What’s recently happened?
The Kouts High School (KHS) Boys Basketball team, the Mustangs, has competed in its Sectional games this week. Each win advanced the tournament, and the team is another step closer to the coveted State Championship.
Tuesday, February 28, was the first Sectional victory the Mustangs celebrated against Washington Township High School, defeating the Senators with a score of 60-47.
The next round of Sectional play was originally planned to be Friday, March 3 at 6 p.m. against Hammond Academy of Science and Technology (HAST) at Morgan Township High School, but due to weather, the game was rescheduled to Saturday, March 4. This meant that both rounds of Sectionals were held on Saturday.
In the first game, the Mustangs defeated HAST 84-58.
The final Sectional game was against Morgan, and the Mustangs came out on top for a Sectional victory with a score of 60-52.
Matthew Baker led the scoring with a team high of 17 points with 7 rebounds. Spencer Andrews had 14 points and 9 rebounds; Japheth Anweiler had 11 points, with 8 of those points coming from the free throw line in the fourth quarter; Tristan Ballas had 10 points, 7 rebounds, and 4 assists; and Colten Hamann added 4 points.
The Mustangs will travel to Triton Junior-Senior High School to compete against Bethany Christian Schools in the Regional tournament this Saturday, March 12.
What’s coming up?
As the weather improves, thoughts of spring follow, and with spring comes Spring Break. Spring Break at KHS is only two weeks away. This year’s Spring Break spans the last week of March starting Monday, March 27 with the students returning to school on Monday, April 3. While many are excited to be out of school for the week, Jonathan Bruno, a senior in the Class of 2023, has some different thoughts.
“If there’s anything I want to do over Spring Break, it's to spend time with my mom and the rest of my family,” he said.
Hayden McGriff, also a senior, needs the time to destress and relax.
“I like Spring Break. I need a break,” he said.
Whatever the students have planned for the week, traveling or staying at home, it will be over in a flash. The rest of the year will quickly follow suit as there will only be six weeks of school remaining. There is still so much to do and learn at KHS as the year winds down.
Staff spotlight:
Stephanie Hunsley is a math teacher at KHS. She teaches Geometry, AP Statistics, Trigonometry, and Probability and Statistics.
Teaching has always been a dream of hers ever since she was younger.
“I realized I wanted to be a teacher because I want to make a difference in the world,” she said.
Making a difference in the lives of her students and helping them understand the subject is her favorite part about being a teacher.
“My favorite moments are when students have those ‘aha’ moments - when they are working through something challenging and finally understand it,” she said.
Teachers that enjoy the subject they teach are more engaged in their class and therefore make the class more interesting and well-received by the students. Hunsley enjoys that math can be seen like a puzzle to be solved which she relays to her students. The idea that math can be fun can be a great surprise to those who don’t always like the subject.
“I often find it is the students who think they are no good at math that dislike it the most, so I do my best to build their confidence and help them to have little successes. Sometimes, it’s that little boost in confidence that helps them feel empowered,” Hunsley said.
Something that Hunsley has learned while being a teacher is that everyone is different.
“We notice different things, we are motivated by different things, we think in different ways, and we remember different things. Figuring out what works for each student is part of the fun,” she said.
It’s terrific that KHS has a teacher like Hunsley that is passionate about connecting with her students and guiding them as they learn.
Student spotlight:
Friday, February 17 was a special night for Ameilia Ash. She, along with the other seniors on the KHS Color Guard team, celebrated their Senior Night. This event marked the closing end of the color guard season.
“There was a special feeling in the air. It was weird because everything feels like it’s about you on Senior Night, but it went by quickly and it was easy,” Ash said.
Joining the team the summer before her freshman year in 2019, Ash jumped in, striving to work hard to earn the spot of captain her senior year. As well as being an example for the rest of the team, captains are responsible for designing all aspects of the routines.
“When my coach Becky Fosburgh told Emmy and me that we would be captains, I was very thankful and knew I had to step up,” she said.
According to Ash, even though captains are leaders of the team, the team would be lost without their coach, Fosburgh.
“None of this could be done without Becky. She is the reason why Color Guard is functional. I would not know how to do anything without the time and dedication she puts into the team,” Ash said.
Ash feels bittersweet about the season and her senior year drawing to a close.
“My senior year was such an unforgettable experience that I wouldn't change for anything. I just want to thank everyone who has helped and guided me through these four years. Thank you for everything,” she said.