Hoofbeats January/February 2014 MERCER AREA HIGH SCH O O L MHS Shining Stars
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Volume 50 Issue 3 Hoofbeats January/February 2014 MERCER AREA HIGH SCH O O L MHS Shining Stars District 10 Runner-Ups By Kaitlin Conner Editor This loss still this, a 10-2 record for Cailee Murray made history the region, an overall Alex Dawson as giving them record of 16 wins and 5 Samantha Phillips the title of Dis- losses, and Lexie Ark- Erica Schoen trict 10 Runner- wright reaching 1,000 Tina Blake Ups, a feat not career points. Katelyn Cogswell met in many When asked what the Beka Faulkner years of Mer- most important game Kara Redmond cer history. Not played in the regular Kaitlin Conner to mention their season Aaron Cook, previous head coach, responded, 28 years ago in 1986, playoff wins against Fair- “Definitely the Sharon the Lady M‟s won the view (44-33), and their game at Sharon. This Inside this issue: first and only girls bas- win against Girard in game (win) put us back ketball District 10 title. overtime (48-38) has into first place.” This On March 1, the girls‟ filled the stands more and close match brought NEWS 2-3 team entered the same more each game. many Mercer fans out FEATURES 4-6 gym, Edinboro Universi- The next game was the to watch the nerve ty‟s McComb Field first state playoff game for wracking game, which SPORTS 7 House, with the same the team. On March 7, ended with a score (59- goal in mind, to bring the Lady M‟s went up 56). As for the hard- MERCER’S SHINING STARS 8- home the trophy. against Greensburg Cen- ships of the season he 12 Although they did not tral Catholic at Sharon stated, “Staying healthy OP-ED 12- win, they have still far High School. Mercer has been a problem. 14 exceeded the expecta- came out with a loss of There has been a lot of COLUMNS 15- tions people have put (56-31). illnesses going around 19 on a small school like The Lady M‟s regular this season.” THROUGH THE LOOKING 20 Mercer. season was a whirlwind Senior night was the GLASS Mercer kept the lead of wins and victories. En- game against the until entering the fourth tering into the playoffs, Sharpsville Blue Devils. quarter with a score of they carried the accom- Seniors this year were 27-19. General McLane plishments of Region 2 Lexie Arkwright, Jor- then put up a total of 19 Champs (tied with Sha- dan Fisher, Megan points in the fourth and ron) which is also the first McKinney and Alexis Mercer only 4, leaving time in twelve years the Mills. the final tally at 38-31. girls‟ team has reached Hoofbeats The End Is Near By Cailee Murray Coming back form Christmas break seniors were reminded they are almost done. Whatever kind of emotion that may bring, it is true the end really is near. On Monday, January 6, seniors were to report to the auditorium directly after lunch for an informational meeting on cap and gown orders. At the meeting a representative from Balfour handed out order forms to the seniors. He explained what needed done and how. The representative returned on Tuesday, January 14 to collect all the completed order forms during the lunch period in the student activity room. For most seniors this was a big eye opener. Walking down the hallway many seniors could be heard saying, “Wow, all ready?” Band Concert By Katelyn cogswell The Mercer High School Band Concert was band played Irish Festival and “Irish Jig Young held on February 27 in school‟s auditorium. Feet.” Junior Rebekah Falkner stated that she The concert invited everyone to get in touch really enjoys going to every band concert be- with their inner leprechaun because of the cause they improve each performance. “The Celtic Music theme. music is always awesome; they are always The groups that performed were Wind Ensem- really good song choices. “Adrian Reeher, ble, High School Concert Band, and Middle saxophone player, stated that he feels like School Concert band. Wind ensemble played, they were not as prepared for this concert. “Be Thou My Vision” and “The Gallop.” High They did their best to make it a successful School Concert band performed “J.S. Jig” and concert, which it was. “With a little more prac- “Irish Air for Winds.” Together the group pre- tice the performances would have been more sented River Dance. Middle school concert unforgettable.” Academic Game All-Stars By Samantha Phillips Academic games are a series of games that challenge the team members mentally. There are different categories involved. Math, English, history, and logic are all fair game at a competition. There