8
A leisurely Saturday shopping trip to Westfield Southlake Mall in Hobart turned into a scary experience for several Portage High School students on Nov. 10. The mall was evacuated at about 6:30 p.m. that evening after a shot was fired during a fight between two groups of teenage boys. No one was injured in the shooting. Seniors Lyndsey Cunningham and Breanna Caldwell were at Southlake Mall for the grand opening of the new Victoria’s Secret. They were at the store, which is very close to the location of the shot, when it was fired. “The experience was so scary; the only way to describe it is unreal,” Cunningham said. “We couldn’t believe what we had heard and what we were seeing. We saw the people in the hallway running in crowds, people were running and screaming for their lives, people came pouring into Victoria’s Secret and everyone ran toward the back of the store.” Cunningham, her sister and Caldwell were eventually evacuated from the building. See SHOOTING, page 3 Pow Wow Covering Real Issues for the Students of Portage High School Portage High School Issue 6 November 30, 2012 Shopping trip turns into scary experience for several students Brandon Vickrey Editor-in-Chief Police apprehend three suspects after a shooting at Westfield Mall in Hobart. Several PHS students were at the mall when the shot was fired and described the incident as “unreal.” Photo provided by Charles Gabriel Financial stress is common lately and often hits home for many people. For Portage residents, this stress truly does hit home with the city finan- cially struggling to make it through the rest of the year. Clerk Treasurer Chris Stidham deals with the city’s finances. He expects that by the end of this year, once the city pays out all of its bills along with the money it expects to receive, there will be a cushion of about $60,000 going into 2013. “The reason $60,000 is a problem is because we have expenses each day. It’s not good for a city with a budget of over $20 million to have only $60,000 left in its bank account, even for one day,” Stidham said. According to Stidham, many cities are in the shape Portage is in due to the economy. He also explained that most of this financial stress is due to the state introducing property tax caps a few years back, which significantly reduced the revenue that cities and towns have in Indiana. “This year for 2012 we saw around a $2.5 million dollar spike in our health insurance costs, which definitely had a large impact,” Stidham said. See BUDGET, page 3 Katie Peksenak News Editor City works to find solution to budget shortfall What’s inside? “The 39 Steps” encore Page 2 Hodges signs with USI Page 5 Cooperation a must in D.C. Page 6 Senior Rashaan Coleman talks to head football coach Wally McCormack in between plays. Coleman participates in football during the fall season and track and field during the spring season. Photo by Haley Crnarich Athletes juggle multiple sports At some point in most high school athletes’ careers, they face the decision between playing multiple sports or focusing on their best sport all year. According to a recent Pow Wow survey sent to all 19 Portage High School varsity head coaches, the majority of coaches encourage their athletes to pick up extra sports. A total of 15 coaches said they encourage their athletes to play multiple sports, while two said it depends on the situation and that they try to help each athlete figure out what is best for him or her. Multiple attempts to contact the other two head coaches were unsuccessful. Varsity baseball coach Tim Pirowski said he thinks athletes, especially underclassmen, should play more than one sport. However, out of the 19 PHS baseball players who have gone on to play in college during Pirowski’s eight year tenure as head coach, six were multisport athletes and 13 played only baseball. See MULTIPLE SPORTS, page 4 Brandon Vickrey Editor-in-Chief “The reason $60,000 is a problem is because we have expenses each day. It’s not good for a city with a budget of over $20 million to have only $60,000 left in its bank account, even for one day.” -Chris Stidham, Portage Clerk Treasurer

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Page 1: Portage Pow Wow Issue 6

A leisurely Saturday shopping trip to Westfield Southlake Mall in Hobart turned into a scary experience for several Portage High School students on Nov. 10. The mall was evacuated at about 6:30 p.m. that evening after a shot was fired during a fight between two groups of teenage boys. No one was injured in the shooting.

Seniors Lyndsey Cunningham and Breanna Caldwell were at Southlake Mall for the grand opening of the new Victoria’s Secret. They were at the store, which is very close to the location of the shot, when it was fired.

“The experience was so scary; the only way to describe it is unreal,” Cunningham said. “We couldn’t believe what we had heard and what we were seeing. We saw the people in the hallway running in crowds, people were running and screaming for their lives, people came pouring into Victoria’s Secret and everyone ran toward the back of the store.”

Cunningham, her sister and Caldwell were eventually evacuated from the building. See SHOOTING, page 3

Pow Wow Covering Real Issues for the Students of Portage High School

Portage High School Issue 6 November 30, 2012

Shopping trip turns into scary experience for several studentsBrandon VickreyEditor-in-Chief

Police apprehend three suspects after a shooting at Westfield Mall in Hobart. Several PHS students were at the mall when the shot was fired and described the incident as “unreal.” Photo provided by Charles Gabriel

Financial stress is common lately and often hits home for many people. For Portage residents, this stress truly does hit home with the city finan-cially struggling to make it through the rest of the year.

Clerk Treasurer Chris Stidham deals with the city’s finances. He expects that by the end of this year, once the city pays out all of its bills along with the money it expects to receive, there will be a cushion of about $60,000 going into 2013.

“The reason $60,000 is a problem is because we have expenses each day. It’s not good for a city with a budget of over $20 million to have only $60,000 left in its bank account, even for one day,” Stidham said.

According to Stidham, many cities are in the shape Portage is in due to the economy. He also explained that most of this financial stress is due to the state introducing property tax caps a few years back, which significantly reduced the revenue that cities and towns have in Indiana.

“This year for 2012 we saw around a $2.5 million dollar spike in our health insurance costs, which definitely had a large impact,” Stidham said.

See BUDGET, page 3

Katie PeksenakNews Editor

City works to find solution to budget shortfall

What’s inside? “The 39 Steps” encore

Page 2 Hodges signs with USI

Page 5 Cooperation a must in D.C.

Page 6

Senior Rashaan Coleman talks to head football coach Wally McCormack in between plays. Coleman participates in football during the fall season and track and field during the spring season. Photo by Haley Crnarich

Athletes juggle multiple sportsAt some

point in most high school athletes’

careers, they face the decision between playing multiple sports or focusing on their best sport all year.

