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Volume 17, Issue 8 January 22, 2015
Xavier High School6300 42nd St. NECedar Rapids, IA 52411www.xaviersaints.orgwww.xavierxpress.comFollow us: @xpressnewspaper
Page Design and Pictures by Kathleen Parrish
Speech Showcase kicks off 2015 season!
Xavier High SchoolNews2
The XpressBi-weeklyXavier High School 6300 42nd St. NE Cedar Rapids, IA 52411Volume 17 Issue 8
Xpress Staff
Editor-In-ChiefKatherine BauerPhoto EditorKathleen Parrish
PhotographersJessica Fenske
Ellie Detweiler
Maddy Bailey
BusinessTory Brown
DistributionDonavin WengerOnline Editor
Jeff Frieden
News EditorTyler Testin News Writers
Kathleen Parrish
Tory Brown
Erin Drahozal
Amy Boe
KJ Giles
Opinion EditorAmy Boe
Opinion AssistantAbby Willey
Opinion WritersNic Ekland
Erin Drahozal
Erin Foley
Brooke Alexander
Adrienne Hayes
Student Life EditorJenny Dickes
Student Life AssistantMorgan Ross
Student Life WriterStephanie Wehr
Mini-Feature EditorsFaith Bohrer & Mikayla Noonan
Mini-Feature AssistantHadley Shriver
Feature EditorsBrady Hoffman & Jessica Driscoll
Feature WriterBrylee Bastian
Health and Lifestyle EditorSamantha Valenta
Health and Lifestyle AssistantMaddy Bailey
Health and Lifestyle WriterHailey Justice
Arts & Entertainment EditorKayla Thompson & Rachel Lampe
Arts and Entertainment WritersCatie Locher
Donavin Wenger
Nic Ekland
Sports EditorDaniel Richardson
Sports AssistantKJ Giles
Sports WritersLuke Koechner
Grant Gibney
Ryan Williams
Mark Wardlaw
Backpage EditorsJessica Fenske
Backpage AssistantEllie Detweiler
Backpage WriterAnna Christianson
Index News.. 2 | Opinion.. 4
Student Life.. 6 | Mini-Feature.. 7Feature.. 8
Health & Lifestyle.. 10 | A & E.. 11Sports.. 14 | Backpage.. 16
Saints go marching to Washington, D.C.A bus of Saints will head out
east to march on January 22. Xavier is participating in the annual March for Life in Washington, D.C., where they will protest right to life injustices prevalent in the United States, especially abortion.
The first March for Life hit Capitol Hill in 1974 after the infamous Roe v. Wade decision legalized abortion the previous year. More than 40 years later, the fight to protect the unborn marches on.
The theme for March for Life this year is “Every Life is a Gift.” This message is in response to the depressing statistic that nearly 85% of unborn children diagnosed with fetal abnormalities are aborted. This is much higher than the murder rate of 20% for all unborn children. On the positive side, March for Life 2015 is celebrating the 25th anniversary of the Americans with Disability Act, which improves the quality of life for disabled individuals.
Some members of the Xavier community have already experienced this national protest by attending previous marches.
“I went on this trip my freshman year,” junior Kayla Fuller said.
“I think it’s important to attend March for Life because it is a great way to express my beliefs about abolishing abortion. I think the amount of people who attend every year really sets a great message that there is still hope to change the abortion law.”
Also attending the March are Theology teacher Mr. Nick Satterlee and social studies teacher Ms. Gineal Schrunk. Both will be chaperones for the Xavier students during the event. Ms. Schrunk has fond memories of attending the 2009 March for Life and maintains high hopes for this year’s protest.
“I’m most looking forward to the Youth Rally and Mass that takes place at the Verizon Center the morning of the actual March,” Ms. Schrunk said. “Every seat in the 18,000 capacity event center is filled and well over 100 priests celebrate the Mass. You can just feel the presence of Our Lady, and what I’m sure is a myriad of angels; it’s really a powerful experience.”
Ms. Schrunk has a history of standing up against abortion. She spent time in college as president of the UNI Pro-Life Group. As
a social studies teacher, Ms. Schrunk recognizes the March for Life as a historical opportunity to combat the injustices of abortion.
“When I was focusing on things like slavery or the Holocaust, I often wondered what I would have done, if anything, had I lived during the time of those events,” Ms. Schrunk said. “This of course challenged me to consider what I am doing today to speak out against the injustice around me. I see the March for Life as a simple, straightforward way to speak out.”
Students participating in March for Life will storm the National Mall with the mission of convincing the United States government to outlaw abortion. Future lives of unborn children saved by the marcher’s efforts will certainly be in gratitude to the efforts of the Xavier Saints.
Tyler TestinNews Editor
New face in Theology hallwaySchool in 1998. She was one of the leaders of campus ministry and helped out in the choir room. She was a leader on various retreats, such as SPLURGE, Quest, and Kairos. There is no doubt the Xavier community will miss her presence.
“Seeing Mrs. May leave broke my heart, but I couldn’t think of a better replacement than Ms. Samek,” senior Madison Nelson said. “I’ve gotten to know Ms. Samek very well the past couple years during basketball season. She is a great athlete, coach, teacher, and person.”
After graduating from Mount Mercy University, Ms. Samek knew she wanted to be a teacher and give back to her alma mater. She was a student teacher for the fall semester of 2013 at Regis Middle School before being offered a full time job at Xavier.
“I wanted to teach at Xavier because of its culture,” Ms. Samek said. “The Xavier community has truly created a balanced recipe. Throughout the hallways,
there is a great combination of humility, dedication, and discipline mixed with creativity, talent, and support.”
