April 2015 by Play newsmagazine

Play

“Every two minutes, someone somewhere in America is sexually violated.” -Mary StolzNewton PAGE 12

BASKETBALL

AT STATE PAGE 10

Brownback changes school funding PAGE 8

Pilot’s License Students take on a unique hobby of flying planes. Page 14 Maize High School. 11600 W. 45. St. N. Maize, KS. 67101

April2015

Table of contents read.watch.play. Volume 8, Issue 5 | April 2015

Soccer back in season

Nadia McLean

Senior Paige Swanson attempts to obtain the ball during the home game March 24. The Eagles defeated Bishop Carroll in double overtime, 3-2, with the winning shot by junior Cassidy Darrah. COVER: Photo by Brooke Johanson.

4 10 13 16

News

The Maize Board of Education will ask voters to approve major construction projects.

News

Flygirls coach Cortney Woodruff resigns after two years; junior wrestler Brett Moon remained undefeated while gaining state title.

Sports

Column

Opinion

Lifestyles

Sports

Girls basketball falls short to a perfect season; boys lose in first round to eventual state champs.

The rise of rape culture leads victims to believe they are at fault, while the assailant walks away innocent.

Senior Daley Handy sees both sides of the court by coaching third-sixth grade basketball.

Play staff member Brooke Johanson takes a television series into reality.

Kevin Crouse, senior, doesnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t let his disability hinder his love for music.

Student athletes deal with health issues.

Play newsmagazine editor Hannah Henricks Maizenews.com editor Cheyenne Esser Visuals editor Brooke Johanson News editor Nick Mathias Features & lifestyles editor Katie McLachlan Sports editor Justin Noble Advertisements manager Maite Menendez Engagement/assistant news editor Kendra Cunningham Assistant sports editor Delanie Pierce Assistant advertisement manager Mikaela Stevenson Reporters & photographers James Auchterlonie Kalee Betzen Hallie Bontrager Shelby Carpenter Jesse Ellis Emily Graves Savie Hughes Hannah Jurgensen Tori Lemon Nadia McLean Lyndsey Piska Miranda White Shae White Adviser Dan Loving Play is the official newsmagazine for and by Maize High School students. Play is published six times throughout the year. Play is a student publication and a forum for public opinion. Letters to the editor should be signed and around 300 words. The editorials and columns are the sole opinion of the writers and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the USD 266 Board of Education, the administration, the faculty or the adviser.

maizenews.com | AprilPlay

News

Maize advances on

bond proposals District asks voters to approve two bonds.

he Maize Board of Education will ask voters to approve close to $80 million in construction projects, including a Federal Emergency Management Agency shelter at the high school and a remodel of Maize Middle School. The board voted at its last meeting to ask voters on a June mail-in ballot to approve two bond measures. The bulk of the project will be in one bond costing $70.7 million. The other bond question is specifically for a natatorium at a cost of $12.9 million. The bonds would cost a homeowner approximately $11.50 annually per $100,000 of assessed value. Board members have said a FEMA shelter at the high school is a necessity for the district. MHS has the highest student population of all the Maize schools but is one of two without a shelter. Plans call for one shelter at the southwest end of the high school, as part of a proposed career and professional education center. Another shelter would be built on the northeast end of MHS. Expanding and remodeling Maize Middle School, a former high school that has undergone many changes, is another priority. “It [Maize Middle] would move from 750 kids to 900 with a new cafeteria, new kitchen, new office, administrative center, a new auditorium and a rework of the existing entrance into an athletic entrance,” superintendent Doug Powers said. Expanding the capacity at MMS could help with the flow of students between the middle and high schools, MHS principal Chris Botts said. “The district is kind of at a crossroad, the current situation is that there's placement,” Botts said. “Students preference what middle school they want to go to. There's not a feeder pattern,

AprilPlay | maizenews.com

By James Auchterlonie

New additions to Maize, including a FEMA shelter as well as a new educational wing.

but essentially there is a feeder pattern. Most students who go to Maize Middle School end up at Maize High, and most students that go to Maize South Middle School go to Maize South High. The problem is that Maize Middle School is a smaller school than Maize South Middle School. By building or adding on space to the middle school level, more students will want to go to Maize High. Also included in the primary bond proposal is a new transportation facility. The current transportation facility is near 53rd Street and Ridge. The new facility would be built west of Maize High. “The current transportation facility was originally designed for trash trucks, not designed for 84-passenger busses,” Powers said. “It works, but it is not ideal. We could be a great deal more efficient in a facility that is actually designed for busses.” Other proposals in the bond include some expansions and renovations at Maize South High, a new Early Childhood Center and athletic upgrades at all four secondary schools. Athletic upgrades at Maize includes

new artificial playing surfaces at the baseball and softball fields and a relocating the bleachers at the football field in an effort to improve the fan experience. “We’d like to pull the bleachers forward at Maize,” Powers said. The board decided to make the natatorium a separate ballot question because of concerns about support for the project. Board members expressed that they didn’t want all of the projects to fail because of the natatorium. This natatorium would be shared by both high schools swim teams and also could be used for classes and community events. “Well if a pool is built, and I am and was a swimmer, I would be ecstatic,” Powers said. The natatorium would likely be built on the South campus, Powers said. “There's a parking lot there. It’s easy access,” Powers said. Also at the March meeting, the school board decided not to move forward with the proposal of boundaries. This proposal was intended to stop conflict with the current preference system.n

