The Harbinger February 2025

the

HARBINGER Zionsville Community High School

February 2024, Vol. 59, Issue 5

Above My Pay Grade pg. 4

Also Inside Not So Fast and Furious pg. 5

Leading the Charge pg. 10

Memorial or Money Grab? pg. 15

Staff Editors-in-Chief Emma Hummer Marissa Villarrubia Print Editor Ellie Vanderbur Copy Editor Brody Brown Photo Editor Josie Brackett Social Media Editor Grace Adlong Social Media Assistant Sammie Kulwicki News Editor Luke Kouns Sports Editor Lilly Steele Feature Editor Ant Farrar Perspectives Editor Srinithya Basireddy Staff Lucy Bean Jonah Hunter Abby Keck Jack Parr Ariana Spence Addy Cieciek Gia Villarrubia

The mission of the Harbinger is to provide timely, relevant, and interesting content, while handling topics with respect and objectively.

Harbinger aims to reflect the diverse nature of the student body of ZCHS by including those of all walks of life in the publication. The Harbinger serves as a public forum and invites letters to the editor and communication from others.

The Harbinger is student-run and opinions in the magazine do not necessarily represent those of ZCHS or Zionsville Community Schools.

Editorial New child labor law threatens work-life balance

H

ow would you feel if your boss assigned you 40 hours of work this week, in addition to attending school full time? You can’t cut back those hours they have given you or maybe find you don't want to after seeing your higher paycheck. That’s what could be in store for teen workers with the new child labor laws passed in House Bill 1093. These new laws open up the opportunity for teenagers to commit to more hours, which may cause them to spend too much of their time committed to working. We believe students who work more hours will burn out and will lose some of the fun of their teenage years. These years are a time to have fun and enjoy weekends with friends. Working 40 hours or close to 40 hours a week while being a full-time student will put more stress on students.

For some students, if the business they are working for is understaffed, then their boss may schedule them for up to 40 hours a week. Most teens are low-level employees who often do not have much of a say in these hours. We worry that scheduling managers will take advantage of this law and put teen workers in uncomfortable positions in which they might be forced to call off or compromise sleep. We think that students should be standing up for themselves by telling their managers how many hours are manageable.

Despite the negative implications, this new law will also enable teens to earn more money with their additional hours. Even though they are losing

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freetime to work, they might choose this for themselves. For the students who may be paying for their own college, buying a car, or providing for themselves, this could be a positive experience for them. Instead of the cap being at 30 hours a week, these students may choose to work 40. However, for most students this provides stress and a loss of balance.

Balance is very important when it comes to teenagers. Students are already asked to do a lot. We go to school for seven hours, participate in sports and activities, then return home to do homework for each class. But somehow in our jobs, our managers decide to give us more hours than what we can handle. We think this is exactly what the Indiana legislature and owners of companies do not understand. For example, we have to put all our effort into school to get good grades but somehow still have to find time to work after school and also make the most of our teen years. How are we supposed to have a healthy balance of work, school and a social life as teenagers with only so many hours in a day?

Overall, we believe this law doesn't have students best interests in mind.

At our age, balance is crucial to maintaining healthy habits and a law such as this one adds more stress and complications to our lives. It’s important that we have time to be kids still before we are thrown in the deep end. Overall, we encourage students to stand up for themselves by setting work hour limits that still allow time for school and fun.

Cover: Senate Bill 146 aims to raise teacher salaries in Indiana. In it's current form the bill includes a higher minimum salary, a fund for a new teacher recruitment program, and a higher percentage of state tuition support allocated for teacher compensation. Graphic by Marissa Villarrubia

TABLE OF

CONTENTS 06

04

Upping Our Hours Balancing school work life with new Indiana labor laws

05

Not So Fast & Furious New interstate highway programs intend to cut down on speeding

06

Above My Pay Grade Government acts propose increased teacher benefits in Indiana schools

07

Putting the Tiara On

08

Fabrics to Fingertips

Gowns, glitter, grace: inside the world of party princesses

Students embrace DIY projects to save money and be creative

10

10

Leading the Charge Team leaders guide support their teams in different ways

08 12 14

Feeling Superstitious The role of superstitions rituals in athlete's pre-game preparation

Morning Mourning Why I don't understand morning people, probably never will

15

12

Memorial or Money Grab?

Music lives long after an artist's death, but at what cost?

16

Harb Headlines 3

Upping Our Hours

New Indiana labor laws loosen restrictions on teen work hours

By Brody Brown, Copy Editor, and Ariana Spence, Staff

T

he Indiana Department of Labor recently passed House Bill 1093, easing up on the working hours of minors and loosening the restrictions on youth employees.

The most changes were made to the working hours for minors aged 16 and 17.

“16- and 17-year-olds may now work the same hours and days as an adult [40 hours per week and no limit on hours per day.], and no parental permission is required for 16- and 17-year-olds to work longer or later hours,” the Indiana Department of Labor (IDOL) said.

