What’s Happening
The last month has been one of many wins for Lowell High School. Lowell’s fencing team ended their season at the beginning of the month. Their conference championship allowed the most dedicated members of the three state conference to compete against one another individually. The Women’s Sabré placed 5th as a group setting a new standard for the entire team as second-year conference competitors.
The boys swim team also set new records at their sectional invite. The boys placed 5th out of 17 on the 20th. Corbin Blank especially stood out advancing to sectional finals for diving and placing 8th. Coach Nick Schuyler also achieved special recognition at the event, receiving the well-earned title of Coach of the Year. The girls swim team, not to be outdone, also placed 5th in their sectionals, setting a pool record in their 400 free relay event. Lowell’s wrestlers similarly performed exceptionally well at state. Ike James, Colton Cummings, and Drew Hughes all proved to be a fierce completion. Colton Cummings and Drew Hughes both received their second state championship title.
Lowell held strong in more than just athletics, though. Academics also proved to be a strong point as the academic decathlon team progressed to state at Purdue University. Eighteen schools, each categorized into large and small divisions tested over 10 subject areas in the category of India. In those areas Lowell took 8 first place awards and first overall in the large school division. Rebecca Karstenson had the opportunity to represent the team in Speech Showcase, presenting her first place prepared speech to an auditorium of onlookers. Almost immediately after she attended state for the Distinguished Young Women program. After many weeks of dedication and practice, she won third place at state.
What’s Coming Up
Following a month with so many successes may prove difficult, but the Red Devils are certainly up to the task. Lowell’s annual dodgeball competition has been set for March 19th. Like every year, teams are eager to sign up for the opportunity to challenge (and defeat) their peers and teachers. This year seems to be extremely promising so far featuring both new and old teams all hoping to win first place and succeed last year's winners, The Backstreet Boys.
March will also include the Special Olympics basketball game against Lake Central. The game has been a huge success in past years, drawing huge crowds of support from students and staff alike. The game is being held at Lowell on the 9th and is not a game that fans of either side will want to miss. Meanwhile, Boys Varsity Basketball is preparing for their sectional game at East Chicago Central. Throughout the season students have been at each game to support the players, dressing up to match themes such as pajama night, red devil pride, and beach night. This game should prove to be no different, incorporating a fan bus to allow students to easily travel to and from the game.
Lowell’s clubs have an exciting month ahead of them as well. New clubs have been constantly appearing throughout the school and many plan on holding their first meetings in March. Both a coloring and sketchbook club have recently been created for those with an interest in art.
The sign language club has also begun recently, followed closely by the ping pong club. The latest in the mix is the film club. This club serves as an alternative to the previously offered film lit club allowing students to still learn even when the class in no longer available. The environmental club continues to make a difference and has recently decided taken a stance for current struggles in the nation. The group is bringing awareness of Flint, Michigan to the school and holding a drive for students to donate water bottles and make a difference.
With the addition of so many new clubs at Lowell, students can find something to fit almost all of their interests.
Shoutout: The American Sign Language Club
Recently 5 juniors at Lowell have gone to a lot of work in order to make the school a more diverse and welcoming place. Sarah Heiny, Kirsten Witrykowski, Sara Wheeler, Emily Crouch, and Sara Townsley have spent months preparing for their American Sign Language or ASL club. Along with the help of Mr. Swanson, the girls were able to get board approval for the club and begin preparation for meetings, the first of which was held on the 19th of February.
“Our club focuses on basic learning to improve acceptance in the ASL community. We teach them the basics of sign language. It makes people feel good that there is someone who can and will try to communicate with them.”
The club now has around 30 members in total. Currently, the focus remains on efficient communication, but eventually the club hopes to branch into the community and see ASL established as a foreign language class at Lowell. These five girls have made the club a reality after months of dedication and learning. For anyone wishing to begin their own club they advice: “Go for it!
If you are passionate about something and want to share it with others then reach out. It may seem like a lot of work, but in the end, it is way more than worth it.”