lipper
Volume 84
Issue 3
Dec. 20, 2013
Inside:
In-state v. out-of-state colleges.
Seaman High School
4850 NW Rochester Topeka, KS 66617
Foreign exchange students celebrate holidays in different ways. Dear Santa...students write letters filled with Christmas wishes. Winter sports preview
seamannews.com for latebreaking stories and all of our journalism projects @SeamanNews SeamanNews
SN
Freshman Hannah Weaver helps decorate the Key Club entry for Festival of Trees. For more story, see page 4 . (Photo by Allie Crome)
2
Dec. 20, 2013
NEWS
www.seamannews.com
Debate team nationally ranked in top five percent of the U.S. by Cortni Heston staff writer
The 2012-2013 Seaman High debate program was ranked among the top five percent in the nation and earned a spot in the league’s 200 Club after competing in 27 tournaments and bringing home 263 degrees (awards). Over the summer, the debate team qualified and competed at nationals in Alabama. Sophomore Payton Wettengel was lucky enough to get this exposure as a freshman. “It was a great experience. I think it really humbled me. I think I’m a lot smarter and more experienced.” For freshman Natalie Brodine, who is taking her first year of debate, being on a nationally-recognized team is a lot to live up to. “It’s a lot of pressure, but
it gives us something to work for.” With a team reputation to uphold, she plans on continuing to be a member of the debate team. “I think I will do it again next year. I like the atmosphere. It’s really competitive, and after the round, the other competitors are really cool.” Seaman High currently has about 70 students enrolled in its speech and debate classes and when it comes to competition, they don’t play around. “The competition around here is very good. It’s the best in the nation,” said Mr. David Ralph, who teaches speech, debate, and forensics classes. Ralph’s teaching career has lasted 11 years and seven of those have been at Seaman High School. “We have very good kids working hard, lots of them, and that’s a rarity these days.”
Senior deadlines by Jacob Phillips staff writer
•Jan. 6: the JFK Library Foundation scholarship essay is due. Open to 9-12 grade students. •Jan, 10: the KLL Foundation is a scholarship for students that have lost a parent to cancer. Open to high school seniors and college students. •Late January/Early February: Seniors need to fill out the FAFSA form for Federal Student Aide. The earlier the better seniors! This process can begin after Jan. 1. •Feb. 10: Hy-Vee offers a scholarship. Open to high school seniors and current college students.
•March 15: Westar Energy offers a scholarship. Open to high school students and recent graduates. •Late March: Jostens will be delivering the graduation products (cap and gown). •May 14: Graduation practice will be in the auditorium at 9:30 a.m. Even if seniors do not have a seminar, they are required to attend. •May 15: is the seniors last day and checkout, cap and gown, folder pickup, and senior lunch in the North Gym. •May 18: Graduation day at 4 p.m. at the Expocentre. (Seniors need to be there at 3:20 p.m.)
Even though all of his students spend sometimes weeks doing research for tournaments, he still worries about how they will perform. “I’m always a bit nervous, because they all work very hard to prepare, and I just want them to have a good ex-
perience.” Ralph is very pleased with the success of the program and says some of the strongest debaters to watch for this year are R.J. Moser and Alex Easton who have been top finishers so far this season.
Calendar Events: • • • • •
Senior picture, activity sheets, and quotes are due Dec. 20 End of 2nd quarter. Early release at 11:05 a.m. NO SCHOOL-Winter break Dec. 21 - Jan. 5 School resumes Jan. 6, 2014 No school Jan. 20-Martin Luther King, Jr. Day
lipper Editor-in-Chief Delaney Hiegert Managing Editor Mallory Searcy Business/Ad Managers Kendall Leatherman, Taylor Buessing Staff Ethan Brunetti, Bailey Bushnell, Mason Diederich, Cassidy Henry, Cortni Heston, Alex Hurla, Alayna Hutchison, Sydney Marney, Michael Owen, Jacob Phillips, Jakob Ready, Breanna Schmidt, Tatum Smith, Andie Sodergren, Delaney Spence, Marissa Willard, Brenlee Yingling Adviser Kelly Neiman, MJE To submit a letter to the editor, the letter must be 300 words or less in length. All correspondence must be signed. The goal of the staff is to report school and community news and suggest ideas for improvement. We welcome your opinions and will do our best to publish what you have to say. Views in this newsmagazine do not always represent those of the faculty or school board of USD 345. The Clipper reserves the right to edit or refuse publication of material that is libelous, obscene, invading privacy, infringing on copyright or disruptive to the educational process of Seaman High School.
Dec. 20, 2013 3 NEWS Program offers Midwest states reduced tuition rates www.seamannews.com
by Mallory Searcy managing editor Thinking about college and taking that next step can be overwhelming to many students and their parents. Deciding on the best college for that student is oftentimes the most stressful and confusing part. Some students consider staying close to home where they have that built-in support system, while others want to push their comfort zone and venture out to another state for their education. Senior Sierra Hurd said, “Just getting away from home, seeing new places, and meeting new people was really appealing to me when I was considering going out-of-state.” Currently there are many options to lessen the financial burden of leaving home and paying out-of-state tuition, which students often times don’t consider. Counselor Dawna Ed-
monds said, “While we do have good quality schools in Kansas, some collegebound students don’t explore out-of-state options with as much detail.” Besides scholarships and grants, the Mid-West Student Exchange Program (MSEP) might be an option for students seeking an out-of-state experience. This program provides reduced tuition rates for students from the Midwest traveling and pursing their education in another college or university in the Midwest. Nine states are involved with this program: Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, and Wisconsin. According to msep. mhec.org, public colleges will not charge more than 150 percent of what a resident of that state would pay. Also, several private institutions will reduce 10 per-
Designed by Cole Esser
cent of their tuition prices. Finding an out-of-statecollege that is the right fit without breaking the bank is made simple by three simple steps the website msep.mhec.org offers. First entering state of residence, desired degree level, and the school sector will bring up a list of universities that will offer reduced tu-
ition rates upon acceptance. Whether or not attending an out-of-state school is a right fit, making the best choice for that individual is important. Senior Drew Montes is a student that made the best choice for him. Montes said, “I am really close to my family, so staying in-state really made sense for me.”
All- Around Fitness If you were featured in a Lil Wayne song what would your line be?
having peace of mind training wit h a profe s s ional holding t he
“Took a picture of a spider and out it on the web, call that spider web.” Reese Emert, 9
Owner/trainer; B.S. Kinesiology a.j.aller@hotmail.com
“Put headphones on my feet, call that a toe jam.” Emma Sauer, 10
“Got my grandma on speed dial, call that instagram.” Kodi Haflich, 11 Compiled by Delaney Spence
Gold-St andard cert ificat ion in exerci s e s cience
Amanda Aller
3907 NW Cheery Creek Dr. • Topeka, KS 66618 • 785-547-6480
Have yo u bough t your yearboo k yet? $60 standard $65 pers onalized
4 Dec. 20, 2013
NEWS
www.seamannews.com
New leadership class to be added next semester by Brenlee Yingling STAFF WRITER A new leadership class is being added to the class list next semester. Jaimie Jones, the Quick Cuisine, Home Interiors, and Teen Issues teacher, is going to be the new leadership teacher. The class is going to be
a combination of exploring skills, leadership skills and applying the skills to benefit the school and the community. The class is going to be offered to any student from sophomores to seniors. Miss Jones, who taught a similar class at Park Hill South, plans to eventually make the program available to freshman.
