjoy most about my job is that I get to help those in need, specifically student-athletes that are hurt or struggling with something physically,” Defreese said. Assisting student-athletes isn’t always easy, but Defreese enjoys a good challenge. “The most challenging part of what I do is also something that can be rewarding, and that is working with someone’s injury that is very difficult to come back from,” Defreese said. He once helped a ZCHS football player my ability to develop and foster relationships overcome an injury that put him on the with my student-athletes, coaches, parents, sidelines. That same football player helped and colleagues in the profession, Defreese the team reach the state championship and said. “It has helped me become a better has been offered scholarships to play college person as a whole.” football. The busyness of student life can make it “I was able to provide care for them from easy to forget the committed staff who work the moment he was injured,” Defreese said. hard to keep student sports running smooth“Through surgeries, through initial post-surly. The next time you attend an action-packed gical rehab, through full sport rehabilitation, home game with your friends, keep an eye and back to the field where he thrived and out for Defreese. succeeded at the highest level.” “Athletic training is a very unrecognized The broad range of situations Defreese has job and teaches you how to be a great servant experienced as an athletic trainer has helped leader through your work and commitment him practice his patience and grow as an to those you are to provide care for,” Defeese individual, inside and outside of the training said. “It develops your compassion, love, room. and respect for others in many ways each and “[Athletic training] has helped me grow in every day.”
hitting the funny bone
By Brooklyn Brown, Staff
Ben Walker, 11 “My nickname is ‘broken legs’ and my last name is Walker, so how ironic is it that I couldn’t walk anymore,” Ben Walker joked as he recalled how he earned his unique nickname after breaking both of his legs during a track and field meet. “Our last practice was hard, so I was hurting a little, but just nudged it off and kept going,” Walker said. His attempt to persevere through the pain backfired when he landed wrong on one of his legs. “When that leg broke my back leg did as well, resulting in me collapsing like a doof. I instantly knew that my legs broke,” Walker said. He previously had broken his collarbone,
so he knew exactly what to expect. “I just laid there waiting for the pain,” Walker said. It hurts so bad, but I guess you get used to it after the injury.” However, he didn’t let the incident keep him down. With the help of humor, he made the best of his situation. “While I was in a wheelchair I was always making jokes about how I broke them and just laughed it off the whole time,” Walker said. Laughter proved to be the best medicine. His experience helped him grow as a person. “I made a lot of good friends during and after the incident and it made me more confident and [I learned] to take Walker smiling through the pain after things less seriously,” Walker said. his accident. Photo submitted by Ben Walker
Lexi Faber, 10
Lexi Faber unintentionally blended two sports together when she found herself pole vaulting across the air during lacrosse practice. “I was running after a ground ball… when I went to scoop it up, my stick got stuck in the ground. I got launched forward and face-planted into the ground,” Faber said. The unfortunate events did not stop after that. “Everyone was coming running up from behind and since I had fallen so abruptly they didn’t have time to stop themselves before reaching me,” Faber said. She recalled the damage the cleats had caused on the back of her hands as she was accidentally trampled by
her teammates. “My hand stayed purple for a little over a week after that and I still have scars from it,” Faber said. She now regards the event in good spirits, thanks to the comical manner in which she fell. “Some of my friends say it looked like I was pole vaulting, ” Faber said. The lacrosse player was able to use the painfully silly incident as a learning experience. “This helped me remember to put the butt of my stick down when getting a ground ball so this wouldn’t happen again,” Faber said Faber cradles the ball down the field to score a goal for her team. Photo submitted by Lexi Faber
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Sports Highlights
A recap of 2020-2021 statebound teams By Rachel Shultz, Print Editor
