WORTHINGTON KILBORNE HIGH SCHOOL * 1499 HARD RD * COLUMBUS, OHIO * 43235 $1.50 VOL XXVII NO.5

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Worthington Kilbourne High School1499 Hard Rd.

Columbus, OH 43235

Editors in Chief: Gracie Burford, Sam Barr, and Kaleb DaveStudent Reporters: Summer Weiler, Cassidy Oyer, Maxim Esteves-Curtis, Meagan Rosenfeld, Jamison Davis, RJ Mehan, Sam Norton, Abby Periatt, Alex Ehlers, Alina Smith, Daniel Zhou, Joel Friedman, Andrew Chidester, Chloe Emberton, Elijah Young, Thomas Armstrong, Erika McCague, and Victoria StavishStudent Artists: Trevor Boughton, Renae Mollett, Katherine KlineAdvisor: Jessica Hemmelgarn

The Ravine is a member of the American Scholastic Press Association and was awarded a Second Place rating in 2013 and First Place rating for 2009, 2010, 2011 2012, 2014, 2017.

The Ravine is also a participant in the OSMA Competition and was awared Honorable Mention for 2015, and second place for

2016, 2017. Finally, the Ravine participates in the NSPA and was awarded First Class with a mark of distinction for Content

for 2016-2017

Worthington City School DistrictSuperintendent: Trent Bowers, Ph.D.Principal: Aric ThomasAssistant Principals: Kevin Johnson, Kenneth Nally

Your 2018-2019 Ravine Staff:Front Row from Left: Summer Weiler, Cassidy Oyer, Abby Periatt,

EriKa McCagueSecond Row from Left: Gracie Burford, Alex Ehlers, Jamison Davis, Chloe Emberton

Third Row from Left: Andrew Chidester, Daniel Zhou, Alina Smith, Meagan RosenfeldFourth Row from Left: Joel Friedman, Victoria Stavish, Elijah Young, Sam Norton

Fifth Row from Left: Kaleb Dave, Trevor Boughton, Sam Barr, RJ Mehan, Thomas Armstrong, Katherine Kline

Not Pictured: Maxim Esteves-Curtis, Renae Mollett

the ravine

CONTENTS

you are killing the tangs!

the reigh of the penny is over

vaping in schools

the jonas brothers are back

spring break

the impact of sports

march madness

the jonas brothers are back! how did they and other artists from our childhood impact our music taste? hear what others have to say on page 13.

5

13

March 2019

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4 MARCH 2019

EDITORIAL

THANK YOU FOR EVERYTHING I remember my first day of Intro to Journalism like it was yesterday. It was freshman year, I sat next to a sophomore named Mary, and I thought Mrs. Hemmelgarn was the nicest teacher I had ever met. I still do think that. At the end of the semester I eagerly signed up for Advanced Journalism during scheduling for sophomore year... and junior year... and then senior year. And now, three years after my first day of Intro to Journalism, I’m writing my final piece for the Ravine as one of the Editors-in-Chief. During my three years on staff I’ve learned a lot, made new friends, and had a ton of fun. I was completely unaware that a single class could make such an impact on my high school experience, and even more so on me as a person. The opportunity to learn about journalism, especially in today’s world, is vital if we are going to continue living in an educated and involved society. But the opportunity to become journalists is even more impactful. My appreciation for the field has only grown over the past three years, and I’ve learned how to better digest the news and be proactive in finding it. Being apart of Kilbourne’s “Breakfast Club” as we’ve coined ourselves, has brought new excitement and fun every day. Each semester, fresh faces mix with old, unexpected friendships are born, and a family is formed. A space free of judgment, the newsroom has become a place everyone looks forward to being in each day. No class period is exactly the same and neither is each staff member. I’ve made so many unique friendships that I wouldn’t have made without the Ravine, and I’ve been challenged to put myself into new perspectives.