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News

Leaving the Nest

Flygirl coach Cortney Woodruff resigns from her position. By Nadia McLean

lygirls coach Cortney Woodruff has stepped down from her position after two years. Due to various other commitments, such as being the Maize Middle School choir director and being involved in her church, she said she wanted to make some time for herself and her husband. Woodruff is upset about the decision to step down but said she thinks it is what’s best. She said she will continue to support the Flygirls. Some of the Flygirls have recommended Devon Tracy, a former Flygirl and a teacher at Young World Dance Studio.

The Flygirls present Cortney Woodruff with a gift at the end of the year Flygirls’ banquet. Photo submitted by Debbie Evans.

The Flygirls are heartbroken to see their coach move on but are prepared for the new coach next year. “Two years ago when we got a new coach, it was a big change and we weren’t very happy about it,” junior Maddy Rice said. “Hopefully this time, since we know how things have to change, it’ll be better than it was last time.” The Flygirls have grown close to Woodruff and will miss her optimistic personality. She got to know each of the girls personally and made an impact on their lives. “She knew us,” sophomore Meredith Fisher said. “We could make jokes with her but also get stuff done at the same time.”n

Brett Moon wins state championship By Delanie Pierce

rett Moon finished his junior season with a state title. A perfect 49-0 record. He was never taken down or reversed. And about the only one who wasn’t impressed with all that was Moon. “I wasn’t too excited,” said Moon, who has wrestled since he was 3. “It’s just state.” After winning a state title, Moon showed no excitement on the mat. “It felt like a normal tournament because we have had so many tough tournaments before,” he said. Moon finished second his freshman year and third as a sophomore. Going into state his junior year, Moon had the motivation. “We had a pretty good idea because he has beaten about every good kid in the state and in Oklahoma and Colorado,” coach Mike Schauer said. “I knew something bad or unusual would have to happen.” Moon’s wrestling partner, junior Alex Hydock, has been wrestling with him since their freshman year. “Wrestlers have different styles,” Hydock said. “Some are more aggressive and some have more technique. Brett and I wrestle similarly, so it was great have him as a partner.” Every year following state, Moon and Hydock stay at Hydock’s house and wake up to a breakfast from Hydock’s mom.

AprilPlay | maizenews.com

“She always makes us delicious chocolate chip pancakes for breakfast,” Moon said. To get ready for next season, Moon will continue working out at the YMCA and will be doing summer freestyle and greco wrestling with Hydock. n

Lyndsey Piska

Junior Brett Moon holds the tournament bracket with his first place medal.

News

Proposal in Kansas Legislature raises concerns about APUSH

bill introduced in the Kansas legislature this year has some concerned about the effect it could have on Advanced Placement United States History and other AP courses. Kansas Sen. Forrest Knox introduced Senate Bill 67, which has been referred to the education committee, according to kslegislature.org. The bill says schools can’t “condition or delay a decision” about curriculum on outside organizations, the Topeka Capital-Journal reported. The effect on AP courses is unclear since those classes require approval from the College Board, the same nonprofit that administers the SAT college entrance exam, the Capital-Journal reported. The Capital-Journal reported that the bill also eliminates current curriculum guidelines for core courses and requires classes to be aligned to the standards used in 2010. APUSH has come under fire in some states, including Oklahoma, because some believe it promotes a negative image of the United States. Some politicians say bits of U.S. history are uncomfortable, unflattering, shameful or unpatriotic. The Oklahoma legislative committee overwhelmingly voted to ban the

By Jesse Ellis

teaching of APUSH, and Oklahoma representative Dan Fisher stated that state funds shouldn’t be used to teach the course because he believes it emphasizes “what is bad about America.” Maize APUSH teacher Skeeter Rankins was dismayed by the idea that he’s teaching “un-American history.” “I would say, come in and sit down and shut up and listen to what we do,” Rankins said. “And then if they have a question, they can be a student and raise their hand, instead of acting like [a legislator] and be a student in here and ask critical questions for a better understanding.”

APUSH teacher Skeeter Rankins gives a lecture over the attack on Pearl Harbor during World War II.

