March 2014 - Marion Local Schools

The Gold Standard
“Paving our way to tradition.”
March 2014
Marion to make up MAC Champs tackle tournament
four calamity days
By: Nate Nagel and Troy Homan
Sports Editors
MARIA STEIN, OH - After a 17-5 regular
season record, which resulted in an outright MAC Championship (the first MAC
championship for the Flyers since 2003,
and the first outright championship since
2001), the Flyers have carried over their
success deep into the tournament run. After making it through the sectional and
district tournaments, the Flyers ultimately
fell short of making it to state, losing in the
Regional Final game against the Tri-Village
Patriots, 62-44.
PHOTO BY: DILLON HILGEFORD
Superintendent Michael Pohlman considers current
legislation in his office.
By: Dillon Hilgeford
News Editor
MARIA STEIN, OH - The Ohio House and Senate
have passed bills in response to Governor John
Kasich’s concern about calamity days this school year.
However, the two bills differ in content, so Ohio
schools will face a wait before hearing the final outcome. This wait is to agree on how many days school
districts will have to make up (Marion Local has taken
nine calamity days this school year). Superintendent
Michael Pohlman said all this has led him to stop following the progression of the bills: he has decided
that Marion Local will make up the four extra calamity
days we took this winter (on top of our five permitted
calamity days).
Mr. Pohlman explained that the Marion Community
expects its children to be educated. He says, “Not
making up these days would be a disservice.” One bill
mentions extending the school day a half hour in order to amend for the school days off. Mr. Pohlman
does not feel an extra thirty minutes would be as productive as an entire day of school, because you cannot do much with an extra few minutes each class
period. “I believe that having a regular day of
school, even if it is on May 23rd, can be productive,”
Mr. Pohlman adds.
The bills that were passed include specifics people
may overlook. One proposal increased the time window for taking tests like the OAA. The last major detail is the legislation about seniors not having to go
to school after their graduation day.
Mr. Pohlman says that he likes the idea of giving
students more time to prepare for tests such as the
OAA. He says the flexibility is good in order for students to perform their best. He explains, “We always
want to set our students up for success instead of
stacking the deck against them.” Mr. Pohlman agrees
with the legislation about seniors not having to attend school after their graduation.
Everyone who is planning on getting an extra four
calamity days is out of luck, as Mr. Pohlman stated,
“To recap, we have every intention to make up all
days we have missed. Accepting the legislators’ proposal of allowing extra calamity days and increasing
school in half hour increments is a last resort.” If
you’re hoping to get more days off school, there is a
high chance you will go back on another day instead.
“I’m proud of how our team played this
year. I thought we had a really good year,
but obviously not everything turned out
the way we wanted,” commented senior
Nate Nagel.
PHOTO BY: ALLISON ROSENBECK
Ryan Bruns goes up for the ball against
Arlington during the District Final game.
CONT’D ON PAGE 4
Cheer takes third at State
PHOTO BY: DORIS WILKER
The Marion Local cheerleaders perform their routine at State on March 16, 2014.
By: Bethany Wilker
Opinion Editor
bad winter weather. Although the girls
were upset about the last minute change,
BOWLING GREEN, OH - The Marion Local it was beneficial to all of the girls because
cheerleaders competed at the Stroh Center it gave them more practice time.
Sunday, March 16 for the OASSA cheerLed by Captain Abby Moles and seniors
leading state competition. They earned
Megan Klosterman, Michelle Schwieterthird place out of ten qualifying schools in man, and Bethany Wilker, the cheerleaders
their division. They were only four points
qualified for state on Feb. 2. From there,
behind the second place team, Ft. Loramie. the 14 girls continued to work on perfectJunior Amber Rutschilling said about back- ing their routine for various performances
to-back third places , “Third is the new
at games, pep rallies, and a competition at
first! #Two-time state champs!”
Coldwater, in which Marion Local took first
The competition was rescheduled from
its March 2 date due to the prediction of
place.
CONT’D ON PAGE 4
Close call for concert band
By: Bethany Wilker
Opinion Editor
cated Large Group Contest.
The band performed three
songs in front of the judges.
The band was rewarded
with two Superior ratings (1)
and one Excellent rating (2).
CELINA, OH - On Friday,
March 18, the Marion Local
Concert Band traveled to
Celina High School to compete at the Ohio Music EduIn the sight reading room,
cation Association Adjudithe band received a Good
rating (3). Because of the
sight reading score, the
band received an overall
Excellent rating (2) and was
unfortunately unable to advance to the state concert
band contest.
CONT’D ON PAGE 3
News
The Gold Standard
March 2014
page 2
The Girls of the Garden Club take the stage
By: Katie Heitkamp
Opinion Editor
over backwards to help Lillybelle stay in the
role of president. They adore everything about
her, even her misunderstood French phrases,
her handsome young gardener, and her beautiful dresses.
MARIA STEIN - Flowers, fern, and shrub will
decorate the set this year when the “girls of the
garden” take the stage. The high school drama
club production for this year, The Girls of the
Garden Club, will take place on Friday, April 11,
at 7:30 p.m.; Saturday, April 12, at 7:30 p.m.;
and Sunday, April 13, at 3:00 p.m., and will cost
five dollars a ticket at the door.
The Girls of the Garden Club is about a middle-aged woman, Rhoda (Bethany Wilker), who
wants to win the presidency of the garden club
she is involved in for a greenhouse. However,
Lillybelle (Emily Long) has been voted in as
president every year. Rhoda becomes obPHOTO BY: KATIE HEI TKAMP
sessed with trying to take Lillybelle’s position
and with help from her loyal friends, Clara
Seniors Emily Long (Lillybelle) and Bethany
(Rachel Berning), Cora (Katie Heitkamp), Dora
Wilker (Rhoda) act out a scene in this
(Kate Goodwin), Evie (Jenna Pierron), Dede
year’s drama club production, The Girls of
(Jennifer Rethman), and Birdie (Beth Buening), the Garden Club.
