September, 2008 - Findlay High School

&
BLUE GOLD
Findlay High School’s Award Winning Newspaper
Volume 86, Issue 1
1200 Broad Ave, Findlay, Ohio, 45840
Homecoming
photo essay
page 6
Friday, September 26, 2008
Beardsley
studies
in Italy
Tennis seeks
revenge
page 5
page 7
‘We are living in hell’
Your Weekend
Flooding
still affects
families
n By John Sisser
FRIDAY
Mostly Cloudy
High: 77 Low: 55
SATURDAY
Mostly Cloudy
High: 78 Low: 56
SUNDAY
Partly Cloudy
High: 70 Low: 50
4
things that
make you look
smart today
1.
Only 12 percent of all
people are left-handed,
including presidential
candidates Barack Obama
and John McCain.
2.
3.
4.
Hurricane Ike is the third
costliest hurricane in U.S.
history, causing
$22 billion in damage.
Hurricane Katrina was
the most expensive.
The term
“Emmy”
was first
called the
“Immy” after
an early
television
broadcasting camera. The name
was later changed to
“Emmy” to better fit the
female statuette.
One year after the worst flooding
Findlay residents have seen in nearly
a century, numerous homes have
been repaired and many families have
moved on.
But for one high school student,
little has changed, with the exception
of the water level.
Sophomore Ember Dilgard remembers all too well when 14 feet of
floodwater invaded her house. Since
then, she and her family have spent
the year in their damaged home.
“The only way to describe it is we
are living in hell,” Dilgard said. “Our
water main broke recently and we are
getting water from a water hose. We
didn’t really recover; we just go with it
day by day.”
For Dilgard, life has not been the
same since the flood. After returning from the shelter at The Cube, Dilgard discovered her belongings were
washed away.
“I have no photos, I have no
clothes,” Dilgard said. “We brought
everything up to the main floor and
that got flooded.
“It (the flood) changed everything.
I have a problem dealing with everything together, with all the stress.”
Even though it was a long year for
her family, the flood has also helped
her in several ways.
“I enjoyed coming to school,” Dilgard said. “It made me enjoy it because
it got me away from the problems.
“It (the flood) will make me stronger and make me thankful for what I
do have. Everything will seem easier.”
Dilgard’s mother, Lorri, believes
the family is making progress, but still
has a lot of work ahead of them.
“For us, it seems like it just happened yesterday,” Lorri Dilgard said.
“We’ve moved forward, but not as far
photo by Kate Kehres
Waterlogged
Flooded residents evacuate their neighborhood in a bulldozer. Flood waters inundated the Findlay area in late August 2007,
closing roads and delaying the start of the 2007-08 school year.
as we’d like to be.
“It has been very trying. Our stress
level is incredibly high. We don’t have
a lot of time to sit and watch TV. We
work as often as we can to make as
much money as we can. That, to us, is
our family time.”
In late August , the city was awarded a $1,428,000 grant from the Federal
Emergency Management Association
(FEMA). Grant money will be used to
demolish the houses on the list.
“We received a letter from the
city,” Lorri Dilgard said. “They are going to meet with the top 16 (on the list)
which is where my family is located.
They will acquire our home and our
home will be destroyed.”
The Dilgards recently purchased
a house near the airport. Their new
home was left in a state of disrepair by
its previous owner, but with the help
of local volunteers and committees,
the family has renovated the house
and will be ready to move in soon.
One of the groups that have
helped the Dilgards is the Long Term
Recovery Committee of Hancock Co.,
OH. Coordinator Judy Reist thinks the
oganization has been a major asset to
the city after the August 2007 flood.
“We have had contact with about
230 homowners and have assisted in
the physical recovery of homes,” Reist
said. “The problem with flood recovery is it is different than other disas-
2 Editorial
3 Entertainment
4 News/Feature
5 Feature
6 Photo Essay
7 Sports
8 Sports
11 ft.
The flood
level for the
Blanchard River
in Findlay
18.46 ft.
The water level
the Blanchard
River crested
during the
August 2007
18.5 ft.
The record
flood level set
in 1913
n By John Sisser
Hats off
Inside
by the
numbers
District earns
effective rating
For the first time in their
franchise’s history, the
Tampa Bay Rays
clinched a spot
in the baseball
playoffs on
Saturday.
Senior Jason
Polder has been
recognized
as a National Merit
Scholarship
Semifinalist. Over 1.5
million high
school juniors
took the Preliminary SAT/
Polder
National Merit
Scholarship
Qualifying Test and only 16,000
are named as semifinalists. “I
knew that I would probably be
close,” Polder said, “but I wasn’t
sure, and I was glad I made it.”
ters. With flooding, the disaster can
continue to occur over time.
“People began experiencing problems with the foundation of their
home and that has continued.”
The group gathers volunteers to
help with the flood recovery effort and
is making plans for the year to come.
“We were told that flood recovery
can take up to two years,” Reist said.
“We will continue to serve families as
long as there is a need.”
Lorri Dilgard is also looking forward to a better future.
“It’ll be a much better year,” she
said. “It will be a new beginning for
our family, to build new memories
and start again.”
Registering to vote
photo by Alisha Riley
Senior Grant Gannon fills out the voter registration form for the 2008 general election. Forms can be accessed at the
Hancock County Board of Elections office or online and their website.
Voter registration deadline is October 6
n By John Sisser
With his vote in the general election on November 4,
senior Grant Gannon will be making his voice heard by
possibly electing the next president of the United States.
Like Gannon, teenagers who fill out a registration form
before the October 6 deadline and will be 18 by Election
Day can vote in Ohio.
Though teens and young adults have the lowest registration rate of any age group, Gannon thinks that more
teens are getting involved in this election.
“I have a couple friends who are working for the Barack Obama campaign,” Gannon said. “(Teens) are taking
(voting) more seriously than in the past.”
History teacher Mike Janton believes it is a right, and
duty, of every citizen to cast a ballot.
“(Voting) is important because it is a part of their
(teens) right as a citizen of the United States,” Janton said.
“In the social studies classes, particularly American Political Systems (APS) and Government, we register the kids to
vote if they are eligible to by the voting time.”
Packed polls in the primaries are leading political
analysts to expect an even higher general election turnout.
However, Janton doesn’t think enough teens are taking
voting seriously.
“Kids are both easily swayed and apathetic and as
teachers, our job is to make sure they are well informed,”
Janton said. “Kids at FHS are pretty well informed. We
have kids who care.”
However, Janton thinks the stakes are too high to pass
up this voting opportunity.
“Ohio is a swing state, what they call a battleground,”
Janton said. “Teens could definitely make the difference.”
After receiving an effective rating on the Findlay City
Schools (FCS) district report card, administrators are finding ways to improve the quality of their schools.
The report cards, issued annually by the Ohio Department of Education (ODE), track achievement and progress in Ohio school districts and each individual school.
Superintendent Dean Wittwer is satisfied with the rating, but thinks the schools can do better in the future.
“The designation of it (effective) means that we are
moving forward and improving. It may equate to a ‘B’ or
‘B+’,” Wittwer said. “What we need to do is look at the areas
that need improvement.”
FCS met 25 of 30 indicators which are reached through
high Ohio Achievement Test and Ohio Graduation Test
scores, as well as high attendance and graduation rates.
The district is graded on three other measures including Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP), a federal measure
that tracks the performance of students in different demographic groups, as well as a Performance Index Score, and
a value-added measure.
In each of the four areas, standardized testing is a
major component. This leads Wittwer to think there may
be too much focus on test scores.