Many teachers agree that APUSH is a class built to question why you believe in something and to think critically by analyzing all sides of the argument. For some students, it is the only U.S. History class they will ever take. Students can earn college credit in the class. According to an article in the Tulsa World, APUSH “is an opportunity for smart high school students to study at a university level and be tested for college credit. It teaches the full range of American history: the good, the bad and the exceptional. And it saves tuition money for students who do well on the AP test, allowing them the time and money to pursue more advanced studies when they get to college.” Rankins disagrees with any legislative mandate that would tell teachers how to teach APUSH. “What they want is to have American history taught the way they want it to be taught,” he said. “What is that though? Isn’t that a form of censorship in itself? If they are saying I am not teaching American history the right way, then what’s the right way? My job is not to tell you necessarily that everything we did is perfectly correct.”n

These stories first appeared on our website, www.maizenews.com. Maize superintendent resigns Superintendent Doug Powers announced in an email that his resignation is effective June 30. Maize students and staff responded to the announcement with a mixture of surprise and warm wishes. “I thought he did a nice job in our district,” said English teacher Jana Schantz. “He was an advocate for teachers, and I appreciated that.” Maize principal Chris Botts was shocked by the announcement, saying that he and Powers had a good relationship. “He saw something in me, and I will forever be grateful to him for giving me the opportunity to be at Maize High School,” Botts said. Botts said the school board will have

to work diligently to find a strong candidate to fill Powers’ position. “Hiring a superintendent is a long process. The school board is going to have their hands full finding somebody good to lead our district,” Botts said. “Good superintendents don’t just grow on trees. They’re going to have to put the time in to research individuals who would be the best fit for Maize.” Powers will become the assistant superintendent of finance in the Turner Unified School District in Kansas City, Kan. “I will be able to rest at night knowing the entirety of the district is no longer my responsibility,” Powers said. “The buck doesn’t stop with me anymore.”n -Shelby Carpenter

StuCo presents spring project Student Council is collecting money to buy plants and flowers to landscape the front of the school as a part of its spring project. “Anyone is more than welcome to come and help us plant,” senior class president Dylan Jones said. “We just want our school to look even more beautiful than it already is for when we have visitors come.” If you would like to donate money, contact Staci Brown or Jones, or you can take it to Brown’s room, F12. “We want them to have an experience they will never forget because Maize High is extraordinary,” Jones said. They will be putting the flowers around the eagle in the horseshoe.n -Lyndsey Piska AprilPlay | maizenews.com

8 News

Brownback changes state funding formula Maize, along with other Kansas schools, experience recent budget cuts due to Brownback’s new changes

By Emily Graves

ov. Sam Brownback signed into a Game On for Kansas Schools, a parental being taken out is being fed back into law a new school finance law that advocacy group, expressed concern in the budget for different things. The will cost the Maize school district hunThe Wichita Eagle, money being put back consists of $8 dreds of thousands of dollars this year. “We knew this was going to happen. million into bond and interest payments Brownback originally announced The math doesn’t work,” Deedy said. on construction of school buildings and his plan to change the way schools are “These cuts are hurtful. This is serious. $6.5 million into increased funds for funded in January, moving away from At a time when our schools have higher special education, among other things. a formula to block grants. The state is demands than ever, now is not the time By those numbers, the actual cut comes trying to close a gap in the budget. to start pulling back on funding.” out to about $22.5 million. The Maize school district will suffer a Wichita State University is expected Many still insist that there are better $800,000 cut from what it was supto lose approximately $1.5 million, but alternatives than what Brownback is posed to receive in funding. it is believed to continue their plan to trying to enforce. “I am not a big fan of the block grant expand their campus and make it more “The best alternative, in my opinion, bill that has passed through both the “student-friendly.” would be to use the per-pupil funding House and Senate,” principal Chris In an article from The Eagle, Andy system and follow the law as determined Botts said. “It does not make sense Schlapp, a lobbyist for WSU, said, “It’s by the three-judge panel in December,” to me to get rid of a formula before a setback, but it’s not the end of the Botts said. “The system works if it is adopting a new formula. The old system world.” properly funded. It levels the playing of per-pupil funding works. field for all districts in It makes sense. All that was Kansas to give each student missing from the old way was the same opportunities. It the Legislature choosing to accounts for increases and follow the law and adequately decreases in student enrollfund it. The new system pits ment, provides additional wealthier school districts funding for students conagainst poorer districts.” sidered at-risk and gives Botts also mentioned that additional funding to the change of income for special education. The panel next year has already began determined that schools to shine light on some of the were illegally underfunding. upcoming changes. The block grant system is an “During the 2015-16 avoidance of the law.” school year, we will no longer When thinking about have a librarian,” he said. low-enrollment districts, “When teachers retire or leave there are many concerns the district, their positions are about whether these cuts Brooke Johanson not being replaced. There are will force some districts and some staff members who will Governor Sam Brownback speaks at Vermillion Elementary School schools to shut down. about funding for all-day kindergarten. not return during the 2015“The old system did a 16 school year and are not good job of accounting for leaving by their choice. Class sizes will Like Schlapp, some people agree that different student demographics, needs increase, less programs/elective classes this is not the end of quality education and growth,” Botts said. “The new will be offered, and each department’s but rather, a new take on it. system will increase property taxes in building level budget will decrease.” “We understand the difficulties of the school districts to help make up the At least two faculty members who budget. We took a cut today. We get shortfall this bill will cause.” have announced their retirements it. It’s unfortunate,” Schlapp said. “But Many school districts and several won’t be replaced -- librarian Marlene we’re more than ever committed to that smaller schools are fighting back and Meckenstock and Spanish teacher process, the innovation campus, growdoing everything they can do not let the Sherry Elder. ing the Kansas economy and having a bill go into effect. Eric Wolgast split his time between workforce that can compete globally, so Some districts in Johnson County the math department, teaching two we’re going to continue on that path.” have been supportive though. classes, and athletic director is moving “Brownback is working to fix a “While the bill is not ideal, it repto a full-time AD position and won’t be broken education funding formula so resents a genuine effort to continue replaced in the math department. more money gets into the classroom to current funding levels for the next two Maize will have one fewer counselor benefit Kansas students,” said Melika years,” Tom Triggs, the superintendent and one fewer English teacher next year Willoughby, Deputy Communications of the Blue Valley school district, wrote as well. Director for Brownback. to lawmakers in an e-mail earlier in the Judy Deedy, executive director of She also points out that the money month.n

