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The Irish Night of Giving: a night to give back

Mr. Irish pageant was a big successSheldon High School 2455 willakenzie Rd., Eugene, Or 97401 vol. 47 Issue 6 Apr. 12, 2012

pages 3

Famous book becomes hit movie

Battle of the classics

shstalisman@gmail.com

On Saturday, March 3, ten boy contestants and ten girl coordinators came together to put on an unforgettable show. Raising an all time Mr. Irish high of $51,000, the participants generously donated the money to Children’s Miracle Network. Not only did the boys work hard to raise as much money as possible, but they also put in hours on end to learn dances, practice talents for the night of the pageant, and attend fundraisers to promote the pageant. The effort and dedication that the participants put into making the pageant a success paid off, and in the end senior Drew Haugen was crowned Mr. Irish and senior Dylan Campbell won Mr. Congeniality. The twentieth annual Mr. Irish pageant was one that will be forever remembered for more reasons than one. Sheldon students of all ages came to see the pageant. Sophomore Rachel Giles said, “I think the boys did a really good job all around. I thought the show was very funny and entertaining.” The pageant included a wide variety of performances including d i s c o d a n c i n g , juggl ing,

Ben Greenfront page editor

Cya Silvaopinions editor

Chrissy Waltercopy editor

There has been talk of Sheldon’s schedule being altered to a common schedule with other high schools in the district. The idea is to achieve more of a unifi ed system with the same schedules, rather than having our own ways of teaching and offering courses. The change of the schedule will include be fi ve periods a day and it will use trimesters instead of semesters, popularly known as the “3x5” schedule. How will the change affect teachers and students at Sheldon? Many Sheldon students have been expressing their opinions towards this matter of changing our schedule, and have come up with very good scenarios for the school board to think about when transitioning Sheldon to a trimester schedule. Senior McKenzie Peters said, “Coming from another school that had a trimester schedule, I was

pogo-sticking, and playing the piano. “I liked Sean [Bellotti’s] talent the best,” said Giles, “I liked the music he used and I was amazed when he juggled the knives!” The pageant not only consisted of talents, but also segments such as the mom’s portion of the evening and the kid’s segment. Organizers chose to bring back the kid’s segment because many people were sad to see it left out of the previous pageants. All in all the pageant was a very high-energy, fun-fi lled event and it was enjoyed by parents and students from the Sheldon community. In the last issue a poll was taken as to who the student body of Sheldon thought would win the pageant and Drew Haugen came out on top. Surprisingly, not only did the students here at Sheldon choose the winner correctly, they also picked the entire top three right. Junior Ben Olsson said, “I thought Drew would win because I thought he had the best talent.” Olsson also said that if the choice was up to him he would have chosen Peter Anderson to win Mr. Congeniality because he thought that Peter was the most enthusiastic. Dylan Campbell, the winner of the Mr. Congeniality, was voted by his fellow Mr. Irish contestants and coordinators because of his humor, positive attitude, and his consistent devotion to making the pageant successful.

Mr. Irish himself, Drew Haugen, gave his personal insight into the

pageant. “The pageant was an unforgettable experience, and a great opportunity to help such an important cause. Being a part of Mr. Irish was diffi dently a highlight of my senior year.” On the night of the pageant, Haugen captivated the crowd by playing a song from the movie Rudy on the piano for his talent and he answered the spontaneous interview questions that he was given with ease. After three hours of competing, the judges cast their votes and Haugen was crowned the winner; his fellow contestants launched Haugen into the air in celebration of his victory. The 2012 Mr. Irish pageant was a very special night put on by a very special group of boys. CJ Martin, Sheldon alum and founder of the Mr. Irish pageant (which was the original inspiration for other pageants in Oregon), made an appearance at our pageant, coming all the way from sunny San Diego, California. His tradition has been carried on not only here at Sheldon, but at countless other high schools in the area. One small idea has changed the lives of many needy families with children in the NICU at Riverbend hospital and has inspired teens just like the contestants and coordinators

that participated in the pageant to make a difference.

The sixth annual fundraising event is to be held here at Sheldon once again

Sheldon’s schedule will align with the other 4j high schools in 2013-2014

Saturday, April 14, is going to be a great evening at Sheldon. Sheldon is going to be hosting it’s sixth annual Irish Night Of Giving. This is a benefi t event for Sheldon clubs, academics, and athletics. It consists of a few events like a golf tournament, an honors ceremony, and two auctions. The benefi t is mostly known for the fact that 90% of the proceeds go to Sheldon Student’s in Life Crisis, which is a very active part in the Sheldon community. S.S.L.C. is mostly what students use to fund their class fees when they are unable to pay them. The proceeds of the Irish Night of Giving help provide fi nancial assistance for students attending high school, and

also give an opportunity to provide tuition scholarships for students going to their fi rst year of college. The extra ten percent of the proceeds is split between the Sheldon Academic Support and the Sheldon Athletics Program. Students generally have limited knowledge about the event, but many, after having the event explained to them, had very positive opinions about the ING. Senior Anthony Glavin said, “I think it is [a] wonderful [event] because it’s giving an opportunity to kids who otherwise might not have it.” Later he said he’d probably invite people if he went simply because of, “Group effort.” Junior Danielle Trowbridge said, “I think it’s a cool way for the community to get involved for raising money for Sheldon [students].” Junior Lindsey Ragsdale shared extremely similar opinions, saying, “It sounds like it’s really helpful for the people that the proceeds go to, and it seems enjoyable in general for everyone involved. I’m assuming that no one goes away disappointed.”

Other volunteers are much needed and appreciated: friends and family of Sheldon students, present, fu-ture, and pastThere are many more volunteers, too many to name, but thank you all for being so amazing!

Commitee Chairs: Michelle PhillipoLes PhillipoVicki MaxonMike Johnson

Marcia WhistlerLinda FowlerWendy AlexanderWendy SteeleKayla Bowker

Volunteers at ING

always annoyed with taking a core class the fi rst trimester, and then due to scheduling, taking that same class the third trimester. I feel like there are more leniencies with Sheldon’s current schedule and it’s easier to schedule in classes.” At the public forum held on March 5, 2012, Superintendent Berman said, “Some people say there are certain problems with certain schedules, and often times we misinterpret a problem with the schedule with a problem in scheduling.” Berman then brought up the same argument that Peters said, but with a semester schedule, where a freshman takes the fi rst semester of a math class his freshman year, but doesn’t end up taking his second semester of his math class until his sophomore year. Berman said, “…what’s the difference between schedules and scheduling is key to understand, because in either of these schedules, in any schedule in fact you can have problems with the schedule but you have more problems with scheduling itself.” Sheldon has had other schedules in the past and to the students who have voiced their opinion our semester schedule seems to be working out the best. Physics teacher

Mrs. Barnum said, “When I fi rst started teaching here we had a 4x4 schedule that had 90 min. long classes; it had a split lunch and no common time. I’ve taught a seven period, a six period, block, and a trimester schedule and out of them all I like Sheldon’s current 4x4 schedule the best.” Sheldon is also going to be faced with fi nancial issues based on the new schedule. With more classes taught class there is going to be a lack of books, and we just have to leave issues like that up to funding and fi nancial management. With the new schedule teachers from different schools can collaborate with one another in terms of their curriculum, get ideas, suggestions, and learn new ways to approach teaching a subject; teachers will be able to do so with more ease if they teach the same amount of time and are working with the same schedule. There are so many more pros to switching Sheldon’s schedule to a common schedule, however there are issues that we need to address. At the April 11 meeting, the school board approved the 3x5 common schedule, confi rming Sheldon’s change of schedule to a trimester schedule.