“There is a bit of overemphasis on testing,” Wittwer
said, “and students and teachers feel it. Testing is just a
very small part of what we are all about.”
Most FCS schools received the effective rating, but
some were rated higher, including the high school, which
received one of the district’s two excellent ratings.
While high school Principal Craig Kupferberg is proud
of the high school’s accomplishment, he knows specific
areas that can be improved upon.
“We can improve in all areas. We did not receive a 100
percent in any of the areas,” Kupferberg said. “We need to
improve in our AYP areas in reading and mathematics.”
The high school’s improvement plan for the 2008-2009
school year specifies in preparing students to succeed on
standardized tests as well as building mutual respect and
trust with in the school.
Friday, September 26, 2008
MY VIEW
page 2
“Teens are affected byour government’s decisions just like everyone else.
If they don’t vote, they’re forfeiting their right to have a say in what the
government does.”
Senior Ryan Essinger
EDITORIAL
71.77% of registered voters in Ohio went to the polls for the 2004 general election for president
OUR VIEW
Eligible voters have
one week to register
With the October 6 deadline looming, everyone eligible
should register to vote because this election could be one
of the most important for our country’s future.
The November 4 election is so pivotal, for the first
time, America will make history by having either a black
president or a female vice president.
More importantly though, presidential nominees
Barack Obama and John McCain are so different on the
issues, the choice you make now will directly affect your
life for at least the next four years.
The two disagree on all of the issues: in a
taxes, the environment, the war in Iraq nutshell
and the economy.
Students should
These are issues that will affect
register to vote
because this
everyone; after all, terrorism and gas
prices hurt everybody, not just a select election is so
close. Not only
group. If you have an issue you want
will the margin of
fixed, then you have to take it upon
victory be tight,
yourself to change it with your vote
but the issues
Some people say that your vote
being debated
won’t matter in the grand scheme
will have an
of things, but it could. In the 2000
effect for years.
election, George W. Bush beat Al Gore
by 537 votes in Florida. If Gore would
have won Florida, he would have won the election.
Those 537 votes changed the outcome of the election
and the destiny of the nation.
Approximately 74 percent of those registered in Florida
actually voted, so there had to be people that believed
their voice would not matter, so they simply didn’t go to
the polls.
There’s a high likelihood a similar situation could
happen this fall, with polls showing Obama and McCain
neck and neck.
If you are eligible, register to vote by October 6. You
don’t want to regret not having a say in this election.
LETTERS
to the
EDITOR
Blue & Gold is a
monthly student
publication for the students of Findlay High
School. Blue & Gold is
a public forum which is
funded by advertising.
Letters to the editor
As an open forum for
students, letters to the
editor are welcomed by
the staff, but we request
that they be 300 words
or less due to lack of
space. All letters must
be signed. Blue & Gold
staff reserves the right
to edit letters without
changing the meaning.
Letters may be dropped
off in room 273.
Staff editorials
All editorials without
a byline reflect at least
two/thirds opinion of
the Blue & Gold staff
but are not necessarily
the opinion of the
administration.
Contact us
Blue & Gold
1200 Broad Avenue
Findlay, OH 45840
(419) 427-5474
About us
Blue & Gold is a
member of the
Columbia Scholastic
Press Association, the
National Scholastic
Press Association,
Quill & Scroll and the
Ohio Scholastic Media
Association.
The staff
Emily Rivest
Editor in chief
Editor’s note: The Blue & Gold staff received 13
letters to the editor about the administration not
having a moment of silence on the morning of September 11. Below are three of those letters.
No moment of silence
disrespects 9/11 victims
Dear Editor,
Another September 11 has come and
passed, and yet this one was different. There
was no silence at 8:46 AM, at least not at
Findlay High School.
A moment was too long to spare for
remembering one of the greatest tragedies in
America’s history.
Instead students were confronted with the
news that a threat had been placed upon the
school, and that a lockdown would ensue.
Replacing the usual thoughts of lost
heroes, was frustration because of the level
one lockdown.
September 11 passed with little recognition
because some students decided that it was
unpatriotic to go to school, and therefore
spread rumors threatening the safety of others.
The administration acted accordingly, and
the topic of the day was not of innocent lives
lost, but of how many cops were at school.
On Patriots Day it became an effort to
concentrate on our country’s patriots, instead
of the ease with which it should have.
The next day students were addressed by
Mr. Kupferberg (principal) again, this time
applauding those who went to school the
previous day, then denouncing the threats and
insisting that those who knew who made them
come forward.
While I understand the point of the
administration, the timing was poor. Once
again attention was being drawn to the threats
instead the tragic events of that day.
On a day when seven years earlier our
country had come together in mourning and
in a united front against terrorism, Findlay
High School was concerned with finding who
had started rumors to try to get out of school.
While the safety of students is of the
utmost significance, there comes a time when
remembering and respecting the thousands of
innocent lives lost becomes more important
than worrying about a past threat.
If we were not allowed a moment of silence
then, have one now, for those who sacrificed
so much, a moment seems so little to ask.
junior Michael Alexander
No observance was hypocritical Moment of silence needed
Dear Editor,
I would like to complain about an issue
dealing with September 11, of this year.
I just cannot seem to understand why we
were lectured, first thing in the morning the
next day, about how we should be respectful, if
no one even cared to take a moment of silence.
I am fully aware of why we should be
patriotic and respectful, but why did we get
reprehended when no member of the staff
offered a moment of silence to honor the
tragic incident that took place seven years ago?
I agree that we need to honor and respect
the importance of the date, but I don’t exactly
concur as to the reaction that took place.
With all due respect, isn’t that just a little
hypocritical?
Doesn’t the old saying go, “Practice what
you preach?” Once again, I am not trying to be
disrespectful, but do you see my point?
I don’t think it’s fair for the students to be
criticized when the staff can’t even remember
to take a minute to be silent and remember
what happened on that day seven years ago.
With all due respect,
freshman Judy Rhodes
Dear Editor,
On September 11, 2008 at 8:46 a.m., a
moment of silence was taken by schools all
across the country to recognize the thousands
of lives taken away in the 2001 attack.
However, at Findlay High School, the
administration took no action in honoring
those men and women.
It was unfair and unpatriotic that the
administration didn’t allow an opportunity to
reflect on the occurrences of 9/11.
The next day at school, there was a 10
minute announcement about how proud
everyone should be for making it through the
previous school day, but how can this be when
we cannot take even one minute out of our day
to remember and honor our country?
Kids are never going to start taking threats
at our school seriously unless we begin to
acknowledge the importance of September 11.
It is unbelievable that so much time was
spent talking about the negative happenings
our school had, that we could not even have
a simple moment of silence to accommodate
those who unwillingly died for our country.
sophomore Jessica Girard
THEIR VIEW
Have you registered to vote in the upcoming presidential election?
“An amendment gave me
the right to vote, so I am
using that right. People
died so I could have it.”
teacher
Barb Tardibuono
Staff policy
“I will register because I
can vote and help choose
the right president. “
senior Lan Wilson
“I already am because
Mrs. Gannon made me.“
senior Tyler Joseph
“I am already registered
because I believe it is
important for young adults
to be informed and involved.“
Senior Sarah Heminger
“I’m registered because I want
to prevent another George Bush
from going into office. “
senior John Cassidy
Kim Maples
Feature editor
John Sisser
News editor
Rich Costello
Sports editor
Alisha Riley
Photo editor
Nolyn Croy
Advertising editor
Griffin Haywood
Carmen Arico
Katie Trinko
Taylor McGonnell
Katie Logsdon
Brianna McCarroll
Photographers
Marc Wadswortth
Meryn Conine
Chelsea Sherman
Reporters
Brier Sterling
Catie Huber
Sherwin Quiambao
Artists
Jim McGonnell
Adviser
“I am registered so
I can complain if
something is wrong.”
senior Andrew Spikes
Friday, September 26, 2008
MY VIEW
“I’m most excited for Numbers to come back because I like how
it’s mysterious but you can use stuff that applies in real life.”
