2205 Forest Drive SE, Cedar Rapids, Iowa 52403Volume 54, Number 1September 24, 2010

SurveyorThe George Washington

Inside this IssueArts & EntertainmentLearn the intimate details of Emily White ’11’s life through her obsession with the online phenomenon, Twitter. page 10

Sports First team All-State soccer player Brandon Besong ’11 gives football a second chance. page 12

ProfilesGet to know the ten new teachers around Washington. page 8

Marina Strojanova ’11 discusses the differences be-tween Iowa and Macedonia. page 9

OpinionsPatrick Anderl ’11 comments on the tra-ditions and expectations that define the Warrior student section. page 5

FocusStudents and faculty give their opinions on what it really means to be a Warrior. page 6-7

Speed cameras capture attentionsWarriors weigh in

Students and staff were asked about their opinions on the fairness of the new cameras.

Are red light speed cameras fair?

No 50%

Undecided 5%

Yes 45%

Photos and graphics by Lauren Sines

Lauren SinesEditor-in-Chief

Emotions continue to fly nearly two months after 13 per-manent speed cameras, installed in 10 locations around Cedar Rapids, became active. With the excep-tion of the two interstate locations, the cameras are placed on the right-hand side of the road as drivers approach selected traffic lights. The cameras are programmed to capture people speeding or running red lights. In the case of a situation, like an Amber Alert, where a criminal is on the run the cameras also have the capability to look for a specific license plate number. A red Mobile Speed Jeep is also stationed around Cedar Rapids. Its location can be found on the Police Department’s website.

However, not everyone is in favor of the cameras. In the first nine days of becoming active more than 1,000 speed-ers were captured on cameras, their fines starting at $25. The

price ranges depending on the speed the car was traveling, and whether or not the offense occurred in a construction or school zones.

The Cedar Rapids Police Department is confident in the cameras, and has published an infor-mational packet explaining the purpose of the cameras entitled “No Kidding. Stop.” They urge that the cameras can only positively affect the safety of our city. “The number of accidents and fatal crashes in Cedar Rapids were decreased substantially in both June and July,” explained Sgt. Cristy Hamblin. They report that the number of crashes in Cedar Rapids dropped 14 percent in June and 11 percent in July.

Though the camera debate shows little sign of letting up anytime soon,

the CRPD is optimistic. “There is always an adjustment period,” said Hamblin. As always, they say the best way to avoid a ticket, from an officer or a camera, is to drive legally.

CRPD responds to student reactions

“The law is there for a reason. Obey it or accept the consequences.”-Ben Davenport ’11

“I understand they’re trying to make the streets safer, but the money that they used to install them could be used for something else worthwhile.”-Allison Barr ’11

“Regardless of whether or not its fair, I just think it’s creepy. I don’t like the idea of being watched when I’m driving. It seems like a violation of privacy.” -Britt Bergquist ’11

“Automated law systems take judge-ment out of life.”-Dylan Shah ’12

Student Statement: “Cameras are just another way for ‘Big Brother’ to watch us.”Sgt. Cristy Hamblin: “The purpose of the cameras is not to watch law-abiding citizens. They are only ‘watching’ when you are doing something illegal.”

SS: “The cameras are just an excuse for police officers to be lazy.”SCH: “Police are making traffic stops as usual. Officers are taking an active role with the cameras as well, they are responsible for reviewing every ‘capture’ by a camera.”

SS: “Cameras will ticket you if you accelerating to make it through a yellow light.”SCH: “The cameras are actually programmed to calculate car speeds and only record your image if you enter an intersection after the light has turned red.”

SS: “A police officer should be able to discern whether or not the speeding/red light running was a result of avoiding an ac-cident, or just carelessness.”SCH: “Each ‘event’ or alleged offence is captured and then sent to the police department. These are then reviewed to make sure the license matches the vehicle registration and that the offense warrants a ticket.”

SS: “The police are just trying to find ways to profit.”SCH: “The direct profit from the tickets does go to the Police Department, but the same amount is deducted from our budget alloted by the City so we are actually not making any net profit from the cameras. The money subtracted from our budget can then be allocated to other local entities such as the school systems, and traffic engineering.

SS: “These cameras will ticket you for going one over, a police officer would never do that.”SCH: “Though driving even one over the speed limit, by law warrants a ticket, we are not that stringent. On the interstate, the tickets we have given out have been to people flying down the s-curve. They all have been for more than 10 over. In town, we typically account for the normal allowance a police officer would leave.”

SS: “The cameras are hard to find and are more easily hidden than cop cars.”SCH: “Signs notifying the drivers of the speed cameras are posted before every camera, and twice as you enter the city limit on I-380.”

“My greatest concern with using cameras to issue tickets is that you loose the chance for communication with the police of-ficer.”-David Duer

Editor-in-chief, Lauren Sines, sat down with Sgt. Cristy Hamblin of the Cedar Rapids Police Department. Student statements about the speed cameras were read to Hamb-

lin, and she had a chance to respond to the comments.

“The number of acci-dents and fatal crashes in Cedar Rapids were decreased substantially in both June and July.” -Sgt. Cristy Hamblin

News2 9-24-2010

After seven years and an estimated $801.9 billion spent, the final combat brigade departed from Iraq on Aug 19, 2010. The last 50,000 military personnel who remain are planned to withdraw by the end of 2011. “I’m relieved that because of the hard work of our troops, we’re able to end combat operations in Iraq. Our armed forces deserve our gratitude and much of the credit,” said Republican Sen. Chuck Grassley, “I’m hopeful that we can have the same success in Afghanistan … under the capable leadership of Gen-eral Petraeus.” On Aug 31, 2010, President Obama spoke from the White House to announce the official end of the Iraq War. His speech stated that the U.S. troops who would remain in Iraq until the end of next year would be there to assist Iraq’s own newly formed security forces and help develop Iraq’s government. As of now, Obama has put a caretaker administra-tion, led by Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki, in place until Iraq can form its own based on the election held Jan 31, 2009. The delay is caused by a contro-versy over which candidates would be allowed to run for election However, despite these steps, the violence in Iraq has continued. On Aug 25, a string of suicide and car bomb attacks in various cities killed 53 people and left over 270 injured. The attacks have made

August the deadliest month for Iraqi security forces in two years. This violence has led some to question the stability of the state. “While in Jordan this summer … my host family argued that when Saddam was in power, [Iraq] was kept under very tight control. Although he was a brutal dictator, there was relative calm within the country,” said Max McGee, ’11, “While the invasion and subsequent occupation by the United States may ultimately bring democracy to Iraq, there is also the possibility that it will continue to be a country riddled with chaos and turmoil.” In his speech, Obama resolved to use the money saved in Iraq to improve conditions in Afghanistan, the new main focus of the U.S. military, while simultaneously reducing military presence there. Currently there are no dates set for the departure of U.S. troops from Afghanistan. “As we speak, al Qaeda continues to plot against us, and its leadership remains anchored in… Af-ghanistan and Pakistan. We will … defeat al Qaeda, while preventing Afghanistan from again serving as a base for terrorists,” said Obama in his address. Obama also stated that he intends to increasingly begin using the U.S.’s soft power, or its economic and diplomatic influence, to promote peace, de-

mocracy and trade within the Middle East.