More than anything, I’ve had more fun on staff than I’ve had in any other class. From making hand turkeys for thanksgiving, having mini basketball competitions, and discussing various conspiracy theories, to watching movies, guessing the weight of Mrs. Hemmelgarn’s baby, and ranking our favorite Jonas Brother. An established culture that promotes creativity and inclusivity has created an environment that celebrates silliness and self-expression. We’re able to include hard hitting pieces about endangered species and fun articles about boy bands all within one issue, and I think that’s pretty great. Being on staff for the Ravine has been fun and educational, but above everything, I found my home away from home during my time at WKHS. I found an outlet for my curiosity, and a group of people cheering me on as I did so. I will always look back fondly at my time on staff, and I will be forever grateful to have found such an extraordinary group of friends and fellow journalists. I look forward to continue watching the Ravine grow as a publication, and I wish all staffers who follow behind me the best of luck. Thank you for everything.

Gracie BurfordEditor

OPINION 5

YOU ARE KILLING THE TANGS!

By Meagan Rosenfeld and Eli YoungArtwork by Renae Mullet

6 MARCH 2019

OPINION 7

What is palm oil? A question that is asked all the time and isn’t known by most Americans in society. Palm oil is used in many different products and accessories such as ice cream, peanut butter, chocolate, ect. People generally don’t know that palm oil is in a lot of the products we use/consume and that it is also bad for you. Not only is palm oil bad for you, but it is bad for the environment. Palm oil is acquired by taking the oil from the fruit of plants and putting it in various different products.There is two different types of it: crude palm oil, and kernel palm oil. Crude palm oil comes from squeezing the fleshy fruit, and kernel palm oil comes from crushing the kernel. Palm oil isn’t always on the bad side. It is the highest-yielding vegetable oil crop which makes it very efficient and very popular, it is a unique ingredient, and has some health benefits. Oil palm trees come originate from Africa, but were brought to South-East Asia to be an ornamental tree crop. There are over 42 countries that produce palm oil globally. We’ve all probably have seen the video/commercial with that cute little Orangutan going into the girls room, then being asked to leave and why he was there. The production of palm oil drove the orangutan to that girls bedroom because it had no home. Orangutans live in oil trees that come from Africa. People want it so much that they’re destroying Orangutans habitats in order to collect it. The video does a great job, in persuading the viewer to think twice about using products with palm oil. The environment is a big deal, and palm oil is creates a bad environment. Not only is our environment being affected, but palm oil also effects our human bodies. Palm oil is high in saturated fat, and can cause cardiovascular disease if not properly used in a diet. Heart disease is mostly common with the intake of too much palm oil. Environmentally, the biggest problem is deforestation, and clearing out too many forest.

Trees are around to better the environment, so if we’re cutting down more trees than we’re planting, we’ll eventually run out because palm oil isn’t renewable.

So Why Should You Care?

Everyday you contribute to this destruction by using products containing palm oil. Be sure to read labels on everything from food to makeup, and to only select items without the palm oil ingredient. Not only is the production of these items promoting deforestation and habitat loss for the orangutans, but if this trend continues there will not be any land left to even harvest any palm oil at all. We need to cut palm oil out of our routine completely. If people refuse to use items with palm oil then the demand for them will go down and companies will be forced to change their ingredients in order to keep their business.

Sign the Petition! Help fight against deforestation and help save

the orangutans.

https://www.rainforest-rescue.org/peti-tions/1111/stop-rainforest-destruction-for-biofu-

els

8 MARCH 2019

Below you will find a list of a few common items that contain palm oil. Try to cut out a few of these items every week, and in the end it will total out to make a difference. Peanut butter: SkippyIce cream: Wall’s Soft ScoopChocolate: Cadbury’s Dairy Milk, MaltesersMargarine: Flora Buttery SpreadSnacks: Twiglets, Ritz Crackers, Cheez-itzCookies and biscuits: Maryland Chocolate Chip Cookies, OreosBread: Sainsbury’s Garlic Bread SlicesInstant noodles: Batchelors Super NoodlesPizza bases and pizza base mix: Tesco’s ownShampoo: Head & ShouldersSoap: Dove OriginalLipstick: Max Factor Colour Elixir

https://orangutanfoundation.org.au/palm-oil/

“Everyday you contribute to

this destruction by using products

containing palm oil”

