Aquinas Catholic 3420 MN Rd David City, NE 68632 The Crown Prints (402) 367-3175 October 4, 2019 Volume 59; Issue 1 Ready, Set, Retreat!

Sr. Kateri leads the eighth grade class in a warm up exercise to help them notice the differences in each other. The class went to Marietta par- ish in rural David City. Photo by J. Brown

CrownPrints The Crown Prints is published six Senior class takes their annual class photo on the steps at Holy Trinity parish in Brainard. Many times a year to inform, educate, and of the supporting parishes hosted one of the classes for their retreat which included guest speak- entertain the Aquinas community. ers and many activities to encourage growth in faith. Photo courtesy of T. Pokorny We urge letters to the editor. Letters By Natalie Eller should be given to Ms. Jean A. Brown Students at Aquinas went on retreats re- Sophomore Natalie Petree said in Room 16. Letters must be signed; cently. The students visited parishes around she thinks her class retreat helped bond however, anonymity, if requested, will Butler County to grow in their faith through her class together because they got to learn be granted if deemed necessary. quiet prayer and Mass. more about each other and just have a good Campus missionary director Mrs. Beth day together. The sophomore class speaker Issue Editor: Braden Smith & Keegan Nemec said class retreats are important. was Sister Bethany Orr. Sr. Bethany talked Lavicky “[Retreats] are a time to get away from about how to become a saint and the works Staff: Jayci Roh, Morgan Littlefield, busy schedules and spend time with their for being a saint. Petree said she could ap- Kolby Baer, Gracyn Wollmer, Natalie classmates, to do activates together, and do ply the speaker’s idea to her daily life know- Eller, Shae Junck, Payton Davis, Libby self-reflection to draw them closer to God,” ing “that anyone can become a saint” if one Aschoff, Blanca Bravo Nemec said. tried hard enough. Advisor: Ms. Jean A. Brown Nemec’s plans accomplishments Sixth grader Ainsley Wollmer said their Principal: Mr. David McMahon for each class. Nemec hopes “students learn class speakers were high school principal Chief Administrative Officer: Fr. Sean about their faith, to realize that they make a Mr. David McMahon and Sister Gabrielle Timmerman difference, and they have a purpose.” Nem- Perry, and they both spoke about bully- ec added “hopefully it’s a time where class- ing. Wollmer felt her class bonded pretty The Crown Prints is a monthly pub- mates will build each other up.” well because they got to talk to people with lication produced by the journalism Each class had guess speakers. The stu- whom they normally do not. Wollmer said department at Aquinas High School, dents also completed activities based on the she will take away from retreats to be more David City, Nebraska 68632. theme of the retreats. courageous and do more things out there. Page 2 Students Oct. 4, 2019

A growl...or a roar. Monarchs Bravo experienc- sound off... What is your biggest goal for this year and how will you accomplish es America this goal? By Kolby Baer “I wish to Flying 4,800 miles and 9 hours to study is America her sophomore year but was not have an- something most students will never experi- able to because they did not offer scholar- other great ence. For foreign exchange student Blanca ships to kids in their sophomore year. Bravo year in the Bravo, this was the first step. applied and acquired a scholarship through fine arts, Blanca Bravo is Aquinas’ foreign ex- Fundación Amanao Ortega to be able to at- and enjoy change student from Spain from Las Ir- tend this year. spending landesas. Bravo wanted to come to America “[Aquinas] is much smaller and has fewer time with to learn the English language and about the people,” Bravo said. For Bravo’s junior year, my friends.” American lifestyle. “I would rather come to she will be living with junior classmate Julia Senior Travis Roh America to study because there were more Nemec and her family. positive aspects if I came to America.” Bravo will participate in dance this school “To make Bravo has wanted to come to study in year. Blanca’s classes consist of anatomy, my class- chemistry, physics, pre-calculus, journal- room more ism, broadcasting, religion, English, and interactive American history. by doing lab Bravo has 2 siblings, a younger brother and group Ignacio (13) and an older sister Paula (17). activities.” Blanca’s mother is an English translator, and her father is a lawyer.