It’s Official: Combat Troops Pull out of IraqShana MatthewsStaff Writer

One cave, four months, 33 miners. More than two weeks after the collapse of a gold and copper mine in northern Chile, the world learned of survivors trapped 2,300 feet below ground as the miners themselves learned it would be nearly four months until they would escape. News of the miners’ circumstances quickly spread and created global awareness dragging in NASA to partner with the Chilean government to not only get food and water to the trapped miners, but also to drill a hole large enough for 33 men deeper than half a mile below the sur-face to get out. Plan A, which involves using a Strata 950 drill, was anticipated to take approximately four months to complete. Plan B, which was in effect until part of the Sch-ramm T- 130 drill broke, was projected to take two months to complete. Plan C, possibly the quickest option, will not be ready for action until later this month due to the massive size of the oil well drill they are planning on using. In their stay down-under, letters have been passing between miners and their families. Abbie Peterson, ‘11, said that if she were in the same predicament, she would miss her friends, family, and sunshine the most. The miners divided themselves into groups to or-ganize food rations, including meatballs, cheese, fruits and rice; sleeping patterns, and entertainment, including PSPs. Rina Moore, ‘14, says she would play tic-tac-toe in the dirt for entertainment. Although the Chilean miners have months to go, they seem to be taking comfort in the thought that hundreds of people are working together to get them out as soon and safely as possible.

2,300 Feet BelowMadeline BergStaff Writer

Upcoming Events at Washington

Homecoming Calendar Monday- Character Day Tuesday- Homecoming Court Assembly Dress Up Day Wednesday-ParadeandBonfire Tie Die Day Thursday- Homecoming Game Spirit Day Friday- Homecoming Dance Roll Out of Bed Day

Washington Leadership Retreat

Service Opportunities Provided By Interact

Out of the Darkness Suicide Prevention Walk America Reads at Arthur Elementary Ushers Ferry Safe Trick-or-Treat Sunday Evening Meals Program Rockwell Senior Dance

*Contact Ellen Hart if interested in any of these service opportuni-ties.

The Willis Tower in downtown Chicago, for-merly Sears Tower, is 1,451 feet tall, meaning that the miners are trapped underground more than one and a half times the height of the building.

Graphic by Brian Kopec

Photo Courtesy of Joe TaylorCombat soldiers from Iraq will return to the US integrating back into

everyday life.

News 39-24-2010

Despite the efforts of the City of Cedar Rapids, many residents who had homes damaged in the flood of 2008 have not received assistance or financial support from the programs offered by the city. Because the flood reached over 5,000 homes, a private organiza-tion called Block by Block was formed for those who have not yet received help. In 2009, Four Oaks’ Affordable Housing Network, Mathew 25 Ministry Hub, and the United Methodist Church partnered togeth-er to form the Block by Block program in hopes to help the hundreds of homeowners still in need. With funding from private donations and public programs, over $5 million has been raised to put forth for renovation of damaged homes. “Although I believe it really does mean well, I think it makes it more difficult for some receive assistance if the majority of a block is not willing to participate. It should be focused more on the individual level,” said Becca Herron, ’11. The program works by focusing on blocks as a whole. Block by Block can only begin restoring homes once 60 percent of the

residencies on the block agree to participate in the program. Block by Block operates this way because they believe that progress comes from neighbors working with one another and creating ties

between them in the pro-cess, allowing a mutual goal amongst neighbors. Once the majority of a block has agreed to participate in the project, specialists will be assigned to help in the rehabilita-tion process. Homeown-ers have the opportunity to sell their home after it has been restored or continue to live in it. Commercial properties are also welcome to par-take in Block by Block as long as they agree to give to back to the program in the form of donations or volunteer work. Although the majority of the areas are located in the Northwest and Southwest quadrants of Cedar Rapids, many

students have been influenced because they have friends and extended family members who have homes that are being restored. Much of the work being done by the project is volunteer-based, there are always opportunities to help out fellow community members and to restore the city back to its pre-flood stature.

Block by Block: Helping Cedar Rapids Recover

When Glenn Beck started his late August “Restoring Honor” Rally, he was welcomed with warm cheers on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial in Washington D.C. Once he finished detailing the specific number of his supporters in attendance, some waving flags, some wearing flags, Beck began to narrate the early history of America. During his descrip-tion, he brought descendants of the pilgrims and Native Americans onto the stage. One of the descendants of the pilgrims, a pastor, led the crowd in a prayer which preached the message of one nation under god. Beck’s rally was much more than just a sermon, his mission was to restore honor to our country, our brave service members, and to get his followers involved. Following Beck on the podium was a speaker from the Special Operations Warrior Foundation, which raises money for the children of deceased heroes. The rally alone raised $5.5 million to support the cause. The rally didn’t generate unmitigated support from the nation. Many political activ-ists did not like that it took place at the exact place and date of Martin Luther King Jr’s legendary rally. Even students at Washington voiced their opinions, like Quincy Mcgee ’13 who said that “Glenn seems a little crazy”, and “I don’t think his rally did anything.” Stephen Colbert, on the lighter side, turned it into a joke saying he might host a “Restoring Truthiness” Rally, which “Has become synonymous with American values such as freedom, honor, and Taco Bell.”

Grant KaminStaff Writer

Sara LarsonStaff Writer

Glenn Beck “Restores” America Your Thoughts on Glenn BeckFinally Someone Who Understands Me

The Reason I Like Obama

Glenn Who?

A flooded house in the Northwest part of Cedar Rapids.Photo By Lauren Johnson

Warrior Feelings on Flood Recovery

Colby Bjornsen, ’13

Bryant Wright, ’11

“They’ve done like nothing. They’re way behind where they should be.”

“They need to find a different approach to the recovery pro-cess because what they’re doing isn’t working.”

Opinions4 9-24-2010

Unlearned lessons

Cole RhatiganStaff Writer

A Few Rotten EggsIn mid August, it was discovered that there was a Salmonella

contamination in our nation’s eggs. According to the FDA, inves-tigators have shown that the source of the Salmonella came from chicken feed. The companies Wright County Egg and Hillandale’s were linked to the contamination, and using the contaminated feed. Due to this contamination, 1,500 people are said to have reported symptoms, and 550,000,000 eggs have been recalled. This figure is estimated to be around one percent of the eggs distributed throughout the United States in a year.

