april 23, 2015
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Xavier High School6300 42nd St. NECedar Rapids, IA 52411www.xaviersaints.orgwww.xavierxpress.comFollow us: @xpressnewspaper Photos and Page Design
by Kathleen Parrish
THE MIRACLE WORKER
Volume 17, Issue 13 April 23, 2015
Xavier High SchoolNews
The XpressBi-weeklyXavier High School 6300 42nd St. NE Cedar Rapids, IA 52411Volume 17 Issue 13
Xpress Staff
Editor-In-ChiefKatherine BauerPhoto EditorKathleen Parrish
PhotographersJessica Fenske
Ellie Detweiler
Maddy Bailey
BusinessTory Brown
DistributionDonavin WengerOnline Editor
Jeff Frieden
News EditorTyler Testin News Writers
Kathleen Parrish
Tory Brown
Erin Drahozal
Amy Boe
KJ Giles
Opinion EditorAmy Boe
Opinion AssistantAbby Willey
Opinion WritersNic Ekland
Erin Drahozal
Erin Foley
Brooke Alexander
Adrienne Hayes
Student Life EditorJenny Dickes
Student Life AssistantMorgan Ross
Student Life WriterStephanie Wehr
Mini-Feature EditorsFaith Bohrer & Mikayla Noonan
Mini-Feature AssistantHadley Shriver
Feature EditorsBrady Hoffman & Jessica Driscoll
Feature WriterBrylee Bastian
Health and Lifestyle EditorSamantha Valenta
Health and Lifestyle AssistantMaddy Bailey
Health and Lifestyle WriterHailey Justice
Arts & Entertainment EditorKayla Thompson & Rachel Lampe
Arts and Entertainment WritersCatie Locher
Donavin Wenger
Nic Ekland
Sports EditorDaniel Richardson
Sports AssistantKJ Giles
Sports WritersLuke Koechner
Grant Gibney
Ryan Williams
Mark Wardlaw
Backpage EditorsJessica Fenske
Backpage AssistantEllie Detweiler
Backpage WriterAnna Christianson
Index News.. 2 | Opinion.. 4
Student Life.. 6 | Mini-Feature.. 7Feature.. 8
Health & Lifestyle.. 10 | A & E.. 11Sports.. 14 | Backpage.. 16
2
Construction Materials, Inc.Dick Galligan
345-49th Avenue Dr. S.W.Cedar Rapids, IA 52404
(319)-366-6446(800) 747-6401
Career fair offers employment advice to studentsDuring Xcel Hour on April
15, professionals from over 40 different careers came to the Ron Thillen Gymnasium for Xavier High School’s Career Fair. Over half of the presenters whom Xavier welcomed were graduates of Regis, LaSalle, or Xavier High Schools. Students were able to explore a wide variety of potential careers at this year’s event, which was organized by Xavier Admissions and College Coordinator Cara Jones.
The featured professions varied from FBI Special Agent to CEO of a company to expert portrait photographer and many more. Indecisive upperclassmen in particular can benefit from the event as they struggle to choose what they will study in college.
“I went and talked to some of the health careers,” junior Ellie Meyer said. “It was helpful because I’m still not sure what I want to do, so it gave me lots of ideas. I had the opportunity to ask questions to people who have life experience
and find out if each career was something I would enjoy.”
The goal of the Career Fair was to give students insight into a variety of professions. Students were able to wander between booths that caught their interest. At each table, there was an expert prepared to answer questions from students and in many cases, offer brochures, pamphlets, or business cards. Some people, like
graphic designer Dan Schuster, brought a portfolio of examples for students to explore. Still others brought t-shirts or candy for students interested in their booth.
Kathleen ParrishNews Writer
Holocaust speaker shares survival story with SaintsSir Nicholas Winton said, “If it’s
not impossible, it can be done.” With those words in mind, he set out to do things that many others would not do. In 1939, he saved 669 children from the Holocaust at the age of 29. Winton is still alive at 106 years old. He is the reason Xavier High School was able to listen to the Holocaust survival account of Renata Laxova, one of the 669 children saved by Winton.
On April 14, Laxova talked directly to the senior and junior classes in the Regis-LaSalle Theatre. Her speech was also given as a live feed event online for the rest of the high school and for other schools to stream.
“It would have been nice to be there in person, but the live stream was cool,” freshman Kate McCartan said. “The speech was thought provoking and intriguing.”
Laxova told the students and faculty about her experiences during the Holocaust. At the age of seven, she had to leave her family behind in Czechoslovakia. Hitler had entered Czech territory and was taking over her town by burning buildings and enacting his Nazi beliefs. She had to board a train to England so she could be kept safe. There she lived with a foster family who raised her as their own until World War II ended.
After the war, only 20 children
out of the 669 were reunited with one of their parents back home and only five were reunited with both of their parents. Laxova was one of the five who was reconnected with both of her parents. She told us that her parents were always honest with her throughout the process of escaping Czechoslovakia, and that has been one of the most important things in her life.
Laxova moved around from Czechoslovakia to England and now lives in the United States with her husband. She has two children. Laxova also has a PhD in genetics. She still stays in contact with her foster family and is very close to her foster brother.
When asked about how Laxova felt about being a Holocaust survivor, her answer surprised many.
“I’m glad that I have an experience that I can share,” Laxova said. “It helps me cope with things when I don’t want to share or when things bother me in life. Having had that experience, it puts things in perspective.”
Laxova did meet Sir Nicholas later in her life. She pushed through big groups of people and kissed his hand and his cheek. She also gave him a gift in gratitude for all that he did for her and the others he saved.
“I think it is very important at
this point for people to get first hand accounts because it is going to get harder and harder to have those first hand accounts,” Xavier teacher Mr. Russ Camacho said.
Xavier was extremely lucky to have Laxova speak about her real experiences in the Holocaust. She gave the whole school hope through her experiences, courage, and honesty. Her presentation can still be viewed at http://www.xaviersaints .org/l ive/.