The class will be a combination of book studies and hands-on event planning. After that they will break into groups to plan another event and eventually plan an event individually. Miss Jones plans to have guest speakers and community leaders come to speak to her class. The class is going to be
hands-on, where students can work and grow as a person. “The class is not necessarily for leaders in the school. It is for anyone who wants to find the inner leader in themselves,” says Miss Jones. To find out more information about the new leadership class, see Miss Jones in E14.
Clubs volunteer during the holiday season by Cassidy Henry staff writer Sara James began shopping for tree decorations right after school. She was determined to continue her hunt until she was satisfied with her selection of holiday ornaments for her vision of what a perfect Christmas tree would look like. Her vision would later be transformed into the Key Club’s tree for the Festival of Trees fund-raiser. Seaman High School’s clubs have been working hard to volunteer for organizations and outreaches across Topeka in order to fundraise money so the holidays can be great for everyone around town. Interact Club has taken advantage of multiple volunteer opportunities. Thanksgiving break began the traditional ringing of bells outside of the north Topeka Wal-Mart to raise money for the Salvation Army. Interact Club volunteers are also assisting Topeka Rescue Mission in serving meals at the local shelter. “Volunteering is a great way to make new friends and strengthen existing relationships. It’s also an opportunity to meet
new people, especially for students who are new to SHS,” said sponsor of Interact Club, Amanda Torbett. STUCO tried to come up with fun ideas to fundraise, while involving any student who would want to help out. The Blizzard Bash CoEd Volleyball Tournament was a volleyball competition on Dec. 7. Each team had to pay $35, with all donations going to the Special Olympics. A No-Shave November fundraiser was also sponsored by STUCO, which determined which teacher or student got to shave Principal Ron Vinduska’s beard. A whopping $1,540.68 was donated to Topeka North Outreach after the November competition came to an end. “It was a very fun idea and the proceeds went to a cause that is always in need of fundraising,” said senior Garrett Pepper. National Honor Society thought of opportunities to make holidays happier and easier for people around Topeka. NHS students went shopping to buy clothes for the 10 children that they had adopted. These gifts will then
Taylor Deese, Mary-Jane Davidson, Bailey Chinn, Kim Nguyen, and Shyanne Osterhaus help kids decorate gingerbread houses for Interact (Photo by Ms. Torbett).
be delivered to the 10 children before Christmas. Spanish Club raised $806 in order to buy gifts for two families that they had adopted for the holidays. Items bought included: baby clothing, adult clothing, shoes and two children’s bikes. Students in Susan Sittenauer’s Social Studies classes collected items for the Kansas Children Service League, who would then give the toys and games to children in need around the holidays. Key Club volunteered at the Festival of Trees on Dec. 8.
Cleaning up the event afterwards and bagging up the purchased trees were only some of the jobs Key Club had volunteered to do at the Festival of Trees. “We also donated and designed a tree for the auction at the Festival and adopted 10 kids from Gods Storehouse to buy gifts for,” said Randy Crome, sponsor of Key Club. The theme for Key Club’s tree was “Owl Naturale” decorated with owls and natural/woodsy materials.
NEWS
www.seamannews.com
Dec 20, 2013
5
Why teens have such hard times getting enough sleep by Breanna Schmidt staff writer It’s one of the most common of complaints heard in a high school. So common, a teenager hears or says it at least once a day. Usually, it is heard in the mornings as students lug their bodies into their first or second hour class. That’s right, “I’m tired.” While most teens need between eight and nine hours of sleep a night, the reality is that many young adults are only obtaining around five to seven hours. Some are even acquiring less than that. “I get anywhere between three to five hours on school nights.” Sarah Walter, senior, says. However, staying up late isn’t always the fault of the teenager.
According to kidshealth.org, experts say that during the teen years, the circadian rhythm (the body’s internal biological clock) is temporarily reset, telling a person to fall asleep later and wake up later. While this is one excuse as to why teens stay up so late, there are many others. A lot of teens are stuck doing homework late at night; others get caught up social networking. “YouTube. YouTube definitely keeps me up,” confesses Toby Mikkelsen. Walter, however, has a different excuse for staying up. “I stay out late a lot. I work late, and I’ll hang out after work with friends and lose track of time.” As far as keeping his eyes open during class, Mikkelsen believes it’s easier to stay awake when the class is taking notes. “Of course, it depends on how interesting the class is,” he adds.
When asked for advice on how to stay awake, Walter only laughed out one word- “Coffee.”
5 Tips For Not Feeling Tired 1. Eat breakfast, even if not hungry. Food gives the body energy. 2. Drink lots of water- water keeps blood thin, helping you feel less fatigue. 3. Engage in a conversation 4. Switch tasks to engage the brain. 5. Stretch or walk around- activity causes the blood to flow, making a person feel less tired.
Heavy book bags bring pain and possible back problems by Tatum Smith staff writer
There are some things that come with being a high school student, late hours of homework, pop quizzes, and heavy book bags. Research says that heavy book bags can be more of a
problem than you think. School Nurse, Jennifer Varner says,” Heavy book bags put your posture completely out of a normal stance putting a lot of weight on your shoulders which puts pressure on your neck muscles as well.” Studies have shown that book bags that are 15-20 percent of one’s body weight are too heavy. Varner says, “It’s not the type of book bag a students has, it’s the weight of the books they are carrying.” Many students have been reported to not use their lockers and this could be a link to back problems. “Use your lockers moe and only carry the necessary articles you need for that day.,” says Varner.
36% 64% Survey and Graph by Bailey Bushnell
6
Dec. 20,2013
OPINION
www.seamannews.com
Hobby Lobby opposes Affordable Care Act, brings attention to religious rights for businesses
by Delany Hiegert editor-in-chief
T
he new Affordable Care Act, also known as Obamacare, has made numerous headlines recently, and it doesn’t look like the spotlight is going to fade away any time soon. The new hoopla is focused around a specific clause of the bill that requires businesses to provide forms of birth control to their employees. The controversy is focused on Hobby Lobby, a company that has taken its complaint to court. This company has been Christian-based from its beginning and has maintained its religious beliefs on as the company has grown. The store isn’t open on Sundays specifically to show the importance of their religious beliefs within their business. Hobby Lobby believes that they shouldn’t have to provide certain types of birth control that are included in the new government mandate because their religion considers them to be a
form of abortion. If Hobby Lobby were allowed to choose what birth control to provide to their employees, it would mean they viewed themselves as a religious organization. However, Hobby Lobby is a privately owned for-profit company with nearly 13,000 full-time employees, not all of which are of the same religious background as the owners. If Hobby Lobby were classified as a religious organization instead of a business corporation, then maybe their claim would be easier to appease. The actual definition of a religious organization is a corporation organized and operated exclusively for religious, charitable, scientific, literary, or educational purposes, and no part of the net earnings benefit any private shareholde or individual (IRS.gov). The real question is: Do business corporations have the first amendment freedom of religious rights? Hobby Lobby should not be exempt from certain aspects of the new health care laws that go against their
religious preferences. As a business corporation, they must comply with the new health care mandate or else face high fines – as all other companies that fall into this category must do. If Hobby Lobby wins its case in appeals court, then the ruling would affect more than just Hobby Lobby’s employees. This would mean that every private company could have its own definition of insurance. If that is true, how are we supposed to have minimum standards set evenly across the board? Who is to say each company’s owners will not take advantage of this loophole they’ve been given and exempt themselves from offering parts of the insurance that are ‘required’? One can see there are numerous questions that will arise on this subject, especially if Hobby Lobby wins its case. The Obamacare mandate has the possibility of being effective, however if there is a roadblock such as this one at every corner, it may be a long journey.