According to the IDOL, 14- and 15-yearolds are still bound by the same hour and day restrictions, three hours per school day and 18 hours per school week, but may now work until 9 p.m. on any day between June 1 and Labor Day. At ZCHS, the work-based learning program could be affected by these laws.

According to work-based learning teacher Sherry Rottmann, it would be easier for students in the class to get their required hours because they able to leave during sixth and seventh period.

Previously, 16- and 17-year-olds were only Graphic by Marissa Villarrubia

4 News

Graphic by Luke Kouns

permitted to work 30 hours per nonschool week, and there were extensive restrictions on hours per day.

Senior Jordan Underwood works at TJ Maxx and has been working there nearly two years.

“From my experience, I’ve met some of my best friends there but working long hours and closing late on school nights does affect my studying,” Underwood said. “Personally I feel like it has affected my social life more than anything. I appreciate having a job but I feel like there wasn’t a lot of time for me to be a ‘kid’.”

Even though Underwood appreciates her job, she believes it may be hard for students to have a balance in life because of this new law.

“It’s obviously great for experience, but without restrictions on school hours, I think teens might struggle to balance work and academics,” Underwood said.

There are some limits, however, on part-time employees compared to full-time employees. Youths employed full-time have unlimited working hours, while part-time employees are still bound by specific hours. The U.S. Government has left the power to decide working hours to employers and the IDOL. 16-year-olds are now limited to eight hours per school day and up to 40 hours per school week, which is considered full-time, according to the IDOL. Additionally, they’ve allowed 17-year-olds to work up to nine hours per day and up to 48 hours per nonschool week.

Prior to Bill 1093, the Senate Enrolled Act 409,

Work Hours Mon: 4 p.m. - 10:00 p.m.

Tue: 5 p.m. - 10:00 p.m.

11:30 p.m.

Wed: Thur: 4 p.m. - 10:00 p.m.

11:30 p.m.

Fri: 4 p.m. - 11:30 p.m.

1:00 a.m.

Sat: 6:00 a.m. - 12:00 a.m.

4:00 a.m.

Sun: installed in 2021, was the most recent major bill regarding child labor in Indiana, that introduced the Youth Employment System (YES), eliminated some of the requirements for youth employment, and made it much easier for 14 and 15-year-olds to join the workforce.

“If the system is implemented well, it would be a great step for teens to get real world experience,” Underwood said. “It all really depends on your responsibility and your time management.”

Illinois, California, Colorado and Virginia all tightened the restrictions on child labor. Indiana was the only state that the restrictions loosened.

New

T

here are many unsafe driving habits that cause problems for drivers, especially younger and inexperienced drivers, such as distracted driving or driving without a seatbelt. However, the issue of speeding, or driving faster than the speed limit, has received a lot of attention lately, with the Indiana Department of Transportation introducing two major changes focusing on the interstate highway speed limits.

Speeding is a big factor in accidents.

According to the Indiana Crash Facts 2022 written by the Indiana University Public Policy Institute, 8.7% of 2022 accidents were either caused or partially caused by speeding, with teenage drivers having it the worst.

Drivers aged 15-20 had the highest percentage of collisions caused by speeding every year from 2018-2022.

According to ZCHS Resource Officer, Lt. Robert Musgrave, speeding can reduce your reaction time if something is in front of you, which makes it more likely that you get into an accident, and it’s not really worth it to take that risk.

“Speeding is not going to get [drivers] there significantly faster than if they drive the speed limit,” Musgrave said.

Additionally, reduced speed limits are frequently enforced when the weather is poor and the roads have rain or snow on them.

Recently, INDOT has been taking on this issue with the Variable Speed Limits program, which allows the speed limit on major roads to change by 5 mph increments depending on several factors such as weather, traffic or accidents. The VSL program started in September 2024 and has been

By Abagail Keck, Staff

implemented on I-465 on the southeastern side of Indianapolis. Digital signs have been installed on the highway that display the current speed limit.

While slowdowns due to these problems are hard to prevent, this program aims to help drivers by slowing down the speed limit in the affected area so drivers can be prepared to slow down, avoiding sudden braking due to traffic and accidents.

While the VSL program adjusts the speed limit throughout certain sections of the highway, the SafeZones program enforces existing speed limits, putting cameras on highway construction zones to monitor speeding in those areas.

“A lot of times they’ll put signs up [in construction zones] to reduce the speed limit, to help protect workers and slow down traffic and things of that nature,” Musgrave said. “Those work well as long as drivers pay attention to what they’re doing.”

The SafeZones program started in August 2024, with the cameras being placed on a construction site on I-70 just east of Indianapolis. Now that construction there has finished, the cameras have been moved to the Clear Path construction zone on the I-465 and I-69 interchange.