Football: State Runner Ups “The state experience is one that I won’t forget. From the send-off to playing on the turf of Lucas Oil, it was definitely my favorite experience playing the game of football. I think we saved our best performance for last.” -Colin Price, 11 “It was something I know we all tell our kids and their kids about. It was an honor to be able to represent our community at Lucas Oil Stadium.” -TJ Newnum, 12 “There is nothing like having the whole community rally behind you. It was so cool to be playing on the same field as the team that I watch on TV.” -Josh Stone, 12
Junior Colin Price holds the ball during the state game at Lucas Oil Stadium. photo by Ruth Cronin
Girls XC: 4th Place Finish
Sophomores Ava Gongwer and Meg Dimmitt run in a meet. photo by Ruth Cronin
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“Everyone running in state got a bag of kind letters and notes from family, friends, and parents on the team. It was very nice to have something to read before a big race like that.” -Maddie Scheitlin, 9 “It was exactly how I expected it to be. It was hot and [there were] so many hills and I was exhausted.” -Zenaida Garcia, 10 “The team exceeded the expectations that had been set prior to our competition season. Our positive team culture and hard work ethic led our tea to state.” -Kiersten Hill, 11
Wrestling: 9th Place Finish
“I think the season went really well fro the team. We had a lot of underclassmen step up which was cool to see. State is always fun, even though a lot less people could attend. I placed at state, which was a goal of mine all throughout high school.” -Shane Bates, 12
Wrestlers compete during wrestling senior night. photo by Isa Burton
Runners begin a meet at ZWest. photo by Gillian Louiso
Boys XC: 9th Place Finish “I think the team knew what they needed to do and executed when it mattered the most.” -Jesus Garcia, 12 “I was excited to be back with [the] guys after not having track.” -Logan Cole, 12 “Competing with my teammates against some very talented teams was an amazing feeling. Finishing top ten as a team overall was an even better feeling and a great way to cap off the season.”
-Will Nobbe, 10 “My experience at stat was one that I wish to have happen again as the energy was high there.” -Matthew Helton, 10 “The state course in Terre Haute is difficult but the team has had prior meets there so we knew what to expect.” -Sam Spees, 9
Girls Swimming: 4th Place Finish Sophomore Katie Buroker swims during the sectional meet. photo by Rachel Shultz
“I swam all best times, performed super well, and we even broke some school records.” -Carlin Barksdale, 12 “Normally the natatorium is packed with fans and its super loud and exciting, but this year all of that energy was gone. You had to adapt and change your mindset and really get yourself ready without all the energy the fans give off.” -Devon Kitchel, 11 “The team was awesome and super supportive and excited throughout the meet. We all made the best of the situation and kept our attitudes positive.” -Reagan Mattice, 11 “I think with only the eight of us we became pretty close that weekend ad cheered each [other] on enough for the whole team.” -Katie Buroker, 10
Boys Swimming: 3rd Place Finish
“[No spectators] affected us the most since it changed the atmosphere of the nat.” -Jack Donovan, 11 “Not having everyone on deck to cheer for you and having no parents watching and cheering makes it seem a lot less exciting, but relays were the same and the excitement rises a ton during them.” -Will Raches, 10 “Being in the morning session for prelims was kind of tough because we had to set the standard. We could win an event but still get third seed because someone from the night could do better than you.” -Charlie Krone, 11
Sophomore Malcolm Slater swims butterfly during a home meet. photo by Grace Howe
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ZCHS Moments
Indoor Percussion State Finals Unified Track Meet Emily Frey, junior, competes in the ZIP State Finals on March 27. “It was an amazing and surreal experience winning state, especially because it was so unexpected,” Frey said. “It was so exciting to see our months of hard work finally paying off in such a meaningful way.”
Anthony Saks lands the long jump in the Unified Track team’s home meet on April 19. Information about the team’s meet schedule can be found on the ZCHS athletic page.
photo by Rachel Shultz
Lily Marrs, senior, sits on stage with Hannah Luciani, senior, during ZCHS’s Spring play, “Almost, Maine.” “I met so many wonderful people throughout the making of this play and Miss Morario, our director, really pushed me and everyone to be our best every day,” Marrs said. “It’s taught me so much!”
Freshman Baseball
Winding up to pitch, freshman Jonah Everson helps his team in their game against Fishers on March 31. photo by Elizabeth Rexing
JV Men’s Volleyball
Sophomore, Brayden Baxter, sets the ball in the team’s game on April 21. photo by Rachel Shultz
photo by Gretchen Drews
Almost, Maine
photo by Mary DeMarco