Tory BrownNews Writer
Renata Laxova tells her story of escaping the Nazis in 1939. Sydney Nelson Photo.
Left: A crowd of students peruse the Xavier Career Fair. Nick Ireland Photo.Right: Sophomores Jeff Daubitz and Gwen Cataldo learn about future jobs. Kellie Wagner Photo.
April 23, 2015 News 3Model UN finds world peace
On April 8, Xavier sophomores, juniors and seniors were inducted into National Honor Society. The ceremony lasted for an hour with each of the candidates receiving a certificate of acceptance.
The National Honor Society (NHS) is the nation’s premier organization established to recognize outstanding high school students. More than just an honor roll, NHS serves to honor those students who have demonstrated excellence in the areas of scholarship, leadership, service, and character. These characteristics have been associated with membership in the organization since its beginning in 1921.
Today, it is estimated that more than one million students participate in NHS activities across the continent. National Honor Society chapters are found in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, many U.S. territories, and Canada. Chapter membership not only recognizes students for their accomplishments but challenges
them to develop further through active involvement in school activities and community service.
“It was an honor to be inducted into NHS,” sophomore Lexi Noonan said. “My sisters before me had also been inducted, and it is great to keep the tradition going. It’s humbling to be included in a select amount of students and be recognized for everything I work hard to achieve.”
NHS also offers multiple scholarships with one grand prize winner receiving $13,000 in scholarship money. To fill out the scholarship application and for more information about NHS, visit www.nhs.us or contact Mrs. Sara Whitt in the math department.
Erin DrahozalNews Writer
At a recent meeting of delegates representing the world’s top powers, solutions were found to end war, environmental issues, and global poverty. Unfortunately, these resolutions were not made by the United Nations in New York City, but rather the Model UN participants in Cedar Falls.
Xavier participated in this year’s Model UN conference April 16 and 17 at the University of Northern Iowa. The Saints walked away champions of the world, at least in their own hearts and minds.
“I decided to participate in Model UN because it seemed like a fun way to learn more about the world in a fun environment,” sophomore Brett Burns said.
Awards were given to top individual delegates at the conference and to authors of the best essays written in preparation for the debates. Four Saints, Burns and fellow sophomores Peter Deegan, Mitch King, and Joy Schnoebelen, were recognized for their Outstanding Essays this year. This achievement tied Xavier for the second most essay winners out of all schools participating. Deegan and freshmen Joseph Bioche were selected as Outstanding Delegates after the competition. Every participant at Model UN went home a winner because they fostered world peace among the youth.
“Model UN is a great experience because it allows students to learn about international politics on the day-to-day levels,” junior Peter Clark said. “They get to see how different nations must come together in addressing global issues.”
The spirit of cooperation is a central theme of the real United Nations and also pervades into the Model UN conference. The
Saints’ team this year is young with many first time participants in Model UN, but Xavier as a school has competed for years. They have found different roads to success throughout their history of involvement.
“My favorite part was freshmen year when a vote to strip America of nuclear weapons privileges failed by only three votes,” Clark said.
The Iowa High School Model United Nations program began in 1966. A cascade of students has flowed to Cedar Falls every year since inception. Each high school at the state conference chooses to represent a few of the 193 nations in the real UN. This year students from Xavier were part of either Colombia, Nigeria, or Russia.
“I chose to participate in Model UN because I think it is important to know how world issues are debated and solved,” junior Sam Pisney said. “My country was Russia, and my topic was LGBT rights. I am honored to have a country that takes a moral stance on the issue of LGBT rights.”
Depending on the country selected, students debated topics ranging from social, humanitarian, and cultural issues to cases presented in the International Court of Justice. Delegates took on the viewpoints of their chosen country and debated from that stance at the conference.
The United Nations turns 70 years old in 2015, but a youthful vigor remains for the high school students who participate in the annual Model UN Conference.
Tyler TestinNews Editor
National Honor Society induction
Top: Nick Koechner, Brett Burns, and Ryan Jasper wave the Columbian flag with pride.Below: Mitch King, Brett Burns, Peter Deegan, Joy Schnoebelen, and Joseph Bioche celebrate their victories at Model UN. KJ Giles Photos.
Senior NHS officiers Stephen Jones, Alea Challenger, Allison Jasper, and Jeanne Bouchard welcome the society’s latest inductees. Mitchell Anderson Photo.
Xavier High SchoolOpinion4
Next year I will be a t t e n d i n g Iowa State to study psychology. Ever since the junior r e s e a r c h
paper, I have been extremely interested in the study of psychology and the mind sets of different people. My research paper dealt with three stories of completely different plot lines and characters. The stories highlighted the differences in every person and the way they think. I really want to help people understand the parts of their mind that they don’t understand themselves.
One of the hardest times to understand not only ourselves but others is high school. High school is an extremely confusing place where we have to transition out of the middle school uglies but we still aren’t full adults yet. People are always telling us what we can and cannot do. For example, at 15, you can drive to school, but you can’t drive to study groups off school grounds. We are prepared
for these things because we know the rules and laws set specifically for those situations.
But what about the things they don’t teach us in school, church, or driver’s ed? What about the laws or rules so many people overlook? Who taught us what to do when our heart is breaking into a million pieces or how to not break someone else’s? Who taught us how to actually stand up for ourselves and others without fighting or getting walked on? Who taught us how to deal with family, friends, and self problems that we would have never thought of until the minute they are happening? The hard truth is nobody.
Nobody taught us how to deal with pressure and expectations from classmates, family members, or friends. Nobody showed us how to successfully argue an opinion by not shoving your opinion down someone’s throat while still taking other’s opinions into consideration. Nobody told us how to deal with change, stress, failed friendships, relationships, and so many other things. People have tried to teach these things, but unfortunately they are all inevitable and each situation will be different.
