Story & Photo by Kate Gerding – Feature/News Editor Spring sports are officially underway and girls soccer is next to take the field. Tryouts for the team were held the week of Feb. 27 and lasted until that Friday. Morgan Hubert, senior, is not new to this process. “I’ve been playing soccer for Lee’s Summit North since freshman year, so four [years],” Hubert said. Although she has been playing her entire high school career, Hubert is still looking forward to this year’s season. “I think that this year, for me, like half of our friend group is on the team, so a lot of my really good friends which is gonna make it really fun,” Hubert said. The new season will also bring along some changes. “The goalie we’ve had since freshman year, Maddie Sibbing, graduated last year so we have a new goalie this year,” Hubert said. Unlike previous years, the coaches decided to not have a C-team. “The C-team coach is now assisting JV so they’re kind of co-working it together and I think that’ll be good, it’ll be a different set of opinions and just be a fresh set of outlooks,” Hubert said. On the other hand, Emma Gerding, freshman, is experiencing high school soccer for the first time. During tryouts week, there were many things the girls had to do to prove themselves to the coaches. “[Soccer tryouts are] four days after school and we find out on Friday what team we’re on. We do fitness testing and scrimmaging. We had to run the football field 15 times for the fitness test. It was pretty hard,” Gerding said. The team does a lot to prepare both on and off the field. “I’ve gone to conditioning after school and futsal in the gym on Wednesday morning. Besides scrimmaging and practice, we also did book club meetings during Bronco Time and we had team meetings in the morning to discuss rules and things like that for the season,” Gerding said. Each year, the team holds a book club leading up to tryouts week. The books they read are inspirational to get them ready mentally for a challenging season. “The theme for this season is trusting the process. We pick our theme each year based on the book we read to get motivated and figure out what we want to focus on,” Gerding said. Although there will be some adjusting, both Gerding and Hubert think that the JV and Varsity seasons will be a success.
Story by Isabelle Flood – Staff Reporter With the Speech and Debate season winding down, and Rachel Russell’s, Speech and Drama teacher, retirement on more people’s minds, there’s lots to unpack about the current season. Russell has done a lot for the program and is sad to leave it behind. “I will miss building relationships with the kids and being in touch with them for years and years after and seeing the great things they do as an adult,” Russell said. Although she is upset about leaving, she has been training a teacher to take over for her when she leaves. “I have the gift of being able to pass the program along to one of my former students, Kate Sweeney, she is a wonderful new coach. I am excited to watch her and watch the team and see where they go in the future,” Russell said. The teachers and students are excited to see where the team will go in the future but senior officer, Maya Hoffmann, shares her favorite memory with the team. “Probably two years ago, whenever we went to the events and practice rounds at Liberty High School, and we all went out to lunch afterward. That was just a great time to have a meal all together and hear stories from our coaches and everybody else,” Hoffmann said. The officers are often seen as the leaders and someone an underclassman can go to for help, or they can look up to as a role model. Both Hoffmann and Cooper Spacil, senior, are officers. “Being able to help guide and mentor younger students is something that we all really try and do. It’s something that I take particular pay attention to, specifically just because I enjoy it,” Spacil said. Being in an officer role is a big responsibility and has to be handled with maturity and care. Hoffmann does multiple things to ensure that she is fulfilling her responsibilities as an officer, and helping to the best of her ability. “I’ve filled that role in certain ways by trying to lead the team through different exercises, different practices and mentoring a few other students, and I try to help them out with any kind of support that they need on the team,” Hoffmann said. While mentoring his peers and helping in any way he can, Spacil also has advice for anyone who wants to join Speech and Debate. “Even if you don’t want to go out and be a big public speaker, it can help you in your just your day-to-day life. Not only just take notes, but also just get up to speak in class and ask good questions. Becoming an active listener. It really is a good idea to join if you are thinking about it,” Spacil said. The Speech and Debate team has accomplished a lot this season, just finishing districts this past weekend. Lee’s Summit North is well represented in a lot of sports and activities and Speech and Debate is no exception. Photo courtesy of Ms. Russell – Speech & Debate Coach
Story & Photo by Talon Cleveland – Staff Reporter LSN just had the 29th annual Talent Show. Sponsored by Bronco S.M.A.R.T, The Talent Show featured singing, hula dancing, bagpipes, and more. “I think it went really well, we had more acts than last year and it came down to a couple points between first, second, and third so I think that means that the talent overall is better than we’ve had in the past,” Sara Witteman, Bronco S.M.A.R.T sponsor, said. There were a lot of great performances that had the crowd jumping emotions. They were laughing, they were in awe, and after every act, there was a well-deserved long applause. Out of all the amazing performances, there was one that stood out the most, or sang out the most. That would be the first-place winner, Sarah Ference, senior, who sang Vienna by Billy Joel. “Last year I placed 3rd in the school talent show so I was very happy to win this year…It felt great to get 1st place. I loved being on stage with the other winners and getting to know them all backstage before,” Ference said. The Talent Show was a hit, but if you missed it do not worry because they will be back next year with even more wow factor.
