the wildcat roar

1Westminster Christian AcademyMay 2012

W e s t m i n s t e r C h r i s t i a n A c a d e m y V o l u m e X I s s u e I S e p t e m b e r 2 0 1 2

800 Maryville Centre Drive, Town and Country, MO 63017 www.thewildcatroar.com

Snowballs fell from the sky, Andy Thomas, junior slid by on his back and a dozen others struggled with the dual threats of sunburn and frostbite.

The junior Summer Seminar

group shared this and many other interesting experiences while getting to know each other on a much deeper level on their trip this summer. Eighteen juniors and five teachers journeyed to the West for their voyage, starting out in Colorado and making their way through Wyoming, Montana, Idaho and Washington.

“I liked the trip because it was a chance to get to know the students and teachers on a deeper level. There were a lot of experiences

that we couldn’t have had at home that really bonded us! Also, having the mountains of Montana as a classroom was a fun way to learn,” said Olivia Harre, junior.

Although they covered lots of ground, which meant spending extended periods of time in mini vans, the bonding time during the long car rides added to the excitement of the trip.

“We liked to make ‘Call Me Maybe’ videos during the five hour car rides between campsites,” said Claire Kopsky, junior.

One of the places that the group visited was where the Battle of Little Bighorn took place.

“The biggest thing I took away from the trip was learning about all the ways leadership could go wrong. We all witnessed this by learning about Custer and the Battle of Little Bighorn,” said Jonny Kinney, junior.

The point of the trip from a teacher’s perspective was to teach

the students about the importance of leadership and their new roles in the school as rising juniors. These students went through an application process like most of the other Summer Seminar trips.

“Our goal as teachers was to help the students to understand the effects that their decisions, ethics, and morals have on their ability to lead,” said Scott Vonder Bruegge, upper school journalism and history teacher who went on the trip as a chaperone.

Jim Butz, upper school drama and Bible teacher, Scott Holley, academic dean, and Chris Knerr, upper school history teacher, periodically led “core discussions” that centered around the topic of leadership.

“One thing that I was challenged with was thinking about how people will see me in 20 years from now. Will I regret my past or think I was successful?” said Emma Bailey, junior.

The students on the trip not only learned a lot about leadership, but also bonded through the trip’s unique activities and the interesting experiences they shared.

“We all have so many inside jokes now after spending that much time together. The whole group bonded so well. We also didn’t shower for seven whole days. And we saw a baby moose,” said Bailey.

But not everything on the trip was just a smooth walk in the wilderness, thanks to injuries, tough hikes, and dogs being mistaken for bears.

“On the first day of actual hiking, I fell and cut my leg, and it was a really deep cut. I was having trouble with the weight of my backpack, and everyone volunteered to take weight out! I felt so loved,” said Harre.

“The first day when we started the hike, we all thought it would be only six miles and they told us it

was super flat. That was definitely wrong. It was extremely uphill and for 8-10 miles. It was ridiculous. And we had to go over a ton of logs on the hike, and every single time we did, the person behind me had to push my bag forward because otherwise I fell backwards. It was hysterical and we all helped each other out,” said Bailey.

After the trip, the group had a couple reunions that included a breakfast together, swimming, and a movie night.

“The day we got back from the trip, we were so sad that we weren’t with each other 24/7 so we all got back together and met at First Watch. We have also gone to Castlewood and Steak n Shake,” said Bailey.

Despite her wounds, Harre hopes to go on a Summer Seminar trip when she is a senior.

“I’m definitely looking forward to go on another trip next year,” said Harre.

Lead, Slide or Get out of the WayCaleb Krumseig, junior, slides down the snow during the Montana Summer Seminar group’s spontaneous sledding adventure. The students used trash bags, Crazy Creek chairs and their stomachs to aided them in their descent. Photo by: Scott Vonder Bruegge

Eighteen juniors and fi ve teachers ventured to the West this summer on one of the Summer Seminar trips to learn about the effects that their decisions have on their ability to lead.

State Champs page 11

Inside the Issue

New teachersP. 3

SummerActivities P. 6-7

Fall Sports P. 10

2Westminster Christian Academy September 2012

C O M M U N I T Y

Out with the old and in with the new, yet again for Westminster. This time, though, the changes are on a much smaller scale compared to moving to a new campus.

Last year, students would get cold in class and would slip on their

nice blue baseball or swimming jackets and then find themselves with a pink slip in their hand.

The administration has added team hoodies and sweatshirts and WCA items purchased in the bookstore to the dress code. Though that has been added, the girl’s khaki and navy skorts have been taken away because the lengths were not appropriate. All of the standardized dress skirts now cannot be any shorter than three inches above the knee.

“I love being able to wear team jackets and sweatshirts from the bookstore. I think it is better this year because more people are buying WCA apparel from the bookstore and it is a great way to represent your team,” said Megan Johnson, sophomore.

In addition to dress code changes, the food policy has become less strict for this year. Teachers in the past heard students complaining about how hungry they were in all of their classes before lunch and would have to stop the students from eating.

Though the administration has good intentions trying to keep the new school clean and well kept, they came to a compromise with the students. Students are allowed to drink in the library as long as it has a lid and can eat in the commons as long as those areas stay picked up.

Many of the changes apply to a student’s school day, but they will also be affected by a change in their sports after school. Each sport’s team is required and has time set aside in the weight room to do strength and agility workouts. The intent is to keep athletes in good shape and on the road to reach the goals they been working towards in the off-season.

“I think that it definitely will be nice for the teams to work out in the weight room because it will keep each athlete in good shape, especially if you are not in a fitness

class during school. It will allow you to work on certain muscle groups that you use for the particular sport you play. Ultimately, it should make you better and stronger as a well- rounded athlete,” said Ben Huffman, junior.

Also, there is a new tardy and excused absences policy for the students this year. The administration feels that students should be responsible enough to make it to class on time. Students are allowed to have two tardies per quarter before there are consequences. On the third tardy, the teacher will notify the student’s parents. On the fourth and all subsequent tardies, students will automatically get a conduct detention.

When it comes to excused absences, students can have five excused absences per class per quarter before there will be consequence of a conduct detention. Any unexcused absences will result in a percentage point being taken off the student’s grade.

Not only are the high school students experiencing some tweaks to the system, but so are the middle school students.

Middle school students are required to take a semester long STEM course. After a semester of STEM, students take a required semester long physical education class.

Teachers are also working toward getting better use out of the time set aside for Academic Advisory. A weekly academic check- up for students every Wednesday before seventh hour, where the student’s academic progress is tracked is intended to help teachers help students get the most from the advisory time. Plans are made accordingly so that students can perform their best and

be successful.In the middle school the notion of

setting time aside during the school day for teachers to help students has also gotten traction.Thus, Academic Connect time, which is four days a week and provides a flexible model for academic and instructional support has been built into the Middle School schedule.

“During these times many things will be occurring under the direction and supervision of our grade- level teaching teams: re-teaching stations, conferencing, test preparation centers, recovery work, independent study sessions, project completion, on-line tutorials in mathematics or typing skills, etc.,” said Steve Hall, middle school principal.

In addition to the new programs, lunchtime has been moved closer to the noon hour and every core teacher in the middle school was given an iPad 2.

Not only are the teachers getting more technologically advanced, but two iPad carts have been purchased for student use in the middle school. Teachers are asked to assess the iPad’s impact and potential benefit to the Middle School.

Though there are many changes during the school day, there has been a drastic change to the athletic program in the middle school. Athletic practices begin at 2:25 p.m. for all of the students participating in a sport. If students are not playing a sport then they will go to Academic Connect. Students do not receive a grade for the sports that they are involved in, which is different from past years.