According to the SafeZones website, the cameras will photograph vehicles in the construction zone going at least 11 mph over the speed limit, and send the driver a warning or ticket depending on if they have committed the crime previously.

These violations will only be

issued if workers are on the site, and for the first thirty days the cameras are active, offenders will only receive warnings.

The SafeZones program is currently in a pilot phase, which is expected to run through 2028. Once the program has been thoroughly tested, INDOT plans to expand it to four sites at a time statewide.

Similar programs in other states have proven to be very successful. Maryland has a permanent speed camera program, and speeding violations in construction sites were reduced by 80% two years after it launched, with fatalities and injuries being the lowest the state had in ten years. Pennsylvania also has a permanent program, and it had a 19% decrease in worksite crashes one year after it launched.

Teens are statistically most likely to get into an accident due to speeding, and the highway is particularly risky due to high speeds and having to share the road with large trucks. Cameras may monitor your speed on construction sites, but police are also monitoring the highway.

So what should student drivers do if they get pulled over?

“Simply relax. If you’re getting pulled over for a normal violation, it’s not going to be a big thing.

Everybody is nervous when they see a police car, and so you just need to relax,” Musgrave said. “Follow the instructions, don’t be moving around in the car a lot, greet the police officer when he comes up to you.

Be polite and they’ll be polite back to you.”

News 5

Above My Pay Grade State senate proposes increased teacher benefits to address teacher shortage

By Luke Kouns, News Editor

S

enate Bill 146, proposed Jan. wouldn’t guarantee an improvement 13, 2025, aims to raise teacher to teacher health plans, it would repay and incentive, following quire the department of education to new Indiana Governor Mike Braun’s analyze the feasibility of increasing campaign goals. The proposed bill education employee health plans. includes a higher minimum teacher “We have access to a clinic which salary, a higher percentage of state is free for our employees that are tuition support afforded for teacher on our health care. We also have compensation, and a fund for a new some mental health counselors that teacher recruitment program. work there,” King said. “I think that In offering these incentives, is a good benefit as well. I think Senate Bill 146 aims to tackle the those [benefits] help to attract good current teacher shortage by providteachers.” ing potential teachers more reasons Senate Bill 146, along with many to enter the teaching workforce. others, are constantly adapting as “One problem is that there’s just they make their way through the not there’s not a lot of teachers out Indiana General Assembly. One there, meaning there’s not a lot of benefit offering more parental leave young people going into the field was removed on Jan. 31. to start with,” Zionsville Educators This volatile nature of governAssociation co-president Cindy ment actions highlights the imporKing said. “That poses a problem in tance of other methods of encouragtrying to attract [teachers] because ing future teachers. there’s just not a large pool.”

“We offer the cadet program.

Senate Bill 146 increases the We offer the opportunity for high minimum pay for teachers from school students to serve as peers $40,000 to $45,000, a 12.5% increase Science teacher and Zionsville Education Association co-president Cindy in many of our extracurricular statewide. However, this change will King prepares for class on Feb. 7. Photo by Josie Brackett offerings. There’s opportunities to only significantly impact a minority help young children in the compenses certainly vary from city to city and of teachers in Indiana, considering munity by being a mentor or extra town to town. So in the Indianapolis metro the average salary of an Indiana teacher in support,” Coffman said. “All of those are area, you will see a much more challenging 2023 was $58,531 according to the Indiana ways in which young adults can sort of try landscape.”

Education Employment Relations Board. on [teaching].”

Raising pay wasn’t the only big change Raising the pay of existing teachers, Along with providing opportunities in however, is not the purpose of the increased proposed in Senate Bill 146 aimed at incenhigh school, making it easier for potential tivizing teachers, nor might it be the most minimum salary, which is meant to draw educators to make their way through college impactful. in new educators. Yet, even with raising is a way to encourage more to choose that “There have been a number of studies the minimum required salary to $45,000, pathway, according to King. looking at all the factors that play into Indiana educators will make less than the “I think one of the things they could do the decline of the number of individuals average cost of living in Indiana, which is potentially give more grants or scholarwho are seeking teaching as a profession,” stood at $49,527 in 2023 according to the ships to people who want to be teachers so Coffman said. “I agree that salary is a big U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis. they don’t come out of college with as much “For Someone coming out of college this component of that, but we also have to look in loans,” King said. “Even with a pay at other supports that are important to our year, at Zionsville they would at least make increase, if you’re paying a lot in student $52,000, so it is higher than the average cost teaching professionals.” loans, that’s not really a pay increase.”

One of these supports is adequate health of living,” Zionsville Community Schools Superintendent Rebecca Coffman said. “Ex- care availability. While Senate Bill 146

6 News

Putting the Tiara On

Graphics by Marissa Villarrubia

Gowns, glitter, and grace: inside the world of party princesses

By Gianna Villarrubia, Staff

F

or most teens, a weekend job involves stocking shelves, working the register or preparing food. But for freshman Vivian and junior Clara Keiper, it means big dresses, sparkly tiaras and turning into beloved fairy-tale princesses.

