Varsity boy’s basketball senior night a let-down for class of 2013

Emma Kauffman ’13
Feature Editor
A cheering crowd, a tunnel of cheerleaders, crying parents and a reminiscent coach. Robert Klein ’13 and Kyle Longcore ’13 remember clearly how exciting past senior nights have been for the CSHS varsity basketball team. Unfortunately, their own senior night will never be included in those memories.

Senior night, Friday, Feb. 26, went differently than past years. During the varsity boys half-time, Coach Scott Taylor gave each of the girls a rose and brought them to center court. Once he announced their future plans and listed their many talents, the four girls took the microphone and thanked the crowd, their parents and coaches.

And then it was the boys’ turn.

“It wasn’t really the same as it’s been in the past with stuff that he’s done, but with a different coach I guess you can expect that” said Klein.

The boys wandered out of the locker room and to center court, and while the crowd chatted away, the class of 2013 senior night commenced.

“I could barely hear him [Coach Jeff Patin] standing right next to him, and everyone was talking” explained Klein.

The boys were disappointed with the way the evening went. Coach Jeff Patin began coaching this year, and did not have the history and memories with the boys that past coaches have had.

“He basically said the same thing about both of us, that we both worked really hard, and came to practice every day,” commented Klein, “Knowing that there were only two seniors on the team that we’d have to step up and be team leaders.

In past years, the whole student section would come down on the court and make a tunnel for the senior team members to walk though. The coach would talk about each of them for at least three minutes before the game.  All of the seniors got to start.

“I wish Kyle would have gotten to start, because he’s worked hard, and we were all expecting him to, and I saw that he wasn’t, and I felt bad for him.” said Klein.

Senior athletes are highly recognized in Cedar Springs. Many of them have been contributing to their various programs for many years, and are a large presence in the community. Although Longcore wasn’t able to start, he was more upset about the negative connotations of this year’s senior night.

“There were only two of us; Robert and I, so it felt like we were overlooked, or nobody cared about us.”

School vs. Club sports: The students share pros and cons as athletes

Hannah Wight ’13
Staff

For some athletes, down time is the enemy.  Those who prove commitment often use club sports to keep the competitive edge during their off-season.  As with anything, the more athletes practice, the better they’ll be, and playing a club sport in combination with school sports gives athletes that chance.

Participating in school athletics encourages friendships and sociable behavior.

“You get to know people from your school [and] make [new] friends,” says volleyball player, Elena Brownell ’15.  Most female athletes have to bond before they can succeed in battle.

Another benefit is that it’s inexpensive, and the games are in neighboring communities.

“It’s local, [and] you don’t have to travel,” says baseball player, Collin Hickok ’14.  This provides for easier access to training every day, which is better in preparing for games.

However, some feel that school sports are not as competitive.  Because of the limited talent of players, the teams are not as successful.

“Ineligibility is an issue for some [athletes],” says Brownell.  Education is first priority for school sports, so this can be an irritating struggle for some teams.

Club sports have different advantages that school sports don’t necessarily offer.

“You get more recognition from colleges,” explains hockey player, Mitchell Hawes ’14.  At the level some club sports play, scouts are more interested in the performance and ability of those athletes.

“[I] get to play in cool tournaments and on college fields,” says Hickok.  These opportunities aren’t offered in most school athletics, but they give club athletes a great experience.

“You have more time to yourself [and] more time for homework,” states Brownell.  Most often, club sports don’t require practice daily; it’s only a few times a week, leading up to games on the weekends.

Club sports also provide the chance to meet people from outside an athlete’s own community.

“I have friends from all over Michigan, and some from Indiana,” says Hawes.

The major downfall for club sports is the cost factor.  The higher the level, the more expensive it will be.  Plus, the various places club teams travel to for games aren’t always local, and the practices aren’t at school, adding to the expense.

Those athletes involved in both club and school sports do find great advantages.

“It’s more practice [and] more experience,” states Hickok.

“[It helps] being critiqued to improve,” explains Brownell.  The more time spent with the sport, the more natural it will become.

The obstacle that arises with taking part in both is the changing of coaches and teammates.

“They have different personalities, and a different game plan,” says Hickok.

