vol. 5 issue 1

September 2017Faculty: M. Ryan & J. ReckardLayout: T. Smith and C. Sartoris

Party in the U.S.A.by Kayley Scheets

One of the best dances of the school year is the Back-to-School Dance, and this year was no different! The school year started off with the seniors hosting a cookout for the freshmen. “The cookout and dance were pretty extravagant. You could tell the freshmen felt a part of the school culture,” said senior Samond Davis. Freshman Abby Cox said, “It was a great way to get to know the se-niors and be able to make new friends!” The students’ favorite game they played was the scavenger hunt. During this scavenger hunt, each senior was paired with a freshman. The two students were handed a list of items to find and photograph. The items to be found were scattered around the school and McGraw Park. “It was a great opportunity to play this game and be able to spend quality time with one of the freshman,” said senior Kodie Roper. The games brought the grades together and made the fresh-men feel more comfortable with the seniors. Following the cookout was the Back-to-School Dance. “It was fun and did a good job of bringing the grades together,” thought junior Joey Harris The theme was U.S.A. and the students showed up representing their country! Sophomore Bella Kiper said, “It was great to see the whole school coming together to celebrate the beginning of the year. The music and lights made the dance enjoyable!”

Rock the Houseby Lexi Jordan If Jesus can log off for three days, you can log off for one night! Rock the House was full of games, Adoration, Confession, and Mass--a night that really brought the house down! Central Catholic gathered together to introduce Vita Christi to our freshmen and to bring our students closer to God to kick off the school year on September 16. Games in the gym, Adoration in the auditorium, Confessions heard by seven priests, and the Candle-lit Mass in the commons made this particular Rock the House unforgettable. Mr. Head, supervisor of Vita Christi, said about the event, “It was a great infusion of faith, of fun, and an opportunity for students and faculty to come to-gether to feel the buzz of the sacraments.” Not only were the students immersing themselves into Christ’s presence, but they also bonded with each other in the an intense relay race and a couple of rounds of Three Pin, teachers and priests versus students. For Lilyana Alvarez’s first time being at Rock the House, she said that the Candle-lit Mass really stood out to her the most. “The Candle-lit Mass was lit! I will [also] remember losing my shoe during the Crab Walk during the relay race.” Rock the House 2017 was a night to remember, even if you didn’t lose your shoe!

Baby Got Backhandby Charlie Sartoris The lady Saints continue to keep it cool by acing the competition with very few competitors going over their heads. Who-ever comes their way will get served! The Saints girls tennis team is off to a strong 8-0 start in the season. “We are undefeated in dual matches so far, and I hope to see that trend continue,” said Head Coach Hannah Meece in the beginning of the season. The team started the season by winning the Sterling Newman Invitational Tour-nament on Saturday, August 26. Clare Wieland and Renata Lee are off to a great start in the season for singles. Wieland is at number one singles with her record being 4-3. Lee playing number two singles is giving the girls tennis team a big lead. She is currently 6-2 and is going to continue to be a big help for the team. The doubles teams are also playing a tremendous role. The number one doubles team is Maggie Stopa and Charlie Sartoris. They are currently 7-1 and are hoping to do as well as they did last season, which involved finishing 8th-16th in State. The number two doubles team, Carley Hund-man and Caroline O’Connor, has been “killing it” on the court. Senior Caroline O’Connor says, “As a team we have our ups and downs, but I feel like we’re definitely on the uphill climb! We have team chem-istry like no other and it shows in practice, on the court, and even at school!”

Senior Night Lights by Kodie Roper All twelve senior football players and four cheerleaders celebrated their Senior Night on September 1. Starting the season 4-1 has been a great start to their last sea-son as Saints. The Saints defeated Prairie Central 20-6. Some highlights of the game included Max Moews completing 8/19 attempts for 155 yards, Sa’mond Davis with 139 rushing yards, and James Morris catching a 25-yard touchdown pass. Davis scored twice and Morris once to put the Saints on top. Senior Captains Joey Malinowski, Max Moews, and James Morris have been setting a great example for their team-mates. “Football is just a wonderful sport, filled with a fantastic group of fellas,” says Morris. “The water boys are great too...