Holiday sweater dance timing coincides with busy schedules by Alayna Hutchison staff writer To kick off the holiday spirit, students participated in the ugly sweater dance. The themed dance replaced the back to school dance, which was held earlier in the year Many students like how the theme of the dance changed, but I believe that the theme doesn’t matter. Yes, the idea of having an ugly sweater dance was fun, but the timing wasn`t all that great. Having to go straight from the basketball game to the dance gave no time to get ready. Along with this, we have to keep in mind the athletes playing. Who would enjoy going to a dance after exhausting their efforts into the game? On top of this, being sweaty? I certainly wouldn`t enjoy it. Some students agree with me, deciding that the post game dance wasn`t as good as the theme. Senior Carly Rahmeier said, “ I don`t
think it was a good idea, because I had the ACT to take the next day. A lot of other kids did also.” Although staying on the positive side, senior Garrett Pep-
Created by Alayna Hutchison
per said “ I think it`s a good idea to have the dance after the game, that way everyone is migrating from the gym to the commons. That just looks really cool.”
www.seamannews.com
OPINION
Dec. 20, 2013
7
Bastille shows off their unique style of music in debut album by Sydney Marney staff writer “All this bad blood here, won’t you let it dry? It’s been cold for years, won’t you let it lie?”, This quote from Bastilles debut album Bad Blood released on Sept. 3 explains a close relationship he had with a friend that ended badly, and he’s trying to move past it to salvage the relationship. Bastille is a British indie pop group and this album debuted at number one
on the UK albums chart. I, like many others, have really enjoyed this album because of how it relates to high school life; fretting over the disappointment of someone you loved betraying you and losing people who are close to you. Some of my favorite tracks from the album are Get Home, Flaws, and These Streets. All the songs on this album have a great beat, and they are really easy to get into. You can’t help but sing along to them. I didn’t find any songs
Siblings rock out together by Delaney Spence staff writer If you know Ross Lynch, more commonly known as the character “Austin,” from “Austin and Ally,” then you have probably heard of the band R5. This musical group is made up of Ross’ siblings; two brothers and one sister, with a close family friend, named Ellington Lee Ratliff, called by his last name only. Yes, all of their names start with the letter “R.” Riker, Ross, Rydel, Rocky and Ratliff. On Sept. 24, R5’s eleventrack debut album Louder was released. It is a followup of the four-track Loud EP. I was not a big fan of this album at all. This kind of music is directed more towards tweens. They classify themselves as a pop-rock band, but there isn’t much rock. The band R5 reminds me of One Direction in the way that they both appeal to younger audiences. Along with this, both bands proceed to have a fast tempo, trying to catch the attention of others. Most of the tracks are
very upbeat, but the lyrics are super cheesy and all lovey dovey, so I don’t enjoy that. If you are ever looking for a good laugh, then I do suggest that you go and watch one of their music videos. Honestly, the only song that sparked my interest was Ain’t No Way We’re Going Home. I like this song because it is super catchy and hype. I would not recommend this album to anyone over the age of 13. Overall, I give R5’s Louder a one star.
on this album that I didn’t like. They were all fun, different and kept you interested because they had a meaning to them. There is also a range of songs so there is one for every mood. I give this album four stars because it really is a great album for teens, and its music style is one that many different people like to listen to. I highly recommend downloading this album to everyone and even moreso if you are into indie pop music.
Disney star dives into music industry by Sydney Marney staff writer You may remember her as Rocky from the hit television show, Shake it Up, but her real name is Zendaya. Her debut, self-titled album Zendaya, was recently released but I wish it hadn’t left the recording studio. Of the 11 songs on this album I only found her single, “Replay”, to be appealing because of its electronic beats and different styles of lyrics mixed together in a way that worked really well. The rest of her songs on her album, such as ‘firefly’ and ‘butterfly’ sound either spazzy or sad, often the lyrics didn’t match up with the music well. She has an amazing voice: she just doesn’t know what to do with it yet. The album is targeting girls between fifth and eighth grade. I would not recommend it to anyone above the age of 13 unless you’re a fan of Disney beats.
Zendaya is not a developed artist, and she should have taken more time on this album to make sure she stepped into the music world on the right foot. We are reminded by music on this album that Zendaya started out a Disney star, and her music sounds like she still is one.
NEWS www.seamannews.com 8 Dec. 20, 2013 Xbox’s new family member has arrived by Jakob Ready STAFF WRITER Welcome to the new world of gaming. The new Xbox, the Xbox one, was released on Nov 22. The freshly remodeled Xbox One is the newest member of Microsoft’s successful line of gaming consoles. The Xbox One is the fourth launch Microsoft has made on their gaming consoles. It is in competition with the PS4, which was released a week earlier. Both went head to head on Black Friday selling a combination of over 350,000 units with the Xbox One on top. “I would imagine the Xbox One is better,” said sophomore Keaton Middendorf “but since I don’t have the PS4, I don’t really know”. The new Xbox One has many new features including an eight-core x86 processor, Blu Ray, and eight GB of Ram. The new Xbox one controller was designed with the user in mind. The battery pack is slimmer making the controller easier to hold. They have introduced impulse triggers, and the “menu” and “view” buttons are now the “Start” and “Back” buttons. The new controller will also automatically pair it to the player when picked up. Microsoft has also redesigned and updated the Kinect for motion tracking and voice recognition to keep up-todate with the new Xbox. The new Kinect processes two GBs of data per second to scan its environment. It now uses 1080p wide-angle time of flight camera for greater accuracy and can now track up to six people at a time. The new microphone is another key feature for the Kinect. It remains active at all times so it is ready for a voice command by the user, even when the console is asleep. By simply saying, “Xbox on” the Xbox automatically turns on. The user can also tell the console to turn off. Xbox Live has also been renovated. It will now have 300,000 servers powering the network, and cloud storage will be offered to save files such as music,
games, and movies. Xbox Live users can now experience smarter matchmaking, less waiting, and better performance. Why compromise with Xbox One? With a personalized home screen, you wont have to, have your favorite apps, games, and movies right on it. Multitasking is so much easier now with Xbox One. Switch from favorite TV shows to games. Or put them side-by-side and have the ultimate multitasking experience. Television can also be rewired to play right through your very own Xbox One. Connect your cable or satellite
Xbox One is priced at $499 and the Ps4 is priced at $399, both offering faster processors and better gameplay. box to Xbox One and watch favorite television shows right through the console, and with the help of the One Guide, that knows favorite channels and shows, the user never be channel surfing again. Getting in-touch with friends and family around the world is now easier than ever. Skype has been specially designed for Xbox One. Chat on your own TV with friends or family in brilliant HD right in the comfort of home. Participate in calls with up to three people, or use the snap option to talk while watching TV. The Xbox may not have been what you thought of when you hear the word “Exercise”, but now it can be. Instant workouts can be personalized with Xbox Fitness. Train with world famous trainers using world famous
workouts. Get unlimited access free with Xbox Live Gold only on Xbox One. With the free SmartGlass app for Windows 8, Windows phones, IOS, and Android, use A smartphone or tablet to enhance and control just what is happening on your Xbox one. Xbox One starts at a cool $499, as with the PS4 starting at only $399. Although the Xbox One is a bit pricey, you can guarantee it does not lack in quality or entertainment.