“[The coaches] have different teaching styles [for practice].  Some use drills, while others use games,” says Brownell.   Getting to know the team and coach on and off the court is important.

The more experience in sports leads to greater success.  When hoping to pursue sports in college, it’s necessary to put the work and effort in.  To minimize the mistakes, the sport has to be mastered.  Whether it is school or club sports, it’s the purpose behind the determination for success.

Brownell says, “I want a lot of playing time next season, [and] I want to [work on] no mistakes. I want to be a benefit [for] my team.”

Top runners compete in Elite Mile

Katie Weiler ’13
Sports Editor

THE ELITE MEET

One mile. 1609 meters. Five and one-third laps around Grand Valley State University’s indoor track.

Goals were high and doubts were nonexistent.

“My main goal going into the race was just to win and put down a solid time,” explained Connor Mora ‘13.

The Gazelle Sports Elite Meet took place on Saturday, Feb. 16 at Grand Valley State University. The top nine long jumpers, hurdlers, and dash finalists received an elite meet shirt. The top 15 milers in the state for men and women were also present, adding prestige to the 2nd annual Elite Mile. Cedar Springs had two representatives: Mora and Kenzie Weiler ’15.

Mora’s personal best time in the mile ranked him first by over ten seconds, making him the clear favorite going into the race.

“My goal was to improve from last year’s place and time,” commented Weiler. “[Also] to show people I could keep up with the best in Michigan.”

The race doubled as a marker for their training efforts this winter. Both agree that they are performing at a higher level than at the event last year. This is also a confidence booster going into their next workouts because it shows that their hard work is paying off.

As for the outcome, Mora defended his Elite Mile title with a 4:15.05, six seconds ahead of second place.

“The hardest part was probably the last 200 meters,” said Mora.

Weiler passed three girls in the final lap to place sixth with a time of 5:03.23. The finish was not the most difficult part of the race for her.

“[It was] thirty seconds in the middle of the race when it wasn’t the beginning or end and I just had to keep my pace and keep with the girls,” explained Weiler.

LOOKING AHEAD

Being part of the best in the state means more than doing well at races. The runners must look ahead and set their goals for the coming races.

“My goal for indoor state is to break 5:00 for the 1600m,” comments Weiler. “It is a goal that I have wanted for two and a half years.”

Weiler will be running the 1600m run at the Michigan Indoor Track Series State Championship. The event will take place at Central Michigan University on Saturday, Feb. 23. After that, outdoor track begins in March, and she is prepared to chase down her goals for the season.

“I want to improve on my PR’s and school records from last season and place higher at state than I did last year,” said Weiler.

Forgoing the state meet, Mora has accepted a special invitation to the Brooks PR meet in Seattle, Washington. He will race the mile on Sunday, Feb. 24 against some of the best boys in the nation. His race will be aired on a live stream at 6:35 PST on www.flotrack.org.

“I’d like to run a fast time at Brooks PR and finish near the top of the pack,” said Mora. “For outdoor, I would like to win state again and get in the low four minutes.”

Emerging Elite: Connor Mora ’13 and Kenzie Weiler ’15 wearing their Elite Meet shirts. They performed extremely well against the elite fields. Photo by Julie Weiler

More than teammates: Siblings strengthen their bond through sports

Molly Holtrop ’13
Staff

Why do we play sports? Is there a certain drive inside of us all that makes winning the only option? Or do we just play for the love of the game? Everyone has their rationale for why they step out onto the field or court. For CSHS students Sayge Wight ’14 and Luke Dault ’15, their sport hits close to home. Not only are they playing for their team and themselves, but ultimately, for the ones they look up to the most: their siblings.
“Hannah [Wight ‘13] has a big influence on me when it comes to basketball. She started playing before me, and because of her, I wanted to try it too,” says Sayge.

