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YOUR NEWS FOR OAK HILLS HIGH SCHOOL
Volume 54, Issue 7
March 27, 2015
6TH ANNUAL WALK OAK HILLS
by Jade Aufderbeck
To be involved in this year’s 6th annual walk on April 10th, students must collect a total of $20 worth of donations. The time to give back to the community is now.
Previously the amount to collect was steep. Students were either all in for raising $40 or wouldn’t attempt it at all. This time $20 is considerably easier to reach and more students should be able to participate. No worries though, the money doesn’t come out of your own pocket. It is to be donated from family, friends, or anyone who is willing to
contribute. The proceeds go to numerous organizations around the Oak Hills community such as; The Anderson Ferry Food Pantry, The Ronald McDonald House, Leukemia/
Lymphoma Society, and even Oak Hills for the Ione Holt Auditorium Revitalization. Keep in mind that $20 is not the limit. All contributions over $20 will be gladly accepted
and are encouraged. However, There is a deadline to this minimum contribution. After March 26th the minimum amount of money to be raised will go back up to $40 dollars
and all contributions must be turned in by April 8th at the latest.
Being involved isn’t an option this time. Unlike previous years, teachers will take part in the walk. Students who don’t raise money will still be able to participate in the
events taking place in the gym afterwards, but will not be granted to walk or receive a T-shirt. The gym has numerous varieties of games, obstacle courses, food, and there will
even be a concert from performers that have yet to be announced. In past years, students like Rylan Hixson weren’t involved because of the high donation amount. “As a whole,
$20 is much more approachable than $40,” Hixson says. And this doesn’t only affect Rylan. The idea is to get as many students involved as possible.
Classes are still in session on this day, but all students participating in the walk are excused from the class assignments given that day. Getting this day out of classes will
pardon one unexcused absence or two tardies off the attendance record. Keep in mind that an unexcused absence or more than two tardies will prevent students from going to
Prom. The walk is definitely a better way to get rid of attendance issues than a Friday school.
The route of the walk goes around the block and back. Down Lawrence to Glenway taking a left onto Bridgetown Road then another left to Ebenezer and back to school.
During the walk students travel with whomever they want. There is no class to stick with. Unless the conditions are unsafe, dress for the weather because the walk will occur
rain or shine.
Preserving Water in a Creative Way
by Brittany Lipps and Kristen Begley
This year, the National Art Honor Society students have decided to partake in the Cincinnati Zoo’s 2015 Rain Barrel Painting Event and Benefit Auction. Not only are they helping the environment by bringing awareness to preserving water, they are receiving the opportunity to incorporate their art into the community in a creative way. The National Art Honors
society designed a total of 3 rain barrels this year; two of the barrels were designed by Alyssa Webber, Lisa Anderson, and Julia Gomien. Jamie Schorsch and Bridget Dignan- Cummins,
art teachers here at Oak Hills have also created a design for the third rain barrel.
As a group, they have decided to focus on incorporating nature into the designs for the rain barrels. This project brings awareness to preserving water, and many people may not
know what a rain barrel is used for. A rain barrel is a big barrel that is connected to your gutters so that when it rains, the water goes directly into the barrel from the gutters. You then can
re-use the water collected from the rain to water flowers or you could even filter it out to use for household needs.
Rain Barrels are used widely throughout the country but tend to be drawn back by their dull appearance. With this project, students are given the chance to be creative and decorate the barrels with their own designs in hope that the unique designs will make the barrels more desirable. From February 7th up until March 27th, the barrels will be painted by their
designers and the rest of the National Art Honor Society. After being painted, the barrels will be displayed at the Cincinnati Zoo for all of the community to check out during April 1st
through April 23rd. On April 23rd, all of the barrels designed and painted will be auctioned off. So come to the Cincinnati Zoo and see what your fellow community and school members
have accomplished.
March 27, 2015
2
Your News for Oak Hills High School
MILITARTY ENLISTMENT NOT JUST A SIGNATURE
by Maria Venturini
Being in a family
that has had generation after
generation in one branch
or another of the military, I
understand the processes and
requirements that need to happen in order to earn the title.
However, a lot of people think
that signing up for the military
means going to a recruiter,
signing your life over, and getting shipped off to boot camp.
But there is much more that
goes into becoming part of the
military.
