The Student Newspaper of Mars High School

PLANET PRESS TH

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March 2014 Volume 86 Issue 7 Send us your suggestions

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Mars High Presents: Footloose By Kendall Angeletti

Team makes history Swim team named section, WPIAL, state champions By Erin Ford

The boy’s swimming team had the best season in Mars history. The team was named Section, WPIAL, and State Champi-ons. These were the first ever championships for the program. “Our first goal coming into the season, we thought we had a chance to win a section title and we had never won one before,” Mars coach Heidi Bran-don said. “Once we did that, we thought we might have a shot at WPIALs and may-be even of winning it.” The meet came down to the 400 freestyle relay and the boys only needed to get 8th place in the race to win the meet. The team`s relay swim-mers had their best event all year. They won 1st place easily with their best time of 3:12.57. “That was the icing on the cake. We only needed to take eighth in it to

pense, and comedy. Director of the play, Mrs. Fassin-ger, and assistant director, Ms. Cun-ningham, dedicated the last few

months to making "Footloose" a good time for the cast and a great show for the audience. This includ-ed eight weeks of practice, four to

How would your life be affected if it were against the law to sing and dance? Would you be willing to try to fight back? The Mars High cast of “Footloose” created that scene for their audience of about 1,400 people on March 21-22. The famous musical and movie created by Dean Pitch-ford, is about a boy named Ren, played by senior, Greg Campbell, who moves to the small town of Bomont and changes the laws against dancing and singing. His friends, Rusty, Willard, and Ariel, played by seniors Cathe-rine Paletta, T.J. Pieffer, and Lindsay Seipp, all help him along the way. The musical provided the audience with a sense of romance, thrill, sus-

five nights a week for two to four hours. The musical required much dedication and flexibility from Fas-singer, Cunningham, their cast,

choral director, Mrs. Andrascik, choreographer, Chris Saunders, and producers, Marlin and Carol Clay because many practices were

cancelled or modified due to inclem-ent weather. “I knew this musical was going to be difficult for the cast compared to

last year,” said Fassin-ger. “I had high expec-tations for them, be-cause I knew this was going to be a chal-lenging show, espe-cially with all of our set-backs.” Fassinger was happy with the way the cast of “Footloose” performed. This got her excited for what next year’s musical is going to en-tail. “I`m look-

ing for new, fresh talent next year,” said Fassinger.

win the overall championship, but they were not going to let it go down that way,” Brandon said. “They

wanted to go out with style. We stressed just safe starts. Their time would have been about two seconds faster had they not been extra cau-tious,” Brandon added.

The team also claimed first place at the WPIAL Championship meet at University of Pittsburgh's Trees

pool on March 7. This was the team’s first ever WPIAL win, and they seemed to do it with ease. The team finished with 233 points and the 2nd place team, Quaker

Valley, was over 50 points behind with a total of 170.5 points “It was really impressive,” said

Brandon. “We thought we had a good chance of being runner-up, but to win is just icing on the cake.” The team took 2nd at the WPIAL meet last year. However, they knew that this year would be differ-ent because they won their first section championship with a 6-0 record. Seniors, Tom Pierre and Chris Georgiadis , and Juniors, Francis Folz, and Reed McDonough’s relay team helped the rest of the swim team to capture two relay gold’s for Mars in both the 200 medley and 400 freestyle. “I am very thrilled,” Brandon said. “I am so proud of those boys. It's hard to put it into words.”

The cast of “Footloose” danced their way on stage on March 21-22 and is shown performing a big dance number. Photo courtesy of Josh Schwoebel

The swim team proudly pose with their history making state trophy. Photo courtesy of Edline

PAGE 2 What`s in your bag?

