2022-23 High School Confidential, Week 29
Apr. 20—***
Welcome to Year 7 of High School Confidential, powered by Danville Area Community College. It's an award-winning project made possible by aspiring student journalists from every corner of our circulation area. Each Thursday through April, they'll tell us what's happening in their hallways at news-gazette.com.
At least once a week, we'll also hand over our Snapchat account (News-Gazette) to our correspondents for behind-the-scenes tours.
Feedback? Email N-G/VP Jim Rossow at jrossow@news-gazette.com.
On to this week's report:
PRIME TIME PLAYERS
Volleyball players from eight area high school teams helped a Champaign-based club team win a major tournament last weekend in Louisville. Ky.
Prime Time's 17 Blue team — comprised of Armstrong-Potomac's Lily Jameson, Heritage's Lily Montgomery, Rantoul's Ashlee Freeman, St. Joseph-Ogden's Addie Roesch, Paxton-Buckley-Loda's Bailey Bruns, Centennial's Riley Ries, Urbana's Sammi Christman and Milford's Anna McEwen and Emma McEwen won the gold bracket at the JVA World Challenge.
Prime Time went 9-0 at the three-day event, finishing with three consecutive three-set victories to take the title on Sunday.
"Our team is special because we have all been playing together for multiple years now and have all gotten so close as friends and teammates," Freeman said. "Our team has a never give up attitude when we play and always fight even when things get difficult."
The team is coached by Cliff Hastings, who also heads Parkland College's dominant program. This season, Illini volleyball player Raina Terry has also helped coach which "has been fun to have not only because she plays for Illinois but we can relate to her as a player," Freeman said.
Hastings has been coaching the team since they were in the 12-year-old division. "We sometimes know exactly what Cliff is going to say before he says it, so we all just stand there and laugh," Freeman said.
"Having Cliff as our coach has been the biggest blessing all of us have had for volleyball and just as people. He has made us the players that we are and we truly have learned the game from him. We have also learned leadership, social skills and just how to be a good person from him. Cliff has impacted our lives in so many ways and we are grateful for being able to have him as our coach."
That so many schools are represented on the team is a plus, Freeman said.
"With all of us going to different schools in the area — some small and some big — it has been really cool because we have made friends that we never would have expected to make and wouldn't have met them if we didn't play together on this team. We compare our schools all the time and things that go on, and will laugh about how different all of our schools are. Getting to see and play against each other during school volleyball season is something we all look forward to so we can see each other."
Academy High
People Of Color club members hosted an event celebrating Black educators last week which included sharing the educators' accomplishments, gifts, mingling and refreshments. Pictured: Ben Wells, Esti Ellis, Jamari Story and Jazz Jaheil.
— Rosie Atkinson
ALAH
As juniors completed the SAT, freshmen and sophomores took the PSAT at the same time. The senior class use that day as a learning experience for future events. For five years, the school has put on an etiquette training class for the seniors before leaving for their annual trip. The training provided multiple learning opportunities and scenarios to help students gain extra help when dealing with formal events and situations. After a four-hour workshop taught by Kim Morrison, seniors were able to put what they learned to the test by ending their day at Yoder's with community members. The lunch was very successful as the senior class demonstrated their ability to perform proper etiquette with complete strangers.
Arcola
Student council hosted its annual blood drive last Thursday as students, staff and community members volunteered to donate. Pictured: Sophomore Ava Simpson, senior Mikey Gauna and junior Jackson Miller.
— Karina Warfel
Armstrong
The school and girls' basketball team celebrated one of their very own, Kyla Bullington, who committed to play basketball and continue her education at Lake Land College.
— Gigi Mulvaney
Bement
Students in Family, Career and Community Leaders of America discussed the end-of-the-year trip. To be able to attend, members had to meet the 150-point requirement over the school year. Students who qualified will visity the University of Illinois before heading to CU Adventures for some fun doing escape rooms.
— Emily Parrish
BHRA
Seniors from Katie Post's art class recently went to the county art show. Every year, Post takes seniors to help set up artwork for show as a special trip. Students spend the day not only setting up but taking in the work from other schools on display. The day ends with ice cream as an added bonus for their work. Students Natalie Clapp and Brooke Kelly receiving first place for their respective pieces.
