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The student newspaper of Portage High School in Portage, Indiana.
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Local campuses are common in the area, and Portage has introduced the University Center to town for its first year of classes.
Ivy Tech and Indiana University are two schools currently offering classes at the center. Ivy Tech has one classroom and is offering 11 classes, while Indiana University has a classroom and a computer lab available. Some classes being offered include Reading Strategies for College, Fundamentals for Algebra I and II and Introduction to Psychology.
Though these institutions are offering classes at the center right now, Mayor Jim Snyder has plans of bringing more colleges into the
building.“At the moment Indiana
University and Ivy Tech are offering classes. Purdue plans on opening shop in January. We are working on quite a few more colleges in hopes of arranging many more schools in the University Center,” Snyder said.
One main concern for the center is to have substantial parking
available. The University Center has two tenants now and is expecting to create even more parking for students. Making the University Center known to high school students is a prime objective of the mayor’s. benefits of using the Center.
See UNIVERSITY, page 2
Pow Wow
What’s inside? Fall play set for Nov. 16-18
Page 2 Wright named MVP
Page 5 Catching up with grads
Page 7
Covering Real Issues for the Students of Portage High School
Portage High School Issue 3 October 12, 2012
New University Center opens for fall semester
Teachers are not locked in their classrooms all day grading papers and creating their lesson plans; the hobbies teachers have are as diverse as the students that they teach.
Reinforcing what she teaches in real life, United States history teacher Catherine Nye attends Civil War reenactments across the country.
Dressing in traditional 1860s clothes, Nye interactively integrates herself into the experience.
“I just stand around and look pretty. Females usually serve as the sanitation crew, and it is common for them to take care of the wounded. Some serve as soldiers in the cavalry, but I just watch and shop,” Nye said.
Nye said that larger events, such as the Gettysburg reenactment taking place next year, draw in more people while smaller events, such as Connor Prarie, have around 100 participants.
“It’s like a real-life movie. History becomes real and more than just names and dates,” Nye said.
When she is not at school, government teacher Elizabeth Wysocki can be found riding the waves of Lake Michigan out of the Chicago Yacht Club.
In her freshman year of college, Wysocki decided to give the sport of sailing a shot because she had always loved the water.
“We had no money and went up against rich teams from across the country. We had a lot of heart and no fancy equipment, but we made it work,” Wysocki said.
See HOBBIES, page 7
Senior Zach Smith serves in a match against LaPorte during the tennis season. Photo by Brandon Vickrey
Teachersparticipate in unique hobbies
The boys varsity tennis team wrapped up its strongest season in recent years with a record of 16-3, falling to Valparaiso in the sectional championship match. The Indians posted the highest win total of any Portage High School fall sport. The
storylines are available in abundance when looking back at this intriguing season.
The first unique aspect of the season is that head coach Gary Hayes has concluded his four year stint as boys tennis coach at PHS. Hayes, a longtime coach for basketball and tennis in Northwest Indiana, will return to the hardwood this winter as the head boys basketball coach at Griffith High School.
“I learned a lot from Coach Hayes,” senior No. 1 singles player Jeff McElfresh said. “It’s easy to say that I wouldn’t be the same person without having been under his coaching, a lot of life lessons and determination.”
McElfresh, who was named the Sept. 14 Pow Wow Most Valuable Player, is another of the noteworthy stories for the boys tennis squad. He stayed focused on the sport
throughout the offseason, elevating his skill level enough to take over the No. 1 singles slot.
“We had a moment in the sectionals last year where we could have ended up upsetting Valpo and that really pushed me to practice over the offseason,” McElfresh said. “I realized that we’d have a very strong team this year.”
See TENNIS, page 4
Brandon VickreyEditor-in-Chief
Katie PeksenakNews Editor
Joshua LewisFeatures Editor
Boys tennis team rounds out season
The new University Center, located on Central Avenue, holds classes through Ivy Tech Community College and Indi-ana University Northwest. The center houses computer labs and classrooms for students. Photo by Collin Czilli
The new center also provides plenty of space for students to lounge in during or between classes. The center offers more convience for students in Portage. Photo by Collin Czilli
After delays, center opens in downtown
Social studies teacher Elizabeth Wysocki sails on her boat out of the Chicago Yatch Club. Wysocki began her sailing career while she was in college at Indiana University. Photo provided
End of Term Assessment exam days are known as some of the most stressful days of the year, but recently teachers and faculty members have come together to alleviate some of this stress of students.
Instead of having ETAs for the first four classes of the day, the ETA schedule has been changed so that day one of exams will include ETAs for modules 1, 3, 6-7 or 7-8 and 10, while the second day of exams will include the ETAs for modules 2, 4-5 or 5-6 and 9.
Principal Caren Swickard said that teachers were concerned that Advanced Placement students had multiple tests in a
row on ETA days.Mathematics Department Head Cheryl
Clapp put together the new schedule and presented it at a department meeting where all department heads agreed to pilot it the first nine weeks.
“A 50 minute break between exams makes sense because it gives students time to regroup. In college, there is an hour of break between exams and that extra time to look over notes is helpful,” Swickard said.
After this new schedule is piloted in the first nine weeks, Swickard said teachers and students will give their input on the success of the new schedule and a decision will be made from there on whether or not the new schedule will be implemented throughout the rest of the school year.
2 News Issue 3
Joshua LewisFeatures Editor
ETA schedule differs from previous years
Portage High School’s presentation of the play “The 39 Steps” next month is set to give viewers a taste of Austin Powers with a hint of Alfred Hitchcock.
“The 39 Steps” contains every legendary scene from the award-winning movie, including the chase on the Flying Scotsman, the escape on the Forth Bridge, the first theatrical bi-plane crash ever staged and the sensational death-defying finale in the London Palladium.
David Richardson of WOR Radio said on the radio that this show is one of the most clever shows on Broadway in a long time.