AprilPlay | maizenews.com

Maize competes at ProStart Invitational By Nadia McLean

Cooking teams from around the state go head-to-head competing for a series of judges

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wo Maize teams placed at the Kansas ProStart Invitational on March 4 at the Wichita Doubletree Hotel. The competition consisted of three parts: edible centerpiece, management and culinary. Maize teams competed in the culinary competition along with 20 other teams from around Kansas. Team Fire consisted of. Team Ice was composed of. Team Ice -- seniors Deidra Walker, Courtney Britton, Duncan Pepper and Liz Henry and junior Josi Johnson -- finished third. Team Fire -- seniors Grant Pfeifer, Noah Edkin and Taven Wohlford and junior Anthony Bianco -- placed fifth. Edkin won best knife skills out of the entire competition. Best knife skills could be awarded to any individual that competes in the competition. The competitors were judged on appearance, technique, taste and knife skills. Health inspectors and local restaurant owners also judge on the sanitation and safety. “It’s fun and a good experience to be able to make food for all these local judges that are chefs from Wichita,” Walker said. The teams practiced during Cara Poole’s Culinary Essentials class. They ran through their competition dishes six times and invited teachers in to give advice and mock judge their dishes.n

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Junior Josi Johnson, left, and senior Deidra Walker, right, work together to finish their dish for the judges.

10 Sports

‘Hold the rope’ Girls and boys basketball both battle it out at the state tournament By Delanie Pierce

Junior HaLee Roland leads the group in the pregame chant before the championship game.

AprilPlay | maizenews.com

Hannah Jurgensen

or the first time in Maize history, the girls basketball team went undefeated in regular season with a record of 20-0. This is also the fifth year in a row that the girls have made it to state and their second year in a row playing in the championship game against Wichita South. The boys team went to state back-to-back for the first time in their history. The girls ended second at state against South 56-48, and the boys lost in the first round to the state champions, Wichita East 59-46. The girls finished one game short of a perfect season. For seniors Daley Handy, Keiryn Swenson, Zoe Wedman and Saige Baalman, this is their fourth consecutive year going to state. “It’s a real blessing,” Handy said. “If I wouldn’t have picked Maize, no other high school would have been able to do that, so I’m really honored to be with a team that is able to.” After winning the first round of the tournament against Blue Valley Northwest, the team was ready for more. “It was exciting because we were one step closer to the state championship,” Swenson said. Being the second year in a row that the girls had to play South in the championship game, the team knew of what they were about to see. “The leading factors that made the game how it was, was the tempo that South caused us to play, ” Baalman said. “They controlled the tempo, which was slower than what we were used to playing.” Although South held the tempo of the game, the Eagles’ student section came ready to cheer on their team. “I know I like it better when we have a section because it helps keep the momentum in our hands,” Baalman said. The motto of the team, “Hold the Rope” has been the with the team for the past couple years, it reflects the family aspect of the players. “Those girls are my sisters, when we spend so much time with people that are all striving for the same goal, you’re going to bond with them,” junior HaLee Roland said. The team is close on and off the court. “We hang out outside of school and play other sports together, we can almost read each others minds,” Baalman said. With the performance and outcome of this year’s team, the expectations are high for the season next year. “We’re all going be working hard in the off season and playing a lot over the summer with each other to get ready for next season,” Roland said. While the girls have played together for some time, the boys squad had many new players experiencing state for the first time. Senior Matthew LeBegue has been homeschooled and had never played on a public school team until this year. “State was really exciting,” he said. “I’ve never

Sports 11

2. Cheyenne Esser

Hannah Jurgensen

3. Cheyenne Esser

4. Dan Loving

done anything like this; with homeschool, there is nothing like state. It was a blast.” Along with LeBegue, coach Chris Grill and seniors Warren Goode, Cortlin Standifer and Logan Miller are new to this year’s team. “It took us a while to mesh,” Grill said. “The chemistry got a lot better towards the end of the year. They got better at the right time.” Playing as a team was one of the leading factors that got the boys to state but with new players, the team had difficulty finding team chemistry during the state tournament. “We just didn’t execute properly and they beat us out,” senior Ky-Sean Johnson said. With all of the seniors leaving, junior Jacob Schultz is excited to get ready for next year’s season. “I’ve played with a lot of the players that are going to be seniors, so I think we will be pretty good, and it’s going to be fun,” Schultz said. n 6.