Story by Areesa Steele – Editor-in-Chief One of the many activities that LSN offers is DECA. DECA gives students the opportunity to compete in different business sections. DECA stands for Distributive Education Clubs of America. “My favorite part is meeting new people and being able to travel,” Grace Masters, senior, said. During the weekend, students of DECA got to compete at state. To get to DECA state, you have to make it past your performance towards judges. The score you get determines if you make it. “I anticipate that state will be competitive. The people who don’t perform as well didn’t make it, so everyone is talented,” Masters said. The score for your section is determined by multiple different sections. Test scores and role play join to make a final score. Although you are competing throughout the day, there is a lot of waiting as well. “My least favorite part is the long days and sitting around,” Masters said. DECA allows you to compete alone or with a partner. Having a partner allows you to communicate and support each other. Masters and her partner are competing in Marketing Management. “Having a partner makes it much easier because you can come up with ideas that the other person might not have thought of. Bouncing ideas off of each other can make your score higher,” Masters said. The number of people from each section that go to state depends on how many total competitors there are. The top three scores are guaranteed to go to state. “My performance in DECA has been really good for it being my first year. Getting second at districts was a shock,” Masters said. To prepare for DECA districts and further, you are given practice tests. Those practice tests are given to the students to help show them what to expect. “My partner, Anni Spacil, and I are doing practice tests,” Masters said. Over the last three days, one team placed for Nationals and will head to California. Even though the other teams did not place, the experience that DECA state provides helps students build a foundation for a career in business or marketing.
Story by Abbey Euritt- Co-Assistant Editor/Sports Editor After months of training and preparation for nationals and state, The Northern Stars just ended their regular season. At their nationals competition, the team had a quality performance, bringing home some awards. “The girls did very well. They received 5th place in Team Performance and 7th place in Jazz,” Shelley McCain, Northern Stars Head Coach, said. After nationals, The Northern Stars danced at the state competition and added to their awards collection. The team has been practicing and perfecting their routines for nationals and state all season. “We polish and perfect every day at practice. We work on skills, we work on stamina, we work on emotion and overall performance,” McCain said. Other than the variety of talent showcased on The Northern Stars team, they have many other qualities that make them successful. Not only are the girls teammates, but they have grown to be friends as well. “The closeness and love the team has for one another [makes them special]. This is a very unique group in that they all respect and appreciate each other. A team will never be as strong as they can be if they don’t like each other off the floor. These girls adore one another,” McCain said. As head coach, McCain’s favorite part of coaching The Northern Stars is building the girls into better dancers and preparing them for their future. “I love taking a routine from the day we learn it to the day we compete with it. The transformation that takes place is magical. I get to be part of creating the magic. I also love the relationships I build, the mentoring of each of the dancers. I am helping shape them into adults and I hope they are learning compassion, work ethic, kindness, perseverance and class from me,” McCain said. Now that The Northern Stars have ended their season, the next event is Mr. Bronco. Until then, the team will continue to prepare for next year’s season. Photo courtesy of Danica Wise
Story & Graphic by Talon Cleveland – Staff Reporter Each November, LSN Archery searches for the best archer; state cuts are made at the end of January. If you are interested in joining archery and are hearing about it too late, you need to join archery club. Archery club is a no-cut club where anyone interested in archery can practice and meet new people. Archery is a great sport for anyone that does not meet physical requirements for other sports. All you need is a collected mind and a steady hand. “My favorite part of doing archery is being able to shoot and have fun with my friends. I like archery because it doesn’t really have any physical strain. I like how it focuses on mental fortitude and keeping a calm and collected mind. This challenges me to do better and to just work on myself. I can also just be myself and don’t have to worry about if I’m physically fit and healthy enough to participate and shoot at tournaments,” Kiera Lor, junior, said. Carrie Miller has been involved with archery for eleven years, this is Miller’s third year as head coach. “The best part of coaching archery is seeing archers improve and gain confidence in their abilities…I am not nervous about this year. We have a great group of kids who always try their hardest,” Miller said. The archery team has qualified for tier two for State in bullseye. Miller’s goal is to also qualify for tier two for State in 3D; shooting 3D objects such foam animals, at various distances. LSN Broncos strive to bring back every metal and trophy. “My hope for this season is to just do the best I can and to have fun. This is my last year on the archery team as I have other accommodations and activities to do. I will be doing archery for myself and just to hang out with friends, but I won’t be on the school team anymore. My hope is to just help my team to be the best they can and to just have the best time I can before I quit,” Lor said. Archery has been around for a long time, and has always been about precision more than strength. This sport is a great way to relax and calm your mind; a way to feel uplifted and concentrated. Anyone hoping to find a new hobby can email Coach Miller or find her in room 1301.