IN-DEPTH 9

The Reign of the Penny is Over (Or at Least it Should Be)Alex Ehlers

When was the last time you used a penny to help you purchase something? You probably don’t remember. This is because pennies are of no use to society, whether you are using them on their own or to purchase something that costs more than a cent, they are not only worthless, but also a waste of time. In a study done by Walgreens and The National Association of Convenience Stores, 48 million hours were wasted by Americans, just from searching for pennies in line. Because of pennies being useless, time consuming, and extremely expensive, we should work to getting rid of the coin. The biggest reason as to why the production of the physical, Abraham Lincoln penny should stop is because our society is moving towards a more digital world every day: and this includes how we pay. With apps like Venmo, Cash App, Paypal and Apple Pay, we are now able to use cash and coins less and spend money easier. According to CreditCards.com, an online news source focusing on credit, a majority of Americans prefer to use debit or credit for their daily expenses. The only places where cash is preferred are coffee shops and fast food restaurants. Other than that, Americans use cards at grocery stores, retail shops, gas stations, and at dine-in restaurants. Because of the growing use of cards and other electronic forms of payment, the penny continues to become more and more obsolete. Many economists also push to get rid of the penny for the reason that many consumers do not use it, because they lose it first. This trend of losing pennies in couches or in cars is likely to continue as more and more payments are made without cash. Pennies are also the most expensive coin to make. In an article published by CBS news, one penny costs 1.5 cents to make. This causes the US Mint to spend $46 million a year just on penny production. The US mint also makes approximately 9.1 billion pennies a year, this is more than the amount of all the other coins produced -- combined.

In 2010, Congress pushed the US Mint to find a cheaper metal to use to make pennies, but they concluded that zinc would still be the cheapest, even though it is the reason why pennies are so expensive to make.Taxpayers are the ones paying for this, and every taxpayer should care where their money is being spent. In the words of Barack Obama, “anytime we are spending money on something that people don’t use, it’s something we should change.” The concept of getting rid of the penny isn’t new, there have been multiple bills brought up in Congress addressing a rounding system that would eventually eliminate the penny from circulation. In a bill from the 1989 US House, the bill states “If a mill, 1 cent, 2 cents, 6 cents, or 7 cents shall be contained in the resulting sum, that sum shall be rounded down to the nearest amount divisible by 5 for those individuals seeking to pay therefor with legal tender.” Basically this means that businesses will round down when the cost of a good or service ends in an amount of $0.02 or less, and round up if it is $0.03 or more. Everything would end in zeros or fives. There are a lot of conceptual issues involving getting rid of the, like how it would affect the FED and interest rates. Concerns arise when considering getting rid of both the coin and the penny when it’s on paper, “I think the FED should still use the penny to help control interest rates and maintain the security of the financial markets,” says senior Sam Barr, “but it shouldn’t be used personally because of the outrageous cost of the penny has to produce. With all of these issues involving the penny, why do so many still support keeping it in circulation? Kilbourne students Trevor Boughton and Gracie Burford both agree that we should keep the penny because of what it represents, “having Lincoln on the penny represents freedom,” says Boughton. Burford agrees, saying “Lincoln is my guy.” But these two, among the

10 MARCH 2019

other penny lovers within Kilbourne, are still the minority. In a poll conducted on my instagram, 61% think that the penny is useless, and 64% are in support of abolishing the penny. This compares to the national polls where only 34% support abolishing the penny. Overall, there are many reasons as to why the coin should be taken out of circulation, but we could potentially come to a compromise where the coin could be used by the FED on paper to regulate interest. As long as American taxpayers are no longer paying for this expensive coin to be produced, there is still some potential for Abe.

Pictured: illustration of a the current US penny, drawn by Renae Mollett

IN-DEPTH 11

Vaping in SchoolsBy Jamison Davis Artwork by Trevor Boughton

In the past 30 days, the number of high-school age students who have used e-cigarettes has increased 75% to about 3 million students, compared to last year’s data from the FDA (New York Times). This includes 11% of high school seniors, 8% of 10th-graders, and 3.5% of eighth-graders (Yale Medicine). More commonly called “vapes”, e-cigarettes have taken hold of America and especially impacted the youth. One of the more popular vape companies, Juul, has roped in many teenagers with their slogan, “Smoking Evolved” and ads featuring hip, young people showing off their product and how “cool” it is. Juuls are pretty easy to cover up and hide as they look like a long, skinny flash drive that comes in many colors and can be charged in a regular USB port. They come with little attachments for the top called “pods”, which is where the user actually inhales the contents inside and often have flavoring to them to make the Juul more appealing, such as mint, mango, creme brulee, and others. High schoolers are mainly targeted in the Juul campaign because it is presented as having no harmful effect to the teenager, when in actuality, it “can have strong concentrations of nicotine, which is highly addictive, and detrimental to the developing adolescent brain” (New York Times). This nicotine addiction can eventually lead to other addictions to actual cigarettes, tobacco, and other drugs that have been proved to be more dangerous. Juul marketing has gone downhill over the past few months, as they have been under fire for putting their products in convenience stores