Erin DrahozalNews Writer
The New Year brought a lot of “new” to Xavier. New show choir competitions, new basketball, bowling, swimming and wrestling competitions, and even a new face. After the departure of beloved teacher Mrs. Susan May, Ms. Beth Samek has been hired to replace Mrs. May in the Theology department.
Ms. Samek is a recent graduate of Xavier High School, earning her diploma in June 2006. She was involved in multiple Xavier activities, including the girls’ soccer dynasty from 2002-2006. She attended Mount Mercy University and continued her soccer career while earning her degree in business and education.
Along with teaching, Ms. Samek is also involved with the girls’ basketball team. She has been coaching sophomore girls’ basketball for the past two seasons.
It is no secret that in the classroom, Ms. Samek has some big shoes to fill. Mrs. May had been a Theology teacher since the opening of Xavier High
New teacher Ms. Beth Samek shows her enthusiasm for theology. Adrienne Hayes Photo.
January 22, 2015 3News
Mini Dance Marathon
Saturday, January 317:00 p.m.-10:00 p.m.
•Admission:$20
Theme: Dress like your mom and dad
Fundraising Goal: $5000All proceeds from MDM support cancer patients
at the University of Iowa Children’s Hospital
Catholic Schools Week celebrationCatholic Schools Week is a
nationwide event which takes place on the last Sunday of January and runs through the entire week. This year, Catholic Schools Week is January 25-31.
“The main purpose of Catholic Schools Week is to remind us of our mission and to celebrate who we are,” Xavier Principal Mr. Tom Keating said.
This week is all about celebrating Catholic education in the United States.
Each year there are certain things Xavier does to make Catholic Schools Week a week of celebration. This celebration includes dress up days and an all-school Mass in the Xavier gymnasium, that also includes the students from the metro area middle schools, LaSalle, Regis, and St. Joseph’s.
“My favorite part of this week is when all the Catholic schools come to Xavier to celebrate Mass,” Student Body President Anna Zittergruen said. “I enjoy seeing all of the younger students who will one day be Xavier Saints!”
This year, the theme days for the week are the following:
Monday- Comfy DayTuesday- Dress code due
to mass. Each grade will be dressed in a different colored
uniform poloWednesday- Western or
Cowboy DayThursday- Throwback Day
Friday- America Day
Students will be allowed to freely dress on these days following the designated rules.
This week-long tradition has been a part of the Xavier system for a long time.
“Xavier has participated in Catholic Schools Week since the school opened in 1998,” Mr. Keating said. “Before that, Regis and LaSalle High Schools participated in Catholic Schools Week.”
This week is an important time for students to remember the reason behind their school, to strengthen their faith with God.
“I think this is an important week because it unites all of the Catholic schools and creates a sense of community and pride,” Zittergruen said.
Catholic Schools Week is a tradition that will always be a part of Xavier.
Tory BrownNews Writer
Presented by Student Senate
•Admission plus MDM Shirt:$30
Xavier High SchoolOpinion4
Satanly
Appreciate downtown
Recently I saw on social media that my favorite locally owned r e s t a u r a n t , Zins, is on the verge of
closing if business doesn’t increase. This announcement has led me to the conclusion that if we, as citizens, do not support our downtown then we will no longer have a downtown.
If we continue losing businesses in the downtown area, not only will the flood of ‘08 downtown restoration fail, but Cedar Rapids will also see the loss of an amazing cultural center. Some of the larger business attractions such as New Bo Market, Zins, The Blue Strawberry Cafe, La Cantina, and Simply Divine Premier Chocolatier are all
located in downtown Cedar Rapids. If we as a city choose not to support our local economy, we can potentially see a desolate downtown lacking a local coffee shop, a specialty candy store, a year round farmers market, casual Mexican dining, and a fine dinning establishment.
I know there are chain businesses that could potentially fill the void. Although these chains may have cheaper prices, one must take into account the freshness and variety of choices that comes with local businesses. These chains will not contribute to the local economy like local businesses. With this in mind, I do not ask, but instead beg everyone to choose to support our local downtown businesses more so we do not lose the cultural epicenter of our great city.
Donavin WengerA&E Writer
Saintly
<<
Respect the flag
“I believe our flag is more than just cloth and ink. It is a universally r e c o g n i z e d symbol that stands for liberty and
freedom. It is the history of our nation, and it’s marked by the blood of those who died defending it,” John Thune said.
I look around at a basketball game and hear kids singing obnoxiously, see boys rocking the bleachers back and forth, and see kids looking around the room while the National Anthem is playing. Seeing this irritates me. People act so ignorant to the fact that soldiers have fought for our rights. This is as disrespectful as not paying attention to a prayer.
When you are disrespecting the flag, you are disrespecting those you know who have
served our country. This person to me is my dad. Yes, we have freedom, but remember freedom is not free. It’s not free, because soldiers are fighting for our rights and not for our benevolence as a student section to disrespect the flag. The flag is one of the most recognized symbols of freedom across the nation. Please recognize what it stands for and respect it
When people go off to war, they go off to fight for their family and their country, we need to recognize and respect that. When you hear the National Anthem, you should think of all of those people who have died and fought for our rights, not what you are buying from the concession stand tonight. Just remember: our freedom does not come free.
Stephanie WehrStudent Life Runner
Challenge for the new year
It’s that time of year again, the time when e v e r y o n e starts making resolutions for the new year. Whether you are or aren’t
the kind of person to make them, I think we can all agree that there is something exciting about the beginning of a new year. You can let go of the things that happened previously and you can focus on what’s to come. Last year, I made a goal to challenge myself to try new things and to not let fear stop me from doing so. It was this goal that made some of the best parts of 2014 for me. Because of how awesome it’s been, I want to challenge all of you to do the same in 2015. From my own experience, I have found three main parts of life in which you can challenge yourself: personally, spiritually, and socially.