Kickin’ off the Seasonby Erika Moore The boys soccer team is already off to a better start than last year with a current winning record of 11-7, with a 2-2 record in the new conference. Strong senior leaders and improved players are making this season possible. “We’re faster and bigger and everyone is taking it more seriously,” says forward Bo Bevilacqua. Intercity marked the first tournament of the year, which kicked off during the week of August 28 to September 2. The Central Saints went 1-3. Senior player Lucas Smith commented, “We played really well and really kept up with the competition. It’s important to play big schools to prepare us for future games.” On Saturday, September 9, the Saints traveled to Hoopeston for a tournament. After defeating Iroquois West in the cham-pionship, JC Micklich mentioned, “The best part of the weekend was outscoring our opponents 18-3.” Head Coach Reza Ghaemi was im-pressed with the work the boys put in during the off season. He mentions, “I am very proud of everyone on the team, their passion for the game, their commitment to succeed, and the teamwork off the field.” Senior Captain Bo Bevilacqua also added, “I can already tell the success we

Saints Go the Distance by Leah Eppley Whether rain or shine, hot or cold, the cross country team is always putting forth its best effort. The cross country team started off its season with a bang at the Rochester Invi-tational on September 2. Will Dionesotes, a senior captain on the team, won second place in the meet as an individual, and the boys team placed eighth overall. Will said, “Our goal as a team is to make it to State. After a great first meet, that goal could be attainable. If everyone stays healthy, we could make some noise come the end of the season.” In the First to the Finish Invitational on September 9, Will Dionesotes placed tenth. At the Bureau Valley Invitational on September 16, Dionesotes placed seventh, and the boys team placed eighth overall. Dionesotes also placed 11th at Intercity on September 19. Head Coach Bill Rhodes said, “The sea-son has gotten off to a great start. I’m excit-ed about the next month and to see where the kids end up. Our first meet showed the great potential that the boys and girls have this year.” This year’s team has 15 returning run-ners as well as five new promising fresh-men. Noelle Ghrer, Abby Lewis, Will Dio-nesotes, and Alex Zlatic are this year’s team captains. The seniors on the team are Ethan Arndt, Will Dionesotes, Allyson Caisley, Alyssa Ely, Noelle Ghrer, Hannah Korn-feld and Elizabeth Morris. New freshmen include Kelly Becker, Addison Cervantes, Will Foley, Brandon Hauck, and Josh Vogel.

Out Fore Victoryby Caroline Wieland

Boys and girls golf has teed off and are ready to drive their way through the rest of the season. The boys golf team season is well underway with success at the Monmouth Tournament on August 25 and 26. Junior Parker Wisdom stated, “We are playing well right now. We shot our best team score [in the Monmouth Tournament] at 303.” The team placed 2nd overall among 17 teams with well-earned individual plac-

they make some high quality H₂O, just like Bobby Boucher. The brotherhood is like no other.” Malinowski added, “Football is one of the true team sports remaining. You have to trust in the people next to you, and that they will do their jobs. You will never be able to win the sport by yourself. You have to have the 11 athletes on the field next to you in order to be successful.” Coach Mike Moews also had an oppor-tunity to speak on this group of seniors. “We have a great core of returning seniors that are all leaders. As far as a playoff run with this group, we have a really good op-portunity. We could definitely make some noise if everything goes as planned.” Over the past four years, these athletes have come together like family, forming friendships that will last a lifetime. Max Moews said the part he will miss most about high school football is running out on the field on Friday nights with his brothers. “It’s an unexplainable feeling that I wish everyone could experience.”

will accomplish as a team because of the dedication we have to get better.”

Acing the Competitionby Isabelle Goodlick

The girls are back and ready for an awesome season. With a 11-11, record the Central Catholic volleyball team is “killing” it! The team started out with a win against Williamsville High School and followed with another win against Decatur MacAr-thur. The White Sea was in full support of the first volleyball game of the year. “The in-tensity of the crowd really helped with the first game jitters,” said the team’s newest edition, junior Mallory Bergbower. “A lot of us were nervous before we started, but it really meant a lot to us that our fellow classmates came to support us for the kick-off of our season.” The girls worked hard in pre-season since the beginning of August. Senior Mckahl English had some great things to say about her teammates. “We have a lot of people who don’t want to give up and won’t stop trying until they succeed, and I think that is what will really push us to do better as a group.”