Rhoda tries to deceive Lillybelle and ride high
to the presidency.
mann), Celeste (Allison Evers), Francine (Juliette
Mueller),and Agnes (Meg Schwieterman), are
Other characters, like Madge (Shelby Pleiman), Angelica (Lydia Wendel), Vi (Vivian Gar- faithful friends of Lillybelle. They would bend
Ornery teenagers Dahlia (Jamie Dirksen),
daughter of Cora, and Marigold (Marie Wilker),
daughter of Rhoda, make mayhem when everything seems to go wrong on the day of the
big meeting to change the rules of the presidency. Dahlia decides to rig up a microphone
in Rhoda’s prize-winning plant, turning it into a
talking plant. This stirs up Rhoda, and she begins to believe in true miracles. But when
Rhoda’s plant mysteriously wilts, she feels she
has no way to win the presidency and convince
her husband Vincent (Tim Droesch) to buy her
a greenhouse.
Bethany Wilker states, “The play has been so
much fun this year! The cast is great, and we all
have so much fun together. Everyone should
definitely come to watch the performance. It
will make you laugh!” So come out to the high
school next month to see the play.
Seniors pursue unique musical major Lynch lectures ML athletes
gram. She explained how she is going
to keep an open mind about what she
will be doing after college. Heitkamp
explained, “Right now, I think it would
be nice to return to the area and work
with children. However, I am keeping
an open mind of where music therapy
can take me.”
By: Molly Berning
News Editor
ings, so there is usually no
worry about not having a
classroom. If the meeting has
MARIA STEIN - FCA meeta speaker, it takes the whole
ings have returned to Marion
45 minutes. Otherwise, a
Local! The Fellowship of Chrisgroup of students will prepare
tian Athletes meetings are
and run the meetings.
either run by a group of students or there is a prepared
For a guest speaker to
speaker present. March 4,
come, Mr. Greg Bruns, an FCA
2014 was the first meeting,
volunteer, asks for the stuand Andy Lynch, local TV per- dents to give an input on who
sonality and Sports Director of they would like to come, and
the West Ohio Sports Network then the speaker’s name is
in Lima, was the guest speak- given to Mr. Goodwin, who is
er.
in charge of organizing the
program. Mr. Goodwin then
asks around and follows up
with the speaker to see if the
speaker would be interested
and available to speak.
Wilker has always loved helping
people and has had music at the core
Sophie Heitkamp and Bethany Wilker of her life. “I have had a passion for
proudly plan for their futures.
music literally as long as I can remember,” Wilker explained. When she
By: Mindy Puthoff
finds herself in a rut or overwhelmed,
Entertainment Editor
she finds herself listening to The BeatMARIA STEIN - This year, Marion Lo- les song Let it Be. In her own way, she
cal will be graduating Bethany Wilker has used music therapy throughout
and Sophie Heitkamp, who will be in- her life. When she discovered this catroducing our school to Music Therapy reer path, she wanted to help other
as a new college major. Neither
people express their feelings through
Wilker nor Heitkamp knows for sure
music. After graduating college, she is
where she is going: Heitkamp narnot quite sure what path she wants to
rowed it down to the University of
take, but, as of now, she is interested
Dayton or Eastern Michigan University, in possibly working with people sufferwhile Wilker plans on attending the
ing from Alzheimer’s disease. She exUniversity of Louisville.
plains, “I would use music to bring
them peace, memories, and control
As a freshman, Heitkamp was interover their bodies.”
PHOTO BY: MRS. SEGER
ested in physical therapy or occupaAndy Lynch spoke to students
tional therapy. Since music had been
With only 73 schools in the nation
one of the most important forces in
that are accredited for music therapy,
at an FCA meeting.
her life, she found music therapy and
Heitkamp and Wilker are two of the
knew it was perfect. Over the past
few that can say they are Musical TherThe meetings are typically
couple of years, she has job shadowed apists. It would have been an honor
held on Tuesday mornings at
a few Musical Therapists and loved it. for one person to major in music ther- 7:30 a.m., and they last for
She is planning on attending the Uni- apy, but Marion has the privilege to
approximately 45 minutes.
versity of Dayton or Eastern Michigan graduate two students going into this
There are various classrooms
University to pursue the four-year pro- career from a class of 75.
open at school for the meetPHOTO BY: MINDY PUTHOFF
In an interview, Mr. Goodwin
stated, “The goals of the
meetings are to strengthen
each other’s faith and to plant
seeds for further spiritual
growth.” As the students discuss their journeys with each
other, they can learn and possibly grow from what everybody shares.
With the typical Ohio
weather this year, we were
unable to start sooner than
March with the FCA meetings.
“The meetings don’t happen
as often as they should!” Mr.
Goodwin mentioned.
News
The Gold Standard
March 2014
Close call for concert band
CONT’D FROM PAGE 1
The contest consists of two parts. First, the band
performs their prepared pieces in front of a judge
in a concert setting; people are welcome to sit in
the gym and listen to the performances. The judges evaluate the band on the quality and balance of
tone, the ensemble intonation (how well everybody sounds together), the interpretation of the
piece (the speed, the expression, and the phrasing
of the songs), and the technique that the band
has. The technique is judged on how accurately
the piece was presented, the precision of the song,
and the articulation the band used.
The second part of the contest is sight-reading.
They are given a eight minutes to silently look
through the music before it is played in front of a
judge; this part of the contest is closed so nobody
except the judge, the band, and the director can
be in the room. While this performance is more
difficult, the judge does not base it on the same
criteria. The band is judged on accuracy of reading, flexibility in following the director, adherence
to style (changing their playing to fit the mood of
the piece), interpretation, and musicianship.