If my best friend is going through one of the things I’ve
listed above such as heartache or anxiety, I try my hardest to help them with advice and my own life examples, but that won’t always solve the problem. The way he/she perceives the world and copes with that situation is different than it is for me. If you just had a death in your family, my experience with death and grieving will not be the same as yours. You also will never have that exact death and coping method ever again. Every mind has a different trigger word. Every thought process has a cliff where our body, mind, and soul will need to take a jump. We have to go through these hard questions personally to learn the answers. The problem
is every time we go through it, the solution is different.
Was your heart just broken? Did you just experience a panic attack or a fight with a parent? Let me help console you. I can share my knowledge from my own experiences and try to see what you may be hiding from yourself. Advice and help are things I wish people took to heart more often, but sometimes the best advice giver is our own heart.
Tory BrownBusiness Manager
Knowledge outside of textbooks
Senior Tory Brown hopes to use her fascination with the human brain to become a psychologist. Kellie Wagner Photo.
R e c e n t l y the news has been flooded with a plethora of hate against frats after the incident
occurring in Sigma Alpha Epsilon. Students in this fraternity at the University of Oklahoma were videotaped chanting racist and derogatory phrases, and the video then went viral. Don’t get me wrong, I’m definitely not encouraging this kind of behavior or the actions of the frat, but this is not a good representation of what fraternities and sororities are truly about. I am going to join a fraternity at a big school next year. However, some people think that it’s just a way to buy your friends or an excuse to drink. I’m sorry if you can’t get past stereotypes that are associated with fraternities and sororities, but they aren’t all true.
As a matter of fact, fraternities are actually one of
the best ways to learn about college and about life. With normally around 60-80 guys or girls living under one roof, there is no way that you will get along with all of them all of the time, and if you do, I applaud you. Essentially, you learn to work with others and most importantly learn to respect other people’s opinions.
The argument of buying your friends is one of stupidity. Sure, you do meet a lot of guys that may end up being your friends, but in some cases, fraternities and sororities are actually a cheaper option than a dorm room with a meal plan. They incorporate service and philanthropy which is huge for the community or the group that the funds are being raised for. There are not just a few fraternities and sororities but there are thousands of chapters who all participate in philanthropy and service.
People often have a difficult time understanding why I would want to be in a house with a bunch of guys who are jerks and drink all the time. In my case, the fraternity that I am going to be in is dry, which means drinking is prohibited on the fraternity’s campus.
Pros of fraternaties and sororities
Another big positive side to a sorority or frat is the connections. You can make friendships that last a lifetime or even business connections that will lead to your future job. Along with the connections is the leadership involved. You can be a leader of a frat, and that can be great on a resumé or as a tribute to how great of a leader you are.
Overall, the idea of fraternities and sororities might not be for all people. However, if you judge them before you know what they are about, you’re denying yourself the possibility to be a part of something that’s bigger than you.
Luke KoechnerSports Writer
“Honeydew melon is the most delicious melon out there”
“I’ve heard the mustache is a
symbol of power”
“I’d give anything to be back on the beach right now”
“w8 2 txt”
“Parlor city provides unconditional love in every scoop of ice
cream”
“is moviebox banned?”
“I heard Mr. Hayward is going to
prison next year!”
Hall Talk
April 23, 2015 Opinion 5
H a v e you ever experienced a time when you’re telling s o m e o n e a b o u t s o m e t h i n g
you love to do and they don’t seem to care at all? I, and I’m sure many others, have been through this, and it is easy to become frustrated and feel worthless when someone reduces your passion to nothing. You can’t change this person’s way and force them to care about something you love. However, what you can do is stop caring about what others think and keep doing what you love. Your passion is worth much more than anyone else’s opinion.
Seeing the light in someone’s eyes when they talk about something they love is really heartwarming. Listening to someone talk about their experiences
Don’t be afraid to be passionate
and what they plan to do in the future regarding their passion is something I love.
I find myself talking endlessly about my passion, dance, with others. It’s nice to talk to someone who genuinely seems interested in how my last competition went or if I plan to dance in college. It can be slightly embarrassing when it seems as though I am boring the person with something that never feels boring to me. As for those of you who are on the other side of the conversation, try listening to others’ experiences and thoughts on their passion and respect
them. Putting them down and belittling them is ignorant, and if you pay attention, you might learn something about that person you never knew before.
I have been involved in dance for almost 15 years, and I would not have stayed in it for this long if I wasn’t passionate about it. There’s something I admire about being in a dance studio filled with people who love the same thing as me. Through dance, I have found my best friends, my talents, and also myself. It inspires me to dig deep inside myself for things that I can’t put into words. So sometimes, instead
of talking about my feelings, I dance. Being at dance for 15 hours a week can be grueling and a little stressful sometimes, but I know that without it I would not be who I am.
Having this feeling of worthlessness when someone puts down your passion is common, but the question I ask is this: who cares? You should never let someone else’s opinion or reaction to your passion keep you from doing it. Your passion is what makes you you, and no person should have the power to change that. Keep doing what you love not for the sake of others, but for yourself. If you really love what you do, nothing can stop you from doing it if you ignore what other people think. Never apologize for being in love with your passion.
Erin FoleyOpinion Writer
competition with each other to see who can win the most attention from men. I’ll admit that I’ve been guilty of this, too. I have pretended to be interested in certain things to impress a boy. I didn’t realize it at the time, though. It wasn’t until I decided to stop pretending that I had this shocking epiphany: living for yourself is so much more satisfying than getting all dolled up every weekend to go out and try to capture the attention of a boy. Because ladies, although we might be hesitant to admit it, we do act differently around boys we like.
If I pretend to like the things he likes, everything will work out perfectly, right? Let me tell you from personal experience: this is not the case. The truth is, you can pretend to be anyone you want in order to get the attention of a boy. Temporarily, it’s likely to work out great. But eventually, you’ll get tired of pretending.
