Brought to you by The Westerner Staff!



PHOTO BY GRETCHEN KRATOCHWILL

A big thank you to this year’s WDHS Westerner staff!  Back row, pictured left to right:  Emily Vaughan, Colleen Hoffmann, Brenna Wolfe, Abby Gloeckner, Erin Norton, Jacob Barnwell, and Bradley Prier.  Front, left to right:  Brooke Bockenstedt, Alicia Errthum, and Brittni Wendling.  Not pictured:  Breanna Reisen, Morgan Tomas-Klostermann, and Sarah Walsh.  This year the Westerner awards went to Erin Norton (Senior Editor), Alicia Erthum (Senior Editor), and Bradley Prier (Web Development).  Thank you to all staff members for your contributions this year—no matter how big or small, you helped make the newspaper a success! Staff members would also like to thank Ms. Gretchen Kratochwill for her brilliant job as our advisor this year!

And the Award Goes to…

BY ALICIA ERRTHUM

Academic and Artistic Achievement Awards Night is an event that recognizes Western Dubuque High School students who have reached extraordinary goals throughout the year, whether it be in band, math club, speech, art, writing, or GPA.  The invitation is sent out formally by mail with a letter inside informing parents of their student’s triumphs and encouraging them to attend the ceremony held in honor of students such as their own.  This event takes place on the evening of May 9^th.  From 6:00-7:00 p.m., the public may view the art projects on display in the WDHS Art Show, which is to be held in the north gymnasium.  Thereafter, at 7:00 p.m., the crowd will shift down to the old gymnasium, which is where the academic portion of the night takes over.  Teachers present the awards, and each student in the crowd waits with bated breath until his or her name is called.  As the night progresses, students proudly march across the stage to receive  awards such as the President’s Education Excellence Awards, Young Leader Awards, Student Council, Westerner Staff, Best in Class, and many, many more.  As the evening of splendor comes to a close, congratulations are exchanged, pictures are taken, and plaques are clutched with triumph as each young scholar makes his or her way back home. 

Noteworthy Bobcat of the Month: Alicia Errthum

INTERVIEW CONDUCTED BY JACOB BARNWELL

Grade:  12^th

Hometown:  Holy Cross

Parents’ Names:  David and Lisa Errthum

Involvement in Music:  I started playing the piano in kindergarten and picked up the saxophone in 5^th grade.  When I entered high school, I joined band and jazz band and annually participated in Solo Ensemble Contest as well as All-State auditions.  I made it as an alternate to All-State this year on baritone saxophone.  Over the past couple years, I have learned to play all four saxophones, as well as a little flute.  I have also participated in musicals throughout high school, whether it be in stage crew, chorus, or a larger role. 

What Do You Most Enjoy about the Arts Program at WDHS: My favorite thing about the arts program at Western Dubuque is the diversity.  We have a gigantic variety of programs offered: numerous art classes, 5^th Avenue show choir, Aristocats show choir, concert choir, band, jazz band, flags, dance/poms, speech, the fall play, and the spring musical.  Each and every one is a high quality program and is extremely enjoyable to be involved in. 

Other Interests and Hobbies:  Soccer, cross country, speech, plays/musicals, 4-H, art club, band, jazz band, the Westerner staff, and the National Honor Society. 

Wamac Art Show Pictures

PHOTO BY VICKI RECKER

Participants in the WaMaC Art Show from WDHS included the following students.  Front row, pictured left to right: Jamie Greve, Alicia Errthum, Katelynn Till, and Sidney Burds.  Middle row: Kaitlyn Wolf, Katie Bockenstedt, Dominique Simon, Paul Knipper, Josie Hollenback, Stephanie Knipper, and Anna Spoden.  Back row:  Ryan Christie, Megan Capek, Kirsten Anderson, and Nick Becker.  Not pictured:  Kylie O’Brien.  Award Winners this year were:  Kaitlyn Wolf, 1st place, for her digital photograph; Paul Knipper, 2^nd place, for his digital photograph; Katelynn Till, 2^nd place, for her self-portrait drawing; Jamie Greve, 2^nd place, for her mixed media sculpture; and Kylie O’Brien, 2^nd place, for her ceramic coil pot.