Junior Chrissy Terry
ENTERTAINMENT
page 3
4 Emmys won by 30 Rock last Sunday when the show won Oustanding Actress, Actor, Best Comedy and Outstanding Writing
F
V
P
Studios hope
fans like
new sights,
sounds of fall
n By Emily Rivest
Hollywood has some new things to
keep you entertained with this fall.
After a crippling writers’ strike last
winter, TV returns with a bang, with hot
new shows and old favorites.
The movie industry is coming off
the biggest summer ever pulling in $4.2
billion, so there’s plenty to watch on the
big screen, with a new Steven Spielberg
thriller and the fifth in the Saw series.
The latest albums from both popular
old artists and new ones are also being
released this fall, with something for every
musical taste.
A
TV
R
I
Plenty of new series are lined up for the
fall schedule. With spy dramas and family
comedies, there’s something for everyone.
Of course, networks still offer the old faves.
The Ex List (CBS)
In this drama, Bella, a single thirtysomething is told by a psychic that she has
dated her future husband and has a year to
marry him, or she never will.
Premieres October 3 at 9 p.m.
Kath & Kim (NBC)
This comedy tells the story of a
dysfunctional mother daughter duo. Immature
Kim separates from her husband, then moves
back in with her divorced mother, Kath.
Premieres October 9 at 9:30 p.m.
Stylista (CW)
This fashion reality series pits 11 hopefuls
against each other working as an asssistant for
fashion news editor Anne Slowey to compete
for a job at Elle magazine.
Premieres October 22 at 9 p.m.
The Hills (MTV)
For three seasons, MTV viewers have
gotten the familiar characters on this reality
show who all live lavish lives, making this the
perfect guilty pleasure.
Premiered August 18 at 10 p.m.
Gossip Girl (CW)
This drama was wildly popular last season,
with 3.65 million viewers watching the antics
of socialites Serena and Blair, the queen bees
of the New York City social scene.
Premiered September 1 at 8 p.m.
TELEVISION
Studios release their best movies in the fall,
just in time to be nominated for an Oscar, so
this season’s films are particularly good.
With big stars, romance, thrills and the
continuation of a popular series, you don’t
want to miss these movies
Eagle Eye
Starring: Shia LaBeouf, Michelle
Monaghan, Billy Bob Thornton
After LaBeouf’s twin brother dies, he
returns home to find he has been incriminated
as a terrorist. A group, with goals to assassinate
the president, convinces LaBeouf to join along
with a single mother (Monaghan), though
they work together to clear their names.
This thriller hits theaters tonight.
Nick and Norah’s Infinite Playlist
Starring: Michael Cera, Kat Denning
Nick (Cera), who is still trying to get over
his ex-girlfriend, meets Norah (Denning) at a
club when she asks if he will be her boyfriend
for five minutes. This begins a wild night in
New York City together, as they try to help a
friend and find a secret concert.
Catch this romance, based on David
Levithan and Rachel Cohn’s novel, on
October 3.
Saw V
Starring: Tobin Bell, Julie Benz
Producers said this movie will be very
similar to the original, with the story centering
on teamwork. Unanswered questions from the
prequels will be answered, while Jigsaw (Bell)
uses seven different traps on his victims.
This premieres just in time for Halloween
on October 24.
Album: The Quilt
Artist: Gym Class Heroes
Sound: Rap, R&B and rock
Last release: Cruel as School Children
Why buy it: With modern rock and a twist
of rap, Gym Class Heroes The Quilt weaves
creative vocal harmonies and dynamic
instruments into an amazing album.
Download this: Catch Me If You Can
Grade: B
Underoath breaks promise
n By Meryn Conine
Album: Lost in the Sounds of Separation
Artist: Underoath
Sound: Heavy Rock
Last Release: Define the Great Line held a
strong statement in the world of heavy rock.
Why buy it: Although this album does not
bring the harsh sound promised, the songs are
still very powerful. There is a different song
structure with compelling feeling and rock.
Download this: Breaking in a New
Mentality
Grade: B
Fresh artists and old favorites are all
coming out with albums this fall, ready to win
over lots of new fans. Here are just a few of the
latest CDs scheduled for this season.
Jennifer Hudson by Jennifer Hudson
American Idol alum Hudson finally
releases her first highly anticipated
CD. She was seventh on Idol in 2004,
but since has won a Golden Globe
and Oscar for her role in Dreamgirls.
Release date September 30
Folie a Deux by Fall Out Boy
The first single off the group’s fifth CD, I
Don’t Care, about the “me” attitude in today’s
world, was released earlier this month.
Release date November 4
Fearless by Taylor Swift
Swift’s sophomore album is sure to be a
hit. The second single, Love Story, debuted at
number 25, the highest ever of her career. With
two successful singles off this CD, Fearless will
be another notch in this country girl’s belt.
Release date November 11
Not yet titled by David Archuleta
This CD is destined to become a success,
with legions of female American Idol fans
supporting this runner-up. The debut single,
Crush, hit the charts at number two.
Release date November 11
Not yet titled by David Cook
Three days after Archuleta’s album,
Cook’s CD will debut. setting up round two of
the Battle of the Davids.
Release date November 14
n By Meryn Conine
With Halloween lurking around the corner,
attraction owners everywhere are trying
to make sure your pulse is racing in fright.
Gather your friends and forget your fears as
these Northwest Ohio attractions open their
creaky doors for business.
Title: Greek
Starring: Spencer Grammer
Plot: Students from the Cyprus-Rhodes
University greek system deal with life, love and
college.
Why Watch: The show features a fantastic
plotline full of romance, scandal and drama
carried out by some great actors, whose
chemistry is one of the highlights of the show
Where to catch it: Tuesdays at 9 p.m. on
channel 57
Grade: A++
n By Marc Wadsworth
W
NW Ohio offers thrills, chills
n By Katie Trinko
The Quilt mixes rap, rock
E
L
E
MOVIES MUSIC
College drama returns
MUSIC
L
Train of Terror
They’re baaack
photos courtesy of google.com/images
The cast of 90210 consists of fresh new actors along with favorites from
Beverly Hills 90210. The CW created 90210 as a spin-off of the original.
TELEVISION
Network brings back 90210
n By Katie Trinko
Eight years after Beverly Hills 90120 first called it quits, the CW is
bringing the drama back.
In the new 90210 old plotlines combine with fresh ones to start this
show with a bang.
The show focuses on the Wilson family, who just moved to the
Beverly Hills area.
The family has to make adjustments to their new life. The kids,
Annie (Shenae Grimes) and Dixon (Tristan Wilds) try to get used to
school, made difficult because the principal is their father (Rob Estes).
Despite their father, Annie and Dixon manage to make friends, and
in the process also some enemies.
The show features some old characters from the original series as
well as the new, such as Kelly Taylor (Jennie Garth) as the guidance
counselor and Brenda Walsh (Shannon Doherty).
This version of the once popular series has some real potential,
combining the old and new to create a dramatic rollercoaster ride of a
show that will keep people glued to their televisions.
