No Breaks for the Whiting Oilers
Whiting High School students are spending their time focused on academic competitions, workshops, community service, and athletics.
Athletics
Whiting’s well-known football team dedicates their summer to weightlifting and pad practice. Scrimmages against a mix of teams they will face and will not face during the season push for improvement. In an upcoming scrimmage in July, Whiting will scrimmage teams down in Indianapolis. Workouts this season are completely different from last year's since a new coach has come along. Players are grouped by how much they are able to lift and work together to improve.
Whiting's football team always plans to go far each season, and this year state champions is the title they are hoping to claim. If the Whiting can get past their toughest opponent, Winamac, they have their goals set to head to state. Players are more determined than ever to win a sectional title in memory of Coach Vic. His desire for a sectional title as a coach was yet to be achieved so this season the players are extremely motivated to bring that to him.
The majority of the volleyball team this year consists of juniors and seniors all of which already have plenty of experience on the floor. When the team isn’t scrimmaging, their main focus is team related drills to make up for the loss of some seniors and get the incoming players accustomed to the rapid pace. A sectional title has been in close proximity for quite some time now, and the players are hoping to create a legacy. The seniors plan to do everything it will take in order to make it happen. The volleyball team is not the only one having high hopes for this upcoming season.
Cross Country has become more of an independent team this summer, but runners are determined to do the same workouts with the same amount of discipline in their coach’s absence. Unlike the volleyball team, they have more of a mix of upperclassmen and underclassmen. Since the end of last season, hard work has pushed runners to improve and place further than the previous year. Emily Brooks (12), ending her final season with Coach Alison Buell, makes it bittersweet since she been a coach for her since fifth grade. Last season, the team participated in Girls on the Run with Nathan Hale students. Prior to the 5k, runners played games and ran together every other week. The cross country team plans to give back to the school community by taking part in the event again this season.
National Honor Society volunteers at Whiting Public Safety Day
Devoted to giving back to the community and other organizations, National Honor Society (NHS) volunteered at Whiting’s Public Safety Day sponsored by the Whiting Fire and Police Departments. Public Safety Day educated the community on the functions of the departments, the tools they use, meeting the firemen and police force, and safety within the home and outside it. Although the weather was not the best that day, volunteers made an appearance to show their support for the mission of Public Safety Day. While the police and fire departments focused on the seriousness of safety, volunteers took part in bringing smiles to everyone's face by making balloon animals, serving delicious treats, and much more!
NHS’s future service projects include food drives, assisting the Carmelite home, greeting guests at Pierogi Fest, and many more to come; however, their overall plan is to tackle all they can and make the most out of giving back.
Students Travel to Trine University for Hoosier Boys/Girls State
At Hoosier Boys State along with Hoosier Girls State, select incoming seniors receive the opportunity to experience a mock government while learning how the real life political system of Indiana functions. One of the most important lessons is the ability to break one's comfort zone, and another is respect for the American flag. Valuable friendships are made with people that do not necessarily live in the same part of Indiana as Whiting delegates.
Hoosier Boys State delegate Hector Cossyleon (12) is reminded of his time at HBS by waking up daily to his military trumpet alarm. An HGS bracelet reminds delegate Kata Bes (12) of her amazing experience of allowing for change and breaking her public speaking fear.
Students compete at HOSA
Health Occupation Students of America (HOSA) gives secondary and postsecondary collegiate students a chance to prove their health care career readiness through 55 competitive events divided into six categories. It is designed similar to a quiz bowl. Topic questions are medical terminology, parliamentary procedure, HOSA and health history. Diana Lopez (12) accompanied by two recent graduates of WHS and a Gavit High School student, Luke Linko, Kevin Mejia, and Imani Bugg. Their team placed first at the state competition in April and advanced to nationals in Anaheim, California where the placed in the top 8-16th.
While students are busy bees outside of the school building, Whiting High School's new principal, Julie Fregien, is in preparation for the upcoming year.
"I'm looking forward to meeting our new principal. I hope she makes positive changes to make our high school even better! Welcome to Whiting," Courtney Blackwell (11) said.