— Cody Drake
Blue Ridge
The girls' track team won Saturday's 10-team Prairie Central Invite, the boys' team finishing fifth. Thespians put on "The Wizard of Oz" last weekend, thespian alum Macey Hamm doing the poster. Cullen Scurlock's Chemistry 1 class took advantage of the good weather and used chalk while studying the mole. Students would draw any picture with chalk in the sidewalk, then go back inside and calculate how many molecules were lost from the stick of chalk during the drawing process.
— Cadin Dozier
Champaign Central
From April 12-16, drama department students performed in "The Little Mermaid." The production was directed by Ladonna Wilson and starred both Ellis Mansfield and Kelly Hong as Ariel. At intermission, Wilson announced that the department had been selected to perform their production of "Matilda" at this year's International Thespian Festival also known as nationals. The department is raising funds through GoFundMe. Photos courtesy Liz Brunson: (left to right) Jordan Rinkenberger as Derelict, Amala Willenbrock as Lagan, Bess Chamely as Ursula, Lars Anderson as Flotsam and Lauren Payton as Jetsam; Eric Lim as Sebastian; Caden Hanlon as King Triton; (left to right) Laney Heggemeyer as Flounder and Kelly Hong as Ariel; (left to right) Soren Schrag as Sailor, Minyoung Kim as Sailor, Daniel Yoo as The Captain, Robin Fitzgerald as Grimsby, Wade Schacht as Prince Eric, Sam Ryan as Sailor and Matthew Ferrer as Sailor; Ellis Mansfield as Ariel.
— Janani Pattabi
Chrisman
Family, Career and Community Leaders of America members attended the state conference. Serena Raimer was elected as a state officer and other members brought home gold, silver and bronze awards for competitive contests.
— Reese Anderson
Danville
A talent show featured vocals, dance and rap from many students, entertaining for all students and staff. At the end of the talent show, staff performed a dance routine that students loved.
— Josie Hotsinpiller
DeLand-Weldon
The senior class presented its senior trip plans to the board last Wednesday and it was approved. The trip — for which students have been fundraising for four years — is May 14-18 to Gulf Shores, Ala., and includes visits to a beach, zoo, mini golf, shopping and eating. Seniors are excited to spend time together before everyone goes their own way after graduation.
— Abigail Trimble
Fisher
At the school's first career fair during a scheduled early dismissal day, different booths were set up for companies to educate and inform students of possible opportunities. Companies included: Christie Clinic, Urbana Fire Department, United Prairie, Fedex, Carle Hospital and CIT Trucks.
— Emma McFarling
Georgetown-Ridge Farm
The softball and baseball programs are enjoying their new all-weather fields as well as a new press box/concessions stand and bleachers. On tap May 13: a Senior vs. Staff slowpitch softball game and community event to help raise money for the sophomore class. The baseball players, left to right: Bryson Connelly, Cohen Cavanaugh, Jase Latoz, Ben Vice, Jackson Pratt, Sawyer Willis, Trenton Ryan, Brayden Nale, Owen Clark, Cameron Steinbaugh, Ryley Heck and Zach Roach. The softball players, left to right: Kylie-Jo Miller, Kaitilyn Hill, Jordan Silvey, Sophia Loucks, Peyton McComas, J'Lynn Waltz, Madi Ussery, Kaydence Kraus, Kiley Knight, Chloe Winslow, Chelsea Johnson, Aubrey Roberson and Destiny Thompson.
— Izabella Wills
Gibson City-Melvin-Sibley
Future Business Leaders of America traveled to Springfield to attend the FBLA State Conference. Over the weekend, students attended business workshops and competed against FBLA chapters from across Illinois. The GCMS chapter was proud to have nine hard-working students place in their competitive events.
— Katie Steidinger
Hoopeston Area
Band and chorus were able to meet with professional instructors for training on Saturday. The students used the critiques to improve their songs for future performances.
— Emma Rayls
Judah Christian
Spanish 4 class partnered with The Pulsera Project, a fair trade nonprofit organization that supports people in Central America by creating a market for their artwork by partnering with schools in the U.S. For the past two weeks students sold to friends, teachers and families. They sold well over 100 bracelets, and the money will directly be invested in social impact programs in Nicaragua and Guatemala. Pictured: Grace Bailey and Grace Garrison.