Though it’s not quite like the original, the show still has all the
drama and excitement of predecessor.
You can catch 90210 Tuesdays at 8 p.m. on the CW, channel 17.
Grade: A
Ride along these haunted tracks for a night
of screams and then be sure to take a daring
walk through the haunted engine house.
“I liked the train ride the most. You never
really know what to expect passing the forest.
The engine house was freaky though,” Senior
Brittany Parrick said.
Dates and Time: Weekends-October 3
-November 1; 8-11 pm. Admission: $6.
Location: 11600 County Rd. 99 in Findlay.
Contact: (419)-423-2995.
Website: www.nworrp.org/haunted.htm
Fear Factory
This high school favorite is back. Take a
walk through a haunted building, filled with
twists, turns and your worst nightmares.
“I always get freaked out walking through
the slimmer, dark hallways, waiting for
someone to jump out at me,” Junior Melissa
Eier said.
Dates and Time: Weekends-September
28-November 1; 7-midnight. Friday/Saturday
admission: $9. Sunday admission: $7.
Location: The intersections of Ash Ave.
and Lane Ave. Look for the flashing lights and
a hearse.
Website: www.thefearfactory.net
Terror Town
This attraction features different sections,
including the House of the Dead. Terror
Town was voted the #1 haunt of 2007 by
Cityblood Haunt Reviews and remains the
biggest haunted attraction in Northwest Ohio.
Dates and Time: Weekends-September
26-November 1; 7:30-midnight.
House of the Dead admission: $10.
Combination pass: $16.
Location: Lucas County Fairgrounds at
Scary sight
photo courtesy of Cedar Point
Ghosts and ghouls scare the guests at Cedar
Point’s Halloweekend’s parade. The spook fest
runs through November 2.
1406 Key Street in Maumee, Ohio.
Website: www.terrortown.net
Halloweekends
In this 12th annual Cedar Point favorite,
scare zones are scattered throughout the park,
as well as a haunted midway and multiple
seasonal haunted attractions.
“One of my favorite parts of Halloweekend
is the smoke filled walkway in the back of the
park at night, when all of the employees are
shifting through the mist,” Senior Brandon
Beck said.
Dates and Time: Weekends-September 12
-November 2; times vary.
Common admission: $43.99.
Location: Cedar Point Drive, Sandusky
Website: www.cedarpoint.com
Friday, September 26, 2008
NEWS/FEATURE
page 4
MY VIEW
“I would understand if the school had to make cuts due to fuel
costs. Prices are outrageous and the schools don’t have extra
money to handle them.”
sophomore John Cox
21 million barrels of oil are consumed by the United States each day, more than any other country
Teams help cancer research
n By John Sisser
“Volley for the Cure”, a fundraiser for breast
cancer awareness, will take place October 1
at 6 p.m. during the varsity and junior varsity
volleyball matches.
Doors will open at 5:15 p.m. and those who
wear a “Volley for the Cure” T-shirt will receive
half-price admission.
Volleyball coach Ryan Shifley is excited
about the upcoming event.
“It is important because of the pure fact of
how serious and prevalent breast cancer is,”
Shifley said. “I would love to fill the stands
with as many fans as possible.
“I want the community to see that we are invested in more than just the volleyball court.”
Proceeds from the event will go to the Susan
G. Komen for the Cure, a foundation that has
raised $1 billion for breast cancer studies.
Findlay hosts band festival
n By Marc Wadsworth
Bands across Ohio will perform at the annual Findlay Band Festival on October 4 at 4
p.m. in Donnell Stadium.
“About nine competitive bands are coming
to perform,” Director of Bands Tim Mattis said.
“This competition gives bands around the
state the opportunity to perform in a quality
facility and share their music with everyone.”
With tickets $6 a person, this event is an
opportunity to perform and help raise money
for Music Boosters.
“Not only do we get money from this to
pay for our trips, but we get to share our music
with other bands and hear them perform too,”
Junior Mark Janowieki said.
photo by Griffin Haywood
TROJAN IDOL
Choirs prepare for concert
n By Marc Wadsworth
Freshman, Concert and Symphonic choirs
will be performing at the annual Fall Choir
Concert October 8 at 7 p.m. in the R.L. Heminger Auditorium.
“We usually have a concert in the fall
because it kicks off our year and helps me as
a director to see what the choirs are like on
stage,” Director Kevin Manley said. “We only
have so many chances to perform and the
more we can get the choirs in front of an audience, the better they will perform.”
Though this concert is for the community,
students and directors take this chance to see
the choirs’ potential.
“The fall concert is a great time to see all
the new talent and potential we have this
year,” Senior Kari Hohman said. “Though it
always seems like we never have enough time
to prepare for it, we pull it together and give a
great show for the community.”
Cast selected for fall play
n By John Sisser
Twelve students will be participating in
The Shakespeare Project, the fall play.
“It’s actually a great show,” Director Debbie Benson said. “It has probably at least 10 of
Shakespeare’s shows in one and it also has the
opportunity for a lot of parts. It’s all set in very
different settings but it’s all original Shakespearian language.
The show wll take place November 14 and
15 at 7:30 p.m. in R.L. Heminger Auditorium.
“It makes Shakespeare accessible to those
people who wouldn’t necessarily want to see a
whole Shakespearian play,” Benson said.
photo by Griffin Haywood
by the
numbers
3.66
Sophomore Paige Trafton (above) sings and junior Aaron
Hutton (left) plays guitar in the finals of the Trojan Idol competition, the high school’s talent show. Contestants went
through three rounds of competition during Spirit Week and
the final three performed for the student body at the Homecoming pep rally. Hutton and the rest of his group, Step 26
went on to win the competition. Winners were selected by
the principals based on applause from the student body.
Rising gas prices impact school budget
n By John Sisser
Percent of Findlay
City Schools (FCS)
budget devoted to
transportation
11
Percent of
transportation
devoted to fuel
costs alone
84
Number of passengers one of
the new buses
purchased by FCS
can hold
1.1 million
Dollars the state
gives FCS for
transportation,
the rest is covered
through local
property taxes
52.9
Percent of
transportation
budget devoted to
staff wages
With gas prices fluctuating, the Findlay
City Schools’ (FCS) administration is facing
tougher decisions when it comes to budgeting
money for transportation. School transportation makes up $2,068,400
of the district’s $56,550,000 budget. However,
with diesel prices around $4 per gallon, these
numbers could go up. FCS Treasurer Mike Barnhart has already
seen gas prices affect the school budget, putting administrators in tough positions.
“The past three years we have averaged
about $196,000 per year for bus fuel,” Barnhart
said. “I have budgeted $235,000 for 2008-09.
“A couple of years ago we significantly
reduced our transportation costs by reducing
the number of routes that were run. This cut
down driver time and mileage.”
But rerouting is not the only approach that
the district is taking to save money. “Another way we’ve saved fuel costs is by
updating our bus fleets,” Barnhart said. “New
buses get twice as much gas mileage than our
oldest. This year we are buying seven buses so
we hope to save over $40,000 per year in fuel.”
Assistant Superintendent Paul Blaine
thinks FCS is keeping up with rising energy
prices, but knows cuts are always possible.
“(Findlay City Schools) currently has sufficient reserves to cover the significant energy
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Transportation costs
photo by Katie Logsdon
District administrators across the country are struggling with rising fuel prices. Some districts
have gone to a four day school week in order to cut high transportation costs.
costs for transportation and utilities,” Blaine
said. “No operational changes have been
made due to rising utilities costs. “However, just like many families, when
a school district’s reserves are seriously depleted, very hard decisions must be made. The
depletion can result in reduction of programs
and services in any district.” However, while energy prices are higher
than he would like, Blaine remains hopeful.