es by Owen Talbott (3rd), Parker Wisdom (6th), and Tommy Nelson (13th). “The golf team is looking very solid this year,” said Senior Captain Owen Talbott. “I know we have a tough schedule, but I am excited for the tournaments ahead of us.We have great potential, and should make a run for State this postseason.” Coach Mike Wieting says that Intercity and the first ever Illinois Prairie Confer-ence meet are some big weeks for the team in the season. The boys golf team isn’t the only one striving to go to State this year. Senior Captain Olivia Campbell is very optimistic about the girls golf season as she says, “We have a pretty good shot at State because ev-eryone is playing well. We have some really good freshmen on the team who contrib-ute and everyone else is scoring better than they did last year.” Girls golf has found great success as a team so far by placing well into the top five in all of their tournaments, including the Redbird Classic and Pontiac tournaments where they placed first! Coach Dean Glesing said, “I think we have a very strong team. I expect us to do well this season, and our goal is to get to State and perform well.”

The volleyball girls have been facing some hardships throughout the begin-ning of this season, including multiple injuries that have brought the team closer. “The start of the season has been chal-lenging, but I’ve got no doubt things will turn around for us,” said Head Coach JR Banister. Coach Banister has been coach-ing volleyball for 26 years and has been the head coach at Central Catholic for six years. “My favorite part is seeing the excitement on players’ faces after a great play,” continued Banister. The girls usually play in the Intercity Tournament on September 23 and the Mt. Pulaski Tournament on September 16. The team is looking forward to the rest of the season and ending strong. “It will be great with some perseverance and strength!” says junior Morgan Koch.

We’ve Got Spiritby Ella Egbers Hip hip hooray! Your favorite girls from bow to toe are back on the field cheering the Central Catholic Saints to victory! This season the cheerleaders are looking forward to a long extended season of Saints football. “We are excited about the energy of the band, led by Mrs.Jorstad, and of our fans in the student section on Friday nights,” says Head Cheerleading Coach Jeanne Osterbuhr. This year’s Central Catholic returning senior cheerleaders include Adali Salinas (1 year), Yari Magallanes (4 years), Caro-line Burwell (4 years), and Alicia Chapman (4 years). The cheerleaders challenge all the Saints fans to “bring it” every game and join in the school song as we all cheer for Saints victory. “This year we have a very positive and spirit-filled team,” says sophomore member Kylie Cox. “That is what will make us good at working together and even better as a team.”

Ever wanted to get involved but did not know how? Whether you are a freshman, sophomore, junior, or even a senior, it is never too late to join one of the numerous clubs provided at Central Catholic.Ambassadors--Mr. Vogel Students go to our partner schools to help with recruitment and help with school tours when they come to visit.Art Club--Mr. Reckard Students have workshops and make art displays.Board Game Club--Mr. RyanStudents play board games and engage in some friendly competition.Bridge-Building Club--Mr. LawrenceChess Club--Mr. Taber Students have time to play chess within a friendly and helpful environment.Craft Club--Mrs. EppleyStudents share ideas on crafts they can all participate in and enjoy.Culinary Club--Mrs. McEldowneyStudents come together to learn how to bake and cook.Drama Club--Miss GruenwaldStudents work together to create a student production that is open to the public in the fall.Fall Talent Show--Music Team Students and adults put on a show to express their talents to the public. Holy Rollers--Miss Gruenwald Students have the chance to participate in co-ed bowling for for all grades at the Veterans of Foreign Wars building.Jazz Band--Mrs. JorstadStudents play, practice, and perform in concerts and at athletic events. Interact Club--Miss Booth/Mrs. McEldowneyThese students will help with the Student Service Organization, Rotary, and the biannual blood drive. International Club--Miss BoothDuring this club the students will be able to experience many guest speakers while enjoying lots of food and fun.Math Team--Mr. Wendling These students will participate in State and Regional math competitions.Mu Alpha Theta--Mrs. Beckwith This is for students who excel in math and really want to take it to the next level.National Honor Society--Mrs. Turner This club is for students who excel academically in the junior and senior class.Orchestra Club--Mrs. JorstadThese students will learn how to play orchestral instruments and be able to perform publicly.Pep Band--Mrs. JorstadThis will give students the opportunity to play at concerts, athletic events, and go on trips. Recycle Club--Miss WioraThese students promote recycling throughout the school.Rock Climbing Club--Mr. Rayburn/Miss BeverlyStudents who enjoy the outdoors can join this club to participate in rock climbing and hiking.Scholastic Bowl Club--Mr. Lawrence/Mr. Wendling/Miss SpragueStudents are able to participate in an IHSA competition in academic knowledge.Science Club--Mr. Taber/Mr. LawrenceThese students study science and participate in fun activities as a group.Spanish Club--Miss BoothThis is a club where students are able to come together and share their interests in Spanish culture and language.Speech Team--Miss BlueStudents compete in speech competitions.Spring Musical--Mrs. Myers, Music TeamThis group of students will come together to put on a musical performance open to the public.Student Council--Mrs. OsterbuhrThese students come together and include all grades; they facilitate many events at Central such as Ghost Grams, outdoor movies, Jeans for Teens, and much more.Tolkien Club--Mr. RyanThese students read through different stories by J.R.R. Tolkien set in Middle Earth.Vita Christi--Mr. HeadThese students strive to live strong examples of showing their love, faith, and honor to God. They assist with Masses and all spiritual opportunities at the school.WYSE Team--Mr. Lawrence/Mr. WendlingIndividuals compete in single-subject acedemic competitions.

