January 2014

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Pius X High School
January 31, 2014
Volume 50
Issue 5
6000 A Street, Lincoln, NE
St. Patrick’s makeover - 2
St. Patrick’s Parish is in the process of building a
new church to carry parish into the future.
Senior Xposed - 4
Katie Rice is a happy, down-to-earth and one of a
kind student and athlete.
Unique students - 6-7
Pius students’ hobbies make them stand out
among high schoolers around the state.
PHOTO BY LAUREN SCHIEKE
News
2
St. Patrick’s begins makeover
Lauren Schieke
Graphics Editor
St. Patrick’s parish, located on the north
side of Lincoln, is a relatively small and quiet
church and school. Its long running traditions
have made it a very tight-knit community.
Although it has been relatively unknown,
in the past few months it has caught the attention of
many members of other parishes and the local news
stations. They are building a completely new church.
Plans have been laid out, the ground broken
and all that’s to come is building the church itself. They
are on their way still, of raising the 1.5 million needed to
build it. It is scheduled to be finished in the spring of 2015.
“I’m looking forward to being able to see
it and go to Mass there,” senior Carl Endrulat said.
The new church is going to be built on the plot
of land right next to the old church, where the parking
lot used to be. The new parking lot, will be where
the old church was, practically flipping them around.
The pews have been a focus of the
parishioners, and of Fr. Troy Schweiger, the parish
priest. The community came together to make the
pew ends, made of trees they harvested themselves.
They worked together to carve a cross into each one.
Other important improvements that the
older church lacked are plans to have better parking,
including handicap-accessible areas. They also plan for
more meeting spaces for church groups and functions.
The church was originally built in 1908 as more
of a temporary structure. Now, over one hundred years later,
it has been deemed unsafe hence the plans for a completely
new church. These plans have been 30 years in the making .
Main architect, Kevin Clark, was hired to create
and put the plans together, with the help of Schweiger
and the parishioners. In fact, their input was very
important in planning the new church. 15 parishioner
listening sessions were planned, allowing the 750
families that go to St. Pat’s to have a say in the plans.
Clark has had previous experience in these
fields. He’s worked with the Newman Center on
the St. Thomas Aquinas church on the University of
Nebraska Lincoln campus, as well as other Catholic
churches and communities throughout Lincoln.
These are not the first renovations that St.
Patrick’s parish has seen. The church was re-built in 1908
after a fire. The new school was built in 1961, when their
number of students peaked at 324. Most recently, the new
rectory was built across the street from the church in 2006.
Overall, the parish is very enthusiastic about their
new church to come.
WV chemical spill contaminates water
Abby Stonehocker
Staff Writer
On Thursday January 9, a
chemical spill frightened the citizens
of Charleston, West Virginia.
The
chemical
spill
contaminated the water of the Elk
River. The company responsible for
this incident is Freedom Industries.
The chemical in the
Elk River is called 4-methylcyclohexane-methanol, or MCHM.
Most chemists and toxicologists
have not heard of this chemical. All
that is known about this chemical is
its use. MCHM is used to clean coals.
“There was a huge gap
in the knowledge of what the
chemical was. Before producing
you should know about it, so
if you did have chemical spill
you could take all the proper
precautions,” Mikala Bradley said.
Due to lack of information
about this chemical, there were
many concerns with the fact that
thousands of gallons of MCHM were
spilled just a mile and half upstream
from the city’s drinking-water plant.
“I believe the people
in charge should’ve researched
a better place to put the plant. It
was probably not the best idea
to put it one mile away from
the water supply,” Bradley said.
The
contaminated
water
supply
across
nine
counties resulted in the closing
of schools and businesses.
Since there was a ban
from using tap water to drink, bathe
and cook, emergency agencies
trucked in clean water to the
regions affected in West Virginia.
The citizens of West
Virginia are not only wondering
when their water ban will be
lifted, but also whether or not
new regulations should be
applied to protect the safety of
Americans in accidents like this.
House speakers suggested
the incident was not the result of a
lack of regulations but failure to
enforce the existing regulations.
Nonetheless,
lawmakers
are
pondering creating new laws.
The chemical spill has left
dozens of people in need of medical
treatment, following the ban of
water usage for a long time period.
The U.S. Chemical Safety Board is
consistently running tests to ease the
minds of the citizens that in no time
the water will be chemical free.
January 31, 2014
United KingdomYouth
Parliament petitions for
younger voting age
Olivia Appleget
Staff Writer
The United Kingdom
Youth
Parliament
(UKYP)
announced
their
annual
campaign
for
this
year
to be “Votes at Sixteen.”
Members of the UKYP
are debating to have the ability
to vote at the age of sixteen, as
opposed to eighteen, in public
elections in their political region.
At sixteen in the
UK, one can get a job, leave
home, get married, care for
their own child’s medical
needs and enroll in the army.
Members
of
the
parliament are arguing that
if a sixteen-year-old can
have
the
responsibilities
stated above then they should
have the ability to vote.
Every year, the House of
Commons allows the UKYP to
have an annual sitting in which
they can campaign against one
major issue that affects the youth
in government, the winning issue
gets to be debated in the sitting.
“Votes at Sixteen” won
among four other debated topics
to be this year’s campaign.
As said by youth
representative
Katie
Ward
from Yorkshire, “It’s not
as if you’re going to wake
up
on
your
eighteenth
birthday and magically know
everything about our nation’s
government
and
politics.”
Ward goes further to
make the point that those who
care about whom and what
wins a debate from a young
age will continue to care.
Conversely,
Ward
states that those who do not
care about what is going on
in their nation’s government
will continue not to care and
not make the effort to vote.
Being able to voice the
opinion that Ward had has not
always been possible for the
youth of the United Kingdom.
Andrew Rowe, Member
of Parliament, started the UKYP
in 1998 when he presented the
House of Commons with a bill
to create a parliament for the
youth (any eligible 11-18 yearold) of the United Kingdom.
“I’m giving these kids a
chance to have a voice,” Rowe
said. “And why? Because they
want one. They deserve one.”
By 2004 ninety percent
of local authorities signed up to
the UKYP and just five years
later, history was made when
Members of Parliament voted to
allow select persons in the Youth
Parliament to sit in the House
of Chambers for the first time.
Each of the nine English
regions within the UK national
boundaries has a coordinator that
represents them in the UKYP.
The objective for this
parliament is to ensure a voice
on issues that affect the youth,
as stated in Article 12 of the
United Nations Convention
on the Rights of a Child.
To create a solely issuebased organization, the UKYP
chooses to stay non-partisan.
“Bridge-gate” scandal leaves Chris Christie in tough position
Annie Albin
Staff Writer
The governor of New Jersey has
recently been in hot water due to the actions of
his staff.
Gov. Chris Christie says he had no
knowledge of the actions of his staffers, who in
an act of political revenge, mandated that several
lanes of the George Washington Bridge would
be closed for no particular reason.
The closing of the bridge, which
connects New York and New Jersey, created
major traffic jams that caused problems for
school buses and first responders.
It was revealed that his staffer Bridget
Anne Kelly and Port Authority David Wildstein
conspired to shut down the lanes to get back
at the mayor of Fort Lee, who had supported
Christie’s opponent in the last election.
While they were not the only staffers to
participate, they were key players in the closure.
While Christie’s camp claimed the
lanes were shut down for a traffic study, the
Mayor of Fort Lee, Mark Sokolich, thought
otherwise. He accused Christie of closing the
lanes in retribution for not endorsing him in his
last campaign.