7th graders can still play two sports per season. The sports will be split so that they alternate days. 8th grade teams will meet four days a week for sports.

Erin Bognar, Brooke Cusumano, seniors, and Hannah Stipanovich, junior, work on homework in the Commons while enjoying the new rules of being able to eat food and wear WCA sports apparel. Photo by: Summer Smith

Middle School Football runs drills during practice after the normal school hours. They are used to practicing during the day, so this is new for them. Photo by: Elise Hearne

Students Affected by Policy Changes

The Grand Entry has been constantly updated and decorated since the move to the New Campus last year. At first, empty bookshelves lined the walls and the “coffee bar” was nothing more than a lonely space with a vending

machine. Now students’ awards, artwork and pictures are featured in the glass cases and there is also a small coffee bar. The newest addition to the Grand Entry, though, is significant because of its direct correlation to the core values of WCA.

Now featured next to the mission statement around the corner from the big staircase is an exhibit of a series of paintings, each that corresponds to a specific core value or part of the mission of WCA. Some examples of the core values are “Honor God in All That We Do” and “Become Better Than We Once Were.”

The artist of these paintings is WCA alumna Lisa Bachman Jones, class of 2002. Her work will be displayed on the left side of the Grand Entry through the fall. She plans to donate one of the paintings to WCA as a gift, while the other nine are available for purchase. Seventy percent of each purchase will be donated back to the school.

“I really enjoyed my time at Westminster because it prepared me very well for the next steps in my life, and I wanted to help support the school and give back in some way. I decided to write up a proposal and sent it to Jim Marsh telling him about my idea to take the principles of WCA and view them through an abstract lens, and the school seemed really excited about my ideas,” said Bachman.

Bachman recently gave a presentation for various art classes to tell the students more about her life and her journey through the different types of art in the projects she has done throughout her career. Some of those works

include figurative paintings, ceramics, pen principles, art based on music, painting on fabric and a correspondence art project.

“I liked the presentation because it was interesting to learn about all the different styles of art and how her projects turned out. I especially liked the painting on the pillowcase because it is something unique that I haven’t really seen before,” said Kristen Ahlbrand, junior.

As for the paintings in the Grand Entry, students seem to agree that it adds some much needed color to the heart of the school.

“The paintings are really abstract and it’s cool to look deeper into them to try to see the core value of the school. It’s a good use of space and it really jazzes up the monotonous beige color scheme in the school,” said Paris Watson, senior.

One of the pieces depicts the value “Partner With the Christian Home and Church,” where Bachman has three colorful circles somewhat overlapping each other. According to her, they are more intertwined than separate because in students’ lives, each category plays an integral role in growing up, becoming adults and learning to think independently. Bachman added other colors and designs to that painting representing activities outside of school as well.

“Through each piece, I was specifically showing something about WCA and the mission and core values. But I also had to step back from that and take a look at my work as an artist. It takes all the elements to make a successful piece, and I wanted to make sure that it was visually appealing as well as displaying the value of the school,” said Bachman.

Bachman graduated from Belmont University in Nashville, Tennessee in 2006 with a BFA in Painting. She currently lives in Nashville with her husband and stepdaughter and her work is represented by The Rymer Gallery. For more information about this exhibit, her email is [email protected] and her website is http://labachman.com.

Bachman Gives BackWCA alumna Lisa Bachman, class of 2002, exhibits her abstract deptiction of the school’s mission and core values in the Grand Entry through paintings and plans to donate one of the pieces to WCA.

Aly Nichols, junior, checks out the new artwork in the Grand Entry. “I like this new artwork because of the interesting blends of color,” said Nichols.

3Westminster Christian AcademySeptember 2012

C O M M U N I T YThe New Teachers on Campus

“The Star Athlete” Mr. Adam Barbee is a part-time

upper school history teacher. He was the #1 varsity tennis player at Parkway South High School. Mr. Barbee is most excited about the opportunity to meet all of his students and the returning teachers at WCA. In class, he will frequently refer to himself in third person.

“The Academically Ambitious Funny

Guy” Mr. Luke Breems is an upper

school science teacher. He worked as a high school chemistry tutor and stockroom manager, where he would prepare chemical substances for high school lab experiments during college. Mr. Breems is most nervous that he may oversleep one morning and miss teaching his morning classes.

“The Film Buff”Mr. Matthew Pannkuk works part-

time in the Academic Hub. He is also currently studying at Covenant Seminary. A WCA graduate, Mr. Pannkuk is looking forward to interacting with students. He loves superhero movies and has been told that he has “the most unique sneezes” people have ever heard.

“The Chemistry Nerd”Mrs. Barbara Cascella is a part-

time upper school science teacher. She is excited to be working in a Christian environment, something she has never experienced before, and she loves to cook and read books by Jane Austin.

“The Elite Dancer”Ms. Heather Marsee is a middle

school English teacher. She formed the first Kirkwood High JV pom program and was the co-coach for the varsity squad for two years. Ms. Marsee is excited yet nervous for Spirit Week and has been a vegetarian for twenty years.

“The Rule Follower”Mrs. Nancy Provin is a middle

school Special Services teacher. She is very excited to be teaching again after many years of staying home with her family. Mrs. Provin desired interaction with children and fun in the classroom. Three days per week, she gets up at 4:40 to run before school.

“The People Pleaser”Ms. Nicole Scholten is a middle

school science teacher. She is most excited to work with the eighth graders and admires their curiosity and continual questions as they explore God’s creation. Ms. Scholten’s family raised six alligators in their garage when she was younger.

“The Social Butterfly” Ms. Erica Steinbach is an upper

school history teacher. She was a volunteer leader for Young Life in Columbia where she ministered to high school students at Rock Bridge High School. Ms. Steinbach is most excited about meeting her students. She is engaged.

“The Quiet Rebel” Mr. James Tudor is a part-time

upper school video storytelling teacher. He has worked in the film and video-making industry for the past fourteen years, where he was very involved in creating Hollywood films, commercials and music videos. Mr. Tudor is looking forward to seeing what kind of creative projects the students at WCA come up with.

“The Basketball Star” Mr. Jason Wilkins is an upper school

Bible teacher. He is a former WCA graduate and is excited to be back at the Academy to participate in what God is doing at WCA. Mr. Wilkins has read The Lord of the Rings twenty-two times, wishes he could shapeshift into a bear or giant wolf and participates in Krav Maga (the fighting style of Israeli Special Forces).

“The Quiet Girl” Ms. Erin Albright is an upper

school math teacher. She is most excited about being able to share her love for math with others and openly embraces her inner “nerd”. Ms. Albright is a Chicago sports fan and has a dangerous laugh, where she starts to hyperventilate when something is extremely funny.

“The Fashion Guru”Mrs. Claire Beerbower is an

upper school English teacher. She is most excited to attend sporting events, theater, band and choir performances. She attests to having a cheesy sense of humor, treating her dog like a person, and collecting antique books because she likes to occasionally smell them.

“The Volleyball Captain”

Ms. Rebecca Kamp is an upper school special services teacher. She was a peer-appointed captain on the Calvin College Volleyball Team for two years and in 2011 was named Division III National Volleyball Player of the year. Ms. Kamp is most excited for coaching the volleyball team and getting to know all the players.

“Literary Charlatan”Mr. Benjamin Chapman is a part-

time upper school English teacher. For the past two years, he has been working with students with autism in the Special School District where he was an ABA (applied behavior analysis) Professional. Mr. Chapman has heard that Spirit Week gets pretty crazy and is excited to see what all the “hubbub” is about.


