March 2008

theblazerThe Student Newsmagazine of Timberline High School Volume VIII, Issue 5 • March 6, 2008

Getting sponsored

Athletes on a whole new level

17

Belting it all out

MANCHOIR sings a new tune

14Teacher subs

take control

See pageSee page

New THS teachers

7See page

CRAZYFOR CAFFEINESee story on pages 10-11

Photo illustration by Anthony Collins

02 [email protected]

blazer opinionmarch 6, 2008

Letters to the Editor

Staff Editorial:Cut foster kids some slack By Staff Writer LindSay ULSchmid

THUMBSThe opinions below represent the opinions

of a majority of The Blazer staff.

Move kids, get out the way!

People keep standing in large groups in the middle of the hallways and make get-ting to class difficult, especially since the hallways are more narrow than they were in the old building. The commons is big-ger. Why don’t some people go there and

stand and make out or socialize? We seriously need to be considerate of those students who have a gym class and need to walk three miles to get there. Let’s put a pep in our step, Timberline, and get out of the way of other students who face the mission of beating the bell to class.

False alarms have ceased!There have been no bomb threats or

false fire alarms so far this entire year! Last year was honestly one big mess, but it is nice to know that we don’t have ridiculously shortened class periods

(besides on advisory days of course). It’s also great that our parents don’t have the uncertainty of sending us to school due to bomb threats. All the commotion was necessary, but important for our safety. Good job on being mature. But who knows? The year is still young.

Being in the foster care system is difficult enough, but it’s even more challenging when people don’t accept your limits.

Foster kids have no say where they live, and sometimes foster par-

ents take in kids without meeting them first. So they usually get stuck with people they don’t have anything in common with. Unless the feeling is mutual, or the child does something to get sent elsewhere, they don’t have a choice except to stay in the homes they are as-signed. Depending on the foster home, kids can also be quickly moved from place to place, which makes it hard to form relationships with other foster siblings and par-ents.

They also have the problem of trying to do well in school. Due to counseling appointments, and other reasons, like court, they have a tendency to miss a lot of school. It’s hard when teachers aren’t flexible with the child’s unique situation. Some may also categorize them as slackers.

It’s also difficult when schools don’t accommodate foster children who don’t have access to resources, like computers. According to one source, sometimes teach-ers are flexible, but it’s still hard to do certain assign-ments. Life can be rough for foster kids, and sometimes they need to be cut a little slack.

Foster care is a great opportunity for kids who are in danger. It serves as protection. However it can get really lonely and stressful being separated from family members.

People should learn to be more understanding of others’ situations. Before you judge someone you should talk to them and hear how things are from their point of view. Exchange student story incorrect

Dear Editor, Last month’s article “Home away from home?” should have been titled “Family away from family” as this is truly the focus of most high school exchange programs. Good journalism is about facts. Here are a few facts to consider. FACT : The US State Department defers to CSIET (Council on Standards for Interna-tional Education Travel) to review and certify exchange programs throughout the United States. CSIET reports show most students considering exchange come to im-merse themselves in a new language, learn about an-other culture, to be part of a host family and experi-ence American high school. FACT : Personal references have always been required for host families; the year 2007 was the first year the State Department required criminal background checks. FACT : There is no such thing as a “religious background check”. FACT: The US State Department requires students, natural parents and host families to have two orientations where they re-view the rules of the program. These rules were agreed upon as part of a contract exchange students, natural parents and host families signed before being accepted into the program. The rules are also provided in writ-ing in the exchange program’s handbook. FACT : J-1 Visa students come to America to live with volunteer host families. These kind and generous families have volunteered free room/board and welcomed a complete stranger to be part of their family for a school year. In exchange for this, the student agreed to follow program and host family rules and to participate in all family activities. Sometimes these include attending church, participating in FFA, going to car shows, attending sibling sporting events, eating at McDonalds 2-3 times

per week, watching TV shows they don’t like. It is all part of being a family. FACT : Although the specif-ics of Kalima’s choice to withdraw from the exchange program remain confidential, she was not following the program rules she had contractually agreed to. FACT : staff writers unfortunately misquoted many comments in this article and some things quoted are not truthful or facts. FACT : Exchange programs promote world peace and understanding. Facts are always better. Donita Zblewski

Dear Editor, I was extremely upset by the article about the ex-change students in the last issue. Not only did it lack purpose---other than to thwart the efforts of the vari-ous exchange student programs--- but it lacked factual information. Much of the article was based on the un-successful experience of one student who repeatedly broke rules and then lied to the Blazer staff about her host family and the expectations placed on her. There is also absolutely no correlation between the one abuse case mentioned and the opportunity these students have to attend any variety of churches. I am a host parent of a THS exchange student and feel we were unfairly depicted in our religious beliefs and the purpose of re-ligion in our life with our wonderful exchange student. This program deserves a better representation and those of us involved deserve and apology!

Sincerely, Lynnette Risk (host mom)

Letter to the editor: I was very upset when I read the article “Home, away from home” that was published in the school news paper last time, regarding my response and the article as a whole. I’ve never said that I go to church because I don’t want to “hurt” my host family, “not because I’m inter-ested in the religion”! I feel what I said was rephrased from my original statement. I said I go to church be-cause I want to be”part of the family”. My host family, who I love very much, got hurt from this article, so was I. I would have never agreed to take part in it if I knew its taking that path. I thought the article was about “Exchange students, Host families, America, churches…” Luna Haj

Many students are under the impression that energy drinks actually work. What if they

don’t? Do we really know for sure? What about students who claim to be addicted to caffeine? Maybe our reliance on them is in our heads rath-er than a real physical dependency. Often, teens consume energy through various forms, like coffee, en-ergy drinks (Monster or Amp), and even different herbal teas, without knowing enough. These drinks can cause jittering, increased heart rate, anxiety, and can also cause aging. We really don’t need them to get us through the day; we only need to lead health-

ier lives, by eating more nutritionally bal-anced meals. Too much caf-feine is not good for you, and there are other ways to deal with stress and lack of energy: manag-ing your time better, being more at peace mentally, or just do-ing things to calm you down. Go for a walk, watch a movie, or take a nap.

Illustration by Anthony Collins

Coffee causes dependency

[email protected]

blazer opinionmarch 6, 2008

Mission Statement The mission of The Blazer is to provide the students and staff of Tim-berline High School and the surrounding community with a quality, thought-provoking publication. We aspire to print a publication that adheres to professional journalism standards, including sincerity, truth-fulness, accuracy, impartiality in reporting news events, and equal rep-resentation of opposing sides. The Blazer will serve as a public forum for the free exchange of information, opinions, and artistic expression in a civil and constructive manner.

Student Submissions Works submitted by students not on the staff, particularly letters, editorials and artistic expression, shall receive the highest prior-ity for publication as long as they fall within the realms of good taste according to the standards of the readership. Letters to the Edi-tor must be typed or written legibly. The Blazer will print as many submissions as space permits and request that all submitted work include the contributor’s name, grade, and signature. The Blazer re-serves the rights to edit all submission for content, accuracy, spell-ing and grammar. All student work must be submitted in the Blazer

Staff Room, room #108. Written work may also be submitted via email at [email protected].