www.seamannews.com
Sony adds to their generation
NEWS
The year of gaming is upon us. This past November Sony came out with the fourth Playstation known as the PS4. The PS4 is competing with Microsoft’s Xbox One, which also came out in November. Theses two devices have many differences and similarities. The biggest difference is the hefty price of the devices. PS4 comes in at a solid price of $400 while the Xbox One comes in at $500. That detail alone gives PS4 an advantage. Sony has made the PS4 very advanced. The outside of it has a very sleek design and when turned on a blue line flashes on the top which adds a little pizazz to its basic black color. Coming in at only 6.1 pounds, the PS4 is very light. All external cords are tucked into the PS4 so there is no tripping hazard. Controllers and other devices are now allowed to charge while the PS4 is off which the PS3 lacked. This will be very useful because players wont have to charge while gaming. “The graphics are way better and more realistic than the previous consoles, and those were pretty good,” said junior Zach Mumford. Another advancement is the updated controller. The dualshock 4 includes a touch pad, light bar, speaker, headphone jack, and a share button. The touch pad offers gamers a new way to interact with games. The light bar is mostly for design but can show useful game information. There is also enhanced vibration, which helps the gamer experience. “The controller is a lot more comfortable which makes for better gameplay and you can play longer,” said Zach. You can purchase a PS4 camera for $60, thus gives the user the ability to record HD videos and upload walkthroughs and other videos. Many apps are included in the PS4, which include Netflix, Amazon Instant Video, and Crackle. These apps usually require a membership but will live stream straight to a television.
There is a limited choice of games right now because of how new it is, but more will continue to come out. Some of the hottest games up for purchase right now are Call of Duty: Ghosts, Assassins Creed IV Black Flag, and NBA 2K14. “Right now my favorite game would have to be Assassins Creed IV Black Flag,” said Zach. There have been some reviews of the PS4 malfunctioning, which is normal with a new product. Most people suggest waiting for some months to buy it so all bugs are fixed and is completely up-todate. Whichever console you do decide to buy, you will be pleased with the results.
Consoles sold
by Mason Diederich staff writer
Dec. 20, 2013
9
10
NEWS
Dec. 20, 2013
www.seamannews.com
Holiday hotspots abundant
by Mallory Searcy staff writer As the sun glistens off the snowy covered roadways, many high school students have several ‘holiday hotspots’ in mind where they spend time during the winter season. Bundling up in coats, scarves, hats, and gloves, and grabbing their sleds, some student’s drive to Quentin Heights to enjoy the exhilarating rush of sledding down a huge hill. These past times have become somewhat of a tradition for teenagers during the cold, short winter days. Senior Brooke Stueve said, “I like to go skating at the Expo and Crown Center in Kansas City for the holidays. Also a fun thing to do is look at the Christmas lights strung up on the beautiful houses in the Potwin area.” Driving to Winter Wonderland to support TARC is another holiday hotspot where viewing Christmas lights and listening to music will bring about
a cheerful holiday spirit for those ‘grinches’. Winter Wonderland is available to view through the end of December. Cuddling up next to the fire and staying indoors is a hotspot, which is a favorite to many including teacher Bridget Heier. Heier said, “I enjoy playing pitch, dominos, and board games with my kids. Uno Moo is their favorite game, which is basically Uno with farm animals.” Spending time with family and playing those silly, yet competitive games such as Apples to Apples is a fun way to spend those bitter cold days. For those who decide to venture out and go sledding or brave the weather, try a warm pick-me-up after their activities.
Stopping by Nibs or Starbucks and getting a caffeine fix is a holiday hotspot, which won’t disappoint. Senior and Starbucks employee Carly Rahmeier said, “Favorites this time of year are the white mochas and the peppermint mochas. Also for gifts this season we have holiday coffee mugs which are popular.” Whether braving the snowy cold weather, or staying in and playing board games, holiday hotspots are all the rage.
Helpful hints for eating healthy during the holidays by Marissa Willard staff writer The holidays are about spending time with family and friends, attending many different types of parties and gatherings, playing games, watching movies, and most of all, EATING FOOD. The holidays can sometimes be a struggle for people trying to lose weight or just wanting to eat healthy. So here are a few ways to survive the holidays. Be Cautious of Sugary Foods Sugary foods have a way of making people crave more and more. If that sugary food craving happens to creep up, then try to satisfy it with some fruit or a bit of dark chocolate. Eat Before Attending Eating a small meal before attending helps people
eat less later. Don’t eat a huge meal before attending. Saving room for the tasteful holiday dishes is always a great idea.
ties they are going to be trying new foods. It’s not impolite to just take a little of whatever the person is offering.
Choose To Drink Water Drinking water helps make people feel fuller and also helps with digestion. Drink water before the party and also use water to replace those sugary drinks.
Enjoy Yourself Don’t ruin the holidays by not enjoying any of the food. Be smart about it and keep portion sizes small.
“ I would leave earlier, and ride a magic carpet.” Traice Harter, 9 “ I would use the Harry Potter cloak of invisibility so the kids wouldn’t see me.” Tayler Kramer, 10
Watch the Portion Size Don’t pile up the food on the plate. Start off with a smaller portion size. Getting a lot of food makes the brain think that you have to eat it all. Smaller bites are also helpful when eating. They help the brain know how much food is actually going into your body. Learn to Say No Saying ‘no’ can be difficult sometimes. When saying ‘no’, it helps to reduce the intake of food. As people go to par-
If you were Santa Clause what would your strategy be and why?
“I would keep all the presents to myself because the kids don’t deserve them.” Hunter Poort, 11
Information provided by www.shape. com graphic by Marissa Willard
“I would fly on a dragon and use my elves as my minions.” Kara Tanner, 12 Compiled by Delaney Spence
Dec. 20, 2013 11 NEWS Exchange students experience American holidays www.seamannews.com
by Bailey Bushnell staff writer
Gaia Fortini enjoys a meal with her family back home in Italy.
Robin Wendt poses with his presents under the tree on Christmas Eve in Germany in 2005.
An Italian tradition... includes Le Befana, a witch who rides her broomstick and fill children’s stockings with toys or coals.
In the “Festival of Sacrifice”, a family buys a sheep, sacrifices it, then grills and eats it.
Sara Menoni and family gather for a meal during the holidays in Italy.
With the holiday season just around the corner, many of the foreign exchange students are feeling a little homesick and reminiscing on holidays they’ve spent with their families at home. “I’ll really miss being with my friends and family over the holidays,” said Marina Jurlina. In Montenegro, Marina celebrates Christmas similar to the U.S. They have Christmas trees and lights and enjoy time together as a family. Take a trip across the Adriatic Sea and you’ll end up in Italy. An Italian tradition is the holiday of Epiphany, which is celebrated on Jan. 6 of every year. It commemorates the 12th day of Christmas when the three Wise Men offer Jesus gifts. The tradition also includes Le Befana, a witch who rides on her broomstick and fills children’s stockings with either toys or coal. Sara Menoni, an exchange student from Italy said, “My favorite part is opening up gifts and the fact that we are all together as a family.” Liza Shevchenko, from Ukraine, celebrates an Orthodox Christmas on Jan. 7. Sviaty Vechir or “Holy Supper” is a Ukrainian tradition celebrated on Christmas Eve. “Back home, the food is really good, and I’m going to miss that from not being at home during the holidays,” Liza said. Saint Nicholas in Ukraine is called ‘Svyatyi Mykolai.’ He brings Christmas gifts for the children on Dec. 19. Mehdi Saffar, who lives in Tunisia, will celebrate his first Christmas this year. Back home, he does not celebrate the holiday, as he is Muslim. Instead he celebrates holidays like Eid el-Fitr, which marks the end of a month of holy fasting. Saffar and his family celebrate by cooking a traditional meal and eating at his grandma’s house.