You don’t realize how fake and shallow all this pretending is until you take a step back and distance yourself from it. You don’t have to be “Cool Girl.” In fact, I highly encourage you not to be. You might not have all of the boys drooling over you, but it’s rewarding to know that you’re living your life for yourself and not solely to impress someone else. In the end, faking it hurts no one but yourself.
Abby WilleyAssistant Opinion Editor
“The Cool Girls are even more pathetic: t h e y ’ r e not even pretending to be the woman they want to be, they’re
pretending to be the woman a man wants them to be.” This quote might sound familiar to anyone who has read Gillian Flynn’s Gone Girl. This eye-opening concept of the “Cool Girl” has been stuck in my mind ever since I read this masterpiece of a novel over spring break. It exposes the truth nobody wants to believe: a “Cool Girl” doesn’t truly exist.
Flynn’s brilliant concept of “Cool Girl” is as follows: guys fall for the “Cool Girl.” She’s the girl who doesn’t complain about anything and the girl who keeps her real feelings and opinions to herself because she doesn’t want her man to think she’s being “over dramatic” or “whiny.” “Cool Girls” are girls who are willing to submit themselves to the wishes of their significant other in order for them to be happy. As I said before, girls like this don’t really exist. We trick boys into thinking so because so many of us are willing to pretend.
The female population as a whole has plagued ourselves with a deadly and unnecessary disease. We are constantly in
Cool girls don’t exist
It’s not all about the likes
I am one who loves to scroll through my Instagram feed as much as anyone else. Iseem to always find
pictures getting posted at the same time, which I have heard some do justso they can get more likes. By thinking, “If I post this photo at midnight, I won’t get as many likes as if I would if I post it on Sunday right after 11 a.m. Mass when I know everyone isawake.” WHY do we care so much about likes? Likes do notdefine you, and they won’t make more people like you.
I used to be all about the likes until I realized how annoying it was to hear, “Oh my! I only got 190 likes instead of 300 like so and so did.” Yes, I might not get as many likes as someone else,but I don’t care about it. When posting a photo, it should be because you want someone to seethe photos that you enjoy, not so you can hit a certain number of likes. I know it’s hard to not be focused on likes, and I bet everyone at some point in their life has continuously refreshed their post every five minutes instead of staying off your phone and enjoying who you are with.
Years from now you won’t remember posting the photo, but you will the memories that were made. Posting a photo is to share what you are outdoing, so always remember that it’s about your experiences and memories, not the likes. Let me tell you: once youstop caring about the likes, you will enjoy posting photos more, and you won’t be ‘stressed out’ onceyou post them.
So, the next time you are posting something, don’t focus on the likes. Enjoy thetime you have with the people in the photo. Remember to set the phone down and enjoyeverything outside of social media. In the long run, you will remember thepicture, not how many likes it got.
Brooke AlexanderOpinion Writer
Junior Erin Foley holds her dance pose. Jill Christine Photography Photo.
Xavier High School Student Life 6
COLLEGE COMING!ISCollege is the word that brings about mixed feelings of fear and excitement. Here are some tips to help with the anxiety and to
start preparing for college.
Page design by: Jenny Dickes and Morgan Ross. Information collected by: Stephanie Wehr. Information from: http://www.norwayconnects.org/sofn/education-opportunities/177.
Freshmen and SophomoresTo Do:
JuniorsTo Do:
SeniorsTo Do:
Although it may seem ages away, it is never too early to
prepare for college.
1. Grades: Grades the first two years of high school can really impact your cumulative GPA. Keep them up!
2. Start looking into majors: Start thinking about what subjects interest you or what you are passionate about.
3. Do a job shadow: Job shadows are a great way to figure out what career to pursue.
4. Get involved: Join clubs and activities to help build up a résumé.
1. Take the ACT or SAT: Take these tests early so you have time to retake it, if necessary.
2. Start looking into colleges: Start narrowing down colleges by their size, price, majors, and location.
3. Think about references: Start thinking about who could write a good reference for your application.
4. Go on college visits: The best way to see which college is the best fit is to visit them.
Senior year will be here soon. Avoid college stress by planning ahead to get everything done.
1. Make tuition deposit: Most colleges require a decision by May 1. Pay your tuition deposit to reserve your enrollment.
2. Meet your classmates: Start communicating with future classmates on social media.
3. Look for scholarships: Apply for scholarships through your college and Xavier.
4. Enjoy senior year... but keep your grades up: Have fun senior year but remember, grades can still affect scholarships!
Advice from The Xpress seniors
College is just around the corner! There are only a few more things left to do before college comes.
“Figure out how far away from
home
you are comfortable being and
focus
on colleges in that area.”
“Don’t let friends or relationships
determine where you choose to go.”
“Start looking at colleges sooner rather than later.”
“Keep your grades up, even
as a freshman.”“Don’t focus on money when it comes to choosing a major but focus on what really is interesting to you and makes you happy.”
“Listen to your parent’s input, but remember it is ultimately your decision to make.”
“I’m going to John Cabot University
in Rome because I didn’t want to stay in
Iowa.”
“I’m going to Creighton because I went there for a soccer camp and liked it and the school a lot.”
Sierra Cavanaugh ‘15John Cabot University
Connor Ramlo ‘15CreightonUniversity
Are you happy?
Design By: Faith Bohrer Mikayla Noonan. Photos and Information by: Hadley Shriver.
COMING!April 23, 2015 Mini-Feature 7
~ find your inspiration ~
In the life of a high school student, it is sometimes hard not to fall into a slump of negativity. Emotions and stress run high, and when this happens, it is difficult to see the good things in life. Making the decision to be more positive is one that can affect your life in a great way. Everyone knows at least one person who can always brighten the day. They radiate positivity and always have a smile on their face. The Xpress set out to see how some Xavier students stay positive and
inspire others to do the same!
Book
Did I Ever Wake Up?
-Mod Sun
Movie
(500) Days of Summer
Quote“Take your positive
thought and run with it. Do not let the negative thoughts kill
your idea.”-Meghan Hughes
Gain
Negative thoughts are inevitable. It is not what they are, but what you do with them.