are roughly seven students participating in academic games. Liz Ludwig, Jon-Carl Hostetler, Alex Roman, Justin LaBarge, Mason Borowicz, and Andrew Brinker are all on the team. The students practice in Mrs. Walzer‟s room. She holds practice after school every Monday and Tuesday. “I really enjoy being in academic games because I get to challenge my mind even after school.” said Andrew. The small team of seven must put in 110% effort in order to pose a threat to their competitors. The team competes at Slippery Rock University. Tournaments are scheduled randomly in co- ordination of availability of each team. Once at the competition, each team member receives a name tag and go to their assigned table. There are three rounds of competition. After all three rounds the students are given lunch and sit back to relax.” SRU is a nice place to get Starbucks.” mentioned Liz. After lunch all the teams gather for awards. A team can win by being undefeated. In order to be undefeated, a team must have the highest score or place in the top ten of the competitors of the tournament. Mercer‟s team was excited for the opportunity to compete this year. Page 2 January/February 2014 Students for charity fundraisers By Erica schoen Mercer Area High School‟s Students for Charity is sold carnations for Valentine‟s Day this year. The students were selling the flowers during lunch periods for two dollars each. The sales started Monday February 3 and ended on Monday February 10. The carnations were handed out to the students on Valentine‟s Day during lunch by students in Students for Charity. The carnations were a good way to get someone special a nice flower for only two dollars. Students for Charity is also sponsored a March of Dimes: Dime war. The students were asked to participate in dime war by placing dimes in their first period teacher‟s jugs. They could sabotage other classes by placing other coins such as quarters, nickels, and pennies in other teachers jugs. It started March 10 and ended March 14. All the proceeds for both fundraisers are going towards ongoing projects of SFC, but all proceeds are going towards a good cause. Strain the Jazz Man By rebekah falkner The district jazz festival Education Association. It last year‟s district jazz was on January 31 to included students from band and last summer‟s February 1 at Slippery four counties, Mercer, SRU jazz camp. Kyle Rock University. The Lawerence, Beaver and had also said that it was festival was one full day Butler. The event was a lot of fun, and he defi- of rehearsal. The next hosted by Dr. Jason Kush. nitely recommend to any morning was spent re- Kyle Strain said he was underclassmen who hearsing, and then there excited that he made it his wants to play more jazz was a concert in the af- senior year because he with other jazz-lovers. ternoon. It is a 1 1/2 day made it his junior year and Students had to audition PMEA festival. This he felt like meeting up prior the concert and on- event is sponsored by with some friends for sen- ly a select few were in- the Pennsylvania Music ior year. He said he had vited to participate. known a few people from Thumbs up to Kyle’s musical success. Maureen Sings Out For Mercer By rebekah she made regional cho- Maureen said that she rus her senior year. didn‟t know anyone else falkner Maureen was the only there except her friends Regional chorus was one from our school that that she had made at February 12 through made it to regional cho- previous festivals. For February 14. Regional rus. It is a competition to regional chorus you stay chorus is a festival of the make the top chair to get in a hotel with other most prestigious group to states. Regional cho- singers from other of elite vocalists, with rus starts on Wednesday schools. some other people. with rehearsals and au- Maureen stated that ditions, and ends on Fri- was very excited that day night with a concert. Page 3 Hoofbeats Mercer’s hollywood star By Kaitlin Conner An interview appeared in a 1994 issue of the Rolling Stones, Reznor stated: “I don’t know why I want to do these things, other than my desire to escape from Small Town, U.S.A., to dismiss the boundaries, to explore. It isn’t a bad place where I grew up, but there was nothing going on but the cornfields. My life expe- riences came from watching movies, watching TV and reading books and look- ing at magazines. And when your culture comes from watching TV every day, you’re bombarded with images of things that seem cool, places that seem inter- esting, people who have jobs and careers and opportunities.