around America, selling them to underage consumers (under 18). Juul has tried to come back from this backlash by increasing the age of their commercial models and creating a new campaign to promote the dangers of vaping using bathroom posters and public service announcements. They’ve even changed and shortened their flavored pod names in an attempt to turn people away from using them by losing their descriptors. In addition, others have added to Juul’s PSA’s and started a new catchphrase, “Juul isn’t Cuul”, mimicking the spelling of the company to further spread the news about how bad vaping actually is. Vaping has grown to be so much of a trend today that it’s even grasped Kilbourne. Many students

“It’s an addictive thing...”- Gunnar Langhirt

have been caught, just this school year, with being in possession of a Juul or other e-cigarette and it can pose some serious consequences, like detentions or even a suspension. Even students who don’t smoke and such can feel pressured to try it to fit in. “I think it’s the nicotine in it and it’s an addictive thing,” Gunnar Langhirt, a freshman, stated. “If someone tries it, they want to keep going, similar to cigarettes and other drugs.” This line of thinking is what gets most high schoolers under

12 MARCH 2019

this bad influence and they can’t live without it, which is damaging them without even realizing. All in all, vaping is bad. Kilbourne is dedicated to providing a safe, secure, and healthy community, which the students are a part of. If more and more teenagers fall under this trap, this epidemic could blow up into something way more serious. America is taking a step in a positive direction with the new PSA’s and realigned marketing, but something more needs to be done. Once it clicks in one person’s head, that person has the ability to spread their knowledge with their peers and maybe through talking more about vaping and the dangers of it, a change can be made in teenagers today.

NATIONAL 13

THE JONAS BROTHERS ARE BACK

Anyone who has been on social media in the past month was made aware of the fact that The Jonas Brothers dropped a new single and have officially announced that they will be making a comeback in 2019. People who grew up listening to their music are incredibly excited to see a band they loved when they were younger come back together and release new music.

Maxim Estevez-Curtis

What music did you listen to when you were a kid?

The comeback of The Jonas Brothers led to an explosion in reminiscence of toys, music, and T.V. shows from the late 90s and early 2000s. Different members of the Kilbourne community across all ages were asked how their personal music throwbacks impacted their current day music taste as well as which musicians they would like to see make a comeback similar to The Jonas Brothers.

Cassidy Oyer, Sophomore: “I listened to a lot of Hannah Montana and Disney, Fun, Train, Bob Marley. Just a bunch of different musicians. I mainly listened to Disney and Fun, but my dad listened to a lot of Bob Marley and Ziggy Marley and I really enjoyed them as a kid.”

Meena Jani, Senior: “Lagaan all the time. In elementary school, I was really into specific songs like “Fireflies” by Owl City, “Waka Waka” by Shakira, and “Firework” by Katy Perry. I also listened to a lot of Hannah Montana, and later, I listened to One Direction as well (especially “What Makes You Beautiful”). In middle school, I started listening to bands like Imagine Dragons and Coldplay.”

Gaby Molina, Senior: “I listened to pop music that was just on the radio, or I listened to music that came from Disney movies.”

Holly Pemberton, Choir Director: “When I was in middle school, I loved to listen to groups like Hanson, Backstreet Boys, *NSYNC, Spice Girls, and Destiney’s Child. I also listened to the very first singles of young Britney Spears and Christina Aguilera.”

Pictured: The Jonas Brothers Comeback by Trevor Boughton

How our childhood icons shaped our music taste today

14 MARCH 2019

What music do you listen to now?

How do you think the music you listened to

as a kid shaped your current music taste?

Cassidy: “Now I listen to a lot of indie music like Rex Orange County. I also listen to Bob Marley and Ziggy Marley just because I loved listening to them as a child and it just stuck with me. Disney really shapes my life because it’s like a family. Disney music is great for all ages and often times goes along with a movie that I can enjoy.”