St. Patrick's Day Birthdays Spring fashion

PAGE 3 Girls Lacrosse Girls Frisbee

March Madness World News

WHAT’s InsIde

What’s in your bag? By Kendall Angeletti

Entertainment Planet Press Volume 86 Issue 5 2

Lucky birthdays Juniors have birthdays on St. Patrick`s Day By Erin Ford, Kendall Angeletti, Patience Yobp

Every year in March, St. Patrick`s Day occurs. In everyone`s mind, this usually equates to green or thinking Irish. However, in these girls` minds, it is something much more. Caitlin Farrell KA: Do you do anything extra spe-cial on your birthday? CF: If St. Patrick’s Day falls on a weekend, I sometimes go to Buffalo for the St. Patty’s Day pa-rade with my cousins. KA: Do you go to the pa-rade in Pittsburgh? CF: Yes! I went to the parade in Pittsburgh for the first time this year. KA: Are you really into St. Patrick’s Day? CF: Yes, I love St. Patty ’s Day because I’m Irish; I love the traditions, and the color green. KA: What percent Irish are you? CF: 75%. KA: When you were a kid, did you believe in lep-rechauns? CF: Yes. KA: If so, did your par-ents do something special for your birthday that was St. Patrick’s Day related? CF: Well in daycare they would put gold chocolates in my shoes and say that leprechauns left them for me. KA: Do you like that your birthday is on a holiday? CF: Yes! It ’s fun that the world celebrates with me. Morgan Herold PY: Do you do anything extra spe-cial on your birthday? MH: No, I don’t really do anything different because my birthday is on St. Patrick’s Day. PY: Do you go to the parade in Pittsburgh?

All girls carry their essentials around in their bags, especially in high school. Different people think that different things are necessary for their everyday life. Some girls think that they need calculators, extra batteries, and back-up pencils when they come to school. Other girls think they need mascara, powder, lotion, and a nail file to get through the day. It’s interesting to see what people carry around during the school day, so the Planet Press asked girls at Mars High, “What’s in your bag?”

Teacher, Mrs. Hock, carries a wallet, Kindle, hand san-itizer, keys, Vera Bradley pen, Flip video cam, sun-glasses, White House Black Market coupon, and three pennies in her purse.

Junior, Hope Berneburg, carries folders, notebooks, a wallet, computer mouse, pencil, glasses, gum, hair tie, hairbrush, lotion, and Eos chapstick in her backpack.

Photo by Kendall Angeletti

Spring Fashion Say goodbye to yoga pants and hello to fancy pants By Callie Carlson

Spring is filled with unpredictability when it comes to the weather, mak-ing finding an outfit in the morning a struggle. The best way to fight the chilly days and hints of summer heat: pants. No, I don’t mean jeans, or sweat-pants, or yoga pants (sorry girls). I am talking about jogger pants, wide-leg flare pants, or harem pants. Keep in mind, the names of these pants are very deceiving. No, jogger pants are not identical to the ones you see men in on their morning run. No, wide-leg flare pants will not transport you back to the 70’s. It is also important to keep in mind that with harem pants, the less baggy – the better. Despite their unusual names, these pants are truly wonderful. Once you try on a pair, you will understand why they should become a staple in your wardrobe this spring. First, these pants are made out of really light material, which makes them extremely comfortable. Also, on a hot day, they are able to keep you cool. On a cold day, they are keeping your legs covered. Not only are they comfortable, but the pattern possibilities are endless. In the morning, you can simply throw on a white v-neck, a pair of harem pants, sandals, and be on your way. The bold prints will bring a springy, fun vibe to your effortlessly cool look. On top of playing a role in a casual school outfit, these pants can also be dressed up. For example, pair some jogger pants with wedges, a nicer tank top, a light blazer, necklace, and voila. Now you are ready for a party or dinner with friends. Whatever your current thoughts on harem pants, jogger pants, and wide-leg flare pants, at least make a point to try on a pair. With their comfort, cuteness, and versatility, these pants are sure to stand out this spring. Goodbye yoga pants!

MH: No, I used to go to the pa-rade when I was little but not any-more. PY: Are you really into St. Pat-rick`s Day? MH: No, not particularly. PY: What percent Irish are you? MH: 0%! I know, how ironic!

