change
X
Volume 49
Pius X High School
Issue 1
September 21, 2012
Feel
The
Thunder
A look at the
next week.
September
24-29
24
Cross Country - Boys › V
3:30PM Away vs.
University of NebraskaKearneyCross Country
- Girls › V
3:00PM Away vs. University of Nebraska-KearneyFootball
› JV
6:30PM Skutt CatholicVolleyball ›
Reserve
5:00PM Away vs. Lincoln Christian
Football › 9
6:30PM Away vs. Crete
25
Softball › JV
5:00PM Beatrice
Softball › V 6:30PM Beatrice
Tennis - Boys › JV
4:00PM vs. Nebraska City
26
Golf - Girls › V
9:00AM Away vs.
Columbus Scotus
Photo by Lauren Schieke
Newly designated Bishop
makes first visit to Pius X
Zach Hammack
News and Opinion Editor
Habemus Episcopus! We
have a new bishop.
Pope Benedict XVI has
finally accepted the resignation of
Bishop Fabian Bruskewitz, and
has named the auxiliary bishop of
Denver, James D. Conley, as the
new shepherd of the Diocese of
Lincoln.
The announcement was
officially declared by the apostolic
nuncio to the United States,
Archbishop Carlo Maria Vigano,
in Washington on September 14.
That same day after an improvised
press conference, Conley made an
excursion to Pius X High School,
where the newly-selected bishop
delivered a quick message to the
student body and staff. He was
received with abundant applause
and a lasting ovation.
Bruskewitz also joined
him at the assembly, where he
formally
introduced
Conley.
Bruskewitz, whose letter of
resignation to Rome was required
after the age of 75, also received
a hearty round of applause during
the assembly.
To close the unexpected
and makeshift event, the student
council gifted a Pius jacket to
Conley, who raised it up for
everyone to see.
Conley is from Overland
Park, Kan., a suburb of Kansas City.
Unlike his predecessor, Conley first
discovered Catholicism in his early
college years at the University of
Kansas. Shortly after, he converted
to the faith on December 6, 1975.
Five years later Conley
News &
Features:
Opinion: 2-3 4-5
entered the seminary in the
Diocese of Wichita. Between then
and his ordination, he attended two
seminaries in the United States and
even studied moral theology in
Rome. In 1985, he was ordained.
As a priest Conley spent
time at as a pastor of a Newman
Center in Wichita and served as a
director of a Right to Life Office.
In 2008 Pope Benedict
XVI named him Auxiliary Bishop
of Denver. There he assisted with
various pastoral governing roles.
Conley’s latest step has
brought him to Lincoln, where he
will officially be installed as the
new bishop on November 20, at the
Cathedral of the Risen Christ.
At the Pius assembly,
Conley stated he “had big shoes to
fill” by replacing Bruskewitz who
spent more than 20 years as the
firm and ever-guiding shepherd of
the flock of Southern Nebraska.
During his reign as bishop
of Lincoln, Bruskewitz maintained
and instituted many conservative
policies, including making daily
Mass at Catholic elementary
schools mandatory. Bruskewitz
also stood by his convictions when
Lincoln became the only Diocese
in the United States to not allow
female altar servers.
Between
now
and
Conley’s installment, Bruskewitz
will be known as the Apostolic
Administrator instead of “bishop”.
Conley will become the
ninth bishop of Lincoln, and easily
determined by his past, he is ready
to serve his people, especially the
youth, who he continually aided
and guided during his life.
27
Softball › JV
5:00PM Skutt CatholicSoftball › V
6:30PM Skutt CatholicTennis - Boys › JV
4:00PM Away vs. LincolnTennis - Boys › V
4:00PM Away vs. LincolnVolleyball › JV
6:00PM AuroraVolleyball › V
7:00PM Aurora
28
Cross Country - Boys
› JV
5:15PM Away vs.
SyracuseCross Country
- Girls › JV
4:15PM Away vs. SyracuseFootball
›V
7:00PM Lincoln EastVolleyball › V
4:00PM Away vs. Lincoln Northeast
29
Softball › JV
9:00AM Away vs. NorrisVolleyball › JV
9:00AM Away vs.
Lincoln Northeast
Volleyball › V
9:00AM Away vs. Lincoln Northeast
X-Clusives: Entertainment: Sports:
6-7
8-9
10-11
News
2
September 21, 2012
Is there bias at Pius?
Monica Condon
Staff Writer
Pius has a long
legacy
of
wonderful
supporters and “all-star”
students, but now some are
suspicious. Are students
related to these people
treated differently?
Most would say that
you get the best high school
experience when you stay
involved, and will so many
sports, clubs, and plays it
should be easy, right? Well,
some students don’t think
this is always the case.
“You can’t deny
that if [a student] has a
known parent or sibling,
they’ll get more attention,”
one anonymous source said,
“and sometimes you walk
into try-outs and feel like
the team or cast has already
been chosen.”
Many
students
agree that the process of
trying out or auditioning
is not always the most
welcoming environment.
Some said during
conditioning things were
very segregated.
“People grouped together,
and there were definitely
those groups that the coaches
paid more attention to,” one
student reported.
It was also reported
that sometimes it seemed as
if students who had brothers
or sisters who did really well
in activities were often more
likely to make it.