5. Hannah Jurgensen

Miranda White

1. Senior Daley Handy dribbles to the basket in the semi-final game of the state tournament. 2. Senior Matt LeBegue fights for a rebound against Wichita East. 3. Senior Ky-Sean Johnson drives to the basket in the quarter-final game. 4. The Lady Eagles hold their second place trophy after the championship game. 5. Senior Saige Baalman decides what to do with the ball in the championship game. 6. Matt LeBegue gets ready to take a shot against Wichita East.

AprilPlay | maizenews.com

Ple

You

Rap

urt

It’s supposed to hurt

es oth f l c r o You kind e e wer ocativ v pro

Was it since really rap e yo w e drunu k? re

Stop playing the blame game Were they cute? If so, it’s not rape.

No one is going to believe you anyways

Rape IS a real crime

Stop struggling

Now t hat yo u’ve been Why would THEY de ‘raped’ it fines y ou. rape YOU?

By Tori Lemon for the Play editorial board

d it

te an

According to the Rape, Abuse and Incest National Network, every 107 seconds another American is sexually assaulted. It’s time to stop blaming the victims and start blaming the abusers.

What makes you think you have the RIGHT to say no to me?

ne out of every six American women and one in 33 men have been the victim of an attempted or successful rape in their lifetime, according to National Institute of Justice and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. “Every two minutes, someone somewhere in America is sexually violated. It’s starting to become more common, which is a big problem,” Mary Stolz-Newton, assistant director of the Wichita Area Sexual Assault Center, said. And all too often, the victims are blamed. Most would rather deny the truth, instead of facing it and coming up with a solution. We must start blaming the rapists and no longer the victim. Rape is a touchy subject, there’s no doubt about that. However, it’s a subject that needs to be discussed. It’s time to put an end to victim blaming. Many have heard the term “rape culture,” but not everyone knows just exactly what that is. Some believe that when talking about rape culture, we are not talking about a group or a society that promotes rape. That is not necessarily true. Rape culture is the way society collectively thinks about rape and the victims it creates. Often, anything in relation to sexual assault, rape or violence is turned into a joke. Not only is this damaging to the victims, it’s dangerous. It tells the victims that their attack is something to laugh about and shows others that rape and sexual assaults are something we shouldn’t take seriously. “More and more girls are being blamed for their rape, and more and more rapists are walking free with no punishment,” Stolz-Newton said. “A society that allows this is allowing rape culture.” Rape is physically damaging as well as dangerous for the

AprilPlay | maizenews.com

You

e ap tr no

It youwas y lea our d t fau hem lt, on

Will you stop talking about it already?

t’s Tha

as ‘as es to ked ’ fo p r it

12 Opinion

emotional and psychological state of victims. According to the National Sexual Violence Research Center, 81 percent of women and 35 percent of men report significant short or long-term impacts, such as post-traumatic stress disorder. World Health Organization says victims of sexual assault are three times more likely to suffer from depression, six times more likely to suffer from PTSD, 13 times more likely to abuse alcohol, 26 times more likely to abuse drugs and four times more likely to contemplate suicide. A big portion of sexual assaults are never reported to the police, causing the rapist to roam free with no consequences. But even when the assaults are reported, it is unlikely the attacker will ever spend one day in prison for their crime. According to the U.S. Department of Justice, only one out of four reported rapes leads to an arrest, and only one out of four arrests leads to a felony conviction and incarceration. “Too many victims are too scared to come forth and report their rape, due to the fear of being judged, harassed and blamed. Whenever a victim reports their attack, they’re automatically asked ‘What were you wearing?’ or ‘Were you drinking?’ or ‘Were you leading him on and giving him false signals?’” Stolz-Newton said. “This is increasing the idea of rape culture. It’s society’s fault this kind of culture exists and it’s society’s job to put an end to it.” Rape and sexual assault aren’t being taken as seriously as they should. It’s time to stop ignoring rape, and keeping it on the “hush hush.” We need to stop telling them how not to get raped, it’s time to tell people not to rape. It’s time to end rape culture. If we continue to deny the truth, rapists will continue on being unpunished and victims will be suppressed.n

Column 13

By Brooke Johanson

am sitting here trying to think of something or someone that inspires me or has made an impact in my life. Then I thought, what is something I do every day that has influenced my life? And then it hit me, Netflix. Or more specifically, “Grey’s Anatomy.” If you don’t know me, I absolutely love “Grey’s Anatomy.” Ask me anything about it and I can tell you the answer. I have been following this show since it started in 2005, but most recently I have started binge-watching the series from the beginning on Netflix. The medical drama series focuses on a group of doctors at Seattle Grace Hospital who began their careers at the facility as interns. They fight for surgeries and the chance to save lives as well as have their own lives. As the series progresses, some characters get into relationships, break up, get cancer, get syphilis, get hit by a bus, get fired, get rehired, drown, get shot, get in a plane crash and the list goes on and on. While you have your main characters Senior Brooke Johanson is taking the Certified Nurse Aid class at South. Johanson goes to Plaza West care facility to work with the elderly. She gets them out of bed, bathes them, takes vitals and helps them eat at meals. Johanson has multiple skills labs at South where the students practice on mannequins before residents.