EditorialsThe opinion section of The Blazer will serve as a public forum for thoughtful, well-written forms of expression. Bylined editorials repre-sent the views of the author. Non-bylined editorials represent the views of a majority of The Blazer staff. Views printed herein are meant to be opinionated and do not necessarily represent the opinions of the Tim-berline faculty, administration, or the North Thurston School Board.

Advertising The Blazer will not accept any advertising that we believe to be factu-ally inaccurate; designed to mislead, deceive or defraud; containing malicious, vindictive, or unsubstantiated attacks; offering goods and/or services illegal for all teenagers to possess, buy or use; libelous; obscene; creating imminent danger or disruption to school. Advertise-ments do not necessarily represent the views or endorsements of The Blazer staff or the Timberline faculty, administration, or the North Thurston School Board.

Editor-in-Chief: Wonsok LeeNews Editors: Sacha Haia, Cody LuceroArts and Entertainment Editor: Alex KocikFeatures Editor: Madhura PanjiniSports Editor: Nathan MorrOpinion Page Editor: Victoria CarrollBusiness Managers: Melissa Jones, Amanda AngleStaff Writers: Lindsay Keith, Kalli Toompas, Nicole Mercer, Patrick Carroll, Melissa Dailey, Jessica Lord, Delas Raiford, Lindsay Ulschmid, Amy Gripp, and Vic-toria ZollerGraphics Staff: Madison Rollins, Jeannie Sin,Sean Van Ausdal, Cassie Goodwin, Anthony Collins and Emily Hoppe

The Blazer Staff

Timberline High School • 6120 Mullen Rd. SE • Lacey, WA 98503 • (360) 412-4860 • [email protected]

Every issue The Blazer invites a member of the Tim-berline community to be a guest columnist for the month. This month’s guest is se-

nior Kaitlin Kilpela, who shares her ex-periences in converting to Mormonism.

Many people, upon hearing that I’m a member of the Mormon Church, make the assumption that my parents are Mor-mon, and that I have been raised in the church my entire life. What shocks them is that I made the choice to become a Mormon when I was in the tenth grade.

I was first introduced to the church

by a friend who invited me to a Wednes-day activity. It happened to be a spaghetti feed where our wrists were tied to the people next to us, and we had to eat with such kitchen utensils as potato mashers, whisks, and spatu-las. I had so much fun that I kept coming to activi-ties and Sunday meetings.

Being around these people gave me a calming feeling that I had never felt before. The youth were excited to live faithfully and obey the commandments.

I decided to start talking with the

LDS [Latter-day Saints] missionaries. They told me that they honestly be-lieved in the church whole-heartedly. They knew the Book of Mormon was the word of God. They suggested that I do

the same to find out if becoming a member was right for me.

That night I knelt next to my bed, and I

prayed to know if the church was true, if it was right for me to be baptized. I was so afraid of what my family, my friends, and my classmates would think of me if I made the choice. I knew what the right

decision was. I was baptized on April 6, 2006.

Being a member of this church has definitely strengthened me and my tes-timony of Christ, but it has never been easy, due mostly to unnecessary jokes and threats that I have received against my beliefs. My only wish is that people would understand that we “claim the privilege of worshipping the Almighty God according to the dictates of our own conscience, and allow all men the same privilege, let them worship how, where, or what they may,” (Joseph Smith).

I love the Lord and I try to follow the commandments by living my life accord-ingly, one day at a time.

Mormonism is the path I chose to take

GUESTBE O

UR

Kaitlin Kilpela

“Every day is a struggle, but a blessing.”By Staff Writer LindSay Keith

So I would say it’s like a dream. I feel like she is still going to be downstairs one day when I wake up making breakfast or waking me up with “Gold Digger” by Kanye West like any

other day. But a month has gone by since then and it becomes a reality more and more everyday that I won’t see my mom again. Sometimes I am fine or content then five minutes later I feel hurt, depressed, confused, an-gry, and even lost. My mom was my best friend and someone I could go to for anything and everything. No matter what I did, good or bad, I could go to her for advice, support, or just to talk. What she had was an illness, depression. I am not angry with her, I feel upset because I feel like her decision was selfish.

I wish I could have stopped her. I wish I could have showed her how important she was to everyone and how much of a difference it was having her around. I wish I could have convinced her life is worth living. I wish I could have been something to stay around for. I wish I could have stopped her from getting into that car. I wish I didn’t have to think about the gun missing from my dad’s closet. But those wishes cannot happen.

In a letter she wrote me she told me to forgive oth-ers fast, forgive yourself faster. My mom hated herself for mistakes she made in her past. Why couldn’t she

take her own advice? Having my mom was like having a safety net; she was always there to hold my hand. But something that haunts me is the unanswered questions to why my mom left the way she did. The present is so difficult. The future does not seem any easier. My mom will miss a lot of events that I wished she could have went to. Helping me pick out my prom dress, watching me graduate with my classmates in 2009, sitting in the front row at my wedding, even as far as helping me teach my kids the things she taught me at this age. I know all this is far away, but these are big changes in my life. She won’t be there for any of them.

This has changed the way I look at life, forever. I look at life the way it is, not how it should be. Given my situation, I have hit rock bottom. It can only go up from here. Every day is a struggle, but a blessing. You should be grateful for ev-ery day you live. All my life I knew I had a large amount

of good friends, some close friends and very few best friends. Without my mom, I don’t think I would have the motivation to get out of bed and honestly care what happened the next hour, day, or year of my life. Building relationships in life is one of the most important things

you will ever discover. You cannot make it in life on your own. You may think so and hey, maybe you can. But I guarantee you will not be as happy without being surrounded by people who you care about.

Appreciate what you have, accept the happen-ings that occur in your life, but most importantly live life. Believe in yourself, believe in others. Don’t let any obstacle put a stop to getting to where you want to be; not grades, self es-teem, motivation, or even

death. If you make a mistake, learn from it, and if others make a mistake, learn to forgive them. Do not dwell on the things you cannot change, although they may hurt for a long time, you will overcome.

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blazer news [email protected]

Every year, up to three Tim-berline students are chosen to par-ticipate in the Lakefair Pageant, which acts as a scholarship oppor-tunity for junior girls. Timberline’s representative is selected by a panel of teachers and is chosen based on her two minute speech and a ques-tion and answer period. This year Kimberly Vivian, Heather Orse, and Jessie Shepherd were chosen from nine candidates to compete. When asked why she believed she was chosen she replied “because I have good leadership skills and am a good representative of Tim-berline.” On Mar. 1 they will be judged on a job interview format process by five independent judg-es for a chance to be in the top ten and win $500. The top ten will then go on and be re-interviewed on Mar. 15 by three independent judges and give a speech. The top five will be the royalty court and gain another $1,000. The last time a Timberline student won the title of Queen was in 1992, and Tim-berline has only won four times in the 15 years it’s been active.

This evening at 5:30 p.m. in the commons, the for-eign language department will be hosting its annual Mardi Gras party for all students who are members of any of the foreign language clubs. This tradition began two years ago and is held near Mardi Gras because it is the last day of carnival. According to French Teacher, Madame Levan, it is hosted “because that tradition of celebrating carnival is part of all three cultures.” It is a chance for students in German, French, and Spanish to celebrate and get a first hand feel for these cultures through foods and various activities. “It’s a great way

for students to experience the diversity of different cultures,” said Tyler Sigby, a sophomore and first year Spanish student.