When asked what
he thought about the issue
our Principal, Tom Korta,
said, “Coaches want what is
best for their teams. If there
is a student who is a star
athlete and their younger
sibling isn’t as great, I don’t
think the coach would put
the younger one on the team
just because his sibling did
well. And I don’t think that
they’d pay more attention to
students just because they are
familiar with them, they’d be
missing out on new talent.”
Many
students
agree with our principal
saying that, for the most
part things are very fair, that
coaches look at talent and
not affluence.
“Everyone is looked at with
equality at the start, those
who excel are watched more
closely,” baseball player,
Brandon Utrup said.
His brother, Alex
Utrup, agreed, “Everybody
gets the same chance; the
coaches look for hard work,
hustle and talent.”
When asked if she
thought if parent or sibling
involvement had anything to
do with being chosen to be
on a cast or team, Kennedy
Sander said, “I don’t think
so. If someone is not cut out
for a team, they wouldn’t be
chosen just because they had
a sibling on the team. I think
the process is very fair, the
worst part is the nerves!”
More than anything,
it seems the allegations
mainly
stemmed
from
misunderstandings.
One student said, “When
people don’t make a team,
they start to think the worst.
They want someone to
blame, and sometimes it’s
easiest to say, ‘That person
just got chosen because they
are a sibling of so-and-so’,
but really, that probably
wasn’t the case.”
Korta again had
insight
saying,
“When
choosing a team or cast there
will always be a certain
amount of subjectivity to it.
Best fit is more subjective
than objective. It’s not
clear cut. Along the way
judgements are being made;
I don’t personally feel that is
unfair.”
Korta
explained
that, if anything, there is a
difference in terms of access
the students have.
“...We are working on a
comprehensive
strategic
plan to give everyone equal
access, keeping tuition
affordable,
eliminating
cultural
biases,
kids
developing self-advocacy
skills
and
academic
preparedness, all to allow
equal access.”
Though both sides
have good points, Korta
summed it up saying, “Have I
ever seen a situation handled
the wrong way? Of course.
Have I ever seen a decision
made because of status?
No, but, I’m not aware of
everything that goes on.”
Obama administration serves
out new food regulations
Monica Condon
Staff Writer
With smart-foodchoice ad campaigns and
exercise promotions filling
up the media, it seems
that everyone is jumping
on board the “healthy
living” bandwagon, but not
everyone is on board with
this fitness frenzy.
The strive for
a healthy America has
trickled all the way down
to our very own Pius X
said a student who would
like to remain anonymous.
However,
some
are not as enthusiastic.
Some of our teachers have
even joked about starting
up an underground food
distribution,
supplying
quarter pounders and white
bread.
Under the Obama
Administration, each age
was given caloric limits,
fats were cut down, and
so were sodium and sugar
levels.
can run the risk of losing
government funding. They
try to make things as tasty
and exciting as possible
and they are doing the best
they can with such strict
limitations.
Tini Van-Oehlertz, the head
of our food program at Pius,
said that she really tries to
make things as kid-friendly
as possible but students do
really need to be willing to
be flexible as well.
“Kids can be really
disrespectful, and it is very
hard for us
when we are
doing the very
best we can
for them” VanOehlertz said.
Van-Oehletz also said she
recently received a grant
and that she is trying to
improve the food program
even more, with an
emphasis on the breakfast
program. She’d like our
input and has a survey
posted on the internet at
www.survey monkey.com/
s/KF8KT7R. Here you can
tell what you think about
the food program and help
the school try to better it.
The amendments
to our nutritional program
would not be so hard to deal
with if they were a little less
extreme. However, since
it is a matter of national
government there’s not
much we can do at this
News You Can Use
high school, and many new
changes have taken place.
Among
the
alterations are the facts that
the students can no longer
have salt shakers available
to them and that they must
have one full serving of
fruit and vegetable in
order for it to qualify as a
meal. Also at least half of
all carbohydrates must be
whole grain, and next year
the requirement will be
bumped up to one hundred
percent.
Some
students
aren’t really phased by the
changes, “That’s always
how we eat at my house, I
like the fact that the school
is
instilling
healthier
lunchroom requirements.”
Though
the
intentions are good, the
outcomes aren’t necessarily
the same. Much of the
required fruits and veggies
end up in the trash, which
is a waste of food and
money.
It causes the cafeteria
workers stress too. “We
like to make things from
scratch, we are now having
to modify things.” said
one kitchen lady. “It’s also
frustrating when we are
sitting at the register during
a lunch rush trying to keep
everything straight.”
The kitchen ladies would
like to stress that it is
a matter of national
regulation, and that if
they do not comply, they
point. The most we can do
is wait and see if anything
changes with the results of
the impending presidential
election.
Gay rights
activists storm
America
Jack Thompson
Graphics Editor
Since the beginning
of the summer there has
been a dramatic increase
in the efforts of gay right
advocates. Triggered by
Obama’s speech announcing
he is in favor of gay marriage,
many prominent people have
changed their stance on the
issue throughout the country.
Obama has always
been strongly supported by
gay rights activists, but they
have been frustrated with his
refusal to weigh in on the
issue. He had thought civil
unions would be enough,
but gays are insistent on
the right to marriage. This
issue is escaladed by the
fact that most religions
regard marriage as a sacred
thing between a man and a
woman.