Netflix Inspiring a Career

lives you have to follow, each episode you have different patients that you get to hear about their story and why they’re in the hospital. You get attached to these patients and want to help them. You watch the show so much that you feel like you could actually do the surgery yourself. Now most of you probably couldn’t, but I definitely can. Each episode teaches you a valuable life lesson that you can apply to your own life. There is usually one episode in each season that is a tear-jerker. This is the episode when you’re so mad at the show you want to chuck the remote at the TV or turn it off completely. But you have to keep watching to know what happens next. “Grey’s Anatomy” is an addiction. But it is also an inspiration. Growing up I aspired to become a vet. After I started watching this show with my mom, I was just so fascinated. I decided I wanted to become a surgeon. First a neurosurgeon, because Dr. Derek Shepard is McDreamy and makes fixing a brain look easy. Then I decided I didn’t want to accidentally turn

someone into a vegetable. Then I wanted to be a cardiothoracic surgeon, because Dr. Christina Yang was definitely my favorite and I would love to work on the sole organ that makes the body function. But this specialty could turn a person into a vegetable, too. Maybe plastic surgery is for me. Dr. Mark Sloan, or McSteamy, made it look so fun being a perfectionist with a scalpel by doing more than just boob jobs and butt lifts. Being a surgeon requires more than just looking good and raising a scalpel. It requires at least eight years of school and three to eight years in an internship and residency. If you don’t know me, I don’t like school and I definitely don’t have the ambition to go through that much school to go to a specialty where I could kill someone. “Grey’s Anatomy,” therefore, inspired me to become a nurse. I can still work by the people who save lives but still be helping the patients myself. Hospitals give me a sense of adrenaline and being able to work in one would be a dream of mine.n Katie McLachlan

AprilPlay | maizenews.com

14 Lifestyles

3 1

Thousands of feet

above the rest By Kalee Betzen Senior Dylan Kelley, pictures 1 and 4 has earned his pilot’s license at Jabara Airport. Photos submitted by Brie Coyle.

Students work toward earning their pilot’s licenses 4

ou can find some students on a basketball court, lounging around watching Netflix or working when they’re not at school. You can find senior Dylan Kelley and freshman Jaeyd Schoonover a few thousand feet in the air, fastened into the left seat of an airplane. “My uncle has planes, so I was always around them as a kid and going up [in the sky] with him,” Kelley said. For eight months, Kelley has been working on getting his Pilot in Command certificate at Jabara airport. During his very first training session, Kelley got a little more than he bargained for. “It was pretty crazy,” Kelley said. “I went to training and they sat me in the left seat of the plane and told me to fly.” Flying is a costly hobby. Kelley says it costs between $10,000 and $15,000 to obtain a license similar to his at Jabara. Most of the cost is designated to renting the airplane. It is much more common for flight students to rent planes due to high cost of owning one. In addition to paying for renting the plane, students must pay for their lesson with their instructor. Kelley says he flies around two hours each flight. “The farthest I think I’ve probably flown is Tulsa, Okla.” he said. As far as building a career in the sky, he doesn’t plan on it. “It could always be a side job, but I AprilPlay | maizenews.com

Freshman Jaeyd Schoonover, pictures 2 and 4 is working toward earning his pilot’s license at Stearman Field. Photos by Brooke Johnanson.

bonding.

“I definitely fly with my dad the “It’s stress free. It’s most,” he said. Schoonover is working on earning his like being on a license at Stearman Field. Schoonover says the cost of obtaining a license to his at Stearman starts around beach,”-Senior Dylan Kelley similar $5,000. The farthest Schoonover has don’t plan for flying to be my first career choice,” he said. Although Kelley enjoys every aspect of flying, he admits the view beats anything. “The things you see up there are amazing; it’s a whole new perspective,” he said. Kelley said at first flying wasn’t exactly easy. “It definitely used to scare me, but now I’m not scared whenever I go up,” he said. Kelley finds flying therapeutic. “It’s like nothing else. It’s stress free, it’s like being on a beach,” he said. Freshman Jaeyd Schoonover can recall his first time flying at more of an unusually young age than most. “I was 2½, flying with my dad and he let me take over the plane,” Schoonover said. “I just loved every second of it.” At the age of 8, Schoonover decided to carry on his family’s tradition of flying, following in the footsteps of his father and grandfather. In addition to a hobby, Schoonover and his father use flying as a way of

flown is about three hours. In addition to taking lessons, he has recorded around 6,200 hours on flight simulator. Schoonover also attended an aviation camp over the summer with fellow teens interested in flying in Oshkosh, Wis. “It was really great to go to a place where there were other people interested in aviation,” he said. “My favorite part of flying is traveling and getting to see places.” Unlike Kelley, Schoonover plans on making a career out of flying. “I plan on becoming a United Airlines pilot,” Schoonover said. Although Kelley and Schoonover aren’t following the same career path, they both agree they’ve enjoyed flying west toward Colorado and the mountains the most. In particular, Schoonover is fond of Denver International Airport. But given the chance, Kelley dreams of flying over the state of Alaska, while Schoonover dreams of flying to London. When asked how flying made him feel Schoonover could mutter three words. “Alive. Very alive,” he said.n

Lifestyles 15

Playing with a

PAS SION

Lyndsey Piska

Despite a physical disability, Crouse is seldom without his trumpet in hand or earbuds blaring.

