What’s recently happened?
On the first day back from Winter Break, January 8, Munster High School (MHS) students sat in their last-hour classes as the long awaited announcement interrupted through the intercom: Turnabout court. MHS’s winter formal, Turnabout, will be held on January 20, but the kings’ court winner will be announced at the pep rally the day before.
The court includes:
- Senior George Dovellos
- Senior Matt Gena
- Senior Diego Quiroga
- Senior Billy Papageorge
- Senior Vijay Dasari
- Senior Bryce Gelarden
“It feels great to be on the court,” Dovellos said. “I am honored. I didn’t think I would make it, so I was surprised when I found out. I am glad I have made so many friends during my time in high school.”
What’s coming up?
The cheer team is in the process of planning a school pep rally for Turnabout. However, the team has also been busy with planning a cheer kids camp and preparing for its first competition in February.
“This season has been fun with the immense student support at all the football and basketball games,” Senior Kiki Petrovic said. “We have had some challenges with several coaching changes, but the team has simply overcome these challenges by adjusting more and more every practice.”
Also in the midst of competition season, the MHS Dance Team is hosting its annual Munster Invite competition this Saturday. Both the varsity and junior varsity team will be performing their jazz and pom routines. Seniors Anna Andello and Gaby Kajmakoski and Junior Sam Bleza will be performing in the solo division.
“This season has been amazing so far,” Freshman Gwenyth Cox said. “I love the team and the environment. The most memorable moment was competing as a team together for the first time during camp this summer.”
Here is a quick glance at some other events that are coming up for MHS:
- Best Buddies is having a fundraiser at MOD Pizza on January 15.
- The Bowling Team has semi-state on January 27 and All Conference Match on January 29.
- Munster Junior Historical Society students are hosting their annual Souper Bowl drive from January 29 to February 10.
- Munster Theatre Company is performing an improv show February 1 through February 2.
- Munster Band Backers is holding a “Munster’s Got Talent” competition on February 8.
Staff spotlight:
New this year, Michael Schultz is the athletic director for MHS. For Schultz, a typical workday is spent organizing and planning for upcoming athletic events.
“The job does vary day-to-day, but the main thing is making sure our coaches and student-athletes have everything they need to be successful,” Schultz said.
The high standards MHS sets for the students and staff is appealing to Schultz. He had moved from Chicago to Munster seven years ago, and has always had an eye to work at MHS with its diligent environment.
“Working at a school that is in the district I live in allows me to make a big impact in my community,” Schultz said. “At the high school level, I really enjoy watching the development of our student-athletes throughout their high school careers.”
When Schultz was younger, he played t-ball to baseball all the way up to college. Schultz was a college baseball coach for 10 years before he went into athletic administration.
“I love athletic competition, and I want to try to provide and continue an elite student-athlete experience here at MHS,” Schultz said.
Student spotlight:
300 million people watched the pack of cheerleaders in their red, white, and blue uniforms march through the streets of London for the New Year’s Day Parade. These cheerleaders are eligible to sign up for the parade by earning their All-American titles at Varsity Spirit camps. Only 12% of cheer, dance, and band students are selected from across the United States to participate in the parade.
One of these students came from the MHS cheer team after receiving an All-American title at a Wisconsin UCA Camp.
“It was a surreal experience being chosen,” Senior Lauren Sims said. “The parade route led us past all the amazing architecture and history the city holds. Seeing Buckingham Palace, Big Ben, and Westminster Abbey up close was unimaginable.”
Sims initially joined cheer after her mom showed her a Pop Warner handout at 5 years old. Since then, she has grown a strong passion for the sport through her years on the school team.
“My favorite thing about cheer is stunting,” Sims said. “As a flyer, I love being in the air. It is an exhilarating feeling. Getting new skills with my stunt group creates such a close bond between us and brings me so much joy.”
As Sims is in the second semester of her senior year, she looks forward to attending Indiana University to study comprehensive design. She intends to major in architecture.
“As of right now I do not plan on continuing to cheer in college,” Sims said. “I am ready to continue to bigger things, but I am grateful for all the opportunities cheer has given me.”