The band began preparing their three pieces
after Solo and Ensemble. The three songs they
performed were Allied Honor, Ascending, and
Voltage. Next, the band is working towards the
Spring Arts Festival concert, which will be held May
11 at Marion Local.
PHOTO BY: ALAINA SANDERS
Band students rehearse for their concert band
competition.
page 3
‘Blue, gold, and white:
fight, Flyers, fight!’
After three years of learning from other senior leaders, it’s our turn to take the
role next year. Cheer has
never really had a reputation
at Marion. Some people
don’t think it’s a sport; others
think that we just yell and
move our arms. Cheer is way
more that yelling and moving. We jump, we tumble, we
chant, we encourage, and we
still look pretty doing it all.
With four graduating seniors this year, we have four
spots open for freshmen
next year. Trying to replace
the seniors is a difficult task
PHOTOS BY: ELAINE PIERRON because of the experience at
competitions. For upcoming
Jenna Pierron fulfills her childhood dream of being a
freshmen, the first competiMarion Local cheerleader.
tion experience can be overwhelming; that’s expected,
By: Jenna Pierron
ketball cheer squad, where I because they don’t know
Staff Writer
cheered with Jennifer
what to expect being in front
Rethman, Rachel Otte, and
of huge crowds to perform
Ever since I was a little girl,
Karina Mizer. On the very last our routine.
you could see me on the hill
game of eighth grade basat recess doing jumps and
I remember my first time
ketball, all of us were chatlanding in the splits. Becomcompeting at the Nutter
tering about the upcoming
ing a cheerleader wearing
Center. We placed seventh
tryouts to become high
the blue, gold, and white:
that year at State, but it was
school cheerleaders.
was I a want-to-be when I
the first year Marion had
In April 2011, I went to the competed in five years. In
was young? I took gymnastic
classes with the neighbors, I high school doors and saw
2013 and 2014, we got third
my name on the list; I was
went to all of my brothers’
place with ten squads and
games to cheer them on, and finally a high school cheerseven squads behind us reI even taught myself how to leader along with three other spectively. Next year, we
freshmen: Jennifer Rethman, plan to keep the blue, gold,
do a back handspring.
Kate Smith, and Amber
and white tradition going
As junior high came
Rutschilling.
and make cheer history.
around, I made it on the bas-
JETS team represents ML in state competition
By: Brooke Winner
Entertainment Editor
ADA - On Thursday Feb. 27, a
group of highly intellectual Marion
Local students took a trip to the
Ohio Northern Campus to participate in the Junior Engineering
Technical Society competition.
While at the JETS competition, students from around 25 Ohio
schools used math, science, and
PHOTO BY: DILLON HILGEFORD
21st century learning skills to work
together in order to solve real
Marion Local students participating at the JETS competition at Ohio
world, everyday challenges. DeNorthern on Feb. 27.
spite fighting hard, when it came
teacher Mr. Ashbaugh, this year’s
team consisted of Nick Heckman,
down to the awards, the Marion
JETS
team
took
on
the
competition
Derek Pierron, Lindsey Bergman,
team did not place.
to the best of their ability. The JV
Justin Bohman, Kyle Homan, Chloe
Under the direction of science
Bertke, Joel Goodwin, and Lee
Hess. The Varsity team included
Cadence Jacobs, Allie Thobe,
Mindy Meiring, Chris Lochtefeld,
Nathan Heckman, Emily Bomholt,
Courtney Albers, and Dillon
Hilgeford.
Last year, Marion Local’s JV JETS
team took second place, a feat
that Mr. Ashbaugh is highly proud
of. The pressure was on for this
year’s JETS team to live up to the
success of last year’s team. This
year, when it came down to the
awards, Marion did not place. Despite this disappointment, the
team fought hard and gave their
best effort.
The Gold Standard
Sports
March 2014
Cheer takes third at state
page 4
Basketball: MAC Champs
tackle tournament
CONT’D FROM PAGE 1
The Flyers ended the season off
strong by snapping the 16 game
winning streak held by the Russia
Raiders, and then the following
weekend captured the MAC title
by defeating the Fort Recovery
Indians.
grinding out the first sectional
title for Marion Local since 2007.
The Flyers beat Upper Scioto
Valley and Arlington to win the
District Title, Marion’s first since
2007. Next up was the Regional
tournament, where the Flyers beat
the Russia Raiders in convincing
fashion, 69-49, to advance to the
“Winning the MAC for the first
Regional Championship game to
time in about ten years is a treface Tri-Village. It was a hard
mendous accomplishment for our
fought, close game for three
team, and gives people a reason
quarters, but the Patriots extendto be excited about Marion Local
ed their lead in the fourth quarter
basketball again,” stated senior
to defeat the Flyers 62-44.
Troy Homan.
PHOTO BY: DORIS WILKER
Coaches Britney Griesdorn and Angie Otte with the team.
CONT’D FROM PAGE 1
In February, the girls hosted
their annual mini-cheer camp for
After try-outs, the squad met
girls in grades kindergarten
for a few practices to learn some
through fourth grade. The 99 litfootball material and to interact
tle girls learned a dance, cheer,
with each other. The girls eventuand three chants and performed
ally added their routine to the
them at the half time of the varsipractices. They continued their
ty boys’ game.
two practices a week through
December and January. Their first
In addition to basketball, the
competition was at Worthington cheerleaders also competed at a
High School. The competition
game day competition at
was under a different conference Coldwater on Feb. 23. For the
than what the girls are used to,
competition, the squad had to
but it was a good experience for make up of four different cheers.
the girls. Two months later, the
The girls were able to perform
girls went to Centerville High
this routine well enough to win
School and earned second place first place at the competition.
in their division.