His favorite holiday is Eid alAdha or the “Festival of Sacrifice.” The family buys a sheep, sacrifices it, then grills and eats it as a family. In Germany, they celebrate St. Nicholas’ Day. “Der Nikolaus” brings small gifts to children in the middle of the night, and the presents are put in the children’s shoes that they place outside their doors. They also have Santa Claus who brings presents on Christmas Eve. Robin Wendt, from Germany, said, “My favorite part of Christmas is getting all the presents.” In Finland, where Sofia Koskinen is from, a traditional event to warm up from the chilly Christmas Eve weather is to take a sauna bath after a family breakfast. Finland is known to be the home of Santa Claus. Families decorate trees on Christmas Eve and open their presents brought by Santa on the night of Christmas. Luca Gobbi will celebrate Christmas away from his home in Brazil. Celebration of the holiday is similar to what we celebrate here, with the exchanging of gifts, decorations, Christmas trees, and spending time with family. Gobbi says, “I miss my family the most, and the Brazilian food.” In South Korea, where foreign exchange student Yoon Park is from, Christmas is celebrated more widely than other Asian countries, and it is an official public holiday. The capital city, Seoul, is known for extravagant Christmas lights and decorations. Santa Claus is also celebrated in Korea, but he may be seen wearing blue and red. Lisa Martinez, sponsor for the foreign exchange students said, “Having the students here over the holidays enriches their experience by seeing how families celebrate Christmas and some of them don’t celebrate at home, so it lets them see a whole new part of American culture.”
12
Dec. 20, 2013
FEATURES
to Santa Dear Santa, I’ve gone almost 17 years with only one eye now, so this year for Christmas the thing I want most is another eye. -Allie
Dear Santa, For Christmas this year I really want scientists to find a cure for HIV and AIDS -Mitchell
Dear Santa, I don’t want anything for Christmas. My family is all I need. Merry Christmas! P.S. Tell Rudolph “Hi” from me! -Sarah
Dear Santa, For christmas this year I want you to give all my friends at the homeless shelter clothes. -Zach
Dear Santa, This year I want more people to practice abstinence so there is less teen pregnancy. -Shayla
www.seamannews.com
www.seamannews.com
FEATURES
Dec. 20, 2013
13
Little letters Dear Santa, My best friend is in the Marines and all I want for Christmas is for him to come home. -Marissa
Dear Santa, I have been mostly good, so here is my list: I want people to give each other stuff and everyone to smile. Also, I want everyone to get along and laugh together. That is all. Oh, and tell the elves I said “Hi!”. -Racheal
Dear Santa, This year for Christmas I want everyone to get along and have less drama. There’s too much of that, and I’m tired of everyone fighting. -Chris
Dear Santa, I would like prescription drug coverage so I don’t have to pay $300 for medication. Also, I want my kids to clean their rooms and help take care of the cat. It’s their job to scoop the poop. -Mr. DiLeonardo
Dear Santa, I want my brother-inlaw to come home from Afghanistan. -Megan
Dear Santa, I’m so excited for Christmas this year! I have definitely been good this year, #1 on the Good List. Please give me all the money to pay for my extremely ridiculous college expenses. -Peyton
Dear Santa, Please make it so that homeless people have somewhere to go on Christmas, because no one should be alone for the holidays. -Lexi
Dear Santa, I really hope that there will be less pollution. It hurts the environment and the animals. I just want more people to care for the planet! -Jaycee
14
Dec 20, 2013
FEATURES
W hy t he rush to
Students feel pressure to mature, make important decisions, enter adulthood
by Delaney Hiegert Editor-In-Chief
T
grow up ?
www.seamannews.com
hink back to your elementary school days: You’ve just finished your afternoon snack and in 15 minutes you’re about to be the master of your four-square domain at recess, but first you have to finish reading time A.K.A. continue your eraser war with whoever is in the desk across from you. If reminiscing back to these days didn’t put a huge smile on your face, well, you’re lying. Gone are the days of A.R. goals and here are the days of MLA formatting for a college level literary analysis. However, not only has the classwork-to-playtime ratio changed – everything has. Excuse the Taylor Swift reference, but it really is a true statement. There are jobs to apply for, volunteer hours to obtain, scholarships to fill out, and
hundreds upon hundreds of decisions to be made. And what’s so wrong with that? We all have to grow up sometime, right? Sure, but let’s take a second to think about what all “growing up” entails. Does it really mean we have to give the cold shoul-
We seem to forget how important the little things are. der to any activities of our young little golden years? I think not. I think what we need right now, more than ever, is to hold on to that part of ourselves. With all the stresses of high school life, and especially of senior year, I know doing something childish can really release some tension. I don’t mean we need to behave in an immature way or
stop the activities that mold us into young adults. I just mean we can still listen to that inner-child; we can indulge in some of those little kid urges. After all, we are young adults. So, be young! Color in a coloring book, play on a playground, start a game of hide-and-seek. These might sound pretty trivial but I promise, they make a difference. We seem to forget how important the little things are. It was these little things that brought us great happiness only a few years ago, and I think many of you would be surprised to find out that they still bring us quite a bit of happiness today. If I’m being honest, senior year is stressing me out. I mean, I don’t think I even knew what stress was before this year and its many, many decisions. So to cut down on this ex-
Information provided by ParentingTeens.com and ypulse.com.
tra pressure we planned a senior class Sk8-Away night like the individual grades used to have in elementary school. About 40 seniors showed up who also thought releasing their inner-child would be self-beneficial. “A few of us had been trying to plan a night where we could be stupid and silly and just have fun and Sk8Away was perfect for it. There wasn’t a kid there that was worried or stressed. It was just what we needed,” said senior Jeris Thomas. This is a perfect example of why these childhood memories are so crucial to us now. So, with the holidays right around the corner, try to take advantage of any opportunity you still have to be a kid. There are still plenty of snowball fights to be had and plates that need to be filled with cookies for Santa, so we had better get to work.
FEATURES
www.seamannews.com
Dec. 20, 2013
15
Support local business this holiday season The Hub
Nibs House of coffee
First Opened: April 2011
First Opened: April 2003
Owners: Sue Dickerson & Lisa Ritchey
Owners: Nichole and Brady Yingling
Known For: A collected boutique featuring over 30 boutiques from the KS and MO area.
Known For: Great coffee, lattes, sandwiches, and cinnamon rolls.
“We felt like there was a need for this type of business.” -Sue Dickerson
21st and Fairlawn Inside Fairlawn Plaza Mall Visit their website at www. thehuboftopeka.com
“We are the first and only ‘real’ coffee shop in North Topeka. We started this business because we wanted to be self-employed.” - Nichole Yingling
Mad eliza’s cakes and confections First Opened: 2009 Owners: Mark and Peggy Murnahan
Owners: Cindy Hopper and Susan Hess
Known For: Being family owned and specialize in custom cakes.