“If energy prices resume their recent
increases, we will continue what we’re doing
right now: managing the district’s expenditures
as carefully as possible.”
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Friday, September 26, 2008
MY VIEW
FEATURE
“I tried to hide my interim and it went really well. I kept saying we never got it
and my parents eventually forgot about it.”
senior Adam Radar
page 5
17,500 workers suffer the effects of toxic dust released in the collapse of the World Trade Center September 11, 2001.
Ground Zero contaminants killing citizens
n By Chelsea Sherman
Seven years after World Trade Center
employees and rescue workers perished in
the terrorist attacks, first responders are dying
from a 9/11 illness.
On that day in 2001, 2,819 American
citizens were killed. Now, seven years later,
the numbers of deaths and illness as a result
of that attack could rise, claiming the lives of
tens of thousands of ordinary citizens who
worked and lived in Lower Manhattan.
How is that possible? When the towers
were hit, toxins were released into the
atmosphere around the site.
Actor Gavin Creel, a 1994 Findlay High
School graduate, lives in New York City and
was at his home on Manhattan’s Lower East
Side on that fateful day.
“I saw it, and it was pretty unbelievable,”
Creel said. “It just looked like a big black
mouth with broken teeth on the upper part. of
one tower”
Creel recalls there being initial concern
about the toxins in the air, but the city
government assured that it was safe and
under control.
“I guess, unless you have a chemistry set of
your own at home,” Creel said, “you just have
to believe them.”
Although no one could have known at the
time, studies now show that people working
at Ground Zero after the attacks were not, in
fact, breathing safe air.
The materials used to build the World
Trade Center actually contained the chemical
asbestos, which can be very harmful to the
body if inhaled.
These microscopic asbestos particles,
along with other aerosols in the air, can cause
health problems for people over the course of
years and can be deadly.
The only protection from asbestos is a
respirator. Fewer than 30 percent of Ground
Zero workers wore respirators and up to 70
percent of first responders are ill as a result of
9/11 contamination.
Creel recalls the smell of the smoke that
was released after the bombing.
“When the winds started moving, you
could smell it. It wasn’t like anything I had
ever smelled before and it lingered for
months,” Creel said.
Thomas Cahill, professor emeritus of
physics and atmospheric sciences at the
University of California Davis, conducted a
study of the air at the World Trade Center.
“I worried about the workers when I saw
a blue fume coming from the pile even after it
rained,” Cahill said in an email interview.
A colleague asked Cahill if he would help
study the fumes collected over the pile at
Ground Zero, and he immediately sent help.
They collected air about a mile northeast
of the site for about a three month period,
measuring by particle size every three hours
continuously. By this study, Cahill could see
plumes of pollution from the site missed by
workers using only 24-hour filters.
Cahill’s study brought to the surface the
many dangers caused by the aerosols released
into the air.
“The aerosols were very dangerous in
three ways,” Cahill said. “The sulfuric acid
plus caustic dust caused nose and throat
problems, fine metals effected lungs, causing
emphysema and ultra fine metals eventually
caused heart attacks.”
Fortunately, there was essentially no risk
for New Yorkers at least one
or two blocks away
from the site. The
problem was the workers on and very near
the pile at Ground Zero.
“Originally, New Yorkers were told
by the Environmental Protection Agency
(EPA) ‘the air was safe to breathe,’”
Cahill said. “The White House, however,
removed the next statement which roughly
said, ‘However our measurements raise
concerns about workers on the pile and
those coming back to work closer than
Water Street (seven blocks from the site)”.
Because of this misinformation,
thousands of workers were exposed. Now
1,000 are on disability, 4,500 sick and
12,000 have decreased lung function.
So far, about 70,000 New Yorkers have
registered on the World Trade Center
Registry, a database that tracks the health
impact of 9/11.
Creel said he did not know anyone
who suffered these health problems and
the air in New York seems safe.
Johnnie R, a midtown restaurant
owner who asked not to be identified
any further, said some of his friends have
respiratory problems from helping out
weeks after the attacks.
“Everything is fine now, the air is
clean” but he warns they were told this
right after 9/11.
The dust is now out of sight, out of
mind and possibly trapped in
the bodies of thousands
of victims.
Senior spends summer in Italy
My first time
Students recall
first interim
experiences
n By Kim Maples
n By Marc Wadsworth
European Vacation
photo courtesy of Hannah Beardsley
Senior Hannah Beardsley visits the Ponte dei Sospiri in Venice, Italy on
a weekend trip. Beardsley spent four weeks in Rome taking classes in
Italy as part of the American Institute for Foreign study.
Rookie teachers
coin catchphrases
New teachers may not have as much classroom experience as veterans, but that doesn’t
mean they don’t fall into similar habits.
Catchphrases are something every teacher
is known for, no matter what subject or grade
they teach.
It could be a funny word or line they say,
or even a philosophy they want to share with
their class.
These eight new teachers wasted no time
in following the trend and fashioning their
very own catchphrase.
Match the new teacher with the phrase
they now call their own.
answers: 1-G, 2-A, 3-H, 4-B, 5-D, 6-E, 7-C, 8-F
As people go through life they experience
different things for the first time like getting
engaged, starting a new job and asking
someone out on a date.
When it comes to students entering high
school, their biggest fear is not always a bully,
but a little piece of paper that determines
better allowances or no more fun weekends:
what little paper holds so much power, the
semester interim.
“I was nervous about my first interim,
because I was still new to the high school,”
senior Kelly Walton said. “But it gave me a
good view of what teachers wanted and how
different high school was from middle school.”
For others, the interim was a ball and chain
that kept them from having fun freshman year.
“My parents understood I was busy and I
was trying my best,” senior Stephen Reffner
said. “But I was still grounded for two weeks.”
No need to fear, though, underclassmen,
because the pros at hiding the bad interim
from parents, the seniors and juniors, have a
few tips to take that stress off your shoulders.
• “Get a parking ticket and not pay for it,”
senior Conrad Line said. “The school cannot
give you your interims or grade cards until you
pay up.”
• “Put it in your pants pocket and put it
through the washer,” senior Maggie Yoder said.
“It will clump together and be impossible to
pull apart and read.”
• “Spill hot coffee all over it. It will cause
the ink to smear,” junior Anna Sankovich said.
• “Photoshop it,” junior Travis Line said.
“So this way you can have any grade you want.”
• “Put it through a paper shredder,” junior
Jessica Braddock said. “That way they will
never see it no matter how hard they try to put
the pieces back together.”
• “Recycle it,” senior Erica Davis said. “You
help save the earth and your butt from being
yelled at.”
• “Say you threw it out when you were
cleaning your binder,” senior Ashley Sammet
said. “They will understand and just wait till
the grade cards come out, which gives you
enough time to get your grades better.”
• “If you get a bad grade, tell your parents
as soon as you can,” junior Molly Parsons said.
“Either way they are going to find out and it is
best if they hear it from you.”
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Standing outside the Roman Coliseum,
Senior Hannah Beardsley never thought she’d
see this moment.
But a spontaneous decision to apply to the
American Institute for Foreign Study (AIFS)
led to an acceptance letter that transformed
her dream into reality.
While taking summer courses for college
credit, Beardsley spent four weeks in Rome,
Italy with 34 high school students from all over
the country.
“It’s the city I want to be at,” Beardsley said,
“[It] has a really great energy about it and it’s
so pretty.