Along with the league championship, the Flyers boasted five All
-League players, and Head Coach
Kurt Goettemoeller earned MAC
Coach of the Year. The Flyers were
honored to have two players, senior Adam Bertke and junior Luke
Knapke, earn First Team All MAC.
Juniors Dustin Rethman and Ryan
Bruns earned Second Team All
MAC, with sophomore Cole
Griesdorn earning Honorable
Mention.
The Flyers started off tournament facing the Minster Wildcats
in Sectional Semi-Finals. With the
win, the Flyers faced Fort Recovery to play for the Sectional Final.
The Flyers came out on top of the
Indians in low scoring fashion,
PHOTO BY: BRENDA NAGEL
Coach Goettemoeller, with his
son Trey, holds up the Sectional
Title net.
Softball looking to repeat run
By: Troy Homan
Sports Editor
the seniors and talented underclassmen will
surely step up and fill their shoes.
MARIA STEIN, OH - After last year’s long, successful season that resulted in a trip to the Regional semi-finals, the Marion Local Flyer softball team will be looking to duplicate that success and hopefully push it even further. With
seven of the nine starters back from last season, the Flyers will definitely have championships on their minds.
“We have some talented underclassmen that
will help provide some depth,” added Elking.
The Flyers are primed to compete with the
best of the best in the MAC, like powerhouses
Versailles, Parkway, and Minster. Mindy Puthoff
added in, saying, “I think with our experience
PHOTO BY: MINDY PUTHOFF returning, it will help us out a lot during those
big games. Hopefully our experience and leadThe Flyers practice inside due to the sub zero
“Coach Puthoff and the rest of the team have
ership will help us come out on top.”
temperatures.
high hopes for the season. We made it to re“A lot of the seniors are returning varsity
gionals last year, and I feel like we can make it Megan Wendel, and Brianna Bragg, leadership
players, so that should help us out a lot,” addeven further this season,” remarked senior
will not be an issue for this year’s squad.
ed Elking.
Katie Elking.
Mindy Puthoff described, “The best way for
The Flyers, with tons of experience and leadIn order to have a successful season, senior
me to be a leader is to do everything right and ership, are primed to make another deep tourleadership is crucial. The Flyers will have no
set good examples for the younger girls.”
nament push. The Flyers fell short of the ultiproblem trying to find senior leaders, for the
Along with a solid core of seven seniors, the mate goal last year, but will strive to overcome
Flyers have a total of seven of them on the
the defeat and look to come out on top this
Flyers also return multiple starters from last
team. Led by seniors Amy Will, Mindy Puthoff,
season in the ever-so-powerful Midwest Athletyear, including the entire starting infield. The
Kate Goodwin, Katie Elking, Allison Rosenbeck,
Flyers only lost two seniors from last year, but ic Conference.
The Gold Standard
Sports
March 2014
page 5
Flyers confident about season
coaching style and the way he gets
along with players, but with
Woods, he seems to fit right in.
Unlike previous seasons, the offseason for the Flyers has been a lot
different. The Flyers went through
many workouts and conditionings,
with which they hoped to improve
their game.
“The offseason is a lot different
from last year. We run a lot and do
a lot more drills,” said junior Peyton Kramer. The Flyers bring back
only one senior, Austin Albers, who
was a key component for the team
last year, and looks to have a great
senior year.
“Being the only senior is going to
be different. Coach Woods seems
to know what he’s talking about
and looks to improve our team the
best he can,” stated Albers. With
PHOTO BY: LORI ALBERS
that in mind, Kramer knows how
Senior Austin Albers will be a key component for the Flyers.
important it will be for the underclassman, like himself, to step up
By: Nate Nagel
ing grueling offseason workouts
and lead the team along with AlSports Editor
and conditionings, the Flyers are
bers.
optimistic about how this season
MARIA STEIN, OH - With new
should go.
“With Austin being the only senHead Coach Dustin Woods, the
ior
leader, we younger classmen
Marion Local baseball team looks
With a new coach in any sport, it
are going to have to step up and
to improve from last season. Hav- is always hard to adapt to his
take some leadership,” reflects Kramer.
With a new coach and a determined team, the Flyers hope to
turn around the Flyer baseball program. Not having had many successful seasons the past couple
years, many players, like Albers
and Kramer, think that they can be
on top of the MAC this year.
“We’ll definitely take it game by
game, but we first are looking to
just have a winning record. Hopefully with Woods being coach, we
can be a contender this year for
the MAC title,” concludes Albers.
With this in mind, the Flyers
know that things will not be easy.
Being in the MAC, the Flyers will
have tough games against rivals
Coldwater, St. Henry, and Minster,
who are expected to be top teams
in the MAC. Albers, Kramer, and
the rest of the Flyer baseball team
look forward to the start of the
season, and are ready to have a
successful season.
Be sure to head out to the ball
park this spring to support your
Marion Local Flyers!
ML Track: Let the competition begin!
By: Molly Berning
News Editor
MARIA STEIN - The 2014 spring season has
great potential for the girls’ and boys’ high
school track teams. There are six senior girls
returning and one senior boy. On Feb. 24, the
team started with conditioners and had their
mandatory meeting on March 7. March 10
marked the day for their first practice, giving
the girls’ team three weeks to work for their
first meet on March 29 at Versailles.
Last year, the girls’ 4X4 team terminated their
season at State placing seventh out of nine
with a finishing time of four minutes and six
seconds. The team consisted of Rose Berning,
Allie Thobe, Gina Kramer, and Olivia Hemmelgarn, with Molly Berning as an alternative.
Thobe also competed in the long jump, putting
her sixth out of 16 with a jump of 17 feet and
two inches. Kramer jumped five feet and four
inches in the high jump event, which allowed
her to stand second out of 16. Hemmelgarn
took fifth place out of 16 in pole vault with a
vaulting height of 11 feet and six inches. Due
to the success of last year, the 2014 season has
great potential for the girls’ team.