According to a recent Pow Wow survey sent to all 19 Portage High School varsity head coaches, the majority of coaches encourage their athletes to pick up extra sports.

A total of 15 coaches said they encourage their athletes to play multiple sports, while two said it depends on the

situation and that they try to help each athlete figure out what is best for him or her. Multiple attempts to contact the other two head coaches were unsuccessful.

Varsity baseball coach Tim Pirowski said he thinks athletes, especially underclassmen, should play more than one sport. However, out of the 19 PHS baseball players who have gone on to play in college during Pirowski’s eight year tenure as head coach, six were multisport athletes and 13 played only baseball.

See MULTIPLE SPORTS, page 4

Brandon VickreyEditor-in-Chief

“The reason $60,000 is a problem is because we have expenses each day. It’s not good for a city with a budget of over $20 million to have only $60,000 left in its bank account, even for one day.”

-Chris Stidham, Portage Clerk Treasurer

Page 2: Portage Pow Wow Issue 6

2 News Issue 6

PHS Food Services Manager Ella Lerch rings up student lunches on one of the new computers in the south lunchroom in the East building. Other upgrades include keypads and new tables in the West cafeteria. Photo by Taylor Searcy

PHS cafeterias next in line to receive district upgrades

Both of the Portage High School cafeterias are literally and figura-tively cooking with gas.

Recently, the east cafeteria has been upgraded with a new computer system and keypads for students to use to type in their key codes for electronic payment in the lunch lines. At the other end of the high school, the west cafeteria will soon be receiving new tables and chairs as part of the redesigning plan that will be taking place.

“The east cafeteria received new tables and chairs some years ago, and at that time we added awnings over the serving lines and menu boards. We also added new equipment to the concession area in recent years. More updates are needed there, but we have to prioritize our wants and needs and our next priority is the west cafeteria,” Portage Township Schools Food Service Director Jan Black said.

According to Black, the funding for all of the cafeteria projects that happen in the Portage schools is taken from a designated equipment fund. This helps pay for projects such as the ones happening at the high school, as well as new kitchen equipment. With this fund, the food service department has recently been able to provide upgrades to the cafeterias in almost every Portage school.

“We have successfully upgraded all of the elementary

schools. We were able to transform the serving lines and cafeterias with specific themes. They look great and the elementary students enjoy them. The middle schools have been upgraded too, so we are now working on the high school complex to improve those locations,” Black said.

Black believes the upgrades to both cafeterias in the high school were necessary in order to continue to keep up with the trends students enjoy, making coming to school more enjoy-able.

“Upgrades are always good and help make the cafeteria a place where students want to come and eat and hang out. It’s important that our surroundings are clean, appetizing and interesting, so we enjoy being there,” Black said.

In addition to the upgrades that will be installed in the near future, Black also would like to see even more improve-ments made to the cafeterias in years to come in order to take advantage of the up-to-date technology and to show students the beneficial things that schools in Portage pro-vide for them.

“In the future, we hope to have digital menu boards in all cafeterias to be used to advertise our menus and the nutri-tional value of the food we serve. We would also like to use the monitors to show the good things in the Portage schools, including sports highlights and extracurricular events during lunch times,” Black said.

Eric MesarchContent Editor

Latin students receiving copies in lieu of textbooks

Having no textbooks may result in no actual book work for students, but, in reality, having no

textbooks is leading to extra work for the teachers.The current Latin students are not using textbooks

this year because six years ago, when the World Languages Department adopted new books, Latin teacher Thomas McKeown did not adopt new books along with the rest of the foreign language teachers.

“His philosophy was that Latin did not change,” World Languages Department Head Linda Peda said. “The prob-lem was that he didn’t adopt in the year our department adopted, which resulted in his old books not being on the new state list of accepted books. We could not replace any books or add because of the increase in enrollment. The books had to be part of the current adoption in order for him to get books, so, to make a long story short, he thought he was going to save the corporation money and

he ended up hurting himself because his books became outdated.”

To combat not having textbooks to issue out to students, McKeown makes copies of an older textbook and uses a workbook to teach his classes.

“I would like to say that not having textbooks has not affected students’ performance, but in the long run I know that having to make daily copies gets old and students lose papers,” Peda said.

The World Languages Department has one more year until they get new books and another year for their adop-tion. Book adoption ensures that the textbooks used by students are deemed current and comply with the approved list of textbooks by the state.

According to Peda, the Latin classes not having textbooks has been an important learning experience for the World Languages Department as a whole on how not having textbooks can affect the classroom.

McKeown declined to comment on the textbook situation.

Joshua LewisFeatures Editor

Theater department to encore fall play

Encore, encore! For the first time in

26 years, that is exactly what will occur on the

Portage High School stage tonight and Saturday night when the fall play, “The 39 Steps,” is encored.

“The cast is revitalized will probably feel more ready than ever. They’ve had a week to relax and have gained some energy back and are now ready to perform again…in front of an even more ready crowd,” junior Matt Bliss said.

Auditorium Director Kevin Giese was the driving force be-hind encoring “The 39 Steps.” After approaching the adminis-tration with plans for a second weekend of the production, Giese was given the opportunity to host the hit show once again.

“When the idea was proposed, the whole cast was thrilled, even when it was still a rumor circulating between us. I don’t think I have ever seen a cast more in love with what they are do-ing than this one,” senior Briana Ammeson said.

The last encore that occurred at PHS was in 1986 when a musical, “The King and I,” was brought back by popular demand.

Tonight, faculty will be granted free admission in hopes of boosting attendance. Saturday, student ticket price will drop to $5.

“Not nearly enough students attended last week’s perfor-mance and we, as a cast, yearn to see more of our peers sitting in the audience and supporting Portage High School’s the-atre program. We also hope to see more faculty at the encore performances. Hence the reason for both faculty and student discounts,” senior Rachel Stewart said.