When you leave a room, everyone should be happier than they were before you
entered!
“I know how fast negativity spreads so I like to keep a smile
on my face.”-Delany Breitbach ‘15
“Knowing that I made someone else’s day makes me feel like I’ve made a difference.”-Evan Gradoville ‘15
Are you happy?
Tips for bettering your mood
no yes
sometimes
Be grateful and give thanks.
Design By: Faith Bohrer Mikayla Noonan. Photos and Information by: Hadley Shriver.
Xavier students surveyed.
Seniors Voted Most Likely to Brighten Someone’s Day
FeatureApril 23, 20158
Claim Fame
Natalie Justice ‘18 & Hyland Sisters
“I met Brooke and Kelly Highland from Dance Moms in Marco Island
last summer.”
Lexi Smith ‘14 & Riley Smith
“Riley is my cousin, and one memory I have of us
is celebrating family holidays with him.”
Shelby Younggreen ‘13 & Ed Westwick
“I met Ed at the airport. We were both getting our luggage. I noticed his super
bright tattoos before I even realized it was him. We talked for a couple
minutes. He was friendly and nice.”
Ashley Gase ‘15 & Danica Patrick
“I was at my brother’s race, and I saw her in the ladies room. We chit chatted for a bit. She
was super friendly.”
Drake Wawro ‘15 & The President
toXavier students
share their famous encounters.
Did you know? Danica Patrick
is a race car driver from Wisconsin.
Did you know? Kelly and Brooke Hyland are
dancers on the reality TV show Dance Moms.
“Barack was actually very down to earth and easy to talk to. He
even cracked a joke about Michelle not letting us eat what
we want.”
Page Design by Brady Hofman and Jessica Driscoll
Assisted by Brylee Bastian
Did you know? Riley played Riley Wallace on 90210.
Did you know? Originally, Barack
Obama wanted to be an architect.
Did you know? Ed Westwick plays Chuck Bass on
Gossip Girl.
Xavier High SchoolFeature 9
Claim Fame
Natalie Justice ‘18 & Hyland Sisters
“I met Brooke and Kelly Highland from Dance Moms in Marco Island
last summer.”
Whitney Jasper ‘14 & Ashton Kutcher
“I saw Ashton Kutcher at an Iowa football game in
eighth grade. I got to take a photo with him. I cried.”
Matthew Hovda ‘14 & Kirstie Maldonado
“I met Pentatonix when I was in Omaha. I waited after the
concert by their tour bus to take a picture with them. They were
really nice.”
Austin Nauman ‘15 & Jordan Spieth
“I was working a Zach Johnson Foundation event. He stopped to talk to us for awhile. He was very nice and down to earth.”
Drake Wawro ‘15 & The President
toXavier students
share their famous encounters.
Did you know? Ashton Kutcher is an actor
who is a Cedar Rapids native.
“Barack was actually very down to earth and easy to talk to. He
even cracked a joke about Michelle not letting us eat what
we want.”
Page Design by Brady Hofman and Jessica Driscoll
Assisted by Brylee Bastian
Did you know? Jordan Spieth won the 2015
Masters.
Did you know? Kirstie Maldonado is a part of the music group
Pentatonix.
Xavier High SchoolHealth & Lifestyle10
•7.2miles•Manyentriestothetrail
offofMt.Vernon•CrushedLimestone
SacandFoxTrail
Cedar RiverTrail
BoysonTrail•2.4miles
•ConnectsBoyson,Donnelley,and Hannah Parks along
IndianCreek•CrushedLimestone
•12.6miles•ExtendsfromBlairsFerryRd.throughdowntownto
76thAve.SW•Pavement
“IliketakingthesummergymclassesontheCedarRiverTrailbecausewecanalwaysgetinalongbikeride.”-JulieKadlec
TrailMixTrailMix
Page Design: Sam Valenta, Maddy Bailey, and Hailey Justice. Information: linncountytrails.org Title: Kayla Brady
“AllsummerIrunonBoysonTrail.”-JenniferSigmond‘15
Springisintheair...FINALLY.ItseemstotakeforeverforwarmweathertovisitIowa.Nowthatithas,gettingoutsideisagreatwaytoexercise.
Herearesometrailsaroundtheareatouseforstayingactive.
April 23, 2015 A & E 11
Metro Jazz Festival Nic’s PicksOn Monday, April 20, Xavier
High School hosted the annual Metro Jazz Festival. The concert welcomed students from Regis, LaSalle, and Saint Joseph middle schools to preform in the Ron Thillen Gymnasium. The night started off with each middle school band performing their two pieces and the Xavier bands followed.
This annual concert gives the middle school students a chance to preform in a high school environment.
St. Joseph eighth grader Gus Brown has a unique opportunity. He gets to play with Jazz Band Two as their sole drummer.
“The Metro Jazz Festival is one of my favorite concerts because
I get to play with the high school students,” Saint Joseph 8th grader Gus Brown said. “I also enjoy getting to watch the amazing talent in the jazz bands at Xavier. I’m very thankful to be a part of it.”
The director is the Xavier band director, Ms. Kelli Swehla. She gives the middle school students a taste of how jazz band will work in high school if they choose to continue participating.
“I really enjoy seeing the growth from middle groups to high school groups,” Ms. Swehla said. “The progression from where they started to where they are now is such a great thing to see.”
This was Xavier jazz bands’ last concert after an outstanding season.
To put it lightly Tyler, The Creator, artist behind the album Cherry Bomb, is a weird guy. The way he produces his music makes you sit back and think to yourself, “What is going on in this man’s head!?” Shining through all the weirdness is ingenious lyrics with unique beats that make listening to Cherry Bomb a great experience. Although this album possesses great qualities, qualities that I deem enjoyable, this is nothing you want to listen to in your parents’ car. Tyler, The Creator’s immaturity and obscenity are prevalent in the entirety of the album, a perfect combination for taking a drive with your buddies.