All the coaches will be returning, along with
some volunteer help from Coach Rod Pleiman.
Coach Sam Thobe will assist the pole vault,
PHOTO BY: CATHY HEMMELGARN
Last year’s 4X400 team poses at State and looks to return again this year.
long jump, and high jump again. Coach Todd
Monica Hemmelgarn competes in the long
Ashbaugh will return to the shot put and discus jump and 300 meter hurdles. Olivia Hemmelgarn remains in the 4X200 meter relay, 4X100
rings. For the running events, Coach Matt
meter relay, 4X400 meter relay and pole vault.
Schmackers will hold the responsibilities.
Kramer continues her career in the 4X200 meWith high expectations, there will be six senter relay, 4X4 meter relay, high jump, and long
ior girls returning this season for their fourth
jump. Beth Wolters will return to the 3200 meyear. Molly Berning is returning this year in the
ter run. For the boys’ team, Pat Hess will be
100 meter hurdles and the 300 meter hurdles.
returning in high jump and long jump. Be sure
Sophie Heitkamp will be returning to compete
to head to the track this spring to support your
in the 4X800 meter relay and the 800 meter
Marion Local track and field teams!
run.
Opinion
The Gold Standard
The opinions represented here are solely of the authors.
page 6
Post Secondary: Enlightening Or Problematic?
By: Brook Albers
Layout Editor
By: Mindy
Puthoff
Entertainment
Editor
You always hear
adults saying, “You
College is so
are only in high
expensive these
school once, so live
days, so why not
it up,” or, “High
get some of your
school is some of
college credits
the best years of
for free? Post
your life!” So why
secondary gives
not trust them
you the opporfrom experience
tunity to receive
and let all of those
college and high
hours of being at
school credit as a
high school be
junior or senior
memorable, and
in high school.
not dreadful? But
The two most
how can you do
common collegthis if you are only
es that Marion
at school for less
students go to
than one third of
PHOTO
BY:
ADAM
BERTKE
for Post Secondthe day because
ary education are
you are taking Post Post Secondary students pose with their student ID’s as they prepare to go to classes. Bottom row:
Nate Nagel, Megan Klosterman, Allison Rosenbeck , Erin Griesdorn, Brook Albers, Mindy Puthoff , and Edison Commu-Secondary classes? Yes, it may be Troy Homan. Top row: Michelle Schwieterman , Kristi Moorman, Kate Goodwin, and Abby Fleck. Back: nity College and
Wright State
college credits that Kevin Bruns.
Lake Campus.
you do not have to
pay for, but money can not take away the memories one makes
To be in Post Secondary, you have to be an independent and orgawhile in high school.
nized person. Especially in my case, the first day of the year I was so
A main concern for a number of students that consider taking
Post-Secondary is not seeing their friends like they would during a
normal high school day. Taking Post-Secondary classes allows students to only have to take three or four high school classes, leaving
out the other three or four periods that they could be making memories with their classmates before they all go their separate ways.
Not only is this a main concern for potential Post-Secondary students, but they also have the fear of going into a classroom not
knowing anyone, and already knowing that college classes are supposed to be more difficult. The professors are not there to hold the
students’ hands; therefore, even though you are a high school student, you have the responsibility of a college student.
A big downfall that many prospective Post-Secondary students do
not think of is that sometimes when Marion Local does not have
school, the college students may still have classes that day. This can
be caused by breaks or the weather. You may not find this to be a
big downfall at first, but when you have to drive 20 or 40 minutes in
bad weather, it can be very aggravating. Not only is driving in bad
weather aggravating, but driving alone to classes can get boring,
especially when you are driving a half an hour to and from class two
days a week.
Another setback to taking Post-Secondary is not being able to
take AP classes at the high school. Although when taking PostSecondary classes, you are having your college classes paid for,
which is a big plus to many students, you could be taking AP classes
at the high school and then test out of having to take those classes
in college. If you take this route, you are still getting the high school
experience and knocking out some college classes.
To some, Post-Secondary is something they do not regret; to others, they look back and wish they could have lived the last year of
high school in the high school and not at a college. It is one’s own
preference. Do the positives outweigh the negatives, or do the negatives outweigh the positives? Is missing out on some of high
school but getting a few college classes paid for worth it to you?
The choice is yours.
scared to walk into my classes at Edison not knowing who anyone was,
let alone whether I was in the right class or not. But after the first day,
it was an amazing experience. I met one of my closest friends there,
whom I would have never met if I had stayed at high school. Students
will meet new people, and if they are scared and shy, it is a good idea
to get some of their friends to go with them. Many people carpool to
and from the classes.
As a college student, you get the privileges of being treated like a
college student; yes, I mean the breaks: Thanksgiving break, Christmas
break, and Spring break. High school skimps out on breaks: we have to
make up days and only get a three-day break for Easter, and two of
those days are on a weekend. Not in college, Thanksgiving break was
easily five days, Christmas break had a half of a month break, and let’s
not forget about the week in the spring when the college just thinks we
need a break. It is really nice to not go to school.
Another advantage about college classes is that most of them are
scheduled for Monday/Wednesday, and Tuesday/Thursday. For explaining purposes, I am going to use my schedule. Last semester, I
scheduled three morning classes at Marion, followed by two afternoon
classes at Edison. I went to Edison four days out of a week. The benefit
of my schedule last semester was that in between my Marion classes
and my Edison classes, I had about an hour break. This allowed me to
do any homework that I had not already done for my college classes.
Also, I had Friday afternoons off after I was done with my day at Marion.