The first step to enlisting is getting a recruiter that is
trustworthy. It’s important to
have a recruiter that is honest
and upfront because showing
up to bootcamp completely
clueless and shaking in your
boots is not the way to go.
Being mentally and physically prepared is vital to surviving during the required
amount of training time, and
having a trustworthy and
honest recruiter helps prepare for what to expect.
Preparing for the
ASVAB is also vital to the
career choosing aspect after
boot camp. ASVAB stands
for Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery, and,
for lack of a better term, it
is basically the ACT/SAT of
the military. There is nine
subtests within the test;
Arithmetic Reasoning, Automotive Information, Elec-
tronics Information, General
Science, Math Knowledge,
Mechanical Comprehension,
Paragraph Comprehension,
Shop Information, and Word
Knowledge. Each sub-test
is graded and averaged on a
scale that will determine the
jobs that you qualify for after
the completion of boot camp
and all other required training.
MEPS (Military Entrance Processing Station) is
the next step. Before you go
to MEPS, recruiters will do
a pre-screening, which they
will send to MEPS, where
they will either qualify or
disqualify you. If you qualify, you go to MEPS, where
they will determine whether or not the person they
are examining is medically,
mentally, and physically fit
to serve in the armed forces.
After that, a job is selected,
an interview is held, and then
the enlistment oath ceremony is held, where you will
swear in and receive a leave
date.
PT is one of the most
important parts of enlisting
into any branch of the military. PT (physical training)
helps to prepare poolees
physically. It gives an idea
of what to expect once you
get to boot camp. Obviously,
boot camp is different than
the pre training, but it is
important to be in shape and
able to complete exercises
that are required.
Joining the military
isn’t as easy as signing your
name on paper and shipping
off to another state for a
certain number of weeks for
training. There are steps that
need to be taken in order to
enlist, and it is important to
take all steps with a serious
attitude in order to get the
best experience possible in
the military life.
by Jessica Johnston
3
Your News for Oak Hills High School
March 27, 2015
CRON LANDS ON PODIUM AT STATE
Elizabeth
Cron placed 5th at the Ohio
State Diving Tournament on
February 26th.
Cron was the highest placing freshman in the
State with her finish. She was
surprised with her performance saying, “I was mainly
hoping to make it to the final
3 rounds; I did not expect
to make it on the podium at
all.” Being that she was the
youngest placer, Cron says,
“It feels absolutely amazing,
and almost indescribable.
It’s mostly relieving knowing
that all of the time and effort
put in by my parents, and
my coaches, and myself has
paid off.” She represented
Oak Hills as well as herself
to the highest degree, but she
was not fully satisfied with
her performance, claiming
“I believe that Oak Hills
deserves better than fifth, so
my goal for next year is to get
our school in the top three at
least.”
Cron has been diving for 5 years now and
she pours her heart as well
as exceptional amounts of
effort into this sport. She
typically spends 7 days a
week bettering her diving
skills, even while managing
a heavy course load, being
the Freshman class president,
performing in school plays,
and so much more. Cron
comments saying, “I have
to admit that I struggle with
overloading myself occasionally, but all of my coaches
and/or advisors understand
that school comes first, and
my parents have helped me
immensely by making time
management a big deal for as
long as I can remember.”
Cron thanks her
coaches as well as the Oak
Hills student body for all of
their support along her journey. “I’m so thankful that
this school is closer to a big
family than your everyday
high school” she says. Her
teammates and coaches have
always been there for her to
give her that extra “umph”
when she needed some encouragement. Cron expresses that all of her teammates
are important to her saying,
“Without every single one
of my teammates, I would
not have come even close to
being the diver, and person, I
am today.”
Cron declares that
her inspiration comes from
disproving the “freshman”
stereotype. “This year I was
inspired to change the ideology that the freshman are
lower than everyone else in
the hierarchy of high school
and that we aren’t capable
of doing the same things as
the upperclassmen” she says.
One of Cron’s teammates,
Alec Krummen, motivates
her to be the best diver and
student that she can possibly
be. About Krummen, she
says, “Alec has really showed
me that if you want something, or a dive specifically,
bad enough, you just have to
keep working at it until you
finally can grasp it.”
Although Cron is humble
and quick to accredit a lot of
her success to others there
are many people that know
how truly impressive she is.