“The 39 Steps” is based on the 1935
Alfred Hitchcock film of “The 39 Steps.” It has won multiple awards and has been Broadway’s longest running comedy, first produced on the stage by North Country Theatre in April 1996 at the Georgian Theatre, Richmond, North Yorkshire and now it will be presenting itself on Portage’s stage for the first time.
Auditions were Monday, Oct. 1 and Tuesday, Oct. 2. Callbacks were Wednesday, Oct. 3 and the parts were posted Thursday, Oct. 4, starting a hardworking six week preparation for the show.
“I know the talent that has already graced the stage, but I am always surprised with the new talent that comes forth,” PHS Auditorium Director Kevin Giese said.
Over 100 students tried out with a
variety of accents from Scottish to German to British. With 15 main roles and 13 supporting roles, the choices were based on their performances.
Senior Rachel Stewart will be playing the female lead role Pamela Edwards. Junior Matt Bliss will be playing the male lead role Richard Hannay.
“I expect the play to turn out phenomenal. The show has never been performed by a high school because it is originally casted with four people. It is going to be a challenge but I know we can pull it off. I think the choice was perfect. It is a fast-paced comedy and I really think people will enjoy it,” Stewart said.
The play will be performed on Friday, Nov. 16; Saturday, Nov. 17 and Sunday, Nov. 18.
Ashley ConradNews Writer
Fall Play ‘The 39 Steps’ to be held in November
Students have been hearing the same saying repeatedly since they were little: “Practice makes perfect.”
Preliminary Scholastic Aptitude Tests are coming up soon for sophomores, juniors and freshmen who are in Pre-AP English. The PSAT is not required for juniors and Pre-AP English freshmen. Taking it is rec-ommended.
According to Indiana Department of Education Assistant Director for Col-lege and Career Readiness Amy B. Marsh, students who take the PSAT their sopho-more year as well as their junior year have a higher chance of getting a better score on their SAT and getting into a better college.
“I think the PSAT is a great help in im-proving scores. Many people have a hard time taking tests with time restrictions, so the more practice they have, the better,” senior Briana Ammeson said.
The PSAT is the preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test. This program is co-sponsored by the College Board and National Merit Scholarship Corporation. It is a standardized test that provides firsthand practice for the SAT. It also gives juniors a chance to enter into the NMSC
scholarship program and gain access to college and career planning tools. Guidance Department Chair Jennifer Symer recommends that all sophomores take the PSAT.
“Taking the PSAT in the tenth grade
provides early feedback on your strengths and weaknesses on skills necessary for col-lege study. You can then focus your prepa-ration on those areas where you need the most study or practice,” Symer said.
The PSAT covers math, reading and writing skills that are included on the SAT as well. The PSAT covers subjects taught every day in high school classrooms. The state currently pays for all sophomores to take the test along with juniors who qualify for free or reduced lunch. Juniors who do not qualify for free or reduced lunch must pay a fee of $16.
To study for the PSAT, Symer recommends paying attention in class, since the test focuses on what students learn in everyday high school. Students can also use preparation booklets produced by the College Board.
“For both the PSAT and SAT make sure you study, because if you do not, you will definitely regret it,” senior Kaitlyn Adkins said.
Mallory LopezNews Writer
Taking PSAT early proven to improve SAT scores
“Many people have a hard time taking tests with time restrictions, so the more practice they have, the better.”
-Briana Ammeson, Senior
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Current senior Rachel Stewart performs the role of Julia Sullivan during the 2012 spring musical, Hairspray. Stewart will be playing the lead of Pamela Edwards in ‘The 39 Steps.” Legend Stock Photo
University“It would be beneficial to have the city and Portage
High School team up in marketing the University Center to students. We would then like to attract students from Chesterton, Hobart and Lake Station when we have fully utilized Portage High School to help with the center,” Snyder said.
The University Center is planning to expand to multiple universities and bring in a larger group of students, but it will take some time. Snyder believes introduction of the University Center can only benefit the community.
“Education is paramount to residents being able to find a good job. We have a challenge in filling the Center. Portage is always ready for a challenge and we will be successful in this challenge if we work together. Portage is called the Port of Opportunity and the University Center just adds to the opportunity Portage offers,” Snyder said.
Continued from page 1
Local universities and colleges, including IUN and Ivy Tech, utilize class-rooms in the University Center. Portage is looking to sign on more local schools. Photo by Collin Czilli
Portage’s two-story University Center sits on Central Avenue. Photo by Collin Czilli
3NewsOctober 12, 2012
School closes East pool, repairs currently underway
Swimmers at Portage High School have been unable to use the pool at East as the tiling in the pool is being completely replaced.
According to Athletic Director Kelly Bermes, the situation of chipped tiles was brought to the attention of the Athletic Department by the high school swim coaches and the Portage Porpoise Swim Club.
“This was a safety concern for the swimmers,” Bermes said. “We were worried about them cutting their knees or feet.”
Bermes also said that there were holes in the pool where tile was missing.
The entire pool has been drained while the walls of the pool are being stripped, tiled and grouted. According to Bermes, the tiling should be finished within a week. However, the grout must be given time to cure properly. Once the grout cures, the pool will be able to be refilled and be used again.
While the pool is being refinished, both high school teams are practicing after school in the West pool while the Porpoises and the YMCA share the pool in the evenings.
“We are luckier than most schools in that we do have two pools,” Bermes said.
The pool is receiving more than just new tiling. The Athletic Department has also decided to outfit the pool with new lane ropes and flag poles.
The East pool is currently receiving maintenance to repair broken tiles. Teams that utilize the pool are using the facilities in the West building. Photo by Taylor Mlynski
Collin czilliOpinion Editor
Local haunted house returns for third year
This October, Portage residents should brace themselves for the most horrifying experience of their lives.
Opening on Oct. 19 and running until Oct. 31, the Haunted Hills Hospital is a haunted house run by the family of senior Justin Hill at 6112 Old Porter Rd. The Halloween attraction is open on Fridays and Saturdays and runs from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m. The cost to enter is $5 and proceeds go to charity.