L I F E


L I F EWhether From Seats at Home or Seats in the Stands, WCA Students Took in Their Favorite Olympic Events

Most teenagers’ summers consist of swimming at the pool, playing Xbox, or taking a vacation to Florida. While many enjoyed common events of summer, Trevon and Micah Gooch, sophomores, and their cousin Jabri Boyd, senior, went on a mission trip around the

world. They were fortunate enough to be able to also include in their itinerary a trip to the London Olympics.

“I went because we had a ministry mission trip to pray for the nations and got the opportunity to attend the Olympics,” said Boyd.

While in the Great Britain, the family got the opportunity to watch men’s and women’s basketball.

“I saw the Dream Team play with LeBron James, and it was awesome to see the way the crowds reacted, especially when foreign teams were playing,” said Trevon.

The men’s basketball team

was definitely a highlight of the Olympics. With numerous legendary players on the court, the US was aiming for gold in Men’s Basketball. When it came down to the wire, the US emerged as the gold medalists by a margin of seven points.

“Seeing Kobe, Kevin, and LeBron all in one team is something that I will probably never see again,” said Trevon.

While Kobe, Kevin, and LeBron dominated in the court, two-time beach volleyball Olympic champs Kari Walsh and Misty May Treanor battled through tough competition in pursuit of their third straight gold medals in the event and continuing an incredible winning streak.

“The women’s volleyball team, because I though that there was a lot of talent involved in playing volleyball,” said Zach Shultz, freshman.

Although Kari and Misty lost their first set in twelve years of Olympic competition during a preliminary round, they continued to be unrivaled in skill and placed gold with the younger US team

following them in second place.Taking it to the pool, there

were numerous incredible athletes making history, such as 15-year-old Katie Ledecky, understated Ryan Lochte, and the legendary Michael Phelps.

“I’m obsessed with gymnastics, swimming and beach volleyball. I follow all my favorite Olympians on twitter and I stalk all of the swimmers, gymnasts and volleyball players in a good way,” said Erin Bognar, senior.

Many WCA students spent the majority of their last few weeks of summer in front of the TV cheering on their favorite athletes

The fifteen-year-old American record-holding sensation, Katie Ledecky, took gold in the 800-meter freestyle.

“Watching her (Katie) day in and day out, her attention to

detail and focus, it’s just really impressive for a 15-year-old. She’s a smart swimmer. It’s not just get in there and go; she has a plan,” said Teri McKeever, the US women’s Olympics swim coach, in USA Today News.

“I watched that 15 year old girl break the record and I just sat there thinking wow, I’m 15 years old and I haven’t really done anything in my life compared to her,” said Johnny Hardin, freshman.

Also in the pool was born a huge rivalry between driven Ryan Lochte and legendary Michael Phelps.

“This is my time,” said Lochte repeatedly in Olympics interviews about 2012. Lochte strongly believed that he posed a threat to the Phelps, the swimming legend. With this mindset, he dove into the pool for the 400-meter individual

medley relay and not only beat Phelps but also won gold by a huge margin. With a huge victory over Phelps, it seemed like the new guy to watch was Lochte, but his success oddly depleted, and he went home with only one individual gold medal.

While Lochtes’ fame and fortune slowly faded from view, Michael Phelps only grew in the pool. He swam a total of seven events and won four gold and two silver medals in his last Olympic games. Phelps also broke Larisa Latynina’s record becoming the most decorated Olympian with 22 total medals.

“Phelps getting 22 medals and breaking the record with 18 gold medals, 2 silvers and 2 bronze was the highlight of the Olympics for me,” said Sam Thomas, sophomore.

The Olympic Tower Bridge. Photo by: Dana GoochTrevon Gooch, sophomore, and his mother Dana Gooch at the Olympic games. Photo by: Dana Gooch


C e n t e r S p r e a d

SUMMER 2012

The Oregon Summer Seminar was a trip that was �illed with adventure, risk, breaking down walls, facing fears, and growing relationships.

“Honestly, my favorite part was

when we would all sit around in a circle with our Crazy Creeks and just play ma�ia and talk and share a bunch of laughs. Just being able to see everyone’s smiling faces and having a good time around the �ire was the best. The relationships I made with every single person on this trip was the best part about

it,” said Bryce Bell, senior. As well as making new friends,

the students on the trip also experienced some amazing things. They climbed to the peak of Mt. Chinidere and watched the sunset over Mt Hood. While at the top of the mountain, they could see many other beautiful mountains in Oregon. It was an amazing thing to see.

The 18 students and �ive chaperones also got to raft the Deschutes River. For two days, they spent their time on the raft and camped by the river. One group’s raft, while going down a class four rapid, �lipped over. A couple boys got stuck under the raft and Hunter Hughes, senior, hit his head on a rock and it started to bleed. It was a scary experience

for them, but it made a great story to tell, and the next day, after going down the same stretch, they managed to do it successfully.

One of the hardest days of the trip was when the group hiked Mt. Hood. The weather was warm yet they were hiking through snow. The hike was a little over eight miles and for a couple miles, it was straight uphill while the last part was all downhill. It was a dif�icult task, but they enjoyed it every step of the way.

“This trip was life-changing and we all bonded as a group. I love everyone on the trip and I learned so many new things. We were all challenged to break down our walls and face our fears. I wouldn’t trade this experience for anything,” said Ellie Bettlach, senior.

Oregon Summer SeminarBreaking Down WallsA group of seniors went on a hiking adventure in Oregon and Washington. They got to know each other well by “breaking down walls” and enduring physically hard tasks together.

The Oregon students gather on the beach at their fi rst campsite on the second day of the trip. While on the beach, the students’ favorite activities were playing mafi a, Ninja, and the vegetable game around the campfi re. Photo by: Sarah Holley

South Dakota Summer SeminarAre We There Yet?Sixteen students and fi ve teachers went hiking in the Badlands of South Dakota, rode 109 miles on the Mickelson Trail and kayaked down the Cheyenne River.

Roped together under the blazing South Dakota sun, ascending plateaus, avoiding buffalo, backpacking through the Badlands, biking on the Mickelson Trail, visiting Mount Rushmore, kayaking down the Cheyenne

River, the activities were unlimited for the South Dakota Summer Seminar students.

Twenty-one students and teachers set out from St. Louis, �lew into Omaha, Nebraska, and then drove �ive hours to South Dakota to begin their adventures. Starting

the trip, the students went to Wounded Knee and learned about the Indian massacre and how that has impacted native Americans and the world even today.

After hearing about the heavy subject of Wounded Knee, the students went on a primitive backpacking trip into the arid Badlands for multiple nights.

“My favorite part was the feeling after we climbed this huge plateau in the Badlands. We scaled the side of it and then to be able to look out for miles from the top was incredible,” said Megan Tilley, senior.

After backpacking, the group visited Mount Rushmore and got to talk about the con�licting views of the monument between the white

Between the fi ve different Summer Seminars and unique trips and experiences that other WCA students participated in, activities within the student body during Summer 2012 ranged from hiking eight miles in the snow to meeting President Barack Obama.

A group of Westmisnter students biked the Badlands in South Dakota photo by: Summer Smith.

Here Comes The QueenLondon Summer Seminar

man and the Indians and how that affected their relationship. The students biked 109 miles on the Mickleson Trail and then went on a two day kayaking trip down the Cheyenne River before they got to enjoy the luxury of staying in a hotel on their last night.

“The kayaking was a blast, except for the fact that you got covered in dirt. We all got to swim in this huge mud hole while kayaking so that was interesting. My favorite part of the trip was when we were biking on the Mickelson Trail and Coby [Nye] bet me that I wouldn’t jump in this awful smelling pond, but he was wrong. I made �ive bucks and was left with a bad stinch the rest of the day,” said Brink Thompson, senior.