Known For: Baking supplies and low prices
“We spent many years in the tech industry and wanted to try something more fun.” -Mark Murnahan
Visit their website at madelizas.com Hours: Mon.- Fri. 7-6 and Sat. 8-1
The Toy Store
First Opened: 1976
Hours: Mon.- Fri. 10-6 Sat. 10-5
5331 SW 22nd PL Located inside Fairlawn Plaza Mall Visit their website at www. sweetbakingsupply.com
Linda’s home and Garden Owners: Albert and Linda Carlson, Kimberly Swick
Known For: Largest independent toy store in country
Unique Fact: Most of the toys are not batteryoperated.
Upcoming Holiday Baking Classes: Dec. 21 Fondant Holiday Gift Box
First Opened: 1986 (family owned for 27 years)
Owner: Margaret Warner
“We have 18,000 handselected toys from across the U.S. and the world.” Jim Ramos
Holiday Specials: Minty Mochas, White Chocolate Peppermint Mochas, and soups (four cheese broccoli and chipolte corn chowder)
Sweet!
First Opened: 2011
5999 SW 22nd Park
2525 NW Topeka Blvd.
Known For: Purses and watches 5300 SW 21st St. Visit their website at www. thetoystoreonline.com Mon.- Sat. 10-8 Sun. 11-5
“We have been at this location for 10 years. We are family owned and operated. My parents had an antique circuit around the country.” -Kimberly Swick
2113 SW Belle Ave. Visit their website at www. lindashandg.com Mon.- Fri. 10-6 Sat. 10-5 & Sun. 12-4
16
Dec. 20, 2013
FEATURES
www.seamannews.com
Students take volunteering to next level by Taylor Buessing staff writer
B
riAnna Dittberner is helping a little girl learn to ride her bike. After falling down time after time, the girl finally gets it. As a way to thank BriAnna, the little girl gives her a rose pen made out of duct tape. Seniors Connor Tjelmeland, BriAnna Dittberner, Sara James and sophomore Kaitlyn Meader all have over 100 hours of community service. Compared to most students in high school, that’s a lot. The crazy thing is that they all have just as busy of schedules as any high school student. Yet, they find time to volunteer every summer or once or twice a month. “During the school year I volunteer at my church once a month and I volunteer at the hospital every summer,” said Kaitlyn. Kaitlyn and Connor both volunteer at the hospital every summer, but they also do an assortment of different things to give back during the school year. Connor volunteers on the Junior Advisory Board at Educational Credit Union. He started volunteering in eighth grade. Connor says the best part about volunteering is the feeling from giving back to the community. “My favorite place to volunteer is the
hospital because it’s cool to be able to visit the older people who don’t have a lot of visitors,” said Connor. Kaitlyn started volunteering in the summer between her seventh and eighth grade years. Her favorite place to volunteer is the hospital in radiology because she wants to go into the medical field when she grows up. She also enjoys it because she likes to be able to see all of the patient’s progress from the time they first came in. “My favorite memory of volunteering is when I worked in the therapy department I had an older lady that would come talk to me every time she had therapy,” said Kaitlyn. Brianna enjoys spending a couple weeks out of her summers volunteering at “I can Bike” camp for children with disabilities. “‘I can bike camp’ is a camp where volunteers come and help teach children with disabilities learn how to ride a bike on their own,” said BriAnna. Brianna started volunteering when she was 12 years old and has continued to do it every summer. “I enjoy volunteering because the people you help are fun to work with and very appreciative, and the kids are always happy,” says BriAnna. Sara started volunteering in 2007 and hasn’t been able to stop since then. She
spends her time volunteering at the humane society twice a month. “I enjoy volunteering at the Humane Society because I get to play with dogs who don’t have owners to play with them and I consider it a good cause,” says Sara.
Senior BriAnna Dittberner using the pen that a little girl gave her after she tought her how to ride a bike. (Photo by Taylor Buessing)
www.seamannews.com
NEWS
Dec. 20, 2013
17
Seaman High orchestra students gain teaching experience New tutoring program gives beginner string students exciting learning oppurtunity by Alayna Hutchison staff writer
Sophomores Mackenzie Abernathy (back) and Payton Wettengel performing at the fall orchestra concert (Photo Joey Sodergren)
High school and beginning string students are now being given new teaching and learning opportunities through private lessons. Individual students that signed up with parent consent at orchestra enrollment night helped form this program by expressing their desire to gain experience teaching privately. From learning the cello to violin, there`s a variety of students offering private lessons of different instruments. One of them, sophomore Andre Vila said, “ I like helping the younger children gain more experience with the violin.” The outcome of students participating in teaching excites orchestra teacher Mariah Barnett.
She said,” I am thrilled to have my students giving private lessons. It brings joy and experience to everyone that participates in the lesson.” Private lessons have helped students develop a myriad of skills ranging from patience to teaching techniques. Barnett said, “ I believe that teaching gives students the opportunity to grow professionally and develop communication , planning, and responsibility skills that are necessary to succeed outside of high school.” Students that participate in the private lessons help influence the community. Sophomore Payton Wettengel said, “ I like teaching private lessons. They help the orchestra build, because the kids that take the lessons are already a part of the district`s string program.”
Seaman High habitat chapter receives grant from Payless by Andie Sodergren staff writer The Habitat House chapter at Seaman High School received a $50,000 grant from Payless Shoe Source. This will go towards new equipment and building materials for building a house for Habitat for Humanity. The architectural drawing class at Seaman first started building houses for Habitat for Humanity in 1997 when Mr. Bloomfield realized that they weren’t getting enough hands on experience. Since then, they have built a total of 19 houses. Once, they even built a house in 24 hours with the help of the staff and community. These houses are then donated to Habi-
tat for Humanity to benefit a family in need of a home. The partnership between Seaman High School and Payless Shoe Source was formed in the 1999-2000 school year. This partnership has contributed money for materials and helped move the house from the building site to the permanent location. Private donors have also had a large part in providing equipment and the building compound. Mother Teresa’s youth group has been an especially generous donor. This grant will help with the construction of the houses and is a stepping stone towards helping low-income families become homeowners.
The CEO and representatives of Payless Shoe Source present the $50,000 check to the Seaman High habitat chapter (Photo by Cortni Heston)
18
Dec. 20, 2013
SPORTS
www.seamannews.com
Rowing: a new experience for students
by Alayna Hutchinson staff writer Each week, bystanders rush to the lake to watch exciting races take place. Singles, doubles, pairs, and quads are all boats that can be seen all across the water. The excitement on individuals’ faces is priceless. With each stroke cutting into the water, the boat thrusts farther and farther. It`s all a big game of “ follow the leader” to stay in step with one`s teammates. All of this commotion is brought together by the sport of rowing. “My cousin started rowing and got a scholarship at KU. Her experience and love for rowing inspired me to start,” said sophomore Emily Hersh. To decide what boat to use for competition is determined upon how many participants form a team, and how many oars are used. For singles it`s one person. Dou-
bles are used to seat two individuals. Both of these boats use the sculling method. This consists of two oars, not one. Sophomore Emily Hersh said, “ I like doubles, because you can be with another person. They`re also easier to not flip.” Pairs are also used for two individuals, yet sweeping with one oar is used. Fours are used to sweep, while quads scull. Both seat four individuals. Rain or shine, Shawnee Lake is covered with rowers practicing paddling their oars and working to achieve new records. Sophomore Alix Fisk said “ It`s a lot of fun, and it`s a really good workout. The season starts in the fall with general technique training. During this time, rowers build up their stamina even though they are not on the water. Head races which are time- trial competitions, also take place. During the winter, while the water is too
cold, ergometer training and strength building occurs inside. Sophomore Emily Hersh said, “Spring is where the real competition is.” Each weekend is full of sprint races. The races are 2,000 meters. Summertime is used for recreational purposes, such as recruiting new members. “I love being out on the water, because it’s relaxing. You can focus on something non stressful,” said sophomore Alix Fisk.