Senior Kevin Crouse has overcome obstacles and fueled his love for music

he power of music can unleash emotions, unite cultures and provide a creative outlet to escape the realities of the world. Music has shaped senior Kevin Crouse’s character and granted him several opportunities to express himself over the years. Overlooking his disability, Crouse has taken his love for music from childhood into young adulthood and created a future that will allow his passion to grow.

An early passion

Crouse found his love for music at the age of 3. “I’ve loved music ever since I was a little toddler,” Crouse said. “I always had like an instrument in my hands or headphones on or a radio blaring in my ears.” Music was always present in Crouse’s childhood but did not become a constant influence until later. Under the guidance of Randy Crow, Maize Middle School band director, Crouse’s musical talents flourished indubitably, which he attributes to Crow’s passionate direction. “Because of him, I have come as far as I have today and as far as I'm going to go in the future,” Crouse said. “He is my musical father figure, as I like to put it.” Moving into high school, Crouse

By Shelby Carpenter excelled musically, participating in marching band, concert band, state band and jazz band, along with a jazz quintet he formed outside of school. “When I’m not working, I try to jam with other people around town,” he said. Senior Matt McKay began playing trumpet with Crouse after his freshman year and immediately knew Crouse had incredible music potential. “I knew right away he was good,” McKay said. “He had first chair and was miles ahead of the rest of us. The rest of us played trumpet, but he lived trumpet.”

Braving challenges

From middle school to high school, Crouse has overcome several musical obstacles and endured long practices to achieve what he has today. However, one challenge continues to face him daily: a physical disability. Crouse was born with a deformed right limb, lacking a forearm. His right hand has three fingers and a thumb. Although Crouse may appear different than the average musician, his passion and sheer love for music is seemingly unmatched by any other. “I don’t let my disability define me,” he said. “I honestly feel like I am just like everyone else. I don’t view myself

as different. I’m just a kid who loves music.”

Future notes

Looking ahead, Crouse does not see a future without music. Crouse will perform professionally this summer. He will attend Wichita State University in the fall, while balancing performances on the side. “My goal is to graduate college with a music education degree,” Crouse said. “I would also love to perform and balance the two things out. If you get a performance degree, it’s pretty much good for fast food and retail if you can’t make it as a performer.” “Kevin has been one of the most memorable, notable, talented students throughout his time here at Maize Middle and Maize High,” Crow said. “I really look forward to seeing where he ends up with his trumpet.” Above all, Crouse accredits his personal drive and motivation to his musical success, an ignited flame of passion that will never be put out. “I'm mostly self-driven,” he said. “I mean, I have my influences, I have the people who've helped me get started, and then I have the people I look up to like musical fathers. Overall, it’s more me being me. It is more of an attachment of me than a trumpet.”n AprilPlay | maizenews.com

16 Sports

The

coach behind the player

Senior Daley Handy coaches a girls basketball team on the side of her own basketball career

By Savie Hughes

he sound of buzzers and whistles echo off the Farha YMCA basketball court walls. The stands are full of parents frantically clapping, yelling and cheering for their child. Shoes of all different colors, shapes and sizes squeak on the courts and basketballs bounce in mass chaos as they are dribbled up and down the court. Teams work together, running for their goal, passing, dribbling and blocking as they go. In the middle of it all, senior Daley Handy stands on the sideline, yelling plays, correcting players and deciding who she should put in the game next. “I have always been a coach at heart,” Handy said. “I feel like it makes me a better player, and I also feel like I’m giving back to my community.” Handy, who starred on the Maize basketball team that fell one game short of a perfect season and has signed to play collegiately at Wyoming, spends some of what little free time she has coaching a YMCA team of third- through sixth-grade girls. “My child has been with her for two years,” parent Shannon Catlin said. “I’ve seen a definite growth in basketball and even a love for the game.” Handy was offered the job two years ago when the youth basketball program was lacking coaches. She took it and got hooked. “I’ve kept with it because it’s really fun, and I love coaching the girls,” she said. She is following in the footsteps of her parents. Dana and Jerrod Handy both coach at MHS. Hannah Jurgensen “I encourage it,” Jerrod Handy said. Daley Handy talks to her team, Eclipse, during a timeout. “She works really good with young makes me realize that a coach really kids, and she’s got a talent for it.” I have always been a cares about you and wants you to get Coaching the game has also helped coach at heart. I feel like it better.” her on the court. It gives Handy an Coaching has not only helped her inside look from the coaches’ point of makes me a better player on the court but also as an individual. view. and I also feel like I’m giving “Coaching also just makes me a “When I’m coaching them and back to my community. better person,” Handy said. “Just to be they don’t listen to me its like ‘Wow, more patient with people all around now I know how my dad feels when I -Daley Handy me.”n don’t listen to him’,” Handy said. “It

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”

Sports 17

Competing with complications Health problems can take a huge toll on athletes. Asthma and diabetes are just two examples of common health problems that athletes face By Hallie Bontrager and Miranda White

sthma is a disease that narrows a person’s airways. When a substance that irritates the airways is inhaled, the airways will shut, making it nearly impossible to breathe. According to mayoclinic.org, usually when someone is diagnosed with asthma, they are a child, but there are still conditions when an adult is diagnosed. It is not clear what causes asthma, but many people are born with it. Someone may get asthma by a combination of environmental factors or it is genetic.