Since I only had three classes at Marion, I got done at 10:30 a.m. This
semester is really nice for me: I am done at Marion after two periods,
and I only have my Edison classes on Monday and Wednesdays. This
means I am done before lunch on Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday. Another benefit about getting days off like that is that you can get a job
and work.
Post Secondary is more beneficial than just regular, old high school.
College classes can be paid for, students can get out of school early,
and more breaks are offered in college. Post Secondary gives many
opportunities, and I personally feel like it is a waste if someone does
not take advantage of it.
Opinion
The Gold Standard
The opinions represented here are solely of the authors.
page 7
Too much Lent, not enough religion
By: Allison Rosenbeck
News Editor
Marion Local is a public school, not
a Catholic school. However, during
Lent our school only offers meatless
lunches on Fridays. Even as a Catholic, I do not think it is fair that meat
is not offered. Marion Local follows
Lenten traditions, yet religion is not
offered during school hours. If a
public school is not allowed to push
religion, then it should not be alPHOTO BY: ALLISON ROSENBECK
lowed to push meatless meals durSeniors
Allie
Wendel
and
Kiley
Schlarman
eat their meatless
ing Lent.
lunches on a Friday during Lent.
Head Cook Cindy Moeder said,
“We have always had no meat
lunches during Lent. When I was in high
school, 99 percent of students were Catholic.
It has been a tradition that has been around
here for a very long time.” Moeder argues that
everyone is still getting their daily amount of
protein; instead of having a pepperoni pizza, it
is just changed to a cheese pizza.
Another question that I catch myself asking
is, “Why do we not offer religion during class/
school?” Surrounding schools such as Minster
and St. Henry offer religion classes during
school hours. I personally feel that if Marion
Local were to offer this, more people would
attend religion and take it a little more seriously. Religion in the evening takes a lot of
time out of people’s schedules, and they
do not have time to work on homework,
sports, and/or jobs. If we offered religious
education during school, sports teams
would not have to shorten their practices
on Wednesdays to make sure that every
team gets a practice in at night before
religion.
Softball has practice in the morning on
Wednesdays. This practice is scheduled so
people that have an after school job can
work a little bit before religion. However, I
work in Minster, so I can only work for two
hours. This is a waste of time, because the
amount of money I would have to spend
on gas to get there and back would be the
same amount, if not less, than the money I
would make in that short time period.
I feel our school should offer meat during
Lent to anyone that is not Catholic, and religion should be offered during the school day
so students have more free time in the evenings.
Scholarships: not Prom dress expenses
to top past years
just for scholars
By: Katie Heitkamp
Opinion Editor
By: Allison Rosenbeck
News Editor
Why are scholarships only allowed to
go to students who
get a 3.3 GPA or higher? In reality, students
with a “C” average also
need financial aid.
By only allowing
scholars who excel to
receive financial aid,
the students who are
not as strong in academics do not receive
any financial help.
PHOTO BY: ALLISON ROSENBECK
These pupils are left
to struggle to pay for Senior Zoe Cereghin stresses out while fillcollege. When they
ing out a scholarship application.
graduate from college, they are left with an excep- to complete. It may frustrate
tionally high amount of debt for them seeing the high standards
the rest of their lives.
and knowing that they may not
When students receive scholarship applications from the guidance counselor or from the internet, they may question, “Why am
I doing this, when I will not get
the money anyways?” Some students may have thought this
multiple times, especially as they
get handed the next scholarship
sage/boutonniere, and hair.
An anonymous girl from our
Everyone who has experienced
school stated, “It is crazy how
prom knows that it can be expen- much money I spent on prom last
sive, but is it worth it for one
year. It is hard to justify it because
night?
you only wear all of it once. But on
the same note, it’s an occasion that
A random sample of 24 junior
only happens twice. It’s a reason to
and senior girls shows that an avget dressed up and feel pretty for a
erage of $262 was spent on each of
day.”
their prom dresses alone. Given
that all 74 girls in the 11th and
With the extra, expensive acces12th grades go to prom, the exsories of prom, who can really
pense of dresses alone would be
know how much girls actually
$19,388. This cost does not even
spend for this one night? Is it
include the expenses of shoes, tan- worth it, just to feel extra pretty for
ning, jewelry, nails, makeup, corone night?
acquire the scholarship because
they have a lower GPA than others in their class.
Scholarships should be offered
to a wider range of students. If
this happened, more people
would be helped out and could
succeed not only in college, but
after college as well.
PHOTO BY: DEB HEITKAMP
A group of 42 senior girls pose with their dresses last year at prom.
According to the survey taken, there was approximately $11,ooo spent
on the dresses pictured here.
The Gold Standard
Entertainment
March 2014
page 8
New murals decorate high school hallways
By: Brooke Winner
Entertainment Editor
If you haven’t noticed any
changes in the school hallways in
the past few weeks, you haven’t
been paying much attention. Since
the beginning of the third quarter,
two incredibly large and awesome
murals have been painted on the
walls. On the wall of Mr. Ashbaugh’s doorway, there is a mural
of the famous scientist Albert Einstein that was completed by senior
Kendra Schemmel. Senior Emily
Long also contributed a mural of
her own. Outside the band room,
there is a large mural consisting of
multiple yellow roses, and a trombone player. These two seniors
created these murals for their portfolio class. The portfolio class has
five projects that must be completed each quarter, and these murals
count as a project for the students.
While walking through the hallways, these two murals will catch
your eye, and they definitely add
some excitement to the school
day. When walking past Mr. Ashbaugh’s room, the large face and
bright colors of the Albert Einstein
mural will draw you in. This abstract drawing of Einstein also features Chemistry and Physics equipment located on the side of Einstein. Also, if you look closely
enough, you will notice that there
are words that blend into his hair.
PHOTO BY: BROOKE WINNER
Senior Emily Long works hard on her mural during her art class.