“We added 75 percent more [to the Haunted Hospital], trained our actors and we will be donating most of the proceeds to charity,” Hill said.
According to senior Jimmy Spence, the entire walk through of the house takes about 20 minutes and many precautions have been
taken this year. “This is our third year running the house
as a business. We have permission from the police department to park at Crisman [Elementary School] and the ROTC will be doing security and making sure it is safe to cross the street,” Spence said.
Most of the work for the Haunted Hills Hospital is done by Hill, his father and family friends.
“We saw that people my age didn’t have anything Halloween to go to in the area; we are really trying to spread Halloween spirit,” said Hill. “We start planning in July and build everything ourselves. A very little part of it is store bought.”
Any patron who is planning to attend the Haunted Hills Hospital can earn a lower admission price by dressing as a zombie on Oct. 19.
Emily EvansDesign Editor
Haunted Hills Hospital actors pose in their costumes. Photos provided by Justin Hill
Portage residents see new businesses in town
Thriving would be an understatement when describing Portage within the past few years.
The town has seen a Smoothie Factory, multiple physical therapy centers, a new and improved Walgreens and the ever-popular Panda Express. Texas Roadhouse is in the process of being built and the old Kmart will be a newly renovated Meijer, which will include a gas station in the parking lot. The newest business expected to hit Portage in the near future is Family Express.
“I have a petition for a Family Express that is planned on a piece of property that is just west of the old Portage 9 Theater,” Portage Planner and Development Review member Kurt Knutsen said.
For businesses to come into Portage, they typically have to inquire that they would like to bring their business to town,
go through the process of acquiring a piece of property and speak with the Portage Economic Development Corporation. This is not a quick process. Knutsen’s position does not involve marketing, but deals with businesses after they have gone through the construction phase.
He explained that U.S Highway 6 is designed mainly for the retail market and restaurants. Problems often dealt with include restaurants being developed on too small of lots. Knutsen also added that the Panda Express and Texas Roadhouse will sport more landscaping compared to many of the older restaurants and that he is hoping to see more sit-down restaurants hit Portage.
“I would definitely like to see a sit-down restaurant verses another fast food place. We made some changes in our ordinance that make it a little more difficult for fast
food restaurants to come into town because they usually want a drive through, which has to go through approval through the Board of Zoning Appeals,” Knutsen said.
Correct Construction is also planning to build another training center that will be held on Southport Road. It teaches construction classes and focuses on construction training.
A trucking outfit is also coming back to the Plan Commission for reapproval. This will be an improvement on Route 20. As of right now there are no other businesses in the process of coming to Portage.
Katie PeksenakNews Editor
“I have a petition for a Family Express that is planned on a piece of property that is just west of the old Portage 9 Theater.”
-Kurt Knutsen, Developement Board
Review Member
Construction on Texas Roadhouse, which has already began. It will be located in front of Menards on U.S. Highway 6. Photo by Miles Motto
PTS installs new upgrades to computer system
Kiss those four different versions of the same essay goodbye.
Portage Township Schools implemented a new computer system this year complete with upgrades to different networks and programs.
According to Informational Technology Systems Coordinator Cynthia Natalie, the main purpose of implementing the system was to “get into the future.”
“We had old equipment; schools aren’t rich so we had to make our equipment last as long as it could. Our software was old; our e-mail was old; our network was old. So, we were able to take advantage of some loan
money available to do a number of up-grades,” Natalie said.
Natalie said these upgrades include a new network system and e-mail package. The network system provides students in grades 6-12 with a log-in identification number and password. In addition, Natalie hopes that, eventually, students will be able to have their own school e-mail addresses.
“We just tried to make the system run faster and better, and I think we’re doing that,” Natalie said.
Another benefit that Natalie explained is the purchasing of an open license for all of the school’s Microsoft products. This would mean that every computer in the school would be equipped with the 2010 version of
the Microsoft Office suite.“As you go everywhere, you get what you
get, no matter what computer you are on,” Natalie said. “And we’re hoping that soon, we can offer that to you [students] for at-home use as well.”
Natalie said that one of the only detri-ments to a new system is the fact that it will be a “learning curve,” and that “there’s always bumps in the road.”
Natalie also said that a challenge about the project was that it was an immense amount of work that had to be done in a short amount of time.
“If you talk to our consultant that we worked with over the summer, we tried to initiate a nine-month project in about a three-
month period of time and we came really close to getting there. We missed the mark by a few weeks,” Natalie said.
Another challenge Natalie mentioned is that there is a vast number of users in the system, which made it more difficult to install the system in such a short amount of time.
“Portage Township Schools is like a large city,” Natalie said. “You’re talking about between 7,000 and 9,000 kids; you’re talking about an employee base of 1,500 people work-ing in the district. That’s like implementing a network in a small city. I think it was not only necessary, but I think we could have been in a horrible state of affairs had we not done it now,” Natalie said. “We were well beyond the point where we needed to have this happen.”
Eric MesarchContent Editor
The No. 2 doubles combination of senior CJ Haupt and junior Chris Klenk earned the only Portage win in the regular season and sectional matches against Valparaiso, both 4-1 losses. Haupt and Klenk finished the year with the dominating record of 24-1.
“The chemistry that me and CJ had was not like anybody else on the team,” Klenk said. “We didn’t play very fundamentally, but we knew where we were on the count, so we never really had to talk the whole time and any time one of us got down, we were able to pick each other up
really well,” Klenk said.That chemistry was
another theme of the entire boys tennis team. As reported in the Sept. 28 Pow Wow, most of the players are close friends on
and off the court. “It was great. I’ve never
been on a sports team like this,” McElfresh said. “We were a family. Everyone was friends with each other and everyone got along great. We just gelled.”
The 3-2 upset of La Porte on Aug. 28 propelled the Indians to the stellar year. It was the first time Portage defeated the Slicers in boys tennis in 12 years.