Junior Blanca Bravo balances a book on her Physical science teacher Mr. Roy face during a class game at the homecoming pep rally. Bravo has traveled to America once Emory before when she vacationed in Florida. Photo “I hope to courtasy of T. Pokorny be on honor roll all year, Schrad tries out Aquinas by working really hard By Blanca Bravo and study- Aquinas High School has a new student Schrad formerly attended Seward Middle ing.” this year in freshman Nadiya Schrad. “I School and finds the number of students joined Aquinas because my parents liked in the school a big difference. According the school’s values,” Schrad said. Her older to Schrad, Aquinas High School is much brother Cameron Schrad is also a junior at smaller than her previous school. Freshman Mara Yindrick Aquinas. What Schrad likes most about the school “To com- is the people. Schrad feels it has been easy pete at the for her to make friends, as she is a very highest level open person. possible in Schrad carries the typical freshman sports with schedule. Schrad said, “I think religion my friends is going to be difficult.” She feels like this and to enjoy could make the year harder. Schrad is also the time I taking speech, PE, art, physical science, have left Spanish, English, American history and al- with my classmates and friends gebra as her classes. before we go our separate ways.” At the beginning of the year Schrad Senior Macey Thege decided to join the school’s softball team. Freshman Nadiya Schrad catches the ball dur- “[The softball team] feels like a very big ing an early season softball game. Schrad also family.” participates in pole vault. Photo by K. Baer Page 3 Entertainment Oct. 4, 2019 Lion King ‘roars’ back to life By Jayci Roh While Disney makes some new changes ing the role of young and as Shahadi Movie: to the casting of the Lion King, some fa- Wright Joseph voicing young Nala. Donald Director: Jon Favreau miliar faces and voices return. James Earl Glover and Beyonce provided the voice the Cast: , , Chiwe- Jones returns to play the role of Mufasa. older versions of Simba and Nala. Seth Ro- tel Ejiofor, Alfre Woodard, , Newcomer JD McCrary starts out portray- gen voices Pumba, and Billy Eichner voices John Kani, , Beyonce, James Timon. Chiewetel voices the villian Earl Jones, JD McCrary, Shahadi Wright Scar. John Oliver portrayed Zazu. Joseph. John Kani voices the crazy Rafiki. Synopsis: Alfre Woodard voices Simba’s moth- Can you feel the love tonight? Disney re- er Sarabi made one of the most viewed movies from Disney kept the original sound- the 90’s. As a live action film, The Lion King track but put their new touch to the “roared” into theaters. music. In the original Lion King, the The Lion King is a story about a young animation played a key in keeping lion preparing to become king after his fa- the music lively. The original song ther is brutally killed by his own brother. “Can’t Wait to be King” felt alive with While Simba starts out as a little cub, he the bright colors and animal action witnesses his father’s death and is persuad- throughout the song. In the remake ed by his uncle Scar into running away to the music is not quite the same. The never return. creators did, however, keep a ro- Simba then runs into Pumba and Timon, mantic feel during the song “Can a resident warthog and meerkat. They teach You Feel the Love Tonight.” Viewers him to not worry. Simba grows up and were thrown off by the realistic char- encounters his childhood best friend and acters are talking and singing. love interest Nala. Nala persuades Simba to The main difference from the come back him to reclaim his throne. Sim- original film is the realistic charac- ba makes a remarkable return and battles ters. Viewers were accustomed to his uncle. Simba then bans Scar from the the bright and animated feel of the land. Scar is rejected not only by the lions, original story. Director Jon Favreau but by his sidekicks the Hyenas, as well. used a high-tech editing skill to Simba reclaims his throne and brings the bring animals and scenes to life. The land back to life. movie almost looks as if it is a very detailed nature documentary until the animals start talking. While some peo- ple may like the film, others miss the “ex- S tras” added in the animated film. The first Lion King was released on June 24, 1994. On July 19, 2019 the new photo- u realism feature brought the 2019 Lion King to new life. In 1994 the original Lion King made $88 million dollars its opening week- end and made $968 million worldwide. d According to Box Office Mojo, the 2019 Lion King won the domestic box office with $75.5 million, raising its U.S. total to $350.7 o million Topping Aladdin’s haul of $345.9 million. This now puts the remake of the Lion King in the top five for the 2019 box k office records. The Lion King’s global total stands