Get Involved: Clubs at CCHS

Contenders in a New Conferenceby Lucas Smith

Helping Those in Crisisby Lucas Smith We’ve all had a crisis in our lives. In those times, we have had the ability to call for help; however, if a child is born into a tough situ-ation, and the parents do not have any money, then there is no one to help them. The Crisis Nursery--this year’s Senior Charity--fixes that situation. It helps provide simple needs for families that cannot provide for their children. There are countless parents in America today who cannot provide for their newborn children. Whether the reason is an unwanted pregnancy, a single-parent home, or unemployment, the Crisis Nursery does what it can to help out these families. Staff workers collect any needs a family might have: baby powder, formula, bottles, cribs, diapers, and many other items. Mendy Smith, Family Support Service Program Director at the Children’s Home and Aid, says, “The Crisis Nursery is a safe place for young children to stay during times of family crisis.The Crisis Nursery provides quality service to young children and helps families in crisis to connect to much needed resources in our community.” Jeannie Higdon spoke at the school assembly on September 14 and said, “There have been countless families that have had their life changed by the Crisis Nursery.” An extra bonus that comes with this charity for students is that there are many opportunities to fulfill “Living the Faith” hours by helping out with the Crisis Nursery. One that students already have done in the past is “Stuff the Bus.” This event is where kids literally stand outside stores (such as Walmart) and ask people to buy supplies. Then they STUFF A BUS full of supplies for kids in need. This is just one of the many opportunities to volunteer for this charity.

Central Catholic is joining a new conference this year. After years of success in the Corn Belt Conference, the Saints look forward to continuing their dominance in the Illini Prairie Conference. Although Saints will be playing some of the same competition, there also will be some unfamiliar teams. St. Joseph Ogden, Monticel-lo, St. Thomas Moore, Rantoul, and Tolono Unity will be the teams the Saints match up against this year in every sport. Last year Central played Tolono Unity in a non-conference football game. It was the first matchup between the two teams, which resulted in a loss for the Saints. We also had a previous encounter with St. Joseph Ogden two years ago, and they beat our football team to knock us out of the playoffs in the third round. “I am excited about the season,” said Coach Mike Moews. “From a scheduling standpoint we don’t have to search for games; howev-er, it will be disappointing not playing U-High this year.” The rivalry against U-High will always be remembered by both schools. From a basketball perspective, Coach Welch says, “I’m really pumped about the season. There are a lot of great teams, which presents a lot of opportunity for great games.“ When asked about future rivalries, Coach Welch believes “there will be a lot of natural rivalries due to every school’s previous success; kids like to gravitate to intense atmospheres.”

