Veteran PLHS teacher and swim coach, Lynn Weaver, will step down as the high school swim team head coach after coaching for 46 years; 36 of which were spent here at PLHS. Weaver coached numerous Nebraska high school state champion swimmers, including 2008 Olympic Trials swimmer, Dan Berve. Starting at the age of 21, Weaver spent his first ten years coaching at Ram Swim Club and then moved to Monarch Nation to teach in 1976, and started to coach

swimming the following year. Weaver led the Monarchs to one state title in 2003, and three runner-up finishes previous to the state title. After many memorable years, Weaver decided to demote himself to assistant coach. “I stepped down to assistant coach to spend more time with grandchildren, build Sarpy County Swim Club and allow the younger generation to step in,” Weaver said. Assistant coach Nick Baker will be taking over as head coach starting this fall.

Before acting as assistant coach for PLHS, Baker began swimming for the Millard Aquatic Club in 2001. He then began to swim at Millard South under coach Rob Wennstedt, who is now Papillion-La Vista’s head diving coach. After high school, Baker helped start the University of Nebraska-Lincoln Swim Club, and acted as president of the club for its first three years. Baker assisted the Lincoln Northeast High School swim team for two years, and coached with the

Greater Nebraska Swim Team from the fall of 2010 until the summer of 2011. Starting in the fall of 2011, Baker moved on to coach here at PLHS. “I started coaching here at PLHS because I am from Omaha and the opportunity was available,” Baker said. Baker also assists Weaver through Sarpy County Swim Club. Coach Weaver has been the head coach of Sarpy County Swim Club since the team was founded as Monarch Swimming in 1994. Sarpy County Swim Club is a competitive swimming club that practices here at PLHS every weeknight. Sophomore Marissa Behounek has been swimming under

Weaver for the past eight years through PLHS and Sarpy County Swim Club. “Weaver was a strong head coach and pushed us to limits we didn’t know we could reach,” Behounek said. Behounek is excited for this upcoming season, and thinks the swim team will do very well under coach Baker. “Coach Baker is pretty easy-going,” Behounek said. “His coaching techniques are different than Weaver’s, but he will fit right in.” Swimmers are looking forward to the change to the team. “I will not do a whole lot different than coach Weaver,” Baker said. “But I will keep continuing the 1976 - Weaver starts his ca-

reer here at PLHS.

Shelby Pickering newS writer

SportS 19SportS 18

familiar face

success in and out of the pool that Weaver established.” The Monarchs expect to see improvement for this season, but only time will tell. “I believe we will have a pretty good season for both boys and girls,” Baker said. “If everyone works hard, we will have a great chance to finish higher than last year.” Coach Baker is “very excited” for the upcoming season. And for Weaver, he states his years here at PLHS have been “super.” “It is a great school, and I wouldn’t have done it different,” Weaver said. “Great kids, great community and great administration.”

1977- Weaver poses with Papio’s swim and dive team.

Swim coach Lynn Weaver steps down as head coach to assistant coach this fall.

Coach Nick Baker (left) is

to take over for coach Weaver

(right) as Papil-lion-La Vista’s swimming and diving team as

head coach.

2003 - Weaver coaches the boy’s swim team to a state title.

Photos: Shelby Pickering, PLHS yearbook

New rolefor a

Two students recently collaborated to paint a mural in the art wing. Sophomore Shane Sedlak and senior Matt Harrison were selected for the task by art teacher Ms. Valarie Mouttet. Prior to the painting, Moutett had mentioned replacing the painting out in the art wing which was called “Art is a Universal Language.” Sedlak and Harrison wanted the job. “After I mentioned it in class, Shane and Matt approached me,” Mouttet said. “Both were working on war-themed drawings and they came up with the idea together.” The two artists chose to paint a soldier alone in a field of skulls. “The subject came up,” Sedlak said. “Matt and I kind of collaborated on it.”

According to Sedlak, the painting represents “anti-war,” and acts as a tribute to veterans who served our country in previous wars. “The skulls represent the sacrifice that veterans made in all wars,” Mouttet said. “The uniform portrayed in the painting represents numerous uniforms used in many wars from the past.” Some students have been critical and have approached Mouttet about the painting. There was a controversy about the foreground (skeletons), and Mouttet pushed Sedlak and Harrison towards the idea. “War has been very sanitized,” Mouttet said. “After televised wars, people started a peace protest, and we don’t see the blood and sacrifice anymore. It is a message to students to show the

sadness and sacrafice the soldiers went through.” When given the OK from Moutett, Sedlak and Harrison were excited to get the job done. Hours and hours were put into the painting. Sedlak worked on it after school four days a week. Sedlak and Harrison started this project at the beginning of second semester of last year. The painting is not quite finished, but is predicted to finish soon. “Overall many kids that go by have very good and positive feedback,” Mouttet said. When you walk by the painting, take a second look, and give Sedlak, Harrison and Ms. Mouttet a pat on the back for all of their hard work and time to get a one-of-a-kind painting worth 1,000 words.

Focus 16

Shelby Pickering newS writer

Two students paint new mural in hallway to honor veterans who have served our country.

Features 21

1What does this symbol mean?

A. Water + 2 ice cubesB. Machine wash coldC. Machine wash warmD. Machine wash hot

Features 20

DO YOUHAVEWHAT IT

TAKESTO BEIN THE

REALWORLD

?

2

3What order do you take off lug nuts when changing a tire?

A. B.

1

2

3 4

5

12

345

C.

1 2

3

4

5

D.

12

3 45

4orTRUE

FALSEYou can substitute baking powder for baking soda.

5What is this

screwdriver’s name?

A. FlatheadB. PhillipsC. AllenD. Frearson

6 7When you set a table, does the fork go on the

LEFT RIGHTorside? 8

10

TRUE or FALSEYou can safely put foil in the

microwave, only if it is covering food.

Baking Soda can be used to...

A. CleanB. Brush your teethC. BakeD. All of the above

How often should you change

the batteries in smoke detectors?

A. Every 6 monthsB. YearlyC. Every 2 yearsD. Every 10 years

9What is the difference between

credit and debit?

Credit- Swipe; pay no money up front. Receive a bill for what you’ve charged later on.

Debit- Swipe; money is immediately taken from your bank account.

Credit- Swipe; money is immediately taken from your bank account.

Debit- Swipe; pay no money up front. Receive a bill for what you’ve charged later on.

A.

B.

What is this used for?

1:C 2:Left 3:B 4:False 5:D

A. Cooking foodB. Sewing a ScarfC. Threading a needleD. Part for a sewing machine

Shelby Pickering newS writer

Take this quiz to find out if you have what it takes to survive life after high school! Don’t forget to

check your answers!

If you get...1-2 correct you’re an INFANT!3-4 correct you’re a TODDLER!5-6 correct you’re a CHILD!7-8 correct you’re a TEENAGER!9-10 correct you’re an ADULT!

6:False 7:D 8:A 9:A10:C

Shelby  Pickering  Papillion-­‐La  Vista  High  School