This fell through when texts and
emails between some of Christie’s top aides and
Port Authority employees were revealed. In one
sent before the lane closures, Kelly wrote, “Time
for some traffic problems in Fort Lee.”
Numerous
other
incriminating
messages were released; some said that they
didn’t feel sorry for the children stuck in traffic,
because they were children of people who voted
for Christie’s opponent. Others made derogatory
remarks towards Sokolich.
Since the scandal, four of the main
perpetrators have either resigned or been fired,
and twenty subpoenas have been served to
seventeen unnamed members of the government
and to three offices.
Christie himself got a lawyer to
respond to the two new committees that have
been formed to investigate the case.
It has been speculated that this scandal
could affect Christie’s 2016 Presidential race,
but some think this will soon become old news.
“The presidential campaign isn’t for
two and half years. Two-and-a half-years in
politics is like a lifetime. It’s not a huge issue,
I don’t think it’s going to last very long,”
government teacher, Tom Seib said
Opinion
January 31, 2014
3
Editorial: Christie’s scandal overshadows education
New Jersey Gov. Chris
Christie has been under the
microscope of media criticism
before, but none more important
than the recent “Bridgegate
Scandal” in which he was
faulted for, essentially, failing
to prevent or even promoting
heavy traffic along the popular
George Washington Bridge as
part of a “political retribution”
which Christie adamantly rejects.
In the midst of this
“scandal”, his proposal to
lengthen school days and shorten
the summer has gone nearly
unnoticed. He revealed this
idea in his State of the State
Address just two weeks ago.
“If student achievement
is lagging at the exact moment
when we need improvement more
than ever in order to compete in the
world economy, we should take
these steps — every possible step
— to boost student achievement,”
Christie said. He declined to
provide further details on the
plan, but his reasoning is sound.
The fact of the matter
is that this, riding the back of
the all-encompassing Bridgegate
controversy highlighted in the
past month, has the potential
to affect students’ and parents’
lives more than traffic in New
Jersey, no matter how scandalous.
Pius implemented an eight
a.m. start, five minutes earlier than
previously, at the beginning of this
school year. While the majority of
students adjusted to accommodate
the change, the first few months
were rocky. Those five minutes are
vital in the rush for the majority
of Lincoln’s working population
trying to also punch their time
cards at eight o’clock on the dot.
While the quality of
education in the United States
may need a makeover to compete
in the world economy, it should
not and cannot be at the expense
of students. A recent study by
USA Today shows that student
stress levels across the country
are 20-30 percent higher than
the national average. Every
student, past or present, knows
that summer plays a huge roll
in mental health. Shortening
summer walks the fine line
dividing infringement of student
rights and “aiding” the student.
Truly, students are the
future of the country and it is
essential that a plan to correct
the educational system is in the
making. Christie is not incorrect
that the United States is falling
behind in the way of education.
His plan, however, is unsound
in that lengthening school days
and shortening summer will not
help students in the long run.
The only way to truly
help students is to better the school
system’s teaching methods by
analyzing differences between our
system and those of the leading
countries such as Finland and
South Korea. There are changes
that need to be made, but not at
the expense of students across the
nation.
New English course slated for 2015
Abbey Hugo
Staff Writer
AD BY OLIVIA APPLEGET
The Pius X-Change
Kate Rawlinson
Staff Writers
Editor-In-Chief
Annie Albin
Kathryn Budell Olivia Appleget
X-Clusives Editor Natalie Baker
Zach Hammack Justice Coleman News and Opinion Editor
Haylee Diltz
Lauren Schieke
Abbey Hugo
Graphics Editor
Axel Malmstrom
Nick Esparza
Kyle Sager
Sports Editor
Abby Stonehocker
Anna Ondracek
Anna Stuchlik
Entertainment Editor Kaitlin VanLoon
Adviser
Features Editor
Nolan DeWispelare
The X-Change is a monthly publication of the Pius X High School
newspaper staff. Opinions expressed on the opinion page do not
necessarily represent those of the entire school community.
Students and staff are invited to share their opinion through a letter to
the editor. The staff reserves the right to edit or reject any letter. All
letters must be typed, signed and sent to Room 264 or:
The X-Change
Pius X High School
6000 A Street
Lincoln, NE 68510
A new English course, College and
Career Writing, will be offered next year.
This class is one semester long
and will help develop many writing skills
needed for college and the years beyond.
Students will explore future careers and
writing necessary for those particular careers.
They
will
proceed
to
research
potential
colleges
for
that
career.
Students will be coached in how to properly
write applications and apply for scholarships.
“There is a true need for help in
the college application process,” the English
department
chair,
Jennifer
Sander
said.
They will also practice interviewing
and
doing
on-the-job
writing.
College
preparatory writing will also be included.
Students will also be prepped for
the English and Reading sections of the ACT.
This class will be offered to juniors
and seniors. Many students have already shown
great interest and have started registering.
There will be big classes the first year but it is
predicted to be a junior-dominated course in the future.
It is still undecided as to who will be teaching
this class and how many teachers will be recruited.
The
class
was
created
to
complement
the
English
curriculum
“It’s something the school is missing
and something every student needs,” Sander said.
This course will give students an
opportunity to improve their English knowledge,
writing
abilities
and
college
preparedness.
The addition of this class is not the only change the
English department has undergone or will be undergoing.
English Composition, an eleventh grade class
option, was dropped before the start of this year. Much of the
writing that had previously occurred during this class has
been distributed throughout grades nine through twelve.
Classes taught by multiple teachers
also became more standardized and consistent.
“[The English department is] greatly improving
and next year will be even better,” Sander said.
Movies can’t always show the big picture
Lauren Schieke
Graphics Editor
Often I find myself
listening to negative useless
critiques about movies, simply
because they’re based on
books. The magic word in
this case is “based”. Directors
and producers of movies
don’t go for what’s the most
accurate, according to the book.
Obviously if that were
the case, a movie based off a
book would be five hours long
or something ridiculous. There’s
just too wide of a chasm between
what makes a book a book and
what makes a movie a movie.
I honestly respect the
director’s decisions to change
parts of the plot line, as long
as it makes it into a better
movie. A great example is the
recent Hobbit movie. Not only
is Peter Jackson an amazing
director, but he also really takes
the time to connect to fans.
He made a decision for
The Desolation of Smaug to add
a character, Tauriel, who is a
female elf in a love triangle. This
part isn’t in the book, which made
some fans a bit angry, but I think
it was a great decision to add a
really strong female character.
However
much
I
disapprove of critiquing movies
because of the book, I always
have the urge to read it before
seeing the movie. That’s totally
fine, in fact. I think it’s a way
of finding middle ground, where
there’s a separate but mutual
respect for both the movie and
the book.
Features
4
January 31, 2014
S
enior Xposed: Katie Rice
Happy, down-to-earth and one of a kind
Olivia Appleget
Staff Writer
a strip of my hair turn white,” Rice explained, tucking the
strand behind her ear, “My siblings would tell me that I looked
different because I
was adopted. They
actually did a pretty
good job of lying
about it, because I
believed them for a
few days…until my
parents found out
and my siblings got
in trouble.”
R i c e
attended
grade
PHOTOS BY OLIVIA APPLEGET
“Traveling to Europe,
riding in a hot air balloon, and
hiking the tallest mountain,” Katie
Rice furrowed her brow and cracked
a smile, “Just kidding, not actually
the tallest mountain. I like hiking,
but not THAT much.”