Emily EvansDesign Editor

Juniors Aiden Fletcher and Jordan Kwuatkowski perform in “The 39 Steps.” Photo by Taylor Searcy

Junior Matt Bliss plays the lead role of Richard Hannay in this year’s fall play “The 39 Steps.” Photo by Taylor Searcy

WPWR News at 3 Mondays and

Wednesdays at 3:00

Are you listening to Pow Wow Radio???

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Fridays at 3:00

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to listen to select home basketball games!

Page 3: Portage Pow Wow Issue 6

3NewsNovember 30, 2012

Junior Luke Kizer charges for the ball against a LaPorte player last season. This season is the final time the DAC will use the double round robin format. Photo by Nick Jordan

Duneland double round robin set for final year

Tonight’s Portage boys basketball game at Michigan City

High School marks the beginning of the end for the Duneland Athletic Conference’s double round robin format.

As the boys basketball team opens confer-ence play tonight against the Wolves, it begins the final season in which it will have to play each DAC team twice, once at home and once on the road. Principals from the eight DAC schools voted to abandon the double round robin scheduling format for both boys and girls basketball starting with the 2013-2014 season in order to give the schools more room on their schedules for nonconference games.

“That is probably the best decision that has been made since I’ve been here,” head boys basketball coach Rick Snodgrass said. “When you’re trying to build a program and you have to play teams that have had a lot of success, and you have to play them twice, most of the time three times because of the sectional, you can’t really dig yourself out.”

The last DAC boys basketball team to win a sectional title was Valparaiso in 2004, which was the first season of the double round robin. Snodgrass said that the entire con-ference will benefit from playing a wider variety of opponents.

“It’s going to give our kids an opportunity to play some

different competition,” Snodgrass said. “It’s going to give us a chance to do some positive things. It’s a real boost for us.”

Snodgrass said that he thinks the boys basketball team will have a chance to win 12-15 games next season in the first year of playing each DAC foe just once.

The girls basketball team continues its conference slate tonight by hosting Michi-gan City as it plays out the final year of the double round robin. Head coach Chris Seibert said that he is excited about add-ing nonconference opponents, but wants to remain focused on this season.

“I don’t think it affects this season a whole lot,” he said. “It’s been time consuming and it’s been exciting to be able to schedule some other teams and look toward next year. We’re excited about the now and the here, but we’re also excited about playing some different teams for the following years as well.”

The girls basketball team has added Lowell, Kankakee Valley and Griffith to the 2013-2014 schedule. Lafayette Jefferson, Mishawaka and Hanover Central are also be-ing added to the nonconference slate.

The boys basketball team has tacked on games with Rensselaer, Lowell, Griffith,

South Bend Adams and South Bend Washington. The matchup with the Rensselaer Bombers will take place at Saint Joseph’s College. The team has one hole left to fill.

See ROUND ROBIN, page 4

Brandon VickreyEditor-in-Chief

Senior Nicki Monahan reaches for the ball at her team’s first home game against Crown Point. Photo by Haley Crnarich

Senior Alyssa Tampier plays defense on a Crown Point player. Photo by Haley Crnarich

PCCC to introduce new Aviation Operations class

For this year’s juniors that may be interested in a flying career, a new vocational, “Aviation

Operations,” is now being offered. Held at the Porter County Career Center, Aviation Opera-

tions is now being offered as a duel credit course for next year’s seniors. Transportation will be provided and students may have an opportunity to work with the Porter County Airport.

According to the Indiana Department of Education Aca-

demic Standards and Course Framework, the course will serve as an introduction to the aviation industry. Students will study the history of aviation, career possibilities, manufactur-ing, operations and more.

“There is definitely a need for commercial and private pilots down the road. This is a great way to get a head start,” Guidance Department Chair Jennifer Symer said.

Aviation Operations are two to three credits per semester, and a maximum of six credits. There are no prerequisites, and students may take the class for a maximum of two semesters.

Angela DornbosNews Writer

“It’s been time con-suming and it’s been exciting to be able to schedule some other teams and look toward next year. We’re excited about the now and the here, but we’re also excited about playing some different teams for the following years as well.”

-Rick Snodgrass, boys varsity

basketball coach

PHS begins first set of acuity tests

Students revved up for the End of Course Assessment as they took the acuity testing that occurred in the com-puter labs and in classrooms.

Acuity testing is a state test that occurred during Nov. 5-19. Students who are in English 10 and Algebra I were required to take the test.

According to assistant principal Jennifer Sass, acuity testing shows how well a student will do on his or her ECA at the end of the year.

Also, acuity testing is used to assess student needs in the subject area and measure progress throughout the year. Testing will occur two more times prior to the ECA.

“I think that it is not a good way of testing students because it is hard to understand the questions and pas-sages,” sophomore Melissa Reyna said.

This is the first year that PHS has been tested. “We just completed the first round of testing and the

computer coordinators and teachers were very patient and helpful as we worked out the kinks,” Sass said.

Mallory LopezNews Writer

ShootingContinued from page 1

BudgetContinued from page 1

Though the situation is rough, Portage has already done a lot this year to improve the circumstances. Cuts were made throughout the year, and, without these cuts, the city would have been much worse off. Early retirement to reduce the workforce along with changes to health insurance policies were two main factors that saved Portage money.

“Going forward, there are more things we can do to ensure Portage is better off financially. This would include addition-al changes to our health insurance policy, along with trying to avoid hiring new people. Changing the way we pick up garbage would also help,” Stidham said.

At the beginning of 2013, Portage will receive a loan from the state that it receives each year that usually comes in the first week of January. This is expected to improve the situa-tion so the city has a bigger cushion to rely on.

“Walking through the service door, we ended up in the hallway and then had to walk through the empty mall to get on the other side to where our car was,” Cunningham said. “The mall was deserted and we were so scared to walk alone. There were drinks and food and bags all thrown on the ground in the mayhem. It was crazy.”

Cunningham said the incident will not prevent her from returning to Southlake Mall or change her view on public safety. However, the terror of hearing the gunshot will remain etched in her memory.