What do they do with the eggs once they’re recalled? A reasonable mind might guess that the eggs are thrown away to ensure that there will be no more sicknesses. However, if you are that reasonable mind, you would be wrong. These eggs are still being produced and sent to pasteurizing plants where the FDA says that they will

be made safe to consume. This raises the obvious question: “So the eggs aren’t being thrown out?” Yes, that is true, they are just being cleaned, not disposed of. So, if the eggs are being recalled to clean, then would that mean they weren’t cleaned before going out? That is not an assumption that I am willing to make.

As you look over our recent past, you might remember contaminations in peanut butter, cat and dog food, spinach, and lead in the paint of Chinese toys. “Alright, so what are you getting at, Nick?” How can we be bringing this nation to the debt in trillions of dollars and not be able to have people inspect our products?

Why is it that we only find out about contaminations until after people get sick or die? I find it ridiculous that such contaminations get through in the first place. We are having a so-called egg epidemic and the best we can do is recall the eggs to clean them and resell them. Perhaps the people involved in this are being punished for their ‘overlooking’ of this contamination, but if that is the case, then why isn’t it being reported? Don’t you find it strange that we hear about so many reported contaminations in our products and yet we keep finding more and more.

But, like the contaminations of the past, people and the news will grow weary of reporting on this problem and we will forget about this. However, I worry what will happen when another huge farm corporation overlooks another potentially deadly contamination.

ROSES-Tailgating -Our lives being bro-Iowa football-Kyle Phillips living large-Wash football being too good-Cory Harrison-Jersey Shore Season Two-McMann-Snakes on my plane-New drinking fountains-Alex Carr-Isaac’s son-Nightstorm Nighstrom N!gh+$t0rM -ChEeRlEaDeRs <3

THORNS-Underclassmen in my parking lots-Cops-Drug dogs-Glenn Beck-Homework-Parking tickets-ITEDS in April-Snakes off my plane-Laguna Beach Season 5 on DVD-Senior pictures-Friends going to jail-Underclassman not participating in cheerz-Blackouts turning into redouts

I believe it was the American great Mark Twain who claimed, “Education consists mainly in what we have unlearned.” While I have never agreed with Twain’s choice in facial hair, I could not agree more with this statement.

To unlearn is another term for learning from one’s mistake, or simply accepting that one has failed. Often times an individual’s pride can get in the way of doing either of these things. As a result, nothing is learned. Think if mankind had never admitted fault. Connection with Asia would be cut off from a fear of falling off the planet, witch trials would be held every time teenage girls had a sleep-over, and our fathers would still be sporting mullets. Pride must always take a second place to education.

To progress, mistakes must be made. Many fail to realize this. I find my peers more and more cautious of making a mistake. Unnecessary questions

are asked and they rely too heavily on elder figures to solve their problems. Our generation is the future of the world. It’s our responsibility to solve the many problems the previous generation has left. How can we expect to solve the energy crisis if many teenagers still have troubles with their own laundry?

Partial blame has to be given to parents. I won’t pretend to understand the overwhelming plethora of emotions that comes with raising a child. For now, I can only acknowledge that it’s the most important thing each of us will ever do. However, there is a point at which a parent becomes too controlling. High school is the ideal time for youth to become educated. Not only as scholars, but as members of society. Teenagers need to be allowed to go out and make mistakes. They need to be allowed to take a weekend road-trip and get lost along the way. Otherwise, they risk losing themselves later in life.

If there is a goal each of us should have for this year, it should be to unlearn. Fail a test and un-learn the bad study habits that caused it. Hit bumper-to-bumper and unlearn the inattentiveness that steered your vehicle directly to the rear end of the one ahead. Take a wrong path and unlearn the steps that led to it. Don’t be cautious, don’t be prideful, be open to the fact that there’s always an opportunity to unlearn.

Nick HeinsStaff Writer

Draw

ing by Patrick Anderl

Opinions 59-24-2010

Patrick AnderlOpinions Editor

As I pass through Washington’s beautiful and ornate oak doors, I find myself in one of the most entrancing locations in the world. Quickly glancing in both directions, I view great minds deep in discussion over the flaws of the string theory while a few of the school’s premier football players lead parlia-ment members around the school during a brief tour. I leisurely stroll down the hall until I reach Wash’s prestigious “Wall of Fame.” Scanning the star-studded wall, my eyes pass over the iconic figures of Aristotle, Ernest Hemmingway, Mark Twain, George Washington, along with numerous other historical in-dividuals. It is here that I realize the magnificence of Wash and what it offers those in pursuit of greatness. Whether it is through sports or academic pursuits, Wash-ington’s marble hallways im-merse prospec-tive students in an unparalleled experience. School spirit flows through my veins as I watch fellow Warriors take advantage of the clubs and prestigious activities avail-able.

Continuing my journey through the halls of this fine establish-ment, I can feel the educational possibilities radiating from the classrooms as prior Washington legends smile down upon me. However, as I pass through the hallway along the cafeteria, my school spirit diminishes and the feeling of academic greatness that had taken hold of me slowly fades into the realm from which it came. Underclassmen, along with various other creatures, flood every available space. They appear to lack motivation and thrive on lack of success. I can’t believe their absence of school spirit. My mind explodes at the concept that all students do not cherish the warm and inviting place we call Washington High School.

I think back to prior experiences, and I quickly recall a similar situation at a recent football game in which Alex Carr ’11, easily pillaged Prairie’s defense with only two arms and three teeth. Despite the severe success of Wash’s running game, the student section could not maintain a cheer. I was astounded by the prevalence of juniors in the first two rows and how many underclassmen were seated, with only the looks of angst and misery protruding from their small faces. They refused to follow cheers due to an evident embarrassment of how much they lacked in the “awesome department.” They wallowed in their depression, causing upperclassmen to suffer strokes as the school spirit was overcome by “the situations” inhabiting the back rows. I even saw a kid wearing a shirt not related to the “Warrior spirit”. This was made worse by the fact that this shirt supported Glenn Beck (Jesus’ successor). This brought me to

the conclusion that those who refuse to show affiliation with Washington must be severely racist or blind to the power of love. To bring the power of love to these unfortunate, blind souls, I was forced to lead cheers and lift the spirits of those in need. My son, Isaac Halyard, ’11, assisted me by securing his role as “the hottest black actor in the student section” (Please make note that Morgan Free-

man could not be in attendance

due to a prior engagement). As I think more about the student sections of past football

games, I become infuriated and can’t imagine how the Wash spirit has eluded these individuals who populate the same halls as I roam with pride on the daily.