“It’s the new and the old—but it’s really
old, like, ancient times, like B.C. stuff. We
(Americans) think that we have old buildings,
but they’re nothing compared to what I’ve
seen overseas.”
Out of multiple countries offered, Beardsley’s final choice was between London, Rome
and Paris, France.
“Rome seemed exciting and the classes
were what I wanted to do,” Beardsley said, “I
actually took an Italian language class. The
language barrier wasn’t bad because you
would try to use Italian that you learn and you
had your Italian dictionary at your side.
“Most people knew English; the younger
they are, [the more] they know English. If you
try to speak Italian to them, they’ll normally
just laugh at you and talk English right back.”
Along with her language class, Beardsley took a history class and could point out
historical sites to her friends from AIFS while
touring the city.
“I was learning the language and culture
and just seeing all the sights that everyone
talks about,” she said, “I stayed with my
friends, [and] after classes, we all met up at
the hotel and we either went out to the city or
went to dinner. I never felt unsafe or like I was
in a dangerous area.”
Beardsley’s father, Hal, was weary of her
new independence.
“It was certainly a concern to let her go so
far away for so long,” he said, “I could think
of a thousand things that could go wrong,
but Hannah is extremely capable of handling
herself in many situations.
“Our level of concern started to drop as
we talked to her on the phone. Each time we
talked we could hear the excitement in her
voice from all the wonderful events and experiences she was having.”
One of the most enjoyable experiences she
had was the authentic Italian food.
“They have these really good things called
supplì,” she said, “It’s like rice with tomato
sauce and the outside is fried and there’s a
little bit of cheese inside. It’s so good.”
She even found the time to take a pizzamaking class
“We went to the restaurant that we ate at,
which was a pizzeria,” she said, “we got to roll
the dough out, do the twirling in the air and
put the sauce and the cheese on it. [Then] we
put it on the big wooden spoon and in the
brick oven. That was really cool.”
After returning home, she can’t wait to go
back to Europe.
“I [want] to go see Greece and Paris,” she
said, “I love to travel and see new places and
absorb new cultures. It’s important to understand how other people live.”
1 Effort is everything!
I’m willing to accept failure,
2 but I can’t accept not trying.
3 Come on guys, get serious.
4 ¿¡Vale!?
Be kinder than necessary,
5 because everyone is going
through some kind of battle.
A Ryan Sprout
B E
Lisa Wilbur
F
Elaine Hoehn
Betsy Garnett
C Jeremy Brown
G Elizabeth Sprout
D
H
6 Good morning!
7 Funny haha time!
Teresa Simons
Natalie Cubbon
8 Mein schlecht!
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Friday, September 26, 2008
PHOTO ESSAY
page 6
1,466
students and guests attended the Homecoming dance on Saturday night
photo by Griffin Haywood
Trojan pride
Senior Kali Malloy, junior Hannah Gephart and freshman Lainy Foltz smile at the crowd while riding on the volleyball float during the Homecoming parade last Friday. Fall sports teams and other school groups participated
in the parade through dowtown and ending at Donnell Stadium.
Trojan spirit comes alive
during Homecoming week
n
By Emily Rivest
Revving up Trojan pride was the goal of
Student Council as Spirit Week took over the
school in preparation for the Homecoming
game and dance.
Last week started off with Class Color Day
turning the freshmen wing into a sea of pink.
Sophomores wore yellow, juniors, green and
seniors, orange.
With everything from dresses and
jumpsuits, to simple stripes across the chest,
Duct Tape Day was a hit. The classic gray
was a staple but green, pink and yellow tape
decorated students, too.
Wednesday was Favorite Holiday Day.
Plenty of people wore Christmas sweaters and
Santa hats, but teacher Mary Beth Kennedy
Mowery’s fourth period AP English class took
it one step further and reenacted the entire
nativity scene.
Batman, Superman and even Quailman
were all spotted Thursday, Superhero Day.
Some people changed the day around and
came to school as the Joker, complete with
face paint.
Friday everyone broke out their Trojan
shirts in celebration of Blue and Gold Day to
get ready for the night’s football game against
Columbus St. Francis DeSales.
Spirit Week ended Saturday by dancing the
night away at the Homecoming dance, which
1,466 people attended.
photo by Alisha Riley
Drummer boy
Sophomore Michael Blaser fires up the crowd during the pep rally Friday in the gym. The Findlay Marching Band lead the
parade down Main Street and on to the game where they played an original piece during halftime.
Students in
charge
Senior Kari
Hohman passes
out candy during
the Homecoming
parade with Student
Council. The group
coordinated the
pep rally, parade,
crowning and dance.
photo by Taylor McGonnell
Joke’s on you
Teacher Kevin Shoup gets tricked into a pie eating contest during the pep rally last Friday. The other contestants took off
their blindfolds to egg on Shoup as he frantically stuffed his face with chocolate meringue pie.
Seniors Julie Burget and Wade Arredondo
Seniors Andrea Mitchell and Conrad Line
Seniors Kelly Walton and Logan Van Der Molen
photo by Brianna
McCarroll
Seniors Hannah Routson and Mandela Sheaffer
Seniors Maddi Kurjan and Michael Fox
Friday, September 26, 2008
MY VIEW
SPORTS
“Napoleon brought more experience to their game and they
knew how to take advantage of being ahead during a game.”
Senior Julie Burget
page 7
4 GBC championships won in the last five years by varsity tennis, who hope to beat Napoleon and win a fifth title
Fall sports gear up for postseason
Girls’ cross country
Guys’ cross country
n By Taylor McGonnell
n By Taylor McGonnell
Players to watch for: senior Brier Sterling,
freshmen Erin Gwinn and Sara Plott
Returning lettermen: three seniors, one
junior and one sophomore.
Predicted league champs: “Findlay will win
if we run to our highest potential,” coach Mark
Gleason said.
What we are working on: “At practice we work
on speed and endurance,” sophomore Natalie
Baratta said. “Everyday we do something different. Some days we do a tempo pace, other
days we do hard speed workouts.”
Toughest competition: Toledo Notre Dame
and Sylvania Southview.
Team goal: “For this season we would really
like to make it to state as a team,” Junior Molly
Parsons said.
Next meet: Tomorrow at Clay invitational
Players to watch for: seniors Steven Mackell,
Logan Romantic, Shoayb Bascal and sophomore Eric Kettinger
Returning lettermen: five seniors, one junior
and one sophomore
Predicted league champs: “Findlay, we have
one of our strongest teams we have had in a
long time,” coach Mark Gleason said
What are we working on: “We are working on
a lot of speed work, we run a mile in 5 minutes
and 20 seconds five times,” Bascal said. “It
keeps us mentally and physically ready for our
up coming meet.”
Toughest competition: “Sylvania Northview
and Toledo St. Francis are our hardest competition but we are working to the best of our
abilities to prepare for them,” Bascal said. “In
order to beat them, we try to stick together in
meets so we can worry more about the competition and not our own team mates.”
Team goal: “We will win our league and make
it to state,” Mackell said
Next meet: Tomorrow at Clay Invitational
Guys’ soccer
n By Marc Wadsworth
Backhand
photo by Griffin Haywood
First singles player junior Kelsi Wurm warms up for a league match against Lima Senior. The Lady Trojans travel to Napoleon tomorrow for the league tournament and then head to sectionals on Thursday at Ohio Nothern University.
Girls ready for Napoleon
Team hopes to avenge earlier loss
n By Marc Wadsworth
As the league tournament gets closer, only
two words ring through the minds of the girls’
tennis team: “Beat Napoleon.”