Krummen says, “Elizabeth
is a fantastic diver who I
am certain will do do great
things in the future...I feel
lucky that I have been able to
dive with her this past year.”
The OHHS diving coach,
Brandon Unthank, also
comments: “Elizabeth is an
extremely hard worker. This
can be said of her diving and
her work as a students. I am a
firm believer of results speak
themselves, with a student
like Elizabeth whom has
placed 5th (as a freshman) at
state and is a straight A student, it tells you right there
how hard she works for what
she has.”
Cron plans to continue her
diving career next season
with a few specific goals
in mind. “In high school,
my overall goal has been to
win state since I started the
sport...and for next year I
would like to score a better
score and place in a higher
place than I did this year.”
The OHHS students
and staff are standing behind
Cron to help her achieve her
goals for next diving season
as well as congratulate her on
her successes of this season.
March 27, 2015
Your News for Oak Hills High School
4
ARE DRUGS RUINING THE WEST SIDE?
by Emma Cliffe
The West Side of Cincinnati is almost comparable to living in a bubble. People are born here, they’re raised here,
they raise their own families here, and eventually, they die here. People born and raised on the West Side seem to think
they’re invincible- that not even the worst of the worst will affect people over here. What those people don’t understand,
is that they’re not immune to the trap known as addiction. Drug abuse is at an all-time high for Cincinnati. One by one,
people’s lives are being taken because of their addiction.
“Drug Abuse is a big deal. It’s a shared problem. Many people believe that drug abuse is not their problem. They
think that the percentage of people who are drug users belong to a different segment of society different from theirs. This
is a huge misconception,” offered Shannon Crone, Oak Hills High School’s Resource Officer. Crone reports a rise in arrests
for possession of Heroin, a drug that’s snuck its way across the border and into cities like Cincinnati and its neighboring
suburbs. Heroin often provides a quick high that addicts are looking for, whether taken orally (prescription painkillers
like Vicodin), smoked, or injected. The onset of addiction is often fast and unsettling. “Once they are hooked, they have to
somehow support their addiction. Many will begin to sell or pawn their property,” Crone says. “The vicious cycle then spills
out into the community when abusers begin to steal from other places like cars, businesses etc.. The effects of drug addiction are felt by everyone around the addict.”
For teenagers, the most commonly abused drugs are marijuana and prescription pills. Marijuana is often referred to as a “gateway drug” that can
tempt teens to turn to other drugs once the high from Marijuana isn’t “good enough” anymore. Drug abuse can lead to impairment of social functioning,
unemployment, financial problems, and even death. In fact, in February of 2013, the West Side of Cincinnati experienced the unfortunate death of Justin
Brown, a seventeen year-old student at LaSalle High School. Brown was looking to buy Marijuana from his regular dealer. Brown owed his dealer $400,
which ended up being a twenty dollar bill wrapped in counterfeit money. According to Kimball Perry’s article on Cincinnati.com, when his dealer realized he
had been cheated, he shot at Brown’s car, shooting Brown in the back of the neck, which resulted in Brown’s death. The incident undoubtedly shook up local
residents of the West Side- could these kinds of crimes really being going on in their own back yards?
The short answer: yes. As a whole, the West Side tends to think that these drug related issues only affect lower Price Hill. Not once has anyone
stopped to think it could be happening to the white, upper-middle class on this side of town. “Mo’ money, mo’ problems,” right? The reality is, we’re seeing more and more teens and people from the upper-middle class being arrested for drug abuse. “Drug abuse/use is not limited by economic background,
geographic regions, educational levels or ethnic and racial identity. Everyone is vulnerable to it,” Crone states. That being said, the casual attitude teens have
towards recreational drug use leads to false perceptions of the real dangers of these highly addictive pastimes.
Unknowingly, parents are providing an easy access to drugs like alcohol and prescription pills. They leave these items out in the open, making it easy
for anyone to access, not believing that their child would ever do something like that. The reality is that some parents and other residents of the West Side of
Cincinnati have become enablers. It’s easy to point to drugs themselves as the problem and not consider family dynamic or the society that the addict was
raised in. We need to open up our eyes and realize that drug abuse is a very real problem that is taking a toll on the West Side of Cincinnati. The world as
we know it could be changed in a heartbeat. In the words of Officer Crone, “Many people think that drug use does not affect them because they are not the
abuser. But that is not the case.”