So, much like Moses, it has become necessary for me to pres-ent a list of commandments to the beautiful children inhabiting this wonderful nation, in which freedom resides throughout the hearts of all. Take heed of these commandments (That includes you, Miles Barton).

Ten Command-ments of the Stu-dent Section:1. Thou must love football

2.Thou must get out of them senior rows and listen to se-niors, thank them, and sacri-fice your first born to them

3. Ya’ll best get your student pride on

4. Ya’ll best get your class on

5. Ya’ll best not get st00pid around in my student section

6. Stephen Seagall is always welcome at our house, any-time of the day

7. NO ILLICIT SUBSTANCES

8. W-A-S-H Warshington!

9. No puking, that means you Trevor Riley and that one kid eating pizza

10. Thou shall not worship any other team, unless it is the Detroit Lions

Photo by Ellen Hart

Student pride unusually low

The Surveyor is established as a school-spon-sored open forum dedicated to informing and entertaining its readers. It is published nine times each school year by students enrolled in the Jour-nalism News class at Washington High School. The staff will report as fairly and well-balanced as possible. All activities and news will be covered to the best of the staff’s ability. The Surveyor accepts the Society of Professional Journalists’ Code of Ethics as the basis for good journalism. Editorials and the reviews that appear under a byline are the opinion of the writer, not necessarily the staff. Unsigned editorials represent the major-ity of the Editorial Board. The opinions section is designed to provide a forum for the opinions of The Surveyor staff and the Washington High School Community. Readers are encouraged to express their view-points through guest editorials. The Surveyor also welcomes letters to the editor, with these guide-lines:1. It is not libelous or obscene. 2. It explains the material clearly. 3. It is not longer than 300 words. 4. It is signed.

Ian FischerNews editor

Joe EkenSports editor

Lauren SinesEditor-in-chief

Brian KopecManaging Editor

Sanju SathianFocus editor

Patrick AnderlOpinions editor

Isaac HalyardA&E editor

Ellen HartPhoto editor

Alyssa ChristianProfiles editor

The Surveyor Editorial Policy

Emily WickeBusiness Manager

Shana MatthewsCopy editor

Sara LarsonCopy editor

WritersMadeline BergJoe BerryJill BroghammerCatheryn CooperLily GaswayShanay Gonder

Katharine GoodwinNick HeinsFrancesca Hildalgo-WohllebenGrant KaminChloe KohlJohn Kopec

Kitty McGurkNatalie NepplCole RhatiganPhotographersMegan AndersonNatalee BirchanskyLauren Johnson

Staci PawledgeWeb MasterAnna FisherAdviserKyle Phillips

Warrior Teacher Adam Witte I’m a peaceful guy. I believe killing is wrong. I take spiders outside instead of stepping on them. I eat tofu. Heck, I like tofu. So “Warrior” is a tough mascot to get behind. Luckily, as a Language Arts teacher, I get to think of the world in metaphors, and I fully believe in the metaphor of a student as a warrior: in the same way a warrior sharpens her blade to prepare for battle, I want my students to hone their intellect and wit to a razor’s edge. Before taking the field, a warrior dons armor to pro tect herself from the weapons of her enemy, I want my students to use their critical thinking and common sense as a shield to protect them from ignorance and gullibility. And just as a warrior trains daily to prepare for battle, I ask my students to approach each class as a lesson, as training, as preparation for the moment when they will be called on to think for themselves. The world is a big place and there is much stupidity and prejudice and foolishness to do battle with. I want my students to be warriors in that world, and I want them to win.

Of course, on the other hand, you know my love of pirates, and you know what the pirates say: “You can’t spell ‘WARRIOR’ without the ‘ARR!’!”

Warrior Music Michael Olson Being a Warrior means doing my best, no matter what I’m doing. Whether I have a drum strapped to my chest during marching band, I’m sitting be- hind the drumset at a Revs rehearsal, or sitting at my dining room table doing A.P. Physics homework, I always try to give it my all.

What does it take?

Warrior Theater Nikki Stewart Being a Warrior means that my backpack is entirely dominated by music sheets and my head is always full of showtunes. In short, my life is pretty much a rock opera. Being a Warrior solely relies on being accepted and I’ve felt accepted since day one.

Warrior Athletics Alex Carr Being a Warrior doesn’t mean working hard in a football or basketball game. It means work- ing hard in the classroom as well. Also, it means beng a role model to everyone who was or is going to be a Warrior. A Warrior is someone that can be looked up to.

Warrior Art Stacia Drafel Being an artist at Wash means nobody questions why I have paint on my face and clay in my hair (or clay on my face and paint in my hair, I’m not picky). It means I can paint dead turtles from the science wing and sculpt giant ceramic Reeses and nobody thinks twice. I wouldn’t do ridiculous things anywhere but here.

Patrick Karamitros, the embodiment of a true Washington Warrior passed away on Wednesday, June 23rd, 2010. His sister, Katie Karamitros, now a freshman at Washington, writes a tribute in his honor.

My brother Pat holds a place in the hearts of many people and has left a lasting impression on so many more. Perhaps he was just a smiling, friendly face you saw around or the one person to acknowledge you when you were new. Perhaps he was your buddy on the sports team or the friend that helped you with your home-work in class. He was a unique person to everyone.

What did being a Warrior mean to Pat? It meant putting others first, respecting everyone and showing kindness. Pat never made himself a priority. He was always concerned about everyone else and their wishes.Walking the halls of Washington, Patrick learned to be a devoted person. He spent countless hours in the pool during swim season, made every golf stroke with perseverance, each tennis serve with attempted perfection and played each note on his saxophone with passion.

No one was ready to do it. No one was prepared to notice that there was no smil-ing face around, or that there was an empty spot on the swim team. No one wanted to see that Bever Pool was missing a life guard, or that Hy-Vee was missing a worker. No one wants to see that the baseball roster is different, or that the tennis team is missing a doubles player.

Being a Warrior is more than sporting a title. It means representing what you stand for, and never giving up. It means devotion and respect, patience and kindness. It means being proud of who you are, it means going the extra mile.

The spirit of Patrick lives on in many ways; the varsity football helmets hold Patrick’s ini-tials, the swim team has made wristbands. And we all have our own treasured memories of Pat. In whatever way anyone knew him, Pat was the perfect friend, a hard-working student, the devoted athlete, and the talented musician that everyone was glad to know. I can call him my big brother, and we all can call him a true Warrior.

Warrior Academics James Strobel Washington is a place where carrying 1000+ pages of study materials doesn’t even get you a second look. Washington inspires you to learn, and to be the best that you can make yourself.