Being swept 0-5 by Napoleon earlier in the
season has given the girls a chance to see what
their faults are and how they can improve to
win the Greater Buckeye Conference (GBC) at
Sandusky High School.
“The practices were not as hard as they
should be and we were not competitive
enough,” senior Julie Burget said. “But with
longer and harder practices we have gotten
better and stronger on the courts.”
Though kind on the courts, there are other
factors that keep the team from reaching their
full potential.
“Obviously losing to Napoleon was a
setback, but also the lack of experience on the
varsity team,” coach Ray Elbin said. “We have
very nice young ladies on the team, but what
hurts them the most is the lack of aggression
on the courts.”
“If you cannot attack the net, then you are
already giving the other team the advantage.”
With a team that has won four of the last
five GBC tournaments, losing to Napoleon did
not seem possible.
“Napoleon brings more experience (six
lettermen) to their game and they know how
to take advantage of being ahead during a
game,” Burget said.
Though experience can help win a game, it
all comes down to who plays better that day.
“I won’t lie, but the better team won that
day,” Elbin said. “But we have had three weeks
to improve and plan to give them a challenge
and possibly beat them at GBCs.”
With all the experience Napoleon returns,
the team looked back to see what they need to
work on.
“I am most worried about the number one
doubles because they are more aggressive and
have more experience than our girls,” Elbin
said. “But Burget and senior Hitomi Yukawa,
our number one doubles players, know that
they have to play aggressive and rule the court
in order to win.”
Not far behind GBCs are sectionals on
October 2 at Ohio Northern University.
“Our number one doubles team and single
players senior Brittany Barlett and junior Kelsi
Wurm have a good chance of advancing at
sectionals,” Elbin said. “All of them are experienced players and know how to work together
to win.”
Competition only increases as the top
four players advance to districts October 9, at
Sandusky High School.
“In districts, only two players can be
chosen from Northwest Ohio to compete at
the state level,” Elbin said. “Northwest Ohio
is already a competitive area for girls’ tennis
and by being limited on how many players can
make it to state will only make the competition
more vigorous.”
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by the
numbers
1st
Singles player
Kelsi Wurm
Overall record: 7-6
League record: 3-1
2nd
Singles player
Brittany Barlett
Overall record: 7-5
League record: 3-1
3rd
Singles player
Lindsay Bartlett
Overall record: 8-4
League record: 3-1
1st
Doubles team
Julie Burget and
Hitomi Yukawa
Overall record: 3-4
League record: 1-2
2nd
Doubles team
Katie Worstell and
Emily Young
Overall record: 3-4
League record: 1-1
As of 09/21/08
Players to watch for: seniors Bryce Hixson,
Joey Nanamaker, Connor Haley and Billy
Geaman
Returning Letterman: 11 seniors
Team captains: Haley, Geaman and
Nanamaker
Predicted league champs: Findlay
What are we working on: “One thing the
team could work on is the chemistry between
the players,” Junior Brennan Logan said.
“Some get along better than others, we need
that team relationship on and off the field.”
Toughest competition: “Napoleon will be the
toughest competition because they are ranked
among the top 10 teams in the Division II state
ranking,” Haley said. “Also, they want revenge
because last year we beat them 1-0.”
Team goals: “Make sure we stay in shape,
improve in every practice and go to state,”
Geaman said.
Strengths: “We have a strong senior class and
the team overall has a lot of experience,” coach
William Geaman said.
Next home game: October 2, against Sylvania
Southview at 7 p.m.
Volleyball
n By Taylor McGonnell
Players to watch for: seniors Maddie Kurjan
and Kelly Walton
Returning lettermen: three seniors, two
juniors
Team captains: Walton and Kurjan
Predicted league champs: “Findlay is going
to continue our five year winning streak and
we have a strong team with good chemistry,”
Walton said.
How far will you go: “I want them to go to
state, I will be disappointed if we don’t go to
regional,” Shifley said. “ We stacked our schedule with the tough competition to prepare.”
What are we working on: “We are working on
never letting the ball hit the ground,” Walton
said. “ Communication, that’s the only way we
will make it to state.”
Toughest competition: “Toledo St. Ursula is
always a big game for us,” Coach Ryan Shifley
said “They usually have the same skill level so
it will show if we can rise to the challenge.”
Team goal: “Varsity competes to get to state,”
Shifley said. “We will surprise a lot of teams
because we have raised the bar tremendously
from last year. All of us coaches know we can
and we need to keep winning.”
Next home meet: October 1, against Norwalk
St. Paul at 6 p.m
Girls’ soccer
n By Marc Wadsworth
Players to watch for: senior Sarah Heminger
and freshman Libby Spragg
Returning letterman: five seniors, four juniors
and three sopomores
Team captains: senior Nicole Bair and
Heminger
Predicted league champs: “Findlay all the
way because we have a strong offense and
good teamwork on the field,” junior Ashley
Miller said.
What we are working on: “We have a much
younger team than we did in the past,” coach
Kevin Veroneau said. “What we have worked
on the most is improving the team’s technical
ability and getting them up to speed and playing at the varsity level.”
Toughest competition: “Sylvania Northview
They have a lot of returning experience and we
recently played them and they beat us 6-0,”
senior Hannah Routson said.
Team Goals: “We want to get to districts, be
champs there and make it to regionals,”
Heminger said.
Strengths: “We have really good work ethics
as a team and work hard during practices
to improve our game,” Heminger said.
Next home game: Tomorrow against Huber
Heights at 3 p.m.
Football
n By Griffin Haywood
Sport: Varsity football
Players to watch for: seniors Eric Gilbert,
Mandela Sheafer and Joey Powell
Returning letterman: 20
Team captains: seniors Sheafer, Tyler Joseph,
Powell and Cody Fletcher
Predicted league champs: Fremont Ross 3-1
What we are working on: “The team is
practicing the fundamentals of football,” coach
Mark Ritzler said. “They are trying to improve
their skills, techniques and understanding of
their responsibilities out on the football field.”
Toughest competition: Columbus DeSales
Weaknesses: Size and speed
Team goal: “To win the Greater Buckeye
Conference,” senior Cameron Clinger said.
Strengths: “With all of the returning players
the experience, work ethic and determination
is a strong factor in our play, ” Ritzler said.
Next home game: October 3 against Fremont
Good luck Trojan Golfers with
the rest of your season
Jack L. Croy Reality
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B&G SPORTS
Findlay High School’s Award Winning Newspaper
Volume 86, Issue 1
1200 Broad Ave, Findlay, Ohio, 45840
Friday, September 26, 2008
Golfers win
Greater Buckeye
Conference crown
by 3 strokes
Runners head
to Clay Invit.
Guys’ face
St. John’s
tomorrow
t
i
’
n
i
Kick
page 7
page 7
Roberts continues
kicking tradition
n By Rich Costello
5
1
Do’s and dont’s of
high school football
DO Tailgate. You don’t
want to miss out on a
good time with your
friends before the game.
2
3
4
5
DON’T paint your body, by
third quarter it will be on
everything you touched.
DO wear your team colors.
Show some spirit.
DON’T stand up in front
of people when they are
sitting down at half time.
DON’T throw a single hot
dog during halftime.
Volleyball
to Van Wert
Invitational
tomorrow
page 7
Who should be
#1 in
college football?