Volunteers consist of the following:Coordinator Robin Obermire

Annual contest most successful ever

Sheldon baseball athletes prepare for a new season

Overall, a lot of students appreciate the ING, and it is a big part of what goes on here at Sheldon. If you’re interested in going or volunteering, go talk to our vice principal Mike Johnson!

Mr. Irish contestants (from L to R): Dylan Johnson, Ben Taube, Christian Nilsen, Drew Haugen, Peter Anderson, Zach Trahan, Nick Ruiz Anderson, Curren Mendez, Sean Bellotti, and Dylan Campbell

photo courtesy of Haugen family

pages 7

Common HS schedule might be next solution

April 12, 20122 the TalismanNews

Genetic engineering raises serious ethical concerns

Solan Megerssa photo

These are test tubes similar to those used in genetic engineering research.

Nick Dunphystaff writer

Recent breakthroughs beg the ques-tion: is genetic engineering ethical?

Japan is still rebuilding, a year after the tsunamiMarch 11 marked the anniversary of one of the worst natural disasters in Japanese history

Sam Senofeatures editor

A message from the TalismanThe Talisman is run by students for students. The views ex-pressed in the Talisman are not necessarily those of the Talis-man staff, those of Sheldon High School, or those of the Shel-don community. If you have any letters to the editor, please e-mail the Talisman at shstalisman@gmail.com, or drop a let-ter in our box located in the offi ce. We kindly reserve the right

to edit all stories we print.

Talisman StaffDrew HaugenBen GreenSolan MegerssaKyle RadleyA.J. SmithSam SenoCya SilvaDrew HaugenJim CahillTim AlleyChrissy Walter

Isaac KlumpRyan LandDylan LewisJoel MontoyaEmily PierpointKyler SchmelingCatrina Steckler

Greg Cantwell

Editor-in-ChiefFrontpage EditorNews EditorEntertainment EditorFeatures p.4 EditorFeatures p.5 EditorOpinions EditorSports EditorBackpage EditorCopy Editor Copy EditorStaff WritersJada AllenderKatie BrelsfordMari ChesterSofi e CrandallLauren DaviesNick DunphyPeter HanesRoman HernandezStaff Advisor

Have you ever wondered what your family history is? What traits have been passed down to you from your

The Country Music Festival is comingThis year’s Bi-Mart Country Music Festival has a great lineup and promises a great atmosphere

Kyler Schmelingstaff writer

The country music festival is special, and whether you like country music or not, you will always have a good time. It’s not just about the music; it’s about the atmosphere. Being able to hang out and talk to your friends. It’s a place to have fun and to meet new people. There are other reasons to have fun as well. Overall, the country music festival is always fun whether you’re with family, friends, or even alone. It is just an all around good time. There will be many well known country singers at the Bi-Mart Country music

festival such as; Sugarland on the August 17, Martina McBride on the 18th, and Trace Adkins on the 19th. Other artists in the lineup are The Band Perry, Rodney Atkins, and Billy Currington. Senior Scott Rinne’s favorite country singer is, “Rodney Atkins… because I like his voice and the way he sings.” But there are also rules that have to be followed in order to be welcome at the festival. When you are attending this event, certain rules have to be followed, such as not being allowed to bring fl ags or signs. Let’s face it, would you want someone fl ying a fl ag in front of you while trying to watch the show? There are also no drugs or drug paraphernalia. You wouldn’t want tweakers trying to mess your day up would you? There are other rules on the festivals website. When asked if he agreed with the rules, Sophomore Tyler Bean answered with a quick, “Yes.” This year’s Bi-Mart Country Music Festival is most likely going to be a huge hit. Senior Angela Merfi eld thinks the festival will be fun, and said, “I have never been, but from what I heard it seems like it would be a lot of fun!” This year there have been more ticket sales then any other year. Not only are people thinking about going this year, they are. That’s saying something, especially considering all of last years performing artists. So if you are thinking of fun things to do this summer, the Country Music Festival would be an awesome choice!

It has been a year since the salty waters of the Pacifi c Ocean danced through the island of Japan, killing thousands, and leaving many others homeless and injured. As we approach the anniversary of this devastating disaster lets take a look back on what happened and how far Japan has come to reviving their normal way of life. When ground shook and the ocean attacked, the rest of the world answered the call to help Japan. More than 100 countries and 14 international agencies are in Japan at this moment trying to fi x/ remake everything that has been lost. If it were not for these countries and organizations Japan would not be nearly as far as they are today. Sophomore Ben Harter said, “It is incredible how far they have come since last year.” This devastating disaster just shows how the world can come

together, put aside differences, and help people in need. Even though Japan is far along, there is still a long way to go. Many buildings and parks still show scars, left by the cruel seawater as it rushed through. There are still many roads that need repair, many homes that need to be fi xed, and business that need to be up and running. Even though the Japan disaster was a headliner for a long time, not many people know how far along Japan is in its rebuilding process. Junior Micheal Felsher said, “I have not heard too much about it.” The sad truth is that today’s media focuses more on the destruction part of disasters than the rebuilding part. As Japan rebuilds they are also rethinking how they want to lay out their country. Reports have been issued saying that Japan is going to make a lot of changes to minimize damage when there is another earthquake or natural disaster. Japan is not just rebuilding, they are rethinking. Sophomore Charlie Mundorf said, “That sounds like a highly effective plan.” And hopefully he is right; we would all hate to see Japan go through another heart breaking disaster. Even though what happened in Japan a year ago was an awful event, there was some good that came out of it. It showed us that it is possible for most of the world to come together and help another country in need. Even though the disaster tore an island apart, it brought a world together.

Solan Megerssa photo

Mt. Fuji, the tallest mountain in Japan, whose name means immortality in Japanese.

mother and father? With genetics, the study of genes, you can fi nd out! By studying genes, doctors and scientists have been able to make more effective medicines, help create better treatments and prevent terrible diseases like Small Pox and Polio. A recent breakthrough by Cynthia Kenyon, a scientist, has made the possibility of extending life to almost twice as long! She studied the genes Daph-2 and Daph-16; these two genes control life expectancy. Daph-16 is also called the “Grim Reaper” gene because it shuts down the gene Daph-2 which is the gene that helps keep people’s bodies acting young which extends life. This is exciting, but also very concerning. Is this a solution or just another problem to add to the list? Sophomore Drew Dymock said, “DNA makes you who you are.” He also said, “DNA is awesome; without it we wouldn’t be here.” Dymock had just fi nished a biology class. “I hope diseases can be taken away but then we would have to control our population.” He later added, “I think scientists should continue genetics but control them so [doctors] don’t go too far with it.” Junior Joel Graves said, “I don’t wonder anything else about genetics.” He added, “It doesn’t concern me that they expanded human life.” When asked about testing on animals fi rst then humans, Graves said, “Yes, because would you rather want to lose a pet or a family member?” Mr. Ike Sanderson, Sheldon biology teacher, said, “I don’t know as much as a doctor but a fair amount.” Mr. Sanderson said, “What is a disorder? What is normal?” He also added to curing all diseases, “Curing all the diseases is big.” But just curing a few would also greatly impact the world. Genetics is an interesting and deep subject that many enjoy. It can help make life easier and also it could make it horrible. One little wrong change and we can all be missing a thumb or worse. But some of the

right changes can make life a lot better for everyone. With new changes to human life expectancy, we will need to fi nd out solutions to other problems such as famine and more habitable places where humans can live at. There is still much to explore about genetics.