Cherry Bomb delivers a few solid stand outs that are sure to be future classics. SMUCKERS featuring Kanye West and Lil Wayne is a sure fire banger that
deserves to be played at every party you attend. Each man brings his A game, though no one takes over the track. This is surprising, considering all three artists have mega personalities. It’s a moody, yet magnificent production from Tyler which includes back and forth verses from all three rappers.
Overall, the album is very situational and needs to be enjoyed in order. It’s not a chill album and it’s not a hype album. It is incredibly unique and deserves to be put in its own separate category. Even though others will sling criticism towards this album, calling it “trash,” I will forever be a huge fan of Tyler, The Creator. Buy the album on iTunes for $10.99, and sit back and enjoy the artistry.
Nic EklandA&E Writer
Drama Teacher Feature
Kayla ThompsonA&E Co-Editor
Mr. Cervantes Ms. Hayes
Catie LocherA&E Writer
Cherry BombFavorite Tracks:
“DEATHCAMP”“PILOT”
“SMUCKERS”
What were your favorite shows to produce?My number one favorite was Les Miserables, but I liked doing: Noises
Off, Crazy for You, King and I, Sound of Music, and Legally Blonde. My favorite plays were: Amadeus, One Flew Over the Cuckoos Nest, and The
Miracle Worker
What will you miss most about Xavier?I will miss the students the most because they seem to have a different
attitude about education and faith that I find extremely refreshing
What are your plans after you retire?My wife and I have planned a variety of traveling and one of the first
places we want to go is New Orleans.
What are your hopes for Xavier drama after you leave?I have a lot of faith in Ms. Hayes that she will keep up the high quality of
theatre that we have established here in eight years.
What is your background in theatre?I participated in speech and theatre all through high school. I went to
Clarke University in Dubuque and earned a minor in drama. I also worked at the Bell Tower Theatre in Dubuque after college.
Jazz Band I rehearses one morning before school. Katherine Bauer Photo.
The Xavier drama department will be seeing a new face next year. With the retirement of Mr. Mike Cervantes, Ms. Sarah Hayes will be taking on the role as drama director.
What do you hope to accomplish in Xavier drama?I hope to maintain the very high quality of the shows as well as the
diversity of the shows because that is a good experience for students to participate in and to watch. I am really looking forward to working with all the other fine arts as well as the performers, techies, and the
large group who is willing to be involved.
Why did you decide to become the new drama director?My best memories have to do with theatre and giving kids opportunity
to express themselves creatively, and to meet people is probably the biggest reason.
Xavier High SchoolA & E12
State solo and ensemble contest
Stations of the Cross CompletedThere is some new art work in the Xavier Chapel that has been hung just in time for the Easter season. At the
beginning of the 2014-2015 school year, junior Zach Detterman volunteered to take on the time-consuming project of creating ceramic Stations of the Cross and has finally revealed them in the Monsignor Sodawasser Chapel.
Rachel LampeA&E Co-Editor
Donavin WengerA&E Writer
Q&A with Zach1. Where did the idea for the project come from?
It started as a class project, but quickly turned into a project for mainly one person when at the end of the 2013-2014 school year we realized that half of them had to be tossed because of glazing and clay construction issues.
2. Did you do them all yourself?A couple of them were done by Ellie Burke (class of 2014).
2. How long did each station take and how long did the whole project take?Each station took about one to two weeks to create from a chunk of clay out of the bag to the little
individual pieces ready to be fired for the first time. I started the project in November of 2013 and finished March of 2015, so almost a year and a half.
3. What was your favorite part about creating the stations?My favorite part of the project was when I finally got to put all the pieces
together after being glazed and see what they were going to actually look like with color on them. But the best part overall was definitely getting to see them finally up on the chapel walls and seeing all my hard work finished.
4. Now that the project is complete, what do you think?After completing the project, I had a very large sense of
accomplishment. It was not only the fact that I had created wonderful works of art to be seen by future Xavier students, but also knowing I had created a tool that could be used by anyone for prayer as well. I am very happy with how they turned out. I never would have imagined them to look this good.
Zach Detterman ‘16
students through the process of performing in front of the judges.
“Performing takes as much physical preparation as mental preparation,” Mrs. Hussey said. “The more students can practice performing in a similar situation in which they will find themselves at solo and ensemble, the better they will do.”
Out of the 31 instrumental ensembles and solos competing, six solos and three duets received a Division I rating. Senior Lucy Liu and junior Eric Riehle both received perfect scores on their solos. Liu received a “Best-of-Center,” meaning she was the best event to be played in that center for the day. She, and the other “Best-of-Center” musicians throughout the state, will be invited to a recital at Iowa State University.
11 students sang solos, all of which received a Division I rating. In addition, seniors Nicole Lengemann and Anna Zittergruen were named “Best-of-Center” for their performances. They will be invited to sing in a special IHSMA recital at Iowa State University next month.
On Saturday April 18, the class 4A and 1A solo and small ensemble contest was held at Jefferson High School.
“Students who make time for this event do well because they started working on it a while ago and take it seriously,” Ms. Kelli Swehla, director of bands, said. “They really have tobe comfortable with their part to make the coordination with others work.”
From band alone, around 50 students participated at the contest. In order to properly prepare for their solo or ensemble performances, students spent countless hours in and out of class practicing. One student, junior Kyle Skoumal, has participated at state the past three years year in various groups and as a soloist.
“The most difficult part of solo and ensemble performances would be adequately preparing for it,” Skoumal said. “Whether it is with your groups or alone, it takes a lot of time and effort.”
The choir students who participated in a solo or ensemble utilized many opportunities to prepare for their performance. Many students practiced with choir directors Mr. Matt Walker and Mrs. Jaclyn Hussey after school. Many students also chose to practice with other teachers after school to fine tune their performance and to also help guide
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Xavier High SchoolSports14
Jasper excels beyond the tennis court
Curley leads by example Boys, girls qualify 4x100 relays for Drake
On the tennis court, Xavier senior Allison Jasper makes no secret of her goals for both herself and the team she leads into battle every match.