The sisters are a part of a small group of high school girls who work for party entertainment companies bringing Disney magic to life for young kids.

“It started when we were princesses in the Lebanon Fourth of July parade for our theater company,” V. Keiper said. “Once we had the costumes, we started getting requests for parties and that’s when we decided to make it a business.”

For V. Keiper it’s about bringing a smile to the kids face and creating an unforgettable experience for them.

“The best part is seeing the kids’ faces when they meet us,” V. Keiper said. “It’s pure joy both from the kids and their parents. There’s just something so special about making that moment happen.”

For the Keiper sisters, one of the best parts of working together is the opportunity to embody a range of different princesses.

Each princess comes with her own distinct traits, voice, and mannerisms, making every performance feel exciting. Whether it’s the calm and graceful Belle, the adventurous and spirited Moana, or the daring Rapunzel, each role brings a new set of challenges and rewards.

“The best part of working together has got to be the ability to switch up which princesses we are and getting to experience acting as all the different personalities,” C. Keiper said.

Bringing fairy tales to life isn’t easy; the girls spend hours curling their hair or even wearing wigs, applying stage makeup and choosing the right costume from the many they have such as Rapunzel, Belle, and Elsa.

They pick out books and activities to do with the kids to keep them entertained and

interact with them in character.

To thrive in a role like this, you’ve got to be social and juggle the excitement of a big group of kids all at once. It’s all about staying calm under pressure and making sure everyone is having fun. ”We try to contain it to group activities that everyone will be interested in,” V. Keiper said. “We always bring a book.”

While the job may seem like all glamour, there’s a lot more that goes into it than just wearing a crown.

A unique aspect of this princess job is the family bond that comes with it.

“Getting to spend time with her and do things that we love with each other,” V. Keiper said.

Being a princess has helped C. Keiper grow in ways she never expected, especially when it comes to empathy. Through countless interactions with children and adults alike, she has learned to connect with people from all walks of life.

“I’ve learned to be exceptionally kind to everyone, regardless of who they may be,” C. Keiper said.

Vivian (left) and Clara Keiperr (right) Photo

by Josie Brackett

Feature 7

Fabric to Fingertips Students Embrace DIY Projects to Save Money, Express Creativity

Senior Sofia Baloski pins one of her sewing projects. Photos by Josie Brackett

8 Feature

By Srinithya Basireddy, Perspectives Editor, and Addy Cieciek, Staff

F

reshman Kendal Jerich was tired of paying over $80 to have her nails done at the salon, so she took matters into her own creative hands.

“I learned how to do my own nails to save money,” Jerich said.

Many teenagers, like Jerich, have turned to do-it-yourself projects, using inspiration from platforms like TikTok, Instagram, and Pinterest.

“I didn’t want to pay anymore, so I learned to do nails myself with the help of TikTok,” Jerich said. TikTok and Pinterest seem to have a huge impact on others learning how to do things themselves.

Another freshman, Gia Villarubia, is proof that nice things don’t have to be pricey. “I learned how to do my own lashes from watching TikTok videos, and that’s actually how I got tracking charts of the inflation rate from 1977 to 2024, there has been an average increase rate of 2.2% in inflation.

Doing DIY projects has the dual benefits of saving time and money. “It takes me about 10 minutes to do my lashes, whereas to do it professionally would cost around $70 and take an hour,” Villarubia said.

Not only can you do or make something for yourself, but you can also do it for someone else. Jerich did her and her friends’ homecoming nails and ended up earning over $30, which was more than the cost of all the materials needed.

This fun is not only limited to teenagers.

One of Zionsville’s own teachers, art teacher Grace Fletcher, also loves doing her own nails each Sunday night, especially because she is on a “pretty cheap teacher budget.”

But the DIY trend is more than a budget-friendly solution. It also sparks a sense of creativity and confidence in being able to make your own decisions.

“When I do nails, I get to pick whatever designs, art, color, or shape I want— it’s my free will,” Jerich said.

Similarly, Fletcher said DIY projects help her relax. “I have ADHD, so I constantly like to keep myself busy,” Fletcher said.

“Doing DIY stuff helps

calm me.”

According to the Wellness Society, creating things yourself brings many mental health benefits. Letting your creative side take over brings mindfulness and relaxation.

“My work makes me happy seeing it every time I walk past it,” Fletcher said.

Yet, DIY projects can be anything from clothes and crafts to nails and home decor.

“Once I create an environment that feels like me, I can go into it and feel better. It’s just finding what works for you to relax,” Fletcher said.

Jerich agrees, saying she enjoys the fact that she can change and do whatever she wants with her nails.