April 12, 2012 3the Talisman Entertainment

There’s a lot to say about Whitney Houston, including that she was an amazing singer and a beautiful person. Although, behind closed doors Whitney had always been a troubled soul. She struggled with drugs her whole life and in the end that was what led to her demise. Some say we should have seen this coming, but that’s always easy to say. The important questions

“Put a bird on it!” IFC’s Portlandia has been gaining popularity, both with critics and people around school. The show’s skits, from feminist bookstores to “mixologists,” are indubitably similar to real-life Portland. Some people say the character portrayals are offensive exaggerations, while others would argue that they aren’t offensive, just super accurate. The show’s first season was popular in the so-called “hipster world,” while the second season came to a close with a bigger audience. This is a good thing for fans; the increase in fan members might have been what triggered the decision to film a third season. Each episode of the show has multiple “skits” that continue into the next episodes. It seems that one of the most popular skits is “Put a Bird on It.” Freshman Maddie Yamamoto said, “I like that one. It’s so Portland…And it’s funny because my mom has a bunch of bird stuff.” In the skit, there’s a supposedly hip store—the things there are only hip if they have a bird on it, though. Thus the popular phrase “Put a bird on it!” The skit has inspired t-shirts with the phrase on it, too (as well as a bird, of course). The skit that’s on the show most frequently is about a women’s rights bookstore called Women and Women First. The bookstore it’s filmed in actually is a women’s

rights bookstore called In Other Words. In the skit, the long haired, feminist store owners, Toni and Candice, end up in a disagreement with every customer who comes in. Sheldon students seem to have mixed opinions on the skit. Freshman Sammie Tracewell had a very strong opinion having said, “The bookstore one was my least favorite. I thought it was stupid.” On the other hand, junior Claire Thompson was a big fan of the skit. Thompson said, “I think that skit is super funny and totally plausible in Portland. My favorite part is when she’s like, ‘I love this tea. It tastes like soot. I feel amazing,’ or something like that.” Some skits only appear on the show once, and these are usually the more ridiculously random skits. Freshman Frederick Quinn Cota’s favorite skit was one of these: the skit about a professional hide-and-go-seek league. Cota described it as “100% Gucci.” Freshman Chris Cockman’s top pick was a one-time skit that had a gauge-eared chin-bearded guy biking around town yelling at cars about his “bicycle rights,” something that has probably happened in real-life Portland before. The one-time skits had stores that only sell one item, people obsessed with Battlestar Galactica, a couple who specializes in pickling things, and a bunch of other Portland-centric things. One of the craziest skits, though, was about a mysterious durian fruit that came to life at night, and eventually took off for space using a house as a spaceship. The show’s two main stars, Fred Armisen and Carrie Brownstein, are super busy people. Not only do they act in every skit, they are also two of the show’s executive producers. When he’s not working on Portlandia, Armisen stars on the show Saturday Night Live. When Brownstein isn’t working on the show, she’s busy touring with her band Wild Flag.

are: how does the public feel about Whitney’s career? What do people think about her, post and pre death? There are also a lot of questions surrounding her death. Whitney Houston’s death was caused by a combination of drugs and suffocation; she drowned in the bathtub while high on pain medication. Sophomore Paris Vollstedt had a lot to say about Whitney Houston’s death, claiming, “She should have taken a shower.” Paris does have a point; if Whitney was being supervised properly this all would’ve been easily avoided. She was actually advised to not take baths in fear of what ended up happening, but what’s happened is now in the past. Still, we were left wondering where would we be now if she was still alive, and could she have been saved? Another source of mine Evan Lytle, a junior here at Sheldon High had an interesting point of view on this topic. When asked, “Do you think peoples views have changed

now that Whitney has passed?” Lytle replied with, “No, she was a always a drug addict and it made people think of her from skeptical points of view, and now that she’s gone it’s no different.” He had a more unsympathetic view by also stating, “We should have seen it coming.” Obviously this happening has stirred up a lot of opinions, and it is very interesting to see how everything has played out. Sophomore Kylene Medenbach was nice enough to say a couple things about Whitney, “I’m a huge fan,” said Medenbach, “Me and my mom used to jam to her music on the daily.” That’s the message we need to get across to everyone, not the fact that she had a rough life and is now passed, but that she was highly talented and a stunning woman all around. To many she was a hero and her legacy should not be left on this bad note; she was inspirational and will continue to live through her music.

The wonderful Whitney Houston will be missed by many

Portlandia’s funny skits are gaining popularity in Oregon

The Hunger Games is getting good ratings and praise in theaters

Cya Silva’s drawing of Portlandia’s skit logo, “Put a bird on it!”

Peter Hanesstaff writer

Emily Pierpointstaff writer

Isaac Klumpstaff writer

Many people are stunned over the singer’s death, but her music lives on

Portlandia’s “put a bird on it!” is sure to tickle your funnybone!

The movie based off the popular book series is earning good reviews

Fans were happy to learn that there will be a third season of the show. Brownstein said they’ll resume filming once she’s done touring, and Fred is done with Saturday Night Live—probably around summer time. Until then, fans will be waiting…Impatiently.

and that is a reason why it is getting good feedback. North Eugene High School teacher Alix Klump said, “I have read all of the books and was very excited to see the movie as well. This can be blamed on my students because they have never stopped talking about it.” Not only were Sheldon students excited about The Hunger Games, but other school’s students as well. Klump also said, “My favorite character in both the books and the movie was Rue. She plays a very big part in the movie and she is very kind.” This seems to be very common among fans.

Now to get to how people felt about the movie itself:

many thought it was good. Junior

Hailey Cates

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Cya Silva illustration

said, “I thought the movie was good and it did capture the drama and emotions that were in the book. Though as good as the books were, I wasn’t surprised when the movie did not meet the book’s standards completely. But all in all, The Hunger Games was fun to watch especially since I did go to the premiere.” Many people agree with Cates that the movie was not quite as good as the books but that is often the case for books that become movies. The Hunger Games is just the first novel and movie of the series. Many excited fans wait for the next movie to be released and hope that it is as successful as the first. We don’t know when to expect them quite yet, but they are sure to be good. Some people are worried that the cast might not last through the entire movie series, which I have heard many people say were perfect.

An artist’s rendition of The Hunger Games logoCya Silva illustration

As many of you may know, March had the movie premiere of The Hunger Games. This action based, suspenseful, thrilling movie has grabbed the attention of many people across the country. Starring Jennifer Lawrence as character Katniss Everdeen and Josh Hutcherson as character Peeta Mellark, this movie is very intriguing to the teen age group. The Hunger Games originated from the three part book series that had been a big hit. Some people even believe that this book series may have surpassed the Twilight and Harry Potter series. Those who have heard of the movie have heard positive things. Junior Stephen Leung said, ”I have heard of the movie, but I don’t know much about it. What I have heard sounds good and I definitely plan on seeing it in the future.” The Hunger Games is a movie about a young girl who is forced to go into an arena with 23 other kids her age. These kids are then forced to fight to the death, where in the end, only one may live. This action-packed and intense film is what many people look for in movies

Ever thought about joining a gym but not knowing who to go with? What about go-

ing to the gym and not knowing what to do? Well, Crossfit Revival is an up-and-coming and promising program. Many of you don’t know what Crossfit Revival is, but it’s run by our

very own former Sheldon staff member, Travis Melvin. It isn’t like any other gym; it consists of isolation movements and extended aerobic sessions. It’s also a pre-scheduled workout program where everyday there’s a different workout routine.

