All Stars of the Area

Seniors and Band Honored by Optimist Selection

Article by Cassidy Robinett

   Being nominated by your coach to play in an all-star basketball game is a small honor in itself, but actually being picked to play is a great honor. An honor that not one, but two, of our Osage City seniors earned.

The senior basketball players were nominated by their coaches based on their basketball statistics. The surrounding area coaches then met and voted to decide which players should be selected to play in the 2014 Flint Hills Optimist All-Star game. This year, OCHS seniors Darren Spruill and Cayla Lawless were both selected to play in the game, which was held March 29 in Emporia . On the game, Spruill and Lawless both agreed it was fun and a good experience for them both.

“It was fun to be on the same team as opponents and play with my rivals,” Lawless says about the honor. Spruill had similar thoughts, saying, “It was a good experience. It was nice playing with some of my friends from other schools.”

When asked what they liked most about the game, their opinions differed. “I liked playing with no pressure and just getting to enjoy playing the game I love,” says Lawless. Spruill enjoyed something a little different, saying, “We got to showcase our talents that we don’t get to show during the regular season, and were able to do that while listening to the best band in the state.”

If you didn’t catch that, the best band in the state was also honored with getting asked to come play pep songs throughout the game. First, the Osage City band was asked to be the main band over Wellsville’s band at the boys’ sub-state championship game, hosted at Wellsville.  Now the band got honored to play at the All-Star game. Mrs. Askren and band were invited to play because of the great atmosphere they add to games.

Those that attended the games will agree that the show put on by both teams was a fun one. Lawless’s team earned a win, while Spruill’s team took a loss. Congratulations the players and the band for earning such an honor!

Photo courtesy of Studio G Photography

New track, New Traditions, Same High Hopes

   Track team takes advantage of new facilities and has high hopes for the season

Article by Kailyn Robert

   Though they’ve only been to one meet, it’s already been an exciting season for the OCHS track team.  Not only did team members get a new track, on which they will be hosting the first track meet in 21 years today (April 8), but they also held the first annual “Lap-a-Thon” to help raise money for new equipment. Plus, with a brand new track to practice on, the team is looking to be better than ever, and there’s one event they’re hoping to be the absolute best in at every meet.

This event, as many people know, is the women’s 4×800 relay. Juniors Aundrea Koger, Sarah Peterson, and Maren Peterson, along with senior Haleigh Peterson, make up the relay team, and they’re ready to do their best. Coach James Bellinger has high hopes for them as well, saying, “I think that it’ll be school record breaking. Actually, I hope they break the record early on; then they just keep getting better from there.” They’re not the only group that’s expected to do well, though. The entire team is constantly getting better, partly due to the fact that they have many new resources to help them improve.

To raise money for all of these new resources, the track team held the first annual Lap-a-Thon on March 27.  Teams of four entered to either walk or run the relay, and there were also other competitions like the best costume. The team that Coach Bellinger thought had the greatest costumes was the “Grammar Grannies,” made up of Osage City language arts teachers Mrs. Sandra Clear, Mrs. Judy Heward, Ms. Renee Gallagher, and Ms. Donna Crane. They were just one of 18 teams to participate, turning the event into a huge success. Coach Bellinger says, “I thought it was a lot of fun, and it was really nice to see so many people from the community supporting us out at our new track.”

Whether breaking school records or raising money, this year’s track team is sure to impress all season long. And its members definitely deserve it for all the hard work they’ve already done!

Adios, Auf Wiedersehen, Goodbye, and Good Luck!

 

Osage City says goodbye to Mrs. Durkin

Article by Mariel Robert

     As the end of the school year comes around, we start to think about all of the changes that will come next year. Will the new seniors have enough patience for the new “fish?” Will Ms. Gallagher and Ms. Crane stay for yet another year? How will the football team look? And who is going to fill Mrs. Durkin’s shoes – both her teaching and coaching shoes?

       After being offered a job at Mission Valley High School, Durkin, OCHS teacher of 12 years, has decided to shut one door of her life to open a brand new one much closer to home. “I’m excited to go, but a little nervous at the same time,” says Durkin.

       Mrs. Durkin will be teaching business and will also be the head volleyball coach for the Vikings. Like many of the upcoming volleyball seniors, Paige Pearson has played for Durkin her entire high school career. She says, “It will be interesting starting my senior year with a new coach, and I will miss Mrs. Durkin very much. But at least we will get to see her on the courts!” Thinking along the same lines as Pearson, classroom neighbor Mr. Bellinger says, “I hate it,” when asked about Durkin leaving. “She will be very, very missed,” he adds.

       “My feelings are definitely mixed; it feels a little heartbreaking – it’s almost like I’m leaving a family here. But I’m still excited for the future,” says Durkin. Best of luck to Mrs. Durkin as she opens the door to the next chapter in her life. She will be missed!

Bringing Home the Hardware

Band and Choir Excel at Flint Hills League Competition

Article by Aundrea Koger

Here at OCHS, students and teachers alike tend to expect great things from the band.  And the band does a wonderful job of living up to those expectations.  It did it yet again at the Flint Hills League competition by bringing home a one-rating, the highest rating you can receive, along with one-ratings for every solo or small ensemble that performed.  Then at the regional solo and small ensemble competition the three soloists, senior Don Curtis on tuba, freshman Makaela Nicholson on saxophone, and freshman Hannah Mondragon on clarinet, all received one-ratings, which qualified them for state.  

Despite the normally high expectations for the OCHS band, second year band teacher Mrs. Melissa Askren was slightly surprised by the band’s successes.  “I wasn’t necessarily expecting to get ones across the board (in regards to the solos and small ensembles), but I did expect the band to get the rating that we did,” said Askren when asked about the matter.  However, even though she was confident that the band would do well, she did admit that she was nervous for the performance.  The judging was tough, with only two bands receiving one-ratings that day.  But the tips given by the judges will be of great help to the OCHS band as it gets ready for the state large group competition.

Freshman Hannah Mondragon also plans on using the advice given to her by the judges during her solo at both league and regionals in order to improve as much as possible before the state solo and small ensemble competition on April 26.  It’s almost certain that she will do well at state no matter what though, because she has been working on her solo relentlessly for the past few weeks.  “Every day after school I went home and focused on improving my pieces,” commented Mondragon, who also had performances to work on for another musical activity at OCHS that is often overlooked: choir.

After the band’s performance at league competition in Emporia it was the choir’s turn to step into the spotlight. It too brought home a one-rating, along with three one-ratings for soloists, junior Stephanie Diehl, freshman Zach Irvin, and freshman Hannah Mondragon, and a one-rating for the mixed ensemble. The girls’ ensemble, and soloist freshman Abby Gibbons, received two-ratings.

    Here at Osage City High School all extracurricular organizations excel, but few succeed as consistently as the band and the choir.  Students can always count on them to bring home the hardware, and build a great reputation for the school and the people in it.