These were the three
things Rice named, with much
consideration, that were on her
bucket list. It’s this sort of bubbly
humor that seamlessly finds itself
into any conversation with her.
Rice is the youngest in her
family with two older siblings, Kelli Seniors Katie Rice and Joey Murphy direct the
and Andy.
pep band during a home basketball game.
Her parents, Bill and Sarah,
were blessed with Katie Marie Rice on March 5, 1996, in school at Hawthorne
Lubbock, Texas.
Elementary
and
When she was two years old, Rice’s parents decided middle school at
to move to Lincoln, where they are both currently PE teachers. Lux where she was
Being the youngest in the family never bothered always
playing
Rice, even when her older siblings would pick on her.
sports.
“When I was little my hair used to stick up like a
“Sports
troll doll,” Rice reminisced, “so my siblings would drag me have always been
across the carpet to make it stick up even more. After that I there, I’ve just
had a bald spot there!”
grown up doing
Eventually Rice grew out of the bald troll doll look, them,” Rice said.
but her siblings found another trick to pull when the static
At Pius Rice participated in cross-country her
hair stopped.
freshman and sophomore year, as well as basketball, and
“I have a birthmark on my forehead that makes soccer all four years.
“My favorite memory from soccer is definitely
making it to state and winning first rounds and districts both
sophomore and junior year,” Rice said.
Rice isn’t only an athlete; she’s also a talented
musician. She is currently a drum major for marching band
and plays the trumpet for concert band.
In all of her four years at Pius, Rice said her favorite
class was American Literature with Mrs. Sander.
“She’s just an energetic person,” Rice said, “our
classes were always fun. She found ways to make school
exciting.”
With the high school years almost in the rearview,
what are Rice’s plans for after graduation?
“I’ll be going to Hastings College to play soccer and
double majoring in secondary education,”
Rice said, “I’m pretty excited.”
Between sports, school and
band, Rice really doesn’t have a lot of
time for herself.
However, if one is looking to take
her out on a date when she’s free once in
a blue moon, here are some tips:
Take her out to the movie Frozen,
don’t worry, it will only be her third time
seeing it, and be sure to buy some Reese’s
Peanut Butter Cups, because those are
her favorite.
End the night by playing her
favorite song, “Cuckoo Song” by A Silent
Film, and it will have been a successful
night out.
Katie Marie Rice is a down-to-earth, athletic,
talented and fun-loving girl who is going places in life
(although maybe not tallest mountain places).
Thunderbolts connect with elderly through common medium
Lauren Schieke
Graphics Editor
“I don’t know what art is, but it’s most
anything you make of it,” resident Dean Clawson said.
Clawson brought in a wooden set of a cup
and bowl that he carved with an intricate design.
Students brought in pieces such as a mug
from Paint Yourself Silly, a couple
self-portraits, and various paintings.
While the students did come to share their
art and talk to the elderly, it was ultimately
for them to learn some great stories and see
such talent in the residents of The Legacy.
According to Harrington, there are more
classes to come. The four planned meetings
will be centered around a different form of
art each time. There will be a collage and
mixed media exploration, and then classes
for drawing, print making and fiber art.
“I am looking forward to working with
the elderly people, and having them
get passion for art again,” Samek said.
Overall the Meet and Greet was a
great success. Hopefully more seniors
will venture into re-discovering art and
learning from each other and students
learning from seniors.
PHOTO BY LAUREN SCHIEKE
The elderly inhabitants of The Legacy began
trickling into The Fireside Room, a homely meeting room
along a stretch of other various themed rooms on the first
floor. Seven Pius students stood to greet them, chatting
and sharing stories. The atmosphere was friendly. While
there were many different kinds of people there, young
and old, they all had one thing in common: the love of art.
On Thurs. Jan. 16 around 15 seniors living at
the Legacy on 56th and Pioneers gathered at the first
meeting of “Art from the Heart.” The seven students,
Sammi Grendahl, Tina Le, Kaela Samek, Haylee Steger,
Lawrence Ngyuen, Anne Cassidy, and myself, Lauren
Schieke, came to share our art with them, and vice versa.
Sponsored by the Hildegard Center for the Arts,
“Art from the Heart” was originally the idea of art teacher,
Cathy Harrington. She taught at Irving Middle School
for 32 years and now occasionally substitutes at Pius.
The meeting was the official “Meet and
Greet,” so students and seniors could get to know
each other through their art and experiences.
“I thought it would be a great way to
start things off, to break the ice,” Harrington said.
There were many surprises as to what art the
residents had to offer. Some came because they just
appreciated the art of others, but most had some amazing art
pieces to share. Some of the things they brought in included
homemade paper journals, a pastel drawing back from
1943, modern zentangle doodles, a beautiful cardinal done
with watercolor, a crocheted butterfly and many others.
Students Anne Cassidy, Haylee Steger and Kaela Samek admire a homemade paper journal made by a resident at The Legacy.
Features
January 31, 2014
5
Pius students line up to work at Legacy Teacher feature:
Gabriel Kwambamba
Haylee Diltz
Staff Writer
Legacy
Retirement
Homes is an assisted living area
within retirement homes. They
include theater, an exercise
room, gift shop, barber shop/
salon, bank, snack area, dining
areas and parking garages as well
as activities for the residents.
The Legacy is located at
5600 Pioneers Blvd. Many
Pius students have gotten the
opportunity to be a part of the
staff here and from the looks of
it, most of them love their jobs.
“I really like helping
the
residence
and
serving
them. I also like hearing the
stories of their childhood,”
junior Lucy Kohmetscher said.
The Legacy is considered
to be one of the best retirement
homes in the state of Nebraska. It
offers many opportunities for senior
citizens to have a great time and
enjoy their lives. They get to do that
by staying healthy, fit and energized.
The Legacy also has
a very good kitchen staff that
contains five-star dining. The
menu features a new selection of
food every day offering twelve
entrée choices with several
complimenting side dish options.
The
Legacy
has
many opportunities for young
teens in high school to get
involved with senior citizens.
“I wanted to work there
because it is a way to make elderly
feel like they are being served by
family,” junior Jacinta Benton said.
“I enjoy being around them because
they like hearing about my life
and feel happy when I am happy.”
Most students working
at The Legacy have a part time
position with shorter hours.
The hours include: part-time
position working the evening
shift from 1:30 p.m.-9:30 p.m.,
4:00 p.m. – 9:30 p.m, and varying
days of the week including
rotating weekends and holidays.
“The hours are great, and
that is why I was so interested in
applying for a job here, The Legacy
is definitely willing to work with us
students,” Junior Cole Jarecke said.
The
students
from
Pius working at The Legacy
have a very important job.
“We get meals prepared
and serve the residence their
drinks and food and then clean up
afterwards,” Kohmetscher said.
If anyone is in need of a
job and want something that is fun
and an easy way to get involved
with senior citizens, consider
applying at The Legacy. There are
two more part time positions left
for students in need of a job.
Pius students join thousands at
nation’s capitol for March for Life
Anna Ondracek
PHOTO BY ANNA ONDRACEK
Sports Editor
Gabriel
Kwambamba’s
love of French and the students
that he teaches is evident in how
he goes about teaching them.
Kwambamba is known
amongst his students for his immersive
teaching style, great anecdotes
and his nickname, “Papa K.”
“He encourages us to
attend French mass at Blessed John
the XXIII on Sundays,” senior
Claire Henrichson said. “It’s a great
blending of French and faith. We
also sing a lot in class which is fun
because all of the songs are catchy.”