After only one year, the junior class has decided against hosting the Mr. Timberline Pageant like it origi-nally planned. Mr. Timberline was created by last year’s sophomore class, this year’s juniors, but lack of time and other obligations have pushed the junior class to take the competition off this year’s agenda. They have decided to dedicate more time and focus towards prom, instead since it is a much bigger event. “I don’t think anyone else will really care other then the popular people, since that’s mainly who it effected,” said Anna Tran, sophomore.

On Mar. 18th the Autoshop Club will host its annual Autoshop dance in the Autoshop to raise money for the Auto Club. “The Auto shop Dance acts as a fund-raiser for the Auto Club and helps pay for their project car and their competitions in Skills U.S.A and Ford/AAA events,” said Mr. Live-say. “The Autoshop dance is dif-ferent because everyone gets ex-

cited for this one dance. It is in the autoshop, which is pretty small and with a lot of people it is so fun. It more fun than other dances because there is no stress to get ready” said Carlene Mealing, sophomore. Even though, there will still be a limit on the number of tickets sold, like there was last year, because we now have a bigger space, the limit will at least be higher so that more stu-dents can attend.

Led by club advisor Amiee Leggett on Thursday Feb. 21 the Gay Straight Alliance club published their first Issue of the GSA Zine.

Led by Tanis Hartsell, A.J. Young, and Elizabeth Jetton, along with a lot of help and influence from Justin Maybee, Dustin Gibbs, Taylor Boardman, Alli-son Davis, Rob Denning, and Kathy Taylor, this mini magazine was created completely by students. It also featured work by Ashley Martin, Ashleigh Zarrell, An-astasha Toompas, Shandra Monterastelli, and Victoria Polanco-Harper. “The Zine was a way for the club to spread awareness of problems that can really get in touch with teens,” said Jetton. The GSA hopes to pub-lish a new issue of the Zine every two to three months and each one will contain a current event and examples of artwork, literature, and poetry.

march 6, 2008

FRIENDMY N

EW

best

“Just for the Halibut”Commentary, humor, satire, and possibly another fish joke, by Jeannie Sin

TIDTHS BITS

“Heard in the Hallway”

“ - Anonymous (as always)

Jessie Shepherd, junior

Q: Do you mind if I bother you for amoment?Yeah, no problem. Whatcha need?

Q: Every month we chose someoneto highlight as a “best friend.” Will youdo it?Alright, sounds good.

Q: How long have you worked forTimberline High School?Twelve years.

Q: Do you enjoy what you do?Oh yeah, it’s a good job.

Q: What is the favorite thing aboutyour job?Recently it’s been moving into the new school but I think everyone feels that way.

Q: Are kids treating the new schoolwell?Yeah, for the most part.

Q: Is your official title janitor or what? It’s custodian.

Q: How did you become a custodian?Returning from 22 years in the army, I found this job. It’s good income and fits my lifestyle just fine.

Q: What do you do for fun?I spend most of my spare time chasing my granddaughter around the house. She’s a handful and keeps me busy. She’s only two.

Q: Will you be my new best friend?Oh sure, just be sure to say hey when you pass me in the hallway.

By A&E Editor AlEx KociK

Every issue of The Blazer, a staff member is chosen to go out in the hallways of Timberline and get to know someone new. Meet Ron Gallifent, a custo-dian, and my new best friend.

By StAff WritEr lindSAy UlSchmid

Lakefair pageant finalists

Foreign language party tonight

Mr. Timberline fails to proceed

Autoshop dance returns

GSA club publishes first Zine

I wish I was a dinosaur!

“

Heather Orse, junior

Kimberly Vivian, junior

Carlene Mealing, sophomore

2008-2009 THS Yearbook

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blazer news [email protected] march 6, 2008

THS baby boomWith several Timberline teachers on maternity leave, THS is bombarded with several long term substitute teachers. The Blazer introduces the new set of teachers.By Staff Writer Patrick carroll

photos by Cassie Goodwin

Change is in the air. New teachers have appeared in the classrooms and are bring-ing their own spirit to Timberline High School. However, these teachers are a not as permanent as they seem; they’ll

be gone by September. They are a group of long term substitutes who are filling the gaps left by the five Tim-berline teachers going on maternity leave. There are many differences between being a long term substitute, and a regular one day substitute. “I get to teach more now. Usually you just sit with the kids but now I get to actually teach, and I really like that… Also, I spend more time here before and after school, and more time grading papers,” said Justin Hopkins, the sub for Meghan Knight, in the English department. There are also differences in the connection a sub-stitute has with the class. Nathan Hamilton, who was the long term substitute for Dee Anne Flaherty, and Jennifer Brotherton when they were on maternity leave years ago, said, “I enjoy getting to know a few students very well, but I also find it fun to create instant rapport and then be done.” Ultimately there will be five long term subs this spring, but so far Timberline has seen only Hopkins, and Francis Wosu, the substitute for Jamie Sullivan, also of the English department. The rest of the sub-stitutes yet to arrive are still unknown. Jorge Franco, a junior, said, “I think Hopkins is a cool teacher. He’s outgoing, he can be funny, and he makes the books fun.” Hopkins went to Timberline as a student in the late nineties. Some of his teachers were Rob Denning and Jeff Reagan; he also worked with Reagan on two practi-cums while in college. “I love the new building, and the bathrooms smell good. The atmosphere here is also special among the district. Timberline is kind of ‘The Other School’,” Hopkins said. He started substituting in the North Thurston district in the fall of 2007. Wosu also started to substitute in the North Thur-ston district in the fall of 2007. However, she started to be a sub in 1999, while she lived in Georgia. She was a long term sub last year at Tumwater High School. “I think the advantage [of being a long term sub] is know-ing the school before being committed to it full time, in a job,” she said.

The soon-to-be mothers leaving Timberline are: Knight and Sullivan, from the English department; April Olson and Dae Shogrin from the counseling cen-ter; and Chelsea Altrum, from the science department. There are mixed feelings on their part as far as leaving the school goes. Olson said that being separated from her baby when she comes back in September is going to be the hardest part. However, Altrum feels leaving the school is going to be difficult as well. “Yes, it’s kind of hard to give it [teaching] up. I’ll definitely miss the students the most,” she said. The students will also miss their teachers while they’re gone. “I’m not looking forward to her [Altrum] leaving because the new sub will try to be our friend, and we really don’t need that,” said Zach Heying, one of her students and a sophomore. There are many difficulties involved with starting to teach a class this late in the year, and being expected to find your groove in so short a time. “The hardest part is establishing my own relationships with the stu-

dents,” said Hopkins “For a one day sub you’re thinking, ‘I don’t know you, I’m not going to listen to you’ but with a long term sub, they kind of become your teacher” said Melody Upton, a senior. Noel Coley, a freshman, said that the major differ-ences in his behavior when he has a sub for a day are that he starts talking more, changing seats, and throw-ing paper. “When I see a sub I think, ‘Yay, I get to mess around, because it’s not my teacher.” “If I’m in a good mood then I’ll stay and mess with the sub. One time my friends and I made a sub cry just by being loud and not listening,” said John Schuster. Freshman Chris Evans doesn’t like the students who cause problems in class. “I feel like what’s the point of trying to learn when they’re being distract-ing?” he said. Hopkins said. “When I was in high school we gave subs a hard time, and now I’m taking my dues for that.”

