Men’s Golf
The Niners are looking for a regional return after over four years. The regular season ends May 28 with a final conference match at Sandy Pines. Heading into this final seasonal game, the Niners hold an undefeated conference record and a collection of runner-up finishes in various tournaments composed of teams soon to be seen in sectionals.
Junior Jacob Thorsen has established himself as a standout player on the team. Accumulating medals at Curtiss Creek and Sandy Pines, Thorsen is setting himself up for a spot in the state competition. Teammates have noted is ability to complete many rounds of golf before losing a single golf ball due to his extensive course knowledge.
A top-three team finish will land the Niners in the regional competition. With strong competitors such as Crown Point and Lake Central competing in their sectional, Andrean must be ready to bring a level of play higher than has been seen all season. Coach Ochi continues to help the Niners lower their scores consistently with each match so that they will peak in their potential by sectionals.
The Lake Central Invite this weekend at Palmira will be key to estimating postseason success. Much of the sectional completion will be present for the invite which is held on the same site as sectionals. With tight chances of a team regional qualification, teammates Charlie Puntillo, Dean DelSanto, Teddy Sinal, and Jacob Thorsen are primed for individual advancement.
Women’s Tennis
With a strong regular season finish, the Lady Niners’ tennis team heads into the second round of sectionals, Wednesday, May 18, after receiving a bye for the first round. An experienced varsity lineup filled with mainly upperclassmen has propelled the Niners through the season. Wins against conference rivals of Hobart and Merrillville has boosted the confidence of the team heading into postseason especially after last year’s sectional loss to Hobart.
The three seniors prove to be strong forces on the court for the Niners. Team Captain Megan Kaminski shows both strong individual skills in singles, with a regional qualifying finish in last year’s postseason, and also a powerful presence in terms of motivation and leadership among the ladies. Senior Madison Price proves pivotal to the team in terms of doubles play, as her and Junior Megan Jones hold the best record on the team for doubles. Price maintains balances agility and control to her play as her volleyball experience translates directly into her technique and gameplay.
Senior Colleen Anderson has shined amidst much hardship this season. Coming out hard in her early games, she struggled to stand on the sidelines for a match and a tournament late in the season. While still recovering from her broken wrist from the Kankakee Valley game, Anderson continues to push through, with her sights set on a sectional win.
The Lady Niners feel confident heading into sectionals and will rely upon strong team dynamics to pull them through. Geared for a match against Hobart or Merrillville later in sectionals, the ladies are ready to show their competitors that they are not the same team whose campaign ended in sectionals the year previous.
A Final Farewell
Before the class of 2015 walks off the stage at graduation, there are yet a few rightful rituals which stand between them and their diplomas. Setting off the litany of senior celebrations is the senior banquet, scheduled for May 27 at 5:30 pm in the school cafeteria. At this special gathering, the class of 2015 gathers for their final dinner and dance where classmates can share memories among the dispersion of awards and senior royalties.
On June 4, the last day of finals for the class of 2015, the seniors will gather at Our Lady of Consolation for the traditional Baccalaureate Mass, where they gather for the last time as a community to share in the Eucharist. This Mass is not only dedicated to the seniors but also “Magister Meus Christus” (Christ My Teacher).
The following morning, the seniors will gather on the last day of school for breakfast in the cafeteria. Here, again, the seniors will briefly eat and converse, among a speech by an alumni to serve as a kind of commencement speech, sending the class of 2015 off with the advice and support of the Andrean family.
Sunday, June 7, stands as a final farewell to the seniors at graduation. Held in the main gym, per tradition, each senior will walk of the stage with a diploma and onto the next stage in his or her life.
Armageddon
With hardly two weeks before finals, students geared up, last Friday, in the annual battle-of-the-classes style field day entitled Armageddon. This cherished Andrean tradition claims roots older than graduation. Though a tradition in constant evolution, elements that have persisted over the years include opening ceremonies, running of the torch, and dodgeball.
This year, Student Council poured themselves into an elaborately planned “Hunger Games” opening ceremony. A skit set off the day featuring Senior Lukus Berber as President Snow and Senior Kathryn Mirabella as Effie Trinket. With the announcement of tributes from each class, the student body proceeded to the football game to watch the games play out. Tributes from each class attempted to eliminate each other from the opening game by smashing eggs taped to the other classmates’ forearms. The seniors came out victorious setting a precedent for the day.
After a series of events, ranging from academic pursuits such as chess and quiz bowl to physical trials of football and soccer, the day culminated in the much-anticipated dodgeball event. Both the boys’ and the girls’ senior dodgeball squads defeated the sophomores in the first round landing themselves a spot in the finals. While the boys swept the freshmen with ease, the girls landed themselves at a disadvantage with only one senior left. In an amazing end of Armageddon play, Senior Katelyn Scheive eliminated the advantage and won the match for the seniors.
This back-to-back dodgeball sweep led the seniors to win Armageddon, with a substantial lead, holding the continued streak of a senior class victory.
Teacher Shout Out
In most senses, it’s not easy being the new guy on campus. After the retirement of long-term newspaper advisor Mrs. Nancy Kelly-Fernandez, the Acropolis was looking for a new managing editor. This new editor came in the form of Mr. Eric Hankins. With his Bachelor of Science degree in Journalism Education from Ball State University, he arrived at Andrean in August with the conceptual basis for modern journalism still swirling in his head after his recent graduation in 2014.
After years of monthly publications of a credible print newspaper, the Acropolis staff was uncertain of the destiny of their cherished publication. After much discussion and planning, the Acropolis staff decided to put an end to their newspaper in order to, as the President Harry Vande Velde has stated, “…move into the 21st century.” With the assistance of Hankins, the staff brought rise to the publication of their first magazine in November alongside the launch of their website acropolisonline.org, where articles are published continuously.
Hankins has brought a new era of journalism to Andrean High School. Prior to his arrival, coursework included a Journalism I class and a series of Student Publications courses. Hankins plans to expand journalism here at Andrean and show students what it means to be a journalist in the modern age of technology. A filled photography class scheduled for next semester is a testament to the interest in journalism Hankins is instilling in the Andrean community. At this rate, Hankins is set to establish Andrean’s next generation of journalists, one article at a time.
Student Shout Out
The first time I met Bri I was intimidated. Sitting in my English class freshman year, she was the best writer I had ever met, and she had personality to spare. In a class so competitive as my own, it is interesting to see who turned out on top academically after four years, and it feels even better knowing that I can proudly call my friend, Bri Howerton, the valedictorian. Bri put her heart into her school work, and it all worked out.
Bri is truly a woman of distinction. No matter the cause, she is willing to stand. As co-editor-in-chief of our school publication, the Acropolis, she has taken her talent for writing and her passionate opinions, creating fiery editorials and esteem for the publication that hasn’t been seen for years.
Beyond her virtues and vast achievements, is the Bri made of a thousand little things that all make us love her such as the way she knows everything about trends in alternative music, the way she offers her soft reassuring chuckle when a well-hearted joke doesn’t land exactly right, the way she fills a room when she sings, and the way she isn’t afraid to tell someone the truth no matter how harsh because honesty is her way of saying she cares about someone. For these reasons and many more, the class of 2015 and the whole school know, Bri Howerton is off to great things at Loyola and beyond. Good luck at Loyola, Bri! Show those Wolves what being a Niner truly means!