Emily Hersh (left) and Alix Fisk after their rowing race (Photo by Emily Hersh).
Sisters, Katelyn and Emily Hersh, start their rowing race with their weekly rowing team. (middle two-left to right: Katelyn Hersh, Emily Hersh).
Player of the Week
Wyer overcomes injury for senior year by Ethan Brunetti staff writer
The summer going into his junior year now senior Jake Wyer tore his ACL and Meniscus in his right knee. He sustained surgery for his knee and was on his way to recovery after months of rehab and physical therapy. During a PAL basketball game Jake Wyer went up to block a shot and went down onto the ground. His completely rehabbed right knee had another setback as Wyer had a torn meniscus again. Jake then swam at the state swim meet with a torn meniscus. Jake had surgery after the season and was unable to return to the state track
I’ve put in a lot of time to improve my injury and to make this year’s season successful. Jake Wyer, 12 meet to pole vault after an appearance as a sophomore. “Jake is an amazing athlete and fantastic leader,” says assistant swim coach Andrew Taylor Jake had a strong showing at the first meet of the year where he placed 11th in the 100 butterfly and 9th in the 50 freestyle.
Seaman Boy’s swimming team prepares for push off before a swim meet (Photo by Gabe Wells)
www.seamannews.com
ADVERTISING
Dec. 20, 2013
19
Jade Travel
2655 SW Wanamaker Rd.
785-273-1226
www.jadetravel.com
•Airline Tickets •Vacations
•International Travel •Student Groups
Voted Best in Topeka!
THIS IS THE SIZE OF A 2 X 2 ad.
511 NW Morse St.
232-9778
regular-priced single-session tan
(offer expires Feb. 1, 2013; one coupon per person)
20
Dec. 20, 2013
SPORTS
www.seamannews.com
Lady Vikes basketball has promising season ahead by Sydney Marney staff writer
The Lady Vikes are hoping to continue the season with another victory tonight against Junction City at home. They had a promising start to the season with 58-25 victory against Olathe North on Dec. 6. Returning junior, Tatyana Legette, scored 21 of these points. She has become one of the key players on the team this year. Seaman also forced 26 Eagle turnovers during the game. Coach Steve Alexander, has high expectations for the rest of the season. He assures practices have been going well and the girls aren’t lacking any intensity in preparing themselves for the 2013-2014 season. The core of the team, including returning seniors Delaney Hiegert, Jeris Thomas, Mallory Searcy, and Dani Spence have stepped up this year and are assuming their roles as the leaders on the team.
Viking basketball has room for improvement
by Cortni Heston staff writer
Designed by Sydney Marney
There’s five seconds left in the last quarter, and the score is tied. The crowd is silent as the player makes his way up the court with the ball to shoot what could be the winning basket. It’s that time of year again, basketball season is back! Tonight at home, the boys will be playing against Junction City at 7:30 p.m.Head coach of the boys basketball team Craig Cox is looking forward to seeing how well the boys play this season and is anxious to see how well they shoot the ball. “If we play good, and shoot the ball well, we’ll be competitive and have potential to win quite a few games,” said Cox. Although Cox says shooting is an area of improvement, he is very happy with the effort and exceptional attitude that the boys on the team have been putting forth. One of this year’s returning players, junior Joe Miller is looking forward to the game against Hayden at home on Jan. 17 and said, “I think we will have a good season, but we have a lot of work to do.” The boys played at Lawrence Free State on Dec. 10 and suffered a tough loss, 71-48. Cox hopes that as the season continues the team will only improve and get better.
www.seamannews.com
SPORTS
Dec. 20,2013
21
Wrestling team opens 2013-2014 season by Alex Hurla STAFF WRITER
The 2013-2014 Seaman wrestling team (Photo courtesy of Seaman wrestling home page)
The Seaman wrestling team opened the 2013-2014 season on Dec. 7, with Varsity making the trip to the Gardner Varsity Tournament and the Junior Varsity going to the Emporia JV Tournament. The squad is young this year, as stressed by senior Kyle Romick, “We’re pretty inexperienced, but we are working
hard and improving everyday.” Both teams will play at home for the first time at the Seaman Dual Tournament on Jan. 11. Senior Night will be Feb. 12 and the State Tournament will be Feb. 28-March 1. -Jan 11 (Sat) 9 a.m Seaman Duals/JV Tournament -Jan 15 (Wed) 4:30 p.m (JV) 6 p.m (V) Shawnee Heights Dual HOME
Boys swim team starts new season by Ethan Brunetti STAFF WRITER The Viking swim team has made a splash early this season. The Vikings have a strong class of returning seniors and juniors that made a large contribution to the team last year and will hope to continue performing throughout the season. The Vikings return a large number of swimmers from last year and have a coachable class of freshman coming up. Assistant coach Andrew Taylor says, “We have a strong group of returners: Brad Reschke sr., Jacob Wyer sr., Luke Shaw sr., Jacob Miller sr., Gabe Wells jr., Brendan Clark sr., Peter Latendresse sr., and Colton Brennan so.” “Luca Gobbi is our top newcomer and immediately contributed to our team,” said Taylor. Gobbi has contributed immediately to the team; however according to Gobbi during his first race he was the second leg of the relay. He didn’t know that the race had begun until the first leg of the race was already in the water, so he had to rush to the blocks,.In his state of panic he didn’t secure his goggles as he dove in water rushed into his goggles and inhibited his vision which didn’t stop him from finishing the race. The Vikings have the potential of having a fantastic season.
We have a great team, fantastic coaches, and young swimmers that have a lot of potential, and I am very excited for the season. -Jake Wyer, 12
22
Dec. 20, 2013
SPORTS
www.seamannews.com
Boys, girls basketball get new jerseys by Mason Diederich staff writer The basketball teams will be rolling out in style this year. Both the boys and girls teams have received new jerseys. The biggest difference about these jerseys is that they have finally switched from a royal blue to a navy blue like the football, baseball and softball teams. However, they will still keep the cardinal red. “It was a tough decision but every other program had it so we wanted to be consistent,” said men’s head coach Craig Cox. “Navy blue wasn’t my favorite, but I like it now,” said Steve Alexander, girl’s head coach. These jerseys are being provided by GTM Sports-
wear. This is the first time that the district has used this company. “The material is very lightweight,” said Cox. The jersey style is called Ultrafuse, which means that every design on it is in the same material, not just printed or ironed on. Nothing will peel off. The boy’s varsity will be receiving the new jerseys, the girl’s varsity and JV will be recipients as well. “We are hoping to raise enough money this year for the freshman,” said Steve Alexander. The boy’s team will try to get shooting shirts as soon as they can, but they don’t know when they will be available. “Because of how new the model is, they take a long time to make the shooting shirts,” said Cox. The girls will continue to
buy their own shooting shirts and keep them like they have done for a while now. Another neat part of these jerseys is that they are fairly cheap. No matter what extra designs are added, the price remains the same. The jerseys will also be able to be purchased individually throughout the year in case of a lost or damaged jersey, unlike the previous years. In previous years, the jerseys had to be purchased in sets, which costs a lot of money. The girls team will have to make a decision amongst themselves if they want to have team shoes and same for the boys. “I am pretty excited about these jerseys and hope we play as good as we look,” said senior Caleb Clancy.