Almost every morning on the announcements we hear Dr. Plagman say “It’s a great day to be a Warrior!”, but there is more depth behind the word warrior than just our school mascot.

Three words come to Plagman’s mind when he thinks of the model Warrior: “win-ner, hardworker, successful.” These words refer to students that work hard to achieve their goals, whether they be athletic, academic, or otherwise related.

Plagman recently received emails from several Washington graduates, telling him about the large amount of college credit hours they received as a result of taking AP tests.

“Wash kids really go after it. They have to study more, they have to work for the scores, the credit goes to them,” Plagman said.

Another proud moment for Plagman was when Wash’s jazz band, The Revolutionists, was selected to play at the Iowa Band Directors Association in Des Moines.

“It was an electric moment. All the band directors stood up with this prolonged standing ovation,” said Plagman.

It’s not only big accomplishments at Wash that make him proud to be a Warrior.

“When I walk by the student section and they chant ‘Dr. Plagman’ or when I go to a graduation party and previous students tell me about their great memories at Washing-ton, those are great moments” Plagman said.

In Plagman’s opinion, moments that represent the warrior spirit are abundant. They include seeing everyone supporting the football team in the student section as a sea of red, black or blue or learning that the average ACT score for the class of 2010 was a 25 and when, in true Warrior tradition, we outdid ourselves this past school year on the AP tests.

“430 students signed up for 950 AP tests. That’s just amazing,” said Plagman.

But above all, one of the best qualities of a warrior in Plagman’s eyes, is the ability to be accepting and get along with each other.

“Even though we’re a very diverse school, we’re a close school. I think Wash kids get along great,” Plagman said, “Kids of all colors and economic backgrounds support each other. That’s being a warrior too.”

( )

Above : Patrick with his siblings: Alex, Chris and Katie. (left to right)

Below: Patrick with friends in chemistry class Photos courtesy of Katie Karamitros

DP Discusses WashLily GaswayStaff Writer

WAR

RIO

R R

EEL

6 9-24-2010 79-24-2010Focus

A Friend Remembered

Photos by Lauren Johnson and Ellen Hart

Photo by Staci Pawledge

Profiles8 9-24-2010

New Teachers get PersonalShanay Gonder

Staff Writer

Christine LeQ: What is one thing the student body would be suprised to know about you?A: I am scared of Oompa-Loompas. I couldn’t even watch the trailer for the new “Charlie and the Chocolate Factory.” Every time a kid is rolled away, it’s an Oompa Loompa that takes them somewhere and you never ever see where they take them or what they do with them!

Kyle PhillipsQ: What is one thing the student body would be suprised to know about you?A: I was Homecoming King at City High in the class of 2004.

Molly SofrankoQ: If you were an animal, what animal would you be?A: When I was younger, I had a pet squirrel named Earl; so I’d definitely be a squirrel.

Rosemary HornickQ: If you could have any superpower, what would it be?A: I’d love to be able to scale builings, sort of like Spiderman.

Olivia BakerQ: What is one thing the student body would be suprised to know about you?A: I can talk backwards, for example, “sdrawkcab klat nac I.”

Amy JonesQ: If you could have any super power, what would it be?A: I would be able to erase all ignorance, that would eliminate all racism, poverty, etc. Ignorance and greed are the sources of all poverty right? So without those things,poverty could be eliminated completely.

Jeannie PfeifferQ: What is one thing the student body would be suprised to know about you?A: I have been a member of the Cedar Rapids Roller Derby for about five months now. I loved skating as a kid and when the parent of a student told me about it, I was interested. It is quite a comittment; practices are two nights a week for up to three hours at a time.

Tyler WalkerQ: If you were an animal, what animal would you be?A: A bear, because they’re complicated and everyone respects them, and added bonus, they’re cool.

Tammy RyanQ: What is one thing the student body would be suprised to know about you?A: I have a body piercing and a tattoo that a lot of people don’t know about; I like the mystery of nobody knowing where.

Jason ArduserQ: What is one thing the student body would be suprised to know about you?A: I race motorcycles and once competed in a 500 mile race in Mexico. Me and two other friends split it up so it was about 170 miles each in the desert. We started at 6 or 7 in the morning and went till about 7 that night. We got first place.

Profiles 99-24-2010

5 Things to Remember when Pursuing Jack Mescher:

1. Music:“My favorite bands include Animal Collective,

Empire of the Sun, and Phoenix. I also really like Toro y Omi.”

2. Movies:“I hate fake action movies, like Live Free Die Hard. I

love Toy Story. I want tohave a bromance with Woody… the cowboy of course.”

3. Friendship:“Joey Mescher is my best friend of all time. It’s pretty

convenient that he’s my brother too.”

4. Pet Peeves:“I hate having to watch my weight.”5. Belly buttons:“I usually have an outie, but it really all depends on

how I’ve combed it that day.”

At first glance, Jack Mescher, ’14, may seem a little too much like the typical bachelor. Though the characteristics of handsome, hefty, and charming may certainly describe young Mescher, they certainly do not define him.

As a freshman to Washington High school, Mescher is finding the transition easier than ever. He’s tak-ing advantage of all the new opportunities here at Washington and is enjoying the social aspects as well.

“There are cooler people in high school too, like Ian Fischer,” said Mescher.Though Mescher may only be a freshman here at Washington, he

is certainly no stranger. At 15 years old, Mescher has already played at Washington’s charity concert, Jamnesty, two years in a row.

“They were awesome experiences,” said Mescher, “and hopefully the first of many gigs.”

Mescher first started making music in third grade when he taught himself how to play the drums. By seventh grade, he had also taught himself how to play the keyboard synthesizer, which is now Mescher’s favorite instrument. It was also in middle school when Mescher first started playing in a band with his older brother, Joey Mescher, ’10, and some of his friends. Joey Mescher, a Washington graduate, has always been very impressed by his younger brother’s musical talent.

“His music is the sound of the future. Girls want him, guys want to be him.”

As for Mescher’s romantic future, he has yet to settle down.“I like playing the field. Right now I use the funny card because I’m not as good looking as Mitch

Blades. Sometimes it’s successful.”For Mescher, the most important feature in a girl is height, particularly the lack thereof.“At 5 feet 1 inch, I shoot for the girls under 5 foot 3 inhes. It’d be pointless to only go for the ones

shorter than me. It’s just that I don’t really like having to use chairs to say ‘hi’ to someone.”Jack is also looking for a girl with a sense of humor and a similar taste in music to him.“I’m into that alternative, indie-electronic music. It’s always cool to find a girl who’s into that too.”Once Mescher finds a suitable girl to take out, he is confident in his ability to create the perfect date.“If everyone’s alive by the end, it went well.”