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DRUG MANIA IN THE MEDIA
by Allie Bruegge
Where do we learn about drugs? Sure our parents teach us some things about drugs, but mainly to stay away from them. The majority
of our knowledge about drugs comes from the media. From television, celebrities and music. Not only is this where our knowledge about drugs
comes from, but this is also the place where drugs are glorified. If our main source of information about drugs is setting it on a pedestal, we are in
trouble.
There are several studies showing that social media is encouraging drug use in teens. According to a study from the National Center on
Addiction and Substance Abuse at Columbia University, using social media sites makes kids more likely to drink, use illegal drugs and buy tobacco. The students see photos of their peers doing illegal things and it is encouraging. Talk about a whole new form of peer pressure. Fitting in used
to mean wearing the right clothes and listening to cool music. But it has been taken to a whole new level. Now fitting in has to do with how much
you drink or whether or not you do drugs.
While social media makes students more likely to use drugs, and seeing their friends encourages students to use drugs, that is not the
biggest contributor. Whether we like to believe it or not we are influenced by celebrities. What they do and what they wear. Unfortunately artists
do sing about drugs and they make them sound like a good thing. Almost as if nothing bad could come from doing drugs. The celebrities that
students look up to are glorifying drugs.
On the bright side, there have been many anti smoking and drug commercials that are
taking on a new strategy. Organizations such as ‘Above the Influence’ have started to make commercials that show the scary aftermath of using drugs, such as the way people act while doing drugs
and after doing drugs, or long term effects of using drugs. They show what it does to your body and
what it does to your brain. While it is a bit graphic to show these things to kids, it has proven effective. Sometimes the only way to teach them is by scaring them.
And what can we hope for in the future? Continuous public service announcements and
commercials from anti drug organizations. We can hope for parents to teach kids about drugs and
the harmful effects. While we can’t rely on the media to stop glorifying drugs, we can hope that it
becomes more difficult for the viewers to become manipulated.
STATISTICS FROM WWW.TEENDRUGREHABS.COM/ AND WWW.DOSOMETHING.ORG
5
Your News for Oak Hills High School
March 27, 2015
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HALFWAY THERE
by Jessica Johnston
Halfway houses offer a positive environment to individuals trying to escape their addiction. Typically, leaders in the houses will encourage team
building, giving back to the community, establishing a place of work, etc., all while helping persons face their addictions and enter a new life of independence.
Drug abuse has become a large issue in Ohio. Of the prison inmates in Ohio 80% of them have a past record of drug abuse. Ohio has the 12th
highest drug overdose mortality rate in the United States. There are over 30,000 individuals charged with a drug offense just in the state of Ohio every
year. Clearly, drugs have found their way into the community.
A halfway house is a place where people that have recently been dismissed from prison, mental institute, etc. may live until they are confident and ready to
live on their own. There are many organizations in the Greater Cincinnati Area that are dedicated to helping individuals get back up on their feet.
Sober Living:
Sober Living, a nonprofit organization in the Greater Cincinnati area, is devoted to assisting men as they confront their addictions and begin a life
of cleanliness and sobriety. The organization focuses on encouraging their members and instilling personal growth through education, workforce, and
spiritual development.
Trent’s Lighthouse:
Trent’s Lighthouse is a halfway house dedicated to helping addicts, specifically men, fight
back against their addiction. The organization has two separate houses that are committed to helping men in the Northside area along their journey to sobriety. This assembly is managed and run
by recovered or recovering addicts as well which creates an understanding and comfortable environment.
New Foundations Transitional Living:
This organization was founded in 2010 and has been serving the community ever since.
Potential residents of the home must go through and application process which then leads to an
interview by a manager. Once a person is accepted into the home they begin taking part in the programs. The program consists of mandatory meetings,
acquiring a sponsor or mentor, obtaining work or going to school, doing chores, as well as many other requirements. The houses themselves are equipped
with luxuries to make the members feel more at home. The organization also believes in social events for members as well as nonmembers. The third
Sunday of every month members, alumni, staff, and supporters gather for the Clean and Sober Living Rally, a night of fun, games, music, and more. The
staff that runs this organization is dedicated to its members and strives to provide the best experience possible to help members face their addictions.