at $962.6 million, meaning it is only a matter of time before it crosses the $1 bil- u lion mark. Page 4 Sports Oct. 4, 2019 Volleyball team continues to improve By Keegan Lavicky Set it up! The Aquinas Vol- said, “[Arlington] was prob- leyball team looked to gain ex- ably our biggest disappoint- perience during the early 2019 ment thus far. We had to learn season and improve from game how to finish.” to game. Aquinas competed in the Recently the Lady Monarchs Kearney Catholic and Hast- took on the Columbus Scotus ings St. Cecilia triangular. Shamrocks. The Monarchs lost Junior middle hitter Madison in three sets to the Shamrocks. Jelinek said, “We had a rocky Head coach Mrs. Jody Pelan said, start but started to gel, and “We had inconsistent passing then we started playing well.” but still did a lot of good things. The Monarchs lost to both [Scotus] blocked really well.” teams in two sets. The Monarchs competed in The season opener for the North Bend Invite against the Monarchs was at Guard- North Bend and Wayne. Senior ian Angels Central Catholic setter Macey Thege said, “We (GACC). The Monarchs lost definitely improved as a team. Senior Jadyn Siroky passes the ball during a volleyball game. against three sets to one. Pelan said, They were two of the tougher GICC. Siroky is an outside hitter for the Monarchs. Photo by J. Brown “We were very up and down.” teams we have played this year.” According to Pelan the big- Aquinas defeated the North gest challenge of the 2019 sea- Bend Tigers in two sets but lost nated the last set.” The Monarchs won son has been setter inexperi- to Wayne in two sets. three sets to two. ence. Jelinek said, “We’re still trying to gain The Monarchs also took the short bus The Monarchs did suffer a tough loss experience on the varsity level.” Thege also ride to play at Shelby-Rising City. Pelan against Arlington in the home opener. added, “We are struggling to be consistent said, “We played solid but had a couple Aquinas was up two sets until Arlington in the back row and find a second consistent lapses to let them back in it, but we domi- battled back to win in the fifth set. Pelan setter.” Football continues winning tradition By Payton Davis “Who are we? Monarchs!” The Aquinas a close one in the Columbus Scotus game. Catholic football team started off the 2019 Senior wide receiver and cornerback season with two wins and one loss. Braden Smith said, “We gave up a few big Recently the Aquinas football team won plays early which hurt us.” Smith felt this a defensive battle against Hartington Ce- was a key factor in the loss against Scotus. dar Catholic. The final score was 21 to 14. Aquinas lost 27 to 19. Head coach Ron Mimick said, “We played good on defense, with limited mistakes on offense and kick teams, and that led to our win.” The Monarchs won the second game of the season against Norfolk Catholic. In the first three quarters neither team gained a lot of momentum on offense, but in the fourth quarter Aquinas made some big plays that led to their win. According to junior quar- terback and safety Kyle Napier, the turning point in the Norfolk Catholic game was “when Braden Smith caught that long pass.” Senior Braden Smith holds the ball for junior The Monarchs won 14 to 3. Junior Kyle Napier looks to throw the ball to ju- kicker Brian Cech. This is Cech’s first year In the season opener, the Monarchs lost nior Keegan Lavicky. The Monarchs fell short playing high school football. Photo by P. Davis in their game against Scotus. Photo by P. Davis Page 5 Competition Oct. 4, 2019

Monarchs swing into the softball season By Gracyn Wollmer The Aquinas softball team swung into a petition this year. Kobza said, “Neumann The softball team is always looking to challenging season. The team has focused or GACC (Guardian Angels Central Cath- achieve goals and break records. Krenk on building bonds and trust on and off the olic) will be the toughest competition this said, “[My personal goal is] to always keep field to achieve some early to mid-season year because Neumann lost a lot of people a positive attitude and to always do what is wins. like we did, so we know it will be a more best for the team in every situation.” Recently Aquinas took on Lakeview at competitive game with some rivalry.” The The softball team’s two senior captains home. Senior pitcher Darian Krenk said, Monarchs lost to GACC 4-14 and lost to are Macy Kobza and Darian Krenk. Being “Our defense struggled at first, but our Neumann 9-10. a team captain comes with responsibilities, batting was better than previous games.” In other early season games, the Mon- including being a strong team leader. Krenk Despite the challenges that were faced, the archs beat Logan View 8-4 and lost 3-13 to said, “[ I can help lead my team by] showing Monarchs came out with a 12-4 win. Freeman. At the Twin