Senior Sofia Baloski loves thrifting and transforming clothes. Starting from designing costumes for APUSH projects, she then decided to start sharing her work on Instagram “because why not.”

“My mom basically cut me off and said they [parents] weren’t going to pay for my clothes anymore,” Baloski said. “So, my freshman year, I started trying to develop my own style, which led to a lot of thrifting.”

DIY crafts are something that comes with practice. “I’ve been doing lashes for three years now,” Villarubia said. “I’ve been doing clothing projects for almost three years,” and “I have done my nails for about a year now,” Jerich said.

“When you go thrifting, 80% of what you find isn’t your style or doesn’t work, and 20% is fast fashion, which I don’t agree with ethically,” Baloski said.

Baloski started taking things with “gorgeous patterns or unique styles” and cutting, editing, tearing, or sewing them into pieces that fit perfectly. The process of DIY promotes sustainability and individuality.

“DIYs are much more sustainable and personal,” Baloski said. “They let people save money and reduce reliance on fast fashion. Plus, it’s a great way to express creativity.”

According to Baloski, when you thrift

or create something yourself, you get to personalize it exactly how you want it.

“It becomes a reflection of you.

For me, the best part is making something that matches what I imagine in my mind. It’s so fulfilling to have a style that’s entirely your own.” Baloski said.

Fletcher believes there is also a huge social impact. She uses tools such as drills in her art class to teach new techniques and styles.

“DIY women have created a whole generation of confident women,” she said. “I love teaching other girls how to use tools they’re afraid of or think aren’t meant for them.”

DIY projects also are the perfect way to unwind and let creative energy flow.

“I think people crave stepping away from technology and working with their hands now,” Fletcher said. “It’s just so much more fun to make it yourself.”

Feature 9

Leading the Charge Team leaders guide, support their teams in different ways

By Lilly Steele, Sports Editor

T

eam leaders are not born but made, as athletes vote for the peer they want to guide them through the season. The basketball, volleyball, soccer, and rugby teams each have unique ways of selecting a leader that exemplifies character, commitment, responsibility, and teamwork that define true leadership.

Captains don’t just fall into their role but are chosen by those around them.

Drew Snively, senior varsity basketball

captain, has played for 12 years, with three on varsity and two as a captain. He was voted as a captain by the JV and Varsity teams.

“Throughout the whole year, I show leadership and character. Whether it’s on the floor or off the floor, simple [things] like taking people home,” Snively said. “During practice, it’s stuff like leading stretches and getting people in the right spots.”

The volleyball team chooses captains in a similar way. However, the team votes for three captains.

Varsity captain and Louisville volleyball commit, Junior Elli Strecker, said she believes in leading through action.

“I may not always be the most vocal person, but I work very hard and strive to push my teammates to be their best,” Strecker said.

Rugby takes a different spin on captain’s roles, each player votes in person with a coach. The team then chooses a main captain and then other players to be co-captains.

“Certain members of the team had different designations, such as keeping track of the practice attendance, game attendance, or making sure that the Med kit was all stocked and had all the supplies,” said last year’s vice-captain and Junior, Addison Prieshoff.

She kept track of attendance, coach messages, captain decisions and planning. Prieshoff was Drew Snively, senior, huddles up with his team during game also a speaking captain against Avon High School on Feb. 6. Photo by Josie Brackett and was able to approach referees

10 Sports

during games.

Prieshoff said her organization and amiable personality helped her to plan events, keep track of things, and connect the team.

She makes an effort to support everyone on the team.

“I’ve made it a point to become friends with every single person on the team,” Prieshoff said. “I really love my team a lot and so I like every single new person that joins the team.”

Despite captain roles being viewed as a senior job, Snively has proved that it isn’t about age but about character.

Snively said that being captain during his junior and senior seasons showed him the confidence and trust his teammates have in him.

While being vocal isn’t the most important trait in a leader, it can help connect a team.

“You can’t just sit back and let things happen. You’ve got to take pride in everything that you do,” Snively said. “If you’re getting everyone to do something together and working for that common goal, it’s really going to help the whole team.”

Having confidence plays a big part when holding a leadership role.

“With rugby, it’s a very demanding sport and if you have any self doubt that can really show in a game with hesitation and decision making. You have to have a lot of confidence in both yourself and your teammates,” Prieshoff said.

Strecker leads by staying positive and being there for her teammates, even after mistakes.

“It can be really hard to not get in your head but at the end of the day it’s a team sport and we win and lose as a team,” Strecker said.

While leadership doesn’t necessarily rely on skill, captains need to know what they are talking about.

“To be a leader it takes people deciding to follow you. This can be because of [your]

Ellie Strecker, junior, tips the ball over the net during a home volleyball game against Westfield High School on Sept. 5. Photo by Lilly Steele

characteristics or your actions,” Strecker said.

“I think skills play a huge role in leadership, especially in sports. This is because having the skills needed to compete at this high of a level is able to motivate and influence others to keep working.”