The gay rights
movement has been around
since the 1950s, and escaladed
with the 1969 Stonewall riots
in New York. They have been
following the general layout
of the African- American
civil rights movement but
recently have accelerated in
their efforts.
There may be a
number of causes to this
success. The gay population
of the United States, tends
to be composed of very
intellectual
individuals,
capable
of
political
movements.
Also, in 2008
the leaders of AfricanAmerican rights and gay
rights movements have tried
to move their parties closer
together. In the past, gay
rights members have accused
conservative
AfricanAmericans of slowing the
movement in the voting
boxes.
Another thing the
gay rights activists have,
as opposed to racial rights
groups, is that there is
no easy way to tell them
from other people. In other
words, they are already
segregated into our society.
Gays are born into straight
families, grow up in straight
neighborhoods and play on
straight playgrounds.
Most people know
at least one homosexual
person. This, as well as the
media and popular culture,
has steadily brought more
support in favor of gay rights
movements.
The
legalization
of same-sex marriage has
been a relatively new goal of
gay rights activists, but has
become a vicious battle over
the past year with both sides
of the issue dumping money
and muscle into the court
system.
Massachusetts was
the first state to allow samesex marriage when their
supreme court allowed it in
2004.
Drought brings restrictions
Kaitlin VanLoon
Staff Writer
Nebraska is in a drought, there is
no doubt about it. So what is being done to
help this issue? Jerry Obrist of Lincoln Water
Systems said much is happening.
The watering restrictions are the first
adjustments.
Even numbered houses can water
on Wednesdays, Fridays, and Sundays, while
odd numbered houses can water Tuesdays,
Thursdays, and Saturdays.
When people violate the watering
law, they will be fined up to $500 and/or go to
jail for up to 6 months.
When asking Obrist what he thought
of the punishments, he replied, “It got a lot of
people’s attention.”
At first Lincoln’s goal was to use only
60 million gallons of water each day, compared
to the 75 million. Obrist mentioned that we
have hit it and exceeded that objective.
Lincolnites are only using 55 million
gallons of water each day, so officials are not
planning on making restrictions tighter. They
aren’t even making a new goal.
Now that Lincoln has hit that target,
the Platte River--where the city gets water-has gone up slightly and Nebraska is at a good
spot.
Obrist said that it would not have
been beneficial to issue water restrictions in
past years because it completely depends on the
weather.
This year the water flows were
average and they suddenly became low. This
was a surprise to Nebraska, so water restrictions
were made.
Obrist indicated that farmers in
Nebraska may be able to get financial aid
for their failing crops. Most farmers have
crop insurance, otherwise they would lose
everything. Financial aid is reserved, so the crop
circumstance would have to be pretty severe.
The status regarding farming is much
like a domino effect. A farmer grows fewer
crops, reducing supply, and consumers pay
more money.
Nebraskans also import more crops
from other states because the state doesn’t have
the weather to grow certain foods, and that costs
more money.
This can lead to unemployment and
could cause an economic impact.
Another concern in Nebraska is the
bodies of water. Lakes, rivers, and streams
are beginning to dry up. Not to mention, the
animals that are dying in these regions.
The final question I portrayed to Obrist
was, “If we don’t get the precipitation we are
expecting this winter, what are our options?”
His reply was, “We will have to start
up water restrictions again in April. That is,
if we don’t get enough snow, and if the river
flows don’t rise.”
Right now, the best citizens can do
is follow the watering laws so everyone can
conserve as much water as possible.
Opinion
September 21, 2012
3
Short hair not
Editorial: Our call to back
away from bias in the building only for boys
Pius has a legacy
of outstanding academics
and nationally recognized
athletes. But are these students
or athletes spotted for their
distinct talent or based on how
much money their relatives
donate to our school?
But it seems there is
the perception of bias towards
certain families or names. We
hope this isn’t the case, but
whether or not it is true, there
are things that both sides can
do to help fix this issue.
Students: Remember
to always keep a positive
attitude and expect the best
when going into any tryout
or audition. If you go in with
the mindset that you’re going
to fail, then you probably
will, and that isn’t the coach/
director’s fault.
Realize that the
audition process is subjective
and the people in charge may
see things differently than
you do. That’s why they are in
charge.
Teachers/Coaches/
Directors: The tryout or
audition process may not
always be the most welcoming
environment, but the coaches
and instructors here at this
school need to realize that
every student is different and
talent needs to be discovered
based on the ability of that
individual, not on the talent of
an older sibling.
Pius says that they are
working on a comprehensive
strategic plan to give everyone
equal access, keeping tuition
affordable, eliminating cultural
biases, kids developing self-
Tell us what
you think!
Have a question?
Want to give a
comment?
Write to the X
Change! We’d love
to hear from you!
Find out more
details on page 3
advocacy skills and academic
preparedness, all to allow equal
access.
There is no good
way to completely remove
subjectivity from the tryout
or audition process, but if
everyone involved goes in
with an open mind, the results
will be better for not only the
team or cast, but for the whole
school community.
This editorial is the opinion of
the X-Change staff and does
not necessarily represent the
opinions of administrators,
staff members, or studetns at
Pius X High School. If you
have an opinion on this or any
other issue, let us know!
