VOLUME 39, ISSUE 5MARCH.5.2010 O’FALLON TOWNSHIP HIGH SCHOOL, ILL.

OPINIONS P.2 NEWS P.3 IN FOCUS P.8 & P.9 FEATURES P.10 ENTERTAINMENT P.12 SPORTS P.13 PHOTO PAGE P.16

the P r o w l e rPanthers survive scare from Lancers

After a nearly perfect regular season, the Panthers will look to go to State for the first time since the 2006-2007 season.

On Feb. 6, the team faced off against Normal High School. In the non-conference game, the boys topped the Ironmen 62-57.

Continuing their rigorous conference schedule, the Panthers visited Belleville East on Feb. 12.

Junior Roosevelt Jones led the way with a season-high 31 points as the team beat the Lancers 69-58.

On Feb. 16, the team visited Granite City for their third consecutive road game. The Panthers never let the Warriors get comfortable en route to a 75-48 conference win.

The day after the game against Granite City, the Panthers learned that they took over the number one spot in MaxPreps’ Illinois state poll. This marked the first time in the O’Fallon’s history that any sport has been the top-ranked

BY JOHN DAVISsports@othsprowler.com

Junior Roosevelt Jones drives through a wall of Belleville East defenders on March 2. The Panthers defeated the Lancers 70-65 to earn a spot in the Regional championship game. Jones led the team with 17 points.

ADAM HARREL

Two teammates from the Rolling Rams surround Ms. Erin Thoman during the fifth annual PWP wheelchair basketball game on Wednesday, Feb. 24. The final score of the game was 28-12, with the teachers as the losers again.

TYLER KLAUS

On Feb. 24, Players with a Passion sponsored the fourth-annual wheelchair basketball game against the Rolling Rams. 

The Rams, a team of children who have disabilities that require them to use wheelchairs, won 28-12, but had a tough fight.

“The game was really amazing. [There was] never a dull moment,” senior spectator Misty White said.

This year, four OTHS students, freshman LaShaun Brown, sophomore Macy Oswald, junior Lauren Miller and senior Abby Hughes, were given the opportunity to play for the Rams, evening the competition.

“Trying to dribble a basketball and wheeling yourself down the court isn’t as easy as it looks,” Lauren Miller said.

PWP sponsor Ms. Kate Walsh was impressed by the amount of student support, team representation and called the game the best in its history.

Teacher participants included Mrs. Darcy Benway, Mr. Alan Elfrink, Mr. Jason Turkington and many more.

“I felt like I was constantly learning the whole game,” participant Ms. Brandi Lich said.

The game boasted several highlights, including Mr. Nick Seibert crashing into a Ram and sending him into the air, Mr. L.P. Wills making a three-pointer from a wheelchair, Mr. L.D. Walters making his first basket, and, according to Ms. Walsh, Mr. Elfrink’s always infectious smile.

“The teachers were a lot more agressive this year. They definitely tried their hardest,” junior Ashley Proper said.

Mr. Turkington said be liked “watching teachers look vulnerable and look absolutely clueless compared to the Rolling Rams.”

Ms. Kate Miller said the addition of students players this year made it fun.

Ms. Walsh, PWP sponsor, arranged for the funds raised to go toward the Rolling Rams.

Throughout the week, PWP collected donations and sold t-shirts to determine which class was most spirited. Raffle tickets were also sold to determine which four students would participate.

Students added to PWP wheelchair game; teachers still loseBY BRYCE RADICKnews@othsprowler.com

Want more? CheCk out Web exClusives on apple’s neW ipad and photos of february froliCs, pWp, boys’ basketball and more online at www.othsprowler.comM

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See page 16 for more photos of the PWP game!

THE ROAD TO STATERegionals at OTHS

Friday, March 57:30 pmOTHS vs. winner of Belleville West/East St. Louis

Sectionals at Belleville East/Pekin

Tuesday, March 97:30 pmOTHS vs. winner of Normal Regional (at Belleville East H.S.)

Friday, March 127:30 pmOTHS vs. winner of Normal Regional winner vs. East Moline Regional winner (at Pekin H.S.)

Super-Sectionals at Illinois State UniversityTuesday, March 167:30 pmOTHS vs. winner of Flossmoor Sectional

State Tourney at Peoria Civic Center

Friday, March 196:30 pmOTHS vs. winner of Hinsdale Central Super-Sectional

Saturday, March 208:15 pmOTHS vs. winner of Chicago Super-Sectional vs. Elgin Super-Sectional

team in Illinois.However, the celebration did not last long.In their final home game of the year, the

team faced Belleville West for the third time. This time, the Maroons defeated the Panthers

64-45. The Maroons spoiled Senior Night by eluding O’Fallon’s defensive pressure.

“I think we lost because we weren't focused and we took them for granted,” senior Chevaughn Lawrence said. [The loss] helped us get refocused and our minds right so that we can bounce back.”

Following the humbling loss, the boys took on Edwardsville in a highly-anticipated rematch. In the first meeting between the two SWC powers, O'Fallon beat the Tigers 77-53.

On Feb. 23, the Panthers defeated their conference rivals at Edwardsville 48-45 to clinch the Southwestern Conference title. This marked the team's first conference title since winning the Mississippi Valley in 1992.

Jones led the team with 16 points, and senior Shane Watson added 11.

On Feb. 26, the Panthers finished their regular season with a trip to East St. Louis. The boys ended their season on a high note, beating the Flyers 67-58. The boys finished their regular season at 25-2.

To start the play-offs, O'Fallon hosted Belleville East on March 2.

Early mistakes and miscommunications put the Panthers in a hole. The boys were down three points at halftime, and trailed by as many as nine.

At the end of the third quarter, the Lancers led the Panthers 46-41.

After the intermission, the boys mounted a furious comeback. Behind the efforts of sophomore Ray Bullock and junior Josh Buie, O'Fallon tied the game at 56 with 3:24 left in the fourth quarter.

With just under a minute and a half to play, junior Charles Joy gathered a tough offensive rebound and fed Watson for the go-ahead bucket. The Panthers never looked back as they defeated the Lancers 70-65. Jones led the team with 17 points, 14 of those coming in the second half. Bullock had 12 points, and Buie added 11.

The Panthers will play again tonight for the Regional championship at 7:30 p.m.

O’Fallon defeats Belleville East 70-65, will play for Regional title tonight

2 OPINIONS MARCH 5, 2010

to the editor. All letters must be signed. All signatures will be verified through a phone call or personal interview.

Letters may be submitted to Room 608, mailed to OTHS Publications, 600 S. Smiley St., O’Fallon, IL 62269, or emailed to letters@othsprowler.com. Letters should be fewer than 400 words in length. If excessive editing is needed, the letter will be returned to the author for approval. The Prowler reserves the right to edit any letter for grammatical errors, libelous content, or space limitations.

The Prowler is a member of the National Scholastic Press Association and the Illinois High School Press Association. Some material courtesy of American Society of Newspaper Editors/MCT Campus High School Newspaper Service. The Prowler is printed by the Edwardsville Intelligencer of Edwardsville, Ill.

Jennifer BaileyEditor-in-Chief

Bryce RadickNews Editor/Reporter

Tessa DockinsReporter

Katy ManessReporter

Ashleigh JacksonReporter

Caitlyn CoonReporter

Jake HamiltonWeb Editor/Reporter

Alexis HardyFeatures Editor/Reporter

Natalie BuchReporter

David ColbusReporter

Ellie KanaskieReporter

Ms. Mary DempseyAdviser

John DavisSports Editor/Reporter

Chad BartholomewReporter

Kira WorthingtonReporter

Jacob FusselReporter

Janelle PfeiferReporter

The O’Fallon Township High School newspaper, The Prowler, is part of the educational curriculum of O’Fallon District 203.

Although the paper is a class activity, OTHS students may submit materials, such as stories, photography, graphics, or art, for publication consideration. Students should bring any submissions to Room 608 Smiley Campus Submissions may be edited for content, length and grammar.

If written, staff editorials will not be signed and will reflect the opinion of the majority of the staff members. Commentaries and columns, on the other hand, will be signed and reflect the individual writer’s views. Any person with an interest in the OTHS community is encouraged to submit letters

THE PROWLER STAFF & POLICIES

Contributors: Stephen Davis, Brandon Daniels, Adam Harrel, Tyler Klaus, Chris Johns, Elaine Andell, Carrie Dougherty, Mrs. Raboin, Emily Lecours, Jacquelyn Bayham and Brittney Mater

Backstabbing ruins friendships

Some people do not think before they say things, especially when talking about a friend.

But why lose a friend over something said that hurts someone’s feelings?

“Backstabbing is a big issue in any high school, and I believe that most students are faced with it at some point,” senior Alaina Lukavsky said.

People are supposed to be there for their friends, supporting them in what they want to do and helping or comforting them when they are down.

They should be able to trust them to not say anything bad or even agree with someone else who is slandering them.

If a “friend” tells others negative things about you, he or she is not a true friend.

A real friend will tell the person to his or her face if there is something they do not like about what the person is doing or saying.

“Backstabbing is just another way to show who your real friends are,” senior Haley Smith said.

Teenagers especially need to realize which friends are ones that they can trust and which ones are not trustworthy.

People that are trustworthy are good friends and the ones that people are likely to have for a

lifetime.Trust is very

important to everyone and, ideally, everyone should be able to trust their friends.

If people want to lose someone’s trust, saying bad or false things about someone is the way to go.

“My only advice would be to love the people who treat you right and forgive the ones who do not because life is too short to waste so

much effort on pointless high school drama,” Lukavsky said.

So please, stop being immature. Start acting like a real friend.

BY TESSA DOCKINS opinions@othsprowler.com

“My only advice would be to love the people

who treat you right and forgive the ones who do not because life is too short to waste so

much effort on pointless high school drama.”

-Alaina Lukavsky, senior

Try to think back to a time when you were unjustly stereotyped or treated poorly.

Everyone wants to be respected for who they are, not just because of the color of their shirt or their job.

As an employee in the food industry, I have recently begun to realize just how undervalued our custodial staff at OTHS really is.

Whenever someone pesters me at work over something I cannot change or influence, I seriously have to maintain my self-control. Whenever I see trash laying around, when it is not my job to pick up after people, I second guess the intelligence of the people I have to serve.

If I feel that way as a part-time employee, imagine how our custodians feel having to pick up after us, and listen to our teenage, melodramatic attitudes for hours a day, every day.

Officer Jeff Meyer made a good point saying, “The custodial staff does seem to have the respect of the faculty and the students.”

However, the appearance of respect is a far cry from actual respect.

While our many custodians may not voice any complaints about how they are treated by students, it is obvious that they are not as valued as they could be.

Showing respect for these men and women who are dedicated to

cleaning up after us and taking care of the things no one wants to is not as hard as it sounds.

More than just custodians, they are also people who need to be recognized.

Remember, every person, no matter who, is more than just a shirt.

“The custodial staff does a great job.  They are friendly and polite and often times don’t get enough credit for their hard work,” Mr. Dippel said.

Avoid leaving your trash laying around, especially during the lunch hours. If you have a tray or food left over, stand up and put it in the

nearby trash receptacles.The custodians’ jobs

are mainly to make sure that our learning and eating environments are safe and everything runs smoothly.

A custodian from the Smiley Campus, Mr. Don Horine said, “My job is to maintain a clean environment for the students and faculty.”

If they wouldn’t have to waste their time picking up after a couple hundred students every lunch hour, they would never have time to do the things that they actually need to get done.

The same goes for in the hallways and classrooms. They are not our mothers, so don’t leave behind messes.

So, while it may seem as though the custodians’ jobs are to only take your cell phones and nag you about leaving your tray behind, they really do have a job to do -- a thankless job that deserves more than our attitudes and laziness.

Make a difference and start showing your appreciation for our custodians by acting like an adult and picking up after yourself.

BY KIRA WORTHINGTONopinions@othsprowler.com

Custodians deserve respect from students

Recycling: worth the cost?