“My goal for this season is to win individual state in singles and win team state.”
After narrowly losing to defending state champion Waterloo Columbus on April 6 by a score of 4-5, the team has put themselves in a position to accomplish those goals after going 3-1 over their next four matches, winning against Linn-Mar and Waterloo West. While the season is still young, the team appears to be headed on the right track.
When an athlete achieves the level of success Jasper has, it is easy to picture them as a one dimensional being
who lives and breathes the sport 24 hours a day, seven days a week. For Jasper, she has always been a student first and an athlete second. That is not to take away from the endless hours of hard work
she has put into becoming the athlete she is, yet it would be tough to ignore the fun-loving girl who enjoys long bike rides with her dad, curling up with a good Harry Potter book, and hopes to some day become a neurosurgeon.
Jasper’s hard work does not end on the tennis court. She is also involved in Key Club, serves as the secretary for National Honor Society and the president of National Spanish Honor Society, and coaches for St. Matthew’s “Girls on the Run” program.
All her hard work and positive personality has not gone unappreciated by her teammates. For junior Megan D’Mello, Jasper’s determined demeanor and infectious smile have helped shape
her as a person and a player.“She sets a great example
for the whole team by always working hard, staying determined, encouraging others, and also smiling and being nice to everyone around her,” D’Mello said. “She inspires me to work hard so I can become a better player like she has throughout the years.”
Jasper is currently at a perfect record of 5-0. One of Xavier’s finest student-athletes can be seen next on Saturday, April 25 at Cedar Rapids Kennedy and Cedar Rapids Washington..
The boys’ tennis team has started the season with a record of 3-2 after a 8-1 win against Waterloo Columbus on Friday night. Coached by Jim Potts, the Saints are in pursuit of a team state qualification. Returning four varsity members and adding two freshmen to the team, the Saints have a lot of previous experience. The four returning members include seniors Ben Curley and Jack VonKampen, junior Grant Gibney, and sophomore Blake Magill. Sophomore Charlie Esker has also earned a varsity spot this year along with freshmen Jon Lansing and Alex Hinrichs.
Curley, Xavier’s number one player, has high hopes of state this year.
“My goal is to try and get to state as an individual and get past sub-state as a team,” Curley said.
Curley has been playing tennis for eight years, starting in fifth grade. Being one of the most experienced players, he leads by example by not only showing up to practice, but also practicing
on his own with friends.Along with being
competitive, Curley also makes the sport fun. Playing with VonKampen since seventh grade, the two have a great friendship that has been fueled by their love for tennis.
“My favorite memory would be one of our matches from the eighth grade,” VonKampen said. “We were playing after school and had a match that basically never ended. The line calls got pretty intense.”
With Saturdays entailing multiple tournament matches and even longer van rides, Curley and VonKampen are lucky to have a friendship that allows them to be competitive together.
Although graduation is approaching, Curley is focused on the regular season with hopes to advance to the state tournament, which starts May 29.
When an event like the Drake Relays comes around each spring, every track and field athlete dreams of the chance to compete at Drake University’s world-class track and field complex against Iowa’s elite. This event attracts top high school talent from all around the state, as well as college and Olympic-caliber athletes.
For Xavier’s 4x100 relay teams, an opportunity of a lifetime awaits as they get the chance to compete in front of several thousand people with the voice of legendary announcer Mike Jay echoing in the background.
The boys’ track team will take juniors Sean Murphy, Bryce Charipar, and Nick Stark, along with freshman Jax Junge to the event as representatives for the 4x100 team. This is a very tight knit group with a lot of experience at both Drake and the state championships. Stark narrowly missed qualifications in the 100 meter dash and long jump this year with highly competitive fields of athletes for both events. A first place finish may be a tough task, but Charipar sees this opportunity as a valuable exposure to quality athletes and a way to improve themselves.
“I’m sure everyone would like to win the event, but a personal record would be just as beneficial,” Charipar said. “We are just looking to get better.”
On the girls’ relay team, all four grades will be represented with senior leader Taylor Skala, junior Sydney Oakley, sophomore Jenna Schwach, and freshman Anna Parr. Skala and Oakley were able to qualify for state in the same event with two graduated seniors last May. Skala has loved taking part in this event throughout her high school career and hopes to get a glimpse of what the future holds for this group of girls.
“This experience is great preparation for state,” Skala said. “It gives us a chance to compete against other teams that we usually don’t compete against, and it is always a fun time to enjoy with my teammates.”
The preliminary rounds for the boys begins around 6:10 p.m. on Friday, April 24. The girls’ portion begins an hour earlier at 5:10 p.m.
Ryan WilliamsSports Writer
Luke Koechner Sports Writer
Daniel RichardsonSports Editor
Senior Allison Jasper thrives both in the classroom and on the tennis court. Photo Submitted.
April 23, 2015 Sports 15
The class 2A number two ranked Xavier boys’ soccer team battled Dubuque Hempstead in a gritty soccer match on Tuesday, April 14. Senior midfielder Luke Koechner scored the only goal of the game, and the Saints escaped with a 1-0 victory at Heco Field.
The Xavier girls’ soccer team played in Dubuque on April 14 but did not get the outcome they had hoped in Coach Samek’s debut. The class 2A number three Saints were shutout 4-0 against Class 3A number seven ranked Hempstead.
The girls had to rebound from their loss quickly to take on 3A’s second ranked team, the Linn-Mar Lions, on April 16. Linn-Mar snuck past Xavier 2-0 on the Saints’ home field. The Lions had 22 shots and 11 of them were on goal, while the Saints had 15 shot attempts with only two being on goal.