Miranda White

Junior Miranda Grier cheers at Wichita State for the guys basketball team at the AVCTL vs City League tournament.

Junior cheerleader Miranda Grier was born with asthma, so in her case it is genetic. Treating asthma is a daily issue for Grier. “I just have to take my medicine regularly, and then if I feel an asthma attack coming on, then I have to stop what I’m doing and try to take deep breaths, which somewhat stops the attack from happening,” Grier said. Grier said she has had an asthma attack, but it wasn’t while she was cheering; she was just at home with her mom.

“When I have an asthma attack, I can use my rescue inhaler and it’ll work. There have been a couple of times when I had to go to the hospital and they have to give me a special breathing treatment,” Grier said. As a cheerleader, Grier said she doesn’t have to do much running around while she is cheering, so her asthma doesn’t really affect her. However, Grier has had multiple injuries. She has hurt her back multiple times, rolled her ankle and got a concussion last year. These injuries didn’t affect her breathing, but they did force her to sit out of cheering for a few months. “It started hurting in eighth grade after I did a round off back handspring tuck and after that it hurt almost all the time. [...] It affects me sometimes at practice [and then] I have to take a break or stop for the day so instead of doing more and progressing it I have to sit out.” Grier said. Despite having asthma and her multiple injuries, Grier plans to be part of the cheer squad her senior year. Freshman Bailey Stedman is one of the more than 29 million Americans who has diabetes. Stedman plays golf, basketball and soccer. Diabetes is a condition that causes blood sugar levels to rise, which increases the chances of heart disease but also affects the rest of the body. There are two types of diabetes, Type 1 and Type 2. According to medicalnewstoday.com, Type 1 diabetes is when all cells in the pancreas are destroyed which causes no production of insulin at all. Insulin is what breaks down sugar consumed and converts it into energy. When someone has Type 2 it means that their pancreas is able to produce some insulin but it is not strong enough to do its job properly. This means cells are not getting enough sugar to produce energy for the body. Having either Type 1 or Type 2,

anyone with diabetes has to maintain their diet and how much sugar is in everything they eat. If a meal contains a large amount of sugar, they must track how much they have eaten so they can insert the correct amount of insulin. Stedman was diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes at age 9. “When I first got diabetes, I was really upset and mad because I didn’t want it,” Stedman said. “Then I thought that I could get rid of it and just ignore it, it got kind of out of control.” When Stedman realized that having

Hannah Jurgensen

Freshman Bailey Stedman looks for teammates as she drives into the basket against Salina Central.

a diabetes was a bigger deal than she thought, she went to the doctor to find out more about her condition. Stedman explained that she has to continuously check if her blood sugar levels are “high” or “low”. “If I am low, then I have to eat more sugar because that means I don’t have enough sugar with me. If I am high, then I need more insulin,” Stedman said. Stedman has now learned how to deal with diabetes and continues to play sports year-round.n AprilPlay | maizenews.com

Photo Focus 19

Prom isn’t just in the 21st Century As the 2015 prom draws closer, Maize faculty and superintendent share their prom photos By Brooke Johanson

1 ELIZABETH MANS Teacher Elizabeth Mans went to her Bishop Carroll senior prom in 2007 with her boyfriend, now husband, Joshua Mans. “Prom was great because it was a reason to get even more dressed up,” Mans said.

2 CHRIS BOTTS Prinicipal Chris Botts poses for his prom pictures with his date Bret Trombla. Botts attended El Dorado High School’s prom in 1993.

3 SHERRY PFEIFER English teacher Sherry Pfeifer wore a replica dress of Lady Diana Spencer’s wedding dress to her sophomore prom. Back then girls styled their own hair and did their own nails and make-up.

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4 BEN HARLOW “My favorite thing about going to prom was the whole experience of dressing up and having a fancy dinner,” history teacher Ben Harlow said. Harlow, pictured right, attended his prom in 1985 at Shaowchilla High School in California.

5 JENNY MEIROWSKY In 1999, math teacher Jenny Meirowsky stands with her sister, para Cassie Woodard, for their prom. “It was fun to see everyone dressed up,” Meirowsky said.

6 JESSICA SHURTS Science teacher Jessica Shurts attended both proms with her now husband James Shurts. She does not remember most of the prom because she was busy with track meets and taking the ACT.

7 DOUG POWERS Superintendent Doug Powers went to his prom in El Dorado High School with his friend Holly Hughes. “My favorite thing was just hanging out with my friends throughout the night,” Powers said.

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