“The realization that we had a special team was in the La Porte match when we ended up pulling it out,” Klenk said.
On Sept. 26, Portage defeated Wheeler 3-2 in the opener of the Portage Sectional to punch its ticket to the championship on Sept. 27 against Valparaiso. The Vikings escaped with narrow victories at No. 3 singles and No. 2 doubles to secure their seventeenth consecutive sectional title.
Klenk and junior No. 2 singles player John Fannin will be the only two varsity returnees in 2013 with the graduation of seniors Haupt, McElfresh, Zach Smith, Tyler Soberg and Patrick Derr.
“Next season I expect that we’re going to work hard to get back to where we were this year,” Klenk said. “It will be a little bit more difficult, but I feel that we’ll have a solid team like this year.”
With sectionals around the corner, the football team is continuing to work hard and aim for success. Varsity player and senior Devin Kludt said he is going into sectionals feeling confident and prepared.
For the team, the goal for sectionals is simple.
“My priority for sectionals is going into the final game and winning the sectional championship,” Kludt said. Varsity head coach Wally McCormack said that even though the team’s record does not show it, the boys have been improving each and every week.
Kludt said that the team has not shown what they are really capable of yet this season, but the team has already improved tremendously, and there is still time left to turn the season around.
“All these games are quizzes; we are being quizzed on a week-to-week basis,” McCormack said.
The real test is sectionals, and
McCormack is not letting the overall record of 2-6 discourage the team. He said he is very confident going into sectionals.
The team will be playing against Lake Central Friday, Oct. 19. LC has an overall record of 6-2.
McCormack said that it does not matter who the team plays in sectionals, Portage will fight hard to win and go into the game with confidence.
Only time will tell how successful the team will be, but for now, the players are focusing on what is left of their season, because for some, it is their last.
McCormack said that this season is “all about the seniors.”
“It’s important for the returning guys to work as hard as possible. The last thing you want is for it to be your senior year and be standing in my shoes thinking you could’ve done more, or you could’ve done better,” Kludt said. McCormack said that he is looking forward to getting an early start for next season. He said getting the team in the weight room early and keeping up with working out will help out tremendously next season.
4 Sports Issue 3
Peyton HulseSports Editor
Top: The Portage offensive line prepares to block against Michigan City in the Homecoming game on Sept. 28. Bottom: The football team gathers prior to the Homecoming game against the Wolves. The Indians won the game 24-21. Photos by Ian DePerio
Sports have become more than just a seasonal hobby, however, most sports practice nearly all year round and many students participate in more than one sport. More physical activity increases an athlete’s chance of wear and tear on the body.
Treatments for the PHS athletes injuries can often be pricey, but Katrina Clark and Erika Vorel work hard as physical trainers to provide student athletes with free and convenient treatment for sport related injuries.
Clark attended the University of Indianapolis for four years to become an athletic trainer. Vorel
attended Western Illinois University for four years and then Valparaiso University for sports administration.
On a day-to-day basis, Clark and Vorel see about 50 student athletes. Their job includes everything from distributing water at the games to administering pregame and postgame treatments.
Varsity soccer player and senior Taylor Felinski suffered a knee injury from soccer. He visited the trainers on a daily basis to receive treatments.
“The trainers help tremendously. Katrina is very nice, and I couldn’t play soccer without her,” Felinski said
The treatments Felinski administers can be very pricey. Clark said he has saved thousands of dollars by receiving the
treatment at the school versus anywhere else.
Felinski is not the only student saving money by visiting the trainers. Varsity football player and senior Devin Kludt said between his every day ankle wrappings and treatments on his shoulder, he saves at least over $100 a week.
“During my games, I don’t feel any pain. They stabilize my ankle, and treat my shoulder with a muscle stimulator,” Kludt said.
Clark said that the best part about the job is making a difference.
For the athletes, the trainers’ office is more than just a place to receive treatment.
“It’s such a fun environment, and they always do a phenomenal job. We really do have the best trainers,” Kludt said.
Portage High School provides student athletes with quality trainers at no cost
Portage athletic trainers Katrina Clark (right) and Erika Vorel (left) pose for a photo. Clark and Vorel ensure that athletes have quality medical care. Photo by Miles Motto
Peyton HulseSports Editor
TennisContinued from page 1
Football draws Lake Central for sectional opener
Patrick Derr focuses during a tennis match against LaPorte. The Indians finished the season with a record of 16-2. Photo by Brandon Vickrey for PortageLife.com
In the upcoming varsity girls volleyball sectionals, Portage will compete against Hobart in Valparaiso. “I expect us to go pretty far in sectionals and hopefully advance to regionals. If we play how we’ve been playing the past two weeks, we will have a chance,” sophomore Abby Alexander said. The lady-Indians have high hopes and expectations for their next match. They put lots of time and effort into their practices and games that is why they made their team saying, “commitment to excellence.” “All our girls have commitment and if our hearts and minds are set to win, I can see us going far,” Alexander said. The past few weeks the team has had some very close matches with teams in the Duneland Athletic Conference. One of Portage’s most recent matches was on Oct. 2 against Crown Point. The Indians dropped a tight one by the score of 3-2. “We have been preparing for sectionals with our long, hard practices and by going out on the court during our matches giving 110 percent against these tough teams,” senior Michaela Miller said. Portage’s close match with Crown Point showed them that they should not be taken lightly. “Everything is really starting to come together and the team has come a really long way since the beginning of the
season. Hopefully we can win the first round of sectionals and show everyone how far Portage Volleyball has come,” Miller said. If Portage defeats Hobart, it will face the winner of Michigan City against Merrillville in the second round.
5Sports October 12, 2012
What is the best thing about participating in PHS athletics?
“
”
-Freshman Danielle Schultz
The best part of high school sports is being with my team and getting better and interacting with the coaches.
“
”“Bus rides to and from soccer games are
my favorite part of high school sports because the rides are always fun and full of energy.
