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

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March Madness to Hit WD!

INFORMATION GATHERED BY ERIN NORTON
No, this is not a disease you catch, and it is not a fever. This is a weeklong celebration at Western Dubuque High School. To kick off the week, the ever-popular Sadie Hawkins dance will be held March 16, which is the weekend before March Madness ensues! Then, during the week of March 19-23, many different activities will be held. Some of these activities include the Senior Survivor Contest, which will last the entirety of the week.  This activity simulates the television program; however, to compete, students must be seniors at Western Dubuque High School.  These students must be willing to struggle through various challenges and sleep at the school all week long—with no technology and only one bag of clothes to utilize.  Student participants must also sport their unique logo T-shirts all week long.  Truly, only the strongest will survive this event. Additionally, the Mr. WD High Pageant will be held in the middle of the week.  This event serves to bring out the school spirit of junior and senior male students, concluding with the title of Mr. WD High being bestowed upon a true representative of Western Dubuque High School.  The Westerner will offer a full report of these events in our next issue.   

Off to See the Wizard!

BY ALICIA ERRTHUM

This spring, Western Dubuque will bring a quest for the necessities in life to the stage:  intelligence, compassion, courage, and a sense of belonging.  The Wizard of Oz is perhaps one of the most beloved and well-known musicals of all time.  It features Dorothy, a spirited teenager who aspires for a place to belong.  During a tornado, she and her dog Toto are swept from Kansas and arrive in the land of Oz.  With their friends Scarecrow, who yearns for a brain; Tin Man, who lacks a heart; and Lion, who desires courage, they seek the aid of the Wizard of Oz.   

Production dates are April 20, 21, and 22 to be held in the Western Dubuque High School old gymnasium. 

Director:  Mr. Amosson

Sutdent Director:  Anna Kluesner

Dorothy:  Alicia Errthum

Aunt Em:  Emily Vaughan

Uncle Henry:  Chance Ingles

Lion:  Ali Brown

Tin Man:  Colleen Hoffmann

Scarecrow:  Brianna Kennedy

Ms. Gulch/Wicked Witch:  Molly Becker

Professor Marvel/Wizard of Oz:  Ryan Schmitt

Glinda:  Bri Stillmunkes

The Chorus:

Kirsten Anderson Trisha Block Brooke Bockenstedt Megan Demmer Nathalie Digman Athena Dorr-Henson Jarraka Elsner Sarah Errthum Claudia Greenwood

Ashley Knight Patrick Leitzen Sara McAuliffe Alyssa Meeker Megan Meyer Shelby Montag Lucy Mulert Abby Rollins Laila Sahir

Megan Tallman Trevor Then Katelynn Till Nicole Valentine Sabrina Vonderhaar Sarah Walsh Dani Welsh Nellie Welsh Ally Zauche

Senior Spotlight

INTERVIEW CONDUCTED BY UNKNOWN STAFF

Name:  Olivia Steffen

Favorite TV show:  Dance Moms    

            Favorite movie(s):  The Harry Potter series

Favorite song:  “Here (In Your Arms)” by Hellogoodbye

Favorite sport(s):  Dance and golf

Favorite color:  Pink

Favorite school subject/class:  Show choir

Favorite restaurant: House of China 

What is your favorite thing to do?  I only dance; therefore, my favorite thing to do is dance.

If you could take a trip anywhere, where would you go?  Australia

What is the last book you read? The Hunger Games series

What is something you want to do before you die?  Get a T-shirt and a picture in all 50 states!

What are your future plans?  My plans are to attend a university in the state and to become a radiologist. 

Senior Spotlight

Name:  Maloree Cummer

Favorite actor/actress:  Adam Sandler and Reese Witherspoon

Favorite TV show:  Friends

Favorite movie:  Sweet Home Alabama

Favorite color:  Blue

Favorite band/singer:  Chris Young

Favorite restaurant:  Applebee’s

What is your favorite thing to do?  Hang out with friends

If you could take a trip anywhere, where would you go? Italy

What is something you want to do before you die?  Race a racecar

What are your future plans?  Attending Mt. Mercy for nursing

Senior Spotlight

Name:  Cody Frommelt

Favorite TV show:  Criminal Minds.  I love suspense.

Favorite sport:  Soccer.  I prefer to play it versus watching it.

Favorite subject/class:  Spanish

If you could take a trip anywhere, where would you go?  I would backpack through Europe and try to see a little bit of everything. 

If you had $1,000, what would you do with it?  Take a small vacation to wherever.