With people complaining that glass, paper, metal, plastic, textiles and electronics are killing the world and Al Gore claiming global warming is a threat, recycling may very well be the answer.

So, why do we recycle?Recycling helps to reduce air contamination,

lower water toxins and lower our need on conventional garbage removal.

“I feel recycling is good for the environment, but it costs money, which is the downfall,” junior Mike Steed said.

Some of the costs come from the numerous types of materials to recycle.

Batteries are one of the hardest materials to recycle due to the fact that there are many variations. The older batteries contain mercury and cadmium.

Because of their potential environmental damage, proper disposal of used batteries is required by law in many areas. Unfortunately, this mandate has been difficult to enforce.

Plastic recycling is the process of recovering scrap or waste plastics and reprocessing the

material into useful products. The main problem with plastic recycling is

the vast number of things made of plastic; it is hard to get it all.

If people want us to recycle, why do they make us pay for it even though there are dumpsters around the town that take our recyclables, but do not take all materials?

“I think it’s a good thing, but I think it’s stupid that we have to pay to do it. I would do it if it did not cost anything,” senior John Zuber said.

Taking away the cost could make more people recycle and save the earth.

Do not get me wrong, I like to recycle, but my family and I do not want to pay to do it.

“It seems like a good way to save the Earth. I think everyone should at least try to recycle something. I mean its not that hard to, instead of putting that soda can in the trash, put it in the magic blue bin,” my sister freshman Bekah Bartholomew said.

In O’Fallon, you can pay to have your recycling taken for you, but there are other

options around town.You can save cans and paper and take them

to the dumpsters behind City Hall.At OTHS, the Smiley campus recycles paper,

cell phones, plastic, cardboard, metal, glass, and more. At Milburn Campus, many items can be recycled too.

BY CHAD BARTHOLOMEWopinions@othsprowler.com

“I feel recycling is good for the

environment, but it costs money, which

is the downfall.”-Mike Steed, junior

The easiest way to do your part is to simply recycle. It’s also one of the most effective ways to conserve natural resources, create less pollution and reduce the amount of waste sent to the landfill.

MCT WIRE SERVICE

Students spill on price for saving the world

Mr. Keith Bye

Ms. Karole Steele

Mr. Don Horine

3NEWSMARCH 5, 2010

It is official. To many students’ dismay, the annual Blood Drive and Honor Roll Tea have both been dissolved.

“The Honor Roll Tea showed that our hard work paid off. Even though the tea party lasted for only an hour, honor students from the same grade really enjoyed missing class to talk with friends,” senior Jessica Su said.

In the past, Student Council hosted this tea party for students on the Honor Roll to reward them for their achievements. Students would receive passes to get out of either sixth or seventh hour to attend the tea. 

Student Council members served snacks and refreshments while the students were entertained by some of the acts that did not quite make the cut for February Frolics.

However, in light of the opening of the freshman campus, many changes have occurred at OTHS, and the alteration of this beloved tradition was done to account for the separate campuses.

“Student Council sponsors suggested the change [with the] administration’s approval. Sponsors spend a great deal of time planning these events and felt this was a transition year for everyone. We were unsure how events would run with two campuses,” STUCO sponsor Ms. Dawn Bauer said.

Before, the students could decide for themselves whether or not they could afford to miss a particular class to go to the tea.

“[Students] should know whether or not to go to the Tea. I never had difficult classes during the Tea, so I could go. But students should know their limits; if they are struggling in a class, they shouldn’t go. Easy as that,” senior Cassy Gheradini said.

But keeping students in class from now on is more of an aid to the teachers than a repealed privilege to the students.

“Some teachers had half their classes attending the tea which makes it difficult to teach a lesson,” Ms. Bauer said.

So, instead of interfering with teachers’ lesson plans, Student Council rewarded Honor Roll students with heart-shaped sugar cookies from Wood’s Bakery in their advisories.

Names will also be entered in a drawing to win iPods, gas cards, and gift cards to the mall. Winners will be announced at the spring pep rally.

If students are unsatisfied with this replacement, Student Council is always open

to suggestions. Contact members or sponsors of STUCO to give feedback on this change.

In contrast, the reinstatement of the annual Blood Drive is not likely.

The Blood Drive, in the past, had been held in February, and many upperclassmen participated in it.

This event, hosted by the Nurse’s office and the Red Cross, allowed students to give back to humanity by donating blood.

“It seemed like a great experience from what the people that participated have told me,” senior Trevian Spearman said. “I wish I would have done it, though.”

Senior Evan Paeth agrees because he wanted to give blood as well.

“I recognize the need for it. I’ve even had the need while in surgery as a young kid,” Paeth said.

However, due to a myriad of factors, the Blood Drive will no

longer be hosted by OTHS.

According to the school nurse Mrs. Tina Sommer, these factors

include, but are not limited to, time away from classes, Red Cross staff availability and lack of participation due to spring sickness and sports.

“I don’t really see any of the current concerns being resolved in the coming year and with the easy availability of other locations for our students to donate, I think that will be the direction that will continue to work the best,” Mrs. Sommer said.

Students who still wish to donate blood can visit the Red Cross website or attend one of the many Blood Drives hosted in the O’Fallon area. The Knights of Columbus and several local churches serve as blood drive facilities, so it is still possible for interested students to give back.

BY NATALIE BUCHnews@othsprowler.com

Honor Roll Tea, blood drive

Club News: Show Choir, FCA, SADD• Show Choir went to Minnesota Feb. 11-13. They took the award for First

Runner-Up and Best Vocals at the Waconia Star Power Competition. • The spring musical “Les Miserables” has started practices at Milburn and

will take place on March 18, 19, and 20.• The new choir parent booster program OCRA has been launched.• Science Olympiad Regionals were held on Feb. 27.• Milburn raised over $900 for Haiti relief.• Camera Club took a tour of the O’Fallon Police Station on Feb. 22. • Sports Medicine Club will host a 5K Race on April 17 at 8:30 a.m. and all

proceeds go to Haiti relief.• FCA did a Mercy Ministry Outreach on Feb. 13. FCA made dinners for

girls living at the Mercy House because of self- harm issues. • Prowler and Panther Beat members will attend a journalism workshop at

Webster University on March 8.

• Spanish Club is planning a restaurant field trip, salsa dancing lessons and a Cinco de Mayo party. Its time and date are to be determined.

Dissolved ‘til further notice

Ashley Irwin, Alexandra Jenkins and Kaylie Riley, then sophomores in this photo from last year, gather in the multi-purpose room with their peers in order to celebrate their success as students during the 2009 Honor Roll Tea.

ELAINE ANDELL

English teacher Ms. Ashlee Heady happily joins members of the student body in order to donate blood to the American Red Cross. The Blood Drive lasted the entire day last spring, and students were allowed to eat snacks and purchase t-shirts at the event.

CARRIE DOUGHERTY

BY JANELLE PFEIFERnews@othsprowler.com

“Even though the tea party lasted

for only an hour, honor roll students

from the same grade really enjoyed

missing class to talk with friends.”

-Jessica Su, senior

CONGRATULATIONS,NEW STUCO OFFICERS

2011 Class Representatives President- Alaina Bauer

Vice President- Casey TruittSecretary- Alex Jenkins

Treasurer- Maddie Cunningham

2012 Class RepresentativesPresident- Alyssa Soehlke

Vice President- Mackenzie McIntyreSecretary- Ellie EdwardsTreasurer- Sarah Russel

2013 Class RepresentativesPresident- Mohnish Soundararajan

Vice President- Ally SieglerSecretary- Lexi Newcomb

Treasurer- Sam Cowin

4 NEWS MARCH 5, 2010

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At the Robotics Open House on Feb. 20, part of the Robotics team tests their robot. Posing are juniors Stephanie Germuga, Matt Waddel, seniors Aneesh Joseph, Eric Hughes, Will Armstrong, Taylor Noles, Kaitlyn Lenkeit, Dylan White and his little sister Sierra White.

ASHLEIGH JACKSON

    On Jan. 12, the OTHS Endowment fund approved $14,300 in grants for clubs, library equipment and educational programs.

The Endowment Fund is a program that provides financial aid to school activities, separate from the school’s budget as an Illinois non-profit organization.

The organization was established in 1999, and allows for alumni, community members and businesses to contribute financial resources to any educational program.

Jodi Caticchio, a member of the Endowment Board, expressed her idea for the need of such a program.        “Endowment is there to pay for the ‘extras,’

the things that tax money should not pay for and/or cannot pay for,” said Mrs. Caticchio.         What the Endowment Fund provided this school year exemplifies why the program exists.

The recipients this year include the IMC, Robotics, Family and Consumer Science, Challenge Day, Information Technology, Biology I and the Social Workers.

For example, the IMC received money for new mini camcorders and headsets to have at the two campuses, Robotics was given funds

for competition costs and Biology I received money toward their tree project at Milburn

Campus.Applying for a grant

for a club or project is easier than most would think. Also, any club can apply for the Endowment Fund.

Grants have to go through the Endowment board members and Superintendent Dr. Darcy Benway for the approval process.

“The board reviews each application submitted and awards grant funds available based on the projects’ need,

utility, tangibility and overall score,” said Mr. Distler, president of the Endowment Fund.

The application form to complete is on the OTHS web site under the “Community” and “Endowment Fund” tabs.

This form includes the club or activity proposal that goes through the superintendent and board members for approval.

All of the proposals go through a point system to make sure the process is fair due to the limited resources the Endowment Fund is provided with.

“I answer questions for the Endowment Fund committee members and share my opinion on the value of the proposal regarding its need, support of education, and impact on students,” Dr. Benway said.

OTHS Endowment Fund awards grantsFinancial aid program awards $14,300 for equipment; any club, program can apply for fundsBY JAKE HAMILTONnews@othsprowler.com

“Endowment is there to pay for

the extras.”-Mrs. Caticchio, Board Member

The students of French III have teamed up with various OTHS club members in order to raise awareness for the crisis in Haiti.       According to senior Nicole Lambert, the new project is composed of a variety of smaller fundraisers from numerous clubs. All the donated proceeds are given to the American Red Cross and then used as the organization sees fit for Haiti’s victims.

The campaign originated when Lambert and junior Chandler Schaltenbrand were discussing the impact of the disaster.

“...We really wanted to help. We brought [the fundraiser] up to the class and immediately everyone in our first hour French III class jumped on board. We decided to do this because it was something that needed to be done. Our school and community have the

resources...It was the least we could do for these victims,” Lambert said.

Their ultimate goal is for both campuses to raise $5,000 by the end of the 2010 school year.

Currently, the Smiley Campus is lagging behind in donating funds, while Milburn students are carrying the fundraiser by twice as much.

Contributing toward the cause is made simple by the donation stations provided in the lunch room. Students are now able to donate actual funds or buy Hope for Haiti t-shirts for $8, where all profits go directly to the Red Cross.

“It would be great if everyone could pitch in. If everyone just gave $2, we would instantly be able to give about $5000,” Lambert said.

Juniors Alison Lyons and Chandler Schaltenbrand are also working on a “Hope for Haiti” show featuring OTHS musicians.

BY ASHLEIGH JACKSONnews@othsprowler.com

Hope for Haiti FundraiserFrench, other clubs raise money for Red Cross

Robotics Open HouseGroup works together to show off their robot

Dempsey earns award

On Saturday, April 17, Journalism and English teacher Ms. Mary Dempsey will receive the 2010 Rising Star Award, given by the Journalism Education Association.

As one of five to receive the award in the nation, Ms. Dempsey is being rewarded with a substantially important honor for the relatively new teacher.

“I was really excited to find out they had chosen me. I’ve been working with the newspaper and yearbook for four years now,” Ms. Dempsey said.

According to the Journalism Education Association, this award “honors those with

one to five years advising and/or journalism teaching experience.”

Her plaque for the award will be presented at the JEA/NSPA Spring High School Journalism Convention held in Portland, Ore.

Many of Ms. Dempsey’s students are excited for her winning the award.