“Every time I walk in there or walk by where it happened, I will think of the sound I heard when it happened,” she said.

Sophomores Annabelle Karagias and Madi Jercha were in the food court when the shot was fired. Karagias’s mother called to inform them of what was going on.

“After my mom called me and told me what happened, she told us to go into the bathroom,” Karagias said. “There were a bunch of adults in there with their kids freaking out, so then we started freaking out.”

Eventually, Jercha and Karagias exited the mall safely after meeting back up with Karagias’s mother, who was in Victoria’s Secret at the time of the shooting.

“With everything that happened that night, it made me realize that anything can happen at any time and being at the wrong place at the wrong time can kill you,” Karagias said. “Some people are just crazy. I’ll probably be more careful with what time I go to the mall and with who.”

Junior Jessica Loza was with her family waiting to be seated at Cooper’s Hawk, a new restaurant inside the mall, when the shot was fired. They were planning to eat dinner before doing some early Christmas shopping when a crowd of people rushed inside the restaurant saying that there had been a shooting. Loza said employees locked everyone inside the Cooper’s Hawk for 20 minutes before the mall was evacuated for the night.

“There are always stories like this on the news, but no one ever thinks that it will happen to them,” Loza said. “When it does, it just teaches you to be really cautious of your surround-ings. I’m just glad that no one was hurt and that the people who were involved were caught.”

Page 4: Portage Pow Wow Issue 6

4 Sports Issue 6

The gymnastics team may be small in numbers, but it does not lack dedication.

Senior Mackenzie Barcelli said that this year she is going to practice extremely hard and not let side distractions get in the way of her goals.

Barcelli said she wants to go back to state this year, and win more than one medal.

Gymnastics is not always about the individual, and Barcelli also has goals for the team.

“I’m expecting to go to state with more girls, and place higher than last year,” Barcelli said.

Sophomore Madison Kurtz said that she wants to improve on last year and make this season the best it can be.

Head coach Karen

Barcelli said the team has the advantage of eight out of 10 girls having experience competing at the high school level, four of

which have been to state previously.

“They have all known each other for many years, and have all competed with each other before. There is a certain level of comfort there,” Karen Barcelli said.

The team also has areas it needs to improve on.

“They need to compete with confidence,” Karen Barcelli said. “They tend to doubt whether or not they should be where they are. We will work hard to remove all doubt.”

With a new season there are a lot of new upcoming events to look forward to.

“I am looking forward to seeing our newer gymnasts grow in experience and skill level, and seeing our team leaders step up and show them the way to help create and maintain a legacy,”

Karen Barcelli said.For some, this is a

season of firsts, and for others it is a season of lasts.

“It’s senior year, I’m ready to go out with a bang,” Mackenzie Barcelli said.

Karen Barcelli said it is important to remember how it feels to succeed, and use that to push oneself to achieve even more goals.

“Treasure the experience. The memories you make will be forever. It is up to you to write the story,” Karen Barcelli said.

The gymnastics team opens the season on Dec. 15 at the LaPorte Pairs before the first home meet on Jan. 8 against Lake Central. The sectional takes place in Chesterton on March 1, the regional in Valparaiso on March 7 and the state meet at Ball State on March 15. Portage is striving to make a return trip to the state meet after qualifying a year ago.

Gymnastics setting the bar highPeyton HulseSports Editor

Top left: Junior Danielle Solis practices for the upcoming campaign. Bottom left: A member of the gymnastics team prepares for the upcoming season. The Indians went to state last year. Right: Senior Mackenzie Barcelli gets set for the 2012-2013 season. Photos by Olivia Forrester

“We’re excited about the fact that the teams we’re going to play are pretty diverse,” Snodgrass said.

Although the double round robin is history, Portage will still play some of its conference opponents twice prior to the start of the postseason.

The DAC has added two separate midseason tournaments with four teams participating in each. Portage is grouped with Merrillville, Crown Point and Lake Central, while

Chesterton, Valparaiso, Michigan City and LaPorte form the other tournament bracket. “Obviously, that will be a tough tournament,” Snodgrass said. “As coaches in the DAC if we have to have a tournament, we’d prefer to have an eight team tournament, but for us to get out of the double round robin, we had to give up something to get something.”

Round Robin Continued from page 3

Boys•Rensselaer• Lowell• Griffith• South Bend Adams• South Bend Washington

Girls• Lowell • Kankakee Valley• Griffith• Lafayette Jefferson •Mishawaka• Hanover Central

Additions to Portage Basketball Schedules for 2013-2014

Duneland Athletic Conference

Tournament • Merrillville

• Crown Point• Lake Central

• Portage

Varsity boys basketball coach Rick Snodgrass, who played basketball, baseball and football in high school, said students may regret it later if they limit themselves to one sport.

“Too many times kids look back at their high school career and wonder why or regret that they only played one sport,” Snodgrass said. “The major advantage of playing three sports or at least two sports is the fact that nothing prepares you more for another sport than the competition of a different sport.”

The PHS football and wrestling programs have encouraged all of their athletes to play the other sport.

“Wrestling and football are a great marriage,” varsity football coach Wally McCormack said. “Wrestlers work hard, make no excuses and are used to being the guy that has to do it because they are out there on the mat alone. Those are the guys you know aren’t going to get scared and make mistakes in big moments in games because they have been in those situations before.”

McCormack said playing multiple sports and being a good student are two ways for athletes to increase their

chances of earning a college scholarship.“Anyone that tells a kid to play one

sport only isn’t doing what’s best for the kid, they are being selfish and trying to do what’s best for them,” he said. “All these people advising kids to play one in the name of a scholarship are full of it. I speak with college coaches and recruiters all the time, and they want kids that do more than one thing.”

Varsity girls basketball coach Chris Seibert said although basketball is a very skill-specific sport, the advantages of playing two to three sports far outweigh the disadvantages.

“I firmly believe that the more competitive environments our players can be exposed to, the more successful they will be on the court,” he said.

Varsity boys soccer coach A.J. Monroe does not believe that there is a definite answer to the debate between whether or not playing multiple sports is beneficial.