Personally: You can challenge yourself personally in all kinds of ways, but I encourage you to try and focus on doing the things that scare you most. There isn’t a better feeling than conquering a fear that once terrified you. For me, this was giving blood and speaking in front of a large group of people. Realizing that you are able to
overcome anything you put your mind to is freeing as you are able to gain insight into just how much you are able to accomplish if you put your mind to it. (Two of my tips for extra encouragement when you are nervous: watch a clip from the movie After Earth in which Will Smith gives a speech on how fear is not real, and FDR’s famous quote, “There is nothing to fear but fear itself.”)
Spiritually: Everyone is at a different place with their faith life, so there is no set way I can tell you to challenge yourself here. In my own case, I was able to gain a deeper understanding of myself and of God’s unconditional love on Kairos. I have found any kind of church led retreat can be very beneficial, and I encourage you to attend. More ways to challenge yourself spiritually are attending monthly SWPs, going to church each Sunday, and praying more times throughout your day. It’s not always easy to push yourself in this part of life, but the more effort you put into it the more you will get out of it.
Socially: In high school it is easy to fall into a routine of doing the same things with the same group of people. That is why pushing yourself as much socially as you can is so important, because the more you try to get to know people and do things you never thought you’d do the more you will get out of high school. I
pushed myself in this way by trying cross country for the first time and by running for student senate, which are two of my favorite things of 2014. Ways of pushing yourself can vary greatly from person to person, but my general rule of thumb is to try at least one new activity. Doing this will bring you new self confidence (whether you were good at it or not) and will most likely bring you into contact with new people you wouldn’t have known otherwise. Pushing yourself socially will define parts of your year, and I know you won’t regret it.
All in all, to push yourself and to work on growing more and more each day is a rewarding challenge that is worth all the effort. If you can do even one new thing in 2015, I am sure you will gain something positive. Here’s to a great and eventful 2015. I hope you will accept my challenge and join me in facing fears and accomplishing new things.
Amy BoeOpinion Editor
January 22, 2015 Opinion 5Things Taylor Swift taught me
W h e t h e r you’re willing to admit your love for her or not, everybody knows of Taylor Swift. Her catchy tunes are hard to
avoid if you own a radio. Taylor has endured her fair share of haters throughout her years of producing her own music, but at only 25 years old, it’s hard to deny that she is one of the most successful people in modern-day Hollywood. You may think her popular songs are “annoying” or “childish”, but if you give her albums a listen, there’s a lot of valuable advice hidden in her lyrics. Here are a few things I’ve taken away from Miss Swift throughout my teenage years.
1. “Don’t you worry your pretty little mind, people throw rocks at things that shine” (Ours). Don’t be afraid to be proud of who you are. Others will try to tear you down, but it’s most important to make yourself happy despite what people may tell you. Unique people are the best kind of people, so just do you.
2. “In your life, you’ll do things greater than dating a boy on the football team/Back then I swore I was gonna marry him someday, but I realized some bigger dreams of mine” (Fifteen). I’m in no place to bash high school relationships, but if a boy breaks your heart, it’s important to remember that you will move on to greater things someday. It may seem like the end of the world now, but your future is unbelievably bright. Don’t allow someone else to be in control of your happiness.
3. “Love is a ruthless game unless you play it good and right” (State of Grace). This not only applies to relationships, but friendships too. Love can take you to the highest of highs, but it can also take you to the lowest of lows. Treat others how you would like to be treated.
4. “They tell you that you’re lucky but you’re so confused, cause you don’t feel pretty, you just feel used” (The Lucky One). Unfortunately, there are people in this world who will take advantage of you. This song puts to rest the old myth that popularity will solve your problems. Don’t lose sight of your morals. Being a good, genuine person will get you much farther in life than your looks, money, or popularity ever will.
5. “Today is never too late to be brand new” (Innocent). This song acknowledges the fact that everybody makes mistakes. Take responsibility for yours, and people are more likely to forgive you. You can make a change for the better at any point in your life.
6. “Take pictures in your mind of your childhood room, memorize what it sounded like when your dad gets home” (Never Grow Up). Time flies. Cherish every moment you have with your family. Those are the memories you’ll replay in your head someday when you’re out in the real world.
Whether Taylor Swift is your muse or not, it’s hard to deny that these lessons are important. Several popular music artists have a lot of hidden messages in their lyrics, so try listening to the radio a little closer next time. You may be surprised at what you discover.
Abby WilleyAssistant Opinion Editor
Time to slow down
If you r e m e m b e r January 6, the day everyone thought we were going to have a snow day (but really
it was just a two hour delay), I got in my first car mishap. I would say crash or accident but I was the only one involved.
Let me paint the picture for you. I was driving and admiring the beauty of the winter wonderland. I woke up a little upset, but decided to take my dad’s advice and go to school with a positive attitude. So on my way to school, I truly was admiring the snow that we all had prayed for the night prior. Out by my house there are a lot of corn fields and beautiful sceneries. I decided to pull over and take a picture of the way the sun was hitting the snow. Unfortunately, I didn’t come to a complete stop and ended up in the ditch. Maybe we should bring back “Celebrate my Drive”?
Of course I started freaking out, but this was God talking to me. It’s time to slow down. I was trying to stop and appreciate God, but I wasn’t fully stopped. I didn’t put my full attention into it. This made me fully focus.
I kept trying to get out of the ditch, but it was too
deep. I couldn’t do it by myself. People kept stopping to see if I needed help, but I had already called my dad, and he was on his way with the same advice he gave me that morning: keep it positive. I think this is the way God works through my life.