PY: When you were a kid, did you believe in leprechauns? MH: I didn’t really believe in lepre-chauns, but I did love when my ele-mentary school classes would have a “leprechaun” who visited and gave us candy, etc. PY: If so, did your parents do something special for your birthday

that was St. Patrick`s Day related? MH: My mom has always given me cards and stickers or something else St. Patrick’s Day related on my birthday in my lunch. This year, she gave me a glitter shamrock head-band. PY: Do you like that your birthday is on a holiday? MH: I love having my birthday on

a holiday! St. Patrick’s Day is the perfect holiday to have a birthday on be-cause it isn’t a huge holi-day like Christmas or a really small holiday like Labor Day. Tina Nichols EF: Do you do anything extra special on your birth-day? TN: No, we normally just go out to dinner with my friends and family. EF: Do you go to the pa-rade in Pittsburgh? TN: We go sometimes but it is not an annual thing. EF: Are you really into St. Patrick`s Day? TN: I really like it but I am not Irish. EF: What percent Irish are you? TN: 0% EF: When you were a kid did you believe in lepre-chauns? TN: I think every kid be-lieves in those kinds of things, that’s what being a kid is all about EF: If so, did your par-

ents do something special for your birthday that was St. Patrick`s Day related? TN: My parents never did any-thing but my teachers always did at school and that was really fun. EF: Do you like that your birthday is on a holiday? TN: I wouldn't know my birthday any other way so I guess it is nice because no one will ever forget it.

Jogger Pants from Urban Outfitters

Harem pants from Urban Outfitters

From left to right: Caitlin Farrell, Tina Nichols (Morgan Herold not shown) Picture by: Patience Yobp

Pictures courtesy of google.com

Reporters– Kendall Angeletti, Erin Ford, Patience Yobp, Callie Carlson

The Planet Press is a student-to-student newspaper published on a monthly

basis.

All editorials are strictly the opinions of their authors and in no way reflect the position of this newspaper.

Adviser: Mrs. Hock

THE PLANET PRESS

Girls Lacrosse By: Erin Ford

Planet Press Volume 86 Issue 5 Sports 3

For the first time in Mars history, the high school has created a varsity and junior varsity lacrosse team. “We are really excited to finally have the opportunity to play at such a high lev-el. We had been wait-ing for a long time, and we are really excit-ed to finally get the chance to play,” said junior Me-gan McLaugh-lin. The inter-est in girl’s lacrosse has been in Mars ever since the girls started an in-house team for middle school girls back in 2012. Many of the girls have played on other teams since then to build expe-rience. “We think that we are going to

have a talented team for our first year. We have a lot of young girls who are going to be good for a long time,” said junior Brandie Bacco. Out of the 32 players on the roster,

17 players of them are sopho-mores and 10 of them are fresh-men. The first lacrosse game was on March 25 at the Mars Ath-letic Com-plex against Shaler

High School at

7:15 pm. “We hope to see a big crowd at the very first girl’s lacrosse game at Mars, I know that we are all really excited and we hope the whole town is as well,” said junior Megan McLaughlin.

Ultimate frisbee team blasts off with first win By Patience Yobp

The Girl`s Ultimate Frisbee team will compete in eight games in its season which started March 30 with the win. “I`ve always liked the game, it`s fun. It`s differ-ent than all the other sports be-cause it com-bines them,” said junior Andee Reyn-olds, team cap-tain. There are 18 girls on the team, seven of which are the most a team can have on a field at one time. The other girls will be used as substi-tutes throughout the game. All but three girls are new to the team but Reynolds thinks that they have a

good chance. “I think we will do decent, most of the team is new. We`ve got a lot of learning to do but we are coming along pretty well,” said Reynolds.

A typ-ical game starts at around 4:30 p.m. and lasts any-where from 45 minutes to two hours. The field is the length of a football

field except the end zones are 25 yards instead of 10 yards. The field is also not as wide. The team practices as much as they can, since the weather is cold, they only have around two a week.