Let’s get to know...Justin HopkinsEnglish department substitute

Timberline alumni•Taught by Rob Denning and Jeff Reagan•

Worked with Reagan on two practicums while •in college

Started substituting in the North Thur-•ston School district in the fall of 2007

Francis WosuEnglish department substitute

Started out substituting in Georgia in •1999Started to substitute in the North Thurston •School district in the fall of 2007Long term substitute for Tumwater high-•school last year

Justin Hopkins, a long term substitue teacher for Meghan Knight, teaches in front of his class.

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blazer news [email protected] march 6, 2008

Waiving the WASLWith the loss of Timberline High School’s gym due to the third phase of construction, Tim-berline will take a new approach to administering the WASL. Directions may be given via closed circuit television by the classroom projectors to all students taking the WASL. In ad-dition, juniors and seniors will have late start while the WASL is being administered.By Staff Writer DelaS raiforD

A new year, a new school, and a now a new WASL. Timberline has been adjusting a lot of pro-

cedures to adapt to the new school, and the WASL will be one of them. Without a gym, Timberline will be conducting the 2008 WASL in the classrooms on the second floor of the new building. Each classroom will have one or two proctors to supervise students depending on the class size. Directions for the WASL will be given through CCTV, or closed cir-cuit television, by the classroom projec-tors. To compensate for the lack of ex-cess room, students who have taken and passed the WASL will not be required to come to school during the first two hours that the WASL is being taken. “The gym is unavailable due to con-struction,” said principal David Lehnis. “We plan at this point to use the second floor classrooms and the library.”

Juniors, seniors, and particular sophomores will be allowed to come to school two hours late to skip the WASL. Lehnis said that students who decide to take this option will have to provide their own transportation to school, how-ever. Those students who still plan on coming to school on time may have the option to participate in Advanced Place-ment study halls. Certain AP teachers will be offering these extra study halls for their students who need additional guidance, and for any other AP students who decide to come. Upperclassmen like Stephanie Jones who have this option seem to be look-ing forward to it. “That’s really good. I can always use the extra sleep,” said Jones a senior. “I’m definitely sleeping in. No doubt about it.” Other students who can not take advantage of the extra sleep are not as appreciative however. Aubrey Taylor is a freshman who will be taking the WASL this year, but feels that such a privilege is unjust to the rest of the freshman class. “That is unfair to have to come to school when others don’t have to,” said Taylor. This new decision has some sophomores regretting their de-cisions about not taking the test last year as freshman when they could have. “I should have taken the WASL last year,” said Dylan Sw-anstrom. Swanstrom could have taken the

WASL last year, but decided not to because he didn’t feel quite ready. “I wasn’t prepared so I thought it would be a waste if I were to take it early,” said Swanstrom. Swanstrom didn’t think his teachers had focused enough on the WASL for him to do well on the test, but now he feels more comfortable about it all. “I am ready now. Math will be easier than English though,” said Swanstrom. His uncertainty about taking it as a freshman is not an isolated event, but some have chosen to overcome their doubts and take the test anyways. “I would pass every-thing but science because there is still a lot to learn in science,” said Tay-lor. Passing the test as a freshman is possible though. Sophomore Missy Ay-res is an example of that. “The easiest part was the writing, I got a perfect score,” said Ayres. Ayres believed that she was properly prepared because of her familiarity with the test. “We take the WASL every year now,” said Ayres, “I knew what to

expect because we have tak-en so many.” Another significant change for the WASL this

year is its location. With the gym under construction, the library and second floor classrooms will be used for test takers. Overflow for late test takers will be transferred into the library until they finish. The tests being administered in classrooms will new provide benefits and challenges alike. The students will have to get used to receiving the direc-tions from someone who is not with them in person. “That’s not going to be good because there are going to be questions from every classroom. They need some-

one to answer them,” said Swanstrom. There will be proctors in each class so some students do not think it will be a problem. “I can’t see how it would be different,” said Jones. “I don’t think it’s

going to make a whole lot of differ-ence.”

The classroom atmosphere could affect students’ performances this year. Brittany Portley thinks that these new conditions

will help her pass the test her second time around. “I

think the classrooms will be better because it is a smaller space,” said Portley, a junior

retaking the math portion of the WASL. But not everyone feels that way. “I think being in classrooms will be more of a distraction,” said Ayres.

This could be important because the class of 2010 is the first to be upheld with the new rule that the WASL must be passed to graduate. Students must pass all sec-tions of the WASL and if they don’t, they must continue retaking the test until they do. “It shouldn’t be a requirement because the WASL is only a state test, it isn’t a national assessment,” said Ayres. Portley is glad she doesn’t fall un-der that rule, but does feel sorry for those who do. “That adds a lot of pressure for them,” said Portley. “But that makes them have to study hard, pay attention, and not fool around.”

Illustrations by Jeannie Sin

blazer news10 [email protected] 6, 2008

Craz

y

for ca

ffein

e!

According to HowStuffWorks.com, studies have shown that 90% of Americans consume caffeine at least once every day. With shockingly high numbers ,Timberline students make up just a small part of that

statistic. Businesses have transformed their caffeine products into dif-ferent forms and styles to please the diverse pallets of consumers. From

energy drinks, a beverage with a large amount of caffeine, to tea, a bever-age with very little, there is caffeine to be found.

Fox News researched the growth of energy drink industries and found that they grew by 80% in the year 2005 alone. Every direction you

turn, you can find someone sipping on their favorite Rockstar energy drink.

Brandon Leske, a sophomore, drinks two cans of energy drinks a day, each containing two servings. “Since I only

get five hours of sleep, they wake me up in the morning,” Leske said. Obviously the days of a hearty oatmeal break-fast is a phase of the past as students replace a nutritional start to the day with a quick fix to sleep deprivation. “People drink energy drinks because the taste is appealing and it gives them a boost of energy,” said Katie Griggs, sophomore. “Some kids run on only a few hours of sleep, so it helps keep them awake during the day.”

Coffee is also becoming increasingly popular among young people. For various

reasons, Teen coffee drinking has increased by 25% in the last four years for a variety of

reasons (wbztv.com). Many students use coffee as a “study tool.” “[I

drink coffee] about three times a week, when I want to feel more awake,” said Andrew Miller, a senior. “I used

to drink coffee all the time to help me stay up to do home-work, Miller added.” Besides the energy provided by caffeine and other stimulants, they also offer motivation to survive the day. “Coffee gives me something to look forward to when I get home, because I don’t have time to drink it in the morning,” said Christiana Radnich, sophomore. “I drink coffee when I want to feel mature. It makes me feel like an adult because that’s what adults drink,” said

Shaina Thompson, a senior. “I don’t even like the taste of cof-fee, so I have to put a lot of stuff in it.”

Tea is yet another pick-me-up youths may exploit. “I drink tea be-cause usually I want something warm to drink,” said Griggs, “I notice some energy boosts that help me get going. That’s why I don’t drink tea at night.” “If I drink tea every day, then it helps me stay focused and awake,” said Otto Newsom, a sophomore. Green tea has been used medicinally in China for thousands of years, and with good reason. It’s been found that a compound in the tea called Epigal-locatechin gallate (EGCg) hinders cancer cell growth. However, caffeine does have negative side effects such as the decrease of the efficient use of calcium in the body. You can also thank caffeine for the frequent trips to the bathroom.