“I encourage the student-athlete to make the choice that is best for them,” he said.

“If that includes talking them through the decision making process, I am more than happy to be a resource.”

According to varsity gymnastics coach Karen Barcelli, participating in additional sports is very advantageous for gymnasts since it allows them to stay in shape in the offseason without putting the stress on their bodies that gymnastics tends to.

“Participating in high school sports is a lifelong memory,” she said. “They should share their abilities and help out other sports.”

Assistant boys cross country and girls track and field coach John Arredondo pointed out that many of Portage’s top athletes in recent years, including Tori Bliss, Tony Cheky and Jake Dixon, have played more than one sport. He said the best athletes at PHS today, such as Haley Hodges, Nicki Monahan, Rashaan Coleman and Mackenzie Barcelli, are all multiple sport athletes.

“When Portage was a dominant force in athletics (1990s-2000s), it was because our athletes were encouraged and participated in multiple sports,” Arredondo said. “I can only hope parents, coaches and student-athletes continue to buy in to being multisport athletes here at Portage because it benefits everyone.”

Multiple sportsContinued from page 1

Current juniors Joey Roman (14) and Luke Kizer (20) play defense during a game against LaPorte last season. Starting with 2013-2014, Portage will play each Duneland Athletic Conference team only once during the basketball season. Photo by Nick Jordan

Top: Nicki Monahan passes the ball during basketball practice. Monahan also plays varsity soccer. Bottom: Mackenzie Barcelli practices on the bars during gymnastics. She is the rare four sport athlete competing in gymnastics, diving, track and field and golf. Photo by Olivia Forrester

Page 5: Portage Pow Wow Issue 6

5Sports November 30, 2012

Hodges commits to USI Por-tage High School senior

softball star Haley Hodges can breathe a sigh of relief as she enters her final high school season. She can focus her attention on winning games and having fun rather than stressing about college applications, attending recruiting camps or whether or not college coaches are in the stands. Hodges signed her National Letter of Intent to play college softball for the University of South-ern Indiana Screaming Eagles. Her signing party was held in the Large Group Instructional room on Nov. 15. Her teammates, coaches, administrators, friends, family members and fellow athletes turned out to show their support for Hodges, who is the first member of the Class of 2013 to sign to play college athletics. “It was really, really cool to have everyone there and to see how much everyone really cared,” Hodges said. “Having all the support of my friends and family was great. They’re the ones that really have made me work as hard as I have. It felt really good knowing that my hard work has gotten me this far and that I have a spot to play on a college team.” Head softball coach Lisa Hayes also played college softball at USI. The parallels between Hayes and Hodges do not stop there, as both are catchers. “Coach Hayes has told me a lot about Southern Indiana, but she’s letting me form my own opinions

about it too,” Hodges said. “She likes it down there and she tells me about how much fun it is to play as college players.” Hodges has also excelled academically during her tenure at PHS and been an active member of the school community. This year she played golf for the first time. “This is the epitome of what a student-athlete is and I know I’m preaching to the choir because you guys are awesome,” Principal Caren Swickard said to the students who gathered for Hodges’s signing. “I am very proud of you all just like I am very proud of Haley. She put herself out there this year playing golf, just being a part of something at Portage High School that is out of your comfort zone. “We’d like to see more people like Haley because she represents Portage and what we’re all about and what we stand for and that’s working hard at athlet-ics, working hard at academics and doing everything you can.” Hodges is entering her fourth year of varsity softball after a junior campaign during which she posted a .493 batting average, five home runs and 26 runs batted in on her way to an All-State First Team selection and Duneland Athletic Conference co-MVP award. “This should be a great example for all of the younger people in the building of how to take care of goals,” Hayes said. “I could not be any prouder, I’m very excited.”

Brandon VickeryEditor-in-Chief

Varsity softball player and senior Haley Hodges signs with the University of Southern Indiana with her mother, PHS secretary Lynda Hodges, by her side. Photo by Brandon Vickrey

Having a positive mindset and aiming for success is how junior Salina McConnell described the best basketball game of her career. McConnell has been named the Issue 6 Pow Wow MVP. “Salina is a really dedicated player. She is always trying to improve on her skills,” sophomore Madi Jercha said. On Nov. 8, the lady Indians played Hammond High School and won 68-17. McConnell scored 10 points, making this game the best

game of her career. “I have prepared for this season by going in during the spring time to shoot and by working hard during the summer,” McConnell said. McConnell said the hard work does not stop here. “I started playing basketball because I love the sport. Where I go from here is keeping up with the improvements I have made and making my future a bright one in basketball,” McConnell said. So far this season, the team has also picked up wins against East Chicago Central and Crown Point and lost to Merrillville.

There is a reason the word student

is the first part of student-athletes for PHS. For many years, PHS has given a seasonal award to the team that has the highest grade point average among each season’s teams. This fall, the girls cross country team grabbed the Athletic GPA Award with an average GPA of 3.753. “It was huge. Winning the award was more exciting than any other award we won,” junior and cross coun-try runner Keanna Crum said.

Crum said that the team had actu-ally talked about winning this award at camp, and throughout the year girls would stick note cards in each other’s lockers to remind their teammates to do their work and stay on top in classes. This was the first time the girls cross team won the award. In the past three years boys tennis, volleyball and girls golf had won. Athletic Director Kelly Bermes said the award was made to encourage all teams to keep up their grades, and cre-ate positive peer pressure. If any student athlete has an F, it is policy that the athlete has to attend

at least three hours of study tables per week. The athlete is still able to partici-pate in games, but study tables may cut into practice hours. Bermes said that she will call students down to her office and talk to them one on one about getting their grades up. “It’s important because colleges are more interested in a student’s academ-ics than athletics,” Bermes said. With winter around the corner, a new set of teams will bet fighting to win the Athletic GPA Award. “Any team has potential to win,” Bermes said.