World at a Glance By Patience Yobp

Crimean Crisis Ukraine is a country that earned its independence from the collapsing Soviet Union. Crimea is an autonomous republic, which is similar to a province or state, controlled by Ukraine. This struggle between powers has been dubbed the Crimean Crisis. It began in the aftermath of the Ukraine Revolution in February when the nation government was replaced with leaders of the inter-im government. Russia has not recognized the new government to date. Pro-tests began in Kiev, Ukraine in opposition to their new government. Some of the people are pro-Crimea and pro-Russia, others prefer the new govern-ment. Protests began on Feb. 23 in Crimea, calling on Russia to help them. Ukraine has mobilized troops while Russia has promised to stay put. Russia has technically had troops in Crimea for over a decade. On March 1, Vladi-mir Putin, the Russian president, gained permission to use military forces in Ukraine if necessary. Talk about Crimea becoming part of Russia again was brought up to be voted about by the Supreme Council of Crimea on March 16. Ukraine froze assets going into Crimea containing their regional budget of what would be worth 110 million dollars. The Crimean parliament ap-proved a declaration on the independence of Crimea with 78 out of 100 peo-ple voting for independence. Russia Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev visited Crimea on March 31. Malaysian Plane Disappearance A Malaysian plane disappeared March 8, above the Gulf of Thailand on the way to Beijing, China. The Malaysia Airlines Flight 370 disappeared about 100 miles from the Malaysian shore on an overnight flight. There is an ongo-ing search for the plane with countries such as Singapore, Vietnam, Malay-sia, China and the United States participating. Communications were lost with ground control and the transponder at about 1:30 a.m., and since then the question has been where has the plane disappeared. Two passengers on the plane had stolen passports which were stolen over a year ago. These people have been identified as Iranians. There is much question as to the motive of the plane disappearance as well. Some people believe that it is terrorism, others that the plane crashed and vaporized, and another involving human trafficking. At first the search was directed toward the area in be-tween the Malaysian city of Kota Bharu and the Vietnam city of Ho Chi Minh City, but has been expanded to the area on the west side of Malaysia. This area includes parts of the ocean above Indonesia and the Strait of Malacca. With the expanded search, some believe that the plane turned around and it was off it`s flight path. On March 24, new satellite data was found that en-sured that the plane went down in the southern Indian Ocean. Some wreck-age have been recovered, but with currents they have not been able to lo-cate the plane. New York City Explosion A residential building exploded in New York City on March 12, killing two and injuring 17. The explosion is thought to be caused by a gas leak. People in and around the building thought the explosion felt like an earthquake. Some people immediately thought of the 9/11 terrorist attacks. Washington Landslide On March 22, a landslide hit the small town of Oso, Washington. The land-slide is responsible for the deaths of 21. Thirty people are still missing, but are expected to slowly turn up. The landslide took out houses, a road, and even blocked a river.

The craze that is March Madness By John Conley

Girls lacrosse team looks to have a

successful inaugural season

By Erin Ford

Juniors on the girls lacrosse team. Photo from Edline

The Mars Girls` Frisbee team after their win on March 30. Photo by: Richard Yobp

It’s in the name. Madness is the exact word to describe the NCAA Basketball Tournament. From where it all began to now, there has al-ways been an element of sur-prise every single year. The field of 64 teams are di-vided into four regions, and have seed-ing's from one to 16. For example, the 16 seed, which is usually the team to barely make the tournament, would play the number one seed, which is usually the best team out of the region. The second seed would play the 15 seed and so on. There are such things known as “upsets” which take place when a lower seed beats a higher seed. Did you know though, a 16 seed has never beaten a one seed? When the better team loses, the lower seed is usually referred to as a “Cinderella Story” where the team can either go really far or come really close to win-ning. It all started way back in the

1930’s in Illinois. The first NCAA tournament in 1939 was won by Or-egon with only eight teams compet-ing. It soon gained 16 teams, and

now there are 68 teams total in the Tour-nament. With four of those 68 teams compet-ing for a play-in game to be a field of the 64.

Teams have to win six games to be claimed

National Champion. Now every year almost 20 million people construct a bracket to deter-mine their winner. Many people use statistics and others base it off pure knowledge. But there has never been a recorded “Perfect Bracket” where the person correctly guesses every win in the Tournament. The closest recorded “Perfect Bracket” was made on ESPN.com in 2005 where a person got 55 out of 63 games correct. The odds of ever getting a documented perfect brack-et are 1 in 9 quintillion. Many say there will never be one, but you nev-er know.

Logo that represents the National Collegiate Athletic Association. Picture by Google