It was a sunny morning in normally dreary London when seven lucky students watched British royalty drive by, literally. These girls traveled to England last June on the newly established England Summer Seminar and they experienced more

than anticipated when they attended the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee in London.

A Jubilee is a large celebration throughout all of England that celebrates milestones in a monarch’s reign. This summer’s Diamond Jubilee celebrated Queen Elizabeth II’s 60th year on the throne. As

the Brits partied in the streets to celebrate their monarch, these students experienced something incredible that only happens once in a lifetime. Throughout the girls’ entire trip, the streets in England were fi lled with British fl ags and posters of the Queen.

“It was so exciting being in London during the time of the Jubilee because there was so much going on that we wouldn’t have seen at any other time!” said Kelly Goebel, junior.

Seeing all of this made the seven girls even more excited for the most important day of the trip—Jubilee Day! The Diamond Jubilee consisted of a parade of 1000 boats coming down the river Thames in London. The parade concluded with an appearance by the Queen

and other royal family members, in a boat of their own. The students left their hostel, earlier than needed that day, to insure a great spot for parade viewing. Once they arrived at the perfect viewing spot, next to Big Ben and across the Thames from the London Eye, the girls were surrounded by thousands of people. Everyone on the streets watched with binoculars as boat after boat passed by, anticipating the arrival of the Royal Family. Finally, they came. All of the people jumped and cheered for the Queen, who wore an all white suit so she would be seen easily. It was a very exciting moment—one that these students would never forget.

“My favorite part of the trip was getting to see the Queen and the royal family—two times!” said

New England Summer SeminarGentlemen, Start Your Engines

The whole group of girls stands outside St. Paul’s Cathedral in London. Photo by: Annie Westhoff.

The New England Summer Seminar consisted of six students and two teachers. At the beginning of June, they left for Boston, Massachusetts, where they would lodge for most of

the trip at Boston Bible College. Based out of a dorm room, they visited several cities such as Salem, Concord, New York City, Marblehead City and Amherst.

Funny stories rang throughout the rooms and cars, with plenty of laughter to back it up.

“My favorite moment of the trip was when some of us were driving back from a city, and we were

playing a game where everyone had to take turns saying a sport. It got to me, and I was trying to say wakeboarding, but I instead said, ‘I love waterboarding!’ It took me awhile to �igure out what I said, but I realized that when everyone but me was laughing I must have said or done something,” said Sarah Yousef, senior.

But not all trip highlights were just jokes.

“I loved how we had to change parts of the trip, and see how God allowed us to do something else that everyone loved. Exploring Boston with the students and learning the history of it was very interesting, and to see how the students reacted to all of it was exciting as well,” said Laura Pettay, upper school Engl ish teacher.

The jam-packed adventure had stunning scenery, and each city had its own characteristics and uniqueness to add to the trip.

“I loved Walden Pond by Thoreau’s house. There was a nice little beach, and it was peaceful,” said Yousef.

This seminar also had learning opportunities that explored poetry of all kinds, history of the people who founded America, and the history of people who helped inspire others to stand up for what is right.

“It was a very open environment. I was really looking forward to going to New York, but I came out having enjoyed Boston more, because I get to see where our history was born,” said Sierra Mathews, senior.

Catherine Bakewell, Morgan Koetting, and Sierra Matthews pose. Photo by: Scott Rupprecht.

Parker Briden in Washington DCParker Briden, senior, went to Washington DC to learn about government. He was blessed with the opportunity to meet President Obama and Miss America.

Parker Briden, senior, was elected as one of only two senior high schoolers in Missouri to represent his state in Boy’s Nation. Briden has been given the opportunity to represent Missouri in Washington, where he

will learn about government.According to American Legion,

“Two representatives from each of the Boy’s States represent their state at Boy’s Nation in DC, where the young leaders receive

an education on the structure and function of federal government.” In short, Briden was recognized as one of the top up-and-coming leaders in Missouri and will receive further education on government. Speakers included the Chief Clerk of the Supreme Court, President Obama, and Holocaust Survivor Nesse Goden.

“They’re looking for the type of guys that you could walk up to and have a conversation about tax reform, and they are expected to know everything that you are talking about,” said Briden.

If this statement is true, Briden

de�initely knew what he was talking about when he was asked about his opinion on the growth of China.

“I talked about how competition makes us (the US) stronger, and they (Boy’s Nation) thought it was a good enough answer.”

Although Boy’s Nation may seem unfamiliar at �irst, it actually has been a part of a handful of famous individuals’ lives.

Some of the men who have come through that program are Bill Clinton, the president of the largest publicrelations �irm in the world, and Michael Jordan.

Parker Briden, senior, meets Nesse Goden, a holocaust survivor at Boy’s Nation. Goden spoke at the event in Washington DC. Photo by: Parker Briden

Boy’s Nation

A group of Westminster students embarked on a trip Boston and Massechussetts.

While typical summer activities may include going to the theater to watch a play or movie, Sarah Yousef, senior, went beyond the norm to create her own story, The Seventh Layer.

During her sophomore year, Yousef’s interest in the media arts grew, eventually inspiring her to write, direct, and produce her own film.

“[It] was the first time that I really looked into all the technical

stuff that went on behind the scenes, and it all really intrigued me. I loved how all the small, and often overlooked details were what actually make the difference between just another movie and a true story,” said Yousef.

The film, a murder mystery about a young boy who gets addicted to murder, has been in the process of being made since the beginning of last year.

“This whole thing started at Bread Company. I met Violet Kouzes and Amber Terschack, seniors, and we started brainstorming some basic concepts. We settled upon a murder mystery, which, when I actually started writing it, turned

into a psychological, murder, drama-ish thing,” said Yousef.

Working hard through the summer, Yousef has found that there is a lot more to filmmaking than there may seem.

“I was hoping to have all of the shooting done by the end of this summer so that I could have the school year to edit, but over this summer I found out how difficult is was to keep everything organized and planned out,” said Yousef.

Despite the difficulties of finalizing schedules, Yousef has found the process to be enriching.

“The most rewarding thing has been getting the chance to see my friends create these characters.

The best feeling is when we get a scene done. It’s an incredible relief, especially with how difficult it is to arrange a shoot that works out, it’s just cool to see it all put together,” said Yousef.

Once the product is complete, she hopes to have a showing in Westminster’s theater. Though she is eager to see The Seventh Layer completed, she has future plans to continue in other film aspirations.

“If this one ever gets done, I am planning on shooting another one. This is definitely a passion of mine, and I hope to go into Media Productions as my major when I get into college,” said Yousef.

Director’s Cut

Sarah Yousef, senior, directed her fi rst fi lm over the summer.

Sarah Yousef produced her own fi lm

Westminster Christian Academy September 2012

8 O P I N I O N S

Ladies and gentleman, you’re being fooled. The Republicans, and their friends on certain news stations, want to tell you that this

election is about blame. Now, if they want to have that discussion we can. If they want to go back and forth figuring out whether the trillions they’ve added to the debt to pay for wars, bailouts, and tax breaks for millionaires and billionaires are worse than my programs, which admittedly also come at a monetary price, we can have that talk. If you want to say my four years as your commander-in-chief, my time in the White House is a less valuable contribution than my opponent’s years pinching pennies for international corporations; you’re free to do so.

But that’s not the discussion we should be having in this country. This election presents us with two ideological choices. Mitt Romney believes you should fend for yourself. You’re all on your own out there. You’ve just got to pull yourself up by your bootstraps, grit your teeth and push forward through the struggles that threaten to pin you down. I believe that no man is an island. We all need a little help, and the American community has the opportunity and responsibility to provide that help.