Another form of caffeine that is much more convenient to take are pills and substances. According to www. ehow.com “When one stops taking caf-feine pills, they should do so gradually to avoid withdrawal symptoms”. “If you take caffeine pills, it’s kind of ridiculous because you don’t need energy that bad,” said Gabrielle Hampson, a junior. “You don’t know what a regular dose is [for caffeine pills], and people overdose. People don’t look at caffeine as a medicine,” said Diane Phelps, an itinerant nurse. Equal to two cups of coffee, a single caffeine pill on an average has 200 milligrams of caffeine. Recent caffeine intake is usually extreme once past the 250 milligram mark, although it varies between people of dissimilar weights. “Some kids probably do take caffeine pills, but I haven’s seen it,” Phelps said, “At colleges, it’s a problem when they’re trying to study for finals.” Not everyone’s body reacts well to high dosages of caffeine. “My broth-

Caffeine in a packet

Caffeine in a bottle

These bottled beverages are available at grocery stores, convenience stores, and even bars. The 20oz. cup of coffee at your favorite stand is loaded with it. But is the energy hype real? And more importantly, are these drinks safe?

By News editor sacha haia aNd staff writters Kalli toompas melissa dailey

Caffeine to study

Photos

by Anth

ony C

ollins

blazer news [email protected] March 6, 2008

How o

ften

do

yo

u use caffeine?

Every day

47%Often30%

Never23%

Did You Know?

Coffee

Tea

Energy drinks

er had stomach ulcers from energy drinks. He took medicine for a week,” said Jacob Marshall, a soph-omore. Another student has also experienced the side effects of caffeine substances at their worst. “I had heart palpitations because I drank about four [ener-gy drinks] in about forty-five minutes,” said Krista Collins, a sophomore. A heart palpitation is the ir-regular beating of the heart and can also be caused by overexertion, panic attacks, and heart disease. Other “caffeine-high” Blazers go to the nurses’ office when they begin to get symptoms of what is usually, a mild overdose. “I have to send kids home because they’re shaky and weak,” said Phelps, “I think we’ve already sent two kids home this year. It’s not a high number, but they’re scared when they go home. 25-year-old Joel Clark of lssaquah, Wash. used to drink two Rockstar energy drinks a day. Within six to eight months since he began, Clark could hardly hold down any meal. “I thought for the first month that I had been catching the flu and didn’t realize what was going on,” said Clark, “I finally went to the doctor when I vomited up some green foamy liquid that burned my throat badly.” The doctor informed Clark that his stomach lining was completely worn away, and that he would have to take a complete turnaround, so Clark changed his diet. “I also have to take antacids every other day,” said Clark. “Antacids are not exactly an easy fix to the

problems of energy drinks . Although they can mend worn stomachs and heal ulcers, they may have laxa-tive effects, raise blood pressure, and cause heart failure”(www.health.yahoo.com). Some students disagree with the use of caffeine and other substances to get by. “If you need that to get through the day you’re probably at a point where you shouldn’t be using them,” said Kaitlin Kilpela, senior. “You’re at a point where you’re past using them, and you’re like abusing them. You’re addicted.” After Clarks life changing experience he has

advice to all those who claim the need for caf-feine. “Limit yourself; if you let it get out of hand like I did, you will regret it in the long run,” said Clark, “Stay-ing active and having a balanced diet is the key to feeling good and be-ing healthy.” “There are better ways of getting energy, like eating right and sleeping enough, ver-sus using a quick fix,” said Mark Brown, a senior. N u t r i t i o n i s t s warn that large dos-

ages of caffeine can get kids hooked on a “jolt-and-crash” cycle.“After you drink an energy drink, you’re hyper, but then you’re more tired than be-fore,” said Tricia Frazier, a freshman. Some students take temperance into consider-ation. “In the long-term, the negatives outweigh the positives,” said junior Paul Jensen.

The first Espresso machine was in-troduced in 1822 by the French.However, it was the Italians who later perfected and distributed it.

Source:www.didyouknow.cd

Thomas Sullivan a New York mer-chant inadver-tently invented the tea bag in 1904 when he sent tea samples enclosed in silk.Source:www.vintagetea.com

In 2005, energy drinks earned more than three billion dollars in retail sales in the United States alone, and are still rising.Source:www.learninginfo.org

There are better ways of getting energy, like eating right and sleeping enough, versus using a quick fix -Mark Brown, a senior

“

”

illustrations by Anthony Collins

blazer news [email protected]

On Feb. 4, Timberline students were introduced to their brand new school. With the modernized

classrooms, bathrooms, commons, and other additions, the building seemed to be a shining architectural en-deavor next to the old one-level building. The Blazer investigates the positives and negatives to their new prized possession. “When I saw it from the old school,” said Jamie Schoen, a senior, “It looked nice.” However, just like the old saying goes, “You can’t judge a book by its cover.” Although many seemed to be satisfied from the one-hundred students The Blazer staff polled, complaints still rose. This was especially true concerning the hallways. With most of the core classes within the main building a large number of students slowly flow into the halls at once. This creates clogs that block the stream of people to a slow trickle. “The hallways need to bigger; we were so used to being in the open outdoors that these hallways seem super tight,” said Anna Tran, a sophomore. These problematic multiple levels and narrow hallways comes the ability to avoid Washington’s rain showers. “I like how everything is indoors, enclosed, so we do not have to go out in the cold,” said Aric Philama-lee, a senior. Though it is nice to stay inside, those that have band, physical education or Lobe must make a trek out the old building. A feeling of being on a long-distance pilgrimage just to make it to their next period frustrates many students. “Between classes, there are so many people to get through one single door leading down to the basement,” said Philamalee. “They could have had at least a double door.” The stairway that allows you to not have to walk across campus, also rises as a problem. “I have to go up and down the stairs like in between every class,” said Krista Collins, sophomore. This problem of classes in the old building will end after the completion of Timberline’s face lift, but stairs will stay. Some students contribute these factors to making it difficult to make it to classes on time. The staff and teachers for the first week were more flexible with students being late due to these new facilities. On the first day in the new building a longer passing period was given to insure students get to their classes with the least amount of trouble as possible. That, however, was only on the first day.

“I really think they should have extended the passing period for good, sometimes with all the crowds in the hallways I have to book it to class to avoid being late,” said Collins. Not only are people seeing negatives outside the classrooms, but within as well. There have also been several complaints about numerous things such as the way the lunch room is organized, time restraints, and the way the classrooms have been arranged. “The classes suck, the clock is behind the screen,” said Schoen. Along with multiple complaints about the building itself students have complained about the parking situ-ation for both themselves and the teachers. “It is really dumb.” said Talbot, “Not only do we have to walk farther from the student parking lot but also in sixth period we have to here that annoying an-nouncement for any staff member to move their cars so the busses can park.” As with all things, there are both good and bad as-pects to the new Timberline High School.

march 6, 2008

By Editor-in-ChiEf Wonsok LEE and staff WritEr JEssiCa Lord

One-hundred Timberline students were polled on if the new school lived up to their expectations. Although many believed it to be up-to-par, many believed it exceeded their standards.

Although most students find that the first-story commons give plenty of room for people to pass (above), the second-story hallways are often seen to have groups of people standing in the way of students.