-Sophomore Nick Bell
”
”
“For me, the best part of participating in high school sports is when we have pasta parties for soccer. We all get to-gether and bond and it’s a really good time.
-Junior Kayla Burns
My best memory from sports has to be the friends that are made. The bonds created there are ones that take a lot to be broken. These guys are the ones that I’ll be friends with for a long time. They are some of my best friends and they’ve made such an impact on my life. I’ll never forget these guys.
-Senior Logan Cole
Volleyball is what junior Mariah Wright calls, “her life.” Wright has played since her middle school years and does not plan on quitting anytime soon. “I am 100 percent sure I would not be who I am today without volleyball in my life. Volleyball is pretty much my whole world. Without volleyball, I would be a bum with no idea of where I wanted to go in
life. Being in this sport has taught me so much more to life than anyone could possibly experience
and I plan not to take it for granted,” Wright said. Wright thinks that the sport has changed her for the better. Her teammates have taught each other to keep commitment and stick together. Head coach Brian Zofkie thinks of Wright as a team leader. “Mariah has been a great team leader since this past summer. With some
of the injuries we had early on, she really stepped up and filled many different roles, including a bigger leadership role. Wright is committed and expects her teammates to do the same,” Zofkie said. Wright said next year makes her nervous, and she does not want to think of being a senior. Wright won Most Improved Player last season, which has made Wright move into a leadership role for the team. “My coach has helped me become a better player
in so many ways. He is the best coach I have ever had and I’m grateful for it. He has taught me many skills and techniques that I will need for later on in my volleyball career. I have also learned to be very dedicated in volleyball,” Wright said. Wright has moved to a new position this year that she has never played before, according to Zofkie. For next season, Wright said she will give it her all and cannot wait to play with the team for one more season.
Junior Mariah Wright celebrates after Portage scores a point in a match against Valparaiso on Oct. 4. Photo by Brandon Vickrey for PortageLife.com
LEFT: AJ Laramie (right) and Emilio Blackwell (left) cross the finish line in a meet against Valpo. RIGHT: Erin Reynolds (left) and Keanna Crum (right) push through a meet against Merrillville. Photos by Legend Staff
Cross country poised to continue postseason play
The boys and girls cross country teams may be very different, however, they both are satisfied with their teams as the season comes to an end. “The most promising part of the 2012 season to date has been the development of the underclassmen. The freshman girls have stepped into varsity racing roles. Even without the presence of seniors, the team has great leadership,” assistant girls cross country coach Melissa Miller said. The season is not over yet. The Duneland Athletic Conference alone has four girls teams ranked in the top 25 in the state and the Portage cross country team has compiled a 4-3 record against tough competition. The girls and boys sectionals took
place on Oct. 9 at Sunset Hill Park. With the boys cross country team beginning sectional play, junior David Clegg expects to come out on top. “I expect to be one of the top teams in Indiana,” Clegg said. The captains on the boys team this year are Tim Huber and Jacob Thielbar. “We had eight runners break 17:00, so I am pretty happy thus far,” boys cross country head coach Tom Erickson said. With the season coming to an end, the runners are starting to think about next season. “With our talent, I have high expectations for our season next year as well as sectional play,” Clegg said. Qualifying teams and individuals will compete in the New Prairie Regional on Oct. 13. Semistate is slated for Oct. 20 at New Prairie with state on Oct. 27 in Terre Haute.
Volleyball to play Hobart in sectional
Senior Bri Gibson prepares to serve in a match at Valparasio on Oct. 4. The team will play Hobart in the first round of the sectionals. Photo by Brandon Vickrey for PortageLife.com
Caleb IngersollSports Writer
Lauren WinickySports Writer
Alexis CoffmanSports Writer
Wright continues to work hard while improving leadership skills
Northwest Indiana athletes, coaches, parents and fans should take the time to appreciate the tremendous media coverage that high school sports in Northwest Indiana receive. The extensive coverage provided by numerous outlets gives the athletes attention and exposure.
The plethora of local sports media in the Region also attests to the interest level of the fans. People in this area, perhaps more so than in any other portion of the state, care about prep sports.
Fans, coaches, athletes and school ad-ministrators should be as supportive of local media outlets as possible. With few excep-tions, the media members understand the importance of representing high school ath-letics in a positive light. After all, these are high school athletes who are playing for the love of the game. For that same reason, high school sports can be more enjoyable to read about, follow, watch, listen to and support than professional sports, where the players are motivated by bloated contracts, or even Division I college football and basketball, where student-athletes are rewarded with large scholarships and sometimes allowed to
pass classes without meeting the regular requirements. At the high school level, the student-athletes are pouring in hours of hard work and they deserve every bit of at-tention they receive.
However, the people that are giving them that attention should also be commended. Some parents
and fans are not even aware of the variety of outlets available. Locally, football, boys bas-ketball and girls basketball are king, but the newspapers, websites and radio stations do a solid job making sure that the other 17 sports are also recognized. The Times of Northwest Indiana and the Post-Tribune feature weekly polls of the top teams for each sport, at least one athlete feature per week per sport and thoroughly cover the biggest sporting events in the Region.
On fall Friday nights, 89.1 FM The Lake-shore’s “Lakeshore Gamenight” delivers four and a half hours of comprehensive football coverage The hosts chat with correspondents who call in to report live from all of the high school football games in the area. The show is perfect for fans to listen to on their way to and from games, or if they cannot make it out to the field.
Lakeshore Public Television’s “Prep Football Report” with Joe Arredondo and Wayne Svetanoff airs every Thursday at 7
p.m. with a look ahead to Friday night’s action, plus a review of the previous week’s games and players of the week. On Friday nights at 10:30, “PFR Scoreboard” includes video highlights from many contests and scores from every game in the Region.
The football coverage does not end there. A large number of local radio stations and websites broadcast play-by-play from games each week, including the Regional Radio Sports Network, Regionsports.com and Mid America Broadcasting. RRSN also calls regular season and postseason soccer, while MAB brings listeners into gymnasiums with live volleyball action.