Meena: “Now, I listen to western classical music, and some rap, which I didn’t like when I was younger. I also listen to Latin pop, largely because I can now understand Spanish, and Indian classical dance music, because I am much more invested in dance than I used to be. Currently, my favorite artists include Beyonce and Adele. But I still listen to Lagaan, and I also like music with inspirational messages, which is definitely inspired by my favorite childhood songs. In general, I think the themes of the lyrics in the music I listen to haven’t changed much over the years.”

Gaby: “I don’t think it really relates, I feel like when I was a kid I listened to what I wanted now I feel that I listen to what everyone listens to and I learned to like it.”

Mrs. Pemberton: “Now, I listen to a lot of musical theatre, choral music, orchestral music, praise and worship, and some songs from the groups I listened to as a kid. The music I listened to as a kid was very simple, and reminds me of a simpler time. Now, it is not something I listen to very often, but for nostalgia. My current taste in music relates more to my career as a music educator and vocalist. I like listening to more complex music of the Renaissance, Baroque, Classical, and Romantic Era. I also like to listen to a lot of new, complex musical theatre music. Any music that has a simple chord or form structure seems boring to me now.”

What band/musician (dead or

alive) would you like to see

make a comeback and why?Cassidy: “I would love for Bob Marley to come back alive because he was a big peace spreader in Jamaica. His music is very happy and always reminds me of summer and the beach.

Meena: “I would definitely like seeing a new Adele album come out, or some new music from Coldplay. I think they are both really unique artists who could make a lot of creative choices with new music. I also think it would be funny if One Direction got back together for a song, or if Miley Cyrus went back to her Hannah Montana phase!”

Gaby: “A band I would like to see come back would probably be the Naked Brothers Band because they were underrated.”

Mrs. Pemberton: “I would love to see *NYSNC or Spice Girls make a big comeback because they all worked and sounded great together. Their blend of harmonies and choreography performance were incredible. It could also create more comradery among my friends who listened to that music too because it reminds us of our friendships as kids when those groups were originally popular.”

NATIONAL 15

Spring Break

Spring is upon us, which means that it is the time for millions of Americans to make their pilgrimage to sunny beaches or big cities. From college kids to families, everyone seems to have the itch to vacation after winter. Not only that, but the number of spring travelers is increasing every year. According to The Washington Post, 2018 had the most air travelers ever, with 72.1 million, which is a five percent increase from just a year earlier. According to John Townsend, a public and government affairs manager for AAA, this is due to a “strong interest in travel” and a “strong economy

and growing consumer confidence”. The LA Times says that from November 2014 to November 2017, the number of passengers on domestic flights grew by 13.5%. Millenials are helping to drive this trend, according to a joint study by TripAdvisor, Viator, and Offers.com. The study found that over 53% of people aged 18 to 34 plan to travel. The same study found that New Orleans was the destination with most growth in travel from 2017 to 2018. Clearly, the desire to travel during spring break is not ending, especially in young people.

By Daniel Zhou

image credit: Renae Mollett

16 MARCH 2019

According to Sojern, the average party spends about a week on vacation, with families taking longer stays than college students. The majority of people who travel for spring break head to warm places, which is an escape after a cold winter. Expedia’s most popular destinations include NYC, Los Angeles, Orlando, Miami, Cancun, and Phoenix. Allianz Global Assistance’s list of the most popular destinations ranks Orlando first, followed by Phoenix, Honolulu, Ft. Lauderdale and then Las Vegas. The majority of these destinations are southern, as people want to feel the sun.

The list of the most popular international destinations is dominated by Mexico and the Caribbean, which shows Americans’ desire for warm locations, even internationally. On the flip side, the U.S. government has issued two travel warnings for popular spring break destinations. Travelers are advised traveling to the Bahamas and Turks and Caicos, due to crime such as armed robberies, sexual assault and burglaries. At Kilbourne, many students followed the national trend and went to warm destinations. Chloe Emberton, a sophomore at Kilbourne, said that “I’m going to Florida and I’m excited for the warm weather”. She also says that she enjoys going there because “It’s peaceful and a good break from school”. Erika McCague, a sophomore, also went to Florida, and said that she enjoyed the warm weather. Abby Periatt, also a sophomore, went to Miami and Ft. Lauderdale for break. “I went to get away from the cold and Ohio”.