Story by Kay Haas – Staff Reporter Lee’s Summit North hosted a Cultural Festival on February the 17th. The four languages of LSN, Spanish, German, French, and Chinese, came together to create a festival with activities from each of the cultures. Each language club plans, researches, and helps at the actual festival. Some of the activities at the festival were Chinese Calligraphy, a crepe station, a potato cake station, and a pinata. Valda Hsu, Mandarin Chinese teacher, believes that the Cultural Festival has more than one benefit for the students and the community. “All cultures come together and then you can easily see the similarities and then you can also see what each culture has that is uniquely theirs, it is fun to see why they celebrate certain things.” said Hsu. The Cultural Festival is a great way for the students to show off their knowledge of the language and culture. “This helps them to retain knowledge about particular cultural events. This also means that by working together collaboratively you also solve problems, like practical things and how to show off certain things,” said Hsu. The Cultural Festival is also a great place for members of the community to come and learn about the different languages. “It is also part of the effort of inviting families. They may come and say I want to know about this or I take part of this because of my heritage so that is fun to have families come and do that for us,” said Hsu. The Cultural Festival is a great place for students and the community to come together and learn. Photo courtesy of Valda Hsu
Story & Photo by Morgan Hill – Staff Reporter This past week the spring sports started practice, one of them being by boys tennis. Boys tennis, run by Coach Reece, is a beginner-friendly sport that promises major success for the varsity players this season. Many players enjoy the sport and the team’s comradery which is very welcoming to beginners. “I have played for three years, beginning my sophomore year, and I have enjoyed it a lot since I joined the team,” Willem Haas, senior, said. While many are looking forward to being successful on the court, others are looking to meet new friends and have fun. “I am looking forward to improving and challenging myself to be better than last year. I also look forward to making new friends and having a good time,” Haas said. To develop as a tennis player you would want as many “reps” as possible as it is crucial to stay improving even during offseasons. “Some things I do to develop my skills during the off-season, include playing with someone of a similar level and attending camps and activities that the coach needs help with,” Haas said. For upperclassmen, showing up and being a leader to younger players is very important as it keeps the athletes motivated and improves the program. “Being on the team as a senior, and having prior experience on the team, I plan on showing up with a good attitude and having the mindset that good sportsmanship and energy can help win the game,” Haas said. Overall, most players would recommend the program and sport to anyone who would be motivated to play and contribute. “I would recommend tennis to people because it is a no-cut team sport and overall tennis is just a fun time as long as you are willing to put in the work,” Haas said. Tennis is a very fun sport to play and offers a lot to each individual player at LSN regardless of playing ability.
Story by Bailee Council – Social Media/Co-Assistant Editor For many years, Lee’s Summit North has offered students a chance to earn credit from working. With 30% of teens across the US having jobs, this provides an easier way of managing the two. “My goal is to make each student a better employee. I hope to show them what employers need and expect and why they are an important asset to the business so they will be reliable and have a good work ethic for the company,” Joy Reed, business teacher, said. With this option, students are released early to work, earn money, earn elective credits toward graduation, and learn career-related job skills. The first step, to apply to one of the three departments; supervised business, taught by Perri Laterza, Cooroportice Career, taught by Reed, and Marketing work with Katie Wilson. “This is a great opportunity to learn expectations and how to work with others. You are able to pick your friends but you are not always able to pick your co-workers. You need to learn how to deal with and get along with many types of people,” Laterza said. This program allows students the ability to work and make money to save for their future and allows students the chance to get experience. Students learn how to manage their time, which gives them a chance to find a job in a field they are interested in, and see if they enjoy it. “This is a great opportunity to learn how things get done around the office. We sometimes just take for granted that things will be there when we need them, but it takes a lot of preparation to pull off a task or event,” Laterza said. Students are given the opportunity to take a step closer to a career path they are interested in. Take the next step to sign up for the work program.
Areesa Steele:
Areesa is Editor-in-Chief and this is her third year on staff. She is a member of the LSN tennis team. She also likes to spend time with loved ones and thrift.
Bailee Melchion Council:
Bailee is Co-Assistant Editor/Social Media Editor and this is her third year on staff. She likes to work, go to the gym, cook, and spend time with her dog, Aria.
Abbey Euritt:
Abbey is a Co-Assistant Editor/Sports Editor and this is her second year on staff. She plays soccer for LSN. She enjoys reading and shopping in her spare time.
Kate Gerding:
Kate is the News & Feature Editor and this is her second year on staff. Kate dances ballet and enjoys hanging out with friends outside of school.
Morgan Hill:
Morgan is a staff reporter and this is her second year on staff. She enjoys writing and talking about sports.
Talon Cleveland:
Talon is a staff reporter and this is his second year on staff. Talon is involved in Wrtiter’s Circle, FCCLA, and Eco Club.
Kay Haas:
Kay is a staff reporter and this is her first year on staff. She is in Student Council, Chinese Club, and she enjoys aerial arts.
Isabelle Flood:
Isabelle is a staff reporter and this is her first year on staff. She plays club volleyball and for LSN. She enjoys reading and hanging out with friends.
Mrs. Haesemeyer (Adviser):
Mrs. Haesemeyer was on the yearbook staff when she was in high school. In college, she wrote for the newspaper at The University of Central Missouri, The Muleskinner. She has been a Language Arts teacher and the newspaper adviser at LSN for the last 23 years.