REALITY CHECK: TEENS USE DRUGS TOO
by Emily Dull
When considering common drug users, many people picture adults, usually a man or woman of about twenty-five or twenty-six. However, the reality is that each year, teenage drug use exceeds common expectations. Research shows that by the time they graduate, half of America’s high school seniors
will have used an illegal drug, such as marijuana, heroin, or LSD (Medicinenet.com). In fact, kids as young as 13 years old have access to these dangerous
substances, and most of the time, are using them.
The question then becomes, what is causing this epidemic to spread like wildfire among America’s teens? The answer varies with each scenario. One
potential culprit is the availability of both legal and illegal drugs to the teenage public. According to the U.S Department of Justice, In 2012, about half of
kids aged twelve to seventeen claimed that it would be “fairly easy” or “very easy” to obtain illegitimate drugs if they felt the inclination to do so. With this,
consider that approximately sixty percent of teens convey that they have abused a prescription painkiller received from a friend or family member at some
time in their lives (teendrugrehabs.com). Consequently, it’s not just outlawed drugs that are of risk.
As availability has increased, it seems that the perceived risk of several drugs has decreased proportionately
among teens. Society is teaching them that drug use is simply a fact of life and should no longer be viewed as a “bad
thing”. The teen drug abuse section of Medicinenet.org states that from 2005 to 2013, the percent of sophomores and
seniors perceiving great risk from drug use has dropped about twenty percent. So, what’s to blame for this significant
plunge? The answer therein lies with the media and family discussion. Many daytime television programs depict regular drug use associated with wild parties and strong friendships. What most teens are lacking is parental insight on the
fact that these shows are not at all realistic and that prohibited drugs are nothing to associate themselves with.
Parents play a much larger role in teen drug abuse prevention than they think. Studies show that when a parent
regularly discusses the dangers and risks of drug and alcohol use with their teen, that parent is lessening the probability
of their child becoming a user by forty-two percent (teendrugrehabs.com). In this case, communication is key. Through
this method, a parent can establish mutual trust with their child. Once this trust is implemented, it is proven that teenagers will make wiser decisions regarding themselves and the substances they choose, or refuse, to use.
The use of both licit and illicit drugs in the United States is a growing concern that most definitely needs to be
addressed. Moreover, as the next generation grows in size and influence, it is critical to make sure that they are initiating their lives on a healthy, successful note.
March 27, 2015
Your News for Oak Hills High School
6
Katie Aufderbeck Shines as OHHS Costume Designer
by Vivien Smith
If you’ve been wondering about the whispy fairy costumes and the classy suits and dresses worn by the characters of Oak Hills plays, ask Katie
Aufderbeck. Aufderbeck is the senior whose costumes have redefined the Oak Hills Drama Department. As this year’s costume designer, she has designed
costumes for every production that the Drama Department put on, from The Drowsy Chaperone to Les Miserables. As the cast works on memorizing their
lines, she is behind the scenes, sewing long into the night to create mystical fairy costumes and 1920s shift dresses.
Before Aufderbeck became the costume designer she is today, she first worked as an assistant costume designer. Her predecessor, Hannah Adkins, requested her help with the costume designing of last years productions, Hello Dolly, Much Ado and Noises Off. Aufderbeck worked diligently, gathering research
about the time period of the show and the clothing that certain types of characters would wear based on their personality and economic status. This research helped prepare her for her current position as the Oak Hills Costume Designer.
Aufderbeck’s responsibility as costume designer also doubles as her Creative and Performing Arts Capstone project. Throughout the year she has
had evaluations of her progress and at the end of the year the capstone teachers will decide if she accomplished enough within a year. They will also grade
her on a presentation of all her research and creations. So far she has made lots of headway. With two productions already under her belt, she is gearing up
for another this coming spring. And perhaps her biggest and most difficult show yet; Les Miserables.
About a month before each show Aufderbeck begins research for costumes. She relies heavily on Pinterest to brainstorm, grabbing ideas and adding
them to her own sketches and what the script suggests. After sketching a final draft, she begins creating, making her own patterns with help from Google.