SISTERLY LOVE: Sisters Sayge Wight ’14 and Hannah Wight ’13 debate on a picture pose. The Wight’s compete side by side on the varsity basketball team. Basketball is just one of the many things they share in each other’s lives. Photo by Sirena Johnson ‘13

The Wight sisters are a mere one year apart and are undoubtedly each other’s best friend. Many of the things they experience, they experience together, and that’s how they like it.
“Basketball is much more enjoyable because of Hannah. She’s a good player to look up to and learn from,” states Sayge.
Like the Wight sisters, the Dault brothers also share the bond over a sport. Soccer has always been an important aspect in their lives.
“Aaron [Dault ‘13] was the one who got me into soccer in the first place. He’s a great leader and player. I look up to him because of that,” says Luke.
Both Sayge and Luke agree that while playing with their older siblings, they have learned many new concepts.
“She’s always there to tell me what I need to work on and what I do right. Hannah can criticize me differently than anyone because she’s my sister,” states Sayge.
Over the years, these sisters and brothers have had their ups and downs, but it is clear that they are thankful to have them in their lives.
“I don’t think that I’d be as good at soccer if I didn’t have Aaron. Things would definitely be different without him,” says Luke.
Sayge also sees the positive affects her sister Hannah has on her.
“She has so much passion for the game that it rubs off on me. I want to do good and win because of her,” states Sayge.
Their seasons might come to an end, but they’ll always have each other for life, no matter how far.
“I’m sad she’s going to college. It’s going to suck not having her there to go to practice or games with. I’m going to miss her,” says Sayge.
Although seeing your best friend, sibling, and teammate leave for college is a tough transition, Luke thinks on the positive side.
“I’m excited to see what he’ll do in college. I know Aaron has a good future ahead of him,” states Luke.
Role models are different for everybody. Whether it’s a NBA all-star, or a hometown hero, dreams are built on being just like them one day. However, for some, the person they most look up to is a sibling.
Luke says, “Someday I hope to be just like [Aaron].”

The hawks are taking on the wildcats

Alyssa Alger ’15
Staff

Tonight, the boys and girls varsity basketball teams will be playing against Northview High School. The boys’ game will start at 5:30 p.m., and the girls’ game will follow. The theme for this game is 80’s.  The dance team will be performing at half-time of the boys varsity game and will be doing a hip-hop routine. The varsity girls are looking forward to parents’ night on Tuesday, Jan 29 at their home game. The game on Tuesday will start at 7:00 p.m.

Gym Wars: A nightly battle to be the best

Katie Weiler ’13
Sports Editor

Eight teams.

One gym.

Three and a half months of chaos.

“The conflict of gym space is definitely one that needs to be acknowledged” commented Justin Jones ’15.

Competitive cheer in the middle school cafeteria. Wrestling in the old weight room. Basketball…everywhere.

Practices are at different times throughout the week.

“It’s never nice,” explained Mr. Scott Taylor, girls varsity basketball coach. “One day we’re practicing at 2:30, the next 4:30, and the next 7.”

Cedar View’s gym is rubber.

“The dirt ruins our shoes,” mentioned Sam Taylor ’16.

Red Hawk’s court is ten feet too short.

“It makes it hard to run certain drills,” said Mikenzie Francis ’14.

Temperatures may be negative outside, but the gyms are staying red hot with use. The screeching of shoes and the drumming of basketballs can be heard long after darkness settles upon Cedar Springs.

“It affects the team because the less time we have in the gym, the worse we will get,” added Nick Krajewski ’14.

A scheduling struggle. A space struggle. A team struggle.

“Practicing with the freshman, I feel like we don’t work as hard and just go at the level they’re at,” acknowledged Marissa Oakes ’15. “But when we practice with the varsity, we struggle.”

Overlapping. Using four gyms. Studying early. Studying late.

Adapting.

“I’ve joked it’s like a Rubik’s cube, because once you make one move then it affects everything else,” admitted Jen Myers, athletic secretary. “It gets really tricky to do.”

An inevitable problem year-to-year, solutions are obviously scarce. Or extremely unlikely.

“We need a multimillionaire to build a new facility,” joked Mr. Taylor. “Then we could have three or four gyms in one building.”

The result of the gym wars?

Commitment. Dedication. Time management.

Acceptance.

“We have a place to practice every night,” expressed Robert Klein ’13.