The words are common terminology for the two subjects. This creative mural has done an excellent
job of combining art and science in
an interesting manner. When we
asked Schemmel the reasoning for
her mural, she stated, “I am glad I
chose to do the chemistry wall for
my mural. It allowed me to be
more expressive and abstract with
the paint. Overall, the mural actually didn’t take me as long as I expected it to. But, it probably
helped that I was so inspired and
excited about it, and the encouragement and progress of it really
kept me motivated. I also was ecstatic with the outcome of it. I never expected to get so much positive feedback and publicity from
it.”
PHOTO BY: BROOKE WINNER
Senior Kendra Schemmel shows off her mural of Albert Einstein.
tion of the Marion Local band to
life in the hallway. As you pass by,
you will see the door framed with
yellow roses, which is a tradition
long known to the band. The band
will honor its seniors with yellow
roses after their last performance
and concert. A few steps past the
door, you will see a trombone
player dressed in the Marion Local
Band uniform with a yellow ribbon
through the background. Written
on the ribbon is the motto of our
highly successful band, “A Touch
of Class.” When asked about her
mural, Long explained, “The mural
took a while to complete, but in
the end the result is rewarding. I
hoped to represent our band in
the best way I could, and I’m happy our band members liked the
finished product.” Long’s mural
As you continue down the hall,
does a superb job of representing
you will then pass the band room,
the class and excellence of the
where Long has brought the tradiMarion Local Band.
It’s spring - do something!




By: Dillon Hilgeford
News Editor
Although the weather is unpredictable,
spring is just around the corner. After being
stuck inside all winter, it is time to get outside.
Here is a list of suggestions on how to make
the most out of spring.






Buy an umbrella
Shovel the driveway one last time
Collect four leaf clovers (a little good luck
never hurt!)
Take a hike
Start a garden (Earth Day is in April)
Find a pot of gold with your friends
PHOTO BY: BROOKE WINNER
Seniors Troy Homan and Nate Nagel
catch some rays on a nice, sunny day.









Go for a jog or two
Catch a massive fish
Walk the dog (or let it walk you)
Buy some peanuts and crackerjacks at a baseball
game
Think of a prank for April Fool’s Day
Do some spring cleaning
Give your car a good wash
Have a campfire with your friends
Plan a picnic
Walk outside barefoot
Grab a kite, and fly it
Make some burgers and hot dogs on the grill
You are never too old to break out the sidewalk
chalk
Entertainment
The Gold Standard
By: Megan Subler
Features Editor
March 2014
page 9
Guess that teacher!
How many of us can say we really know our teachers? Do we know where they grew up and everything they loved to do when they were
our age? How about the little things that no one really knows about them?
Here’s a challenge: with all of the hints given, can you guess which teachers are being described?
The first car he/she owned was
a Pontiac Lamaze that he/she
called the “deer slayer.”
Teacher #2
This teacher was born on April
24, 1972 to parents David and
Jean.
His/her favorite color is pond
scum green.
He/she was involved in football,
basketball, and track in high
school.
His/her favorite song is Don’t
Stop by Fleetwood Mac.
He/she attended Bluffton College.
PHOTO PROVIDED BY: HOWARD AND SHARON
One thing that people don’t
know about him/her is that he/she
loves to hunt deer.
His/her first car was a blue, twodoor Oldsmobile Cutlass Supreme.
His/her favorite color is red.
His/her favorite song is Brokenheartsville by Joe Nichols.
He/she is afraid of centipedes
He/she attended the University
because “nothing should have that
of
Dayton.
many legs.”
One thing that people don’t
His/her favorite food is General
know
about him/her is that his/her
Tso Chicken that is made at a real
This teacher was born on Sept. 6, Chinese restaurant.
whole family had a picture and an
1977 to parents Howard and Shaarticle in the National Enquirer, as
He/she has three kids, and his/
ron.
having one of the largest families
her favorite thing to do is anything
in the nation.
He/she attended Ayersville Local that his/her kids are involved in.
School and was involved with the
The furthest place he/she has
His/her favorite season is fall
track, swimming, and crosstraveled to is Cabo San Lucas in
because he/she loves to see all of
country teams.
Mexico.
the colors.
He/she has three children.
Teacher #1 is pictured as a child.
Teacher #1
PHOTO PROVIDED BY: DAVID AND JEAN
Teacher #2 is pictured as a child.
His/her favorite food is Chinese.
He/she enjoys traveling, playing
with his/her kids, playing cards
with his/her friends, staying active,
and playing around with the stock
market.
His/her favorite season is fall
because he/she loves to watch the
leaves change colors, and he/she
enjoys the cooler weather that fall
brings.
Jane, Part four: Playing with fire
By: Jennifer Rethman
Staff Writer
crowd begins to go crazy as one victim that
was trapped walks out of the café. I don’t think
anyone else caught it, but I saw the hand that
shoved the boy out of the door. Jane is in
there, and the fire will have no mercy and burn
whatever is in its path, and I hope it won’t be
her.
I run outside and track what I think is Jane,
but, for all I know, it could be a bird or a plane,
for Pete’s sake. From reading my comic books,
I know that superheroes do not like to be followed to the scene of action, but this is not my
comic book, this is actually happening, and for
all I know that piece of information could be
made up, although my gut tells me it is probably plausible.
I don’t have much time to argue with myself,
but even while arguing with my conscience, I
am already on my moped. My eyes are up in
the sky, searching for the little blob I suspect
to be Jane. Just as I find her, she dips into the
downtown area that houses the infamous Java
Café claimed by Tate and his gang.
ART BY: RACHEL BERNING
Jane enters the café.
with me following shortly after. Feeling the
sting of the fresh road rash, I stand up quickly
from adrenaline.