He is always sending people into my life and guardian angels and it’s time for me to truly thank God for all of the people who have helped me and will help me. Like I said before, it’s time to slow down and truly appreciate all of the beauty in the world and realize that even the bad things that happen, happen for a reason. Although being in the ditch didn’t seem like a beautiful scenario, it forcefully made me stop and appreciate what I have and what is still to come.
Tory BrownBusiness Manager
Attack of the necktie
I frequently find myself q u e s t i o n i n g t r a d i t i o n s , asking whether the tradition serves any real purpose in the modern
world. I attempt to objectively look at the tradition, determine the connection to the past, and then question whether it makes sense that the tradition continues. I’m on a quest to snap people out of mindlessly following pointless traditions, and the first victim on my list is the necktie.
Most males have been put into a situation where a tie is required, as if this pointless piece of fabric tied into a knot around one’s neck makes a man look more professional or classy. I cannot understand why we’ve allowed ourselves to be “tied” down by such a functionless fashion statement.
The necktie only hinders
performance (ex: necktie soup, throat lacerations, added time to get ready). I’m all about efficiency in every aspect of life, and wearing a tie does not fit into my qualification of a worthy garment. After awhile of contemplating on the function of the tie, I began to dive deep into the delves of my brain as to why people continually put themselves through this
atrocity. I knew I could talk to my father, a man who wears a suit and tie five days out of the week. His only response to my questioning on the value of the tie was, “I wear one because it’s something I do. I guess it serves no purpose.” My thirst for an answer was never more prevalent, so I began to look at the tradition as a whole.
The history of the tie can
actually be dated back to ancient Roman soldiers who wore a piece of fabric to indicate a social class. The modern tie’s spread can be traced back to Europe in the 1600’s. King Louis XIV started the fashion craze, and it began to be associated with nobility in Europe. If you ask me, nothing seems more un-American... I bet a red coat would look great with the tie!
Clothing as a whole serves a few purposes, and must fit into these categories in order for it to be deemed credible. Functionality: it must aid an activity or procedure. Warmth: it must keep my body at a comfortable temperature so it can run like a well-oiled machine. Coverage: enough sad. As I take an impartial stance and look at these benchmarks that have been set, I can’t see one that the tie fits into. We’ve carried on the tradition of the necktie for far too long. It’s time to rid ourselves of this unnecessary article of clothing.
Nic Ekland Opinion Writer Senior Nic Ekland shows his refusal to be “tied
down” by his necktie. Amy Boe Photo.
A perfect example of God’s beautiful creation. Madsy Richards Photo.
January 22, 2015 Mini-Feature 6
Snow day Activities
Watching Netf ix Baking
Dave Benson,Superintendent
Sledding
Snowball Fight
Build a Snowman
Cedar Rapids Public & Parochial: Closed
76%
21%
18%
• Thedecisiontohaveanearlydismissalisgenerallymadeby10a.m.
• Regardinga2-hourdelayorcancellation,adecisionisusuallydeterminedby5:30a.m.
• Decisionsregardinghighschoolactivitiesandathleticeventswillbemadebythebuildingadministrator.
• Wesupportparents&guardiansinmakingthedecisionthatisbestfortheirfamily.Steven Culpepper ‘16 Jamie Fenske ‘18
Design By: Faith Bohrer. Photos By: Bing images, Mikayla Noonan and Jessica Fenske. Information By: Day Laurel, www.usclimatedata.com.
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igh
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Low
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3Xavier’s Favorite Snow
Activities
Monster Cookies“The Walking Dead”
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Cedar Rapids Public & Parochial: ClosedXavier High School Student Life 7
APP ADDICTIONSMany high school students find themselves addicted and
spending a majority of their time on apps. Take a look at which apps are the most popular from a survey of 133
students.
Page design by: Jenny Dickes and Morgan Ross. Information collected by: Stephanie Wehr. Information from www.business2community.com
Winner: Twitter
Clash of Clans
Snapchat Pinterest
Madden Mobile
Netflix
Trivia Crack
Snapchat
Netflix
Netflix
Did you know...?
*Katy Perry has the most twitter
followers (55 million)
*460,000 is the average number of new accounts created per day*New York has the most Twitter profiles Sam Lynch ‘15
*Following: 372
*Followers: 2,537
*Favorite follower: Rihanna
*Time spent on Twitter each day: 1 hour
8 FeatureJanuary 22, 2015
Transformations
Dorothy Zaugg ‘15 Connor Miller, ‘17 Nic Ekland ‘15
Xavier students present their then and now pictures.
Page Design By Brady Hoffman and Jessica Driscoll. Assisted by Brylee Bastian. Photos Submitted.
Gabby Waltermyer ‘18
Zach Detterman ‘16
Charlie Esker ‘17
George Durin ‘18 Delany Breitbach ‘15 Sam Meyers ‘17
9Feature
Transformations
Nic Ekland ‘15 Mason Burken ‘15 Mary ‘18 Katie ‘17 Tallet
Page Design By Brady Hoffman and Jessica Driscoll. Assisted by Brylee Bastian. Photos Submitted.
Charlie Esker ‘17
Stephanie Wehr ‘16 Cassie Himmelsbach ‘17 Iman Juenger ‘16
Sam Meyers ‘17
Xavier High School
Xavier High SchoolHealth & Lifestyle10
Start Spreading the News, Xavier’s Eating New Foods
Paleo
Page Design: Sam Valenta, Maddy Bailey, Hailey Justice. Pictures: pixabay.com Information: vegetariantimes.com, Huffington Post, paleoplan.com, www.vegan.com
Veg
anPe
scetar
ian
Vegetables+
Fruit
Meat Fish
StarchesDairy
Veg
etar
ian
• Reducetheriskofheartdisease• Avoidpesticides• Fisharelessawareoftheworldaroundthem,unlikelandanimals• 2%ofAmericansarepescetarian,whichis6millionpeople
• Foodisveryflavorful• Canstilleatmeat• Useproteinpowderandbars• 1%ofAmericansarepaleo,whichis3millionpeople
• Keepweightdownandincreaseenergy• Avoidtoxicchemicals• Spareanimals• 3.2%ofAmericansarevegetarian,whichis7.3millionpeople
• Reducetheriskofcardiovasculardisease• Naturalfood• Spareanimals• .05%ofAmericansarevegan,whichis1millionpeople
VeganPaleo
“I eat paleo for the gains.”