Editor-in-Chief of the OTHS Prowler, senior Jennifer Bailey said, “I feel that this is a great achievement for her, and that she deserves it. She does a lot of hard work that makes it possible for us to have our newspaper.”

JEA agreed with Bailey, as stated in Ms. Dempsey’s award letter, “your demonstrated commitment to journalism education, and passion for your work striving to help students create outstanding media played a key part in your selection for this award.”

BY KIRA WORTHINGTONnews@othsprowler.com

5NEWSMARCH 5, 2010

Math Team Results• Freshmen received third place

• Sophomores received an honorable mention

• Juniors received second

• Seniors received honorable mention

Individual places• Freshman Michelle Weyhaupt received

Honorable Mention• Freshman Jacob Harrison received

Honorable Mention• Sophomore Samantha Heinrich

received Honorable Mention • Sophomore Heather Guetterman

received Honorable Mention• Sophomore Brady Marston received

Honorable Mention • Sophomore Jarrett Munton received

Honorable Mention • Junior Jessie Ehlers received Honorable

Mention• Junior Ryan Patterson received

Honorable Mention• Junior Matt Waddel placed second

WYSE Team ResultsBiology• First: Junior Ryan Patterson• Second: Junior Heidi Friedeck• Third: Senior Katherine Bowman• Fifth: Sophomore David Tsueda

Physics• First: Senior Kaitlyn Lenkeit• Second: Senior Cody Davis• Third: Senior Isaac Eickmeier

Chemistry• Second: Senior Kaitlyn Lenkeit• Fifth: Junior Rachel Freese• Sixth: Junior Jessie Ehlers

Math• First: Senior Isaac Eickmeier• Third: Senior Cody Davis• Fourth: Junior Jessie Ehlers• Fifth: Junior Ryan Patterson

English• Third: Senior Danielle Carter• Fourth: Senior Katherine Bowman• Fifth: Junior Katy Beebe • Seventh: Junior Rachel Freese

ROTC keeps busy with drills, volunteer work

Juniors Jake Slaughter, Charles Katzer, and Matt Waddel practice for the Edwardsville Math Team competition. The juniors placed second in the SIUC competition.

JAKE FUSSELL

On Feb. 16, the math team participated in a math field day at SIUC. This two hour math test lead to many victories for the O’Fallon team.

At the event, the participants each take a test individually, and also within a group that consists of four people, one from each grade level.

Each person or group is then ranked by their score from the test.

“The Math Team has been working really hard to practice for the last few weeks. I was pleased at Carbondale, and it will be interesting to see what happens at Edwardsville,” Math Team coach Mrs. Terri Range said.

“We got out of school for the whole day to take a two hour math test. Not a bad day in my book,” sophomore Erin Cain said.

“I love math and taking math tests is fun to me; my favorite part is going to state,” junior Jessie Ehlers said.

BY JAKE FUSSELLnews@othsprowler.com

WYSE team wins honors, calculators

The Worldwide Youth in Science and Engineering, WYSE Team competed in their first tournament of the season on Feb. 6.

This tournament was a distinct victory for the OTHS team with a first place overall win.

“The team had a great time at the SWIC regional.... We will advance to the sectional competition which is held on March 11 at McKendree University,” WYSE coach Mrs. Ginger Johnson said.

The team is comprised of the top 15 students who take the test in each of the five categories: math, English, biology, physics and chemistry.

“At the last tournament I won a free calculator (a TI-84), can’t get much better than that,” junior Katy Beebe said.

“Even though we compete as individuals, at our practices everyone works together and is really supportive,” junior Heidi Friedeck said.

Math Team calculates successful win at SUIC math field day

BY DAVID COLBUSnews@othsprowler.com

Last Sunday, Feb. 28, the 22nd Annual Metro East Baccalaureate College Fair was held at Southwestern Illinois College.

“I thought it was a good experience. It gave me a chance to find out about the different colleges I am looking to attend,” junior Dan Wunder said.

Hosting more colleges than ever before  in its 22-year history, it was the largest college fair in the Metro East area this spring.

SWIC had over 100 colleges and universities in attendance. Most Illinois and Missouri colleges attended, along with many others such as Purdue University, Oakland University, West Point and The Art Institutes.

Mr. Travis Hattan, an OTHS guidance counselor, helped organize the event as co-chairman of the fair.

“It’s just a showcase for universities and colleges,” Hattan said.

Students and families were able to visit with representatives from many colleges all conveniently gathered in one location.

“I’ve been looking at colleges for some time now, but actually getting to visit a bunch at the same time and talk to real people instead

of reading things online was a huge help in desicion making. I wanted to be sure that I choose the perfect school for me, and it really helped,” junior Tristan Burgmann said.

Along with the college fair, there were two financial aid workshops aimed towards helping with college finances.

“How to Find Money for College” was designed to inform students about employment,

loans, grants and scholarships.  

Another workshop helped students complete the FAFSA, a Free Application for Federal Student Aid.

Also, a third workshop on transferring colleges was presented.

“I thought the college fair was very helpful with finding what I needed to know and narrowing down which college I

wanted to go to,” junior Elizabeth Payne said.The College Fair was organized by the

College Fair Committee and the SWIC Counseling Center.

Sponsors included the Illinois Association for College Admissions Counselors and the Illinois College Exposition program.

“It was really exciting and terrifying, seeing all those different schools there, and not knowing what I wanted. I think I picked up like 50 brochures,” junior Cathy Yavorsky said.

“It was really exciting and terrifying

seeing all those different schools there, and not knowing what I

wanted.”-Cathy Yavorsky, junior

College fair comes to SWIC

OTHS' own boys and girls in uniform continue to be active in athletics and the community, while still having fun.

On Tuesday, Feb. 2, the ROTC Drill team competed at Alton against Cahokia, Alton and Dupo.  Overall, the team took took first in three out events--Armed Drill, Unarmed Drill and Competition Color Guard.

On Feb.11, the team travelled to Cahokia and placed first in three of the four events again.  They placed first in Inspection, Color Guard and Armed Drill and  for Unarmed, they placed second.

On Feb. 18, they hosted another competition in the main gym at the Smiley campus. They took first in Inspection, armed drill and unarmed drill, and took second in the Color Guard competition. 

“Overall, we are pleased with the progress of the team,” Colonel Chris Moulton said.  “There are a lot of new students who are participating in drill this year, so there is a big learning curve.  However, we've seen some real improvement and that is the biggest thing that we look for.  So as long as the team continues to get better, we're happy.”

In addition to competitions, ROTC remains active in the community. 

At their Mil-Ball they collected 371 items for the food pantry at the Living Church of God in Fairview Heights.  Starting in February,

they began collecting food and personal care items for the USO facility at the Lambert Field airport.  The drive will last through March 15.

Also, on Saturday, Feb. 27, they participated in the Polar Plunge at Carlyle Lake.

The Polar Plunge is a fund-raising event for the Special Olympics.  

At the plunge, regardless of how cold it is, volunteers sign up to take an icy dip in the lake.

    This year the ROTC team, which consisted of about 24 students, raised approximately $2,000.

Despite their numerous community service activities, the ROTC kids still have time for fun and friendly competitions.

They are continuing their Soup Label competition this semester.  The labels earn them points that they put toward purchasing athletic equipment.

Last semester, they raised a cumulative 2,000 points.  There was a friendly competition between the flights to see who could collect the most points. D flight won and received pizza and wings from Papa Vito's for their work.

According to junior Sarah Jacobs, the collection of labels is going well, but slowed down a bit at the beginning of the new semester.  

Tomorrow, the ROTC kids will head out to Scott Air Force Base for a night of fun at the base's bowling alley.

“There is some informal flight competition, but it is mostly just a night for them to bowl and hang out,” Col. Moulton said.

BY JENNIFER BAILEYnews@othsprowler.com

OTHS AFJROTC unit’s 24 students came out to the annual Polar Plunge at Lake Carlyle to raise funds for the Special Olympics in Illinois. Running out into the freezing water was the reward these students earned for raising $2,000 as a team. Organized by junior Nikki Tevebaugh, the team came together under the attempted theme of “Toy Story” with plastic camouflage hats and painted faces.

KIRA WORTHINGTON

Academic teams compete, excel at competitions

1

6 NEWS MARCH 5, 2010

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Don’t Forgetto buy your yearbook

Available at www.smart-pay.com until April 15

BY JENNIFER BAILEYnews@othsprowler.com

A skier jumps from a snowhill made in front of the Lincoln Memorial as the nation’s capital digs out from the blizzard that hit the East Coast, Feb. 11, 2010. The Federal Government is shut down for a fourth straight day and most schools have closed for the rest of the week.

MCT/OLIVIER DOULIERY

Chile hit hard by 8.8 earthquake Sunday

Scott Lee Cohen, democratic candidate for Illinois lieutenant governor, announced his intention to drop out of the election during a press conference in Chicago, Illinois, on Sunday, February 7, 2010. In this photo, Cohen is pictured with his son Jacob and fiancee Karen Reisman.

MCT/SCOTT STRAZZANTE

TOP TEN NEWS

Buildings in the older center of town, shown on Monday, March 1, 2010, in Constitucion, Chile, were especially hard hit after a massive 8.8 earthquake struck the area.

MCT/MICHAEL ROBINSON CHAVEZ

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6About a month after the disastrous earthquakes in Haiti, an 8.8 earthquake struck Santiago, Chile on Sunday, Feb. 28. The quake caused disturbances throughout the Pacific and a tsunami was expected to hit Hawaii and the Pacific coasts of Japan, Austrailia, New Zealand and Russia. The tsunami died at sea and did not cause more destruction. As of Monday, March 1, over 700 were presumed dead. Fundraisers are ongoing as the country has a long way to go before it can recover from the devastation of the earthquakes. (bnd.com and wsj.com)

 A single-engine 1989 Piper Malibu Mirage plane crashed into an airplane hanger and home in the Signal Hill area about 6:30 p.m. on Sunday, Feb. 21. Two men were killed in the crash.  The pilot was identified as Donald Estell, 65, of Clayton, Mo.; and the passenger was Robert Clarkson, 68, of Belleville.  The hangar and home were completely destroyed from the crash, but the residents were out at the time so no one was injured.  The plane was coming from Vero Beach, Fla., and was trying to land at Parks Airport in Cahokia.  The plane caused a fire that lasted for several hours and took more than 75 firemen to put out. The cause of the crash is currently unknown.  (www.bnd.com)

Belleville’s crime rate was up 6.3 percent from 2008 to 2009. While many types of crimes such as sexual assault and robbery were down, drug offenses were up 17.5 percent at about 329 reports. The police department is particularly worried about cocaine, heroin and methamphetamine. Though the Belleville Police Department is on a tight budget, they have begun posting signs on roads and buildings that indicate suspected drug houses and sending letters to landlords and neighbors when someone is arrested for selling drugs.  Currently, the police have no answers for what is causing the increase in drug related crimes. (bnd.com)

On Sunday, Feb. 7, Scott Lee Cohen announced that he would be dropping out of the race for the office for Illinois’ lieutenant governor.  This announcement came after his surprise win in the Democratic primary. The outing of a domestic battery charge, using anabolic steroids, allegedly failed to pay child support and failing to pay taxes. The Democratic State Central Committee will decide who is to take Cohen’s place. Cohen, a pawnbroker, publicly apologized Sunday saying “The last thing I wanted to do was put the people of Illinois in jeopardy.” (stltoday.com)

On Monday, Feb. 22, a fourth senior Afghan Taliban leader was arrested in Pakistan. Mullah Abdul Kabir served on the Taliban’s Council of Ministers and governed the eastern zone of Afghanistan during the Taliban rule of the 1990s, said Imtiaz Gul, head of the Islamabad-based Center for Research and Security Studies.   In mid February, the No. 2 Afghan Taliban leader, Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar. Pakistani officials also arrested a pair of “shadow governors” from two Afghan provinces and several other militant suspects linked to al-Qaida and the Taliban.  Gul accredited the arrests to a change in Pakistan’s policy and improved level of cooperation.  (bnd.com and cnn.com)