During the winter season, the weekly “Prep Sports Report” on Lakeshore Public Television covers primarily basketball, along with gymnastics and wrestling. Lakeshore Public Radio broadcasts several basketball games per week over the airwaves.
The all positive news organization Ideas in Motion Media (ValpoLife.com, PortageLife.com and LaPorteCountyLife.com) captures large photo galleries from many local sporting events throughout the school year in addition to posting any photos, scores, recaps or stories submitted by parents, coaches and athletes.
When fans pour into the Warpath or any other high school football stadium tonight, they should drop by the press box to thank the newspaper correspondents, radio broadcasters and photographers for their unwavering support of high school athletics.
On Sep. 19, the Department of Educa-tion released the state wide grades for each public school as well as school district. Surprisingly to some, Portage High School received an A grading from the state, but yet students complain that Portage is a terrible place and that the school is less of a school just because there are some students that chose to make bad decisions.
It is quite depressing that Portage students do not take pride in their school. Granted, there are problems at Portage, but every school has problems. Every high school deals with drugs, alcohol and fake gang members. If you look at a news website such as nwi.com, there is always a story about another school dealing with students being arrested or being caught with drugs. Just because it happens at Portage, does not mean our school is less than what it is.
There are students and groups at Portage
that are doing phenomenal activities. The school’s marching band won gold at the Indiana State School Music Association an-nual competition, but they never receive the praise it deserves.
Take, for example, the Marine Corp Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps. This group does
countless community activities for this school but never receives the recognition it deserves. During home football games, the ROTC closes the roadways to make it safer for people coming to games. During the holiday season, ROTC collects thousands of food items from the community to hand out to needy people in our community.
Some students seem to always forget about the teams there are at Portage. Not athletic teams, but the academic teams. These groups of students spend hours studying a subject to compete in competitions. Last year, the academic superbowl team competed on Lake-shore Public Television’s “Making the Grade”
game show. The Student Council has been a mem-
ber of Honor Council for the past 26 years. Honor Council is recognition that the Stu-dent Council is very active in the school and local community through service projects and charity fundraisers.
The National Honor Society is very dedi-cated to making the school the best it can be. Through its continued focus on bettering the school and the community, Honor Society raised money for autism research, sent care packages to battered women’s shelters, sent appreciation packages to the teachers and organized the making of blankets for the Linus Project.
Finally, the teachers do not receive the praise that they deserve. Too often students criticize their teachers as being merely ad-equate, but they proved that they know what they are doing through Portage’s test scores. In the past year, there has been an increase in Math and English ECA passage, more gradu-ating students and more preparation for students going to college. The teachers do not receive enough, not nearly enough, commen-dation for the job they do. They spend hours
of their own time planning for classes. They spend their own money to ensure that each student has the materials he or she needs and deserves in a classroom. No teachers go into education for the money or cushy lounges, they go into it because they love what they do and want to see students learn.
There are countless groups at this school that do so much, and receive little to no recognition from local media. However, when one student is caught with drugs, it becomes a major headline in the newspaper. As Portage students, it is a responsibility to boost the school’s reputation and not bring it down. When people from other schools hear some-one talk about Portage, they should hear that it is one of the best schools in the state. They should not hear about a few bad actions that occur; they should hear about countless good things that happen in the school. They should hear that Portage has teachers that are of top quality. They should hear that in the face of poverty, the district has risen to the top. They should hear that Portage places a high em-phasis on academic success and is committed to making the school and community better every day.
Local media deserves praise for coverage of high school sportsBrandon VickreyEditor-in-Chief
According to the Center for Disease Control, around 60 percent of high school students have thought about it, and about nine percent have tried it at least once. Suicide: The elephant in the room, the third leading cause of death in people ages 15-24, one of the worst plagues that we face in our lives.
Suicide is a permanent solution to a temporary problem. Most people who are depressed or suicidal see the obstacles in their lives as something they will never be able to overcome, and see suicide as the only way out. They do not realize how loved they are, and how their deaths would affect so many family members, friends, teachers and peers.
No one is alone. I have battled depression for years, and I thought about suicide often. When I was in elementary school, I attempted for the first time, not
because life was terrible, but because I felt I did not fit in. As I grew older, my passion for suicide awareness and prevention grew because no one should have to feel like that and have those thoughts.
This summer was the hardest for me; I thought about it more and more
frequently. Last month, I attempted and, luckily, failed. I spent three days in Porter Starke Services, and that time changed my life.
The night is darkest just before the dawn. I realized how great of a support system I have, who my true friends are, how amazing life can be and how anyone’s death would leave behind a terribly unforgettable mark on the lives of the people around them. I know that things are not always easy, and there will be future obstacles to overcome, but nothing is so terrible that anyone should
end his or her life prematurely. I have been pretty blessed with my life, and I will not ever take that for granted again.
To those people out there who are fighting depression, and do not see this beautiful world: do not give up. I promise that no matter what the situation is, the problems will be solved with time. There are so many resources for help in this world, do take advantage of them. The last thing anyone wants to see is someone’s life taken by his or her own hands.
There are so many great services out there, including therapists, clinics and doc-tors. Porter Starke offers inpatient and out-patient services for people of all ages. Just in Portage High School, Jennifer Reilly is the home school adviser for the freshmen, while Tim Kunstek is the adviser for sophomores, juniors and seniors.
The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline phone number is 1-800-273-8255. The Porter Starke Services website is www.porterstarke.org.