Francesca Hidalgo-WohllebenStaff Writer

“Girls want him, guys want to be him.”- Joey Mescher, ’10

Jack Mescher: Freshman Bachelor of the Month

As a first time foreign exchange student, Marina Stojanova, ’11, is thoroughly enjoying her time at Washington High School. Stojanova is originally from Macedonia, which is located north of Greece and next to Bulgaria. At home, she lives with her parents and one older brother. As an exchange student in Cedar Rapids, she is living with Joe Taylor and his wife.

“The best parts of being an exchange student are being able to meet new people, have a good time, practice English, share Macedonian culture, and have some new experiences,” said Stojanova. Though Stojanova has only been in Iowa for a short time, she is loving everything about it.

The everyday life of a Macedonian student like Stojanova is very differ-ent from that of an American student. Stojanova goes to school for one week from 7 a.m. until 2 p.m., and then the next week she goes to school from 2 p.m. until 8 p.m. Playing a sport is optional, but physical education is still required as a subject. The high schools are also unlike those in Cedar Rapids. Each high school has a set topic to study. Some schools focus on medical training, some electronics, and oth-ers music. Stojanova goes to a gram-mar high school. She started learning English at the age of five, and then in the fourth grade she picked up classes as well.

According to Stojanova, everything in Macedonia is a lot different than in Iowa. The first thing she noticed was how much bigger everything was. Also, the distances from one place to another are much longer. At home, Stojanova lives in the middle of her town, and she walks a short distance everywhere.

“I’m very thankful for this opportunity to become a foreign exchange student at Washington High School,” said Stojanova. When she goes home she plans to share all of her experiences and the American culture with everyone she knows in Macedonia.

CJ CooperStaff Writer

Q: What is your favorite American sport?Marina Strojanova: Well, I started cross country at Washington, but I also

enjoy watching American football and baseball.

Q: What is your favorite American food?MS: Brownies! They don’t have them in Macedonia.

Photo by Natalee Birchansky

Marina Strojanova: A Smooth Transition

Photo by Isaac Halyard

A&E10 9-24-2010

In the past two months, Inception has quickly become renowned as one of the most creative and psychologically challenging thrillers of the year.

Spurring from the genius of Christopher Nolan, who has directed remarkable movies such as “The Dark Knight” and “The Prestige”, it’s understandable that Nolan’s latest feature is so widely popular.

Leonardo DiCaprio, who recently starred in the box office hit, “Shutter Island”, plays Cobb, a thief in a world where technology can be used to enter one’s mind in the dream state. Cobb specializes in this advanced type of theft, and he deceives his rivals into revealing valuable secrets while they are in their most vulnerable state of mind. Cobb is eventually offered a task that was traditionally thought to be impossible. Instead of stealing ideas from people’s minds, he is challenged to plant an idea. This, is called inception.

The outstanding supporting cast includes Ellen Page and Ken Watanabe. Ellen Page has recently become a

familiar face after she played Juno MacGuff in the movie, “Juno”. In “Inception”, Page plays the role of Ariadne, the architect. The architect designs the physical scenarios of the dream state. Japanese actor, Ken Watanabe starred in the Oscar winning movie, “The Last Samurai”, and “The Dark Knight”. In Inception, Watanabe plays Saito, who is the

client who asks for Cobb’s help in achieving inception. Inception has been one of the most popular movies in

America for a number of reasons. With Nolan’s popularity level rising enormously after “The Dark Night”, it seemed he was destined to make another award winning film. Nolan assembled a cast including DeCaprio along with six other Oscar nominees.

“‘Inception’ was a really good movie. It kept me on my toes and is definitely a great movie to see more than once so you can understand things more fully,” says Brad Lock ‘13.

The idea of a dream inside of a dream inside of a dream would almost seem to be unimaginable. Implanting ideas in the deepest of subconscious states to make you believe that they are your own, may have many viewers question-ing their dreams.

“‘Inception’ was amazing especially at the end when it made me question if DiCaprio was still in reality or in the dream state,” says Zack Klug ’12.

This very question has been on the minds of many spectators. With an ending of sheer suspense, it has left viewers begging for answers.

Inception: A dream worth seeing twiceBy John KopecStaff Writer

Between word search books, Scrabble, Netflix, Dairy Queen employment and a poodle named Margaret, one would assume a busy girl like Emily White '11 wouldn’t have much time for anything else. However, she frequently updates her Twitter account and shares her current thoughts for all to be amused. Here are a few recent moments in White's life worthy to be tweeted.

emirycakemargaret ate my retainers. now i get to relive the lovely molding process for the 3RD TIME. Fml

tea time with my husband @poorlyknitben my.knee.hurts.so.freakin’.bad. im an idiot. who runs full speed into wooden poles? me! working out with a broken knee?! :) voice lesson. All state music. Awesome! Psych. renaissance night at dairy queen..me thinksthou presenteth thy being the lady said how long have you been waiting? I heard mating. And neel responded less than one minute, classic i voted for myself for homecoming queen, oops now i’m going to try and cover it up cause i’m awesome first i woke up late then stabbed myself with a pencil but i survived my 3rd act. 1 day ago via txt”first i woke up late then stabbed my-self with a pencil but i survived the act.

8:00 AM Sep 9th via txt

8:19 AM Sep 1st via txt

9:01 AM Aug 30th via txt

2:49 PM Aug 30th via txt

6:41 PM Aug 30th via txt

3:50 PM Sep 1st via txt

1:41 PM Sep 3rd via txt

11:27 AM Sep 8 via txt

3:29 PM Sep 11 via txt

Through Twitter, White has found a way to turn a bad day at work or a strange experience with a friend, into an entertaining post for all to enjoy.“I think about weird things. Twitter is a place where I can share my peculiar thoughts to people without actually talking, to people” said White.

“Nobody’s Daughter” - HoleCourtney Love’s infamous lifestyle has

led many to wonder if she’d ever make it out alive. She has comeback with her old band, Hole, and they’re proving that they can live through this.

The album “Nobody’s Daughter”, released on April 10, has only one original member, which is Love. It is reminiscent of Love’s solo album, “America’s Sweetheart” with its adult-angst soft rock with a bit of 90’s punk mixed in.

What’s kept this album so powerful is how Love’s voice. Through years of abuse, it’s so rough even Kurt Cobain would be proud. As long as Love is standing, let her rock, and rock hard.

Few feature length films have been pro-duced in Iowa. The most obvious being the “Field of Dreams”, and occasionally the more recent, “The Final Season”, comes to mind. From that point on, it is difficult to construct a list. Even, “The Crazies”, which is set in and around Cedar Rapids, was not filmed in Iowa.