My face falls in shock as I stand frozen to see
Thankfully, there is a short cut through an
the Café in an uproar of flames. I think it is
alley. While I am dodging trash cans and vari- strange for a superhero to show up at a buildous debris, my heart pounds louder in my ears, ing fire, until I hear the rumor flying that there
as I get closer. Having so much distraction in
are three people trapped on the second floor. I
my head, I don’t pay attention to the old table cannot contain my anxiety and fear for Jane. I
that conveniently has one leg missing to make scan the grounds for her, but she is nowhere to
it a perfect ramp for my moped. I hit the table be seen. That just leads me to believe that she
with too much speed and immediately go air- is in the burning building.
borne. Spazzing in response, I release the hanSomeone in the crowd points to the front
dles of my moped, which comes to a crash
entrance, as there is a commotion there. The
Approximately three minutes later, another
straggler is shoved through the doors. This
time, I pay more attention to who the boy is
and realize that it’s not just anyone trapped in
the building, it’s Tate and his gang. Well, at
this point, just Tate, since his gang is already
seeking the care of the medics on scene. The
fury swells as I mentally curse Tate. He would
be too dumb to know when to leave a burning
building, leading to his near death. I hope his
eyebrows burn off.
Just as these thoughts cross my mind, a
heaping pile of flaming building comes crashing in front of the exit. Cries are heard
throughout the crowd as people openly wonder how in the world the third person will get
out alive.
What they don’t wonder is, how will Jane get
out alive?
Continue reading in the next edition
to find out what happens!
The Silver Lining
The Gold Standard
March 2014
BUSTED!
Ask Frieda
By: Jenna Pierron
Staff Writer
By: Brook Albers
had one problem: while
I was trying to zip the
Layout Editor
darn thing up, it would
Dear Frieda,
not budge. I thought for
This past Valentine’s
sure it was me having
Day, I felt down about
issues, but I was soon to
not having a significant find out that all those
other to share this spe- sweets I had eaten had
cial day with, leading to caught up to my figure
my eating a substantial and were preventing the
amount of sweets to
zipper from being comcheer myself up. Before I pletely zipped. I have no
go any further, let me
idea what to do; I might
inform you that prior to as well just not go to
Valentine’s Day I found prom since I can not get
the most extravagant
my dress on. Please help
prom dress that I have
me! I really do not want
been dreaming about
my dress not fitting me
ever since I was a young to prevent me from gogirl. The other day, while ing to prom.
my grandma was over,
Sincerely,
she wanted to see her
Stressed over the Dress
sweet little granddaughter in her dress. As I
Dear Stressed over the
slipped on the dress, I
Dress,
could feel the exciteBefore I start, let me
ment of showing my
tell you to just breathe.
granny how beautiful I
was about to look, but I This is not a life or death
Sunday
2
MARIA STEIN - WEE WOO, WEE WOO! A
buzz races throughout the hallway as blue
and red lights flash in the parking lot on
Thursday morning, Feb. 27. An unnamed
sophomore is pulled over in the parking lot!
PHOTO BY: ALLIE THOBE
Marisa Spoltman, Brook Albers, and Erin
Griesdorn dance at last year’s prom.
situation. There are
many different options
you can take. The first
option is to see if you
can have the dress taken
out; there are a lot of
girls who have their
dresses taken out. With
most girls getting their
dresses a few months
before prom, it is not
unusual to need alterations. If it is not possible
to have the dress taken
out, you could always
sell it and get a new one
or get the same dress in
one size larger. The last
option I have is to
exercise a few times
a week; nothing excessive, but enough
so the dress can fit
like it did when you
originally bought it.
I hope these ideas
can solve the problem, and, most importantly, remember
that you are not the
only one who will
need a few alterations on her dress.
Tuesday
It was said that she was coming into the
school zone, slowing down but not fast
enough, as the sheriff clocked her going 39
mph in a 20 mph zone. Rumor has it that she
just got away with a warning, but she didn’t
get away with the humiliation that came
when she stepped foot into school.
Lesson learned: cry to get away with a
warning, or just follow the speed limit.
Sincerely,
Frieda
PHOTO BY: JENNA PIERRON
“Mug shot” of the unnamed sophomore.
March
Monday
Wednesday
Thursday
Friday
Happy 40th Birthday,
Ms. Yates & Mrs. Bruns!
3
page 10
4
5
6
7
MAC Banquet
Saturday
1
8
Happy Birthday
Kristin Bachman!
Happy Birthday
Lizzy Wuebker!
9
Happy Birthday
Blake Benton!
10
Happy Birthday
Nathan Heckman!
11
12
Happy Birthday
Lisa Lange!
13
14 Happy Birthday
Madi Puthoff!
Band Large Group
OGT
End of nine weeks
15
Happy Birthday
Brandon Prenger!
OGT
OGT
OGT
OGT
17 Happy Birthday
Dylan Keller!
18
Happy Birthday
Emily Otte!
19
Happy Birthday
Brook Albers,
Allie Wendel
Nicole Brunswick,
Kyle Homan,
& Brianne Homan!
20
FFA Banquet
21
22
23 Happy Birthday
Lucas
Schmitmeyer!
24 Happy Birthday
Allison Evers!
Grade cards sent
home
25
Happy Birthday
Beth Wolters!
26
28
30
31 Happy Birthday
27 Varsity
Baseball
Scrimmage
with Wapak
Varsity
softball
scrimmage
29 Girls Track @
Versailles
VSB Tri-game
VBB @
Spencerville
JVBB vs.
Spencerville
16 Happy Birthday
Rachel Otte!
State Cheer
Competition
Mason Thobe &
Taylor Bohman!
Varsity Softball
Scrimmage with
USV
Junior Varsity
Baseball @ Minster