Seek help for depression issuesIan DePerioPhotographer
Editor-in-ChiefBrandon Vickrey
Content Editor
Eric Mesarch
Design EditorEmily Evans
Opinion Editor
Collin Czilli
News Editor Katie Peksenak
Features Editor
Joshua Lewis
Sports EditorPeyton Hulse
Photo EditorOlivia Forrester
Sports WritersAlexis CoffmanCaleb IngersollLauren Winicky
News WritersAshley Conrad
Angela Dornbos Mallory LopezBrandon Weis
Features Writers
Tyra Allen Emily Hensley
Alexis Sosa
PhotographersIan DePerio
Taylor Mlynski Miles Motto
Taylor Searcy
Collin CzilliOpinion Editor
6 Opinion Issue 3
Portage High School deserves more credit
7Features October 12, 2012
Tyra AllenFeatures Writer
Horn adjusts to new role as PHS Library Media Specialist
Noticing new students may not be easy, but new staff members and teachers always stand out. Richard Horn has been a part of the Portage Town-ship Schools System for over 20 years, seven of which were spent in the Willowcreek Middle School Media Center. Deciding he was ready for a change and to take on more responsibil-ity, Horn took advantage of an opportu-nity that had opened, and is now in his first year as the Portage High School Library Media Specialist
helping encourage litera-ture in all its forms. “It’s not as different as you would think. Yes, the students are more mature, but my job is still work-ing with the students and
staff to match their interests with our resources,” Horn said. Coming to a new school can be hard on any-one, even teachers. Navigating around the school and getting ac-customed to it is not an
easy task. “Overall the entire staff has been really friendly and flexible. [Lorrie] Co-hen has been a life saver,
and [Brett] Gorden, the new media clerk is a great addition to the library,” Horn said. Horn’s day starts at 7 a.m. and does not end until after 3 p.m. Horn spends his day reorganizing the library, helping students find books and assisting classes on fulfilling their literature needs. Horn comes to school every day with a smile on his face. “I just really enjoy my job,” Horn said. The big characteristic that separates him from other librarians is his view on the job. “I am loud, and not very good at being quiet. I don’t view libraries in the old school sense; sterile, controlled, quiet. I view them as a dynamic place. With the constant motion of people in and out, that makes a good library,” Horn said.
Horn helps a student find a book in the library. He has been working in the Portage Township Schools System for over 20 years. Photo by Olivia Forrester
Being thrust into the sport, Wysocki did not receive formal training before her first race. According to Wysocki, she first learned how to sail with a seat belt on the car ride there. Worms may seem en-tirely disgusting to most, but to guidance counselor Shirley Bustos, worms are a source of rich soil. “It was the most unro-mantic birthday gift my husband has ever given me. I said one time that it would be fun and he took me seriously,” Bustos said. Bustos keeps a com-post bin in her basement where she raises super red wiggler worms to pro-duce compost soil for her garden. “To start a compost bin, add 50 percent leaves, paper, etc. and 50 percent vegetable scraps. As you keep adding these ingredients, it turns into a rich soil called compost which can be mixed with other soil to make fertilizer for gardens and plants,” Bustos said. Having a compost bin actually requires some amount of maintenance, despite its numerous benefits. Bustos said it takes about 15 minutes a week
to put the vegetable scraps in the bin, but the
real work is after three to four months when worms need to be sorted out, new bedding needs to be made and the compost needs to be extracted. In an age where goods can be easily bought at Walmart, blacksmithing has become a dying art. Science teacher Jay Drew, however, crafts items out of steel as a hobby. Drew first learned how to blacksmith from his father five years ago, and ever since he has being making steel tools when-ever he can. “I make knives, farm tools, hooks, kitchen tools, basically anything I need made out of steel that I am able to make,” Drew said. Blacksmithing is a po-tentially dangerous activity and requires many safety precautions. Drew said that when dealing with steel at 1,500°F, wearing gloves, safety glasses and hearing protection are essential, as well as making sure noth-ing flammable is around. Despite the medieval connotations with black-smithing, the hobby has a calming effect on Drew. “Blacksmithing is relaxing and fun. You are
able to take something you normally would not be able to change its shape and turn it into something you can use,” Drew said. Making the shift from the band room to the radio microphone is an easy task for jazz band teacher Andy Schultz. Schultz is the host of “Lakeshore Gamenight” on 89.1 FM, a scoreboard show for high school football. Schultz also broadcasts high school basketball games during the winter season and is the voice of the Northwest Indiana Oilmen of the Midwest Collegiate League during the summer. As a member of his high school golf team, sports, as well as music, have always interested Schultz “It was a pretty natu-ral progression for me to transition into my spot as a football radio show host. I was a member of the pep band and marching band in high school and I natu-rally paid attention to the games,” Schultz said. “Lakeshore Gamenight” lasts from 6 p.m. to 10:30 p.m. on Friday nights. During its broadcast, listeners receive a variety of information about high school football including live updates from every game in the Region.
Emily HensleyFeatures Writer
“I am loud, but not very good at being quiet. I don’t view libraries in the old school sense; sterile, controlled and quiet. I view them as a dynamic place. With the constant motion of people in and out, that makes a good library.”-Richard Horn, Library Media Specialist
PHS Rewind: graduates find success in post high school lives
Every year Portage High School gains new students, but graduates go on to their own futures. Whether they move on to college or straight to a career, they all have information to share.
College life keeps many people busy with their classes, jobs and figuring out how to balance life with school. The choices are endless when gradu-ates leave high school and each chooses his or her own path to fol-low. Some graduates even use their free time in order to help others, such as class of 2010 graduate Emily Carpenter.
“In the future I plan to start a nonprofit organiza-tion to help families affected by cancer and provide services like baby-sitting during cancer treatments, free family [and] individ-ual therapies and exercise
classes,” Carpenter said.Class of 2011 graduate
Mike Zmija, currently a sophomore at Ball State University, has learned a lot after leaving Portage High School.
“Since high school I’ve had friends and people I consider family pass away
and it’s helped me better real-ize that we only have so much time here and we need [to] unite and be there for one another in our worst times,” Zmija said.
Class of 2012 graduate Jacob Cherry his working way through the world of theatre art. He is cur-rently attending
Indiana University North-west as a theatre major and keeping well involved in the university’s theatre program.