Sophomore Brandon Williams said, “Crossfit is not like any other sport. It takes a whole different mindset. You have to learn to persevere through a little pain.” After being asked what the benefits of going to Crossfit Revival are, Wil-

liams said, “Getting bigger for other sports, a better cardio and developing a different mindset.” When I asked how it has helped him individually, Williams said, “It has benefitted my football abilities. I’ve gotten faster and my cardio has improved greatly.” Sophomore Peter Wood said, “The workouts are unbelievably tough. Nine out of the ten times I’m gasping for air.” After being asked

if going to Crossfit Revival has helped some of the football players with their scholarships, such as Sam McCaskill and Mitch Car-men, Wood said, “I don’t think it has necessarily helped them with the scholarship itself. I just think that it has helped them

with their overall athleticism so when they went out on the field during the game, they could do their best.” Wood also said, “Everyone is always so positive everyday and they really motivate you to do your best each time.”

As one can see, whether you don’t have anyone to go with or don’t know what to do, or whether you’re trying to get in shape or meet some new people, then crossfit is clearly for you.

CrossFit Revival builds both muscle and character

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Thomas Edison once stated: “Opportunity is missed by most people be-cause it is dressed in overalls and looks like work.” Here at Sheldon, there are many opportunities to succeed in the classroom, on the field of play, and in the community. Senior Zach Trahan has made the most of these chances during his four years of high school, with a commitment to academics, ath-letics, and service. This year alone, he has competed on the cross coun-try team, played on the basketball squad, and helped save lives as a mem-ber of the Mr. Irish pageant. Trahan has excelled in all of these endeavors, and plans to continue moving ahead to even greater goals in the future. The 2012 season marked Trahan’s fourth year as a dedicated member of the Irish basketball program, where he began as a freshman and has progressed to be a three year varsity letterman. Fans have become accustom to seeing number four making plays for his team during games. Senior teammate Sean Bellotti said, “Zach is a tenacious defensive player and a very hard worker.” Sheldon com-piled eighteen wins this season, and finished the regular season as league cham-pions in the Southwest Conference. Trahan said, “Basketball was a great activ-ity to keep me competitive and in shape. I will miss my teammates most of all.” To maintain his high athletic ability while not on the court, Trahan took on a new sport this fall: cross country running. This challenge allowed him to improve his cardiovascular endurance and become lighter and faster for the upcoming hoops season. Trahan recalled, “It was even harder mentally than physically. While playing other sports, like basketball, you are always thinking about the next play. When you are doing cross country, you have to keep your mind focused while running.” Zach competed in a total of six races this season including the Nike Pre-Nationals and the Country Fair Classic. He continued, “It was the most challenging sport I have done, and also a fun experience.” Trahan not only flourished in athletics this school year, but also through his service to the community. In November, he was selected as one of the ten senior contestants in the twentieth annual Mr. Irish Pageant, and quickly set to work raising money for the Children’s Miracle Network. Along with fundraising efforts, the group prepared for the event itself by learning dances and practicing talents. Zach’s twin sister Kate Trahan, who was a Mr. Irish coordinator, said, “Being in Mr. Irish with Zach was a wonderful experience. He is one of the funniest people I know and I will always have a huge amount of respect for him.” The night of the pageant Trahan displayed his tap-dancing abilities which he learned specifically for Mr. Irish. His video was also a crowd favorite, displaying many of his unique qualities as “The Most Interesting Man at Sheldon.” Trahan said,”My favorite part was spending time with the other

CrossFit Revival is helping people get in shape in new ways

Zach Trahan: the most interesting man

Drew Haugeneditor-in-chief

Joel Montoyastaff writer

contestants. Going to the hospital and seeing the NICU was also very reward-ing because we saw what our hard work was going towards.” When all the contributions had been counted, the 2012 the group had raised more money than any in history, fifty one thousand dollars. Trahan concluded, “Looking back I am one hundred percent happy I did Mr. Irish, I loved the whole thing.” As graduation draws closer, many Sheldon seniors will take time to reflect on their time in high school. Some will look back on sports or performing on stage, while others remember community service and academic achievements. Zach Trahan has had the opportunity to all of these. As a senior this year, he has achieved four years worth of accomplishments. As Trahan takes the next step forward, he will undoubtedly conquer new challenges with the same determina-tion and effort, and continue to make the most of the opportunities he is given.

Every Thursday after school, if you’re ever unfortunate enough to find yourself going through the English hall, you will surely hear incessant shouting and scream-ing accompanied by maniacal laughter. Luckily enough, you’re not going to be the next victim of the killer ghost that haunts Sheldon. Even more luckily, you’ve stumbled upon one of Sheldon’s relatively unknown gems, Scrawl - the writing club. At the end of every year, Scrawl publishes their self-titled compilation of literary and artistic works that students have submitted to the group over the course of the year. Every story, poem and piece of artwork submitted is shared

with club members, examined, and then voted on whether or not to put it in the magazine. “I really enjoy the variety of stories we get,” said senior Mar-ian Hill, “and the fact that, whether or not a particular story gets accepted into the magazine, there’s always something we find to enjoy about it.” Hill continued, “The people are great too; I like hanging out with all of them.” Even though Scrawl has been around since late 2008, the extracurricu-lar activity goes largely unnoticed. “I’ve heard of it but I’ve never actually seen it,” said junior Garrett Johnson. However, as closed off as the group may seem to an outsider, students involved are always actively looking for new members. “I think people should join Scrawl,” said Scrawl vice presi-dent senior Katheryn DeRoos, “because we’re all really friendly and we’ll welcome anyone that wants to come. We’re basically a bunch of goof-balls trying to publish a good magazine and have a good time doing it.” Scrawl alternates between meeting in Ms. Tierney and Mr. Hutchins’ rooms from 3:30 to 4:30 every Thursday after school. This year’s magazine, scheduled to be published and distributed in May, will be available to all for free from Ms. Tierney and Mr. Hutchins. Scrawl is always open and looking for new members or anyone who just wants to see how it works, so don’t be afraid to check it out!