Look at the Olympic athletes, who went to London this summer and came home with more medals than any other country. The athletes themselves are directly responsible for that. Their skill brought them there. Their hard work earned them a place there. But they would be the first to tell you that they could not have done it without their coaches, family and the American community that rallied behind them.

The American people need to rally together and commit to making this nation the best that it can be. That means we look out for the little guy. When the New York Fire Department rushes into a burning building, they commit that they leave no man behind. The American community leaves no man behind.

I’ve pledged to uphold that ideal, and my policies reflect that philosophy. Republicans want to take a fine toothed comb through our plans. They are worried about decimal points, ones, and zeroes.

I’m worried about American lives. The Affordable Care Act is a perfect example of this debate. I’ll be the first to admit that the policy is imperfect. I’m looking forward to a rational discussion of how we can improve it. But it is a broad and exciting step in the right direction. The lives and health of the American people are a priority for me, and I would ask the Republicans who are calling for its repeal to talk directly to the people who would be put in harm’s way, and tell them why they as Americans do not deserve the same coverage everyone else enjoys.

That is the discussion we need to have in this country. That’s what I bring to the table. My opponents want to govern with a calculator. I want to serve with open ears and the American community as my first priority.

You’re Welcome, President Obama

Last year was a crazy year for everyone involved with Westminster Christian Academy. We moved our whole campus, updated our wardrobes to Land’s End and started new Advisory and Seminar periods.

After a year of everything being brand new, we are back for another one—with some slight changes due to feedback from the community that we, as the Wildcat Roar staff, appreciate and would like to make note of for a couple reasons.

First of all, thank goodness for the changes in the dress code. We think every student in the school is thankful that we are now allowed to wear any kind of WCA sweatshirt and we are not restricted to the Land’s End ones (as fashionable as those were). Not only is it more comfortable to wear our own team sweatshirts, but it also looks better and we get to represent our teams by wearing them.

Thanks to surveys sent out to families and feedback from the school community, these small changes were made. But another factor played into the new rules—and that was student feedback. For example, one of the newspaper staff members last year wrote a column on the reasons why we should be allowed to wear our WCA team sweatshirts with our other Land’s End apparel. She made good points and respectfully made her argument, and her thoughts were obviously considered and, although she was probably not the main reason why the rule was changed, she helped in getting students’ voices out into the community.

As students, we need to take advantage of our opportunities to speak out when we don’t like a particular rule or policy, or anything of that matter. Our opinions matter. And although it may seem difficult to actually get our voices out there, there are plenty of ways to do that.

One could be writing a letter to the editors of this school publication. Students should let us know what is on their minds, and we will probably find space to add something in about that particular issue. It could be anything from why a specific club or event should get more attention, or it could be about why a certain policy in the school needs to be changed. Whatever the opinion may be, if it is important to students here in the school, others will most likely want to hear and learn more about it. And, most importantly, it might start to affect change in the problem that the students are addressing.

Another could be actually talking or writing to teachers or administrators instead of just complaining about the problem. In the case of the dress code last year, most people just started wearing their “illegal” team sweatshirts anyways instead of actually trying to communicate their point of view on the topic. Rather than just deliberately breaking the rule that does not seem fair to students, they should have taken action and tried to affect change within the school instead of sitting around and complaining

Although it may seem difficult to actually get our voices out there, there are actually plenty of ways to do it that we, as

students, need to take advantage of.

Thanks WCA, You’ve Made Us Feel Heard

Editor in ChiEf - ElliE Straub

Print Editor - ParkEr bridEn

dESign Editor - SadiE StiPanoviCh

onlinE Editor - Jill CoynE

oPinionS Editor - Morgan koEtting

SPortS Editor - StEvEn daviS

SECtion Editor - SuMMEr SMith

SECtion Editor - MElinda olivEr SECtion Editor - JESSiCa JohnSon

PhotograPhy EditorS - EliSE hEarnE and SCott ruPPrECht

Staff

rEEd MontgoMEry nina thaMPy

Eli ParhaM SaM ParhaM

ChriSSy talEnt Mary Wynn

EiChEl daviS andrEa rEEd

MEgan galvin Maggi EaChuS

ChriStian linhoff John PottEbauM audrEy o’nEill robErt daviS

CathErinE bakEWEll

thE WildCat roar WElCoMES lEttErS to thE Editor froM StudEntS, Staff, and PubliC-at-largE that arE SignEd and hElPful in thE PubliC foruM. it rEtainS thE right to Edit or oMit lEttErS aCCording to liMitationS on SPaCE. thE WildCat roar alSo WElCoMES advErtiSing that doES not ConfliCt With WEStMinStEr ChriStian aCadEMy’S MiSSion StatEMEnt.

ContaCt uS at: [email protected]

viSit uS at:WWW.thEWildCatroar.CoM

about it while pulling on their basketball hoodie.Students need to know how important it is for them

to voice their opinions and points of view to other people. Not only could it actually start something

that could change what they want to be fixed, but it is also a good learning experience of trial and error and learning what its like to voice opinions and try to get other people to see the problem and why it needs to be fixed.

In the case of the sweatshirts, WCA is happy that we can wear the non Land’s End ones this year. All it took were parents and students who gave feedback to the school and came together to say what was on their minds.

Now, students, it’s time to work on getting some of the teachers to actually decorate

their boring tan walls and put clocks in their classrooms…

Westminster Christian AcademySeptember 2012

9B I G P I C T U R EO P I N I O N S

Sam and Eli Parham cover some iconic and infl uential inventions made in America that have transformed our world.

A Simple AccidentAmerican engineer Wilson Greatbatch creates the modern day pacemaker.

By pure chance, Wilson Greatbatch, electrical engineer, accidentally inserts the wrong resistor - an important part of the circuit which runs through his invention - into his heart recorder. He listens, as his machine suddenly pulses, then becomes silent for a few seconds, then pulses.

Greatbatch is immediately induced to compare this reaction to the human heartbeat. And thus, the first implantable cardiac pacemaker is born.

After graduating from Cornell University in 1950 and receiving a master’s degree from the University of Buffalo seven years later, Wilson Greatbatch, an electrical engineer, finds himself in an empty factory in North Tonawanda, New York, constructing his new invention. Intended to record heartbeats, Greatbatch’s invention showcases his electrical smarts, but he does not realize its true potential. One simple accident changes his small invention into the basis of all modern pacemakers.

Although the technology of cardiac pacemakers - a machine that regulates heartbeats by sending electrical impulses to heart muscles - had existed for decades, the artificial pacemakers were nearly the size of a T.V. (in those times). In many ways, Tony Stark with the electric battery connected to his chest in the beginning of Iron Man resembles the many people that used the old external pacemaker before Greatbatch’s invention.

So Greatbatch did not think up the pacemaker, but instead took this old inconvenient system, and transformed it into something that would allow patients to live normal lives.

Greatbatch’s artificial

pacemaker helped (and still helps today) patients with blocks in their heart’s electrical conduction system and patients who had hearts that could not beat fast enough due to slow natural pacemakers. His artificial pacemaker replaced the natural pacemaker, and became essentially an electrical, robotic part of the body.

But Greatbatch was not finished yet. His mission was to create a small battery with long duration and a high energy supply. After experimenting with two elements at near ends of the electrochemical scale, he created the lithium-iodide battery.

He used his lithium-iodide to complement his pacemaker, and the modern day pacemaker was created.

After his masterpiece was created, Greatbatch went on to contribute funds to Houghton College New York. With Greatbatch’s funds, Houghton College created a graduate program in music. Greatbatch died at the age of 92, on September 27, 2011, but his invention lives on to improve the lives of many patients.

Today, nearly 3 million people worldwide use pacemakers, and 600,000 pacemakers are implanted every year, according to the American Heart Association.