Kwambamba grew up
in the Congo and went to Omaha
Central High School where he grew
up working at a car wash station.
He then went on to the University
of Nebraska at Lincoln where he
majored in teaching and French.
Kwambamba
enjoyed
school very much but not so
much the athletic part of it.
The saddest part to him
however was the decrease in people’s
spirituality which he noticed in
college and even high school.
“If you don’t go too far
down and realize that you will
want to crawl back out you have
that option but, eventually when
you have a family hopefully they
will help you form wandering too
far from God,” Kwambamba said.
“I really like him as a
person,” senior Santiago Izquierdo
said. “His teaching methods are
really different and fun, and I like it.”
“I want my students to
have a real life robust understanding
of science and the world around
them and to have an appreciation for
God’s creation,” Kwambamba said.
Seeing that he is very close
to God is a great sight to see, it shows
how even faculty of Pius can follow in
God’s footsteps. His humbleness can
be an example for many Pius students
to come and I’m sure it would be a
great honor for many if they have him
as a teacher in the future.
Catholic Schools
celebrate CSW
Axel Malmstrom
students can exploit during the time.
It includes freedom from dress code
and for some growing ever closer in
Catholic Schools Week the catholic religion.
(CSW) begins on the 26 of next “I like expressing my
week and it has been a yearly faith and religious beliefs to
tradition at Pius. CSW is known God,” junior Aaron Heyen said.
for dressing up and having fun, with Going to a Catholic school
themes that range from just wearing also means that students have the
a college shirt to having a twin on opportunity of getting a better
twin day and even wearing your education and going to college as
favorite Pius X clothing on spirit day. well. Students have the opportunity
Going to a Catholic school to become better people as well.
is very important to many people “Because I go to a
and it gives them a better opportunity Catholic school I have the freedom
to grow in their love with God. to express myself of who I am and
“It means that I can express to gain some that through the Lord
my religious beliefs when I feel like himself,” junior Andres Salinas said.
it,” junior Makinsey Lonergan said. Catholic Schools Week is
Catholic Schools Week important for anyone that is looking
also has a lot of different chances that to become a great follower of God.
It brings possibilities to
the world through trusting
others and by learning
more about the religion.
“It reminds us of how
much it means to be a
Catholic,” Heyen said.
Catholic Schools Week can
be meaningful for some and
to others a great time to show
off their confidence of who
they are. It is also a great
time for them to learn and
experience the true power of
Students participate in the Eucharistic
being a very holy person.
Staff Writer
PHOTO BY AXEL MALMSTROM
sheer enormity of the March itself can be an intense
experience for those attending for the first time. Students
Entertainment Editor
and chaperones who go on the March for Life are
On Jan. 22 over four-hundred thousand people passionate about their faith and desire to change hearts.
marched in Washington, D.C. to protect the unborn. “It was absolutely inspiring to see over
Among these were many Nebraskans half a million people, mostly young people,
and large group of Pius students. Five buses from coming together for one cause, to save the
the Diocese of Lincoln left town on Jan. 18 for the most vulnerable,” senior Erica Dolph said.
March, filled with students
Usually,
the
from across the diocese,
March for Life is met
priests and religious sisters as
with counter-protesters
well. The trip takes about 24
and almost non-existent
hours, a long amount for even
media coverage. This
the most seasoned traveler.
year, not a single pro
The group of around
choice sign could be
230 students used Jan. 20found for miles around
21 for sightseeing around
the city. It’s likely that
the nation’s capitol, and
the cold temperature and
also attending Mass at St.
snow kept some from
Matthew’s Cathedral and
attending. Per normal,
the Basilica of the National
almost no news station or
Shrine of the Immaculate
media outlet was covering
Conception. The weather was
this event. The pro-lifers
extreme, switching from sunny
are used to this, and
skies one day to snow and 30
remember the real reason
mile-per-hour wind the next.
they go to the March,
The night before
which is to protect the
the big event, students were Pius students march for the right to life in
sanctity of all human life.
surprised with a visit from Washington D.C. at the National March for Life.
T h e r e
Bishop James Conley, who
were
a
variety
spoke to the students about his experiences with the of signs and banners, bright and bold on the
pro-life movement and even answered questions. sunny day. Many were a play on words, some
Bishop Conley walked with the Nebraska group at simple, others with a heartbreaking story.
the March for Life, and was a co-celebrant at Mass in “The most powerful part for me was
the Basilica beside bishops from across the country. when I saw the ladies at the end of the March,
A common theme from those on the March was holding signs that said ‘I regret my abortion’. It
the idea of this being a pilgrimage, not a trip. Catholics takes so much courage to stand in front of that
are all called to stand up for the unborn, and so the many people, and it’s inspiring,” Dolph said.
journey to Washington, D.C. is meant to strengthen that However one measures success, it could be
belief and give witness to it in a bold way. The word trip said that this year’s March for Life was a success.
implies a certain amount of vacation and lounge time, Although abortion is still legal in the United States,
which was nowhere to be found on this pilgrimage. it’s clear by witnessing the zeal and growth of the pro
The fast pace of the pilgrimage and the life movement that the tide is changing.
Nick Esparza
procession with Bishop Conley.
Xclusives
6
January 31, 2014
Pius students excel in activities outside of school
Kyle Sager
Staff Writer
Petersen’s been dancing since
she was three years old. She started a dance class at Karen McWilliams School of Dance and loved it.
“[Dancing] has always been a part of
my life,” Petersen said. “It’s a very good way
for me to let off steam when I get stressed out.”
During her sophomore year, Petersen started assisting dance classes for
younger kids at her studio, and so far it’s
been a really great experience for her.
“You form a bond with all of the
little kids and that makes you excited to go
to class so that you can see how their skills
have progressed each week,” Petersen said.
PHOTO COURTESY OF WILDWOODS
Inside of school, there’s a variety of clubs and sports to be involved in, but outside of school, there’s
a whole lot more to be exposed to.
And
that’s
exactly what some kids have done.
Senior Connor Ernst loves to skateboard, but he’s not just cruisin’ around town
in search of a good time. Ernst is also involved in something called Skate for Change.
“I started skating in 5th grade when I
was eleven.” Ernst said, “I had always thought
skateboarding was cool, but after I saw my
neighbor do an Ollie, I wanted to try it.”
Ernst instantly thought it looked
awesome, so he picked up his board he
had gotten long ago, but had never ridden. After some practice, he was a natural.
After he had been boarding for a
while, Ernst met the owner of a skate park
at Gateway Mall called Bay 198. The owner,
named Mike Smith, had started something
called Skate for Change in Lincoln that helped
out the homeless and poor people downtown.
“Skaters will congregate in downtown Lincoln, and skateboard around
giving out food and hygiene items to the
homeless people they see,” Ernst said.
According to Ernst, Skate for Change
has been a huge part of his life. After he got involved, Ernst realized that giving back to the
community is a great way to build character.
“Skate for Change had a big impact on my life. It influenced my desires
to help others and it helped me figure out
what I want to do with my life,” Ernst said.
Billiards club was a new addition to
Pius’ many clubs and organizations this year,
and it was a big hit. The mastermind behind the
very successful club is a champion pool shark.
Sophomore Noah Contreras has been
playing pool for about three and a half years.
He’s played in hundreds of pool tournaments
and competitions, including one in France.
“The tournaments are double elimination, and that puts a lot of pressure on
you, especially since money’s on the line,
and lots of it,” Contreras said about the tournaments, which are almost every weekend.