This doesn’t mean only starters or captains can be leaders. “[A leader is] someone that people always look for, someone to turn to in hard moments and you’ve got to be there for everyone, even if it’s hard for you as well,” Theobald said. “I don’t think that you need any skill.

You could be the worst player on the team, or be the best player on the team. It‘s someone who is there for his teammates at all times.”

Snively has learned from past captains to become the leader he is today.

“The upperclassmen the last two years were really good role models, whether it was off the court or on the court. They passed down a lot through Zionsville basketball in general [about] what it really means to be a captain and a leader,” Snively said.

Like Snively, Strecker learned from past

captains as these people help to shape the future of teams.

“My sophomore year I grew really close with the captains. They were all very different and some were more vocal than others but they all were able to lead our team,” Strecker said.

“This taught me that there isn’t just one specific thing about you that will make you a good leader.”

As a senior, Snively hopes to pass on his knowledge to the underclassman.

“I hope underclassmen really see that and carry that on,” Snively said.

Anyone could be a leader, it comes naturally to some but takes work for others.

“Some people don’t think they’ll be [a leader], but I think everyone has what it takes to be a leader. You have to be confident and do whatever you need to do,” Theobald said.

Drew Snively, senior, takes a warmup shot before the game against Avon on Feb. 6. Photo by Josie Brackett

Sports 11

Lucy Long

Jack Turnbull

Jack Hupe

Zade Bankert

12 Sports

Very Superstitious The role of superstitions and rituals in athlete’s pre-game preparation

By Ant Farrar, Feature Editor, and Jack Parr, Staff

F

rom Serena Williams wearing the same socks throughout a tournament, to Michael Jordan wearing his “lucky” UNC practice shorts under his jersey throughout his 15-year career, superstitions are present throughout all sports at all levels. In sports, a superstition is a certain practice that the athlete believes if done or not done will lead to either a favorable or unfavorable outcome in a game.

Superstitions have been prevalent in sports dating back to the ancient times of the Greco-Roman worlds. According to Christian Scholar’s Review, a common superstition of this time was numbers having symbolic power, for example, the number four represents completeness, like the four seasons.

Senior track athlete Jack Turnbull has a unique superstition that takes place long before he steps onto the track.

“To start, I always have pasta before every meet. We go as w team all the time and eat pasta before a meet,” Turnbull said.

Carb-loading is a common tradition in endurance of running sports, providing energy for long-distance runners. The routine of Turnbull gathering with his teammates and sharing a meal creates a sense of preparation that gets him in the right mindset before a race.

But the superstitions don’t stop there and even go further back than that. Some superstitions are rooted in memories that grow more impactful over time.

“I got these rocks from my coaches in middle school that I still put under my pillow the night before every meet,” Turnbull said.

The rocks, given to him by his coaches in middle school, serve as a remembrance of his dedication to track and a reminder to keep going.

“I feel like it gets me in the right head space before my races, and it also reminds me that I’ve been doing this for a long time,” Turnbull said.

Junior rugby player Lilly Jarrard knows

the importance of pre-game superstitions and sticking to them.

“I always get ready by wearing my lucky socks,” Jarrard said.

But it’s not always about the gear or clothes that are part of her routine, it’s also her diet that contributes to her game.

Diet can also play a large role in pre-game routines that ensure success.

“I also tend to have bananas and protein bars before every single game, no matter how hungry I am,” Jarrard said. “One game, I didn’t eat my pre-game meal and I ended up throwing up.”

For Jarrard, these pre-game rituals are essential for her preparation and give her overall confidence about the upcoming game.

Not only are superstitions a part of pregame routines but also seen in game.

Baseball player Jack Hupe, senior, has an ingame superstition of his own.

“I have to do the same routine every time I come back to the mound, taking the same steps,” Hupe said.

Lucy Long, a senior softball player, believes in her shoe superstition before games.

“I always tie my left shoe before my right shoe because I feel like that makes me more focused,” Long said.

Like Jarrard, this ritual makes her feel more concentrated and ready to play, and also similar to Jarrard, things crumble without them.

“Whenever I don’t tie them in that order, normally something goes wrong during my warm ups,” Long said.

For Zade Bankert, a sophomore rugby player, he takes a more in-depth physical and bodily approach to his pre-game ritual.

“Before I have a good game, I’ll always kick the ball out of bounds a few times,” Bankert said. “But more importantly my coach will roll me out and put Biofreeze on my legs and back.”

Bankert has been playing Rugby for nearly six years, and he’s seen how impactful his

traditions are.

Bankert’s routine isn’t just about physical preparation, it’s also about mental reassurance. The feeling of consistency and familiarity helps him go into each game with confidence, knowing that his body is ready and his mind is in the right place.

“One time I didn’t get rolled out by my coach because he wasn’t there, and then I didn’t play very well. The next game, I played great because my coach was there,” Bankert said.