Scrawl: Sheldon writing club improves creative skills

Tim Alley copy editor

Writers come together to compare and present their works: short stories, poems, art, and more

Zach Trahan continues to make the most of his opportu-nities at Sheldon by competing in athletics and helping in the community

Drew Haugen photo

Another talented former Duck is Mathew Centrewitz. Centrewitz is a 21-year-old middle-distance runner who will be looking for his first American title after finishing second to Lagat in the 1500 at the USA Championships. Centrewitz left Oregon as a ju-nior to pursue a sponsorship with Nike worth $800,000. Centreweitz is a former NCAA national champion in the 1500m and is looking to add another medal to his collection in London this summer. Sophomore Ben Harter said, “I expect him to finish second behind Lagat.” Benard will be a challenge to both Centrewitz and Rupp this summer. Kevin Love, who grew up in Oregon and attended Lake Oswego High School, will be playing with the team USA basketball team. Kevin Love is the first bas-ketball player from Oregon to participate in the Olympics. Love is arguably the second-best basketball player that Oregon has produced, trailing only hall of famer Danny Ainge. Junior Nathan Klump said, “Kevin Love is a dual threat: he can shoot it from outside, and dominate the post.” Kevin Love is a complete player and could be instrumental in team USA’s run for another gold medal. Oregon will definitely be well represented in London this summer, with many University of Oregon runners looking to punch their ticket to London here in Eu-gene this summer. Some runners competing include: Mike Berry, Andrew Wheat-ing, Elijah Greer, Ashton Eaton, Cyrus Hostetler, Jordan Hassay, and many oth-ers. Only time will tell how many Oregon athletes will get a chance to live their dreams and represent the United States in the 2012 London Olympic Games.

Oregonians hoping for a ticket to the London games

Oregon is known for producing many talented young track and field ath-letes. As the 2012 USA Olympic Trials approach, many young athletes pre-pare to fulfill a lifelong dream of representing the United States in the 2012 London Olympics. This year’s trials are very interesting, including a lot of Oregon-related athletes who are hoping for a spot on the Olympic team. One of the most talented runners from Oregon is University of Oregon alum, Galen Rupp. Rupp will be competing in the 10,000m race and is looking to break the American record. However, he will have to beat the timeless Benard Lagat, a 37-year-old Kenyan American who seems to get better with age. Sophomore Henry Fowler said, “Lagat is an ageless runner who will not be defeated any time soon.” Rupp broke Lagat’s 5,000m American record but Lagat took it back a few weeks later. The Lagat/Rupp battle will defiantly be a highlight of the 2012 Olympic trials.

Since the dawn of time, man has always been doing the basics of sports. Throwing, jump-ing, and running are the main things most of us have done in our lifetimes. There is only one sport that brings these activities together in one sport: track and field. Moreover, there is only one team who takes pride in track and field more than any other school, and that school is Sheldon High School. Sheldon track and field has been the leader in the South-west Conference for a long time and is looking to solidify that leadership for some time. This year’s track and field season began on February 26, with over 70 athletes showing up. Junior Sarah Rux trains for the shot put, discus, and javelin, “because I didn’t want to run or jump.” Sheldon’s throwing team looks good this year with senior Jacob Foutz placing first in boys varsity shot put at the Sheldon Ice-Breaker with 53 feet, 11 inches. As well as Foutz, senior Ami Wick placed first in girl’s varsity shot put with 33 feet, 8 inches. Aside from throwing, Sheldon’s jumping squad looks promising this year. Fresh-man Geneva Lehnert trains for the high jump and 400m, “because they are my strongest events and I enjoy them as well.” Senior Hannah Leatham placed first for the girl’s high jump at the Sheldon Ice Breaker with a height of 5 feet. Se-nior Darby Wright placed first in the boy’s long jump with 21 feet, 11 inches. As well as the previously mentioned events, the distance squad looks promis-ing as well. Sophomore Noah Liniger trains for the 1500m and 3000m, “because I feel that it is more of a challenge than other events because you have to pace your-self.” At the Sheldon Ice-Breaker, junior Jackson Darland competed in the boy’s varsity 1500m with a time of 4:18.80, taking first place. As well as Darland, ju-nior Maggie Schmaedick placed first in the girl’s 1500m with 4:55.70. In the 3000m, sophomore Ben Harter placed first in the boy’s varsity race with a time of 9:32.70 and senior Kelsi Klotter placed first in the girl’s varsity race with a time of 10:57.10. Sheldon has always had a good track team since Matthew Melancon and Caleb Pat-rick to DJ Wright and John Campbell, who were some of the greatest athletes for Shel-don. Sheldon has always had good team, no matter what year, but this year is different. The Ice-Breaker only showed us glimpses of what is to come from the track and field team.

Sheldon track looks to continue its success in 2012

Random Acts of Kindness Club becoming more popular

Kyle Radley entertainment editor

Sam Senofeatures editor

Lauren Davis staff writer

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Junior Jackson Darland winning the 800m race at the Sheldon vs. South Eugene dual meet.

Sheldon’s track team looks to repeat as dis-trict champions and add another state title to their collection in 2012

Many ex-Duck runners are looking to punch their ticket to London for the 2012 Summer Olympic Games

The four-year-old Sheldon club is dedicated to improving people’s days all across Eugene

Four years ago a new club was introduced

to Sheldon. Random Acts of Kindness is different than all the other clubs that had already been in play. Random Acts is about showing people love in hopes of bright-

ening their day. Activities vary from sending people letters while randomly searched for addresses in the phone book telling people to “Have a wonderful day!”, to standing on the street corner holding signs up like “You’re beau-

tiful!” and “Smile!” Random Acts has truly changed the lives of many and given people different perspectives about life in general. Club member Alexa Hoselton said, “The club has had its ups and downs, but I hope upcoming seniors will take over and bring the

club back strong like my freshman year.” Random Acts consistently had meetings once a week during lunch in 2009 but this year they only managed to get two in for the entire year. Although many people found Random Acts to be one of the best clubs out there, others though

of it as disturbing. One activity that the club participated in was to go to the mall and hand out cards with sayings on them and try to make how-ever many peoples’ days better as much as they could. Along with the cards they handed out candy, until the security guards kicked them out for solicit-ing. A different day they had planned to go rake leaves for random people for free and a lady called the cops on them thinking that they were breaking in. Senior Delaney Clevenger said, “I think people today are just so suspicious of teens actually doing good things just to do good things. That’s why I think do-

ing random acts of kindness throughout our lives every day is so important. We can show society that many of us do care, and want to make a difference.” Acts of Kindness can go as far as smiling at someone new or paying for someone’s coffee; showing people you care. Clevenger later stated, “Not ev-

eryone is going to be nice in return, and people will put us down, but if at least one person benefited from a random act of kindness, it’s worth it!” Random Acts has received many letters back from people who have received their cards or letters saying things like “Thank you” and

“You really made a difference in my day!” Sophomore Josh Roberts said, “I have never heard of Random Acts before but I would think about joining it because what they’re doing sounds like a great cause.” Even though it may not seem

like it, a little can go a long way and Random Acts is a great example of that in every way possible

Sam Seno photo

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April 12, 20126 the TalismanOpinions

Football is not the only sport

Jada Allenderstaff writer

Starbucks and Dutch Bros: which is the best?

Solan Megerssanews editor

Senate Debate: Is ObamaCare Constitutional?