He started Billiards Club at Pius, because he wanted to share his passion for pool
with others; And apparently, a lot of people
Senior Noah Pinkman and sophomores Chloe Pinkman and Noah Gose are the
members of an indie pop band, The Wildwoods. The band performs frequently at
coffee shop venues.
She likes it because at the end of each
year, she has 20 new friends who
PHOTO COURTESY OF BLAKE KRENK
PHOTO COURTESY OF BAY 198
were waiting for a Billiards Club, considering there are about 20 students in the organization.
“Pool
really
pushes
you to the limits, but it’s
worth it,” Contreras said.
Sophomore Blake Krenk
is a hardcore clogger. For
him, clogging’s not just
dancing; it’s a lifestyle.
He started clogging lessons when he was only
three years old, because his
sister had done clogging
and he wanted to try it, too.
“Clogging is kind of a mix
of all types of dancing blended into one,” Krenk said.
He
actually
teaches
around four or five classes
at Capitol City Dance Shack.
Krenk instructs classes of
kids aged 9-10 and 12-13.
Clogging is a really unique
activity, and that’s why Krenk
gets to dance in competitions
all around the United States
Skate For Change is a local charity operation involv It’s almost every little
ing young adults who love both skateboarding and
girl’s dream to become a great
helping others. Several members are high school
dancer when she’s older, and
students who skate downtown and help the homefor junior Emma Petersen,
less and needy.
that dream has come true.
Clogging is a popular activity
among many young adults.
Competitions are extremely
competitive and exciting.
want to grow up to be just like her.
The band called The Wildwoods
might sound familiar, and that’s because
they’re famous at school for their folk
pop music. The band, which consists
of sophomores Noah Gose and Chloe
Pinkmann, and senior Noah Pinkman,
has been together for almost two years.
Gose, who’s been playing piano since first grade, can play almost any
instrument he picks up, including guitar,
drums, harmonica, accordion, and more.
“Sometimes he just goes to
the music store and buys any instrument and tries to play it,” Pinkman said.
Pinkman herself can play the violin, guitar, mandolin, and the ukulele.
“Our band just kind of happened and
it all fell into place from there,” Gose said.
The band, which actually recently changed their name from Slap
Happy to the Wildwoods, has just finished recording their first album ever.
And while gaining
popularity
by playing at coffee
shops, restaurants,
vineyards, and private parties, The
Wildwoods are
looking
to
receive a lot
more
likes
on Facebook.
During
the
summer,
they
play around eight
times a month, and
during the school
year,
they’re
booked
almost
every
weekend.
T h e
folk pop band
is one of the only
bands
at
Pius, and
w h o
knows;
m a y be their
songs
will be
on
the
r a dio somed a y .
Fencing might
be a sport usually associated
with medieval times, but not
for Joseph Butler. The
sophomore started fencing
around five years ago at
the Lincoln Fencing Club,
and hasn’t stopped since.
“I saw it on the GRAPHIC BY LAUREN SC
Olympics and wanted
to try it,” Butler said.
Butler likes fencing because its super-fast paced and requires lots of agility.
“Fencing
combines
a
lot
of
out-thinking
your
opponent with athleticism,” Butler said.
Not
many
people
know
the rules of fencing, but they aren’t
actually
very
complicated.
“There are 2 people on something
called a strip, a straight line where you fight.
There are actually three different types of
swords, each with a specific role.” Butler said.
The three swords, according to Butler, are considered three
different sports in the Olympics,
because of their different purposes.
“Once
the
match
starts, you try to hit your opponent while defending yourself. The first person to get five
touches wins,” Butler said.
Fencing might seem
extremely dangerous, considering fencers are trying to hit
their opponent with a sword,
and have little protection, but
injuries are actually quite rare.
“I usually get a couple of
random bruises here and
there,
but be-
7
Some Pius students don’t have Fidos or Fluffys
Justice Coleman
Staff Writer
“I wouldn’t trade owning Sailor
and Image for anything in the world—their
furry, fat,cute, soft, and I love them so much,”
Rawlinson said.
While owning horses was
Rawlinson’s dream, Addy Regnier wanted to
own something a little different. What did she
want?
A hedgehog.
And a snake.
getting a pet like one of mine,” Regnier said.
“They’re super fun to own.”
If Regnier could choose any other pet
All little girls dream of owning their
to add to her collection of different animals
very own pony—or even better, their own
she said she would choose a pig, because she
horse. They dream of riding a beautiful horse
thinks they’re cool.
through green, grassy fields, while the wind
Regnier’s hedgehog and dogs don’t
blows through their hair.
get along very well, so she keeps them away
For senior Kate Rawlinson that
from each other, and as for the the snake and
dream came true. With two aunts that loved
mice...
horses and a determined love of horses,
“I’ve never tried to see if they
Rawlinson did what every five year old wants
would get along, because I know what
to do: she got a horse.
the outcome to that would be,” Regnier
She didn’t just get one horse, she got
said, “if you can’t guess, it would be very
two.
bad, and I’m very sure I’d have one less
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Xclusives
January 31, 2014
Preparing Thunderbolts
for the ACT and SAT
for over 18 years...
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1/13/14 3:19 PM
Entertainment
8
Hit TV shows return from
hiatus to adoring fans
Justice Coleman
Staff Writer
Everybody has their own
obsessions, whether it’s food,
getting their nails done or shopping.
One
very
common
obsession, found among both
teenagers and adults, is watching
TV. Thank goodness for DVRs,
giving everyone the ability to
record any show to watch it when
it’s convenient for them.
This will come in handy
throughout the next few months
while TV shows return on channels
such as AMC, ABC and FOX. But
nobody cares about the letters that
make up the channel name, all they
care about are the shows on the
channel.
“I’m super excited for
The Walking Dead to come back,”
freshman Haeley Wittenhagen
said. “I’ve never gotten so attached
to a show before, but this one keeps
pulling me back in.”
When
The
Walking
Dead first premiered on Oct. 31,
2010, it was almost instantly a
huge hit. Everybody loved the
post-apocalyptic situations that
characters such as Rick, Carl
and Daryl were thrown into, and
nobody could resist being sucked
into the back stories of each and
every character.
The Walking Dead has
become a show that all members
of a family can enjoy together,
giving parents and children the
family bonding time they need
while watching people murder the
undead.
Another popular show,
that will be making its return on
Feb. 14, is House of Cards, one of
the shows that plays exclusively on
Netflix.
So, instead of spending
Valentine’s Day with the love of
their life, House of Cards fans will
be making themselves comfortable
at home with a snack in their lap, in
front of the TV watching the longa-waited return of the show.
While teenage girls enjoy
violent zombie apocalypse deaths
and political drama, what they
really is enjoy is exceptionally
good-looking guys. Teen Wolf
is the perfect example of a show
full of cute boys and extremely
attractive werewolf fights.
Teen Wolf isn’t just for
teenage girls though, anyone who
enjoys sitting down to watch TV
shows about the supernatural, in
this case werewolves, would enjoy
this show.
There’s still time to catch
up with Teen Wolf, even though
the second half of the third season
premiered Jan 6, and any devoted
fan would do just that: sit down
and watch a marathon of Teen Wolf
until they were caught up.
Devotion is exactly what is
needed when it comes to watching
The Bachelor, which returned this
month. Every show just happens
to be two hours long, which is two
hours worth of watching girls fawn
over Juan Pablo, and the occasional
emotionally unstable girl burst into
tears because she wasn’t being paid
attention to.