What is your most prized possession?  My coin collection.  I’ve put more time and money into it than I really care to admit. 

If you could choose any occupation, what would it be?  Journalist.  I like to know what’s going on in the world and how it affects us. 

What is the last book you read?  Catching Fire of the Hunger Games trilogy.

What was the last movie you went to see?  One for the Money with Sherri Hall.

What is something you want to do before you die?  Tour the world and help humanity.

If you were a car, what kind would you be?  A SAAB—unconventional, progressive, distinct style.

What are your future plans?  Going to NICC for general education courses.  Then, I will go on to a Regent University somewhere in the Midwest.  I am unsure of my major so far. 

Art Corner: Samantha Cupps

    

 Art Corner:  Samantha Cupps is featured here with one of her pieces—“Starlight.” 

BY COLLEEN HOFFMANN

Samantha Cupps is a senior at Western Dubuque High School and a spectacular artist. She is an important member of the art program at Western Dubuque. The picture shown above is one of her favorites. It is titled “Starlight.” Cupps says she enjoys working with lots of color and nighttime or starry scenes. Her favorite mediums to work in include graphic design and many of the traditional methods such as pencil, drawing, painting, and others. According to Cupps, her future plans are to go to college for some kind of art, most likely graphic design. Cupps first became interested in art when her sister entered a competition, and, because she wanted to follow in her sister’s footsteps, she started to play around with it. It wasn’t until later that she started to enjoy it, and then decided to make it part of her lifestyle. To view more of Samantha Cupps’s work, you can visit harmony-fox.deviantart.com.

Western Dubuque Bowling Goes to State for Second Time, Return as 2-time Champions

The 2012 State Champion Western Dubuque High School Bowling Team received their awards on Feb. 23.  Pictured L to R:  Luke Maiers, Coach Tom Specht, Luke Schroeder, Jared Mueller, Austin Meeker, Logan Bahl, Brad Schroeder, and Coach Al Heiberger. 

BY BRAD PRIER

The 2011 State Champion Bobcat boys’ bowling team went to state for the second time on Thursday, Feb. 23. The Bobcats qualified as a team and Luke Schroeder qualified individually. Megan Dolphin was the only female Bobcat bowler to qualify individually.

Coached by Al Heiberger, the Bobcat boys were 6th in the state in regular season with a match average of 3100.4 pins. They were 10th in the state for individual game average of 205.3, as well as being 2nd in the state for baker game average with 209.4. A baker game occurs when each of the five varsity players for a team bowls two frames in a single game to achieve the highest score possible. The Bobcats went 8-3 in regular season matches. The Bobcats made it to state by taking second at the district event in Manchester, becoming an at large qualifier.

Luke Schroeder bowled 22 games this season with a total pinfall of 4660. Schroeder had an average of 211.8 with a high game of 259. Schroeder’s series average was 423.6 with a high series of 461.

Megan Dolphin bowled 20 games this season with a total pinfall of 3205. Dolphin had an average of 160.3 with a high game of 235. Dolphin’s series average was 320.5 with a high series of 440.

The Bobcat boys returned home with their trophy and gold medals around their necks, receiving an escort from the Farley fire department Thursday night. Coach Al Heiberger said that “the team performed very well” at state. Logan Bahl and Austin Meeker tied for 3rd place individually. The Bobcats won by a margin of less than 75 pins. The boys’ state champion team consisted of Luke Maiers, Brad Schroeder, Luke Schroeder, Logan Bahl, Jared Mueller, and Austin Meeker. Our congratulations to the team for being state champions and for an overall great season to all the other boys and girls involved in bowling. Al Heiberger would also like to give a “thanks to the fans and families of the bowlers.”

Speech Team Members Advance to State

BY ERIN NORTON

Congratulations to the Western Dubuque Speech Team for an outstanding performance at the District Individual Contest on Saturday, Feb. 25 at Maquoketa Valley!  Seven of the team’s members will be advancing to the state competition.  Jacob Barnwell, a sophomore, will compete in Storytelling; Marcus Ingles, a sophomore, in Radio News and Improv; Alicia Errthum, a senior, will participate in the After Dinner Speaking and Solo Musical Theater categories; Jackie Wessel, also a senior, will compete in After Dinner Speaking; Colleen Hoffmann, a junior, will compete in both Poetry and Solo Musical Theater; Katelynn Till, a freshman, will participate in Storytelling and Improv; and Justin Kluesner, a junior, will compete in Original Oratory.  The state competition is to be held in Forest City on March 10.  Good luck! 