Sheldon students share their opinions on which one of the two popular coffee shops near Sheldon they prefer

Catrina Stecklerstaff writer

Many other sports deserve the spotlight besides football and basketball

Debates about the nationwide healthcare bill get heated

In the United States, the Constitution is the supreme law of the land. It provides us with the basic structure for our government, and later amendments ensure the personal rights and liberties that Americans have come to hold as the cornerstones of our democracy. Every bill must be made not to confl ict with the Constitution or you can be sure that people will protest it, as seen with the Stop Online Piracy Act (SOPA), which was shot down after numerous companies and individuals rallied against it. SOPA isn’t the only bill whose constitutionality has been questioned recently. “Obamacare,” offi cially known as the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, was proposed by President Obama on March 23, 2010. Its main goal is to provide a means for every American to obtain healthcare at a low cost. However, Obamacare has been met with much controversy, as many people think it violates the Constitution. The part of Obamacare that gets people riled up the most is the individual mandate. The individual mandate requires that people purchase healthcare. However, the individual mandate of Obamacare isn’t the fi rst of its kind. In fact it’s not even the fi rst individual mandate that applies to insurance. As many high school students know, you must purchase car insurance before you are legally allowed to drive. This is a government

Which do you like better, Starbucks or Dutch Bros? That’s the question I was asked. There are a lot of factors that have to be taken into consideration when answering this question. One might like Dutch Bros’ cold drinks better than Starbucks’, but enjoy Starbucks’ hot drinks better than Dutch Bros’. Or, one might enjoy one company’s employees better than the other’s. With all of these choices, I wasn’t quite sure of my answer, so I decided to ask some students their opinions. When asked, sophomore Olivia Broadous said, “I like Dutch Bros more because it tastes better and their employees are so friendly!” When Broadous was asked which company was more popular, she responded, “Starbucks ‘cause they’ve been around longer and more adults go there. But high schoolers like Dutch Bros more

There are a variety of sports here at Sheldon High School. The sports range from the ski team to the football team. For example, many students don’t even know of the equestrian team (horseback riding), but everyone knows of Sheldon’s high-profi le sports, the varsity football team and the boys varsity basketball team. The varsity football and basketball teams get the most attention by far compared to every other sport. Why is this? It might be because they bring in the most money, compared to the other sports. Despite the amount of money that they bring in, every sport deserves attention because all Sheldon sports represent our school’s athleticism. “Basketball is second to the attention football gets,” said senior varsity basketball player Joe Bando. Bando believes that his sport gets more attention than others, “I think that we all work the same and everyone deserves attention.” When asked why basketball gets more attention, Bando said, “When you look at the attendance to the basketball games, it’s a lot more than some other sports, so it’s fair that basketball gets a lot of attention.” Sophomore Ashley Cleary, who plays on the JV girls’ basketball team, has noticed a difference among the way that some of the sports get treated in comparison to the varsity basketball and football teams. “There is a difference between the varsity football and varsity

basketball players. The basketball and football players get more recognition than say the swim team or tennis, and they’re the sports we have championships for.” Sophmore Dylan Malpass has a different idea of why the varsity basketball and football players get more attention than other sports, “Basketball and football players get more attention because they make the most money for the school by selling tickets. Football and basketball also have boosters so they get the nicer equipment.” Senior varsity football player Sam McCaskill agrees that football gets the most attention and said, “I think football is the most attended out of all of Sheldon’s sports,” but he also wishes that the other sports got similar support. For the most part every sport is treated differently. The school decides which sports they want to focus on based on how much money the sports bring in, and since the varsity football and varsity basketball teams bring in the most money, they get the most attention. Every sport works hard and every sport represents Sheldon in some way, so they all deserve equal attention.

‘cause Dutch Bros is cheaper, and students generally don’t have a lot of money.” Freshman Tyrique Johnson’s opinion was similar to Broadous’s. Johnson said, “I like Dutch Bros because they have a better selection of drinks.” Unlike Broadous and Johnson, freshman Ciran Sproul prefers Starbucks over Dutch Bros. He expressed this when he said, “Starbucks all the way; they are way better and have way better coffee!” He later added, “I don’t think that people care that Starbucks is more expensive, because it’s worth it! Starbucks coffee has way more fl avor than Dutch Bros!” Freshman Mason Swanner also prefers Starbucks over Dutch Bros and said, “I like Starbucks more because Dutch Bros isn’t even real coffee. It just tastes like sugar!” There are still mixed opinions between peoples’ preferences on Dutch Bros’ and Starbucks. Depending on who you are, Dutch Bros’ can be a delicious drink that’s cheap and convenient to walk to, but Starbucks is more for those who have money to spend and cars to take them places. For the most part freshman and sophomore students prefer Dutch Bros’ coffee cold or hot because

issued individual mandate. I think the resistance to the Obamacare individual mandate comes from one simple thing; Americans don’t like the government telling them what to do. The Founding Fathers didn’t, secessionists in the South didn’t, and now, many average people don’t want Uncle Sam to tell them that they need to buy healthcare. On the issue, sophomore Charlie Mundorff said, “Everyone deserves healthcare, and [the individual mandate] will end up costing less in the long run.” With all this disagreement over Obamacare, it would seem that the approval for universal healthcare would be split down the middle. However, polls show that this is not reality. A CNN poll, conducted in May of 2009, showed that 69% of people favored a program that would increase the federal government’s infl uence over the country’s health care system in an attempt to lower costs and provide health care coverage to more Americans. This majority approval would seem to spell an end to any arguments that people don’t want universal healthcare. However, this is also a false assumption. In the same CNN poll, only 47% of people preferred a health care reform plan that raises taxes in order to provide health insurance to all Americans, or a plan that does not provide health insurance to all Americans but keeps taxes at current levels. Taxes: one of the great certainties in life. No one likes having to pay more for anything, so the mere mention of increased taxes gets people up in arms. About taxes, sophomore Dylan Malpass said, “Taxpayers should not have to pay for [universal healthcare].” He also added that taxpayer money should not go to universal healthcare, “Because some people don’t pay

taxes.” The Constitution provides the federal government with specifi c powers. Among these powers are the power to raise an army and navy, the power to coin money, and the power to conduct relations with other countries. These are all central to the federal government’s power, but, one clause gives the government the most power over our country: the Commerce Clause. The Commerce Clause gives the government the power to regulate commerce with foreign nations, and among the several states, and with the Indian tribes. This relatively small clause gives the government a large amount of power in lawmaking. Any action that affects interstate commerce can be regulated by the government. Now, you may ask “How does this apply to Obamacare?” Well, it all has to do with the Emergency Medical Treatment and Active Labor Act. This act states that hospitals must treat patients, even if they are uninsured, not a citizen, etc. So, the cost for treating these uninsured people goes to taxpayers and therefore affects interstate commerce. However, many people think that this interpretation of the Commerce Clause is too broad and not the intention of the Framers. I think the right to health is one of the most basic of human rights, and Obamacare provides a means for people to obtain this right. Sophomore Sophie Deloretto-Chudy summed up this feeling when she said, “The whole idea of basic healthcare is wonderful and benefi ts everyone.” The Supreme Court is set to deliver its statement on the constitutionality of Obamacare in June. Until then, we will just have to wait and see if the United States will fi nally have healthcare for all.

Now that spring break has come and gone, many students are coming back after exciting trips. It is an extremely fun and exciting vacation. It can be a nice, enjoyable series of events for yourself or your family. Popular Spring break locations include many lovely spots. Many people have their favorite location to spend their time. Some people go overseas, some go out of state, and some even stay at home. Junior Taylor Lamb said, “My favorite spring break destination is Mexico and I am extremely excited for this spring break.” He also stated that he likes going to hot weather places. He concluded that he would love spring break to be a week longer. Junior Jarred Simon said, “I am extremely excited for spring break this year, hopefully we will have good weather!” He also stated that he enjoys spending time with friends during spring break. Sophomore Nick Burgess said, “My favorite spring break destination is Arizona. I like to go there because of Major League Baseball spring training. There are a lot of teams that participate.” He also stated that he went there for this year’s spring break. In conclusion, there are many wonderful spring break destinations. Many people had an amazing spring break full of good times. I hope everyone had an amazing spring break.

it is closer to Sheldon. On the other hand, juniors and seniors generally seem to prefer Starbucks because they have their own money and cars to take them there.