New school receives mixed reviews

Better35%

Worse24%

Exactly41%

“I never really got to experience the old Timberline, but the new seems

like a great place to make memories,” -Christopher Adams,

freshman

“I think that the designers tried too hard to make the building more

modern and less comfy for teens,”-Tianna Loflin,

sophomore

“I have to walk all the way to the gym and I am always late to ‘Lobe-

land’” -Aric Philamalee,

senior

“I knew there was going to be some problems, but surprisingly not that many have came to my attention,”

-Ben Talbot,sophomore

What do you think about the new Timberline High School?

blazer arts & entertainment14 [email protected] 6, 2008

“These guys come twice a week for an hour after school just for the fun of it [singing]. They do not receive any

credit or grades for their participa-tion,” said Terrence Shaw, the MAN-CHOIR adviser and Timberline’s choir teacher . Timberline’s MANCHOIR was start-

ed last year by some of the guys from the symphonic choir. “Last

year all the guys from symphon-ic choir did a song together and

then this year some of them decided to make it

more open t o

more people. We all came to a gen-eral consensus on what days to meet

and what song styles we would sing,” said sopho-more, Braden

Buttelo. They began meeting

on Mon-days

and Thursdays after school, and it was instant magic. “It’s [MANCHOIR] really just more laid-back than all

the other choirs — they are more stressful. The expectations aren’t as high; we didn’t even have to try out or anything,” said Mark Brown, senior.

MANCHOIR is broken down into two different groups, each with two subcategories.

The first are the bass singers who sing the lower notes, it also includes baritones, who sing the higher notes. The other group is the tenors. They are separated into tenor one and tenor two. Tenor ones sing the higher notes, while tenor twos

sing the lower notes.Feb. 13, the MANCHOIR sang at the Throwback

Concert, held at North Thurston High School, where songs from the 20s, 30s, and 40s where sung. The guys sang to help the other choirs raise money for their trip to San Francisco. They belted, “Good night Sweetheart” as a group, and some sang solos.

“It was really fun. Most people don’t know any songs from those eras so it was nice to give people a taste of it,” said senior baritone section leader, Ben Baria.

They also performed at the Zone Concert held on Jan. 30. “We do it every year. It’s a performance we do for elementary and junior high school kids. We sang like angels,” said Robert Sanders, senior.

The guys also did their signature entrance. “We came out lifting weights and throwing grills and girls,” said Baria.

“The idea of that [their entrance] was to have Ko-machin and the surrounding elementary school kids come and see what we do here. I wanted to let the fifth and sixth grade boys know that it is cool to sing,” said Mr. Shaw

The guys showed admiration for him and his styles of teaching. “He’s one of the best. He teaches us how to sing the songs; he doesn’t just hand us the music,” said Sanders.

“He’s cool about helping everybody out and meet-ing people’s needs,” said Jaron Brown, senior.

For Mr. Shaw, it is rewarding to see the guys per-form in front of crowds. “There is something very unique about men singing. I mean it’s very natural to hear women sing, but when you get 30 guys together: the reaction is huge,” said Mr. Shaw. “The satisfaction for me is to see these guys come around and sing and actually get joy out of doing it.”

Not only do the guys sing, but they have events they like to call ‘MAN-BQs,’ which are like barbecues. They consist of weight lifting, watching or playing football, practicing songs, and just hanging out. “We make steak, and like 50 burgers. We cook a lot of man food. We don’t eat it we devour it!” said Sanders. They use the events as a way to get to know one another more, and to form friendships. “We decided we needed to have some sort of time where we hang out and eat,” said Mr. Shaw.

Right now MANCHOIR is on a hiatus until May. They will recommence practice for their concert some-time in June.

MANCHOIR sings out

We were like modern day

barbarians that could sing like

angels. - Robert Sanders,

senior

“

“By OpiniOns page editOr VictOria carrOll and staff Writer VictOria ZOller

Photo by Sean Van Ausdal

Robert Sanders, a senior and a MANCHOIR member, has been singing in choir for two years.

Timberline choir members band together to establish the first all-male choir.

blazer arts & entertainment [email protected] march 6, 2008

Choir: Concert Choir

Requirements to Join: Must be a Timberline stu-dent.

Short Description: No au-dition, co-ed choir. “You can just sign up and join the class,” said Stephanie Van Hoek a sopho-more.

When They Practice: During 6th period.

Member’s Favorite Part: “I like that it’s such a diverse group of people and that we work so well together,” said Van Hoek.

Choir: Symphonic Choir

Requirements to Join: Audition in front of a panel of judges and fill out a form.

Short Description: Boys and girls audition choir. “You learn a lot about

the actual prac-tice of singing,” said Candice Orm, a sopho-

more.

When They Practice: Dur-ing 3rd period.

Member’s Favorite Part: “My favorite part is the bond we all share and the seriousness that we all take in singing,” said Orm.

Choir: Treble Choir

Requirements to Join: Must be a female Blazer.

Short Descrip-tion: An only female, no audition choir. “All the girls are divided into first and second soprano, and alto,” said Jas-mine Shanklin a sophomore.

When They Practice: Towards the end of the day during 5th period.

Member’s Favorite Part: “My favorite part is singing our warm up: pi-co-lo-me-ni,” said Shanklin.

Choir: Chamber Choir

Requirements to Join: Must be female, audition in front of a panel, and fill

out an application to join.

Short Description: Female audition choir. “An all girls choir, made up of 16 girls,” said Nydeen Jordan, a sophomore.

When They Prac-tice: During 4th period.

Member’s Favorite Part: “Being in Chamber Choir, has really helped me get better at singing, especially with all the other girls help-ing me,” said Jordan.

A look at all of Timberline’s choirsGavin Eilefson, freshman, Brandon Robertson, junior, Evan Robison, junior, and Connor Nelson, senior (left to right) sing in choir practice.

Photo by Sean Van Ausdal

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blazer sports [email protected] march 6, 2008

Sponsored sports

There are many students around Timberline that excel in aca-demics and school sponsored sports, drama and even clubs,

but while these students are being recog-nized for their achievements, there are a number of underground individuals who go unrecognized for their participation in being sponsored for sports offered out-side of school. Josh West, a senior, has competed in Motocross since he was 13 years old, but at the age of 15 he got an opportunity that most athletes do not get; an Alpine Star representative came to him at one of his races for a sponsorship. Now his top five sponsorships in-clude Osiris Shoes, Alpine Star, Utopia Optics, Yosh imura , and DNA En-ergy Drinks. “ W h e n you are spon-sored, all of your stuff is covered,” said West. “You get food, clothing, riding gear, and bikes.” Before being sponsored, West rode for fun as his father in-fluenced him, saying that moto-cross was the right sport for him. “My dad threw me on a bike and said ‘go fast’,” said West. Then, when he got into competitive racing, his fam-ily had to pay their own fees for every-thing when traveling to different races in various locations. He used to just go to smaller local races, but now his spon-sorships enable him to travel to big-ger races that offer larger amounts of prize money. West is not the only Timberline student that is spon-sored for outside sporting. Albert Gesswein, a senior, has been skateboarding for nine years and is sponsored by Northwest Snow-boards and Suburban Skateboards for his efforts in skateboarding. His sponsors enable him to participate in competitions and obtain free gear and travel.