The idea that skipping a routine can lead to a bad performance in a game is a common theme among athletes with superstitions. A 2010 study, “Keep your fingers crossed!”, done

by Lysann Damisch found that superstitions can boost performance by increasing belief in one’s ability to succeed. When athletes believe a routine or superstition is helping them, they tend to perform better.

Things like these may seem insignificant to others but are very important to players like Jarrard and Bankert in rugby.

These superstitions all provide athletes with a sense of confidence and mental preparedness. Even though these superstitions may seem quirky or insignificant to outsiders, to athletes they are a crucial part of their play.

Superstitions in sports aren’t just about habit, but they’re about psychology. According to Clinical Compass, athletes are constantly playing in high-pressure environments where confidence is crucial, so rituals help them feel in control, reduce anxiety and provide a sense of familiarity in high-pressure situations.

Many superstitions begin with a similar moment—a great game after eating a certain meal, or a clutch performance after performing a certain ritual prior to the game. Over time, athletes link these actions to success, and they become non-negotiable parts of their preparation.

“I think superstitions are a really big part of sports,” Bankert said. “No matter what they are, or who it is.”

Sports 13

Morning Mourning Why I don’t understand morning people, probably never will

By Lucy Bean, Staff

Graphics by Srinithya Basireddy

F

lighted similar associations or some, their first battle of the day be“74% of U.S. Teens with delayed start times improving total sleep gins when the alarm get less than eight duration in adolescence. clock blares. Waking up in hours of sleep.”

Teenagers have a tenthe morning can feel like -Purdue University, dency to go to bed at a a challenge, especially for Indiana School Start later time. After asking a those who don’t consider handful of a class, seven themselves morning peoTimes Brief hours of sleep was the ple. The struggle is real; most common answer. groggy thoughts, a desire The average amount of hours teenagers for more sleep and a complete lack of motiare supposed to be getting are eight to vation to leave the warmth of their bed.

10 hours.

Nationally, the CDC reported Meanwhile, morning people seem to that 57.8% of middle school and 72% of defy that logic. They wake up bursting with high school students obtain fewer than energy, already checking off tasks on their eight hours of sleep.

Society’s norms often to-do lists, while others are still hitting favor those who can thrive in the morning. snooze on their alarm. How can someone Night owls, on the other hand, must be so productive while others are struggling adjust to a timetable that feels unnatural to form coherent thoughts? leaving them at a disadvantage during The world seems designed for early teenage years, making them more naturally risers, from the work schedule to the early inclined to stay up late and wake up later. start times. High school, for instance, often During teenage years a lot of biological begins around 8:30 a.m. or even earlier changes happen.

This shift refers to a for some students. However, according to sleep-phase delay.

We often hear our parents a paper from Doctor Amy Janis and A.J. refer to us sleeping in on the weekends as, Schwichtenberg of Purdue University, 11 “catching up on sleep.” studies in the past ten years have highIn the article, ‘Indiana School Start Times and Adolescent Sleep Health – Policy Brief,’ Janis and Schwichtenberg talk about how it may always feel amazing to sleep in until noon and wake up late in the day.

However, it causes our circadian rhythm to fall into jet lag.

According to the National Institute of General Medical Sciences, a circadian rhythm is the body’s natural 24-hour cycle of physical, mental and behavioral changes. It’s like a natural clock that tells you when to feel awake and when to feel tired.

Laks, also known as morning people often have a biological clock that falls in line with early energy peaks, unlike night owls whose rhythms are delayed.

Then there’s the ultimate mystery of caffeine versus natural energy. While many rely on coffee or energy drinks to function, some morning people appear to

14 Perspectives

wake up fully charged without so much as a sip of caffeine.

According to The Washington Post, some people naturally start out with higher levels of certain neuroreceptors than others.

If you’re a person who genetically just happens to produce a lot of those receptors, then you are likely to be less sensitive to caffeine than others. These receptors come from a gene called CYP1A2 which influences how quickly caffeine is metabolized, but for those with higher natural energy, caffeine isn’t needed. To non-morning people, this seems like a superpower.

In the end, no matter how much research is done or how often it is explained, I still will never understand morning people.

Their chipper attitudes, natural energy, and their ability to tackle the day without caffeine feels like something out of a sci-fi movie to me as someone who struggles just to get out of bed. Maybe the world is set up for them, or maybe they’ve simply learned to thrive in a system that rewards their natural rhythm. Either way it’s hard not to feel like night owls are left playing catch up in a world that doesn’t quite fit. If society ever embraced more flexible schedules or acknowledges the struggles of night owls, perhaps maybe one day I will understand.

Until then, I’ll keep hitting snooze and wondering how they do it.

Graphics by Ellie Vanderbur

Memorial or

Money Grab?

Music lives long after an artist’s death, but at what cost?