Iran announced on Monday, Feb. 8, that it would be enriching uranium to high levels on the claim that it will be used to provide fuel for its research reactor. Ali Asghar Soltanieh said he told the International Atomic Energy Agency of this decision, and said that the U.N. agency inspectors, who are overseeing the enrichment at low levels, would be able to stay on site full time to monitor the process. They plan to use some of their low-enriched uranium and increase it to 20 percent. (foxnews.com)

  On Friday, Feb. 5, thanks to the persistance of Alf Tubb, a former sailor in the British Navy, the Commonwealth War Graves Commission recognized the youngest British WWII casualty.   Reginald Earnshaw was only 14 years and 152 days old when he died on July 6, 1941.  Earnshaw served for only a few months as a Merchant Navy cabin boy on the ship SS Devon when German planes attacked the ship.  Earnshaw’s sister and other relatives of the sailors lost in the same attack came together to honor Earnshaw at the Comely Bank Cemetery in Edinburgh, Scotland.  Tubb is a surviving shipmate, who has spent several years trying to locate his friend’s grave.  (www.yahoo.com)

  Bronson Stewart, a 19-year-old from New

Zealand, almost faced legal action after saving his 5-month-old puppy from euthanasia.  The puppy, named Buck, was taken to the vet two weeks after suffering a broken leg from being hit by a car. Stewart and his father, Kevin, were unable to pay the 2,500 New Zealand dollars ($1,730) for the puppy’s leg to be pinned together or the 800 New Zealand dollars ($555) for the leg to be amputated. While the family, who lives on welfare, offered to pay $3.50 a week to pay off the cost, the veternarian refused and would not give back the puppy claiming that it was more humane for the dog to be put down.  On Friday, Feb. 5, Stewart went to see Buck and stole him when the vet was not looking. New Zealand’s Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals then threatened Stewart with prosecution unless the dog was taken care of, since it was suffering considerable pain from the injury.  As the story got out, many locals called the SPCA offering to donate money for Buck’s surgery. Reportedly, enough money has been raised for Buck to have the surgery and he will be fine after the surgery. (bnd.com)

   Illinois State Police Trooper Matt Mitchell

claims he did not know he was breaking the law when he was driving at triple-digit speeds and crahed into and killed two Collinsville sisters in November 2007.  His lawyer, John O’Gara, said that it is not against Illinois law for an officer to speed to an emergency.  However, it has been reported that Mitchell was on his cell phone, sending messages via his dash mounted computer and answering calls on the radio, which contribute to distracted driving and is against the law.  Mitchell killed Jessica Uhl, 18, and Kelli Uhl, 13.  His trial was set for this month, but may be delayed. (bnd.com)

  Due to the dangerous and possibly life-

threatening blizzard, the Washington D.C. and Montgomery County, Md., have suspended snowplowing and electrical repairs until the weather eases up.  By the second Wednesday of February the Washington area had received a record breaking 52 inches, a bit more than four feet, of snow.  As of then, people were urged to stay home and off the roads for their safety.  Even the White House staffers were staying home in favor of “telecommuting.”  Also, on Friday, Feb. 12, 49 of the 50 states had snow on the ground; Hawaii was the only state left out of the fun. (foxnews.com and eveningsun.com)

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7FEATURESMARCH 5, 2010

Every week day from 3 to 4 p.m., a man in a neon vest stands at the Smiley and State street intersection, waving and smiling at passers-by.

He braves harsh weather and sometimes almost gets hit by cars just to get students from throughout the O’Fallon community across the street safely.

Many only know him as “The Crossing Guard,” but he is much more than just that title.

Mr. Jerry Hobbs has been the crossing guard at the four-way stop next to the Prairie Farms factory for four years now.

“He truly brightens my day every time I stop and he gives me a sincere wave and smile,” junior Alyssa Bockhold said.

He is most recognized for his trademark smile and wave to every car and pedestrian who crosses his path.

“I like him because he shows a positive attitude even when he may be having a bad day

just to make others’ days better,” junior David Cole said.

Although Hobbs lives in Swansea, he makes a small trip to O’Fallon each week to complete his crossing guard duties.

After retiring from being a storekeeper for Boeing Aircraft, he decided to become a crossing guard.

Hobbs grew up on a small farm in Arkansas and has always had a love for horses and training them. He also served in the Korean war for two years.

When he is not at the Smiley and State street intersection Hobbs is playing the piano at his church, St. Matthew. He also mentioned his favorite movie, “The Sister Act.”

“My favorite part [of being a crossing guard] is definitely meeting people,” Hobbs said.

Fortunately, O’Fallonites will get to enjoy Hobb’s presence for quite some time because he plans on being a crossing guard “for as long as [he] possibly can.”

Every year, many seniors talk about the common disease called “senioritis.”

However, there are a few seniors in this school that have not fallen to senioritis. 

This time, these students are your February Students of the Month. 

Each month teachers nominate students they feel deserve this high honor.

The nominated students then fill out a survey about their activities and awards. From those surveys, the administration picks one guy and one girl to be the Student of the Month.   

Seniors Lauren Wilson and Ben Benton were awarded this title for the month of February for their outstanding achievements.

Benton keeps himself busy with many activities around the school. 

He is involved in varsity football, varsity lacrosse, FCA, Sports Psychology Club, Robotics Team, Spanish Club and National Honor Society. 

Outside of school, Benton stays occupied with his church activities. 

He is a youth group leader at his church, a church camp counselor and Sunday School teacher.

As for future plans, Benton hopes to major in Mechanical Engineering.

Although Benton has enjoyed his high school career at O’Fallon there is still one thing he would change.

“I would bring back the minute bell so we would know how much time we had left to get to class,” Benton said.

Along with Benton, Wilson also keeps herself extremely busy.

Wilson has been a member of the Golden Girls for four years and on varsity for three. 

She is also a member of Spanish Club, National Honor Society, Spanish National Society, Beta Club, Student Council, Robotics, Players with a Passion and the OTHS Leadership Council.

All of Wilson’s hard work at school has paid off.  She has been named a Scholar Athlete four years in a row, been named a scholarship winner for the Greater Area Youth Salute Program, and is also a Washington University Youth Scholarship Winner.

“It is an unbelievable honor to be nominated and recognized as student of the month because we are such a large school with many highly motivated and deserving students,” Wilson said.

Sophomore Kristen Kanaskie found out about the Invisible Children organization about three years ago through bands that she enjoyed. 

Her favorite bands, including Anberlin, had supported the cause, and Kanaskie became curious. 

She had not  looked into it much until a close friend at her church, Skyline Community Church, introduced her to Vicky Odundo, a woman from Africa.

Odundo owns an orphanage in Kenya, and they immediately began discussing current issues in Africa, sparking Kanaskie’s interest in the organization.

Kanaskie supports Invisible Children by buying their bracelet campaign packs.

The packs come with a short film about a child affected by the war in Uganda and two bracelets to pass on to remember their stories.

The bracelets are handmade by Ugandans in displacement camps, so it creates jobs and new opportunities for them.

The money made from the purchases  are funding a scholarship program to put children through school.

“In my eyes, it’s a win-win cycle of

opportunity created by one decision of giving. Plus, I also try to get the word out as much as possible,” Kanaskie said.

“I don’t think people fully know or understand the atrocities that Uganda and the surrounding regions are experiencing, so I think once the realization shows up on your doorstep, you shouldn’t keep quiet about it. Let others know,” she said.

   

Kanaskie has started her own organization to help the children in Uganda and to support a school there.

Her organization is called Operation Generation: the Healing Project.

“My heart goes out to the kids suffering through the war in Uganda and I want to help them out more than pretty much anything. Through Invisible Children, I hope that I can aid the cause to fund relief efforts,” Kanaskie said.       Kanaskie has a strong belief that we can all help out, no matter our age.

“We're just kids, but we're also the future of our nation. Our generation has the potential

to better our world in an unbelievably positive way. Get involved in any way you can. If you have the resources to donate, then donate. This could be money, time, ideas, etc,” she said

There are thousands of opportunities to get involved in the community and the world. This organization and cause alone pales in comparison to the selfless acts of one helping in today’s world, trying to make it a better place.

“The point is, it doesn't matter what charity you're involved with, as long as you get involved!” Kanaskie said.       There are many ways to get involved through local charities.

To be a part of Operation Generation, contact Kanaskie by email at ladyswish@charter.net.

If you want to know more about Invisible Children you can go to www.invisiblechildren.com.

BY ALEXIS HARDYfeatures@othsprowler.com

BY KATY MANESSfeatures@othsprowler.com

BY JANELLE PFEIFERfeatures@othsprowler.com

Seniors Ben Benton and Lauren Wilson sit in the front lobby of the school. These two OTHS students enjoyed their prime parking spots in the front lot during the snowy, cold month of February.

JANELLE PFEIFER

Crossing guard Mr. Jerry Hobbs stands ready for the after school rush, armed with a smile and a wave.

ALEXIS HARDY

The man with the wave

Kanaskie helps ‘Invisible Children’ cause

Benton, Wilson receive coveted honor of SOTM

“In my eyes, it’s a win-win cycle of opportunity created by one decision of giving. Plus, I also try to get the word out as much as possible.”

-Kristen Kanaskie, sophomore

Kristen Kanaskie, sophomore

Background Facts• Invisible Children is an organization that is trying to stop the Lord’s Resistance Army and take its leader Joseph Koney out of power.

• The Lord’s Resistance Army, (or LRA) is a war between the Ugandan government and those who follow Koney.

• Joseph Koney is a 49-year-old terrorist. In 1988, when he was 22, he started recruiting children to be raised to fight in the LRA.

• Koney is charged with murder, abduction of children and infants, mutilation, and sexual enslavement.

• He has followers that are kidnapping and raising children to fight for the LRA.

• Invisible Children was started when three young filmmakers traveled to Uganda looking for a story to film. Little did they know they would run into the longest running conflict in Africa.

IN FOCUS8Will it be the end of the world?

The Earth will have five cycles, each lasting 5,125 years. Then the world will end.

The date?  Dec. 21, 2012.Since the beginning of civilization, people

have been predicting the end of times. Heads of churches, scientists and prophets have all claimed to know the end.

Whether it is with Christianity and the second coming of Jesus, or Hinduism and the tenth Avatar, Kalkin, many predictions have been made throughout history.

The time of these events, however, are unsure, and predictions of the inevitable have ranged back as far as 2,800 B.C. with the ancient Assyrian people.

The most famous of these world ending predictions is the upcoming 2012, but with so many forecasts of the termination of humanity, what is so significant about the Mayans’ 2012 foretelling?

“Many other predictions by the Mayans have been right,” sophomore Kristin Sjoquist said.

It is human nature to want to be scared, to experience thrill and excitement, and to test limits and push boundaries.

Thrill and excitement are why most people

enjoy scary movies, or roller coasters. Perhaps this may be why so many people believe that “the end is near.”

In all actuality, however, the prediction of the Mayans does not necessarily mean the end of the world in the sense that most people think.

“The End,” may simply mean a great change, and according to many Mayan representatives, the end of the world is more of a transition to a “New World.”

The “New World,” is supposed to emerge with the resurfacing of ancient Mayan technology, and this technology will bring enlightenment, peace, and tranquility to the world.  However, there is a chance that this may not be.

Though peace is the main idea behind the Mayans’ prophecy, this all depends on the judgment the gods have on humans as a whole.

According to this prophecy, the gods will decide if we are worthy of peace, or if they will send a great flood as a punishment to the people.

The flood is not meant to kill all humanity, but instead to change the world and bring us back to being one with nature.

We have to remember, however, that the prediction that so many people are worried about is based on the religion of a civilization who believed in and regularly practiced things such as human sacrifice.

BY CAITLYN COONfeatures@othsprowler.com

Lore, legends behind mythical creatures

Narnia, Middle Earth, Hogwarts... children everywhere have always spent their days dreaming about visiting one of these imaginary lands full of awe-inspiring creatures that do not belong anywhere in our own world.