Girls cross country earns seasonal GPA awardPeyton HulseSports Editor

Members of the girls state team stand as the school board recognizes them at the Nov. 26 meeting at Aylseworth. Photo by Collin Czilli

Athletes enjoy unique sport

Portage residents Anthony Rodriguez, Zac Vardaman, Brandon Gardenhire, Chris Bruno, Andrew Burke and Gabe Acevedo snowboarding. Photo provided by Gabe Acevedo

Lauren WinickySports Writer

Sports does not always necessarily

mean competition. For seniors Tyler Soberg and CJ Haupt, snowboarding is a sport done for fun. Nei-ther participate in snowboarding competitively, but do it for the simple factor of enjoying themselves. Not everyone has a ski slope in their backyard, and snowboarding takes preparation. Soberg said it is important to be prepared when going snowboarding. Soberg said it is important to be prepared when going snowboarding. Dressing warm and having proper equipment are some of the biggest ways to be prepared. Soberg and Haupt participate in both baseball

and tennis. They attend conditioning and practices in order to succeed in sports, however, snowboard-ing is different. “I usually go to Bittersweet, Mich. to snow-board, and have only attempted a rail slide, the rest is just gliding down the hill,” Soberg said. Haupt said when he goes snowboarding he en-joys the basics and has not attempted many tricks. Snowboarding is a sport to be played outside of school, for the students’ own entertainment or to compete in competitions or events. Although Soberg enjoys snowboarding, he still prefers summer sports over winter sports. “I like summer sports better than winter sports because I’d rather sweat than be cold,” Soberg said.

Caleb IngersollSports Writer

Junior Salina McConnell guards a teammate at practice. Photo by Taylor Searcy

McConnell scores best game of career

Page 6: Portage Pow Wow Issue 6

Editor-in-ChiefBrandon Vickrey

Content Editor

Eric Mesarch

Design EditorEmily Evans

Opinion Editor

Collin Czilli

News Editor Katie Peksenak

Features Editor

Joshua Lewis

Sports EditorPeyton Hulse

Photo EditorOlivia Forrester

Sports WritersAlexis CoffmanCaleb IngersollLauren Winicky

News WritersAshley Conrad

Angela Dornbos Mallory LopezBrandon Weis

Features Writers

Tyra Allen Emily Hensley

Alexis Sosa

PhotographersIan DePerio

Taylor Mlynski Miles MottoTaylor Searcy

AdviserMelissa Deavers-Lowie

6 Opinion Issue 6

Pow Wow Editorial PolicyThe PHS Pow Wow is a student-produced newspaper. As an open-forum publication, we do accept letters-to-the-editor. All letters must be grammatically correct, free from errors and 150 words or less. Letters must

include your name. E-mail submissions to [email protected]. Letters will be run in the next available

issue of the newspaper.

In the next month and a half, leaders in Washington D.C. have some very big decisions to make regarding the nation’s financial future.

For those of you who are unaware, on Jan. 1 of next year the country will head over what is being called the “Fiscal Cliff.” This cliff is the expiration of the Bush tax cuts from 2003 and massive spending cuts to both the defense and general budgets. The biggest problem is not the fact that the cliff exists, but how to move back from it. For Republicans and Democrats, that means two completely different ways.

No matter how this problem is solved, it must be solved with compromise. There is no one solution to solving this problem. To move off the fiscal cliff, Republicans are going to have to move away from Grover Norquist’s no new taxes pledge they made to voters in 2010 and Democrats must agree to cut from entitlements like Social Security and Medicare. Some Republicans have realized that the pledge must be broken; take, for example, Sen. Saxby

Chambliss of Georgia.“I care more about my

country than I do about a 20-year-old pledge,” Chambliss said to WMAZ. “If we do it his way, then we’ll continue in debt, and I just have a disagreement with him about that.”

There are diehards on both sides that refuse to give

in and say that they know of only one way to fix these problems. With that kind of an attitude, no wonder a vast majority of Americans disapprove on Congress’s job performance. Both sides must come to the table and the leaders of each party must come to an agreement that cuts the budget with no exceptions and does not raise the tax burden on the middle class.

Republicans are starting to give in on taxes, Democrats must give on Social Security and Medicare. Some, like Sen. Mark Warner of Virginia, have already said that they are willing to make cuts to Social Security.

“We’re going to make everybody mad with our approach, because we’re touching every part of the problem,” Warner said on CBS’s “Face the Nation.”

These men and women were sent to Washington to fix the problems that this nation faces, all of them. Picking and choosing is not good enough. Everything must be on the table including the always sacred defense budget and the promise to continue Social Security.

As citizens, it is our responsibility to call our leaders like Congressman Pete Visclosky and Senators Joe Donnelly and Dan Coats, and tell them that they have to find a bipartisan way to fix our financial situation. Not doing anything is not enough and cooperation is a must. A divided government means both sides are going to have to

concede and both sides are going to have to talk, otherwise our problems will be too problematic to fix. If people thought that it was bad before, just wait until taxes for everyone go up and government spending is drastically cut all at one time.

Compromise is only way to solve fiscal cliff issueCollin CzilliOpinion Editor

[email protected]

One issue the majority of the student body can relate to is when people decide to form a “second line” while waiting for the food the lunch ladies serve. Students decide to keep their mouths shut, but others would prefer to get out of the line quicker and speak their thoughts.

Sophomore Lily Someson has a point that should be considered by the upper classmen.

“I am not in first grade anymore, so I am not going to say ‘Hey! You cut me!’ but I am not exactly happy about this because everyone just waits there while they squeeze in,” said Someson. “I do not have a problem all the time, but people should be more respectful.”

Someson and plenty of other students would like to see change in how people respect fellow students, but junior Alberto

Zepeda said he would rather not.

“I do not mind cutters because some would make a scene. The second line does not affect me too much, just as long as I get lunch,” Zepeda said.

Forming “second lines” becomes irritating to people who want to get out of the line. This is understandable if students come from west and get stuck in the back of the line, but that does not mean that they can cut other people who get there earlier than them.

Freshman Stephanie Waters said there are issues in the west cafeteria lunch lines as well.

“I feel as if there is no line,” Waters said.