“It’s like art [speaking of skateboard-ing], maybe that is cliché, but you can skate and add in what you want, whereas other sports have rules,” said Gesswein. Through his passion, Gesswein has not only been able to attract several sponsorships, but he also gets to spend more time doing what he loves because he does not need to fear the risk of dam-aging his equipment. “I don’t have to pay for boards; when I go places with my team, I don’t have to pay for anything.” Although sponsorships like to find kids

to participate in their events, there is an underlying purpose, accord-ing to West. “Sponsors want to get you out to a bunch of tracks or dunes just to

get their name out there, and so people can buy their

stuff,” said West. H o w e v e r ,

while spon-sors do

provide a lot of aid

to the athletes and their sports, there are certain restrictions. These student ath-letes are being supplied with

free equipment and other ac-cessories to represent their sponsors, advertise and get

the product out, so to speak. West, for example, is prohibited

from supporting any other companies. “I really cannot wear any other com-panies’ clothing because I could get fined or lose my sponsorship,” said West. He also said that sponsors try and monitor

their athletes’ behavior concerning drugs, al-cohol, and school. However, this does not apply with all sponsors. Gesswein’s sponsorship differs slightly from West’s. “For my cir-cumstances, I didn’t sign any contracts. I just receive free stuff and advertise the com-pany. In return, I just have to go to competi-

tions,” he said. “I just get to have fun do-ing something I love.” Free equipment, such as boards and the occasional shirt, are given to Gess-wein from his sponsorship. Along with accessories being free of charge, both

Timberline High School is home to several students who partake in sports that are unrelated to school. However, few of these students have the privilege of being sponsored. These stu-dents are recognized for their abilities in several sports that Timberline does not offer. They receive free equipment, clothing, travel expenses and other promotional items. By SportS Editor NathaN Morr aNd Staff WritEr aMy Gripp

Above: Albert Gesswein performs a one-eighty at the Rainier Vista skate park on Feb. 25. Gesswein skates there nearly every day. Left: Josh west rides a wheelie at the Longview MX Track in Longview, Wash. on Feb. 16. West’s riding number is 32.

Photos left and above by Sean Van Ausdal

Photo above courtesy of Josh West

Gesswein and West have the opportunity to show their abilities in competitions that range from local venues to interstate contests. “They are really intense and epic [speaking of his competitions],” said Gesswein. “There are mass amounts of pressure, it is very intimidating. The most challenging part is trying to please everyone, at the same time.”

“It [skateboarding] is like art. Maybe that is cliché, but

you can skateand add in what

you want.”

Albert Gesswein

blazer sports18 [email protected] 6, 2008

Fastpitch is back with a vengeance The 2007 fastpitch season in one word: “incred-ible.” Brittany Berin, a junior, reminisces at how con-sistent and dominating the girls’ fastpitch team was last year. The girls’ fastpitch team ended the 2007 season 1st in the WCC with a 19-5 league record, accomplishing an impressive feat by making it to state for the first time since years. “Getting so close to winning state last year and los-ing left a bad taste in our mouths. This year, we are going to try our hardest to win, “ Taylor Smith, a senior pitcher said. “I think that we basically need to maintain our uni-ty. We only lost one senior last year, so sticking together is going to be a key part to our unity this season,” Dan-ielle Colburn, a senior said. For this season, the team has acquired a new head coach. Carl Raben moved up to the head coach position after being assistant coach last year. “I don’t think that is it that hard of an adjustment for the team to make because Carl worked really hard with us last year and is it not going to be like everything has changed,” Colburn said. “The whole fastptich program will be much better this year because I heard that a lot of freshmen were go-ing to try out this year,” Colburn said.

T-Line baseball: In it to win it With a 16-9 league record and a 2nd place finish in the WCC in 2007, the boys baseball team is looking “for perfection this season,” as Matt Hubbard, a junior, assertively puts it. “Our work ethic is unquestioned. We just need to do the little things right,” Hubbard added. Since they only lost three seniors last year, many players are feeling good about the start of the new sea-son. “This year is our year,” Alex Bodenhamer, senior and pitcher on the team said, “we have the unity and the game to win state.” The boys’ baseball team went to state last year for the first time in three years. “We set a goal that we were going to make it to state, so it wasn’t a surprise to us that we had made it, though to other teams is was,” Boden-hamer, said. “This year, anything short of winning state will be a disappointment,” he added. Bodenhamer adds that the coaches need to drill into the team that they need to “keep the intensity up” when playing.

Girls golf tees up hopes to win Though the girls’ golf team did not “fair” very well in the 2007 season, the team starts this new season with “high hopes” said Heather Orse, a returning junior player. Orse said that these hopes are encouraged by the practices starting at Capital City Golf course, and over-all experience raising on the team. “The returning players (top four or five) are going to practice at Capital City Golf Course instead of the First Tee driving range,” Orse said. Kim Vivian, another junior player, makes an anal-ogy about the new practices. “It’s like in volleyball—instead of bumping the ball up against the wall over and over again, we are actually going to learn to spike it,” she said.

Blazers look to win it all

photos by Anthony CollinsTaylor Smith, a junior, gets ready to throw the ball during practice on Feb 25.

Upcoming games for the Blazers

In the 2007 spring sports season, two teams made it to state, and a total of four teams placed third or better in the Western Cascade Conference (WCC). With results like that in 2007, many teams are looking to start this season with a winning streak

By Features editor Madhura Panjini and staFF Writer nicole Mercer

March 10

March 18

March 10

March 18

HomeDate Away TimeLocationTimberline North Mason Timberline 4:00

Black Hills Timberline Black Hills 4:00

Clover Park Timberline Harry Lang 3:30

Timberline Alumni South Sound12:00

Timberline River Ridge Capital City 3:30

Jamboree Jamboree Tumwater 4:00March 8

March 8

blazer sports [email protected] march 6, 2008

With a 3-7 league record for the 2007 season, many on the team are looking for improvement. “Last year, it sucked because some didn’t have as much dedication as I would have liked them to have,” Vivian said. “This year, we are going to make stricter rules like showing up to practice and have team bonding through team nights,” she added. Orse agrees. “We should spend a lot more time together this year, because a lot of golf has to do with playing with partners, it is good to comfortable with who you play with.” “If we can get comfortable enough with each other, it is going to be easier to take strokes off of our game,” Orse added.

Soccer team makes goals The boy’s soccer team is already worried for the new season and it hasn’t even started yet. Last season, the team finished with a 7-5-3 league record, plac-ing 3rd place finish in the WCC. With the loss of ten seniors from last year, including eight that started, the team is relying on the new freshman this year to keep them on track this season. The whole lineup for the team is going to have to be changed and the entire de-fense shifted. Andrew French, a sophomore, said “It will be hard, but its do able.” Even though the team is in turmoil over the new adjustments they are still staying positive. French said, “We have some decent players and I think we can make it to top three in the state again.” Still reeling from their win-loss record of 6-6 from last season and placing third in WCC the boys soccer team is looking forward to a new season and a fresh start.

Track sprints into season With the start of the new season, the track team is geared up and ready to be-gin the new season fresh. Last year, many people on the team

played in league and state competitions. Racheal Estep, a junior, made it to sub districts for the distance and Maddy Glainyk, a junior, placed in the 4x400 re-lay race. Erica Legaspi, a senior, placed in the 300 hurdles. In shot put Samantha Dominiak, a junior, and Christina John-son, a senior, both placed. At the end of the 2007 season, the boys track had a league record of 2-4 and the girls had a league record of 4-2. Many of the players that were expe-rienced graduated last year, but the team is expecting great things from under-classmen this year. Some changes are taking place this season, changes such as a new boys sprint coach. Steven Berube, a sopho-more gives his opinion on the new coach, “I think this [the new coach] is a good thing because it should really help us.”