What is not widely known, however, is that these said creatures are much more than simple fables or a figment of a kid's imagination. 

Instead, they are the unsung beasts of anicent legends and civilizations; they are mythological creatures.

Contrary to popular belief, a majority of these frightening and bizarre creatures find themselves at home not in contemporary literature or times, but in generations past, dating back to ancient Greek, Roman and Latin societies.

Back then, these beasts were thought to be more than fictional and people swore they actually existed.  Although they originally lived solely for great heroes to destroy, mythological creatures were eventually wound into stories and tales of their own, solidifying their presence in both past and present literature.

Mythological creatures also take on different forms in stories of old, depending on the context of the nation.

Griffins, for example, are legendary creatures possessing the body of a lion, but the head, hindquarters and wings of an eagle.  Because these two animals were considered as the kings of the beasts and birds, griffins became powerful symbols of power and majesty and were often sent to guard treasure.

Chimaeras, on the other hand, are the exact opposite of the griffin.  While they are mildly similar to griffins, chimaeras also have an adder for a tail and the head of a female goat for a midsection.  These creatures are anything but wholesome protectors though, for they vomit blasts of fire at any approaching opposition.

Representing the “power and danger of storm clouds,” according to Barlowe's Guide to Fantasy, chimaeras are fearsome beasts that ache for the opportunity to rip anyone apart who crosses their path.

Another pair of mythical creature opposites are the minotaur and the faun.  The minotaur was originally created by the sea-god Poseidon as punishment for the king Minos refusing to sacrifice a white bull in his honor.   Poseidon made Minos's queen fall in love with the creature, causing her to produce a son with the head of a bull and the desire to eat human flesh.

With enormous curved horns for goring its victims to death, the minotaur inspired fear into anyone who wandered into his lair.

Unlike the minotaur, which was created by a god, fauns were considered to actually be gods in Roman culture.   The small creatures maintained the upper body of a man, but also had goat feet and horns.  They also represented life and fertility and rather than living in dank underground mazes like the minotaur, roamed freely in untamed woodlands.

Such stark differences, like those between chimaeras and griffins or minotaurs and fauns, only serve to widen the world of mythological creatures.  Creativity is limitless when it comes to these creatures, and only time will tell what new creatures human imaginations will come up with next.

BY ELLIE KANASKIEfeatures@othsprowler.com

Phoenix

HippogryphARTWORK BY EMILY LECOURS, JACQUELYN

BAYHAM, AND BRITTANY MATER

Question of the month: How do you think the world will end?Total destruction. Storms and death. And then Jesus will come back and save everyone!-Cody Johnson, junior

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”

I don’t think the world will end. No one has straight facts and no one knows exactly how long the earth has been around.-Tony Gartney, senior

“

”

Griffin Unicorn

ARTWORK BY CAITLYN COON

2012

MARCH 5, 2010 9

Failed Myth Predictions

Seven little pieces of hell are said to be scattered on the very outskirts of our quaint town. These little pieces are collectively known as The Seven Gates of Hell.

Many have spent endless hot summer nights and dozens of wintry weekends exploring the infamous gates.

Although they are labeled ‘gates,’ they are actually concrete bridges and tunnels located on backroads in O’Fallon, Collinsville and Troy.

One might identify a ‘gate’ by the abundant amount of colorful graffiti that covers it. Some artwork dates back to the ‘80s. It is truly hard not to admire such structures with the amount of memories on them.

Each group of trekkers has a different reason for hopping into a car to travel to these heavily wooded back roads in search of the gates.

Personally, the myth I was told was that if you drove through all seven gates at night something eerie would happen at the seventh gate.

My friends and I piled into a car to complete this task and as it turns out all seven gates are not as easy to find as you might think.

Truth be told, we made many voyages to the back roads in search of the notorious gates and returned home disappointed each time. We knew there was the option of looking it up online but we wanted to find all seven on our own.

After getting stuck in a ditch and several roadkill later, one humid night we drove through all seven of the feared gates. Lo and behold, nothing happened.

Other students at OTHS have taken time out of their weekends to venture to the gates, as well.     “I heard you had to drive through all seven gates, stop in the final gate, rev your engine, and you would be hit by a ghost train,” senior Michael Lustig said.

Sometimes, it is rumored that there are actually many more gates then the initial seven. “My favorite gate is actually the 8th gate in Troy, because it is covered in neon graffiti,”

senior Haley Gefferth said.Gefferth heard that if one drives through all of the gates and a train is passing over the

ones that have tracks above them, one will see a demon or ‘ghost’ train.In an October article from the Suburban Journal, it was reported that “strange noises and

ghoulish screams” were said to fill the tunneled gates.One myth the Suburban Journal reports is that if one drives through all seven gates and

stops in the last one at exactly midnight, the driver will be taken to the afterlife immediately. Madison County Highway Department may destroy one of the gates to expand Lebanon

Road, so try to visit them as soon as possible.

Exploring the Seven Gates

A closer look at the superstitions media created for the world’s ‘future’

Question of the month: How do you think the world will end?

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“Atomic warfare.-Nate Wilson, senior

Tupac resurrects and no one believes it, so everyone drops dead in shock.- Johanna Hopkins, junior

It’ll melt, I guess. It seems cool in my head.-Faith Burrelsman, sophomore

Zombie Attack?A survival guide to an invasion of living dead

PHOTO BY ALEXIS HARDY

Movie writers and authors have regularly predicted the future, but sometimes they assume too much. Here is a collection of media whose predictions have not panned out.

• George Orwell’s book, “1984,” foretold a dystopian future where, by the year 1984, three nations control the globe and are constantly at war. The governments of these nations control and watch everything, even peoples’ thoughts.

• “Fahrenheit 451” expected society to be lawless, reading to be outlawed, and nuclear war to start between 1994-1995. The book also predicted iPods, which, fortunately, came to be.

• The “Planet of the Apes” series claimed that a plague would wipe out cats and dogs in 1988, and expected an uprising of intelligent apes by 1991.

• In “Escape from New York,” World War III ends in 1997, and Manhattan Island is sealed off as a giant prison filled with vile criminals. That

might not be too far from the truth.•The film’s sequel, “Escape from L.A.,”

predicted that L.A. would be hit by an earthquake and later the city would be made into a detention center for sinners.

• The cult classic “Death Race 2000” has a fascist America where the primary form of entertainment is gory snuff and gladiatorial combat, all in the year 2000. 

• Humanity is taking trips to Saturn by 2001 in “2001: A Space Odyssey”.

• The “Terminator” series has been predicting the end of days for 16 years.  The original movie said that judgment day was coming on 1997. In the sequels, doomsday was set back to 2004, and, in its recent television installment, “Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles,” the robots are coming a year from now, 2011. Let’s keep our fingers crossed.

In the end, let’s not rely too heavily on movies and books to predict the future. Although interesting and entertaining, their predictions can be pretty hit and miss.

BY DAVID COLBUSfeatures@othsprowler.com

BY ALEXIS HARDY features@othsprowler.com

Ever wonder what it would take to survive a zombie attack in O’Fallon? I’ve composed a guide to figure out what exactly us meek humans would do to resist such an invasion. This simple list may be what saves the fate of humanity.

Survival Guide: •First, you should gather as much food

and weaponry as possible before the zombies initially arrive.

•A crowbar not only does damage, but can also double to help pry things open.

•You must keep in mind that zombies have brains, but they don’t function like ours do so they can’t reason or provide strategy so use your wits against them.

•The only way to put an end to a zombie is to crush their brain so always go for the head when attacking, or simply cut the head off.

•Find your strong hold building: a good place to lock down and stay for as long as you can. The building should preferably have only one entrance and as few windows as possible.

• Any doors or windows that are present

should be boarded securely.•Once you have taken care of your own

situation, then you can attempt to help others out, as well.

•If you do have more than a few people, make sure there are enough foods and weapons for all.

•Assemble ‘teams’ and assign jobs for each member of the team.

•Always remain armed at all times.•Once the zombies do arrive, never go

outside or risk being seen.•From here on, keep your guard up. Some

tend to lose sanity in these stressful situations.

For more information: Even though the undead are yet to rise, all

humans should be prepared for the looming fate that zombies will one day appear.

This short survival guide can help along the way, but if it doesn’t prove to be enough, purchase “The Zombie Survival Guide,” by Max Brooks at a local book store and you’ll be sure to make it through the zombie takeover.

BY BRANDON DANIELSfeatures@othsprowler.com

10 FEATURES MARCH 5, 2010

Art club brings new creativity

During election time, many adults complain that young voters are uneducated.

Now, thanks to junior Katie Milleville, students can have a resource for figuring out what is happening in U.S. and world politics.

Milleville has been working tirelessly to get an official political club recognized at OTHS.

“I believe that in order for students to be fully educated and ready for their lives outside of high school, they must have knowledge of ‘the issues.’ This club will teach students the political issues,” Milleville said.

She first brought up her idea to her peers to see what their general reaction would be, and overall, it was positive.

“I think we need to be more aware of current events and of political issues so we will be informed voters,” junior Natalie Schmidt said.

After receiving positive feedback from other students, Milleville did her research and compiled a lengthy document.

This document proposal included what

the club meetings would be like and a petition of students from both Smiley and Milburn campuses who want the club created.

After her proposal was in clean, crisp form, she presented her work to Principal Rich Bickel.

From there it will be reviewed by the school board and if approved, the Youth Political Awareness Club will be founded.

Meetings will consist of discussing important current political issues as a group before the members split into ‘sub committe es’ to further discuss their opinions.

“Eventually, I’d love to create a Republican sub-committee, a Democratic sub-committee and a third party sub-committee,” Milleville said.

Milleville said Senator Kyle McCarter and Congressman Jerry Costello have expressed interest in coming to speak at the meetings. Mayor  Gary Graham may make a guest appearance, as well.

“[This club] will help to educate O’Fallon’s students and prepare them for their future lives,” Milleville said.

“I think we need to be more aware of current events and of political issues so we will be

informed voters.”-Natalie Schmidt, junior

BY ALEXIS HARDYfeatures@othsprowler.com

Milleville petitions for new political awareness club

Sculptor Don Horstman and freshmen Christina Wonch, Rebecca Park and Katelyn Krieger stand with the newly purchased sculpture “Spirit.” The art club saved up money for months to buy the sculpture, finally raising enough to bring the art to O’Fallon.

MRS. DEBBIE RABOIN

Homework, friends, entertainment: how can these things be managed better? There's an app for that!

Apple currently now has a family of products that all feature applications. With that in

mind, the iPod Touch and iPhone are becoming more popular with teens, especially for keeping most of life's tasks together.

There are three major categories of applications for these devices: networking, productivity and games.

Social networking applications provide a rich user experience to make mobile communication that much easier there is no possibility of sitting down at the computer.

My top social applications are Facebook, Tumblr and Wordpress, Tweetie and Skype.

I use these applications the most, for the obvious reason: I want to stay connected, even when I am not at my computer.

If you are facebooking, tweeting or owning a website, downloading these applications are a must.

I love talking to my friends and these make it easy to keep track of my networks and friends all at once, something my computer can not do while I am away.

All of these applications are free except Tweetie, which is a feature packed Twitter application that costs $2.99 in the Apple App Store.

Besides using the iPhone for communication, it can do a lot of advanced tasks, like taking rich, detailed notes or even advanced calculus.

Unlike high school, college note taking

can be extremely fast and getting all of the information at the same speed could mean a loss of something critical.

Evernote is the perfect application for taking notes with audio, text and pictures. I use it to keep track of homework assignments, automatically syncing them back to my computer for later reference.

In the event that I forget my graphing calculator at school, I use an application that is a software version of the familiar scientific calculator from Texas Instruments while I am working on my homework.

It costs $14.99 in the App Store, but it is perfect for when I do not have a calculator to do my algebra.

When I am not working on homework, I like to relax. The iPhone and iPod Touch offer rich gaming for a mobile platform.

After I finish my homework, I use my iPhone for gaming and relaxing.

A few games, most of which are on the expensive end like X-Plane 9, a full scale flight simulator, offer hours of continuous game play.