“People lie that they have been standing there and they get away with it.”

Portage High School may be a pleasant place to be, but the lunches are getting more

complicated. Getting in line only consists of getting behind the person in front of other classmates. No one is going to go anywhere if people keep cutting. Students have lost respect of fellow classmates. Lunch lines will not get any better if the students cannot act responsibly.

We should not have to have teachers intervene because this is when we have to prove we are responsible young adults.

Cutting in line only shows how immature some people can be and the only way they can fix the problem is to stop provoking lunch line issues.

Silence in lunch line does not mean students okay with cuttingAlexis CoffmanSports Writer

“These men and women were sent to Washington to fix the problems that this nation faces, all of them. Picking and choosing is not good enough.”

“Getting in line only consists of getting behing the person in front of other classmates. No one is going to go anywhere if people keep cutting.”

Conference names misleading, confusing

Well, good thing Division I conferences have the right number of teams.

All college sports fans know of the power conferences in Division I sports. You have the Atlantic Coast Conference, the Big East, the Southeastern Conference and the Pac-12, which is aptly named, considering it has 12 teams in it.

Then you have the Big 10 and the Big 12. They should have 10 teams and 12 teams in each respective conference, right?

Yeah, you would think.

Rutgers and Maryland just joined the Big 10 and they will start having a Big 10 schedule come next year. It is pretty bogus that all of these colleges are jumping up and deciding that they want to changes conferences all of a sudden.

Now, the Big 10 has 14 teams and the Big 12, believe it or not, has 10. Go figure.

Nobody saw this coming, as every school in the past few years has stayed in the same conference. But now all of a sudden, Notre Dame gets to hop to the ACC and Rutgers and Maryland get to skedaddle over to the Big 10? It just does not make sense to me.

What I do not get is why these schools are deciding to do this so soon. Everything was fine with every conference for the longest time until the last half of 2012 came along. If schools want to switch conferences, that is fine, but make it a bit of a longer process, not just popping them

right into the conference for next season. Plus, if you are going to name a conference according to

the number of teams in that conference, make the correct number of teams in the conference for the love of Pete. If you think that other schools are going to want to join your conference eventually (e.g. Rutgers, Maryland, Notre Dame), then it is simple. Do not name the conference according to the number of teams in it.

The Big 10 will never be the same. I am pretty sure that four out of the 14 teams will not want to just get up and get out of the conference anytime soon, making the name of the conference misleading and useless.

I know it cannot be helped now, but I wish that all conferences had names that did not correspond with how many teams are in it. It would simply make a lot more sense in times of change, just like what is happening this year in college sports.

Eric MesarchContent Editor

Page 7: Portage Pow Wow Issue 6

7Features November 30, 2012

Collin CzilliOpinion Editor

Easton remains dedicated PHS substitute Walk-

ing into a classroom and finding a

substitute teacher is usually a great feeling, but most students are especially happy when they see Gina Easton sitting behind their teacher’s desk. Easton is a substitute teacher for Portage Township Schools, typically subbing at Por-tage High School. She works most days of the week, as there are always openings within the building for her. “A lot of people think I am really crazy because we work for considerably less money than a regular teacher,” she said. “I am really a terrible housekeeper and I have shopped more than I need.” Easton is a graduate of Portage High School, although she refuses to release the year of graduation. She holds a degree in education from Indiana University, focusing on speech, theatre and English. She has not always been a substitute teacher; Easton ran her family’s music business that sold pianos

and organs. “I never really thought this job was going to last this long,” she said. She initially worked all grades and she described her hardest day when she substi-tute taught for kindergarten. Mainly, she works at the high school level but does occasionally venture over to Willowcreek Middle School. “I do enjoy special educa-tion because the teachers leave me actual lessons plans to teach,” she said. “Those days go by a little faster.” Easton has a very distinc-tive style as a substitute teacher. Anyone who has had Easton in class knows all too well about her tales of classroom activities and antics. “Sadly, they are mostly true stories,” she said. “Now, the dramatic pauses that I add help the stories move along.” Easton’s main commitment is to the students and trying to keep order in the

classroom. According to Easton, she does that by treating them as equals. “I really like the kids and I think they know that,” she said. “I think they like my silly little stories and the fact that, even

though I am an adult, I try not to talk to them like they are not on the same level as me.” Being a substitute teacher is not an easy job, and Easton recognizes that her job is not easy, as no job is. “The thing I don’t like about the job is being held

accountable for things that are out of your control,” she said. “I don’t have a union to back me up. I am the lowest rung so when something happens it is usually your fault.” Easton was cautious when asked if retire-ment from subbing was in her future but reiterated that she loves what she does. “As long as there is dust in my house, I really don’t want to dust it,” she said.

Easton poses with a shirt from Michigan State sent to her by PHS graduate Tony Cheky. Photo by Taylor Mlynski

Puerto Rican students react to Puerto Rico possibly becoming a state It

may be time to bring out the

sewing needles and white thread, there is a possibility that there will be a new star being added to the flag. For the first time, the people of Puerto Rico have voted that they would be okay becoming a state. As a state, Puerto Rico would have full political rights, it would hold two seats in the senate and have a voice in congress. On the other hand, the cost of living for Puerto Ricans would greatly rise, some of their customs would change and they would have to pay taxes. Sophomore Jonsi Maceo thinks it would have more negative consequences. “A lot of people have inherited prop-erty, and they would not be able to afford the taxes on the land,” she said.

Maceo said statehood would provide ben-efits such as improved trade, cultural integra-tion and federal funding for student loans.Senor Ariel Caraballo is completely against the statehood. “Puerto Rico culture is based on the mainland and they do not need to be a part of America. They do not need us to be a bet-ter nation,” she said. Sophomore Michelle Muniz for example, is for the statehood. “I think it is beneficial for us both. Puerto Rico would get more freedom, and America would get more taxes,” Muniz said.