- Thomas Hasley ‘16
“I am a vegan because I don’t like the idea of hurting
animals.”- Emma Lessman ‘16
January 22, 2015 A & E 11
Show Choir: Behind the Scenes
Speech showcases their talent Red Rising Review
Kathleen ParrishPhoto Editor
Maddy BaileyHealth and Lifestyle
Assistant Editor
Kayla ThompsonA&E Co-Editor
When one watch a show choir performance, not only do they see incredible choreography and fantastic singing, they also hear amazing music and see quick changes that leave the audience in awe. It makes one wonder what goes on behind the scenes. The
Xpress takes an exclusive look at those involved behind show choir stage.
Combo Techies
The job of the combo is to provide the instrumental music for the show choirs. They are also in charge of transporting their
own equipment.
A techie’s job involves helping transport costumes or props to performances and making sure everything runs smoothly
backstage during the performance.
“The best part of combo is the excitement you can feel from the choir and the audience right before a big performance.”
Tony Hamer ‘15
“The competitions are really fun! It’s rewarding when a performance goes smoothly and no one misses a costume change or has any other problems.”
Rory Gallagher ‘15
“The most rewarding thing is hearing how terrible it sounds when you first get it, then how amazing it sounds during the first performance and those after.”
Quinn Miller ‘18
“I just get to be a part of the show choir and contribute to the success and go to all the performance.”
Eva Deegan ‘18
Combo and Techie Photos by Marlana Miller.
According to psychological studies performed by Chapman University, the thing that Americans fear most is public speaking. This phobia is ranked higher than spiders, heights, car accidents, and even death. However, there is a group of students at Xavier who have decided to overcome and conquer this fear: the Xavier Speech team.
“I had a long history of being in plays, but going into speech as a sophomore, I was a little nervous,” senior Jacob Hansen said. “A lot relies on you, like your time commitment and memorizing all your lines.”
The Xavier speech team held tryouts in early October and have been practicing since November 17. About 55 students are on the team. Many compete in group events and some also compete individually under coaches Scott Davidson, Lisa Streif, and Laura Travagiakis.
“My favorite thing about being a coach is that I get to meet a lot of kids that I don’t have in class,” Streif said.
There are a variety of categories that groups compete in, including musical theater, choral reading, ensemble
acting, and one act play. Their first event of the 2015
season was the Speech Showcase on January 19. It was held in the Xavier theater and choir room. The District Contest will be held this Saturday, January 24 in Monticello.
To humans, each color brings out certain emotions and can be symbolic depending on our experiences. If a color defined you and your personality, what would it be? In Pierce Brown’s Red Rising, social classes are organized by color and Darrow is a red. Reds make up the bottom of the food chain and have the dangerous job of making Mars safe for human life. The highest color is the Golds, and they are responsible for the gruesome death of Darrow’s wife.
My heart broke when Darrow illegally buries his wife in a secret garden and says his last goodbyes. He is fueled with rage and overcome with emotion. In hopes of avenging his wife’s death and taking down the Golds, Darrow is transformed into a Gold through surgical procedure and miraculously earns a spot in their most prestigious academy.
Throughout the novel, he must prove his sense of leadership and intelligence in this battle school in the hopes that he will one day kill the man who murdered his wife. You can’t help but silently cheer him on as he conquers his enemies and builds his army against his opponents.
I loved the constant action this story presented and never got used to the dramatic twists and turns. This thrilling novel will keep you turning the pages and waiting for an answer.
The sequel to Red Rising, Golden Son, was published on January 6 and is in stores now. I give this book five stars and cannot wait to read the sequel!
Musical theater group, Once Upon a Mattress, performs their final song.Kathleen Parrish Photo.
One copy of book is available in the Xavier LMC.Maddy Bailey Photo.
Xavier High SchoolA & E12
What Song Do You Relate To?
Dining with Donavin Poms take on ChicagoOn January 10, the Xavier poms
team took on their last competition. They competed in Chicago, Illinios at The Chicagoland Competition. The team took a jazz routine and a poms routine. They received eigth place in the jazz category and ninth in the poms category.
The girls worked hard to get to this point in their season. With a busy practice schedule, the girls were constantly getting better. On a regular week, they practiced three days a week for two hours. In order to prepare for the regionals, coaches Stephanie and Kelli Breitbach added more practices and conditioned the girls so they would be ready.
“We had a lot of long and hard practices leading up to Chicagoland,” sophomore Peyton Recker said. “Our coaches werethe happiest they have
ever been with our performance, so it paid off.”
Working hard as a team was a major factor in the team’s success this season. It was very important to the team that the girls bonded and created friendships.
“I think our team has improved a lot from the beginning of the year,” sophomore Brie Baldus said. “Throughout the season, we get to know each other. We learned how to work as a team. We went through ups and downs, but we always got through them together.”
The poms team will finish their season with a few more performances at home basketball games.
Catie LocherA&E Writer
I have to say that these were easily the greatest blueberry pancakes I’ve ever had! Sorry, Mom, you have been beat! With my stomach still longing for the blueberry pancakes, I look forward to returning.
Overall, The Breakfast House Cafe is a small mom and pop restaurant with amazing food, but falls short with slower service. So if you are looking for an amazing breakfast restaurant, look no further.