There are a few versions in the App Store such as Airliner, Helicopter or Extreme. Each version is priced the same at $9.99.

Halo, a game that many people enjoy and is my personal favorite, has a similar iPod counterpart called N.O.V.A.

It offers the same first person shooter experience as the Xbox version, but in a portable form.

Levels are short enough to keep someone interested, but not short enough to deter someone from playing.

As more and more O'Fallon students have iPod Touches and iPhones, certain applications rise above others as unanimous favorites, be it games, networking, or the random app that makes everyone laugh.

There’s an app for thatBY JAKE HAMILTONfeatures@othsprowler.com

Students share their favorite apps

“My favorite app is TMZ, so I can keep up on all of the Jersey Shore news.”

-Brady Page, sophomore

Apple makes life easier with iPhone, iPod apps

Everyone has strolled down the 700 hall at some point in their high school career. If they are not completely wrapped up in their friends or significant others, students may have noticed the art decorating the halls above the lockers. 

Last year, new art was added to the 700 hall, right above art teacher Mrs. Debbie Raboin’s Art I classroom. 

These works are, however, not the traditional murals paint on the walls. They are actually a “triptych of recycled materials,” Mrs. Raboin said. 

The talented students who helped with this interesting project are none other than the students of the OTHS Art Club.

Art has many different angles; from pottery to drawing and from painting to textiles, the Art

club tries to approach all angles of art interests. One of these interests is the art of sculpting.

At the end of September, the students and sponsors of the Art Club took a trip to Laumeier Sculpture Park in Fenton, Mo.

While at the park, the students picked out their favorite sculpture as a group and worked on a way to buy it. 

The sculpture chosen by the students, “Spirit,” was created by painter and sculptor Don Horstman.

“Most of the money has been raised through in-school candy sales,” Mrs. Raboin said.

Although these sales are always successful, the club used catalog sales to make up the difference for what they could not earn through candy.

Art Club does much more than just look at art and draw; these students are helping to make a difference in the community.

BY CAITLYN COONfeatures@othsprowler.com

“My favorite app would be FML. Whenever I’m bored,

there are always more ‘stories’ to entertain myself and brighten up my mood.”

-Robin Lee, junior

“My favorite is Flixter, a movie app that allows me to look up movie times,

what is playing and when. It makes things a lot easier and faster.”

-Rachel Sipes, junior

“My favorite app is the Facebook app, for when I feel too lazy to get up to

use the computer or when I just want to keep in touch

with my good friends.”-Alex Harris, junior

TECHNOLOGY COLUMN

11FEATURESMARCH 5, 2010

close, Adam Young is what we were looking for. Maybe this game is a little too hard; the score is 2-1. Question 6: Who won Album of the Year at the Grammy’s for “Fearless”?

Amesquita: Taylor Swift! Henry: Sure (after Amesquita answered). Unfortunately for Henry, his answer was

not acceptable. The score is now to 3-1. Question 7: Who is Miley Cyrus’ famous stepbrother?

Amesquita: The dude from Metro Station. Henry: (head shake no) (shrug). Amesquita got it! It is Trace Cyrus from

Metro Station. Amesquita retains her lead, 4-1. Question 8: This socialite performs her infamous “Stars Are Blind?”

Amesquita: Heidi Montag. Henry: … Paris Hilton. Both good guesses; however, Henry got it

right with Paris Hilton. Henry is making his comeback, 4-2. Question 9: “Sober” is on what album by Pink?

Amesquita: … Oh, “Funhouse!” Henry: (Head twitch) (another shrug). “Funhouse” is correct, Amesquita. The

score moves to 5-2. Question 10: “The taste of her cherry chapstick” only pleased who for a little while?

Amesquita: Katy Perry. She dated the guy from Gym Class Heroes.

Henry: Shrug (this time verbalized). Well it seems that Amesquita had no

problem dishing out a win. The final score is five to Amesquita and two to Henry.

Way to go, Amesquita. Henry never stood a chance against Amesquita’s superior knowledge of pop culture and music.

One teacher, one student, and one epic battle to prove who knows more: teens or adults. Senior Emily Amesquita takes on Spanish teacher Mr. Norman Henry in this music trivia challenge. Question 1: “Tik Tok on the clock but the party don’t stop,” is by who?

Amesquita: Ke$ha! Henry: Ke$ha. What a good start, both got it right. The

score is tied, 1-1. Question 2: What is Sir Elton John’s real name?

Amesquita: John? Henry: …Elton? Two good guesses, but neither is correct.

His actual name is Reginald Kenneth Dwight. They are still tied 1-1. Question 3: How old is Justin Bieber?

Amesquita: He’s like 12, isn’t he? Henry: Who is this person? Amesquita was definitely closer. However,

Justin Bieber is really 15 years old. The score is still 1-1. Question 4: Which Jonas Brother is married?

Amesquita: Kevin. Henry: Ha ha, yeah…couldn’t tell you one

of them. Nice job Amesquita, Kevin is the right

answer. Amesquita has taken the lead, 2-1. Question 5: Owl City, famous for “Fireflies,” is spearheaded by who?

Amesquita: Some dude who lives in his parents’ basement.

Henry: Give me a question that doesn’t suck.

Even though Amesquita’s answer was

Pop Culture ShowdownSpanish teacher Mr. Henry faces senior Emily Amesquita in a battle of music knowledge

BY JAKE FUSSELLfeatures@othsprowler.com

Daring Mr. Denny

Spontaneity is defined as the act of being impulsive or being drawn to constant change and movement.  In this case, it is the definition of sophomore Alexis Schad.

A self-proclaimed hater of routine, Schad can

typically be found where movement

is abundant, whether that

is playing in City Museum or participating in the Belleville

Philharmonic Youth Orchestra. A player of the piano for over seven years

and the cello for almost two years, she said, “People say I’m good at piano, [but] I beg to differ…I’m really bad at cello, but I’m taking lessons because I want to be good.” 

When she is not making it herself, Schad loves to listen to “foreign movie soundtracks and a lot of non-crappy 90’s music.”

In addition to a passion for music, Schad also loves zombies and fashion.

“In fashion, I’m obsessed with lace and floral and zippers in strange places,” she said. 

As for the undead, she hopes to one day be a zombie in a horror flick, in addition to her dreams of owning a floral shop in France. 

While these things may not seem to match up, Schad has found a way to make it work.

“My friend told me that I would make a cute zombie,” she said, “like I would skip around in a yellow dress with blood all over it.”

These may seem like atypical goals, but Schad is perfectly alright with that.  She also does not want to get married in the future, something that might make her plans of international travel easier. 

“Right now…I wouldn’t mind going to Paris.  I’ve also wanted to go to Italy for years, and Venice before it sinks,” she said.

Schad may claim to not be unique, but there is no denying that this zombie lover and hopeful florist does not belong in a box.  And as long as her spontaneity exists, it is doubtful she will ever be in one.

Science teacher, musician strives to stand out

Mr. Matthew Denny started teaching at OTHS in 2007 after teaching science in Georgia for seven years, and is happy to be here.

“I completely fell in love with this school because of their administration, resources, and the interesting students,” Mr. Denny said.

On top of teaching, Mr. Denny has coached the Scholar Bowl team since he arrived.

Outside of school, Mr. Denny enjoys music, spending time with his family and working with his church.

Mr. Denny has a love for music. Some of his favorite bands include The Killers, The Bravery, Fleetwood Mac, and Matisyahu.

He joined a band in his high school years that soon broke up after college. In the band he played guitar, piano, and sang.

He now owns a Martin guitar, which he used to play with his old contemporary Christian band, Chasing Infinity.

He one day hopes to perform in Frolics.He is a member of the First United Methodist

Church and plans to later work in the religion field.  

He has been on two mission trips for his church, one in Africa and another in China.

As of now, he is in charge of a non-school related program called Milburn Crossing, where he acts as the music minister.

He hopes to one day preach at the service, but everyone can hear him sing on Sundays.

During college, Mr. Denny met his wife, Mistie, who was studying education. She inspired him to become a school teacher.

He has been married to Mistie for nine years, and has a son named Matt and a daughter named Mara.

He loves teaching and interacting with his students.

“I really enjoy it when the student learns from me what they normally don’t get,” Mr. Denny said.

Denny has been teaching at OTHS for two years and has no plans to leave anytime soon.

BY STEPHEN DAVISfeatures@othsprowler.com

BY ELLIE KANASKIEfeatures@othsprowler.com

Out of the boxAlexis Schad proves to be an original soul

PHOTOS BY BRYCE RADICK, ELLIE KANASKIE, AND ALEXIS HARDY

12 ENTERTAINMENT MARCH 5, 2010

Updated ‘We are the World’ features current musical artists of 2010

Lady Antebellum tops Taylor Swift

‘Dear John’ brings sadness to big screen

Fans anticipate answers to mysteries during final season of Lost

More than 12.1 million televisions were tuned in on Feb. 2, to watch the epic premiere of the last season finale of “Lost.”

“Lost” fans everywhere had been waiting since May 13, of last year.

The show is about the fictional survivors of an Oceanic Airlines crash. The writers of the show created a mysterious island in the south Pacific.

When the characters crashed on the island in the first episode, (which aired on Sept. 24, 2004) there appeared to be a monster that crashed down trees and killed many of the remaining survivors.

Later in the season audiences learned it was an abstruse monster made of smoke, that killed by forming limbs of smoke that grasped its victims and slammed them against hard objects.

In the recent season, the one that devoted “Lost” fans had been waiting for nine months, opened up with an intense scene that left off right from the last season ended.

Many fans have commented on the new season being a lot weirder and more supernatural than the previous five seasons, yet it holds a lot of answers to the questions introduced to them.

Viewers are starting to learn more about the island and its history.

“The new season has answered so many questions that I’ve had. But there are still so many more questions that they’ve introduced with the first few episodes so far,” senior Kenny Maness said.

This season was the first to climb the ratings since the second season.

The premiere night was broken into three episodes. One old and two new ones.

The first was a re-cap episode.

The last episode from last season was played in order to get the viewers’ engines in gear for the next two hours of intensity.

The second episode was the one that “Lost” fans had been waiting for. This episode picked up right where the previous season ended.

It revealed the aftermath from the charecter Juliette’s scene of exploding a bomb in hopes to stop spontaneous time travel that had been going on for a whole season.

While this year’s season is said to be the resolution of all the mystery the writers have presented the audience with, devoted “Lost” fans around the globe will be disappointed when the end hits.

As the finish draws near, audiences must say goodbye to all the characters they have become so close to.

Let us hope that the passion the show has created inside us burns with the upcoming generation of fans, and let us never let our love for the show and its characters die.

The twenty-five year anniversary of Michael Jackson and Lionel Richie's “We Are the World” is celebrated by a new generation of more than 100 talented celebrities and musical legends.

Just weeks after the devastating Haitian earthquake, musicians of various genres gathered under one Hollywood studio in order to record a fresh remake of the inspirational hit single.

From Miley Cyrus and Celine Dion to Kanye West and Jamie Foxx, these top-charting musicians hope to raise awareness and millions of dollars for Haitian victims affected by the natural disaster. During the 2010 Vancouver Winter Olympics, a new star-studded music video of “We Are the World 25 for Haiti” first debuted. The video featured various solo parts by artists such as Justin Bieber, Jennifer Hudson, Lil Wayne and Barbra Streisand.

A strong interlude written by Black Eyed

Peas member Will.I.Am also highlighted the talents of prominent rappers Snoop Dogg, Wyclef Jean, and LL Cool J. Undoubtedly, the remake was full of celebrity surprises and displayed a unique hip-hop, pop vibe. Some, however, may perceive the rendition as overloaded with too many musical gestures. “I think [the remake] is for the more modern music listeners...[I]t has  more of the artists teens listen to nowadays, but it could never replace Michael Jackson's original version. Honestly, he made the greatest version,” sophomore Khala Turner said. The original “We Are the World” was released in 1985 and quickly streamed up the charts.