“16 to Life”, however, was filmed in Iowa. “16 to Life” is a feature length, inde-pendent film written and directed by Becky Smith. It takes place in McGregor, Iowa, and was filmed on location in the small Iowa town.

“16 to Life” is the story of Kate, who is played by Hallee Hirsh. Kate is a teenage girl whose life revolves around her job at an ice cream shop. The movie spans Kate’s 16th birthday, which is a day filled with frustra-tion, surprise, anger, romance, and elation.

Kate expresses her frustration with her trapped small town life, and issues of sexual experience, (or inexperience), converging upon the fact that she has never been kissed. The film shares themes of teenage curiosity similar to those found in the very popular, “Juno”.

Having strong midwestern roots, Smith felt that her story would best be told on loca-tion in McGregor. Incentives passed by the state government in 2007 have reduced the amount of taxes filmmakers have to pay to shoot in Iowa, therefore making Iowa a more accessible location for filmmakers like Smith to produce.

“Iowa is really ripe for a push in film production. There are a lot of creative people interested in art, music, and film. The new tax incentives are helping too,” said Smith.

In 2009, Smith’s film screened in film festivals nationwide, including the Land-locked Film Festival in Iowa City where it won first place for a narrative feature, and the Methodist Film Festival in Los Angeles, where it took home the audience award for best feature.

In early September, the film officially released nationwide, which included red-carpet premieres at Collins Road Theaters in Cedar Rapids, and the Bijou Theater in Iowa City. “16 to Life” is momentously picking up popularity. Hopefully, the film will help pave the way for a great film industry in the state of Iowa.

Left:Stars of 16 to Life answer viewers’ questions at Collin’s Road Theaters.Photo by Staci Pawledge.

16 to Life movie is homegrown Iowa filmBy Isaac HalyardA&E Editor

Hip-hop phenomenon Scott Mes-cudi, or KiD CuDi, is changing mod-ern music with his intimate lyrics and innovative trip-hop sound. His first album, conceptual “Man on the Moon: The End of Day” exploded his popular-ity in 2009 with single “Day N’ Nite” climbing the charts to number four. Mescudi’s new album, to be released No-vember 9, is another concept album, sequel “Man on the Moon II: The Legend of Mr.

Rager.” The new single, “Erase Me”, featuring album producer Kanye West, is a catchy pop track. Mescudi’s fame is

beginning to reflect in his music how-ever, and demand for his commercial-ity is seeping into his single. There are high hopes, how-ever, for Mescudi to keep his roots of genre-bending rap in his new album.

'The Orchard”- Ra Ra RiotOrchestral indie rockers Ra Ra Riot try

to impress with their album released August 24th, “The Orchard”, but sadly they come

off as Vampire Weekend wan-nabes.

Lead singer Wes Miles creates early Pink Floyd-esque harmonies on tracks like “The Boy” but fails to impress us

with anything exciting. “The Orchard” has a generic flow, never straying from random arrangements of violins and soft falsetto climaxes. The fun you could find in Vampire Weekend is lost on Ra Ra Riot.

Some songs try to get interesting with quick intercessions of a rhythm change here or a funky bass line there, but never develop into something worth staying around and listening to.

Upcoming MusicBy Chloe Kohl - Staff Writer

Photo by Ellen Hart.

“Man on the Moon II: The legend of Mr. Rager” - KiD CuDi

Island Def Jam 2010

Barsuk Records 2010

Motown Records 2010

Sports 119-24-2010

In the hallway that parallels the old and new gyms, there is an expanse of wall space dedi-cated to a vast array of athletic achievements. The shiny, reflective glass cases protect photos of athletes past who left their marks as superstars in their respective sports at Washington High School.

In particular, the recent years have produced a number of football players who have quickly risen through ranks on the college and even professional level. Most students, especially the upperclassman, will remember crisp October nights spent watching the likes of Adrian Ar-rington, Paki O’Meara and Keenan Davis run rampant over Kingston field. Looking back on those memories some students must wonder, where are they now?

Arrington, an all-state wide receiver and Ga-torade player of the year while at Washington, has certainly made a name for himself since he graduated in 2004. He attended the University of Michigan, where he gained national attention after two circus catches in the 2008 Capitol One Bowl landed him on Sportscenter’s Top Plays.

The New Orleans Saints drafted him 237th overall in the 2008 NFL draft and, after being plagued by injuries his first season, made last years playoff roster just in time to earn himself football’s most coveted prize, a Super Bowl ring.

O’Meara and Davis haven’t won any Lom-bardi trophies recently, but the two Iowa teammates are well on their way to making the big time. Both current Hawkeye players were honored with all-state selections during their high school days, but are at very different points in their college careers.

Davis, an ’09 graduate, is entering his second season at Iowa after being one of only three true freshmen to play for the Hawks last season. He saw limited ac-tion last year, but did pick up his first career touchdown against Iowa State, and is currently listed as Iowa’s second team wide receiver.

O’Meara on the other hand, is a senior still looking for his breakout season. The 2006 Wash graduate has played mostly as a kickoff returner but, thanks to the mysterious situation surrounding running back Brandon Wegher, may have found himself an opening in the offense. He played a few series at running back in Iowa’s home opener against Eastern Illinois and also blocked a punt which he returned for a touchdown.

There is no I in bond, and there is no I in team. The Washington Women’s Swim Team comes together on many occasions to grow as a team and have fun out of the water. Only on the women’s swim team is it possible to go out for dinner, tie dye, participate in scavenger hunts, visit haunted houses, attend concerts, hang out in the jock lot and play car tag. However, there is a rhyme and reason behind all of the craziness that is Warrior team bonding.

“The bonding we do outside of meets and prac-tice really has a positive effect on our team spirit. It truly motivates the team”, said Warrior team member, Katie Rohde ’11.

“During season, I spend more of my time with the swim-mers than I do with my own family, and it definitely makes us closer as a team. I would say that having that second fam-ily is the best part of swimming”, said

team member Meredith Gantner ’12.The women’s swim team is currently in the middle of

the season and has already partaken in many activities. The activities change from year to year and are usually headed by the seniors on the team. When speaking to members of the team, many agreed the funniest memory was Al Only ’11 teaching the team how to do the “Jerk” in preparation for Night Storm.

“It can be hard to get out of bed for morning prac-tice, but being a part of the team makes it worth it. I enjoy everything about swimming except getting yelled at, but I know it will only make me work harder”, said Rohde ’11.

The Warrior Women’s swim team is strong this year and improving as the season progress-es. The varsity team is made up of many under-classmen, so next year’s expecta-tions are high.

Natalie NepplStaff Writer

Women’s Swimming

WHO GONNA WIN?