Big Numbers:

3 MillionPeople use arti-fi cial pacemak-ers today

600,000Pacemakers are implanted every year

Signifi cant Summer Nights

Summers are the days high school students long for. Hours spent bent over a school desk, daydreaming of sunny days and endless, warm nights become a reality the moment they finally walk out the door on the last day of school. While most head straight for the pool and shed their Land’s End apparel along with any ounce of responsibility, others prepare themselves for their latest good deeds.

While many Westminster students may know Coby Nye,

senior, solely from his work on the football field, that is not all he does to bide his time. This summer Nye had the opportunity to volunteer with a local Saint Louis church, New City Fellowship.

“My parents initially made me volunteer, but I don’t regret it at all. I love it and I do it willingly all the time now,” said Nye.

The work he did was not easy, as much of it was physically challenging and required a lot of time and energy while other required patience and great care.

“I did labor on a lot of houses in the inner city that needed repair but I also tutored with kids who wanted help with different subject in school,” said Nye.

Although the children and family Nye made an impact on this summer may believe that he was solely serving them, Nye has a different take on what the experience did for him.

“I loved the kids I met through this. There was a refugee apartment complex that we went to every night to hang out and play with the younger kids. It was awesome and I still go down there all the time with my family. It was amazing feeling and experience to help them,” said Nye.

While Nye stayed local, many WCA students and alumni took their service abroad. Kirk of the Hills Presbyterian Church took a missions trip to Malawi and

up completely new walls so the family could move back in,” said Klein.

Meeting people he was affecting was very encouraging to Klein.

“I met some amazing, life changing people. One man, in particular, named Jose, told me his story of how he was a drug addict and then turned to Christ. It was a great opportunity to get out of my comfort zone and really do something significant and make a difference,” said Klein.

Westminster students reach out of their comfort zones and provoke changes in and out of their circles of their typical circles of influence,

Westminster students traveled near and far this summer in order to pro-vide love and aid to those in need all over the world.

Zambia, Africa to assist at an orphanage for children whose parents had passed away.

“Westminster was well represented on our trip. There were tons of alumni who went with the church,” said Elise Hearne, senior.

Among those who went were: Caroline Thompson, Davis Vermillion, Chris Griesedieck, Addy Williams, class of 2012, and Drew Menzel, class of 2011.

“We worked in an orphanage called Crisis Nursery for kids whose parents were sick and recovering or passed away. Most of the people in the village were orphan due to the AID’s epidemic that had affected their community,” said Hearne.

J.D Klein, junior, much like Hearne, believes some of the most valuable moments spent abroad were the ones spent building relationships with the people in the community where he was volunteering.

Klein, junior, spent time in Puerto Rico this summer with his church youth group.“An organization called World Changers took us abroad. My youth group partners with them every year,” said Klein.

His group did mostly manual labor, helping to repair houses that were in need of major work.

“There were several different teams, all working on houses.At my work site, a tree had fallen through the house, so we had to put

Coby Nye, senior, plays football with his friend Domas this summer during his work with New City Fellowship Church.

Elise Hearne, senior, spends time with some of the children in the Crisis Nursery in Malawi where her church, Kirk Of The Hills Presbyterian, traveled this summer.

Missouri Senate Race Becomes National NewsLocal politics in Missouri

have gone national with a blunt statement by Conservative Representative Todd Akin on the issue of abortion in the case of rape.

The Representative has long voiced his conservative opinions on all issues, but is especially known for his outspoken stance on abortion.

Akin spoke on the Jaco Report on Sunday the 19th of August stating; “If it’s a legitimate rape, the female body has ways to try to shut that whole thing down. But let’s assume maybe that didn’t work or something. I think there should be some punishment, but the punishment ought to be on the

rapist, and not attacking the child.”Sunday night, Akin released

a statement admitting that he had misspoken, but never gave an explanation as to where the information he was basing this remark came from.

“Rape is an evil act. I used the wrong words in the wrong way and for that I apologize. As a father of two daughters, I want tough justice for predators. I have a

compassionate heart for the victims of sexual assault and I pray for them. The fact is, rape could lead to pregnancy. The truth is, rape has many victims. The mistake I made was in the words I said, not in the heart I hold. I ask for your forgiveness.”

Akin has been pressured by both Democrats and top Republicans alike to drop out of the Senate race. They believe that it is in the

GOP’s best interest if they found a replacement nominee.

Strategist Mike Murphy tweeted, “Akin should put good of GOP first and resign nomination now after his idiotic comment. Senate control is too important.”

However opponent Claire McCaskill recently released a statement saying, “I think it would be a radical thing to try to force someone who had won an election

honestly off the ballot just because you think you want to pick another candidate. I think that’s wrong.”

McCaskill is determined to protect the rights of women, strengthen national security, and make healthcare affordable and readily available to all people as stated on McCaskill’s website.

Akin’s plan, if elected, is to help repeal ObamaCare, replace a tax code he believes to be broken, and cut federal spending by the government according to his promotional website.

The deadline for Akin to drop out of the race is the 25th of September. If he does not relinquish his running by that date, Missouri’s GOP will have to obtain a court order to replace him on the ballot.


10 S P O R T SNew Season, New HopeAs this new school year begins, boys’ sports teams play with high expectations for this season.

As this new school year starts, boys’ football, soccer, swimming, and cross country begin. All of these teams have great expectations for this year and hope to improve on their previous season records.

This year, the football team is

very optimistic and proud of their new team.

“If we go 5 and 5 this season, it will be a disappointment. We have the potential to win 7 games easy and I think we even have a good chance to win all 10 games,” said Brink Thompson, senior, and one of the captains of the team. Many of the football players believe that this year’s team is special and has improved greatly from last year’s team.

“The whole offensive line has gotten a lot better and Brett Bond [Junior] has really stepped up as our new quarterback. I think our team compared to last year’s team, at this time in the season, is 100 percent better,” said Thompson.

Oftentimes the quarterback of a team feels the most pressure, but Bond is calm and confident that his team will make him better throughout this year.

“I am just going to go out there and play relaxed. I know my team has my back and I can count on them,” said Bond.

Last years soccer team finished a

good year with a crushing 1-0 loss in the district final to undefeated Priory. At the time, the loss seemed unbearable, but this fall has brought around a new season with another chance at a district championship or better.

“The expectation for this year is to win a district championship. Other than that it would just be to compete at the high level of soccer that we know we are able to,” said Nathan Cherian, senior. There are many senior leaders on this team that will help this team try to reach their goals.

“Jack Dohr and Michael Dudley will lead the team this year, they have the most experience on varsity and both are aware of the team’s expectations,” said Cherian.

This team is different in many ways from last year’s team.

“This year, we lost a solid core of players that were pretty valuable but we fully expect that other teams lost as much if not more. Also this year we have a solid trio of goal keepers, that I ultimately expect to keep us in games,” said Cherian.

The swim team looks forward to bouncing back this year after a season that brought both highs and lows.

Last year Easton Noble, senior, had success in the state meet and he and many others are hoping that they can do the same this year.

“A lot of us are really hoping to make it to state in a relay and individual races this year,” said Brandt Wieberg, junior.

This years team has loads of returning and new talent and they hope to capitalize on this season.

“I think we have a lot of strong chances at state and we’ve got a lot of depth. I think this is going to be a really good year and the new freshmen are looking pretty good too,” said Wieberg.

Cross country finished strong last year with three Westminster athletes representing Westminster at state. This year, they hope to build off their strong finish and have an unforgettable season.

Reagan Dykhouse, senior, was one of the three runners that participated in state last year and he has high hopes for this year.

“Personally, my goal is to get in the top 25 in state. As a team, I expect that we will be a contender at state. If we can do all this, I would consider this season a real success,” said Dykhouse.