Spring Break 2012

Jim Cahillbackpage editor

What some Sheldon students planned and did for spring break

Jada Allender photo

Jada Allender photo

April 12, 2012 7the Talisman Sports

SHS baseball shows dominance in 2012Irish look to experienced players and new faces to lead the team to league championship, ‘12 state title

Katie Brelsford staff writer

Following a host of busted brackets, fi rst seed Wildcats win big against KU in fi nal

If you smell the fresh cut grass and hear the ping of a bat, you know baseball is around the corner. Sheldon baseball looks very promising this year. With fi ve returning starters, the Irish are experienced and look forward to this upcoming season. Because Coach Manley has previously worked at Sheldon he feels at home for him back at Tom Bowen fi eld. Oregon commit Ryan Land, junior Ivan Faulhaber, senior Sean Bellottil, and junior Mike Ralston look to lead the team deep into

the playoffs with expectations of a State Title victory. Junior fi rst baseman Ivan Faulhaber seems to be confi dent about the upcoming season. He said, “Our team is stacked and I fi rmly believe we have a shot at the state title.” During games when the players are just sitting in the dugout, it’s pretty obvious to themselves that it’s not all they are doing. “We chew seeds, talk smack, and root on our fellow teammates. It’s apart of a team ritual!” Faulhaber continued. Baseball players can be known as some of the most superstitious athletes out there, Faulhaber has a way to get the pregame jitters out of his system, “I sing Unfaithful by Rihanna before every single game.” Senior outfi elder Sean Bellotti loves baseball talk. His go to would be “Hummmbabe! Yea, here we go now hummbabe! C’mon neow.” If it’s unclear how any of that is pronounced just attend one of the varsity baseball games this spring. Bellotti is also a pitcher which would make sense that Coach Gordie is his favorite. Bellotti is so

confi dent that he doesn’t really believe in superstitions for baseball, “I have zero superstitions; I Just go out and play!” Sheldon-newbie pitcher Mike Ralston is a big addition to the team in more ways than one. The 6’5” 230 junior from Jesuit is fi tting in well with the Irish. Ralston is happy with the switch and enjoys being with all the players, “The best part is just being around all the guys.” Seeds and bubble gum is an on going battle in the baseball world, “Big League Chew bubble gum is obviously better than sunfl ower seeds” says Ralston. When asked about superstitions Ralston said, “Superstitions are apart of baseball, mine is tying my right cleat twice. It works.” With many returning players and senior leadership, Sheldon is ready to take the diamond this season. They fans are excited to see the new heights the Irish reach this year. Needless to say the hands of faith will serve Coach Manley and the Fighting Irish as they continue their to trip to State. Sheldon is experienced and prepared for 2012.

Despite early season lockout, teams prepare for a pivotal postseason race

A.J. Smithfeatures editor

NBA playoffs showcase league’s top contenders

Roman Hernandezstaff writer

The NBA is one of the biggest sports in America. This April will be the start of the NBA playoffs. There is big disagreement over who the best team in the NBA is and who will make the playoffs this year. Many people are still following the big three hype and think that the obvious best team in the NBA is the Miami Heat. They may be right. But count on the Chicago Bulls, Oklahoma City Thunder, or possibly San Antonio Spurs to give them a run for their money. A big controversy in the NBA is who is the best player. According to ESPN the best player in the league right now is Lebron James, but there are many who disagree. Sophomore Kylene Medencach said that she thinks the best NBA player is Kobe Bryant. There are many people who would agree in spite of Kobe’s age. Another player who many would like to call the best player in the game

is Kevin Durant, even though he still has a lot to prove. In the NBA fi nals it will be the best team from the Western Conference verses the best team from the Eastern Conference. Sophomore Chris Koester said, “I prefer the Eastern Conference over the West.” He also said that he believed the East would end up winning. The Western Conference did beat the Eastern Conference in the NBA all star game. Koester later added “I think the fi nal teams will be the Miami Heat vs. Oklahoma City.” Currently Oklahoma City has the best win to loss ratio out of all the NBA teams but Miami has the number one player in the game and two others to help carry the team through the playoffs. The NBA playoffs will be here in no time. Sophomore Cullen Johnson said, “Yes, I do watch basketball.” He also said that he prefers the Eastern conference to the Western. Many people who watch the NBA are following the Miami Heat’s big three: Lebron James, Dwane Wade, and Chris Bosh. Johnson said, “I do not follow the big three fad.” He later said he

doesn’t like Jeremy Lin. Jeremy Lin is an NBA point guard for the NY Knicks. There was a lot of buzz around him when he took the place of Carmelo Anthony. So far the majorly of NBA watchers still think that the Heat are the team to beat.

This year’s March Madness has gotten a lot of attention. With Oregon barely out of the tournament, many people disregarded the tournament and moved on. For the more hardcore basketball fans, this year’s big dance didn’t look like it was going to have many upsets. Not only did the #15 seed win for the fi fth time ever, it happened for a sixth time as well! Duke was upset by Lehigh and Norfolk State managed to beat Missouri, both losing in the second round. With many people having their opinions on their picks, most thought that Kentucky was going to win the tournament. When asked before the tournament

started, sophomore Michael Chavez stated, “I believe that Kentucky has the best shot to win the tournament.” They have a record of 32-2 in regular season play, and a conference record of 16-0. In the same south division, some thought that Duke could have gone on to win the division. The tournament has been infamous for leaving quality teams out of the big dance. This year has been slightly different though, considering most teams that deserved to get in did. Oregon had an impressive year, but came just short of an invitation. When asked which team got left out and should have gotten in, junior Nick Stewart said, “Oregon, because they played a lot of tough teams and deserved it.” Oregon fi nished 22-9 in the regular season. Other teams in the tournament had worse records, and still got invitations. The big headline of this year’s tournament was the two #2 seeds losing in the second round to #15 seeds. Duke lost to Lehigh in a thriller that had Duke coming back to within two points after Quinn Cook hit a three with only

1.2 seconds left. Norfolk State beat Missouri with a fi nal score of 86 to 84. Kyle O’Quinn was the main force for Norfolk State, having a spectacular game with 26 points and 14 rebounds. With such dramatic upsets early in the tournament, some believe that Missouri losing was a bigger upset than Duke losing. Senior Roberto Tort said, “I believe that Duke losing is a bigger upset since there is more expectation for Duke to do well, since they have more championships under their belt.” This is true, since more people picked Missouri to be upset than Duke. When all was said and done, Kentucky went home winners. They won the National Championship in New Orleans on Monday, April 2 over rival Kansas. This is their eighth national championship and was won with three freshman and two sophomores as their starting fi ve. Now the question is how many players will return to Kentucky, considering their starting fi ve players all have the great potential to become professional players.