Forty-five American legends recorded the song and raised over $60 million for hunger relief in Africa through a non-profit organization (USA for Africa) that same year.

Among those featured: Michael Jackson, Stevie Wonder, Diana Ross, and Tina Turner. Overall, both versions display an outstanding message of hope and encourage listeners to become active in charitable events.

Step aside Taylor Swift, Lady Antebellum’s love story is selling, and the people are saying “yes.”

However, this country trio’s rising popularity is making waves in more than just one genre.

According to ABC News, Lady Antebellum performed the album's title track at the Grammy Awards. The Jan. 31 show hit a high note in the Nielsen ratings.

According to Nielsen SoundScan, Lady Antebellum has sold 209,000 copies as of Feb. 7.

Their newest album, “Need You Now,” has claimed the number one spot on the U.S. pop album chart for a second week in Los Angeles

ABC News says that Lady Antebellum’s

newest album topped the list the previous week with sales of 481,000. That is the biggest sales week for a country album since Taylor Swift's “Fearless” opened at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 with 592,000 copies in November 2008.

Junior Tiffany Aburto said, “Lady Antebellum isn't as much of a teen icon as Taylor Swift. Swift is all about teen crushes and heartbreak where Lady Antebellum involves real feelings for anyone.”

After winning two awards at the Country Music Association Awards on Nov. 11, 2009, one for vocal group and the other for single of the year (“I Run to You”), Lady Antebellum managed top honors on Billboard's Country Songs chart.

From the looks of things, Taylor Swift’s season of fame is coming to an end as Lady Antebellum continues their rise on the charts.

 Telling the untold story of a soldier at war, “Dear John” is a great movie for a good cry.

It is a love story with John Tyree (Channing Tatum) and Savannah Curtis (Amanda Seyfried), but it is also combined with a story about John and his relationship with his dad. 

When it came to the relationship between John and Savannah, it was not the same type of relationship that is in the typical love story.

“It did a good job of showing the complications of a seemingly perfect r e l a t i o n s h i p ,” senior Karen Schwarz said.

John has to leave for the Army and they write letters to each other almost the entire time he is there, but Savannah does not write him for a couple months. When she finally does, she writes to tell him that she has found someone else and is getting married.

“It mixes a fairytale romance with real life demands,” senior Hayley Matowski said.

People get tired of the same chick flick movies over and over.

With a big part of the movie dealing with the relationship within the family instead of dealing with the relationship between John and Savannah, it makes the movie more interesting to watch.

The fact that John never realized that his dad had autism before he met Savannah makes this movie more interesting. It makes the audience focus on the relationship between John and his

dad.John makes being

in the Army his official job. Not too long after that, he gets sent home because his dad had a stroke.

His dad being in the hospital makes John want to tell his dad how he feels and what he was thinking about when he got shot.

It is a tear jerking moment when John starts to cry talking to his dad.

“The ending is not what you would expect, but it closes with hope,” senior Hayley Matowski said.

The movie is definitely not an action or thriller movie. However, it is a movie someone might want to watch when they need a good cry.

BY KIRA WORTHINGTONfeatures@othsprowler.com

BY ASHLEIGH JACKSONfeatures@othsprowler.com

BY TESSA DOCKINSfeatures@othsprowler.com

BY KATY MANESSfeatures@othsprowler.com

Lady Antebellum, from left, Dave Haywood, Hillary Scott and Charles Kelley, at the 52nd Annual Grammy Awards at the Staples Center in Los Angeles, California, on Sunday, Jan. 31, 2010.

MCT WIRE

MUSIC REVIEW MUSIC REVIEW

MOVIE REVIEW

TV REVIEW

“It did a good job of showing the complications of a seemingly perfect

relationship.” -Karen Schwarz,

senior

ABC’s “Lost” stars Michael Emerson as Ben. MCT WIRE

Channing Tatum and Amanda Seyfried star in Screen Gems’ romantic drama, “Dear John.”MCT WIRE

13SPORTSMARCH 5, 2010

Sophomore Taylor Klingelhoefer takes a shot while senior Michelle Lay looks on. The girls lost to East St. Louis 50-39, ending their posteason run.

TYLER KLAUS

This year’s girls’ basketball season was full of ups and downs.

After a 12-2 start to the season, the Lady Panthers went on a 3-12 run to finish the season at 15-15.

They ended the year in sixth place in the S o u t h w e s t e r n Conference with a 6-8 record.

Leading up to their Regional semi-final game, the girls had dropped six games in a row.

In those games, the team was outscored 330-257 by their opponents.

By the time the play-offs rolled around, the team had been written off by the local sports reporters. They were due to face Belleville West, a team that had already beaten the girls twice this season.

On Feb. 16, however, the Lady Panthers surprised the critics by defeating the Maroons

64-59 behind a season-high 27 points from sophomore Taylor Klingelhoefer.

Freshman forward Katie Roustio also was a major contributor, adding 13 points and 13 rebounds for her second double-double of the season.

“My favorite part of the season was when we [beat] Belleville West. We played our

hardest and we were very excited about going to the ch ampi ons h ip,” Roustio said.

In the Regional c h a m p i o n s h i p game, the team’s postseason dreams came to an end, as the girls lost to East St. Louis.

The girls only made two of 17 shots from beyond the arc in the 50-39 loss.

Although six seniors are graduating, the returning players are confident that next year will be an even better year.

“I'm hoping we keep improving in our years to come and go further than we have before,” Roustio said.

Tale of two seasons

BY JOHN DAVISsports@othsprowler.com

Come to the panther dome to support the boys’ basketball team at their regional

Championship game tonight at 7:30

“I’m hoping we keep

improving in our years to come and go further than we have before.”

-Katie Roustio, freshman

In a year of record-setting OTHS sports seasons, the boys’ swim team proved to be elite athletes by breaking records, both personally and for the school. The team finished the regular season with a 5-2 record.

On Feb. 6, the team held its only home meet against Marion High School. The Panthers defeated Marion in all but two events.

First place finishers included freshman Mike Slaughter, senior Brandon Grammer, senior Rich Laney, junior Geoff Marion and all OTHS relay teams.

“I think that everyone on the team has improved this season, and I am extremely proud of the hard work and dedication this team has,” senior Karl Thrasher said.

The team went to Sectionals on Feb. 21 where they had what Assistant Coach Christina Buehler called “a phenomenal showing.”

“[The team] constantly improved and worked very hard throughout the season. It was an extremely successful season,” Coach Kimberly Kurtz said.

Competing swimmers included freshman Michael Slaughter, juniors Scott Kennedy, Geoff Marion, Sam Knef, Justin Grimmer, Zach Legrand, Josh Walker, seniors Carl Thrasher, Rich Laney, Stephen Dean and Brandon

Grammer.All three relays consisting of Laney, Dean,

Slaughter and Kennedy set new school records, a major accomplishment for the team.

The team placed fourth, but Dean performed so well that he made the cut for state finals.

Dean got first overall in the 500 freestyle.“The first day of

practice, Stephen came up to me before he got in the water and said 'I am going to state in the 500 this season,” Coach Buehler said. 

The boys were all-around proud of their accompl ishments and explained why they swam.

“I swim because it’s the sport I love,”

Thrasher said. “As for other reasons to swim, it’s a great way to get in shape and helps training for other sports.”

The team expressed the importance of self-improvement over anything else.     “It's not about first or second or third place, it's about improving your time and always striving to get a new personal best,” freshman Connor Holzinger said.

“I think that everyone on the team has improved this season, and I am extremely proud of the hard work and dedication this team has,” Thrasher said.

Throughout the season, the team improved individually and received high recognition for their work.

“A coach couldn't ask for anything more,” Coach Kurtz said.

BY BRYCE RADICKsports@othsprowler.com

“I am extremely proud of the hard

work and dedication this team has.”-Karl Thrasher,

senior

Stephen Dean makes StateSwimmers takes fourth place at Sectional meet

For more info on the end of the bowling season and a fun sport you should try,

visit our site, www.OTHSPROWLER.com

Girls’ basketball team finishes season at 15-15 after loss in Regional Championship game

Vancouver, British Columbia was the place to be for the world's 21st Winter Olympics this past February. 

The motto “with glowing hearts” set the stage for the lighting of the torch and for the sports events themselves, with 82 different countries from various parts of the world getting involved.

Competitions ranged anywhere from snowboarding to curling, presenting an opportunity for every traditional and non-traditional winter sport to make an appearance.

This year's Winter Olympics saw the United States, Germany and Canada leave with top medal placements.  The United States claimed 37 medals overall, a total comprised of nine gold, 15 silver and 13 bronze medals. Germany and Canada also won 30 and 26 medals, respectively.

Although the Olympics served as a time for countries to celebrate their most promising athletes and their accomplishments, an air of mourning hung over this year's games.

Georgian luger Nodar Kumaritashvili, 21, died just hours before the opening ceremonies. Losing control at 90 mph, Kumaritashvili slammed into a trackside steel pole during a training run.

While investigations found that Kumaritashvili was “late in coming out of the next-to-last turn and failed to compensate,” according to espn.com, his family and friends claim that he was an experienced luger despite his young age and that the nature of the track was to blame for the accident. 

Many officials voiced their worries prior to the accident, stating that the venue was too technically demanding.

As a result, the last turn of the course was eliminated before the actual Olympic slide events occured.         While this tragedy cast a shadow over the Olympics, the games continued on, with alpine skiing, hockey, snowboarding and figure skating serving as major highlights.         In alpine skiing, comprised of the super-G, slalom and downhill events, Americans Bode Miller, Lindsey Vonn and Julie Mancuso won multiple medals for the men's and women's teams. 

Despite poor publicity and a negative image in the past, Miller pulled his act together for the men's combined, super-G and downhill, earning a gold, silver, and bronze in each event respectively.  Mancuso and Vonn managed to recover from multiple wipeouts as well, medaling in a total of four events. Mancuso won two silver medals for the combined and downhill events, while Vonn won the gold for downhill and the bronze for super-G.  In addition to the success of the U.S. team, Germany and Norway placed well in many skiing events.

The success of the U.S. snowboarding team, came as no surprise to anyone who has ever watched Shaun White, nicknamed the Flying

Tomato, compete.White dominated the

men's halfpipe, landing the unprecendented Double McTwist 1260 and winning his second Olympic halfpipe gold.

Teammate Scotty Lago walked away with the bronze after falling halfway though the pipe in the second run of the final round, despite an amazing first run.  Scott Wescott also took the gold in men's snowboard cross finals.

The women's team faired just as well in their halfpipe finals, with returning champions Hannah Teter and Kelly Clark winning silver and bronze, respectively,

while Austrailian Torah Bright won gold.In hockey, the United States, Canada, Finland

and Slovakia moved on to the semi-finals.Canada and Slovakia made it to the semi

finals after wins over Russia and Sweden, respectively. Canada dominated the Russians 6-1, while Slovakia upset Sweden 4-3.

From there, the United States played Finland while Canada played Slovakia. The United States beat Finland 6-1, and Canada overcame a last minute Slovakian comeback to win 3-2.

Finland took the win for the bronze medal game, defeating Slovakia with a final score of 5-3.

The gold medal game saw Canada and the United States battle it out, with Canada emerging victorious 3-2. Canadian center Sidney Crosby tallied the winning goal in overtime.