By Ellie Vanderbur, Print Editor

O

n Jan. 19, “Balloonerism” by Mac Miller was released on what would have been his 33rd birthday. Even six years after his death and 11 years after it was produced, fans are still remembering him and consistently listening to the music he created.

While posthumous releases can be done in order to honor the artist’s legacy, there are ethical concerns about the profit driven motivations for launching this work without direct approval of the musician.

Luckily for Miller, he had a will before his passing so he could ensure how his wealth was used when he wasn’t there. This led to high praise from fans for the way his estate, the people in charge of his wealth, handled his releases and marketing. “[‘Balloonerism’] is a project that was of great importance to Malcolm – to the extent that he commissioned artwork for it and discussions concerning when it should be released were had regularly,” Miller’s estate said on Instagram to announce the release. “We believe the project showcases both the breadth of his musical talents and fearlessness as an artist.

Given that unofficial versions of the album have circulated online for years and that releasing “Balloonerism” was something that Malcolm frequently expressed being important to him, we felt it was most appropriate to present an official version of the project to the world.”

But unfortunately for pop-rock musician Jeff Buckley, his unexpected death left him without a will and this important power.

This left him, his family, and friends unable to control his work. It caused his band members and mother, Mary Guilbert, to have to fight against the record label to not release music that wasn’t ready just so that the company could profit off of him. “[His music] are his true remains – just as they are,” Guilbert said to journalist Eammon Forde. “If this was his body here and we were preparing it for his funeral, we would not put him in a suit. We would put him in a flower shirt and some black jeans and his Doc Martens and leave his hair all mussed up. And maybe a little mustard on his chin. We would not screw this stuff up by putting something out he would not approve of.”

In the end, they settled to release a double album with the first record being made up of the most polished and professionally recorded work and the other, unfinished demos. Even though this is technically a compromise, it’s still aggravating for his unfinished work to be used solely to make the label money.

Luckily “Balloonerism” was already produced prior to Miller’s passing.

“We made a conscious decision to keep things as they were and not go back and ‘fix’ mistakes, tune things or add anything,” audio engineer for the studio where Miller wrote and recorded his music between 20132014, Josh Berg, said to BBC. “The rough edges were part of its charm and highlighted where Mac was creatively at that time. Once you start pulling everything apart and dusting it off, it starts to lose its magic.”

The majority of the marketing done by his estate is admirable, but the accompanying promotional items, such as a $10 key chain with the album cover on it, slightly discredit this praise. These products feel unnecessary and more like money grabs than a genuine tribute.

This idea is further proven by the movie that was released alongside the album in select theaters and on Amazon Prime Video.

It is a great piece of media for fans to enjoy and remember him by, but why is it needed?

Why does it need to be profited from when he had no input?

If an artist has said that they are proud enough for a work to be released or wished for it to be following their death, obviously it should be. But if the only motivation is for the benefactors to make even more money it is a clear abuse of their creative talent.

Just let them rest. Listen to their music and appreciate who they were, but don’t feed into the unnecessary marketing ploys that profit off of their creative talents that are missed so much.

Perspectives 15

Harb Highlights Left: Rapping a Chinese song, senior Gio Avila, performs at the Lunar New Year Celebration hosted by the Chinese Honor Society on Feb. 8. Photo by Abby Keck

Headline Scramble

Below: Driving a robot, freshman Bodie Williams competes in a robotics competition by making the robot stack rings on Feb. 8.

Photo by Luke Kouns

Unscramble the headlines, follow and DM the @zchsharb Instagram with your answers to win a prize, winner announced on 2/28!

ptosuretiusis nrminuog iurfosu Above: Junior Ian Flaberty, shoots the ball during an intramural basketball game in the fieldhouse on Feb. 4.

Photo by Marissa Villarrubia

pnuipg

Right: Playing a police officer, junior Kai Hallam acts in the One Acts performance, “The Interrogation” on Feb. 6.

Photo by Josie Brackett

Swim Event Feb. Boys and Dive State Expert 28 Where: IUPUI

Varsity swimmer and junior Colin Zimmer “We all follow the tradition of [bleaching and buzzing] our hair for state. We all met up at someones house and did it. It hurt, a lot, it stung my hair.”

olirmeam

What’s What’s next? next?

Dates, times, and locations are subject to change.

Basketball

SAT March 11: SAT at school

March V/JV Girls

March V/JV Boys

March Varsity Boys

4 6

Sectional When: TBD Where: Noblesville

Lacrosse

VS. Westfield When: 6 p.m.

Where: ZCHS

6

7

9, 10, 12: EDay

Lacrosse

VS. Evansville When: 6 p.m.

Where: Evansville

March Girls/Boys Track March V/JV Boys

8

and Field Meet When: 10 a.m.

Where: Indiana Wesleyan

18

Volleyball

VS. Cathedral When: 6 p.m.

Where: Cathedral