River Triangular the them how to play together, for each other, The Monarchs played in the Ashland- softball team lost to Kearney Catholic 6-9. and how to not get down on each other, but Greenwood Invite on Sept. 14. The team They also lost to Twin River 7-11. instead pick each other up.” lost to Ashland Greenwood 6-10, Ralston The Monarchs beat Schuyler at home Against teams like Neuman and GACC, 2-18, and Omaha Gross 6-13. First base- 15-3. At the GACC Invite the Monarchs the Monarchs take different preparations to man Macy Kobza said, “We hung pretty beat South Sioux City 8-1, lost 4-5 to West prepare themselves for the big games. Ko- well with the teams for how big they were Point-Beemer, and lost to Tekamah-Her- bza said, “We try to not let it [pressure] get compared to us.” man 0-8. The Monarchs lost 4-5 to Wymore in our heads, and we remember the funda- The team has faced much tough com- Southern. mentals while preparing for tough games.” Cross Country team sprints for distance

By Shae Junck The cross country team has faced several B. Our team had a good experience, different changes and challenges this sea- and I like the fact that they got to wit- son. The boys added state medalist distance ness dedicated cross country schools runner junior Payton Davis, and the girls’ like Lincoln North Star, Lincoln Pius team runs only three girls. and Elkhorn South.” The boys finished The boys cross country team finished first. Davis received first place. Stara second at the Scotus meet. They fell short finished in third, individually. from first by one point. Davis ended in At the East Butler meet the boys first, junior Peter Sisco in ninth, and- ju placed first overall. The medalists nior Will Eller in tenth. Freshman Jocelyn were Davis with first, Sisco in fourth, Stara received eleventh, individually. Cross Eller in fifth, Fiala in eighth, Witter in country coach Mr. John Svec said the team fourteenth. Stara finished in fifth, and performed “outstanding, it was a great meet Moravec in seventh, individually. Fiala on a great course, with very tough competi- said the highlight of the East Butler tion, and the monarchs stepped up.” meet would be “learning we beat the As a team the boys got first at the Fre- state champions [Malcom] for two mont Began meet. Freshman Xavier Fiala years” said, “[The Bergan Meet] went really well The girls’ team is unable to place at it’s a tough course, but we ran to the best any meets because, for a team to place of our ability.” Davis placed first, Sisco in there needs to be at least four runners. third, Eller in fourth place, Fiala in seventh, Freshman Meghan Burwell says, “I junior Jake Witter in eighth and junior Ter- think our team is really close and we rence Wachal in fourteenth. For the girls always cheer each other on while we Stara placed individually with third, and run [having three girl runners] has Sophomore Ella Moravec in fifteenth. affected our training because we all Ella Moravec pushes her self to the finish line in a Svec said, “The Seward meet was huge; run different paces, so we can’t talk as much while we run.” cross country meet.The other two girl runners are there was over 300 runners in each division, Meghan Burwell and Jocelyn Stara.Photo by: Mr.Svec and there were runners in class A and class Page 6 Opinion Oct. 4, 2019 Climate change is reeking havoc on earth By Morgan Littlefield The climate is changing.We have all greenhouse gases are to blame. heard it, but few people pay attention. will increase flooding. First, evidence confirms that volcanos Finally, temperatures may be decreasing Human’s emission of greenhouse gases and the sun are not the main causes of the in some areas, but the global temperature has warmed the earth and caused damage climate changing. Natural changes do have as a whole continues to rise. Proof of this for the past few centuries. Even if humans a slight impact on the climate; output from comes from NASA’s study with ice sheets: stopped emitting gases today, the effects the sun increased gradually over the past “Greenland lost an average of 286 billion could continue for decades, even centuries. 