There are many seniors this year that plan on helping this team reach their goals.

“I feel like all the seniors will be a crucial part in leading the team this year,” said Dykhouse.

Although the seniors will be a big part of this team, the upcoming new runners will be just as important.

“I am looking forward to seeing how the underclassmen can develop and help this team this year, said Dykhouse.

The Cross country team hopes to start out strong and build on the successful season they had last year.

Better,Faster,StrongerA new school year kicks off

promising new seasons for many of the girls sports teams.

The volleyball team is starting out strong this season with lots of new girls interested in the program

“The volleyball program had a very strong turnout at tryouts and has great expectations going into the season,” said Heather Kea,head varsity volleyball coach.

This year the varsity team will hold six seniors. Last year the varsity

team came very close to victory, but fell short in the last match.

“The team last season was very close to success in the post season and fell short in a close match in the finals of districts,” said Kea.

The team is very large this year and has many goals to focus on, but all in all the volleyball season looks very promising.

“I hope to see a positive progression through the season of hardwork and dynamic team work,” said Kea.

Another team that is looking to a promising season is the varsity softball team. Last season was the first time the softball program had ever made it to state.

“The softball team has some big holes to fill with the loss of 5 seniors two of which are Division I players and one who is division 3. The girls vying for these spots are working hard and improving every day,” said Rich Van Gilst, head varsity softball and baseball coach.

The softball team is taking on a much more challenging schedule this year and hopes to get better and make the program stronger.

“The schedule this year is very difficult with many more Class 4 schools on it than before. Hopefully a tough schedule will better prepare us for the district which consists of roughly the same teams as last year. Our goal is to get better every day,” said Van Gilst.

Another team in the fall lineup is the girls golf team. After having an outstanding run last season they hope to come back and do it again.

“We have a very strong team with girls that play all year long to improve their games. These girls love the game of golf and want to take it all again this year,” said Steve Bradley, girls golf coach.

Even with the loss of some exceptional players the golf team will still be a force to be reckon with. Many returning players are working hard to fill the shoes of their graduated teammates.

“We have high expectations this season. We lost several players from last years team. We feel we have some good replacements to take that spot. Returning this year for their senior seasons are Ciara Younger and Brooke Cusumano. They look to lead the way for this team. However their is a Junior, Jordan Wolf who will push the two seniors,” said Bradley.

Another team looking to a great season is the cross country team. There are high hopes for the team going far this year.

“The goal for the team this year is to be healthier this year than last year. Last year we struggled with lots of injures,” said Ken Boesch, cross country coach.

There are many strong runners on the team this year and all of the coaches are looking forward to the girls having a great season.

“I’m looking forward to Laura Tarantino having a good year. Last year she just barely missed out on making All-State. Abby Nixon should also have a good season. It just all depends on her health. There is also a freshman, Kayla Brown, who should have a very good career here,” said Boesch.

One of the biggest changes from last season is that they have added a third coach. Jennifer Meyer is the newest addition to the team.

“ It has helped the girls to have someone there that they can relate too. She has been a big addition to the team,” said Boesch.

The final team looking forward to a great season is the tennis team. They have high hopes for this year.

“Both teams are very decent this year and I believe they both should have a very successful season,” said Barker, JV tennis coach.

There have not been many changes since last season so they are hoping to have another great run.

“We did not lose many girls this past season so there are not too big of shoes to fill. One of our main focuses this season is skill development and knowledge on playing doubles,” said Barker.

The girls fall sports teams are coming back this season stronger than the last and ready to face adversity.

WCA Athletics Puts New Concussion Testing Program in Play

regarded as boring and somewhat hard, WCA athletes still say that it is a good tool for WCA’s athletic department.

“The test was extremely boring and hard in some sections. However, it was extremely successful in diagnosing my concussion,” said Greg Fleissner, junior, a football player who suffered a minor concussion during football practice and has since passed his concussion test and returned to practice.

WCA is using a new program to test athletes for concussions this school year. The program is ImPACT and is used to diagnose

concussions and to judge when concussions are fully healed.

“Our hope is to keep our athletes as safe as possible. This gives us a tangible score to help us make sure that the athletes brain activity is back to normal following a concussion. It is another tool to help us make a decision on when to get the athletes back out on the field,” said Todd Zell, athletic director.

While WCA used a similar program known as Axon Sports for concussion diagnosis during the 2011-2012 school year, this is the first year that ImPACT has been used by WCA. ImPACT is a more popular concussion test program than Axon Sports, which is why WCA switched.

“We changed to ImPACT testing because it is more well known in the medical field. It was hard to find Doctors who had heard of Axon Sports and knew how to read their tests,” said Kim Bruhn, athletic trainer.

The tests that this program uses mostly vary, but they mostly involve reaction time and memory exercises.

“Tests include word memory, design memory, x’s and o’s, symbol matching, color matching, and three letter memory,” said Bruhn.

The ImPACT concussion test has been a success so far. While it is

Nick Lauer, senior, watches the football game against Wheaton on the sideline on August 24th. Lauer had been using the ImPACT program to evaluate whether he was fully healed from the concussion he had sustained during football practice. Photo By: Elise Hearne.

Westminster Christian AcademySeptember 2012

11

m yC A L L

S T E V E ND A V I S

S p o r T S E D I T o r

A Really Great DayIt’s been hard to comprehend what happened

around me last Friday. I took part in one of the greatest afternoons in WCA sports history. As the rain beat down on WCA’s sodden turf field, I felt a great sense of triumph as I heard the fans in the bleachers chant “Two and oh-oh.” It was unbelievable that the Westminster football team was 2-0 after two offseasons of being mocked as “the worst team in the school.” And that was merely half of what WCA sports teams accomplished on that day. After the game, absolutely soaking wet and my socks splattering water upon the dry hardwood in the Arena, I watched part of the volleyball team’s comeback victory over Lindbergh with some of my teammates. It was a great day to be a Wildcat.

Like many of my teammates, I was struggling with the adjustment to a new game time. Due to Hurricane Isaac, the game time had switched from the original time on Saturday at 1 pm to Friday at 4 pm but we were still not sure that we would even play the entire game that day. It was a pretty normal school day for a gameday, with people wishing me good luck in the hallways and my own nervousness about the game increasing with each passing hour.

As I walked out of 7th hour Poli Sci, the halls were deserted, giving me an opportunity to focus. I entered the locker room and quickly put on my pads. I headed out to the field with the other non-special-teamers and warmed up.

When seventh ranked MICDS’ returner bobbled the kickoff and recovered on his own one yard line, followed by their quarterback’s fumbled snap and our subsequent recovery mere inches from the goal line, I knew that we had MICDS right where we wanted them. They were vulnerable, and we pounced. Brett Bond scored on a quarterback sneak on the next play. At that point in time I felt that it would still be a fight and that MICDS was too good of a team to not come back from a deficit of only six points. However, the score had pumped up the crowd, which began feeding us energy as they began cheering for us.

Two Brett Bond touchdown passes later in the half more than tripled our previous 6-0 lead. It felt too good to be true that we were ahead 20-0 by the end of the second quarter. The crowd in the bleachers was really getting into the game now, pumping up our sideline and the eleven of us out on the field at a time. That drove me to keep competing. I still did not feel that we had accomplished anything so far. I asked myself the question, “If MICDS comes back in the second half and beats us, will we have accomplished anything?” I knew that we could not let up. We knew that MICDS had not been playing to their potential and were prepared for them to enter the second half fired up and ready.