The Bachelor is all
about finding Juan Pablo, and all
previous bachelors, the perfect girl,
someone he can spend the rest of
his life with.
On Feb. 25 another show
full of girly drama will be making
its return: Glee. Even without Cory
Monteith, who played loved-byall quarterback, Finn Hudson, the
show is still booming and has an
enormous amount of fans.
So grab some Cheez-Its,
or popcorn, or even ice cream,
and cuddle up on the couch with a
comfortable blanket and let the TV
show marathons begin, because the
shows mentioned here are only the
beginning of a large list of fantastic
returning shows.
out if skips.” Larsen said, “but I do
like the stations I’ve made, like The
Cheetah Girls and Disney.”
Because of the not-sogreat qualities of Pandora some
students have moved onto other
radios, Spotify is one of these.
“I like Spotify because it’s
convenient and I also don’t have to
pay for it,” junior Alex Hewitt said.
Spotify is free, but when
purchasing the premium students
pay a certain deductible a month,
then are able to download songs
onto their iPhones or other music
devices.
Anyone can follow artists
and genres of artists they listen
to. Another great characteristic of
Spotify, that Hewitt really enjoys,
is that it suggests music based on
what someone has already listened
to.
“I listen to a combination
of everything, so I follow a lot of
different artists including Mumford
and Sons and the Lumineers,”
Hewitt said.
The most recent radio that
came out a few months ago, with
the introduction of IOS 7, is ITunes
Radio. It has many attributes
of other internet radios, such as
picking the channel you’d like to
listen to.
There are also some new
aspects to this radio, if someone
really enjoys the song they are
listening to, they are able to buy the
song right then and there.
Another great thing is
when visiting the iTunes app, there
is a guest DJ each week who plays
some of his/her favorite tracks.
“The only thing I don’t
like about iTunes radio is that you
can’t like songs, so it doesn’t know
what you like to listen to,” Keiter
said.
Whether it’s Pandora,
Spotify or iTunes radio, we can all
agree internet radio has changed
how people look at music.
Internet radio changes the way
people listen to music
Kaitlin VanLoon
Features Editor
Internet radio has been a
huge hit for several years.
With its ability to choose
channels with regards to the artist,
genre or some Pandora has always
been a favorite for Pius students.
“Pandora is what I’ve
always known, I listen to it all night,
every night,” juniorAmy Keiter said.
Students like to listen to
online radio at all different times of
the day.
For those who can focus,
music while doing homework
works great. Others like junior
Meredith Larsen like to listen to
music in the morning to wake up
and get ready for school.
Pandora has excellent
some excellent features like having
the ability to like songs that are
played, but there are some down
falls as well.
“I don’t like that it runs
January 31, 2014
Cheerleaders and
Thunderettes begin
competition season
Abby Stonehocker
Staff Writer
Not only do Pius cheerleaders support the fall and winter sports to victories, but they
also have one or two chances to
earn a victory for themselves.
This year they will
be competing in the state competition in Grand Island and
a
competition
in
Omaha.
“I think it is such a great
experience competing against other
high schools. It gives us a chance
to show the other schools how we
perform off the field or court.” Junior Allison Russell said.
All
levels of cheer compete together on
the competitive team. The preparation for these competitions is
different than
getting ready
for a basketball
game.
Wi t h
these competitions comes
a lot of hard
work and dedication.
The
cheerleaders pick up
some
extra
practices, and
have to perfect a routine.
During these cheerleading competitions each team is
broken up into a level of difficulty, and those teams will compete
against the teams in their level.
Two years ago Pius placed
second in a competition in Florida,
last year the ladies placed first in
a competition in Omaha, and this
year is another chance at victory.
The Pius cheerleaders
aren’t the only ones who have to
pick up extra practices and perfect a routine, the Pius dance
team has to do so as well, along
with a group of senior boys.
This year the annual Boy Girl Dance will be held
January 24 during half time
of the boys’ varsity basketball
game against Lincoln Christian.
Every Sunday, Tuesday, and Thursday all Pius dancers attend rehearsal from 9 p.m.
to 10 p.m. with senior boys.
This year there are a
variation of songs included in the
dance; there will be the song “Party
Rock”, a disco song, a salsa song,
and “What Makes You Beautiful”.
“I love working with
everyone, it is such a great environment. The senior boys bring
humor to our rehearsal which
makes practices even more fun.”
Junior Katherine Reifenrath said.
Even though the senior
boys participating don’t have as
much experience as the thunderettes it will be well worth attending.
Entertainment
January 31, 2014
Annual Benefit Concert
packed with standout
student performances
Kate Rawlinson
Editor-in-Chief
Staff’s Pick: The Oscars
The 86th Acedemy Awards are scheduled for
March 2 and will be hosted by Ellen Degeneres
Best Picture:
American Hustle
Actor in a Leading Role:
Leonardo DiCaprio
Actress in a Leading Role:
Sandra Bullock
Actor in a Supporting Role:
Jonah Hill
Actress in a Supporting Role:
Jennifer Lawrence
Animated Feature Film:
Frozen
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Right from the getgo the 2014 Benefit Concert
snagged
the
audience’s
attention this last Monday
night in Pius’ loved L-PAC.
The proceeds from the
concert benefited Pius’ own Club
World Aid in their project to aid
the relief in the Philippines.
Senior
vocalist
Amanda
Reifert
felt
a
special
meaning
behind
Monday night’s performance.
“It’s the best feeling
in the world,” she said. “It’s
always thrilling to perform
for a live audience, but it’s
even more special because we
are helping those in need.”
Reifert’s passion for
performing was evident in her
comedic and sassy rendition of
“Funny Honey” from Chicago
the musical, performed by
fellow seniors Nick Theisen
and
Stephen
Kotopka.
The opening act was a
group of guitarists with killer
vocals who went all-out in a
bold, rock-style performance of
“Pretend”, a clear foreshadowing
of the dozens of Pius talents to
come. It was the team of Dean
Dalton, Jeff Gabell, Andrew
Vaggalis and Matt Sievert.
Standout performances
dominated the stage all night
long, from the soft trills of
Carly Moore in “When She
Loved Me” from The Toy Story
to the comedy of “Lonely
Ninja” performed by the
senior trio of Katrina Johnson,
Mary Benes and Kayla Brion.
Senior Alexis Johnson
sang a beautiful, gut-wrenching
song of her own called Betrayed
that blew audience members
away with powerful lyrics
that resonated with everyone
who’s ever been left behind.
One
of
the
best
vocalists of the night won
the audience over with her
quick wit and humorous quips
throughout the song. Junior
Kally Werning sang “Still into
You” with senior Tony Connot
on guitar. One of the song’s
highest notes was followed by
Werning’s shoutouts, “Thanks
Katie!” and nearer to the end
of the song, “I love you too,
mom!” sending the audience
into a fit of laughter.
Perhaps
the
most
captivating performance of
all came from an incredible
pianist with quick fingers and
a flair for the dramatic. Senior
Hyunseok Kim’s “Op. 10 Etude
in G Minor” was the only piece
of the night to bring the crowd
to their feet in a well-deserved
standing ovation.
Of course, talented
senior Bridget Lang punched
gracefully through the lines
and runs of “Almost There”
from the Disney film The
Princess
and
the
Frog.
“Since it’s a benefit
concert,
our
performances
actually
have
meaning
behind them,” Lang said.
“You’re
performing
for
more than just yourself.”