State Solo & Ensemble Contest

BY BROOKE BOCKENSTEDT

The State Solo and Ensemble Contest is for students in band and/or choir. It requires a tremendous amount of effort and ability. First, the musician selects a composition that he or she will prepare for judges. Students can perform solos, duets, or pieces with large groups. Over the course of several weeks, and in some cases months, the student both learns his or her pieces and practices with his or her accompanists. It takes regular dedication and insight on how they are to execute the music and make it one’s own. The music teachers help significantly in building the student into the best performer he or she can be. 

Finally, the day will arrive, carrying with it some nerves and the desire to excel. When being judged, the knowledgeable critic rates the player on a scale of one to five; five, being the worst, is described as a performer hardly playing correct notes with lack of commitment. One is the best, with the performer having accurate notes. However, to get that one, the performer will also need that extra something: contrasting dynamics and personalization. 

Being a musical student myself, I am currently feeling the anticipation in preparing the pieces I will execute. The mental strains are also high with this being my first year as a high school student in the State Solo and Ensemble Contest. 

This year the Western Dubuque band has 46 entries for the State Solo and Ensemble Contest. The amount of soloists is at an all-time high, along with some new additions. Several students are participating in the new soprano saxophone solos and the new woodwind choir. Wish us luck! 

Creative Writing Corner

BY BRITTNI WENDLING

The freshman English classes have been chipping away, working on poetry units.  The students have been digging inside of themselves to bring out their inner Shakespeare while adding their own unique and creative twists to their writing. Some of the types of poetry studied in this diverse unit include haikus, sonnets, concrete poems, acrostic poems, and free verse poems.

 A haiku is a short poem with lines of five syllables seven syllables, and
then another five syllables. Here is a spirited haiku written by Brandon
Hogan:

We never give up.
We play to the last second.
We are the Bobcats.

A sonnet is a more complex poem that contains 14 lines with 10 syllables
in each line. It has a definite rhythm and rhyme. The two types of sonnets
include Petrarchan sonnets and Shakespearean sonnets.

Free verse poetry has no patterns of rhyme and rhythm or rules, and it is
basically the most creative form of poetry. Two types of free verse poetry
include concrete poems and acrostics.  Concrete poetry is where the poetry
forms into an image that represents the poetry. An acrostic poem is a poem
where certain letters (usually the first) are used to combine sentences to
represent a word or a saying.

Here is a free verse poem written by Kyle Valentine:

                        War
                My name is short,
                but I last forever.
                Since the dawn of time,
                I have been lurking.
                I am a disease with no cure.
                People say they have
                won me, but really
                I am the victor.
                Men say they control
                the world but I
                control man.
                Man is weak, I am strong.
                I can’t be caged.
                No matter how many
                locks you put on me.
                I always escape.
                Day after day, night
                after night. I continue
                on. Months, years,
                decades I keep burning
                strong like a fire.
                Piles of bodies begin
                to appear because of
                me. Death thanks me
                for the dead and I smile.
                My name is War and
                if man does not end
                me I will end man.

Here is an acrostic poem written by Laila Sahir:

        Lost amongst the written words
        In a jungle of rustling pages,
        Tied to each character by an invisible bond,
        Edging ever nearer to imaginary places,
        Rapt by the indescribable images,
        Amazed at how each
        Tale unfolds.
        Universes are connected through this most spectacular of arts.
        Readers everywhere take delight in these printed worlds.
        Extraordinary fantasies become realities through the human imagination.

Giddy up, Bobcat Band: Western Dubuque Marching Band Heads to Ticket City Bowl

INTERVIEW BY EMILY VAUGHAN

The Western Dubuque Bobcat Marching band is heading to the Cotton Bowl Stadium in Dallas, Texas for their band trip. Before the Bobcat Band saddles up and heads to ‘The Lone Star State,’ the band director, Michael Omarzu, sat down with me for an interview about the upcoming band trip.

EV: What other bowls have you been to?

MO: When I was in college, I went to the Holiday Bowl a couple times, and I went to a bowl in Tokyo, Japan.

EV: What kind of activities will the band participate in while down in Texas?

MO: Marching in parades, marching at the bowl, and will be doing some concert band and jazz band gigs

EV: Can you tell me about the article that was written about the WD Band in a magazine?’

MO: The article was posted in the National Teaching Music Magazine and was about how cool it was that we went to the Sugar Bowl last year.