Donavin WengerA&E Writer
The Breakfast House Cafe in Cedar Rapids is a unique restaurant on the southwest side of town that specializes in breakfast foods ranging from omelettes to biscuits and gravy.
This small restaurant provides a cozy atmosphere one would expect from a cafe. While some might view it as cramped, it is a nice change from the larger chain restaurants. However, since it is a smaller restaurant, one can expect longer waits during breakfast rush hours (8 a.m to 10 a.m) on the weekends. One other unintended consequence of a smaller building is that when this place gets busy, be prepared to wait for your food.
As previously mentioned, this restaurant is on the smaller side, so be prepared for potentially slow service. The waitress I had was very friendly. However, hungry people are not exactly the most patient. This caused the already extended wait time to seem even longer. While I understand that the size of the building may be limiting to the kitchen’s ability to keep up with the orders, I believe that an increase in kitchen staff would bolster this restaurant’s speed of service.
Lastly, I move on to my favorite part of any restaurant, the food. With such an immense array of breakfast dishes, there is plenty to choose from. Most dishes cost between $6 and $8. While there, I ordered the blueberry pancakes.
Rachel LampeA&E Co-Editor
Match the student and faculy to the correct song they chose to describe their life.
1.) The lyrics “I live for the applause” by Lady Gaga because I like to be the star of the show.
2.) The lyrics “Yeah, no offense to you don’t waste your time. Here’s why, because I’m happy” by Pharrell Williams because you can’t let the bad things get you down.
3.) The song Don’t You Worry ‘Bout A Thing by Stevie Wonder because I tend to worry about things too much and it’s a great song.
ANSWERS: 1. F 2. D 3. A 4. C 5. E 6. B
A. Mr. Andy Hayward C. Jennifer Sigmon ‘15 D. Spencer Wille ‘16 E.Olivia Lampe ‘17 F. Will Hanigan ‘18
4.) The song Pocket Full of Sunshine because I always seem to be happy.
5.) The F.R.I.E.N.D.S theme song I’ll Be There For You because I always try to be there for my friends, and I am obsessed with the show!
6.) The song O My Soul by Audrey Assad because it reminds me, when I get overly worried about something, that no matter the situation He is present. I’m not in it alone.
B. Ms. Gineal Schrunk
RatingsAtmosphere
Food
Service
Overall
Xavier poms pose after performing at The Chocagoland Competition. Recker Photo.
January 22, 2015 A & E 13
Patrons
Dick AlexanderKelli AlexanderNancy AlexanderKermit and Florence AlvesherePeter and Joan BaileyRyan and Tracy BastianJim and Judy BauerKen and Rosemary BauerJohn BeairdNancy BicketKathy BlackDoug and Charla BoeSandy BoeDaryll and Beth BohrerMarti BowmanHannah BrownHeidi BrownLydia and Mike BrownChristy BryantCassie BuschAnna BusseSheli ChristiansonHannah ChuteGary and Mindy ColemanJane and Rod CollinsSharon DanielsonMr. and Mrs. Mike DelaneyBrooke DeWolfJohn and Darlene DickesSteve and Pat Dickes Jan and Mike DrahozalJoe and Kelly DrahozalGeorge and Lois DreyBette EklandTom and Terry EklandStephen and Kay ElliotJacob and Theresa FahnleJack and Micki Fenske
Jenna FenskeJim and Linda FenskeBarney and Kathy FoleyJeff and Jenny FriedenRichard GalliganMike and Mollie GannonMeghan GerkeBlake GibneyMary and Jeff GibneyJeanne GilesPatty and Al GotheJack and Walda GustafsonPreston and Janan HallNell and Mike HammelBob and Lauren HammerbergTrisha HartScott HassenstabLaura HerrigTim and Katie HillStan and Jeanne HlasJohn and Sasha HoffmanMarvin and Linda HoffmanTom and Jean HoffmanCraig and Mary HovdaLogan and Stephanie HoxieSue JenningsDave JusticeJoe JusticeRay and Beth KaminRay and Jan KaminMary and Ralph KammermeirRon KeatingKelli KertonJames and Barb KleinJenny KoechnerAnn and Tim KortemeyerLarry and Maryetta LampeMary and Perry Laures
Jim LemkeDee and Tom LempkaJohn A. LocherLaura and John LocherMary LocherDoris LogelShirley LukanMegan LynchBob and Lori MadrickBob and Sue MadrickJohn and Jenni MadrickPat and Al MaiersKelly MarkhamMcCartan FamilyJames McEniryMaryanne McEniryChris and Erin MeyerTony and Kathy MoederLeo and Diane MonaghanShannon MulcaheyMary NeuwohnerJohn and Ruth NeuzilLisa NielsenRose Nino Mike NoonanMorgan NoonanMr. and Mrs. Steve NoonanShawnee OwensLeslie PageDaniel PapeEve ParrishMike and Mary ParrishBonnie and Pat PeacockTess PladsenAshley PudilLisa RamloAnn and Dave RichardsonJohn Richardson
Tom and Dianna RichardsonWilma RobinsonBrian and Dione RossGreg and Tracy RossJack and Sharon RossJoan ShriverMichael and Mary SchulteChristine SparksJerry StantonTed StegerJim and Rita TestinDave and Karen ThinnesScott ThompsonWilma ThompsonAnna UpahCaryl ValentaDaniel VegaMolly VipondTim and Kim VipondJody, Hillary, and Amelia VonAnsenMike and Sue WaldronGene WardlawMatt WardlawLynn WeberLyle and Shelly WehrSamantha WehrJason and Tori WengerAlexandria WestlundJeff and Cheryl WestlundAnne WhiteTerry WhitneyJoAnn WilleyChristi WilliamsWendy WilliamsMark and Maureen Zittergruen
Construction Materials, Inc.Dick Galligan
345-49th Avenue Dr. S.W.Cedar Rapids, IA 52404
(319)-366-6446(800) 747-6401
Buy a 2014-2015 Yearbook!www.jostensyearbook.com
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Following a heartbreak loss to Dubuque Hempstead, the Xavier boys’ basketball team went on the road January 16 to beat in conference opponent Iowa City High 69-61. Senior guard and North Dakota commit Adam McDermott led the Saints and set a new school
Xavier High SchoolSports14
Bednar, Nachman follow unique traditionLately Xavier students
may notice how easy it is to pick a member of the boys’ swimming teams out of a crowd. Swimmers bleaching their hair is not a new trend, but a long tradition for boys’ swimming. The bleaching starts a few weeks before one of the biggest meets of the year, districts. Usually the day before the district swim meet, members of the team shave their heads. This tradition started back when swim caps were not as well made, so swimmers would shave their heads to give them an aerodynamic advantage.