The night was brought
to a close with the popular
“Royals” by Lorde sung by
the senior girls of Cantabella.
“We are encouraged by
everybody around us,” senior
Cantabella
member
Abby
Goodwin said. “I mean, what
makes you feel better than
raising money for other people?”
With one outstanding
performance after the other,
audience members were engaged
and enthralled for the entirety
of the two-hour show. And,
in appreciation, the talented
Pius ladies and gentlemen
who braved a live audience,
microphone faultiness and their
own nerves exited stage right to
a truly thunderous applause.
9
Sports
10
January 31, 2014
Super bowl draws viewers of all ages
Natalie Baker
Staff Writer
The Super Bowl is one of the most
cherished events in America. A large amount
of hype comes every year for this annual
event full of commercials, food, and a sometimes good game of football.
The first Super Bowl was played in
1967 between the Kansas City Chiefs from
the AFL (the American Football League) and
the Green Bay Packers from the NFL (the
National Football League). Green Bay won
the game 35-10 in Los Angeles.
The Seattle Seahawks vs. Denver
Broncos are playing this year for the XLVIII
Superbowl at the MetLife Stadium in East
Rutherford, New Jersey.
Many things must occur in preparation for the Super Bowl, including the casting of the $25,000 Vince Lombardi Trophy
made by Tiffany and Co., the creation of 150
championship rings (each valued at $5,000)
for the winning team. The NFL also pays for
150 pieces of jewelry for the losing team.
Performing at the Super Bowl is
one of the biggest honors a singer or musical group can get. In 1993, Michael Jackson
sang and increased the game’s TV ratings
during the game by a significant amount.
In 2006, the Rolling Stones rocked
Ford Field in Detroit, Michigan. Last year,
Beyoncé had an outstanding performance at
the Mercedes- Benz Superdome in New Orleans, Lousianna.
It is claimed to be one of the most
watched events in American television history. From this time on, a deliberate effort has
been made to attract top performers for the
game’s halftime performance.
The Dallas Cowboys and the Pittsburgh Steelers are tied for playing in the
most Super Bowls—eight times each.
The Steelers have had the most
wins, beating various rivals a total of six
times.
The Minnesota Vikings, the Buffalo Bills and the Denver Broncos are tied for
the most Super Bowl losses, each losing four
games.
One of the main reasons some people watch the televised event is the commercials. These anxiously awaited commercials
are known to be the funniest, strangest, and
cutest commercials all year long.
The average cost for a 30-second
commercial during the Super Bowl XLVII in
2013 was $3.7 million dollars, compared to
only $40,000 for a 30-second commercial in
1967.
Super Bowl XLVII was the most
watched television event of all time, getting
about 111.3 million viewers.
Winter sports teams show athleticism through success
Zach Hammack
News and Opinion Editor
Junior Varsity Boys Basketball
ing to Sullivan.
The JV team will hit the
road this weekend, first visiting
Northeast on Friday and then
Omaha Skutt on Saturday.
Swim Team
The Pius X swim
team has led the way with a
PHOTO BY ZACH HAMMACK
The JV boys basketball
team holds a solid 6-3 record
after a nail-biter win over Crete,
Thursday, Jan. 23 and a decisive
victory against Lincoln Christian on Jan. 24
Going into halftime
against Crete, Pius led by 16,
but faltered in the second half
and managed winning by only a
slim margin of one.
Sophomore Scotty Sullivan is confident in his fellow
teammates this year.
“Our whole team comes
together and knows how to
refocus,” Sullivan said. “Adam
Olson has had great defensive
stops this year and has definitely
established himself as the leader.”
Sophomore Creighton
Schoening and junior Joe Stara
have also played key roles in
high-pressure situations, accord-
Wrestling
Pius X wrestling is 9-2
in duals, with the two losses
However, it’s the lower
weights that have helped draw
closer to a high placing at State.
“Our lighter weights
PHOTO BY ANNIE ALBIN
PHOTO BY ANNA STUCHLIK
Junior Joe Stara shoots a free-throw at a JV basketball
home game against Elkhorn.
resurgence of senior talent and
optimistic rebuilding from the
ground up.
Several individuals
are looking to qualify for State
events, which will be held from
Feb 28-Mar 1.
Senior Ashley Witt and
junior Hollis Knotwell are just
milliseconds from the State
automatic time in the 50 meter
freestyle.
Sophomore Olivia
Appleget is sitting near the top
of her event in the 100 meter
fly and has already qualified for
state.
Four year veteran Melanie Jacobsen believes the team
is right on track to do well in the
weeks to come.
“Coach [Mike] Witt’s
goal was to get at least one
person in each event to qualify
for State,” Jacobsen said. “I feel
that by the end of the season we
can accomplish that goal.”
Senior Emilio Ramirez works to maintain hand control
during a match at a home varsity dual.
coming from Southwest and
Southeast. They’ve also had
four victories in tournament
play this year.
The team is looking to
cap off the regular season with
a successful run at Districts,
with the help of the strong upper
weight classes that include
sophomore Alex Kerr and senior
Tyson Cisneros.
have been instrumental,” senior
Thomas Dalton said. “I’ve been
extremely impressed with what
we have done this season, and
I’m hoping we can finish with
style.”
State wrestling will be
held Thursday, Feb 20 through
Feb 22 at the CenturyLink Center in Omaha.
Try Lacrosse this Spring!
Be a part of the 3 Time State Champion Team
All levels of experience welcome.
Sophmore Alexis Bryant swims the 100 meter backstroke at the North Star triangular.
Boys high school lacrosse grades 9-12
Go to www.lincolnlax.net for more information.
Sports
January 31, 2014
11
Coach’s Corner:
Ryan Kearney invigorates teams through coaching
Anna Stuchlik
Staff Writer
PHOTO BY ANNA STUCHLIK
In 1997, Ryan Kearney
helped lead the Pius X high school
football team to victory as a player, but in 2004, Kearney assisted
in the football team’s triumph at
state, as a coach.
When he was playing
basketball and football in high
school, Kearney began reflecting
on his athletic career and realized
how much he enjoyed his time in
sports.
Thinking it would
be particularly interesting and
rewarding, Kearney pursued the
career of coaching to help other
young men meet those same challenges and reach those same goals
that he found rewarding.
For Kearney, success is
all about seeing student athletes
do things they couldn’t do before,
reaching levels of competition
mistake. At the same time, Olson
“Coaching high school
or ability that maybe they didn’t
said, he is enthusiastic, underboys is very interesting,” Kearney
think they could get to and knowstanding and a solid coach. He is
said. “Everyday there are new
ing that he was a part of them
always there for his players and
challenges, but there’s also daily
being able to achieve those goals.
willing to explain.
rewards of seeing improvements.”
“Over the years, I have
Seeing his players attain
When it comes to athdeveloped into a coach who likes
even little milestones is gratifying
letic character, Kearney looks for
to see daily, individual improvefor the basketball coach.
someone who is self-motivated,
ment,” Kearcoachable and
ney said. “I
who will push
enjoy the pracfor improvement
tice component
by applying what
of athletics,
they discussed in
because I really
practice to their
get to see the
performance on
development of
the court.
the players.”