— Bethany Jackson
Milford
English students held a frog-jumping competition to further explore the story of "The Celebrated Jumping Frog of Calaveras County" by Mark Twain. Students had to make origami frogs and then held a competition. Students whose frogs jumped the highest during this competition earned extra credit. Pictured: Clarity Crawford and Gracie Gregory.
— Maddie Hardwick
Monticello
Senior Mick Wright set a new school record in the 100 meters (10.84 seconds). The previous record was set in 2008 by Blake Doane.
— William Ross
Oakwood
Last Thursday, the zoology class visited the Indianapolis Zoo. There they met elephants, goats, birds, kangaroos, butterflies and everything in between. Pictured: senior Cassie Fugate and sophomore Saul Carrillo posing with an alligator; and zoology teacher Allison Davis shocked to have an exotic bird standing on her arm.
— Kalie Tison
Paxton-Buckley-Loda
The boys' track and field team placed second at the PBL Quad meet last week.
— Kate Wilson
St. Joseph-Ogden
Drama students performed the musical "Disney's The Descendants" in the new auditorium April 14-16. Mallory Wagner was Jay, Paige Siegmund was Mal, Izzy Sexton played Evie and Alayna Wagle was Carlos. Over 30 students performed in this musical. Photos courtesy Jordan Johnson.
— Alyssa Acton
St. Thomas More
A group of juniors and seniors took a few days to disconnect from their phones and daily distractions on the spring LOGOS retreat. The students left starting Thursday after school and returned Saturday afternoon from the Ave Maria Retreat Center in Danville. Pictured, left to right: (top) Olivier Kalonga, Daniel Messeh, Homer Radden II, Rylen Martinez, Joe Clavey, Parker Moore and José Andino Guerra; (bottom) Celie Leibach, Grace Hardin, Scarlett Rentschler, Gianna Kreps, Amanda Hummel, Norah Lamontagne and Jenna Purnell.
— Jose Andino Guerra
Salt Fork
A shoutout and congratulations to senior Shelby McGee, who signed with the IUPUI Jaguars where she will continue her career in track and field while studying biomedical engineering.
— Macie Russell
Schlarman
Students from the eighth-grade class and two high school students received confirmation on Sunday.
— Lilli Perez
Shiloh
Students ranging from third to fifth grade participate in a living wax museum. Each person made their own tri-fold displaying what person they chose and the book they read to gain knowledge on the famous person. Also, they were allowed to dress up as the person they researched. Community members were invited to listen to each speech created by the student and get to learn interesting facts they may have not known before about people such as Davy Crockett, Queen Elizabeth, Dolly Parton and Harriett Tubman. Teachers were very proud of their classes. Pictured: Isla Gardiner (Queen Elizabeth), Tinley Luth (Dolly Parton) and Parker Pierce (Michael Jordan).
— Lydia Richardson
Uni High
With school out last Wednesday for state testing for underclassmen, the senior class volunteered at various locations throughout Champaign-Urbana. Musical instrument players performed at ClarkLindsey, others worked with young students at Booker T. Washington Elementary School, and many others helped in community gardens. After a morning service, the seniors gathered for a picnic where they enjoyed bonding as a class.
— Wes Lu
Unity
School resource officer Alex James helped organize a mock accident last Friday. The entire student body witnessed in real time what occurs in the moments after a car accident. Afterward, students and staff listened to Dr. Kelly Barbour-Conerty speak about her personal experience with losing a teenage daughter in a car crash in a very moving speech.
— Jolie Meyer
Westville
The math department celebrated Pi Day with pies to the face as staff and students had a delicious time celebrating. Pictured: Elizabeth Craft (right) handing a check for $220 to Mandy Alvarez, treasurer of the District BACKPACK program. Also, the freshman Class of 2026 raised money for the Vermilion County Animal Shelter on Catlin-Tilton Road with a dodgeball tournament and Bingo Night. Checks for $500 were handed to VCAS Director Kasey Snyder and $300 to the high school's food pantry. To donate, visit Vercounty.org. Pictured: Class officers Olivia Shepherd, Olivia Troglia, Snyder holding Clover, Sophia Hutchins, Preslee Bina and Laney Cook.
— Irelynn Phelps