Senior swimmer Evan Bednar has been a great weapon for the Kennedy swim team.
“I feel like I am doing very
well this year personally,” Bednar said. “I show up to every meet mentally and physically prepared to do my best.”
Bednar set a personal record in the 50 freestyle with a time of 24.31 in the Kennedy and Washington match on January 6. Bednar has no plans to swim in college.
Another vital asset to the Kennedy varsity swim team is senior Jacob Nachman. Nachman has been swimming varsity for two years.
“Evan and Jacob definitely help push the team, and a lot of the underclassman look up to them as seniors,” junior
Jonah Scallon said. “They are both great leaders.”
Like Bednar, Nachman has no plans to swim in college.
The Kennedy Cougars faced off against the Washington Warriors on January 6 for senior night. This was the second time Kennedy and Washington have faced each other. Washington came out on top and beat Kennedy.
“Our coaches were very happy how the meet turned out,” Scallon said. “Washington has a very tough team, but the scores were pretty close.”
Bednar set a personal record but Kennedy could not overcome the strong Washington team.
Grant GibneySports Writer
Xavier tops City High, second ranked Dowling
Xavier’s swimmers take a moment out of the water to reflect on a great year. Annie Fettkether Photo.
record with 32 points. Senior guard Michael Mims and junior guard Mitchell Burger added 8 and 12 points respectively.
The following afternoon, Xavier took on undefeated and second ranked West Des Moines Dowling and handed them a 65-54 loss. After the first quarter, the Saints found themselves leading by a slim margin. McDermott started out hot, hitting three triples in the first quarter. The Maroons came storming back and led 25-19 at the halfway point.
Mims scored all of his 17 points in the second half, hitting four three pointers, leading the Saints to victory. Xavier started attacking the rim in the second half, which led to 22 free throws. The Saints knocked in 20 of them.
Unheralded sport gains popularity
Xavier is full of people with unique talents and abilities who choose to show them in their own ways. Hockey is a sport that is extremely popular in northern states like Minnesota and Wisconsin, but in Iowa, it still finds a way to fly under the radar. For Xavier seniors Jordan Even and Edward Krouse, however, hockey is the best sport to play no matter where they reside. For Even, his journey started at the age of three when he used to travel with his cousin who, at the time, played for a semipro hockey team.
Even plays for the High School Rough Riders, making a large time commitment outside of school to practice his craft.
“We usually practice Monday through Thursday from 7:30 to 10 p.m.,” Even said.
Their practices consist of an hour and a half of off ice workouts followed by an hour of on ice training.
Krouse has been playing since he was four-years-old. For Krouse, hockey has always been more of a social sport and a fun way to spend time with his brother and friends. Unlike in the United States, hockey is a huge sport in Canada, so being of Canadian lineage, Krouse has always felt ties to the sport he enjoys playing so much.
Even also enjoys the sport, but he is in it for the competition.
“My favorite part of hockey is the speed of it,” Even said. “The adrenaline rush you get on the ice is unreal.”
Hockey is a sport with rapidly growing popularity in the states, and these two athletes are ahead of the curve.
Ryan WilliamsSports Writer
Senior guard Michael Mims controls the offense during Xavier’s game against Dubuque Hempstead January 13. Emiko Coffey Photo.
“We communicated and covered really well in our 2-3 zone,” Head Coach Ryan Luehrsmann said. “Offensively, the guys did a great job of moving and sharing the ball.”
McDermott and Burger scored 15 points apiece, and senior forward Calvin Winker added 12.
“Our biggest strength is our offense,” junior forward Ryan Stulken said. “Lots of people are capable of scoring at any given moment.
Xavier (6-5) plays again January 23 at home against Waterloo East.
The Kennedy swim team prepares for a meet against Washington on January 6. Photo submitted.
K.J. GilesAssistant Sports Editor
January 22, 2015 Sports 15
Daniel RichardsonSports Editor
Luke KoechnerSports Writer
Lembeck joins the 100 wins clubAs a high school wrestler
in the state of Iowa, it takes a mixture of guts, dedication, and great guidance to achieve personal success. With the University of Iowa wrestling team currently ranked number one in the nation and Iowa State not far behind, it is no secret that Iowa is full of homegrown talent.
All these factors considered, one would think achieving a milestone like 100 wins in a high school career was simply an object of imagination. Nevertheless, the odds were defied on January 10 by Clint Lembeck at the 49th Annual Linn-Mar Invitational. He is one of only three other wrestlers who have reached the Century Club in the program’s 17-year history. It also might be worth considering that he is only halfway through his junior year.
“When I realized I had reached my 100th win,
I felt a great feeling of accomplishment,” Lembeck said. “It was great to know I had finally reached that milestone.”