New coaches are an ace Ending 3rd in the WCC with a 12-4 league record last season, the girls’ ten-nis team looks to close the gap and be number one this season. Despite acquiring both a new head and a new assistant coach, the team looks towards the season with full trust and confidence in their coaches. Katherine Halmos, a math teacher, recently filled the position of head coach. Suzanne Pier-son, also a math teacher, filled the posi-tion of assistant coach. Though Halmos has never been a tennis coach, she has run various other athletic programs like sprint clinics. “I have faith in the new head coach because she is a high school teacher and she can relate to us, but I have to say that I am a little nervous because it is a new adjustment,” Kayleen Tabil, a sophomore said. Tabil, who was the number two sin-gles player last season, was undefeated in league play. “I felt really good about being undefeated last year. This year, there will be more pressure from other players but I will try my best to achieve what I did last year.”

Q: What are your experiences in coaching?A: “I have coached ultimate frisbee for 12 years. I have worked with middle and high schoolers and even col-lege students.”

Q: What is your grade point average goal?A: “I noticed the academic athletes banner on the wall in the gym and decided that this season, our goal was going to be for our team to maintain at least a 3.0 grade point average.”

Q: How are you going to improve the team?A: “I am going to work on improving the physical fitness of the players and building their self confidence too.”

Drew Nakashima, a freshman, at a practice soccer game on Feb 25.

Q&A with the head tennis coach, Katherine Halmos:

Sam Dominiak, a junior and Susan McLean, a senior, run on Feb 25.

Christina Johnson, a junior, feeds the ball at tennis practice on Feb. 25.

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“I do not want Duke to win. I hate that school and team just because I do not like

the way they play,” said, Allen Thomas, JV basketball coach. Every March basketball fans get out their favorite teams’ jerseys, start the bets between friends, and tune in to watch the NCAA Men and Women’s Division I Basket-ball Championship, better known as “March Madness”. The champion-ship for college basketball teams, it starts off with 64 colleges and ends with the Final Four in determining the champion. The single elimina-tion game heats up as it gets closer to the Final Four in April. Competi-tion rises when fans started laying down the cash on teams they want to win in betting pools. “I really want to see Kansas do well this year. They are a pretty consistent team and I would like to see them get far with their effort,” said Devlin Payton, a senior. How to pick a team? Maybe it’s inspira-tion. “My favorite team is UNC, they always have great talent. Mi-chael Jordan came from that school which shows a lot for the program,” said Diante Rudolph, a junior. However, many people pick a team for different reasons whether it’s their hometown or at team they have always favored

“My favorite team is Memphis, they have an overall talented group of guys and a nice point guard, Der-ek Rose,” said John Smith, a senior. At press time, Memphis has a soar-ing record of 28-1. Anxiety shot through the roof with the results of last year’s game, Ohio State vs. Florida State. “I really wanted Ohio to win. I knew they wouldn’t though, espe-cially since they were missing one of their star players, center Greg Oden,” said Smith. F l o r -ida pulled t h r o u g h the close match with a victory, final score of 84 to 75. Such a large game but with such a high expense to go watch. Tickets can run anywhere from $383 for Upper Level Side court to as high as $1576 for Lower Level Side court tickets. Competition can even be found at our very own Timberline High School. Betting pools begin in the first week of March and last all the way up to April, when the Final Four battle it out. Some students and fans take it

to the house, “Me and my dad bet money against each other and make up a bracket to follow the team we are rooting for,” said Payton. Bets on teams can run high. Smith recalls a losing competitor attempting to avoid paying up the money, but eventually recieved it. “I remember last year I made a $50 bet with one of my friends that Ohio State would make it to the fi-nal four and they did, so I won some money,” said Smith.

“The games are exciting and entertain-ing, since the teams have such high skill level, it gets intense,” said Kole Podowicz, a sophomore Others may not be competitive but find leisure in catching a few games if they can.

“I haven’t been watching as closely this year, but I have to say I want Tennessee (Women’s Divi-sion) to win because they have al-ways chosen a variety of talented recruits,” said Zandrea Edenstrom, head girls basketball coach. This year the match is taking place in San Antonio, Texas. If you happen to be watching TV on April 7th, be sure to tune in to the game to get a dose of March Madness.

march 6, 2008

UTSTIM

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30 second

By News editor Cody LuCero

By staff writer LiNdsay KeithMarch Madness mania

Boys swim team titled champs On Feb. 12, 2008 Timberline High School’s Pete Lee, a junior, attended the class 2A/3A boys state swim and dive championships. Lee competed in the 100 backstroke and snatched the first place prize with a time of 52.0, leaving Alexander Hoff of Mercer Island with and Zack Ponchene of El-lensbeurg in second and third place. Hoff finished with a time of 52.16, and Ponchene with 52.19. Lee’s first place gave Timberline its first boys swimming champion since 1989, when Rob Mack-enzie earned the diving title. Lee also competed in the 200-yard medley relay with his teammates Dylan Maxwell, Senior; Jeff Heredia, sophomore; and Luke Bulenger, sophomore. The Blazers fin-ished with a time of 1 minute, 47.42 seconds, 15th-fastest overall.

Wrestling team matters at stateTimberline High School’s wrestling team ad-vanced to state with Abe Clark, senior, and Connor Adams, senior, competing in the 3A Washington State MAT CLASSIC XX Wrestling Champion-ships 2008, and Erica Legaspi competing in the Girls Washington State MAT CLASSIC XX Wres-tling Championships 2008. The competition was set up in double elimination, and if a wrestler won two matches before they lost any they were guar-anteed a top eight seeding. Legaspi competed in the 103 weight class, was pinned in her first match in 3:36, and then lost her second match 19-2. Clark wrestled in the 189 weight class and nearly advanced with scores of 13-11, following with a loss of 7-3. Adams, who had an injured rib, lost his matches with scores of 13-2 and 10-1.

Contruction part threePhase three of the Timberline High School con-struction is projected to begin no later than March 4. Timberline’s gym and theater will be signed over to a contracting company called Porter Brothers, whom will completely remodel and revamp the locker room, pool, and gym along with the theater. The project is proposed to be completed by Nov. 1, 2008. “We’re going to have to be creative and flex-ible without a gym, fast pitch, baseball, and tennis all practice in the gym when the weather is bad,” said Paul Dean, Athletics director, in response to the phase three construction.

Blazers roll into the rinkOn Saturday Mar. 1, Anthony and Matthew Sparkuhl played against roller hockey teams from Canada, Olympia, and Burlington at the Burlington Skate Rink with their local club team, the Bremer-ton Hurricanes. A. Sparkuhl and M. Sparkuhl have been playing European Patin Hockey for nearly nine years each. On Dec. 1, 2007 the Sparkuhls at-tend the 2007 Sub 20 Men’s Roller Hockey World Championships in Santiago, Chile. The Bremerton Hurricanes, known to the world as Team U.S.A., took 12th place after losing 7-0 to Angora. “We did really well for a young team, the oldest person was twenty, but everyone else was a lot younger,” said A. Sparkuhl.

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March 2008

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