The Xavier boys traveled to Linn-Mar on April 16 to take on the Class 3A number three ranked Lions under the lights. Xavier took
an early 2-0 lead thanks to goals by senior Creighton commit Connor Ramlo and freshman Will Hanigan.
“I have been very impressed with our 4-0 to the season,” Ramlo said. “We have been scoring well so far and have played great defenses which is key for us.”
Linn-Mar stormed back late in the second half to tie the game at
2-2 in the last ten minutes of the game. Eighty minutes was not enough to decide the outcome, so the game headed into overtime. Senior Loras commit Mason Hoxie was fouled in the penalty box in the last minute of overtime. Koechner took the penalty kick and converted, giving the Saints a thrilling 3-2 victory.
Both teams turned around the next day to host a varsity double header against North Scott on April 17. Xavier’s girls took the field first but came up short in the end, falling 1-0. North Scott scored the first and only goal of the game with just over 11 minutes to go in the second half to drop the Saints to 0-3 on the season.
Xavier’s boys took the field in the final game of the double header and were able to come away with a 2-1 victory to improve to 4-0 on the season. Senior Josh Hoffman scored in the first half for the Saints. North Scott scored late in the second half on a header to
tie the game and send it into a PK shootout. The teams skipped overtime and went straight into a shootout because of darkness. Xavier was able to win the shootout after many missed opportunities by both teams. Senior Reid Kauffmun clinched the game with his foot, and the Saints rushed the field for the second night in a row with a 2-1 victory.
“Here at Xavier, I think the goal for the boys’ soccer teams year in and year out is to win a state title,” Ramlo said. “This year is no different as that is our ultimate goal.”
Both teams played against Jefferson on April 21, and both teams play again tonight against Iowa City West.
Boys’ soccer off to fast start, girls struggle out of the gate
Girls’ golf looks to repeat 2014 season Stock aims for greatnessAfter taking home the state
championship trophy last year, the girls’ golf team is looking for a repeat performance.
They are off to a rough start after losing a close match to Iowa City West 189-200 on April 7. However, the season still looks bright for the Saints with many strong athletes from last year’s championship squad returning, including senior Melanie Wertzberger and juniors Amy Olberding and Catie Locher. Xavier is also looking to get key contributions from seniors Amy Boe, Madison Ries, and Emily Schuff, and juniors Kayla Brady and Mie Steicher-Anderson.
The Saints rebounded quickly to take first place in the April 9 MVC meet against Cedar Rapids Prairie and Cedar Rapids Jefferson. Wertzberger shot a score of 48 and was closely followed by Olberding with a score of 49. The Saints won the match with the final score of 202, followed by Prairie with a score of 241 and Jefferson with a score of 248.
At the Iowa City High Triangular on April 14, the Saints stayed strong as they placed second in the meet, narrowly edging out Iowa City High by three points, due to a big performance by Olberding with a strong score of 46. Iowa City West came out on top with 186. Xavier followed with 203.,
The girls’ next meet is the Linn-Mar invitational on April 28.
Mark WardlawSports Writer
As all spring sports begin, there is one activity that is often overlooked: trap shooting. Trap shooting is one category of competitive shooting where five people shoot clay pigeons from five different positions. Their objective is to break these birds.
Senior Jason Stock is one Xavier student who excels in this activity. Stock shoots on the first squad for Xavier, which means he is in the top five best Xavier shooters. In competition, the athletes shoot 50 rounds and a perfect score is difficult to achieve.
“The best I’ve ever shot is 50 out of 50,” Stock said.
The competitors typically practice twice a week to prepare for their weekend meets by shooting 50 to 100 rounds in practice.
“I shoot in Coralville for fun and to make myself better in the off season,” Stock said.
The Saints had their first meet on April 11 at Otter Creek.
“The meet on Saturday wasn’t very good,” Stock said. “It was the first meet of the year so we have plenty of room for improvement.”
The team had a successful season last year when they went to state, and Stock hopes to repeat his impressive performance from two years ago.
“Sophomore year, I got third out of over 2,000 shooters at state,” Stock said. “I shot 98 out of 100 that day, which is really good. My goals for this year are to make it back to state and to shoot an average of 47 out of 50.”
The next meet for the Saints is April 25 at Otter Creek starting at 9 a.m.
Grant GibneySports Writer
K.J. GilesAssistant Sports Editor
Senior Lizzy Bailey rises up for a header during a MVC matchup with the Linn-Mar Lions last spring. Photo Submitted.
Joey Hentges takes aim at the clay pigeons during a practice session. Amanda Wymore Photo.
The girls’ golf team poses for a photo after claiming the 2014 state championship last year. Photo Submitted.
April 23, 2014Backpage16
Who’s in the Hallways?
1. Runs marathons 2. Can say the alphabet backwards3. Wants a gym in the classroom to keep students moving4. Once walked from Cedar Rapids to Waukon in five days
1. Has four siblings2. Parishioner at All Saints3. Has a golf hobby4. Majoring at Iowa State for Engineering5. Involved in football and track
1. Very into politics2. Has a dog named Wilbur3. Wants to live in New York4. Involved in Show Choir 5. Has two siblings
1. 2. 3.
4.5. 6.
1. Wants to attend Iowa State University2. Going to Nationals for BPA3. Plays volleyball4. All four siblings have attended or are attending Xavier5. Plays varsity golf
1. Name is a type of cheese2. Dances on the Pom squad3. Likes to hang out with friends4. Has an older brother and a younger sister5. Shoe size is a nine
Answers: 1. Amy Olberding 2. Shawn O’Brien 3. Vicki Hoffman 4. Brie Baldus 5.Sara Whitt 6. John Hovda
Page Design: Jessica Fenske and Ellie Detweiler. Interviews by: Maddie Feltman, Catie Locher, and Mark Wardlaw.
1. Graduated from Iowa2. Has taught here for three years3. Had a baby last year4. Likes to play ping pong5. Moderator of NHS
‘16
‘18
‘17‘15
Teacher
Teacher
Can you guess who these students and teachers are?