Graphic by Sabrina Wheeler ’13

Ya gotta getcha head in the game: Athletes have different methods of preparing

Alyssa Alger ’15
Staff

“We do a chant that gets us pumped.” –Kyle Knarr ’15 Bowling

“We all get pumped by doing some Cedar cheers, and we always make the other team jealous of our enthusiasm.” –Trent Chiles ’15 Bowling

“The team listens to music, and everyone tapes their sticks or gets ready to stretch, then we stretch, then jog and get ready. Me, I try and get there a bit before everyone to just get the listen to the music and get my mind focused on the game and what I have to do.” –Zack Taylor ’13 Hockey

“I just like to listen to rock songs, do dynamic and static stretches, and use a foam roller to get my muscles really warmed up. Then I just take some time to visualize what I can do to help get prepared.” –Mitchell Hawes ’14 Hockey

“Something I do to prepare myself is to get us pumped, and then we get in a circle and pray.” –Sara Kriekaard ’16 Basketball

“I listen to music and eat Subway before every game. And with my team, we all listen to rap and hip hop on somebody’s phone, and we also pray.” –Ashley Vanderhoef ’16 Basketball

“As a team, Burrows usually yells and stuff to get us all pumped up.” –Nate Sorensen ’15 Basketball

“We usually listen to music really loud in the locker room and sing and dance.” –Marissa Oakes ’15 Basketball

“Before the competition starts, during the national anthem, we all stand in a line with one hand behind our backs, locking pinkies with the teammates standing behind us and in front of us. Right before we go out on the mat, we have a different chant for each round, and it gets us excited. And we always wear red lipstick at every competition.” –Courtney Piatt ’15 Competitive Cheer

“We usually talk and just chill so we don’t have as much stuff on our minds [so we can] just stick to focusing on basketball.” –DaMarcus Barnett ’16 Basketball

“I listen to music with my team and watch them jump around.” –Shelbi Link ’15 Basketball

“I make myself mad and use that anger out on the mat to win.” –Logan McGahan ’15 Wrestling

“We just joke around a lot to get the nerves out of the way.” –Jessica Wells ’16 Basketball

“We listen to music, and we have a poster we slap before our games.” –Taylor Vandyke ’16  Basketball

Hoping hard work pays off: Conditioning for girls soccer begins

Hannah Wight ’13
Staff

Since Monday, Jan. 7, the high school hallways have been filled with hard steps and heavy breathing everyday after school from 2:40-4:30.  For the Cedar Springs Girls Soccer program, it’s time for conditioning.

“There are a lot of people this year, [and] we are definitely going hard. There’s no redoing [workouts]; everyone goes through everything,” says Stephanie Finnila ’13.  The girls prove commitment and intense work ethic to better prepare for the spring season.

“We always would like to see more people there,” says Anna Hause ’14.  They have about 15 girls on a regular basis.  The attendance numbers are inconsistent; they seem to drop more in the middle of the conditioning months.

“It starts out simple to build endurance,” explains Justin Harnden, varsity coach.  They work on core strength along, with speed and agility.  There’s a purpose for what they do during the sessions.

On Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays, the girls begin with a 14 minute run and then partake in various activities including sprints, ladders, and stairs.  Tuesdays and Thursdays are specifically weight lifting.

Participation and commitment at conditioning provides a good look into the season, and so far, it’s been a positive one.

“[It’s a] good sign for a good season,” states Hause.  The girls are hoping to keep fit with a healthy workout routine to give the soccer team a successful start.  Improving daily will encourage a great season.

Conditioning will continue all the way up until when tryouts start on Monday, March 11.

Harnden says, “I’m not expecting girls to be the fastest or the strongest, I just expect them to work hard.”

Wearing Green, Bleeding Red: Red Hawk seniors skate with West Catholic

Katie Weiler ’13
Sports Editor

The student section is full of kids they don’t know. The drive to practice and back is over 40 miles, six days a week. The jersey is green and white with West Catholic’s logo on the front. The newspaper is reporting the scores and highlights of their games under West Catholic’s name. The six seniors from Cedar Springs High School endure these things for one reason: to play hockey.

Not going to school with the same people you pass the puck to can be tough, but Zack Taylor ’13, Colton Mora ’13, Dontae Ensley ’13, Jonathan Gilbert ’13, Zach Magoon ’13, and Brandyn Barnard ’13 make the best of it.