Corinne Simpson
Editor-In-Chief
Sports Editor Kathryn Budell X-Clusives Editor Zach Hammack News and Opinion Editor
Kate Rawlinson
Features Editor
Copy Editor
Ben Schell
Cover Editor
Lauren Schienke Entertaiment Editor Jack Thompson
Graphics Editor
Staff Writers
Sierra Baumgartner
Monica Condon
Nick Esparza
Jacob Kreikemeier
Audrey Kuehn
Morgan Noel
Kaitlin VanLoon
Style and fashion is
everything these days, especially
when it comes to hair.
Long hair or short,
either one should be considered
appropriate for girls. It’s becoming
more and more fashionable for the
ladies to have a pixie cut, but that
doesn’t make them less feminine.
In fact, it accentuates features by
framing the face in just the right
way.
A pixie cut is basically a
short haircut for girls, where the
hair is cut close to the head, leaving
the whole neck bare. Emma Watson
is a great example of someone who
Elections bring hope for
Catholics
The Pius X-Change
Lauren Schieke
Enterainment Editor
Zach Hammack
News and Opinion Editor
Four years ago presidential
hopeful John McCain made a
very surprising and controversial
decision by choosing Sarah Palin,
governor of Alaska, as his running
mate. Some saw this choice as the
turning point in the election, when
McCain’s downfall finally began
and BarackObama’s rise to the
presidency seemed almost certain.
Now that Obama’s first
term has passed, some voters,
especially Catholics, are skeptical
about the way the president
is running the nation. Most
notably, Catholics fear Obama’s
unprecedented invasion of religious
liberty through his healthcare
plan, which would force everyone
(including Catholic institutions
and businesses) to purchase health
insurance that would cover the cost
Learn to be
PROUD of your
driving!

A “Good Driver”
knows & practices
the finest driving
skills all the time.
You can too!
Copy Editor
Anna Ondracek
Adviser
Nolan DeWispelare
The X-Change is a monthly publication of the Pius X High School
newspaper staff. Opinions expressed on the opinion page do not
necessarily represent those of the entire school community.
Students and staff are invited to share their opinion through a letter to
the editor. The staff reserves the right to edit for content, length, or to
reject any letter. All letters must be typed, signed and sent to:
The X-Change
Pius X High School
6000 A Street
Lincoln, NE 68510
rocks the pixie cut.
The great thing about
short hair is that you can go for
whatever look you want day to day,
whether it’s a conservative look
with swoopy bangs or going bold
with a tousled spiky look.
The important thing is to
thoroughly think about the decision
for short hair before you cut it
because afterward you’re stuck
with it for a while. It also may not
be for everyone.
One of the disappointments
I’ve found with short hair is not
being able to put it in braids or
ponytails. After I had gone for the
plunge and donated my hair, I found
myself reaching for a ponytail that
wasn’t there.
Personally, though, I have
come to love having short hair and
especially how easy it is to manage.
Just recently, though, I decided to
go long again. The tedious process
of growing it out may be another
thing to consider because consistent
hair appointments may be needed to
keep it in check while still allowing
the hair to get longer.
Altogether, I recommend a
short pixie cut if you’re looking for
something long-term and easy to
manage, but also fun and stylish.

Check at Pius X office
for fall and spring class
times and brochures.
2900 ‘O’ Street; Lincoln, NE 68510
(402) 477-5933
Telephone or
go on line
for details.
(402) 477-5933
www.roadready.biz
of contraceptives, abortions and
abortion-causing drugs.
Catholics seemed to be
lost in a maze of political tyranny.
However, there may be a glimmer
of light in that labyrinth. Mitt
Romney has luckily picked a
running mate that Catholics can
relate to, Senator Paul Ryan from
Wisconsin.
Ryan seems like a mighty
step up from the Republican
running mate chosen by McCain
four years ago. To Catholics,
Romney’s choice is significant.
Not only is Ryan pro-life, but he
also a staunch Catholic and seems
economically fit to assist Romney
if Romney is elected president.
Ryan also proves to be a
startling contrast to vice president
Joe Biden, who is also Catholic, but
has supported socially progressive
ideas in the past that are opposed to
the faith.
It’s certainly good to know
that a Catholic would be the second
hand man behind Romney who
displays similar values. Knowing
their conservative background and
views, pro-life supporters would be
able to stop fearing the cancerous
growth of government power in
American religion.
The right of conscious
has been attacked and Catholics
are definitely loosing their grasp.
But the election holds significant
promise, and those who are
reeling from these assaults, should
definitely be excited to know that
there is hope in change.
Features
4
September 21, 2012
Exchange students excel at Pius
Ben Schell
Cover Editor
take the time to ask, he or she
might tell a little about the
country they came from.
Kim said, “America is
quite impressive because, here,
Photo by Jacob Kreikemeier
Pius is called many
things. Some could call it a
school of legends, but nowadays
people could be more accurate
in saying it’s a school of pride.
This school is proud to bring
many new faces as well as
new students from different
countries.
One of the many new
students that attend our school is
an exchange student from South
Korea. His name is Hyunseok
Kim, a sophomore.
Kim said, “Even though
America is great, I miss my
family and the food. When I was
learning English, it was harder
to speak than Korean is.”
Many may know Kim
through the nickname he got
from wrestling, Bonesaw. His
freshman year, he was very
popular with the seniors. Kim
trained with the wrestling team
and he learned new skills.