150 years, but the planet has only warmed tons of ice per year between 1993-2016. The California Governor’s Office of Plan- by one degree. IPCC stated volcanic erup- Antarctica lost 127 billion tons of ice dur- ning and Research (OPR) explains climate tions have only short term effects that last ing the same time.” The arctic ice mass loss is a change in temperature over a period of two to three years. “Scientists account for has tripled in the last decade. The increase time, usually thirty years. Climate change is these natural changes in their climate mod- in temperature will also effect the Midwest a shift in temperature in the whole planet or els to show the difference between natural in a big way. The growing season may be a significant portion of the planet. The Na- changes and human activities over long lengthened, but extreme heat, heavy down- tional Aeronautics and Space Administra- time-scales,” IPCC explained. pours and flooding are predicted. tion (NASA) stated that the “greenhouse ef- NASA’s evidence backed up the IPCC. Global warming is important for ev- fect” is the “warming that results when the “If the warming were caused by a more ac- eryone today. The effects are evident in our atmosphere traps heat radiating from Earth tive sun, then scientists would expect to see communities, our climate, and out health. toward space.” Gases which contribute to warmer temperatures in all layers of the Heat waves, extreme natural disasters, and the greenhouse effect are nitrous oxide, atmosphere. Instead, they have observed a horrible draughts are rampant across the carbon dioxide, methane, chlorofluorocar- cooling in the upper atmosphere.” Evidence world due to greenhouse gases. Recent bons, and water vapor. shows greenhouse gases are trapping the events in Nebraska could be related to cli- Resistance to the idea of climate change heat in the lower atmosphere and dramati- mate change. is certain. According to OPR, three main cally heating the atmosphere. Solar irradi- The big question is how we can help arguments exist in disagreement to global ance changes cannot produce the increase combat this problem. NASA explains re- warming. A majority of the deniers believe of temperature without the rise in green- sponding to climate change involves a greenhouse gases are not causing these house gases. two-pronged approach: mitigation or re- effect—it is actually the sun, volcanoes, or Secondly, weather and climate are not ducing emissions of and stabilizing levels another source. This belief backs up the the same. The weather on any specific day of heat-trapping greenhouse gases in the claim the sun is always changing tempera- can be chaotic, but scientists still know the atmosphere and adaptation or adapting to tures and volcanoes have long term effects long-term averages in temperature and climate change already in the pipeline. on the climate. rainfall. “Climate science is not trying to We can mitigate by “reducing sources of Another argument against the idea of predict the weather on a given day in the these gases” according to NASA. The goal global warming is if next week’s weather future. Rather, its focus is on how general of mitigation is to avoid human interfer- cannot be predicted, how can the future trends will change over time,” IPCC stated. ence with the climate system. According to climate predictions be accurate? This argu- NASA’s findings show that the earth’s aver- the Center for Science Education (UCAR), ment claims that climate and day-to-day age surface temperature has risen about 1.62 a few ways to participate in mitigation is weather are interchangeable. degrees Fahrenheit since the late nineteenth by planting trees to absorb carbon dioxide The third claim disagreeing with climate century due to carbon dioxide. Most of the from the air, increasing the fuel efficiency change is temperatures are not actually in- temperature increase has happened over of our vehicles, and using compact fluores- creasing, but dropping in some places. “A the past thirty-five years. The five warmest cent bulbs instead of incandescent lights. common denier tactic is to point to a nar- years on record have been since 2010, and Adaption can be achieved by adjusting to row geographic area that may have seen the warmest year recorded was 2016. expected future climate changes. According relatively constant or even cooler tempera- Fossil fuels have also increased the con- to NASA, “[Adaptation] also encompasses tures in recent years,” according to OPR. centration of carbon dioxide in the atmo- making the most of any potential benefi-

sphere. According to IPCC, “More than cial opportunities associated with climate NASA, OPR, and the Intergovern- ninety-five percent of human activities have change (for example, longer growing sea- mental Panel on Climate Change warmed the planet over the past fifty years.” sons or increased yields in some regions).” (IPCC) have evidence that contradicts The global temperature is predicted to rise UCAR explains that adaptation can come the various claims against climate 2.5-10 degrees within the next one hun- from government policies or technical ad- change. Their extensive research, some dred years. This rise will cause the grow- vances, along with simpler methods, such of which was completed together, proves ing season to lengthen, more droughts and as insulating the attic to keep cool during there is more than just natural changes and heatwaves, stronger hurricanes, and the sea summer heat waves. level to rise one to four feet by 2100, which