image credit: Daniel Zhou

NATIONAL 17

Spring break as we know it originated sometime in the 1950s, according to The New York Times. Movies and MTV further boosted the image of spring break, and pushed the image of crazy beaches into the mainstream. According to TIME, the tradition of heading to places like Florida was first started by college swimmers, who would go down for a competition. The Chicago Tribune found a 2015 study that said that over half of all college students are planning to go somewhere warm, such as Las Vegas, Cancun, and Punta Cana. That survey also found that price is an important factor in choosing destination, with most students sharing rooms and spending less than a thousand dollars. Kilbourne students seem to love spring break along with the rest of the country. After a cold winter, many Americans want to take a break somewhere warm, and spring break is the perfect time to do so.

image credit: Daniel Zhou

“Spring is nature’s way of saying let’s party.”

- Robin Williams

18 MARCH 2019

THE IMPACT OF SPORTS

Running, dribbling, throwing, catching, kicking, hitting, scoring - these are all words you may think of when someone mentions sports. However, athletics are more than just the physical act of playing. Sports are an integral part of many student’s lives and whether it’s on or off the field, athletes work hard to succeed in their respective sports. But what motivates a player to do well and what is the allure behind sports which draws so many students to become involved in athletics? Eight Kilbourne athletes explain why they enjoy doing sports and what makes them enjoy it.

By Summer Weiler

SPORTS 19

“I played lacrosse for 5 years, soccer since I was 2 - so 12 years - and basketball for 7 years. I’ve made a lot of new friends and sports keep me entertained so that I’m not bored all the time. They’re just fun to play and be involved in. When I’m on the field playing, it’s my favorite thing. Dribbling a soccer ball, or even just walking with my team, it’s a great experience and I would definitely say that sports have given me a lot of opportunities. “

-Brendan Beck, Freshman

“I play lacrosse right now but I used to play softball and soccer. Sports make me feel great about myself, mainly because the girls are really supportive and the environment that I’m part of whenever I’m playing is so positive. Being an athlete also keeps me in shape so that I can live healthily. I really enjoy the sense of accomplishment that I get whenever I’m playing. I feel like I overcome something new every game and it makes me proud of myself and my abilities. “

-Kelly Laudermilch, Freshman

“I’ve done gymnastics since I was 5, softball since I was 11, and I also played basketball for 6 years when I was younger. Sports have made me who I am today, especially gymnastics. You learn so many life lessons that you’ll need later on and I definitely feel like gymnastics has made me grow up faster, just because of all the responsibilities that come with it. that’s how a lot of sports are espe-cially if you grow up playing them. Even though playing sports comes with a lot of demands, it’s so worth it when you’re in an atmosphere that’s so supportive. You get to meet so many new people; I’ve met good people from around the state and country which is pretty cool and they’re all so supportive. “-Emily Mosic, Sophomore

20 MARCH 2019

“I play soccer for Kilbourne but also I’m on a club team with Sporting Columbus. Soccer is an outlet for school and stress for me, it’s something to look forward to at the end of the day. I’ve built a lot of really close relationships that I wouldn’t have made without soccer since a lot of the players are in different friend groups on the high school team and on my club team all of the players are from different schools around Ohio. We all come from pretty different backgrounds so it’s interesting to see us all connect over soccer. The team community is my favorite thing about soccer, it makes it pretty easy to make a new friend since you have to come together with your teammates and you also already have a common interest with everyone - soccer, or whatever sport you play. From community service to travelling around the country with my club team, soccer has opened up a lot of doors for me.”-Sasha Estice, Junior

“I’ve played baseball for twelve years and I’ve wrestled, played football and soccer for 3 years each. It taught me a good sense of teamwork, how to team build, work with other people, and get along with a group of people that I’m not usually a part of since I am kind of a nerdy guy so having that connection really helped me especially in school. I feel like a lot of sports also really teach you perseverance and how to push through obstacles - like opponents that are better than you, or other things like that, but also physically. Sports are usually a lot of physical labor so you grow stronger and learn to push your body. I like the community of sports. Being around people who are like-minded and enjoy the same thing as me is great and so is spending time with people like that - even if it’s just hanging out.”