“In the very near future I have ‘The Rocky Horror Show’ at the Dunes Summer Theatre in Michigan City, where I will be playing Brad Majors. Opening night is Oct. 5, and that will run for two weekends,” Cherry said.
“In the future I plan to start a nonprofit organization to help families affected by cancer and provided services like baby-sitting during cancer treatments, free family, individual therapies and exercise classes.”
-Emily Carpenter, 2010 graduate
Drew practices his black-smithing. Photo provided
Nye poses with fellow participants at a reenactment. Photo provided
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Order your 2013 Legend yearbook!
Smart-Pay.comOrder now for the Semester 1 price of $60
HOBBIESContinued from page 1
“Black-smithing is relaxing and fun. You are able to take some-thing you normally would not be able to change its shape and turn it into something you can use.”-Jay Drew, Science Teacher
“It was a pretty natu-ral progres-sion for me to transition into my spot as a football radio show host. I was a member of the pep band and marching band in high school and I natu-rally paid attention to the games.”-Andy Schultz, Jazz Band Teacher
“My job is still working with the students and working with the students and staff to match their interests with our resources.”
-Richard Horn, Library Media Specialist
“Since high school I’ve had friends and people I consider family pass away and it’s helped me better realize that we only have so much time here and need [to] unite and be there for one another in the worse of times.”-Mike Zmija, 2011 graduate
“In the very near future I have ‘The Rocky Horror Show’ at the Dunes Summer Theatre in Michigan City, where I will be playing Brad Majors. Opening night is Oct. 5, and that will run for two weekends.”-Jacob Cherry, 2012 graduate
Portage High School junior Da’Sheanna Harvey won the Hugh O’Brian Youth Leadership Program essay contest. The essay’s criteria were to write about the important aspects of leadership in 100 words or fewer. HOBY is an organization dedicated to motivating young leaders both nationally and inter-nationally. Harvey is enthusiastic about the affect HOBY can have on students who get involved. “The organization has
impacted me dramatically. I found new ways to deal with the constant change of life,” said Harvey. HOBY builds leader-ship skills for students and opens doors to the fields of government, business, media and education. English teacher Jodi Barney informed Harvey about the contest. This es-say allowed Harvey to meet other students with similar interests and aspirations. Many students from around the state and country par-ticipate in HOBY programs. “The HOBY program is a fun spirited, phenomenal association that allows you to learn more about life and
creating a better you. It gives you the opportunity to meet peers from around the state that share some com-mon goals,” said Harvey. Harvey is also involved in HOSA and plans on joining the medical field after her time at Portage High School is complete. She is also working on get-ting inducted into the Na-tional Honor Society. Har-vey encourages students at PHS to get involved in the Hugh O’Brian program and continues her own involvement in it. Students who are interested in enter-ing next year’s contest can get more information from their English teachers.
What Grinds Your Gears?
8 The Back Page Issue 3 | October 12, 2012
Meet the Indian De’Sheanna Harvey
“When teachers can’t read the clock or forget what time the bell rings, making you
late.” -Senior Lyndsey Cunningham
“I seriously cannot stand when people turn onto Lute after turning onto Airport. Take
the back roads that go directly to Lute. DUH.” ” -Senior Lauryn Sanders
“Mondays.” -Junior Mackenzie Jones
Try one of the following career areasWHILE STILL IN HIGH SCHOOL:
Porter County Career Center
Do you know what you want to do after high school?
Contact your counselor and visitwww.PCCTE.org
Auto Mechanics • Cisco Networking • CAD Animation • Construction •
Cosmetology • Culinary Science • Dental Health • Early Childhood Education • Electronics • Emergency Rescue •
Health Careers • Health Occupations • Industrial Mechanics • Landscaping •
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Senior golfer Haley Hodges was one of fifteen in the state of Indiana who won the Academic All-State award for girls golf. The Indiana High School Golf Coaches Association presented her with this award. The Academic All-State award commends high school girls who play a varsity sport and maintain superior grades in the process. Hodges qualified because of her high grade point average and test scores. “It’s difficult balancing academics and sports, but I really just try and stay on top
of my homework and study hard because without academics, you can’t get anywhere,” Hodges said. In regard to receiving the award, Hodges said she was excited and honored to be recognized for her grades. Right now she is verbally committed to the University of Southern Indiana to play softball. She will be able to sign the national letter of intent in November, and then it will be official. - Katie Peksenak
PHS News BriefsHodges awarded academic
all-state for girls golf
Hearts in Motion sponsors a Christmas in Guatemala
This October, Hearts in Motion is hosting Christmas in Guatemala in order to send a 40 foot semi-container filled with life changing medical supplies to the people of Guatemala. Hearts in Motion is asking all Portage Township Schools to participate. To donate, HIM
is asking students to bring in any stuffed animal with $1 pinned to it or attached with a rubber band in order to ship medical supplies and stuffed animals to bring health and happiness to a country in need.- Peyton Hulse
Navardauskas qualifies as a National Merit Scholar
One in a million are not exactly the odds, but this does not mean his accomplishment is not outstanding. Senior DerekNavardauskas became one of 50,000 students in the United States recognized by the National Merit Scholars for his Preliminary Scholastic Aptitude Test scores.
Navardauskas was informed of his scores by guidance counselor Shirley Bus-tos. In order to move onto the NMS com-petition, students must be one in 16,000, which was not in Navardauskas’s range.
“It’s nice to be recognized, but on the
other hand I wish I would’ve performed well enough to be able to move ahead in the NMS competition,” Navardauskas said.
He prepared for the test by studying the basic information for a while, and went into it not expecting such great results.
Navardauskas scored a 200 on his PSAT, which translates to approximately 2000 on the regular Scholastic Aptitude Test, which is what qualified him as the one in 50,000, along with an 1860 on his actual SAT.
- Brandon Weis
Alexis SosaFeatures Writer
Junior Da’Sheanna Harvey was last year’s Hugh O’Brian Youth Leadership Program essay contest winner. Harvey was required to write about leadership. Photo by Taylor Searcy
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