By using the measurements of her model and looking off of patterns that are similar to her design, she is able create customized costumes. Often she will
spend two weeks on a costume, see it on her model, decide she doesn’t like it and start over. She confesses that she has been known to do this up to three
times with each costume. But her perfectionism has paid off. She has created astounding costumes with very minimal experience; only one fashion studio
class and a year as assistant costume designer.
Aufderbeck dreams of designing for world famous shows such as The Phantom of the Opera, creating tutus for the ballerinas and elegant dresses for
the main character, Christine. Her love for more organic clothing is evident, as she says her favorite costumes to make were the fairies seen in Midsummers
Night Dream. She couldn’t seem to pick her favorite, alternating between Jamie Colston’s character, Mustardseed and Diane Ahrman’s character, Moth. Both
wore beautiful, gauzy skirts with abundant flowers.
However, Aufderbeck is going farther than the Oak Hills Drama Department. She is planning to attend Bowling Green State University in the fall
of 2015 as an apparel product developer. She says she fell in love with the idea of traveling to different countries to research how different cultures dress and
the way clothes look. Her dream job would involve just that! As a Disney costume researcher for animation films she would travel worldwide to observe the
clothing of other places and how they move so that animators can make characters like Princess Ana and Queen Elsa look as realistic as possible. Aufderbeck will have a lot of competition ahead of her in the tough industry of fashion, but it’s nothing she isn’t used to. As she said, “Everything is a competition
to see who is the best” when you live with such talented sisters. But Katie Aufderbeck is going places herself, and will surely give sisters Jade and Grace Aufderbeck a run for their money.
March 27, 2015
Your News for Oak Hills High School
7
BREWHAUS HANDCRAFTED DOG BISCUTS
by Emily Netherly
Using rice flour, spent grain, all natural peanut butter and eggs, Lisa Graham was able to create a non profit business that makes gluten free dog
biscuits to help young adults with disabilities learn valuable work and life skills, including hands on experience in vocational training areas. These local
Cincinnati microbreweries are supported by Listermann Brewing Co./Triple Digit Microbrewery, Mt. Carmel Brewing Co., Rivertown Brewing Co., Bad Tom Smith Brewing, Paradise Brewing Supply and Old Firehouse Brewery. All proceeds go directly back in furthering the program.
Currently three school districts, Mariemont, New Richmond, and Oak Hills, are involved in this program. The special education students and adults with
disabilities participate in the organizing, planning, ingredient making, baking of, and preparation of these delicious puppy treats. The community has
also played a role in the distribution, including Newtown Feed & Seed and Family Animal Hospital, who also sell Brewhaus treats.
Lisa Graham’s vision of this program is to have a freestanding “Brew Bakery” to support employment and serve as a vocational training site. To
further help those with disabilities, Brewhaus hopes to create a micro industry in Cincinnati from the spent grains and profits.
These 6 ounce bags will be the perfect treat for your furry friend, or the neighborhood hounds. Each bag contains 35-37 dog treats and a tag that introduces you to the young adult who helped to personally make and package its contents. Brewhaus has a website to order, make purchases, and introduce
you to the amazing people who put the bags together. They offer merchandise, more information about the program, and how it works.
Oak Hills students participating in this program carefully hand make these treats and craft them together. From mixing the ingredients in the
bowl, to packing the mix into the molds, baking them just right, and creating the bags, Brewhaus biscuits are sure to be the perfect treat for your pooch!
Stop by room 102 to pick up a bag for yourself or a friend today.
8
Your News for Oak Hills High School
March 27, 2015
SPRING SPORTS PREVIEW
by Cierra Bazeley
Boys Tennis
Girls Track and Field
The girls Track and Field team is looking
strong and ready for this season. As a team,
making it to the GMC finals are a huge goal.
Individually, some see themselves headed
to districts. The girls first meet is on March
28th at Harrison High school.
Boys Volleyball
Hopes are high for the boys Volleyball season
this year. The team is ready to ace the competition out on their first home game on April
4th. Last year was the first year in the history
of Oak Hills boy’s Volleyball to make it to the
Regional Championships. Returning players to
watch out for include: Senior, Tim Laib who was
First Team all GMC and Junior, Owen Aparius
who placed 12th in the GMC as a Sophomore.