Sophomore Jordan Kendall, who is half Puerto Rican, is all for it. “We’re not doing very good on our own, and we could use the extra help from the govern-ment,” Kendall said. The statehood would also eliminate the need for a pass-port in traveling to and from Puerto Rico which would make traveling much easier. “Give us equal opportunity. Becoming a state would help with the our economy and the

opportunities for the people in Puerto Rico,” senior Hope Sanchez said.

Speech team reaches level of success in new season of competition

Speak-ing might never cross someone as

competitive, but speech team will change that thought. The team’s first competi-tion was the LaPorte High School Varsity Speech Open on Nov. 24. Out of the 300 entries and 17 schools at the open, Portage’s Speech team took home a first place to Senior Sydney Yingst, second place to sophomore Marko Mavrovic and third place to junior Mason Hooper, along with an honorable men-tion for sophomore Diana Ogrodowski. Preparation for any competition is hard, but creating a five minute speech in only 30 minutes can only be done during a speech team competition. Yingst joined her fresh-man year, from her teacher telling her that she would do well after giving a speech in class. “I think this year’s team is going to do quite well since we have a lot of new and returning members,” Yingst said. Speech team members stay after every day depending on the category they are competing in. Some students who need help preparing stay before school. Yingst is prepping for her own original performance for competition. They go over what material they are working on for the future competi-tions. “I have a few new members that is always exciting and a few returning members that help me teach the new students, though

speech team is always looking for new member,” speech team coach Stacy Bachman said. The team’s next tournament is Dec. 1 in Valparaiso.

Tyra AllenFeatures Writer

Emily HensleyFeatures Writer

ABOVE: Sophomore Marko Mavrovic goes over his scores from the recent speech team competition. Photo by Tay-lor Mlynski

LEFT: Junior Mason Hooper reviews the judge’s com-ments from the team’s previous com-petition. The team’s next competition is Dec. 1 at the Valparaiso Tournament. Photo by Tay-lor Mlynski

“Puerto Rico culture is based on the mainland and they do not need to be a part of America. They do not need us to be a better nation.”

-Ariel Caraballo, Senior

“I never really thought this job was going to last this long.”

Gina Easton, substitute teacher

Page 8: Portage Pow Wow Issue 6

8 The Back Page Issue 6 | November 30, 2012

Meet the Indian: Mikaela Terry

Senior Mikaela Terry is a great example of how going to one activity meeting can change your high school experience. During Terry’s freshman year, she decided to give Speech Team a chance.

“I joined Speech Team freshman year when my best friend dragged me along because she didn’t want to go alone. I found my niche in impromptu speaking,” Terry said.

Terry used Speech Team to overcome her fear of public speaking. She felt that during the meetings, she could truly be herself.

“Speech Team was pretty much the only place you could just be you, do what you are best at and let people hear what you have to

say,” said Terry.Speech Team also led to her involvement in

Thespians.“I got involved in theater because my

speech coach thought it would be a good way to recruit new members. I ended up really loving it so I stayed,” Terry said.

Terry is not an official Thespian, but she is involved in both the play and musical. She works as hair co-captain alongside Ariel Caraballo. This year was her first time acting in “The 39 Steps.” Terry’s character was Dun-woody, a grumpy old lady.

Terry believes there is a place for everyone in Thespians.

“No matter what you like, you can be used in Thespians. You can try more than one thing and I guarantee you will find something you love,” Terry said.

Religion is incredibly important to Terry. She plans to devote her life to it after high school.

“I plan to go to Bible College so I can go overseas and become an international missionary. I really want to reach third world countries,” Terry said.

Last summer, Terry was able to take a trip to Haiti. Since then she has felt that helping the misfortu-nate is her life’s calling.

During her free time, Terry likes to crochet. She finds it relaxing.

Terry’s high school days are even more numbered than other seniors at PHS. She will be graduating mid-term and getting a head start on her path as missionary.

Alexis Sosa Features Writer

Terry has been a valuable part of the theater department for many years. Photo by Taylor Mlynski

What Grinds Your Gears?

“When people park in my parking spot.” -Senior Todd Mocabee

“When people talk bad about the marching band. We spend countless hours participating in what we love. Like us or hate us, but please just don’t talk smack about our family.” -Senior Tiffany Woloszyn

“When there’s no toilet paper in the stall you choose because it’s the only one that locks.”

-Senior Bailey Lauritzen“When the same bus stops five times on Airport Road letting off ONE kid at each stop.”

-Senior Tiffany Oldaker

Photo of the week

Principal Caren Swickard shares a few words about senior Haley Hodges, who signed to play softball with the University of Southern Indiana next year. Photo by Brandon Vickrey

See story on page 5

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PHS News Briefs

HOSA raises money for local charity through Penny wars

This year, every cent counted in an event hosted by Portage High School’s Health Oc-cupations Students of America.

HOSA held an event known as the Penny Wars. The Penny Wars helped raise money and spread awareness for an Indiana group called Destiny’s Rescue. All students in their first mod classes were able to participate and raised a total of $144.

“It was a good effort for a cause that my students feel strongly about,” Wilson said.Destiny’s Rescue raises money to be able to rescue children from human trafficking

in the United States and other countries around the world. Those who would like more information about thsi charity can visit their website, Destinyrescue.org.

-Brandon Weis

NHS has full schedule of events planed for season

The National Honor Society at Portage High School is often involved in multiple events at once, and this year is no different

Inductions for NHS were hosted on Oct. 17, where 67 new members were inducted, bring-ing the total members up to 95. Among many events, NHS hosted a Halloween Fun Fair with chair senior Katie Bylak. Also, they have done a couple of leaf rakings, one with JROTC on Nov. 10.

NHS adviser Catherine Nye said that NHS has also been selling fruit snacks in an effort to raise money for the other events that it is planning on doing this year.

Other projects that NHS in working on include the annual Gift Wrapping, chaired by ju-nior Josh Lewis and senior Lyndsey Cunningham, and Project Linus. NHS bought 200 yards of fleece for Project Linus, which will be assembled into blankets on Dec. 15. They plan on giving the blankets they make to children in hospitals. This event is chaired by juniors Noah Volk and Chris Klenk.

-Brandon Weis