14 SPORTS MARCH 5, 2010

March Sports Schedule

Boys’ LacrosseDate Opponent Time Home/AwayTue. March 16 Desmet 5:15 pm HomeThu. March 18 CBC 5:15 pm Home

Boys’ TennisDate Opponent Time Home/AwayTues. March 30 Alton 4:00 pm Home

Date Opponent Time Home/AwayTues. March 30 Granite City 4:30 pm HomeWed. March 31 Althoff 5:00 pm Away

Boys’ Volleyball

Golden GirlsDate Opponent Time Home/AwaySun. March 7 TDI State Competition TBA AwaySat. March 13 IDTA State Competition TBA Away

Date Opponent Time Home/AwayFri. March 19 Lewis Harris Invitational 7:00 pm AwaySat. March 20 Lewis Harris Invitational 11:00 am AwayTues. March 23 Columbia 4:30 pm AwayFri. March 26 Valle Catholic 4:00 pm AwaySat. March 27 O’Fallon Panther Three-way TBA HomeTues. March 30 Belleville East 4:15 pm Home

Boys’ Baseball

Girls’ TrackDate Opponent Time Home/AwayFri. March 5 SIUC Invitational 4:00 pm AwaySat. March 13 Charleston Indoor Meet TBA AwayWed. March 24 Granite/ Edwardsville/Alton 4:00 pm AwaySat. March 27 SWIL Meet 10:00 am AwayWed. March 31 Granite/Belleville West 4:00 pm Away Boys’ Track

Date Opponent Time Home/AwayWed. March 17 Belleville West 4:00 pm AwayTues. March 23 Belleville East 4:00 pm HomeSat. March 27 SWIL Meet 10:00 am AwayTues. March 30 Collinsville 4:00 pm Away

Girls’ SoccerDate Opponent Time Home/AwayWed. March 24 Althoff 5:00 pm HomeTue. March 30 Alton 5:00 pm Away

Girls’ SoftballDate Opponent Time Home/AwayWed. March 24 Waterloo 4:15 pm AwayFri. March 26 Wesclin 4:00 pm AwaySat. March 27 Bartonville Limestone (DH) 1:00 pm HomeMon. March 29 Lebanon 4:00 pm HomeTue. March 30 Belleville East 4:15 pm Away

America dominates in VancouverU.S. sets Winter Olympics record with 37 medalsBY ELLIE KANASKIEsports@othsprowler.com

JEAN LEVAC/MCT

A snowboarder flies through the Olympic rings to kick off the Opening Ceremonies of the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver, British Columbia.

HARRY E. WALKER/MCT

ROBERT GAUTHIER/MCTU.S. teammates Shaun White (right) and Scott Lago celebrate after their medal-winning halfpipe runs. White won the gold and Lago took the bronze.

USA’s Erik Johnson (left) and Tim Thomas (right) console goalie Ryan Miller following the 3-2 overtime loss to Canada in the gold medal game. The Canadians set a Winter Olympics record by earning 14 gold medals.

15SPORTSMARCH 5, 2010

Surber wins first state wrestling title in OTHS history

The superstars of the boys’ wrestling team prevailed last month as they ended a ground-breaking season.

The wrestlers competed on the weekend of Feb. 6, at the Regional tournament at Granite City High School. In this competition, three OTHS students placed in the top three of their respective weight classes.

The champs were seniors Courtland Rautio, Keith Surber and Marty Ercoline.

Sophomore Jacob Villagran also took fourth place in his weight class.

Rautio, Surber and Ercoline then competed in the Sectionals tournament on Feb. 12-13.

A popular topic of gossip among IHSA wrestling fanatics, one of Surber’s matches was very anticipated.

“There’s a lot of hype because he and I are first and second in the state, and [we’re] both in the top 10 in the country,” Surber said before the match. He avenged his loss from last year and won the match.

Surber went on to win the rest of his matches.

His final match was against Edwin Cooper from Providence Catholic High School in New Lenox, Ill. He took him down 4-2 in overtime.

In that tournament, Ercoline and Surber both took first places in their weight classes. Rautio, however, did not place in the top three.

Ercoline and Surber traveled the next weekend to the University of Illinois to compete at the state level. Though both wrestlers won their first rounds, only Surber won his second.

Surber advanced through every match undefeated. In the championship match, he again faced Cooper from Providence Catholic.

Even though Surber defeated Cooper at the Sectionals tournament, Cooper still qualified for the State tournament, and advanced to the championship level as well.

However, Surber wasted no time in taking down this familiar opponent.

Making OTHS history, Surber took home the state title in his division and weight class.

The entire team had an outstanding season. Through their previous tournaments, the wrestlers worked at perfecting their skills and mastering the sport.

BY NATALIE BUCHsports@othsprowler.com

W i n t e r A t h l e t e P r o f i l e s Shane Watson is a star basketball player for

the O’Fallon basketball team, and one of the captains.

He has been playing basketball since he was 3 or 4 years old, and has several childhood basketball memories.

When he was in fifth and sixth grade, he said, he won free throw contests and was in the newspaper for it.

All throughout junior high, he played AAU basketball for the Metro East Bulls.

He also played on summer teams and won tournaments. 

On the summer team this past year, his team

won every tournament. This season, the Panthers have

won two tournaments so far. With this season, he and his

team hope to go far. They just might be able to go to state and could possibly win.

“I love just playing and being on the court when the game gets intense,” he said.

Other than playing basketball, Watson also enjoys playing tennis. 

Even though he has been offered some scholarships to NAIA schools, he plans to attend

Rhodes college in Memphis, Tenn. He earned an academic scholarship for $37,000 per year.

Natalie Goodman is bowling her heart out for the O’Fallon girls’ bowling team.

She has been around bowling her whole life, but did not actually start bowling until she was 8 years old.

Her dad noticed that she had talent before she noticed it herself.

When she was 10, she bowled her first 200 game.

Her passion for the sport did not show until she got into high school.

During her sophomore and junior years, she placed in the top 10 at State.

In the Southwest Conference, she was awarded bowler of the year.

She averages about 215 a game, and has been very successful.

During practice, her highest game is 300, but during league it is 299.

“The thing I enjoy most about bowling are the tournaments. I get to bowl all over the

country and make many friends along the way,” she said.

Even though she has been asked which college she plans to go to, she is keeping her options open and seeing all the types of scholarships she can earn.

Although she has not been offered any money yet, schools such as Vanderbilt, Robert Morris and McKendree are starting to approach her.

She is excited to see the other offers headed her way within the

next year.“The sport deserves more credit than it gets.

Hopefully one day my hard work will pay off and I can make Junior Team USA or go pro someday,” she said.

Shannon Cunningham is dancing her way to the top as one of the captains of the O’Fallon Golden Girls.

She has been dancing since she was 3, doing jazz, tap and ballet at Taylor’s Academy of Dance. 

While dancing there, she was a part of their competitive pom squad from ages 6 to 16, She also taught the beginner pom squad last year.

Before becoming a Golden Girl her freshman year, she was on the Fulton Jr. High pom squad in seventh and eighth grade. She has been a varsity Golden Girl since her sophomore year.

In her sophomore and junior years, her team brought home three firsts and two seconds.

This past summer, at UDA dance camp, the team brought home a third place trophy for their “home routine”. She also earned an individual award as an All-American dancer.

The two summers prior, they brought home fourth and third. 

At the commencement of last year’s season her teammates voted to give her the “Best

Showmanship” award. Along with that, she was

chosen as a co-captain for this year’s varsity Golden Girls.

This season, the squad has walked away with several first place trophies and are working hard to keep that trend.

“I love performing and competing. Even though we are gone almost every weekend at competitions during the season, I love every second of it. An aspect of dance that no other sport has is

the emotional passion a dancer can channel into dance,” she said.

She plans to attend the University of Arkansas to major in accounting and finance.

Bailey Owens is cheering her way to victory as a captain of the O’Fallon Cheerleaders.

She has been cheering since fifth grade. She started cheering with Coach Tamara Hudson. She has cheered every year since then.

In fifth grade, Coach Hudson started a competitive cheerleading squad called “Stars” for grades 4-6.

They competed with other teams from all over Illinios and Indiana. Senior Emily Trelow, senior Ashley Wallace and Owens all cheered with Stars together. 

They cheered at Fulton for their seventh and eighth grade years.

When they started high school, they cheered for Coach Hudson again.

Throughout the four years she has been

cheering, her team has won many competitions. Last year, they received second place at State

in the coed division and won Nationals in Orlando.

“The thing I enjoy most about cheering would definitely be the competitions and games,” she said. 

After high school, she plans to attend Delta State University in Mississippi. 

Although she enjoys cheering very much, she does not plan on doing it in college because of her back problems.    

“I really want to thank the girls on the team this year. We accomplished alot and I am proud

of them. I will miss them all next year,” Owens said.

Senior Keith Surber celebrates after winning the state title in the 130 pound weight class. Surber is the first wrestling state champion in the school’s history.

CHRIS JOHNS

The O’Fallon Panthers hockey team has shown a better season than last season.

They went to the play-offs on Thursday, Jan. 11, and played the Belleville East Lancers winning 10-2.

In their second game, they played the Lancers and beat them 5-4.

At their third game, they lost against the Lancers 5-3.

Freshman Jeff Barrette scored most of the Panthers’ goals throughout the playoff season.

Overall, their season went well, better than their past seasons.

“I am very proud of our boys; it has been a long season with a very young team. The

leadership the seniors have left for those to follow is second to none,” Coach Jason Power said.

Out of 15 players on the team, there are five seniors. Most of them plan to play hockey in college.

They have played together and strived to get better as each year progressed.

“It was a fun season. The freshmen will hopefully take the

team to the championships next year,” senior Daniel Hempsted said.

Shane Watson, Boys’ Basketball Shannon Cunningham, Golden Girls

Bailey Owens, Cheerleading

Natalie Goodman, Girls’ Bowling

Hockey finishes season with playoff loss, hopes for future successBY TESSA DOCKINSsports@othsprowler.com

“I am very proud of our boys;

it has been a long season with a very

young team.”- Coach Jason Power

PROFILES BY TESSA DOCKINS

Q&A WITH SURBERQ: How does it feel to be the first state champion in school history?A: “It’s really cool, but I’ve been working for this for four years. It wasn’t a real shocker when it happened.”

Q: What was going through your mind

before your match?A: “I wasn’t actually thinking about the match. I was thinking about anything other than the match. It helped me to not worry and just wrestle.”

Q: What are your plans for the future?A: “I leave for Nebraska on June 1. I’m going to be a pre-med major.”

16 PHOTOS MARCH 5, 2010

Senior Lexi Dunnells accompanies senior Nicole Lambert while senior Brandon Churchill and sophomore Brady Page add some instrumental flair to the ensemble. Churchill played harmonica, and Page played upright bass.

KATY MANESS

Junior Beth Lewis rocks out with her rendition of the song “Ignorance” by Paramore. Senior Julianne Reynolds played acoustic guitar while Lewis handled the vocals.

JAKE FUSSELL

Sophomore Brandon Boeckman takes charge of his Fender Stratocaster as he covers “Welcome Home.” Seniors Nathan Bossart, Chris LaChance, Sam Brush and freshman Kristen Brush were also in the band.

KATY MANESS

Starting off February Frolics, senior Emma Chapman entertains the crowd with a rap. Chapman was one of the emcees of the night. The other emcees included seniors Taylor Zimmerman, Brian Ham, Lexi Dunnells, Tori Wisely, Molly Barton and Drake Krueger.

KATY MANESS

Freshman Tyrus Brothers sings “Did You Wrong” as a solo. Brothers was one of the few freshmen that made the cut to perform in the highly competitive show.

JAKE FUSSELL

Mr. L..P. Wills takes a shot at the basket to make a point for faculty team. Mr. Wills was the only faculty member to score a three-pointer in the entire game. He is an aide at the Milburn campus.

TYLER KLAUS

The members of Femme Fatale serenade the audience with a medley of Lady Gaga hits. All of them also sing in the Chamber Ensemble here at OTHS and will compete in vocal jazz competitions in the spring.

JAKE FUSSELL

Mr. Matt Denny and Mrs. Martha Blackburn have a friendly fight for the ball with St. Louis Junior Rolling Rams player “Basket” Robbins as Ms. Traci Isom sits ready to take the pass. Robbins scored several points for her team.

TYLER KLAUS

O’Fallon resident Nathan Rainge prepares to take a shot. Rainge is 10 years old, and he is a fifth grader at District 90’s Hinchcliffe Elementary School.

TYLER KLAUS

Mrs. Colleen Becker rolls away to protect the ball from the St. Louis Rolling Rams players. Ms. Thoman teaches mathematics at the Smiley campus.

TYLER KLAUS