Overall,
Juthe athlete must
nior Adam
have an intrinsic
Olson shared
desire to be better
that Kearney
than what they
is constantly
were before pracready to get on JV basketball coach Ryan Kearney encourages his players during a
tice, the beginning
someone when home basketball game against Elkhorn.
of the week or the
they make a
beginning of the
Athlete Profile: Tyson
Cisneros leads on field
and mat
Annie Albin
his opponent. This was far faster
than the average pin, which usually takes at least after the first
Tyson Cisneros has big round.
goals for this year. In his final
He isn’t just an accomseason of wrestling for the Bolts, plished wrestler, but he is also an
he hopes to take State and win his accomplished football player for
division.
the Thunderbolts. He is a right
Cisneros could make it tackle not only for the offensive
happen, too. He placed fifth in line, but the defensive line as
the state his sophomore year and well.
moved up to third place his junior
His future is bright as
year.
well, and he hopes to continue
Wrestling is a time con- playing football in college.
suming sport, with more than fif“I was thinking Beneteen meets planned for the varsity dictine, or Peru State.” Cisneros
Bolts during this season.
said.
At a recent meet, it only
While Cisneros will contook Cisneros nine seconds to pin tinue playing football in the future, he has had his
share of great moments at Pius.
“Favorite
moments, probably
when the whole offensive line does sled
drills with Mr. Hansen.”
Cisneros
has left a legacy beSenior Tyson Cisneros takes control of his
hind at Pius, but he
opponent from Lincoln Southeast. Cisneros is sure to accomplish even
won by pin in 33 seconds.
more in college.
Staff Writer
season.
Kearney shared that for
him it’s not really about the winning and the losing. He explained
that it generally takes care of itself
if a player can take care of what
they can control and how they
perform.
“I always try to stress to
my players to strive to improve
their individual skills and abilities to help the team improve as a
whole.”
According to sophomore
Scotty Sullivan, who described
the basketball coach as helpful
and uplifting, Kearney keeps his
players focused and teaches them
to be leaders on and off the court.
“He is a great mentor
to all of us players,” Olson said.
“He teaches us to work hard, have
great dedication and to be ready
to come everyday with all of our
abilities and talents.”
Hockey grows in popularity
Kaitlin VanLoon
Features Editor
PHOTO BY NICK ESPARZA
Hockey is starting to take the US by storm. It
is a popular Canadian sport, now these customs have
made its way to America.
Hockey has played a major role in the shaping of Lincoln’s community as well.
The Lincoln Stars is a semi-pro hockey league
based right out of our own home town. The Stars also
have a junior hockey league for students beginning in
middle school through high school.
The Junior Stars isn’t the only traveling hockey team in Nebraska, junior Chris Nguyen travels to
Omahaevery day to play the sport he loves.
Nguyen gets home to Lincoln around eight or
nine every night because he not only has to practice,
but he also has to weight train for an hour and a half
after practice.
“I play hockey because
I love the game, I love the being
with my teammates and I’ve played
hockey my entire life,” Nguyen said.
Nguyen began hockey at
age eight and he also started figure
skating at age ten.
It seems hockey it best
known for the wicked fights that take
place on the ice. Nguyen mentioned
that most fights happen because of
trash talking, especially when facing
rivalries.
Hockey is definitely a team
sport, in order to win game; everyone on the team has to contribute.
“During conditioning its awesome to have
the team around, we support each other,” Nguyen said.
This team sport is also dangerous. It’s easy to
get hit on the unpadded part of the leg and concussions
are very plausible as well.
“My advice to hockey beginners is to learn
to skate first, and then if you like it, watch it on TV.,”
Nguyen said.
One of the greatest things about sports is being able to live out the faith with something athletes
enjoy.
“I say a little prayer in my head, and I also
like to dedicate my games to family and friends, I wear
my cross for every game too,” Nguyen said.
This ice sport is dangerously entertaining, but
its ability to capture the audience with a couple sticks,
a puck, and a few fights here and there is a sight to see
for the audience.
Adventures
January 31, 2014
Kathryn faces her childhood
fears and goes to the rodeo
Kathryn Budell
X-Clusives Editor
Let me just clarify something before I
get started: I am not fond of farm animals. Pigs,
cows, horses, all of them. I had a terrifying experience at the Lincoln Children’s Zoo concerning
the goat pen when I was just an itty, bitty baby
child.
Remember when the goats ran free in
the pen and the customers could feed and pet the
goats? I recall one of them trying to bite my hand
clean off instead of the food I offered it, I swear.
My poor four-year-old mind couldn’t handle the
situation. There is a reason why those diabolical
creatures are behind bars now, just saying. I am
really not fond of farm animals.
Just the idea of the rodeo coming to town
made my stomach churn slightly. The only experience I’ve ever had with the Lincoln Rodeo was
when I was in junior high, performing in concerts
with my orchestra at the Pershing after the rodeo
had left. All of downtown smelled like cow poop.
So now the only thing I can think of when someone says “rodeo” is lots, and lots, and lots of cow
poop.
When the idea of going to the rodeo this
month came up, thanks to the tireless effort of my
parents to get me to do something embarrassing,
my nose cringed. My natural beautiful, beaming
smile suddenly turned into a frown. Visions of
cow poo danced in my head. It wasn’t as bad an
idea as say, going to the shooting range was, but
this was still a doozy. I said nothing, but I silently cringed at the thought of having to be in an
environment filled to the brim with animals I was
secretly terrified of. My editor-in-chief and friend, Kate
Rawlinson, talks of her horses a lot, and I enjoy
her stories. I love to hear about her horses and
horseback riding competitions, and pick out cute
foals with her online when we should be dogging
our writers for their stories in newspaper. Today,
however, I was a different person. Today I did not
want to hear about horses and bull riding. Everything concerning farm animals was frightening to
me. The goats at the zoo scarred me in ways that I
didn’t even imagine.
The Pershing Center has always been a
building filled with memories for me: I got my
Mumford & Sons tickets there, I performed three
times there with my orchestra, and just last year
I attended a roller derby competition for one of
my adventures (read that one, it’s good!). But
with those memories, the stench of animals wafts
through the scene as well. As I walked up to the
Pershing Center once again for reasons that I
regret, those smells were very real, and I deeply
dreaded what was going to happen.
I entered an environment filled with all
sorts of people. There were people there who
obviously were in their element. They knew what
they were doing and that they loved this whole
experience. These people I respect and admire,
and am slightly afraid of.
12
Meet your fellow
Thunderbolts...
Name: Nolinh Linebaugh
Grade: Junior
I don’t watch movies very often,
but I like watching Breaking Bad. I
have two sisters, my favorite sport is
track, and I think monkeys are cool.
I love eating at Noodles and my
favorite color is green.
Name: Nathan Krick
Grade: Sophomore
My favorite color is green, my
favorite show is Duck Dynasty,
and my favorite movie is
Mulan. I love Fr. Mills and
Theology is my favorite
subject by far.
Name: Jonathan Mendoza
Grade: Freshman
I love math and Mr. Schlautman
is my favorite teacher, my favorite
color is green, and my favorite
food is tamales. My favorite
animals are white tigers and I like
watching The Blind Side.
15 minutes of fame
Straight from the Bolts
If you could be a character from Frozen, who would you be?
Simon Bruckner
Emma Petersen
Brody Rolfes
Gemma Hotovy
“I would be Kristoff. He is an
ice-lumberjack, which is awesome! He likes the cold and so
do I. He also has a pet reindeer.”
“I would be Elsa. She is
pretty, her powers are amazing and I would be able to
build a castle!”
“I would be Olaf, because he is super funny,
amazing, and cute.”
“I would be Elsa, because
I like her music a lot. She is
pretty awesome.”
senior
junior
sophomore
freshman