“It’s a little bit harder [to] bond, but when you’re playing on a team you blend and that’s how you win games,” comments Gilbert.

The boys admit that sometimes there is tension between the schools, but most of the time everyone gets along. There is the advantage of meeting new people and playing against other high school teams to help them become better players. Obviously, the benefits outweigh the disadvantages.

“It’s not as easy to get playing time because they favor the West Catholic kids more because it’s their school, not ours,” explains Ensley.

Differences aside, they do everything they can to support their teammates in the good and bad times. The support most often comes in the form of encouragement or helping out players that don’t understand the drills.

“I try to pump them up. I say positive things and keep them in a positive mood so we can go out there and play our hardest,” voices Barnard.

The hockey season may end in March, but the boys work hard year-round to prepare for their coveted minutes on the ice. Lifting at the gym, going for a run, eating healthy, and learning new tricks are a few of their off-season preparation efforts.

“I go to drop-in, stick and puck, and open skate at the Sports Plex,” says Magoon.

College looms in the horizon for the players, and hockey is sure to be in their future plans. Taking their talent and hard work to the next level will mean a large time commitment in addition to the academic workload. The recruiting offers have been made, now the decisions are left for them to make. Magoon and Barnard are weighing their options before making a choice on whether or not they will continue playing the sport at the collegiate level.

“I’m being looked at by Aquinas right now, but it depends on how everything else goes,” explains Taylor.

Ensley has decided he will play hockey in college and has narrowed his options to two schools.

“I’m between Central Michigan and Michigan State,” comments Ensley.

Gilbert is also searching for where he would like to continue his career.

“I’m looking at a few schools, like Davenport or a travel team,” says Gilbert.

They have 11 games left in their high school careers and would greatly appreciate their classmates and community members coming out to support them. A link to the schedule of remaining games is listed below.

http://www.usatodayhss.com/team/west-catholic-h-s-grand-rapids-mi/boys-varsity-varsity-ice-hockey/scores-and-schedule

Photos by Anna Hause ’14

The dance team hopes to raise school spirit during their first half-time show

Hannah Wight ’13
Staff

For most spectators, half-time is the usual time for visiting the concession stand for sweet or salty snacks and refreshing beverages.  For others, it’s time for conversation and interacting with community members they wouldn’t otherwise see.  However, this past Friday, Jan. 11, fans were entertained with a performance put on by the dance team.

Due to it being their first time in front of a live audience, many of the dancers were nervous.

“We didn’t know what to expect,” said Paige Fisher ’13.  The crowd’s reaction gave them support, leaving them charged and excited to continue the show.

“They have a lot talent out there, and people just need to give them a chance.  They put a lot of work into the routine, and I thought it was fun to watch,” commented Kaitlin Marsman ’13.  The dance was country themed and the music was a mix of popular country songs.

While the dance was a success for the girls, there was still some criticism.  Not everyone was satisfied with the outcome.

“It looked like they needed more practice.  [They were] not in sync,” explained Cameron Lotter ’13.

“I think it needed to be faster and more upbeat,” stated Nikki Matzke ’14.  Because it was their first performance, most spectators were forgiving.

Fortunately, their next dance routine will be on Friday, Jan. 25.  It will be a hip-hop theme in which they’re more comfortable, and better able to express themselves.

For the girls, it’s more than just the dancing, it’s also the relationships they’ve created.

“I’m glad I joined; it’s a lot of fun, [and] I’ve made new friends,” said Olivia Finch ’14.  Dance practice is thought of more as a get together, and they enjoy having a reason to hang out.

Looking toward future performances, the dance team hopes that the crowd will get excited and look forward to their dances during half-time.  They hope to raise school spirit and gain approval in doing so.

Brianna Brugel ’15 said, “I want people to see and respect the hard work [we] girls put into these dances.”

“Country Girl (Shake It For Me)”: The dance team shakes their hips to songs by Luke Bryan, Carrie Underwood, and Miranda Lambert. Not all the girls on the team were present in the dance. Photo by Hannah Wight