He is one of many
exchange students attending
Pius. Kim played football his
freshman year and he got to
learn many of the students. What is different about
regular students and exchange
students? The most popular
response probably is that we
Hyunseok Kim is an exchange student from South Korea.
have parents in this country.
That’s a good answer, but when
asked, an exchange student may
say the main difference is that
he or she is trilingual.
Every
exchange
student has a different story or
background. If someone would
most people actually care about
their own religions and they
participate.”
Another
sophomore,
Victor Lopez Gomez, has
also enjoyed his stay at Pius.
He will be trilingual because
of his liking of French class.
Teacher Spotlight
Karen Bonkiewicz
Lauren Schieke
teach Spanish,” she said.
It was through her
college, the University of Kansas,
that she came to go to multiple
places including another one of
her favorites, Costa Rica. One of
her favorite places within Mexico
PHOTO BY LAUREN SCHIEKE
third grade I felt I wanted to be a
sister.”
Her history as a Marian
Among all the teachers
Sister oddly has to do with the
at Pius, there is one who goes
sunglasses she always seems to
beyond being an excellent teacher,
be wearing. No, she is not blind. and stands out as an avid traveler
She simply gets migraines from
and a devoted
florescent lights.
Catholic. Her
For almost
life sounds like
two and a half
it came right out
years,
she
was
of a book, full
in
the
convent.
of adventures
Unfortunately,
by
from
around
Canon Law one must
the world.
be healthy until a
Karen
certain age to be
Bonkiewicz,
able to work within
often referred
the tightly knitted
to as simply
community. Because
“ M a e s t r a
of
her
intense
Bonk”,
is
migraines that could
one of our
not be helped by
many Spanish
anything, she was
teachers,
not able to continue
Bonkiewicz shows great zeal as she teaches her Spanish one
t e a c h i n g
on as a nun.
and two classes.
m u l t i p l e
Still, she had
classes in both Spanish one and and Costa Rica were the beautiful no regrets and felt it was God’s
two. Before her life as a foreign beaches.
will for her to be there the time
language teacher, she traveled to
“I love the beaches and she was.
dozens of countries all over the taking long walks on them,”
Fortunately,
her
world and was even a nun for a Bonkiewicz said.
experience from all those trips
short while.
Another place she’s been around the world led her to her
Some of the countries to is Pamplona. Bonkiewicz even decision to where she is today; to
she’s traveled to include Mexico, witnessed the famous yearly be a Spanish teacher.
Nicaragua, Panama, Sweden, and running of the bulls. Suffice
“When I made that
Spain. It all started when she was to say, she did not actually run decision, there was that peace
in her early 20s as an exchange with them, she only sat on the and joy, and an indication of what
student heading off to Mexico sidelines.
God wills for me,” Bonkiewicz
on her first out-of-country
Despite her love of said.
experience. She stayed with a traveling, Bonkiewicz discerned As it has been four
Spanish family and slowly came that God was calling her to life as years now since she traveled, she
to learn the language and culture a nun.
hopes to continue her worldwide
of the area.
She explains the first adventures again someday in the
“It was actually going time she ever thought about her future.
to Mexico that made me want to religious calling, “When I was in
Entertainment Editor
Victor also tried out for a spot
on the soccer team. He misses
his friends and the food of his
country, Columbia.
Victor said, “I miss the
better weather and my friends.
We would always play soccer
and it would be very hot but I
enjoyed it.”
Victor is a very good
student and he tries hard in all of
his classes. His favorite class is
French, but he also enjoys all the
rest. Victor came to the United
States for a better life and future.
The biggest change of all for
him though, is that everywhere
in Columbia he had to walk.
After
seeing
and
interviewing the many new
exchange students, it was
surprising to see so many great
people. If traveling is in mind,
ask an exchange student if he
or she had great experiences
with their country of origin.
Sometimes experiencing new
friends is the best, plus if they
speak a different language
they might even help with
homework.
Art Club paints a
promising picture
Jack Thompson
Graphics Editor
There are a lot of clubs at
Pius. It may not be obvious, but
some of these clubs have a very
important position in Pius’s inner
structure. One of these is the Art
Club.
Senior Katie Krick joined
Art Club last year. She had always
been interested in art, but didn’t
really know about the club until
her friend, senior Kate Zeleski,
urged her to join. Krick is really
glad she did.
The Art Club, which is
sponsored by Laurie Rodaway, the
art teacher, is “super relaxing, with
music and food. The club is small,
only about 15 consistent members,
so there is always something for
everyone to do,” said Krick. That
being said, the Art Club is very
open to
new members. With more people,
they would be able to undertake
bigger projects. Members
take
part
in activities that show the
importance of art in our society,
expressing their emotions and
experiences in various ways. Last
year, for example, they painted
pumpkins with themes from the
movie Harry Potter.
This year they have
not really decided what projects
they will embark on, having only
met once this year. The club is
considering 3D chalk drawings
before the football team’s home
games. Krick thinks that those are
really cool but admits “it would
take a lot of work.”
Whatever it does, Art
Club is sure to make itself known,
either in its work or in the smiles
of its members.
Join in 152
Art Club!