With three pins and two decisions throughout the meet, Lembeck continued his streak of strong showings. As of January 17, his current individual record is 23-2. This impressive record has earned him a ranking of number two in the state at 132 pounds. With the postseason quickly approaching, Lembeck has his eyes fixed on the ultimate accomplishment for a high school wrestler: a state championship title.
“My goals for the rest of the season are to train hard, stay focused, and hopefully represent the Xavier wrestling team at the top of the podium at the state tournament,” Lembeck said.
With Lembeck continuing to dominate, junior Jeff Vipond
and sophomore Josh Gerke have stepped up in big ways as well. Vipond posted a 5-0 record at Xavier’s Doug Philipp Duals while Gerke had his own perfect day in Webster City, claiming victories in all four of his matches. If Vipond continues wrestling the way he has been, he has a great shot of obtaining 100 wins by the end of the season.
“The factors that have helped these three become so successful are simply the amount of time, preparation, dedication, and extremely
hard work they have put in,” Coach Ryan Chambers said. “They are a very disciplined group and have made a lot of sacrifices to become what they have become.”
This dynamic trio will attempt to continue their victorious ways when they visit Iowa City High for the Clyde Bean Duals on January 24.
Bailey wins Metro Spotlight AwardWith every basketball
season, somebody needs to step up their game to new levels and help the team. This year, that person has been senior Lizzy Bailey so far. This season, she has improved in many aspects of her game, most notably her scoring increased from 7.4 to 13.9 points per game.
If a team is facing Bailey, one might think that it would be a better strategy to foul her and make her go to the line. Bad idea. Bailey is an impressive 81% from the line, making 60 of her 74 free throws this season. The same team might decide to play cover defense and not guard Bailey at the top of the key, which is another bad decision. She can step back and shoot the three, making 20 three point field goals through the first couple of months. With very few ways to guard her, teams need to figure out a way to guard her without fouling her, without staying off enough for her to make a move and beat them, and without giving her enough space to shoot the three.
On the defensive end, Bailey is a smart player. With only 17 fouls through a span of 15 games, she is good about staying out of foul trouble. She still manages to be aggressive and has accumulated 21 steals. Bailey also has 21 rebounds,
16 defensive and 5 offensive. “Lizzy brings great
leadership and work ethic to the team,” senior Morgan Breitbach said. “She works hard at everything she does.”
The hard work and dedication brought by the guard so far this season has earned her the honor of being Metro Spotlight Athlete of the week. The award was announced January 4 and was highly attributed to the Saints 59-55 road win against Davenport Assumption. Bailey recorded a season high of 20 points that game, scoring a little more than one third of the team’s overall points.
“I’m very honored, and it couldn’t have been accomplished without the support of my amazing teammates,” Bailey said.
She has since recorded a new season high scoring 22 in an overtime game against 4A number one ranked West Des Moines Valley.
“My goal is to eventually make it to state and have lots of fun in the process,” Bailey said.
The team can next be seen in action on January 23 at Waterloo East.
Junior Clint Lembeck poses with the w r e s t l i n g c o a c h i n g staff after winning his 100th career match. Jenn Schultschki Photo.
IBA season heads to the playoffsXavier’s Intramural
Basketball Association season is coming to an end as only four semi-finalists remain. The Cavaliers, Nuggets, Grizzlies, and Timberwolves have dominated the regular season and are facing off on January 24 for a spot in the
finals. The Nuggets will play the Grizzlies, and the Cavs will take on the Timberwolves
“Our chances of winning are 110%,” senior Nic Ekland said. “Offense wins championships.”
Ekland is the team captain of the 5-1 Grizzlies and the leading scorer in the league with 137 points on the season.
“Our biggest challenge is showing up,” Ekland said.
The Grizzlies’ one loss came in a forfeit to the Nuggets after not having enough players present to play. Ekland and the rest of the team are looking forward to their semi-final match.
Mason Hoxie (left) tries to juke a group of defenders during an IBA regular season game. His fellow Nuggets will face the Grizzlies on January 24 for a spot in the finals. Madsy Richards Photo.
Mark WardlawSports Writer
Cavaliers
Record: 4-2
Off. Ave PPG:37.2
Def. Ave PPG: 47.0
Leading Scorer:
John Hovda, 16 PPG
Nuggets
Record: 4-2
Off. Ave PPG:50.3
Def. Ave PPG:50.5
LeadingScorer:Riley
Dempsey, 13 PPG
Grizzlies
Record: 5-1
Off. Ave PPG:67.3
Def. Ave PPG:40.8
LeadingScorer:
Nic Ekland,27.4 PPG
T-Wolves
Record: 5-1
Off. Ave PPG:44.6
Def. Ave PPG:30.4
Leading Scorer:Bryce
Charipar,16.6 PPG
IBA Semifinalist Teams
16 Backpage January 22, 2015
What do you want to be when you grow UP?
Maddie Feltman `16“I want to go to Arizona and get my degree in PR and business and open up my own wedding planning
business.”
Mitchell Young `16“When I’m older, I want to be a director of operations and run
restaurants.”
Page Design By: Jessica Fenske, Ellie Detweiler, and Faith Bohrer. Info By: Anna Christianson, Nic Ekland, and Ryan Williams
Kayla Seymour `17“I want to become a teacher and
also do something with acting in the future.”
Kylie Tritle `15“I am currently taking a class on patient care, and I want to do something in
the medical field.”
Rylee Wegmann `18“I would like to study journalism
when I get to college.”
Thomas Tobin `18“I would like to become an engineer after high school.”
Michael Olberding `18“When I am older, I want to
become an engineer.”
Noah Clasen `15“When I am older, I want
to be an astronaut.”