 

Pictured left:  The WaMaC Art Show’s first-place award winner Kaitlyn Wolf and her composition entitled “Craftsman.”  Wolf won overall in the digital photography category.  The judge appreciated her unusual subject matter and strong composition.   

WDHS Athletes in the Olympics

Western Dubuque Special Olympics State Qualifiers pictured from left to right: Lee Greenwood, Shaille Morgan, Brennan Koopmann, Shelby Heiderscheit, and Caleb Ernzen. 

BY BRAD PRIER

Track and field, bowling, cross country skiiing, and bocce ball are probably not sports you would expect the same person play in a single year. However, this busy and diverse schedule is exactly what the Western Dubuque Special Olympics team has been following this year. The team has competed in the area and state level in these sports. The mission of Special Olympics is “to provide year-round sports training and athletic competitions in a variety of Olympic-type sports for children and adults with intellectual disability...with their families, other Special Olympics athletes and the community.”
“Let me win, but if I cannot win, let me be brave in the attempt.” This is the oath of the Special Olympics participants and serves as the motivation for these athletes. The Western Dubuque team consists of seven athletes currently and over 30 in the program’s eight-year history. The current athletes are Caleb Ernzen, Brennan Koopmann, Shelby Heiderscheit, Lee Greenwood, Shaille Morgan, Jeff Leibold, and Brandon Klein. The team just recently competed in track and field at the area level and the participants pictured above are those that have qualified for state.
They qualified as follows: Ernzen in 50-meter dash, Greenwood in shot put and 100-meter dash, Heiderscheit in turbo javelin, Koopmann in shot put, and Morgan in 100-meter dash.
Coach Laurie Fallon had this to say to the general public, “I am always looking for volunteers to help with the WDHS Special Olympics team and Dyersville team. After high school, many of these students continue to adult teams.”

Senior Spotlight

INTERVIEWS CONDUCTED BY ALICIA ERRTHUM

Name: Jacob Baumhover

Future Plans:  Going to Upper Iowa University for graphic design

Favorite TV Show: The Big Bang Theory

Favorite Song:  “Check Yes or No” by George Straight

Favorite Sport: Baseball or golf

Favorite Thing to Do: Being outdoors

If You Could Take a Trip Anywhere: Australia  

If You Won $1,000:  Take my girlfriend out

Most Prized Possession:  My shot glasses

Something You Want to Do before You Die: Scuba dive

If You Were a Car:  I’d be a Chevy Camaro.

Beardsley Nominated for KCRG Athlete of Week

Be sure to vote Rochelle Beardsley for Athlete of the Week on KCRG's Athlete of the Week page. Rochelle has led the golf team several times in their young season and is hoping for Athlete of the Week honors! Good Luck and Congratulations Rochelle!

Western Dubuque Boys Soccer Preview

PHOTO BY BRAD PRIER


BY BRAD PRIER

Western Dubuque boys’ soccer program has three new coaches this year. Brett Gioimo, last
year’s assistant coach, has taken over the head coach spot this year. Tyler Goedken and Tim
Nieman are his right- and left-hand men. The program consists of about thirty student-athletes.
This year the team will also be sporting new Nike uniforms, similar to their old ones. The team
has high hopes this year, as they play to head to state tournament and win. In order to reach this
goal, practices are much more intense this year. The Bobcat boys’ soccer team asks for support
from their fans. This year’s schedule is as follows:

3/29 @ Bellevue-Marquette Catholic (Dubuque Soccer Complex) (Varsity won 7-0)
4/03 @ Independence 5:00 PM
4/10 @ Clear-Creek Amana (Tiffin) 5:00 PM
4/13 @ Anamosa 5:00 PM
4/16 vs. West Delaware, Manchester 5:15 PM
4/20 vs. Benton 5:15 PM
4/24 vs. Mount Vernon 5:15 PM
4/27 @ Maquoketa 5:00 PM
5/01 @ Central Clinton, Dewitt (Dewitt) 5:00 PM
5/05 @ Waverly-Shell Rock Tournament (Waverly) 9:00 AM (Will be  up to 5 games, 2-3 varsity, 2 JV)
5/08 @ Solon 4:30 PM
5/11 vs. Center Point-Urbana 5:15 PM
5/12 vs. Dubuque Senior 5:15 PM
5/14 vs. Bellevue-Marquette Catholic 5:15 PM
5/15 vs. Beckman Catholic 5:15 PM
5/21 Substate vs/@ TBA*
5/31 State @ TBA*

*Check back here after 5/15/2012 to see if either team(boys or girls) go to substate and state

WaMaC Art Show

BY ALICIA ERRTHUM

The WaMaC Art Show is a gathering at which pieces of art are compiled from each school in
the WaMaC conference. Each school may submit up to 20 pieces, which are categorized by
their media, such as 3-D, painting, etc. There are 16 categories in total. It is in these groups,
surrounded by projects from other schools, that each piece will be judged and given a place (1st,
2nd, 3rd, etc.). The whole day builds up to the announcing of the “Best of Show,” the prestigious
award given to best project out of all the categories. Selected to represent Western Dubuque
High School this year are the projects of Kirsten Anderson, Nick Becker, Katie Bockenstedt,
Sidney Burds, Megan Capek, Ryan Christie, Alicia Errthum, Jamie Greve, Josie Hollenback,
Paul Knipper, Stephanie Knipper, Kylie O’Brien, Dominique Simon, Anna Spoden, Katelynn
Till, and Kaitlyn Wolf. The WAMAC Art Show is hosted by Solon High School and is to be
held on April 10 in the Double Round Barn at Celebration Farm between Solon and Iowa City.

WDHS Spring Art Show

BY ALICIA ERRTHUM

On May 9, Western Dubuque High School will proudly host its annual spring art show. This art
show displays the projects of WDHS art students and contains approximately 200 unique pieces
that have been collected throughout the 2011-2012 school year. This year, the opportunity to
be in the art show is not only available to students, but also alumni that still produce artwork.
Alumni may bring up to one piece if they so choose. The WDHS art show will take place at

6:00 p.m. in the north gymnasium, which is located by the new/main gymnasium, at Western
Dubuque High School.

Creative Writing Corner

This week, we are proud to announce that Western Dubuque High School has four student
winners of creative writings contests—local and statewide.

PHOTO BY GRETCHEN KRATOCHWILL

Pictured here are the 12th grade students from WDHS who swept the category for their grade
level in the Eastern Iowa Reading Council’s 2011-2012 Creative Writing Contest. L to R: Abby
Kleusner (1st place), Gina Behnke (3rd place), and Cody Frommelt (2nd place).

Abby Kleusner was also named the first place winner in the 2011-2012 Iowa State Creative
Writing Contest. Her submission—“My Little Yellow House”—was entered after her first place
win in the contest held by the Eastern Iowa Reading Council. Abby will have the opportunity
to read her short story in June at a reading conference in Ames. Additionally, the Eastern
Iowa Reading Council will help defray the cost of driving to Ames for Abby and her family by
awarding her a check for $50. Congratulations to Abby and all the contest winners!

PHOTO BY GRETCHEN KRATOCHWILL

Pictured here is Megan Kemp, a freshman at WDHS, who placed 3rd in the Eastern Iowa Reading
Council’s 2011-2012 Poetry Contest. Megan was recognized for her poem entitled, “I’m Happy
Being Me.”

Flying Solo

BY EMILY VAUGHAN

What is the difference between band and any other sport? Despite the obvious answers, one
difference is the competitions. In many sports, participants are on a team and compete against
others, but in Tri-State Solo Ensemble, the competitor is against themselves. The Tri-State
Solo Ensemble contest was held this weekend on Saturday and many members of the Western
Dubuque Bobcat Band participated and performed for various judges at Union High School in
La Porte City. Of the thirty eight people that performed solos, twenty-one got a Division I rating
(the highest rating). Michelle Hanson and Sam Naumann received the honor of being chosen
as the best of their center and will be playing in the Honors Recital in Ames, Iowa on May 9th.
Congratulations!