University of Northern Iowa @ Iowa StateIan Fischer: My boy Andre Dawson UNI 72, Iowa State 0Isaac Halyard: State goes hard Iowa State 24, UNI 13Patrick Anderl: Ya’ll like football? UNI 72, Iowa State 0Joe Eken: I’ll keep my prediction much more reasonable than Ian and Patrick UNI 50, Iowa State 3

Penn State @ IowaIan Fischer: Joe-Pa has nothing Iowa 35, Penn State 21Isaac Halyard: Nittany is a mountain. That’s boring. And not hardIowa 14, Penn State 13Patrick Anderl: Iowa likes football Iowa 24, Penn State 20Joe Eken: As those of you in Dr. Wenzel’s second hour AP Lit know, Ian recently wrote a spectacular paragraph involving himself becoming a lion, I gotta go with fate Penn State 23, Iowa 17

Green Bay Packers @ Chicago BearsIan Fischer: No one almost loses to the Lions Packers 27, Bears 17Isaac Halyard: Pack goes harder Packers 28, Bears 17Patrick Anderl: Thunder cats Packers 27, Bears 17Joe Eken: I’m tempted to go with the Bears because Isaac is a Packers fan. I can’t do it Packers 17, Bears 6

Minnesota Vikings @ New York JetsIan Fischer: Gotta go with Revis, San-chez and Greene Jets 20, Vikings 17Isaac Halyard: Vikings suck, but Brett goes hard Vikings 35, Jets 28Patrick Anderl: Ya’ll still like football? Vikings 30, Jets 17Joe Eken: Vikings all the way Vikings 30, Jets 13

The women’s swim team poses after their meet against Jefferson

Joe EkenSports

Warrior Athletes: Where are they now?

Our resident sports “experts” give predictions on the upcoming month’s biggest games

Photo by Megan Anderson

Sports12 9-24-2010

’11

Jill BroghammerStaff Writer

“GO WARRIORS,” a phrase heard by many warrior athletes and yelled by many warrior fans. Bran-don Besong, ’11, has experienced being a Warrior fan in the Kingston stadium as well as being a Warrior football player on the Kingston turf during his high school years.

Besong decided to go out for the football team this year, even though he has not played since his sophomore year. Besong debated going out for football, but his enjoyment of the game and his want to help the team lead him to the conclusion of playing football this season.

Even though Besong took last year off from football, he feels bet-ter than ever on the field.

“I definitely feel faster, stronger and more confident on the field this season than my sophomore season,” said Besong.

Besong has been able to experi-ence the atmosphere of being a fan in the stands and the atmosphere of being a player on the field since being a student at Washington.

“In the stands, you see a play and think you could have caught that pass or tackled that player, but once you’re on the field you understand that it’s much harder than it looks,” said Besong.

Besong described the atmosphere on the field as intense compared to the atmosphere in the stands. “Players from the other teams are trying to mess with your head on the field while coaches are trying to mo-

tivate us from the sidelines. People in the stands don’t get to see everything that occurs on the field, as a fan you just keep cheering for the team,” said Besong.

Besong describes being a team player as not being selfish, always thinking about the other players on the field and doing what you can to help the team win the game. Besong has appreciated his teammates this season and enjoys hanging out with them outside of practice and games.

“I feel that I am closer with the team this year than my sophomore year,” said Besong.

Besong returns to field

Brandon Besong ’11 drops into coverage

In early August, most Washington students are still enjoying the last month of summer and trying to push any thoughts of the upcoming school year out of their heads. For Warrior golfers however, the season is just around the corner.

The season swung into action Aug. 12 with the Mississipi Valley Conference Supermeet in Waterloo, and is more than half done as October approaches.

As the golf season winds to a close, the players and coaches express satisfaction with their year so far. This year’s golf team has been doing better than previous squads. The warriors have already matched their win total from last year with six meets left in the season.

Of the varsity team, Trent Hoekstra, Isaac Halyard, Rob Landis, all ’11, Jon Landis, Austin Bergstrom and Zach Gothard all ’13; half of them are sophomores.

“Our team will get progressively better every year, my senior year we will be really good,” Gothard said. Gothard also said that the underclassmen have a lot of talent. Players to watch for in the next few include

Gothard, Mike Eken ’14, John Kopec ’13, and Matt Strand, also ’13.“I can’t wait to see how much better we get over the years, we will only lose about three seniors this year,”

Gothard said.

Joe Berry Staff Writer

Golf team looks to improve from last year

Joe Berry Staff Writer

Repeating a championship is often considered one of the hardest achieve-ments in sports. The loss of athletes to graduation, combined with the sheer physical and mental toll it takes to win back to back titles difficult to at-tain. Nonetheless, there is one team at Washington that made an exception to this rule.

Last spring the track team won the state meet for the second year in a row. The Warriors brought home third in the 100m Dash (Alex Carr ’11), third in the 1600m Run (Andy Marshall ’10), third in the 4x100m and 4x200m Relays (Will Griffin ’12, Ronnie Henderson ’10, Evan Davis ’10 and Carr),

third in the Distance Medley (Henderson, Carr, Tyler Eckhardt ’10, and Rob Hogg ’12), and first in the 4x800m Relay (Hogg, Kyle Rouse ’10, Eckhardt, and Marshall).

Coach Willis Harte, the team’s distance coach, commented that last year’s success played a big role in this year’s title.

“We had seen the hard work that had gone into winning state the year before. But, more impor-tantly the student athletes were willing to put in the extra effort to repeat the title,” Harte said. Wash finished with a team score of 59, Indianola and Pleasant Valley tied for second with scores of 52.

Harte also says that the team can look to the future for more titles.

“We will always have the talent to win the state title here at Washington, it’s merely a matter of

how hard we work for it and if we put in the effort.”

Men’s track goes back to back

Warrior Spotlight: Brandon Besong

What grade are you in?Senior

How many years have you played football?Two years, my sophomore year and now my

senior year.

What is your jersey number?1

What other sports do you play?I also play soccer in the spring.

What has been your favorite game so far this season?The Jefferson game was my favorite so far.

What game are you most looking forward to?The Linn Mar game, it will be a tough game but I am really excited for it.

What do you hope to accomplish as a team this season?

I hope that we make it to the state finals unde-feated.

What does it take to be a team player in your mind?Being a team player means not being selfish and knowing that the game is about everybody else and what you can do to help your teammates.

What are your future plans after high school?I want to go to Missouri State and play soccer. I also want to major in sports entertainment man-agement.

“We will always have the talent to win the state title here at Washington, it’s merely a matter of how hard we work for it...” -Willis Harte

Sam Kacena ’11 practices his swing Photo by Megan Anderson

Photo by Staci Pawledge