Meet the Newbies Coach Hudby Lucas Smith With a long-time rivalry ending last year, it makes sense to bury the hatchet. That’s what U-High graduate Hud Venerable did when he took the athletic director position at Central Catholic. Where did you grow up? Where did you go to high school?Born in Evanston, IL; grew up in Carbondale and Normal. Went to U-High.Can you talk briefly about the rivalry difference then and now? We had a great senior class my year. Our football game in ‘72 was a game that we (U-High) played our best game of heat and they (Central) dominated us. The basketball teams those years at Central were dominant and the talk of the town. We had their number in football but they were phenomenal in basketball. It was a rivalry, but we were all friends away from the sports. We had great respect for one another.Who is our biggest rival now that we do not play U-High very much?St. Joe Ogden will be a school we compete with in most of our programs. We’ve already had intense games in the playoffs, and now those games will be marked on the calendar. Who is a role model in your life and why?Kurt Warner because he is a good person and for what he stands for personally. Professionally, he was a bench player all but one year in high school and college, and said that he wasn’t good enough for NFL. He bagged groceries, played arena football, but he never gave up. He took two bad franchises--St. Louis Rams and Arizona Cardinals--to Super Bowls. He’s an ultimate role model for how to live life personally and professionally. What is your biggest goal you want to achieve while at CCHS?To help every program improve, and when that happens, I know our kids will have great experiences. We can always get better and never be satisfied where we’re at. Favorite part of CCHS so far?The kids. Their friendliness, they’re open, they speak, they’re cordial, friendly… just really enjoy being around our student body. What sports did you play in high school? Football, basketball, and track. Past coaching jobs?Jacksonville High School, 1981-1986. Monticello High School, 1988-1992. Rich South High School, Head of football, 1993. Normal Community, Head of football, 1994-2007.

Meet the NewbiesMiss Blueby Christy DeneenMiss Blue is the new teacher in the English department. She teaches English 10, English 12, and freshmen Write and Cite. Where did you grow up?Gridley, ILWhat schools did you go to?I went to the Gridley schools, but graduated from El-Paso Gridley in the first class of the consolidated unit.What activities did you do in high school?Scholastic Bowl, Student Council, the plays, band, and Show ChoirWhat did you do before working at Central Catholic?I went to graduate school in Virginia and worked for the American Shakespeare Center for three years. Then I was an office manager here in Bloomington at True Health Chiroprac-tic and Massage.What do you like best about Central Catholic so far?All the seniors because they have made me feel really welcome.What are you most excited for this year?Teaching MacBeth Most people don’t know your mother, Mrs. Blue, has worked at Corpus Christi for many years. What was that like for you as a child?My mom is so admirable, and I pray to be worthy of being her daughter. I loved being her daughter because I got to go on the Gridley field trip she takes her students on and I would watch her class’s play.Do you play any instruments like your moth-er, who is famous for her guitar Lucy?I don’t play currently, but did do band and played the trombone in high school. Most peo-ple don’t know that my classes sing for prayer.What do you do for fun?Swing dancing and other dancing, watch-ing Netflix, and playing board games at Red Racoon Games.Favorite tv show?Dancing with the StarsWhat is your favorite sports team?The Fighting Illini because my family went there.Biggest fear?I am terrified of spiders.

Meet the NewbiesFather Picaby Kailey ScottFather Pica is one of the three new chaplains at CCHS. He is assosiate pastor at St. Patricks of Merna and St. Marys of Bloomington.Where did you grow up?I always say Champaign, but I was born in Peoria and lived ten years in Galesburg. Then I finally moved to Champaign.What high school did you attend?I went to Champaign Centennial and graduated in ‘07.Best high school memory?My favorite memory was off-campus lunch. My buddy and I went to his house or my house for lunch. His mom or my mom cooked food for us, or we would go out to a restaurant. It was just good quality time with friends and I was always around food.How is it being a priest at St. Pat’s and St. Mary’s?It is very good! I enjoy my time at St. Mary’s and St. Pat’s. It’s a different dynamic and a great contrast because I deal with a large parish and a county parish.How did you get this opportunity to be a chaplain at Central Catholic?Bishop Jenky called me over the phone in April last year. He asked if I could join a three-priest team at a high school.Role model and why?My dad; he was a hardworking man. He would do whatever he needed to do in order to help the family. He came home after work and if a chore like dinner wasn’t cooked or folding laundry wasn’t done, he would do it without complaining.Interesting fact you want students from CCHS to know about you?My birthday is April 2--the same day that JPII died!Favorite TV show?Impractical Jokers!Favorite sport and sports team?Baseball and the Cubs, for sure.Favorite hobby to do for fun?Biking; I like going in my free time.Favorite Superhero?Captan America