Andy, and Kyle, and Scott! Oh, My!

PHOTO BY BRYCE HARRINGTON

Pictured left to right are Mr. Western Dubuque High contestants Jayme Schmitt (2nd place), Scott
Miner (1st place), and Mark Zalaznik (3rd place).



PHOTO BY BEN RESSLER

Pictured here are the first and second place winners for Western Dubuque High School’s Senior
Survivor contest. Left to right: Morgan Maiers (2nd place) and Andy Kruse (1st place).



BY ERIN NORTON

On March 18, 2012, March Madness hit Western Dubuque High School—a week that involves
all sorts of school-oriented activities. The two biggest activities were the annual Senior Survivor
contest and always popular Mr. WD High. Each competition housed a variety of talents and
offered a great deal of entertainment.

Senior Survivor involves twelve seniors at Western Dubuque High School that participate

in various sorts of activities both at the school and in the community. The WDHS Student
Council organizes the week’s activities and provides the challenges for the contenders. This
year, each survivor was given a child from the Children's Miracle Network to represent, and all
proceeds from each contestant’s individual shirt sales were donated to the Children’s Miracle
Network. This year’s winner is Andy Kruse, who was also playing for his sponsored child Kyle.
Congratulations to both Andy and Kyle, and all of the other survivors!

On Tuesday, March 19, the Mr. WD High contest was held at the school. The contest consists of
junior and senior students who want to win the title. Each year, the contestants compete in many
categories including: Formal Wear, Spirit Wear, Talent, and Creativity. This year’s talent portion
offered a wide variety of entertainment, ranging from comedic standup to singing to playing the
guitar and drums. Also offering a wide variety of entertainment was the Spirit Wear category,
which included colorful and interesting apparel. This year’s winner was junior Scott Miner.
Senior Jon Goerdt was awarded fourth place, third place went to junior Mark Zalaznik, and this
year’s runner-up and 2nd place winner was senior Jayme Schmitt. Congratulations to all who
participated!

Senior Spotlights

INTERVIEWS CONDUCTED BY ERIN NORTON

Name: Russell Joseph Pirc, Jr.
Birthday: September 24
Favorite Color: Orange
Favorite Class: English 12
Favorite Teacher: Mr. Smith
Celebrity Crush: Jessica Simpson
If You Won $1,000,000: Buy a motorcycle and car
Favorite Part about Prom: Dancing



Name: Alyssa Meeker
Birthday: July 14, 1993
Favorite Color: Red
Favorite Class: Art
Favorite Teacher: Mr. Ressler
Celebrity Crush: Josh Hutcherson (Team Peeta!)
If You Won $1,000,000: I would pay for college and buy a house and a car.
Favorite Part about Prom: Dancing and spending time with my friends

INTERVIEW CONDUCTED BY ALICIA ERRTHUM

Name: Danielle Tegeler
Favorite TV Show: The Middle
Favorite Song: “The House That Built Me” by Miranda Lambert
Favorite Sport: Bowling
Favorite Color: Blue
Favorite Class: Food Fundaments
Favorite Singer: Miranda Lambert
Favorite Thing to Do: Kayaking with family
If You Could Take a Trip Anywhere: Hawaii
Your Goal This Year: To graduate
If You Could Choose Any Occupation: Owner of a daycare
Last Movie You Went to See: The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn – Part I with my aunt Charla
Something You Want to Do Before You Die: Visit every state in the U.S.
Future Plans: Attend NICC for daycare and nursing

You may need to update your internet

Users who use Internet Explorer of any kind will need to get some other browser(Firefox, Chrome, Opera, etc.) to properly view our website from now on. Blogger, which our site runs off of is no longer compatible fully with Internet Explorer. You will still be able to view our page, just not in its fullest form. You can still view on your smart phone regardless of your browser.