As we stepped out of the locker room, the sky opened up and warm rain began falling. It spattered our helmets and soaked our uniforms as MICDS pounded the ball at us to begin the

second half. They drove down the field until they were inside of our 30 yard line and looked like they were ready to finally put some points. on the board when their running back fumbled the handoff. The fans were still cheering for us, encouraging us to keep fighting even when our backs were against the wall. On the next play the MICDS running back fumbled and the ball went straight into the hands of our linebacker Alex Rideout, who fell on it for the recovery. Thus we continued to preserve the shutout. This demoralized MICDS, while we gained more confidence. The energy from the crowd in the bleachers fed us more and more with every passing minute. This moment is when I truly felt that we were going to win this game. But I knew that we still couldn’t let up.

The rest of the game consisted of us ensuring victory and preserving the shutout. It is a bit of a blur to me. I do remember both of our second half touchdowns, where we extended our lead to 34-0. As I basked in the atmoshphere provided by the fans in the bleachers, I thought, “With the way we played today, something this wonderful could

happen every week.”As we finished the

game with the JV defense on the field preserving the shutout, our varsity players celebrated on the sideline. The cheerleaders led our soaking wet and ponch-clad fans in the Victory Chant, which was something that I had been dreaming of all the previous offseason. It was thus with a spirit of triumph that we exchanged handshakes with the MICDS team immediatly following the game. Afterwords, coach Snyder kept pointing at the scoreboard as we cheered. Coach Snyder always expects us to play

our best and to win, but even he said, “I never expected that we would be putting our JV team in by the end of the game.”

I felt, and still feel, that we have unfinished business even after shellacking MICDS. If we can play the way we did in only the second game of the season, imagine what we will play like late in the season, when we will have had an entire fall to work on our team chemistry.

After the game, I accompanied my teammates up to watch the volleyball game against Lindbergh. Many of the fans that had been watching the football game had moved into the Arena, and the atmosphere in the room was that of excitement. I watched the end of the WCA volleyball’s loss in the first game, and my teammates and I departed shortly afterward. I thought that the volleyball team would play hard and lose to a very good opponent. Imagine my excitement a half-hour later when I heard that the volleyball team had won! It was already a great day, and that news just made it better. I know that, years from now, I will look back at Friday, August 31st, and remember my participation in one of the greatest afternoons in WCA sports history.

Kudos to the fans. Kudos to the athletes. Kudos the the Wildcats.

S P O R T S

It was a great day to be a Wildcat.

Dominant AgainThis past summer, the Wildcat varsity baseball team became state champions for the second year in a row.

The experience of a lifetime, being the best, no competition. This is the Wildcat baseball team.

Westminster’s varsity baseball players finished up winning back-to-back state championships on

June 9th. The baseball team tore through the season, winning 29 games to earn the first place trophy. As the team celebrated, they look ahead to next season, and for those who are willing to step up to compensate for the great talent that graduated.

Most athletes can only dream of going to state, let alone winning, but a few were able to to win it twice. Those who returned from the first championship team had that rare opportunity.

“I am blessed to have the opportunity. These past two years, players have really stepped up and played well on the biggest stage,” said Ben Lovell, senior.

The Wildcats blew past most of the competition in the regular season posting a 29-3 record with a 26 game-winning streak. So, when

asked about the best part of the season, it was hard to choose.

“My favorite part of the season was seeing how excited the guys were to win. They worked hard all season to get to Springfield, so it was a thrill to see them get their reward for their hard work,” said Rich Van Gilst, head varsity baseball coach.

“The comaraderie with the team is great. It was great keep winning because the guys are so good to be around,” said Lovell.

“The whole atmosphere of playing for the team during the season and the playoffs was great,” said Collin Einertson, junior.

Now, there is only the future to look forward to, as the next season starts getting in the mind of the players.

“We have a lot of incredible players returning and many who will be playing big roles. Almost all of our pitching staff is coming back, and many hitters are returning stronger than ever. Even though we are moving up a class, I think we have a shot of a 3-peat,” said Lovell.

The Wildcats are ready and willing to take on their upcoming competition.

The varsity baseball team celebrates their second state title in a row. Photo by: Sarah Stanfi eld

Head coach Rich Van Gilst is lifted by senior team members during their post-victory celebration. Photo by: Sarah Stanfi eld

The varsity baseball team prays and gives thanks to God after their victory. Photo by: Sarah Stanfi eld


12 B A C K P A G E

At the start of every school year, an

unwelcome guest nestles within my

mind, plaguing me with insomnia and

stress. The vermin has developed a

certain fondness of my thoughts over

the years, finding it the perfect breeding

ground for Remorse, Anxiety, and Stress.

Though I have never welcomed him, I

could simply exterminate the pest if I

encased my mind in a locked chest, any

emotion requring an exlusive invite to

enter my mind. I need only first visit the

locksmith for such a contraption.

While the start of the school year is a

time for new beginnings, I can’t help but

look back and notice all of the gaping

spaces in my summer that could’ve been

put to good use. Summer, for me, had

always been a “Second Chance New Year.”

For every fitness, spiritual, or work goal

that I had failed to keep, summer would be

the second genesis. Mentally, I would list

out my priorities and to do lists that I hoped

to complete by the end of summer. Very

rarely, however, do I ever accomplish them.

Such failure propagates paranoia as I

imagine myself twenty years from now

as a starving artist living in the damp,

rat-infested alleyways of New York.

Eventually, I must talk myself out of that

line of thinking and move onto the the real

instigator of these thoughts: missed goals.

From a very young age, my father

taught me that goals must be specific,

measurable, attainable, realistic, and

timely. In other words, they must be

SMART. It sounded simple enough.

Writing goals are never particularly

taxing. However, following them are.

Recently, while scrolling through a

social media website, something that

alludes to my poor time management,

I stumbled across Neil Gaiman’s

Commencement Speech to the

University of the Arts. Gaiman, the

world famous author of Coraline,

Stardust, Sandman, starts off his

by saying, “If you have an idea of

what you want to make or what

you were put here to do it, go do

it. This is much harder than it

sounds.”Several of my goals had

been related to writing, a

profession I hope to go into

someday. I knew what I

wanted to be, and I focused my

energy on practicing it. Yet,

just as Gaiman said, sticking

with it is much harder than I had

pictured it in my mind.Gaiman goes on to say,

“Imagining that where I wanted

to be . . . imagining that was a

mountain. A distant mountain. My

goal. And I knew that as long as I

kept walking towards the mountain,

I’d be alright. And when I truly was

not sure what to do, I could stop and

think about whether it was taking me

towards or away from the mountain.”

Though I had goals and aspirations

in mind, I never analyzed my actions to

see if they would support my journey

towards them. And even if I did notice

other activities were leading me away

from them, I would rarely redirect my

course and position my compass to lead

me back to the mountain. Your desires may not be immediately

attainable but keeping them within

viewing range is crucial. Moreso, a

mountain should not only prove itself as

a landmark in this sense, but rather the

infestation of what an aspiration should

be. Immovable. Steadfast. Able to

withstand the blows people will give

you about it. And just as you reach

the base of the mountain, preparing to

climb to the top, you find that the end of

the journey is arduous. The higher you

climb, the more frigid the environment

around you. However challenging

the course may be, the reward of

accomplishment is a gratifying feeling

rare to most. Soon each mountain wil

appear as a foothill to other future goals.

Neil-ing Before the Mountain

Morgan KoettingAfter the football team defeated Wheaton High School in their first game of the season, both teams gathered together in the center of the field to pray. Photo by: Elise Hearne

Kayla Brown, freshman, is enthusiastic about being initiated onto the Cross Country team for this fall season. Photo by: Elise Hearne

The cheerleading squad practices their routine near the football fields. Photo by: Scott Rupprecht

Parting Shots

the wildcat roar

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