In a random survey of 100 students
USC was voted number one from a
choice of the top six ranked teams
in the country
USC
Florida
26%
23%
LSU
Georgia
21%
Oklahoma 10%
VARSITY
current records
1-4
Girls’ soccer 1-5-3
Guys’ soccer
League
Girls’ tennis
League
Volleyball
League
7-3-1
4-0
9-6
4-1
9-2
5-0
As of 09/22/08
Senior Skyler Roberts
Findlay kicking legends
John Kidd graduated in 1989
Attended University of Findlay
Played for the Buffalo Bills,
San Diego Chargers, Miami
Dolphins, Detroit Lions and New
York Jets
Josh Huston graduated in 2000
Attended Ohio State University
FHS record for Most Extra Point Conversion–Game-9
in 1999, Most Field Goals–Career-17 in 1998-99
7
Nick Lotz graduated in 1998
Attended University of Pittsburg
FHS record for Most Field Goals–Single
game-3 in 1997
James Addington graduated in 2003
Attended Miami University-Ohio
FHS record for
Most Extra Point Conversion-Season-65 in 2002
Most Extra Point Conversion-Career-8 in 2000-02
Most Field Goals–Game-3 in 2002
Most Field Goals–Season-13 in 2002
Scoring–Season-104 in 2002
Nate Fry graduated in 2001
Attended Bowling Green State University
Things you need to know
about athletic director
Nate Weihrauch
n By Rich Costello
20%
Football
When senior Skyler Roberts steps onto the turf it isn’t
to take a hit to defend the quarterback or even to receive
a pass in the end zone.
No, when Roberts steps onto the field it’s all about
him and the pigskin he is about to send sailing straight
through the uprights.
Roberts’ tenacity throughout his kicker training has
been with him since a young age; playing soccer for 11
years, he knew what to do with the ball.
“I started kicking for football in eighth grade just
because it was a fun thing to do,” Roberts said, “Kicking
has become a lot more serious to me and I guess with 11
years of soccer experience, I’ve always been a kicker.”
Football kickers hold a significant place in Findlay
football history, as well as a reputation to be some of the
highest ranked college picks, in the nation.
Currently, the senior is ranked fourth in the nation by
scout.com as a college kicker recruit, and is happy to join
that famous list of Trojan kickers. (see time line)
“Skyler does a great job kicking and though I am
partial to my son (Josh Huston 2000 graduate), Skyler will
be one of the greatest to come out of the Findlay kicking program,” kicking coach Dennis Huston said. “Our
program has a good reputation and Skyler has had no
problem living up to it.”
Huston has been coaching since his son was first kicking and is knowledgeable about training and techniques.
“We always begin at the beginning with the basics to
build kickers with a good foundation,” Huston said. “Repetition is the best teacher and that is how these kickers
become noteworthy.”
Moving forward and finishing his last high school season, Roberts does a lot of mental work to keep his head in
the game.
“I have done a lot of good kicking the last two years,
but I still need to keep my head straight by working mentally and concentrating,” Roberts said.
Almost every time the senior’s foot touches the ball
points go on the scoreboard.
“Skyler contributes a weapon to our team that any
time he crosses the 50 yard line he is in scoring range,”
Ritzler said. “My goals for Skyler are for him to be as good
as he can be.
“Perfection is just about impossible, but Skyler does
a great job at kicking the football.”
Striving for perfection, dedication and commitment are exactly what Huston expects out of Roberts.
“I don’t set to many goals for the players. We strive
for perfection and look for 100 percent in our kickers,”
Huston said. “Roberts should make his way to be an
all-state kicker this year.
“My biggest hopes for him are to make it
to a Division I school for all that he has accomplished in his high school career with our
team.”
Aside from his own goals, the senior’s family
has given him moral support and been there to
help him practice.
“Our goals for Skyler are whatever he plans to
accomplish in his sports career,” mother Carmella
Roberts said. “Since Skyler started kicking we would
go to Donnell and put our fingers on the football for
him while he kicked, then chase it for him.”
Training for a kicker consists of lifting weights,
stretching and most importantly practicing a
sturdy kick of a football.
“The most important part of Roberts’ training
is his technique,” Huston said. “Roberts’ technique is at a stage where he doesn’t need too
much guidance but only the chance to kick
the football.
“Roberts has one of the better fluid and
developed kicks we have had on our team.”
Past players of Findlay’s field goal
dynasty have laid a foundation for kickers
such as Roberts. But he has made his own
path as one of the greatest kickers to come
out of Ohio.
1. Improvment
“We need to look and be professional and do our best
to set up our student athletes for success.”
2. Best part of the job
“The best part about being the A.D. is assisting
with all of our coaches and athletes and also to
make improvements in all the programs.”
3. Balancing family time and job
“My family is very supportive and we
are expecting our third child in January. Both my boys are happy to come to
events.”
4. Coaching football
“I miss coaching football because I love to deal with
players and miss individual time with the kids.”
5. Letter winner
“I received 11 letters in football, basketball and baseball
in high school.”
6. Favorite sport
“I love all sports, but my first love growing up was
basketball. I had a coach who made us work hard, but
provided opportunities for us. That’s what I hope to accomplish in our Athletic Deparment.”
7. Know it all
Since you’re the new athletic director you should know
everything about all sports. Name the dimensions of a volleyball court
“The net is seven feet high, right?”
Brandon Walker graduated in 2007
Attends Notre Dame University
FHS record for Longest Field Goal-50 yds
in 2005
Skyler Roberts senior in 2009
FHS record for Longest Field
Goal-50 yds in 2007
Mark Snodgrass graduated in 2006
Attends Ohio State Univerty
Golfers win GBC title
Edges out Fremont
by narrow margin
n By Rich Costello
With a league title in the bag, by
just three strokes, the guys golf team
heads to sectionals to take the first
step to what they hope will be a trip
to Columbus.
On the road to state, the guys’ will
head to sectionals then districts before they have a chance to compete
at state.
“Our strongest competition in the
Northwest district will be Toledo St.
Johns and St. Francis,” coach Scott
Grant said. “Finishing our rounds
out strong is what can make or
break taking the state title.
“The team has a good chance
to go to the state tournament and
do really well, we try and surround
ourselves in tournaments so we are
somewhat prepared to play in the
postseason.”
Part of that preparation includes
working on their short game.
The short game relies on a
golfer’s ability to putt and chip to
successfully complete a hole.
“Our short game, is what we are
working on so we are comfortable
with all aspects of our game when
we are competing,” senior Nolyn
Croy said.
Improving their short game may
help them reach their goal of going
to state.
“We know our priorities, are
determined to achieve our goals
and take home a state title this
year,” Croy said. “Our team has huge
potential, it takes a push to play our
best and take the title.
“We need to play the game with
the last couple holes in mind.”
Qualifying for state is girls’ goal
n By Rich Costello
Players to watch for: sophomores
Stephanie St. Jean, Lauren Mains
Returning letterman: one senior,
two juniors and two sophomores
Team captain: Senior Brittany Brown
Toughest competition: Toledo St.
Ursula Academy
How far we want to go: “Going to
state as a team will be very tough, St.
Ursula is hard competition,” junior
Hannah Gray said. “They always
have had a really great team.”
Team goals: “Our team goal is to
work hard and go on to the state
tournament,” Mains said. “State
would be a good experience for everyone on our team, that’s what we
are looking to acheive now.”
Strengths: “What our team needs to
maintain is consistency,” coach Garret Korte said. “If our game can be
middle of the road and we can keep
it there, that’s exactly what we want.”
What we are working on: “Practicing as much as we do, definitely has
a lot to do with our consistency,”
junior Molly Corbin said.