Kentucky tops Kansas to win eighth NCAA title

and junior Mike Ralston look to lead the team deep into and junior Mike Ralston look to lead the team deep into make sense that Coach Gordie is his favorite. Bellotti is so

go to would be “Hummmbabe! Yea, here we go now go to would be “Hummmbabe! Yea, here we go now hummbabe! C’mon neow.” If it’s unclear how any of hummbabe! C’mon neow.” If it’s unclear how any of that is pronounced just attend one of the varsity baseball that is pronounced just attend one of the varsity baseball games this spring. Bellotti is also a pitcher which would games this spring. Bellotti is also a pitcher which would make sense that Coach Gordie is his favorite. Bellotti is so make sense that Coach Gordie is his favorite. Bellotti is so

Sheldon is ready to take the diamond this season. They fans are excited to see the new heights the Irish reach this year. Needless to say the hands of faith will serve Coach Manley and the Fighting Irish as they continue their to trip to State. Sheldon is experienced and prepared for 2012. to State. Sheldon is experienced and prepared for 2012. to State. Sheldon is experienced and prepared for 2012.

L to R: Ryan Land, Sean Bellotti, Ivan Faulhaber, Mike RalstonKatie Brelsford photos

BackpageFaceoff: Dumb and Dumber vs. Austin Powers

While there are quite a few amazing students here at Sheldon, I could only write my article on one. This person is active in sports, works hard in class, and is an all around good person. Chances are you’ve seen him working out at the gym, or walking over to get a sandwich from Subway or getting something from his favorite restaurant, Hawaiian Time. While he can be quiet at times, he’s a hilarious person once you get him talking. He goes above and beyond to make people feel welcome. Senior Sally Stender said, “My favorite thing about him is a tie between how well he plays the guitar and how nice he is to everyone. “ This guy is super cool.” Stender said, “The funniest thing that ever happened with him was during the Mr. Irish Kidnap Breakfast, when we kidnapped him, didn’t allow him to brush his teeth, and made him leave without his

Which of these two hilarious movie series is the best ever?

Sofi e Crandallstaff writer

Ryan Landstaff writer

Dylan Lewisstaff writer

I went around the school to fi nd some supporters of Austin Powers. I met up with senior Keaton Carter. In a movie fi lled with funny things, I asked him what he thought Dr. Evil’s best lair was. He responded, “The volcano for sure because he’s got his own little island there.” He also said later that on a scale of 1-10 the movie was a perfect 10, “I can’t think of a funnier movie.” There are a lot of funny movies out there. Ryan and I have decided to hang up our boxing gloves for this face-off since we both love the two movies we’ve chosen. This time it’s the very funny Dumb and Dumber versus the hilarious Austin Powers series. I’ll be defending Mr. Powers this time. I do be-lieve Dumb and Dumber is the funnier movie, but the weakness of the second movie really brings it down. These should be two quote-fi lled articles that keep you laughing until the very end! The movies aren’t just popular with the senior class. I talked to junior Taylor Alie about what his favorite part overall was. He responded, “From the fi rst, second, or third movie? Because they’re all hilarious.” Taylor fi nally picked his favorite scene after thinking for quite some time saying, “When Austin is talk-ing to Foxy and she says ‘tell me some-thing I don’t know,’ and he replies with, ‘I open mouth kissed a horse once.’ Ryan has a very strong movie, but what it doesn’t have, is a great sequel. Austin Powers had three movies accounting for three times more laughs. “Who throws a shoe? Honestly?!” Quotes like that and like this: “I’ll stay,” “Sir you have 5.” “I too like to live…dangerously,” are why the Austin Pow-ers movies are so successful. I know when I was a little kid I watched them numerous times, and when you watch them again when you’re older you see a lot of things you missed as a child. Se-nior Dillon Miller said, “I’ve seen them a lot of times; they’re hilarious.” To wrap up, it’s one of the best movie series ever released. I think that the three movies are all hilarious make it funnier than Dumb and Dumber, who only made one great movie; the second was a complete disaster. Rumor has it that there could be a fourth and fi nal movie coming very soon!

“Woah, big gulps, huh?” Dumb and Dumber is the movie of the century; it is, without a doubt, the most quoted movie of all time. Its perfect combination of whit and stupidity creates an unforgettable experience for the audience. Jim Carrey and Jeff Dan-iels bring an exceptionally hilarious element to the movie to make it the great comedy it is. This fantastic fi lm sits on the prestigious throne of comedic excellence, which no other movies can reach. People of all ages are able to enjoy the wise antics of this fi lm. Junior Cooper Stiles said, “This movie is such a masterpiece because of the stupid humor and great act-ing. Jim Carrey is my hero.” Stiles is backed up by many other students with his opin-ion. This movie is quoted daily, and it will always be a classic leading into the future; nothing can replace the hilarious script of this fi lm. There are other extremely humorous fi lms, including Anchorman and Austin Powers, but no fi lm can compete with this fantastic movie. The secret that makes this movie what it is is Jim Carrey. Junior Taylor Alie said, “I love Jim Carrey. He is so ridiculous-ly silly and clever in the movie. No other movie comes close to the genius of this production.” I stand by many people when I say that Dumb and Dumber is the fi lm of the 20th century. If we were to have two people take the roles of Jim Carrey and Jeff Daniels from our school, it would be Mitch and Dylan Lewis, without a doubt. They seem to exhibit the witty and clueless characteris-tics that the original duo have in the movie. Junior Mitch Lewis said, “I think Dylan and I would be the perfect fi t for Dumb and Dumber because of how we act around each other. We are actually pretty funny when no one is watching.” If you believe that there is a more qualifi ed pair around these halls, feel free to let me know. Dylan may say that Austin Powers is better because it has more than one movie, but in this situation, it is defi nitely quality over quantity. If someone was to compare one Austin Powers movie to Dumb and Dumber, Dumb and Dumber would win every time. I don’t think I need to go into the whole Lion King issue with Dylan again. Jim Carrey and Jeff Daniels are simply amazing and their fantastic performances will never be approached by another actor. “Welp, see ya later!”

Even the snow on the ground can’t cool the disagreement between junior Dylan Lewis (R) and senior Ryan Land (L) on the best comedy movie of all time.

Can you guess who the mystery student is?

Christian Nielsen

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shoes.” Even after all that, he’s still a good sport. “In fi ve years I can defi nitely see him breaking some hearts,” Stender quickly added, “not because he’s mean or anything, but with that magical voice of his!” He said, “History is my favorite subject because it’s interesting to hear about. There’s no formula to history, nothing is really set.” After graduating from Sheldon this year he plans on going to college to become a dentist or barista. “My favorite sport is football,

because it’s the best.” When asked about what he’s going to miss most about Sheldon he replied, “All the awesome people, and Julia Girod.” Even when I pressured him to choose one group or person, he still replied that he’s just going to miss all the nice people. “My favorite hobby is playing guitar because it’s relaxing and fulfi lling.” And other people seem to appreciate how well he plays guitar too. Describing himself in three words, he said, “I’m legitimate, girthy, and a tie between as real as it gets or the bees knees.” It’s a little over three words, but it gets his point across. While he jokes quite a bit, he’s humble down to the core. It seems to be a unanimous vote among everyone that this student is a super nice person. Junior Henry Asay said, “He’s just a really good guy in general.” At times in high school it’s hard to not get sucked into the drama or the stress of homework and classes, but this guy always has a smile on his face. Some people just brighten your day, and he’s defi nitely one of them.

It will be a loss for Sheldon to not have such a great person around, but it’s a relief to know that there are still people out there like him who strive to do their best and attempt to bring happiness to others. It truly is a pleasure to know this guy.

“I’m legitimate, girthy, and a tie between as real as it gets [and] the bees knees.”

- mysterystudent

Amazing mystery student! I wonder who...

Drew Haugen photo