Senior Caleb Clancy in the team’s new uniforms. (Photo by Jacob Phillips)
Fresh faces invigorate College Basketball with high hopes for season by Michael Owen staff writer Kansas’ rising freshman Andrew Wiggins is among college basketball’s all-time most hyped players. But the 18-year-old Canadian is hardly the only freshman to watch for this season. Kentucky brings a powerful young group of complete talent. Duke has the consensus best U.S. player in Chicago product Jabari Parker, and the list goes on. Wiggins, Parker, Aaron Gordon, Julius Randle, the Harrison brothers; 2013 has an overabundance of talented freshmen. “Jabari Parker is the best freshman, he can score from anywhere on the court at any time he wants,” junior Reid Morgart says, “and a bonus he has already is that he’s got an NBA-type body as a freshman
in college.” Wiggins is the consensus top pick for the 2014 draft and has gotten most of the hype, billed as the next LeBron James. Gordon is at Arizona, where he should be a matchup nightmare with his ability to score from anywhere on the court, at all times. Parker has a basketball intellect that most pros don’t even have, as well as a sound arsenal of talent. Randle is a 6-foot-9 inside-out forward who can overpower smaller players and outpace other bigs. He is phenomenal in transition and could wind up being the best player of the bunch. His teammate twins Andrew and Aaron Harrison are both 6-foot-5 and can really score. Of the two, Andrew is a true lead guard and a bit further
along. Don’t sleep on Smart. Marcus Smart, sophomore point guard at Oklahoma State, elected to return for his sophomore year of college after an outstanding freshman year performance. “If Smart can play consistently throughout the season, there is no doubt that he will be one of the top-five players in college basketball. He’s solid at all aspects of the game, especially scoring, defense, and leadership,” said senior Chase Bauer. As a potential top-five pick in last years’ NBA draft, he completely surprised most people with his return to Oklahoma State. “I know there is a lot of freshman talent, and a lot of talent at the top of the polls. I figure it will be a pretty electric and competitive season,
especially with all of the top 10 matchups in the beginning of the season,” said junior Zach Mumford. Young stars all around, I’m sure this season will be one to remember.
www.seamannews.com
NBA Season Preview by Micheal Owen staff writer
This years’ NBA season poses four big questions: Can the Miami Heat three-peat? Does the return of MVP point guard, Derrick Rose, lift Chicago to an automatic title contender? Will Kobe Bryant return in time and be healthy enough to get the LA Lakers back to the playoffs to make a title run? Will the return of Danny Granger propel the Pacers to the top of the East? We all know the Miami Heat are a title contender every year without the big three of four-time MVP Lebron James, Dwayne Wade, and Chris Bosh. But, with the pick-up of Ray Allen last offseason and Mario Chalmers and Norris Cole both stepping up, Miami won its second straight title last year. This offseason’s main acquisitions included the pickups of center, Greg Oden, and forward, Michael Beasley. Most believe that Oden inside will make the Heat an even better team than the last two years. “The Bulls are still not a title contender with Derrick Rose back in the lineup,” said
SPORTS junior Brad Piel. “He brings more speed and another option to score, but the team has had a rough time getting its chemistry to flow. It may get better throughout the season as long as Rose stays healthy, but the Bulls won’t be able to beat the Heat or Pacers to get to the finals.” Kobe Bryant, easily one of the best players to ever play in the NBA, suffered a terrible achilles injury last season. It seems, though, that the more time he misses, the less chances the Lakers will have to get to the playoffs in the very competitive Western Conference. Keeping injuries in mind, six teams look like locks from the West to make the playoffs. The Lakers aren’t one of those six. They are in a big
Dec. 20, 2013
group fighting for the final two playoff spots. Without Kobe, getting into the playoffs might be a mountain too steep for the current roster to climb. Kobe was recently offered a $48 million contract over the next two seasons, taking up a big portion of the team’s salary cap. The support around him is a problem because of the huge pay that Kobe gets every year. “I don’t think Kobe will bring the Lakers back to the level they were at before the injury because the supporting cast around him is no longer good enough to be competitive in the NBA,” said sophomore Ryan Zeferjahn. The Indiana Pacers, losing to the Miami Heat last year in the Eastern Conference
23
Finals in seven games, get a vital piece of their talented puzzle back this season. With a strong core already out on the court, they will soon get back their star small forward, Danny Granger. Granger, who went out in March of last season for knee surgery, was a very important piece to the Pacers’ star-studded team. They were headed for gold, with Granger and rising star Paul George teaming up, as well as the inside presence of Roy Hibbert. “The pacers will be the biggest threat to he Miami Heat this season,” said junior Sam Moylan, “because their lineup is very talented and the supporting cast around emerging all-star, Paul George, is astounding.” They were a force to be reckoned with and without him, will they be even better with him coming off injury? Are the Pacers now ahead of the Heat, talent-wise? All these questions to be answered, I’m sure the beginning of the season will tell us all.
Coach encourages bowlers to reach maximum success by Alayna Hutchinson staff writer With the winter weather kicking in, athletes are getting ready for their tournaments. Bowling alleys are filling up with individuals prepared to roll strikes, and bowl to victory. Head Coach Geoff Poston said that their expectations for this year`s season “is to
put ourselves into a position through the regular season to advance through regionals into the state tournament.” Each year brings the traditional singing on the bus, and pep talks from managers breaking on “Vikes!” These simple actions uplift the spirits of the bowlers potentially increasing their performance. Senior Megan Walker said “ There`s a lot of companionship, because we all have each
other`s backs.” To make the most of each game, some individuals stretch before bowling, others throw some pregame strikes. Head coach Geoff Poston said,“ I think with the experi-
ence we have we can help the kids achieve maximum success. If that is just staying calm and in the moment or needing to make an adjustment or ball change at a critical time.”
There’s a lot of companionship, because we all have each other’s backs Megan Walker, 12
24
Dec. 20, 2013
(Right) Freshman Bailey Chinn helps a child make his gingerbread house while volunteering for the Interact club. (Far right)Students in Mrs. Susan Sittenauer’s Social Studies classes collected items for needy children and donated multiple boxes of toys, games, diapers, baby lotion, Barbie’s, and Hot Wheels to the Kansas Children’s Service League (KCSL).
(clockwise from above) Mr. Rick Brading gets a trim from a professional hairstylist at the end of “No Shave November.” Brading was the big winner of the coin drive which raised over $1500 for local charities. (Photo by Megan Lehman) Seniors Andrew Smith and Greg Richardson perform Players dinner and dessert show(Photo by Megan Lehman) Team “Deck the Balls”, Justin McNorton, Noah Pittman, Garet Ready, Justina Bayless, Jeris Thomas, and Dani Spence huddle during the Blizzard Bash volleyball tournament for charity. (Photo by Molly Mulqueen) Freshmen Tori Reynolds and Josie Janssen ring bells for the Interact club to raise money for less fortunate during the holidays. (Photo by Amanda Torbett)
NEWS
www.seamannews.com