See Ms. Laurie Rodaway
Meets Monday immediately
after school
UNPLANNED PREGNANCY?
irthright of Lincoln
402.466.2609 - call now.
Confidential, free, accurate information.
Friends help friends choose better options
- one with no regrets.
Features
September 21, 2012
PHOTOS BY CORINNE SIMPSON
x
5
posed
Kathleen Moeschen
Corinne Simpson
Editor-In-Chief
In an attempt to
get to know our classmates
better and build a strong
sense of community among
the Thunderbolts, the XChange features a senior
every issue. This issue’s
focus is on Kathleen
Moeschen.
If senior Kathleen
Moeschen was asked to name
all her favorite things, this Alist would go on and on.
“I love chocolate
chip pancakes and chocolate
in general,” Moeschen said.
“My favorite color is blue. My
favorite number is 24. I love
listening to country music.”
But this senior famous
for her contagious laughing
ability, is also known for her
lifestyle best described by the
quote from Dory in the movie
Finding Nemo, “just keep
swimming, swimming, just
keep swimming.” “I started swimming at
age seven for Star City Shores,”
Moeschen said. “And just fell
in love with the sport and kept
working at it since then.”
Moeschen swims for
Greater Nebraska Swim Team
(GNST) during the offseason
and is a member of the Pius X
swim team coached by Cindy
Nash during the winter. She is
a two-time state qualifier and
swims the Individual Medley and the 100 Meter Butterfly. She was also named swim
team captain for the 2011-2012
season. This diverse senior
is also the co-president of
recycling club, former flute
player in the Pius X Band, along
with her duties on swim team.
But to her friends she is known
as a klutz and intelligent.
“I am very clumsy,”
Moeschen said. “I am known for
tripping over stupid things.”
This special trait may
come in handy in the near
future as Moeschen plans on
going to college and studying
something healthcare related. Where she will attend is still be
negotiated.
“I
want
to be within a
one-hour radius,”
Moeschen said.
So while
Moeschen
has
all her favorite
things,
she
is
not
accustomed
to being normal
and
appreciates
diversity in her
own
personality.
From recycling, to
flute, to swimming,
to
chocolate,
nothing is ever the
same. She is also
experiencing
a
different journey and will
continue to laugh as she works
her way on that journey..
Kathleen Moeschen
is a giddy, intelligent and
spirited girl.
She is a
Thunderbolt!
15 minutes of fame:
with the underclassmen Thunderbolts
Name: Layne Wittenhagen
Grade: Freshman
Interesting Stuff:
“If I could be a character from any movie,
I would be Batman. An interesting fact
about me is that I have a really, really fat
cat.”
Name: Merissa Marrow
Grade: Sophomore
Interesting Stuff:
“If I could be a character from any movie,
it would be Olivia the Pig.Some interesting facts about me are that I am open
minded, I sing and my dad is the tight
ends coach at UNL. My brother plays halfback.”
Name: Nolan Walker
Grade: Junior
Interesting Stuff:
“If I could be a character from any
movie, I would be Batman. An interesting fact about me is that I
happen to have a third arm...”
Xclusives
6
September 21, 2012
Upp
a be
com
a ne
stor
Pius X
welcomes
changes to
facilities
Zach Hammack
News and Opinion Editor
Low
two
mor
barr
abo
redo
room
Belo
ene
are
vers
the Computers on Wheels,
or COWS,” Chaffee said.
“It saves time.”
Chaffee’s
classes
are the only ones that will
use the iPads this semester
as a part of a pilot-program
around the diocese that is
testing out new technology
in classrooms. At this point
the iPads are primarily used
for internet access, though
applications could be used
as tools for students later
on.
“I’m trying to sift
through the different apps
that can actually be used
to teach math,” Chaffee
said. “It’s a process.”
Every year, students
around the city dread the
arrival of school, when
memories of mean teachers
and spending late nights
doing
long
homework
assignments begin flooding
back into consciousness.
There is also a feeling of
excitement in anticipation
of the unveiling of new
additions and renovations in
the school.
Now that students,
new and old, have been
given enough time to
become introduced, but not
necessarily acquainted with
all things new at Pius, it’s Chemistry lab makeover
time to actually to uncover Across the hallway in
the “whos” and “whats”.
Room 200, new renovations
for the chemistry lab are
iPads in math class
reaching final completion.
Probably one of the All that remains are a
most modern additions to few touch-ups on the
Pius can be found in Matthew construction.
Chaffee’s 201 room, where
The cost was paid
math students can be seen for by donations by the
using new iPads, flourished Lincoln community through
with fancy cases and nifty the “Give To Lincoln Day”
stands.
fundraiser.
“The iPads are a lot
The lab now includes
quicker and provide instant brand new experiment tables
internet access faster than with sinks and gas valves, an
eye wash station, a chemical
shower, a fume hood that
ventilates dangerous gases
out of the room, and more
space.
Another
positive
result of the renovation is the
extra storage in the back of
the room that provides more
organization for chemicals
and teaching material.
Jenna Specht, the
chemistry teacher in Room
200, is pleased with the
changes.
“There
is
more
potential for each student
now,” Specht said. “We
can do experiments that we
could never do before.”
Plans for renovations
in Room 202, the other
The X-ch
chemistry lab, are still in
progress.