-Ari Stewart, Senior

SPORTS 21

“I currently play volleyball, softball, and bowling but in my life I’ve played pretty much every other sport at some point. I think that playing sports has had a pretty significant impact on me. For one thing, I’ve met a lot of my closest friends from the sports that I’ve played. I’ve gained a lot of important skills from playing that impact my life everyday. My leadership skills have grown and so have my communicative skills since if you aren’t talking on the court or the field then nothing will get done. I’ve really learned how to work with other people to get the job done even if it’s difficult. I get to stay healthy and in shape while doing something that I love with people that I love and I really think that that’s why I’ve stuck with playing sports and why I’ll continue playing in the future. “

“I don’t currently play any sports but I did play volleyball my freshman and sophomore year and I played lacrosse in mid-dle school. I also played soccer and basketball throughout elementa-ry school. Sports have taught me how to work with people and commu-nicate to come together as a team. I like that when playing sports you meet a lot of new people and work with them. You get to come together to accomplish a goal and I think that that’s really cool to see. “

-Zach Skinner, Junior-Casey Knuth, Senior

“I’ve been playing vol-leyball for the past 2 years, football for the past 4 years, in middle school I was on the track team and in elementary school I usually played either soccer or basketball. I’m sure you can see how sports are pretty important to me. Sports have made me faster, stronger and overall more active person since they require that I stay in shape. I’ve met a lot of people through sports and created a lot of new relationships - it’s inevitable. You’re bound to make friends which is what I love about sports. Being part of a team environment, especially if you have a good coach and team, is a great experience. You spend time with them almost every day - on or off the court. You start to act like a team in-stead of a group of individuals and seeing all sorts of people pulled together into a family is really cool in my eyes. “-Luke Myers, Sophmore

22 MARCH 2019

Artwork courtesy of Madeline Smith Written by Abby Periatt

MARCHMADNESS

TBS, TNT, TruTV or CBS. It is also possible to stream every game on the tournament’s app March Madness Live. Carol Shrader, an 84 year-old , says “I have been participating in an NCAA tournament brackets for as long as I can remember.” She went on to say, “I enjoy watching the games immensely, but going to the live event three years ago in Columbus was one of the best experiences.” Gianna Dixon, an avid female basketball fan who is eight years old, has been “watching the games since [she] was six and couldn’t wait until tip off began on [March 17th].” Many students at Worthington Kilbourne High School enjoy participating in March Madness as well. Claire Schutte, a sophmore, exclaims, “I love watching the games to see if my predictions are accurate. To make it more intriguing, everyone in my family gives five dollars and whomever has the most accurate brackets wins all of the money.” Derek Justus, a former WKHS student, adds, “I tend to pick a few underdog teams that are either a personal favorite or a team I’ve watched play that looks good. I’ve been participating since I was a kid, and I typically just bet a few dollars for fun.” Blake Gardner, a junior, believes “[March Madness] is one of the most fun sport events. [His] friends and [him] put in a certain amount of money every year for [their] brackets and watch all the games together as well.” March Madness is one of the most participated and widely watched events on American television. However, it is evident that a successful tournament involves more than individual team preparation!

For the second time in four years, Nationwide Arena will host the first two rounds of the 2018-2019 March Madness basketball tournament. There are a total of sixty-eight teams playing in the tournament, which officially began on March 17th. The NCAA runs and coordinates everything for the NCAA Tournament, and a majority of Americans will watch and/or engage in brackets or betting on the games. The director of the NCAA Division I Men’s Basketball has to begin preparing for this widely viewed tournament well in advance. In order for teams to qualify for this prestigious tournament, they either have to win their league tournament championship or receive an at large bid from the NCAA committee. Additionally, the committee tries to create an exciting experience for the participants and fans. In order to draw attention, the tournament has to be promoted through television and ads. Furthermore, the NCAA has to find a way to transport the fans to the arena. According to Nationwide Arena, the facility can hold up to 19,500 people for basketball, and on March 22 and 24 Nationwide Arena hosted the first six games of the first and second rounds. Tickets always range in price depending on the team, venue, and vendor. Americans are quite engaged with March Madness. The tournament draws attention from a multitude of age groups varying from young to old. Additionally, there are many ways participants can follow March Madness, whether it’s through their televisions at home, checking the scores on a device such as their smartphones/ipads, or streaming the game. Every March Madness game will be broadcast on either