Their play on the court is not the only entertainment-the team is notorious for its dance
moves. “Robby Ramsey wops when he gets a kill
as a celebration dance,” Senior, Alec Krummen
comments. Even with the loss of three Seniors,
the team is ready to fill those spots.
Oakettes Take on
Nationals
The boys Tennis team is ready for the
competition on March 28th at Lasalle.
The team has five strong varsity players
returning this year: Chase Pearson, Daniel
Cirkovic, Josh Schoonover, Nathan Hill,
and Zach Thomas which will give them an
advantage on the court. Alvaro Farres, an
exchange student from Spain, will also be
joining the team. He will be a strong contributor to this year’s team. Last year was
the first year since 2008 that the boys had
a winning record. The boys will be facing
tough matches that include returning State
champs; Sycamore. This is a new year and
the boys plan on placing in the top five at
the GMC’s.
Baseball
The boys Baseball team is ready for
action this Spring. The boys start their
season on March 28th against their GCL
rival, Elder. They would love to see the
Red Sea there supporting them against
this well known westside rival. The team
is made up of strong underclassmen that
have a big impact on the team’s season
this year. Junior, Michael Hubert will
strike out the competition with his wicked left-handed pitch. Even though the
team has suffered the loss of some key
players, it is ready to fill those shoes and
take the team to state.
Boys Track and Field
Although the boys Track and Field team lost some
strong contributors from last year’s squad, the young
team is ready to step up and fill the void. “We have a
lot of young talent and are looking to be a solid team
this year,” said Senior, Hunter Webster. Other top
returning athletes include Devin Moore in the jumps,
Montell Brown in the throws, and Thomas Seibert in
the distance.
Softball
The girls Softball team is ready for a strong season
ahead. Opening day for the girls is on March 23rd.
The team is back on the field with the same players as last year. This team has come together and
is ready to win the GMC’s and move on to State.
Players to watch out for include Taylor Whip, who
is a consistent player and led the GMC’s in hitting.
Another player to watch out for is Sid McElroy, who
started as second baseman and, with a year of Varsity
experience under her belt, will improve her team’s
strength this year.
Lacrosse
The boys Lacrosse team is a fairly new sport not
only at Oak Hills, but in the state of Ohio. This
year marks the fourth year Lacrosse has been at
Oak Hills. The team is made up of mostly Seniors, seventeen total! Seniors Connor Swanger
and Conor Acus will be continuing their lacrosse
careers at the University of Indianapolis, a D2
school. Even with the loss of their two leading
scorers, David Kuebler and Kevin Wright, the
team is feeling more confident than ever with the
return of Jake Forte. Come out and support the
boys at their first home game on April 9th.
by Amy Hetzel
Recently, the Oakettes earned
the opportunity to travel to Florida to
compete in the National Dance Alliance
Nationals for the first time ever. The
experience was both exciting and eventful
and represented an opportunity that not
many teams get. The competition was
held at The Hard Rock Live Arena in Universal Studios. The dancers performed
on a stage that many famous singers have
performed on including Taylor Swift and
The Backstreet Boys.
During this trip, there were two
days of competing. The first day was
preliminaries which is when the team
performs its routines to get a base score.
After every team in the division gets its
base score, judges take the top 60% into
Finals. For the Oakettes, both the Pom
and Kick routines qualified into Finals,
which gives the teams a final chance to
improve their scores for actual placement.
After competing Pom and Kick for one
last time, giving everything they had, the
Oakettes placed top 10 in BOTH routines.
Any Oakette would agree that this
year’s hard work and dedication truly paid
off. Participating in NDA Nationals is an
experience that every dancer dreams of, and
the Oakettes were honored to represent Oak
Hills at the highest level of high school dance
competition. They plan to return to Nationals
next year and place in the top five.
Editors in Chief: Allie Bruegge and Emma Cliffe
Section Editors: Ashley Kiley and Alexis Kiley
Contributors: Allie Bruegge, Emma Cliffe, Emily
Dull, Jade Aufderbeck, Kristen Begley, Brittany
Lipps, Maria Venturini, Jessica Johnston, Vivien
Smith, Emily Netherly, Cierra Bazeley, and Amy
Hetzel
DATES TO REMEMBER
March 30-April 3: Spring Break
April 10: Walk Oak Hills
April 10: Powder Puff Game
April 17: Blood Drive
April 16-18: Spring Play