In Pius’s nearly 50year history, the chemistry
labs have never been
remodeled. But now with
tighter restrictions and
Meet the newcoming faculty for this year
Mr. Kwambamba
French III and French IV
Mrs. Bradley
Chemistry
Ms. Guthrie
Geometry and Algebra II
Sr. Jacquelyn
Theology Office
Mrs. Driewer
Pre-Calculus, Geometry,
Algebra
Fr. Matthew Zimmer
Theology IV
Mr. Schreurs
English Comp and English II
Mr. Ekeler
Senior Writing,
Social Lit., AP Lit
Xclusives
September 21, 2012
per left: New lab tables in Rm. 200 give students
etter opportunity to learn. The classroom was
mpletely revamped over the summer and includes
ew fume hood, chemical shower, and a remodeled
rage space.
wer left: The remodeled weight room is brightened by
o new windows. The ceilling was also replaced and
re insulation was installed to provide a better sound
rier between the weight room and the classrooms
ove. A new floor was installed and the entrance was
one to add better safety and security to the weight
m.
ow: New lights in the Bishop Flavin Gym are more
ergy efficient and brighten the gym. The new lights
also able to warm up faster than the previous
sions.
Photos by Corinne Simpson
Right: New lockers in the
boys’ and girls’ locker rooms
give students and athletes a
better and more secure place
to store their things.
Left: New showers in both
locker rooms are more
reliable than the old versions.
The new shower stalls in the
girls’ locker rooms provide for
more privacy.
Below: New windows in the
wrestling room and weight
room provide natural light
for athletes. They also allow
fresh air to be brought into
those spaces. A new air
system was also installed to
help with air quality in the
area.
hange covers the changes!
regulations on student safety
and a growing number of
chemistry students, the
renovations seemed direly
important.
“With the added
space,
everyone
can
participate equally in the
learning process,” Specht
said.
New bleachers at stadium
Athletics have also
received significant upgrades
during the past summer.
Bleachers on the visitors’
side of Aldrich Field have
augmented the growing need
of seats for visiting Lincoln
teams that are expected to
bring big crowds following
Pius’ switch to Class A in
football.
In addition, a second
concession stand was added
beneath the older section of
visitor bleachers to alleviate
some of the strain placed on
the current concession stand
by larger crowds.
“It’s nice to know that
Pius is able to stay current,”
junior Thomas Dalton said,
“The school is always ready
to adapt to changes.”
The
bleachers,
along with the turf from
2010, are all part of a
7
process of modernizing it. Students and teachers
Aldrich Field for all sports alike can benefit from less
that participate on it. noise traveling through the
different environments.
The
wrestling
Weight room renovations
The weight room, room also received new
which also needed significant windows and a new air
alterations, is finally finished system. Both renovations
and ready for anyone hoping for the weight and wrestling
were
provided
to gain some extra muscle room
by anonymous donors.
this year.
One of the most
noticeable upgrades is the Revamped locker rooms
Another
donor
natural light which floods the room through the new provided the money for
upgrades in the girls and
windows.
A new floor, a boys locker rooms.
In the boys’ locker
brightened paint job and reconfiguration
of
the room, many of the old shower
weights layout make the heads did not work and the
center post technology was
room feel more spacious.
“The upgrades are
definitely worth it,” student
Jeremy Sousek said. “The
room just seems bigger and
more accessible.”
During the summer,
weights and other equipment
were moved into the
wrestling room for students
who wanted to train and
condition for sports during
the vacation months.
Another
added
benefit of the renovation is
the added insulation between
the ceiling of the weight room
and the classrooms above
outdated.
The new showers are
located on the walls and will
allow more students to get
clean in a shorter period of
time.
In the girls’ locker
room, the showers were also
replaced and stalls were
installed to allow for more
privacy when changing and
showering.
Both locker rooms
also received new sets of
lockers to replace some
of the lockers which
were beyond repair. The
remaining lockers were also
painted for a more uniform
atmosphere.
replaced with new lights.
The new lights are more
energy efficient and were
paid for in part by a grant
from Lincoln Energy System.
These lights brighten the
gym much better than the
old lights and turn on and
off faster.
Donations
are
heartily encouraged by
the administration. As one
can easily see, any sort
of monetary gift can go
far in making Pius a more
modern institution for all
to learn in. From iPads to
brand new chemistry labs,
Pius is slowly restoring and
rebuilding itself upon the
solid foundation it started
from, and so it’s no secret
New lights in new gym
Over the summer, that come next year, expect
the old lights in the new more additions and more
gym were taken down and renovations are on the way.
Entertainment
8
September 21, 2012
The British are coming... again
Anna Ondracek
Copy Editor
The British are coming!
The British are coming! It seems
as though Paul Revere’s famous
declaration has taken on a double
meaning. Over the past couple
years, a whole new crop of British
singers, actors, and TV shows has
taken over.
Of all the English singers
and groups to emerge recently,
One Direction, a boy band formed
by Simon Cowell during the 2010
season of the X Factor, has come
to the forefront. Love ‘em or hate
‘em, they get a reaction. Tons of
teenage girls, including junior
Erica Dolph, blast their tunes
and plaster posters all over their
walls.
“One day, my sister
found their song ‘What Makes
You Beautiful’, on YouTube, and
we really liked it, so she bought
it. I decided to check out more of
their songs, and ever since then,
I’ve been obsessed,” Dolph said.
