What's going on:
Boys cross country competed in Sectionals on Saturday, Oct. 7 at Riverside Park in Hammond. The boys ran their top seven runners at the meet hoping to secure a major victory. The team’s biggest competitor that day was Highland.
“I think Sectionals we always have a really good chance or advantage of making through,” William Duzynski (12) said.
The race started with a quick start and Lake Central taking a commanding lead in the front of the group of runners. As the race went on Duzynksi and Joseph Copeland (11) took first and second place in the race while Highland attempted to match the boys pace.
“Though our times where a little slow, we came in expecting to get first,” said Joseph Copeland.
On the final mile, Copeland was passed by Highland and in the final 200m it came down between Duznyski and the Highland runner. In an all out sprint Duzynski gave it his all and left the Highland boy behind, taking first place. Copeland followed suit and took third place. Other notable performances came from Issac Beatty (11) who took fourth place and Logan Russel (9) who took sixth place.
“It feels really good, it is the first win of my season, it feels like all the work I have been putting in has payed off,” Duzynski said.”
Lake Central dominated the race with six of their seven runners placing in the top 20. Lake Central took first place and brought home another sectionals title. The boys will race next at Lemon Lake in Cedar Lake on Saturday, Oct. 14 racing to win Regionals.
“I don’t want to get to overconfident or say too much but I do hope for the best and think we will be successful,” Gurvir Gill (11) said.
Teacher Spotlight:
Leslie Iwema is not your everyday teacher at Lake Central. From coaching basketball to taking care of her daughter, Iwema is nothing short of miracle worker. Iwema is one of the two German teachers at Lake Central. She teaches German one all the way through German four honors.
When she began teaching, she was Fraulein Rossa, but when she married Todd Iwema, who works at Lake Central as well, she became known throughout the school as Frau.
When she is not teaching, Iwema is coaching. Her daughter, who is in fourth grade, plays a variety of sports, just like Iwema did when she was in school.
“I introduced my daughter into pretty much everything. She is involved with not only sports but also choir. She is in student council at school. She has tried karate, we have let her dictate what she wants to do and try so she can make her own decision on what she likes,” Iwema said.
Iwema’s husband, Todd Iwema, is the assistant coach in softball with Leslie Iwema. Together the two of them have led their team to the NSA World Series where they placed fifth.
When their schedule isn’t taken up by sports or school you can find the Iwema’s at, Disneyworld or planning their next visit to Disney. When they are at home Iwema finds reading and watching TV with her family most relaxing. Though the job may be stressful, Iwema still finds her career rewarding,
“The most rewarding thing about teaching is when former students come back to visit. Seeing a student literally grow up from freshman year through senior year and knowing that I was able to have a small part in their transition from childhood to adulthood," said Iwema.
Student Spotlight:
Meghan Long is a junior at Lake Central and has been playing sports for almost her entire life. At Lake Central she plays basketball and has been playing since third grade. Once basketball finishes she is far from done. Long goes right into the track season where she participates in long jump, 400 meter dash and 4X4 meter relay. Long has been running track since the sixth grade.
With all of the sports going on in her life Long has a busy, sometimes chaotic schedule. Her love for sports keeps her involved, though, and is something she plans to continue through her high school career.
Long has not decided if she will continue her sports into college but she knows that her career in life will be around sports. Long has said that she hopes to go into either sports marketing, physical therapy or sports marketing.
“I love sports and want to do something that involves them,” Long said.
What's Coming Up:
With Lake Central being such a large community there are always events coming up. Here is what’s happening the next few weeks.
- October 23: School Board Meeting 7:30 @Lake Central.
- October 25: Ghouls for Schools 6:00. @Lake Central
- October 26-29: Fall Break No School
- October 31 :Halloween
- November 1 :Parent Sexting Presentation 5:30 @Lake Central.
- November 9 :Veterans Day Assembly @Lake Central
- November 3 and 4: Fall Play 7:00 @Lake Central
- November 5: Fall Play 2:00 @Lake Central
- November 6: School Board Meeting 7:30
- November 8: Parent Media Presentation 5:00 @Lake Central
- November 9: Veterans Day Assembly @Lake Central
- November 13: Lake Central Education Foundation meeting 7:00 @Lake Central.
- November 16: Lake Central Choir performance 7:00 @Lake Central
- November 17: Lake Central Education Foundation Fashion Show 7:00 @ Lake Central
- November 20: School Board Meeting 7:30 @Lake Central
- November 23-26: Thanksgiving Break No School.