This new generation
of British singers has brought
comparisons of the famous
“British Invasion” of the 1960s70s. A little band called The
Beatles emerged, as well as The
Rolling Stones, Led Zeppelin,
and The Who showed up and
created a playlist for the
ages.
While these groups today
have nowhere near the success,
in terms of money, as the older
groups, some wonder if this could
be the second “British Invasion”.
A general consensus is that only
time will tell. There hasn’t been
much longevity, so we can’t
know at this point if it will reach
the same heights.
But it’s not just boy
bands that are getting the
spotlight. The BBC, or British
Broadcast
Corporation,
airs
shows such as “Doctor Who” and
“Sherlock”. They seem to have a
cult following in America.
“Doctor
Who”,
for
example, centers on a man, the
title character, who’s an alien
that travels through time and
space to save the world with
his companions. Throughout
the course of the show, he’s
reincarnated as different actors.
“I like the show because
it’s fun, unique, and just very
different than any other show
I’ve seen,” junior Amanda Reifert
said.
Guess what just Pop’d in!
Morgan Noel
Staff Writer
Just a quick walk down A
street, in Clock Tower, Just Pop’d is
conveniently located between East
High School and Pius! This quaint
little shop is full of delicious treats,
including popcorn, of course, but
also sodas and frozen yogurt, served
daily. According to the owners,
the nicest compliment they have
received is, “It’s the best popcorn in
town!”
The Sims family recently
opened the Lincoln franchise this
summer. There are currently two
shops. The original was opened in
Papillion, by Mr. Scott Sims’s sister.
She designed everything, from the
theme to all the flavors of popcorn.
Just Pop’d strives to have stores
with a fun atmosphere that offers
tasty treats at an affordable price.
When asked why Mr. Sims
decided to start this new franchise,
he said, “I just wanted a change in
career”.
After leaving his former
job in construction, he said the retail
business has been a big change.
The inspiration for the
theme and decor of the shop is
cinema because they say movies and
popcorn are the perfect combination.
Even the popcorn flavors are unique
and named after the family’s favorite
movies, characters, actors, or even
after themselves! These include
Kylie’s Kreation, Salt and Vinegar,
The Cha Cha, or Betty’s White. The
Monster’s Inc. is a blue raspberry
dipped popcorn accented with
colorful Skittles. This was recently
added to their menu.
The mood of this popcorn
shop is “something different, and
more fun,” says Sims.
Just Pop’d is popping
with excitement, making more than
just after school snacks. They also
cater for business meetings, school
functions, sporting events, and of
course, just watching a movie! They
are constantly brainstorming new
mixtures that display the perfect
combination of flavors. With over
25 different flavors, you are sure to
find something you like!
Trending
Thunderbolt
Tweets
When yo act prep teachur can’t speak
English very good much. #yourmakingmeworse #BringbackLinda @AlexanderStej @
Jschlepp7 ~ Daniel Leduc
Little sister learning to play the saxophone<<<< #chum #shutup #justwantsilence ~ Sally Barie
I guess somebody forgot to tell you that there’s no me in mean. ~ Jon Brakenhoff
Driving to Kearney with Jon and Desirae makes me enjoy the scenery so much #BetterThanHawaii
~ Megan Asselin
Forget world peace! Visualize using your turn signal #Dumb8County ~ Desirae Hakel
Debating whether to delete every app on my phone in order to fit all 3 Batman movies… ~ Scotty
Jenkins
Just destroyed the ACT #childsplay ~ Tanner Sprouse
Softball is the highest ranked sport at Pius this year and yet we are the lowest attended sport #HowDoesThatWork ~ Jacklyn Jablonski
Some of the things i hear @AnneBacha3 say at volleyball.. #SAprobz ~ Fletch Zornes
Michael Bublé somehow stole God’s voice….and I’m jealous ~ Reece Hyland
She also talked about
why the English have captivated
our attention, not just in this
generation, but even in the past.
“Their culture is very
interesting. They are a monarchy,
so their history took a different
course than America’s. Just in
general, they’re so different from
us, and we’re drawn to that,”
Reifert said.
That seems to be a
recurring theme with British
things in general. The accents,
their slang, and yes, the attractive
British guys, have boosted Great
Britain’s status in the world’s
social circle.
The
interest
level
peaked when it was announced
that London would be the host
of the 2012 Summer Olympics.
The biggest stage in the world
would showcase the talents of the
world’s athletes. The Opening
Ceremonies had the legendary
Paul McCartney perform.
Both
Dolph
and
Reifert agreed that the Closing
Ceremonies were their favorite
part of the Olympics. They’re not
alone.
The Closing Ceremonies
hosted, yes, One Direction, the
Spice Girls and Jessie J. An
extravagant display of lights,
fireworks and performances
ended the Olympics in style and
flair.
This seems to be a fitting
description for the Brits. Opinions
aside, the British have been
making an impact on the United
States and around the globe.
September 21, 2012
Entertainment
9
Pinewood Bowl resurrects summer
concert series, brings in larger crowds
Kathryn Budell
X-Clusives Editor
Impatience
radiated
like the heat beating down on
the pavement outside the gates.
A sea of Toms shoes, picnic
blankets, and iPod speakers all
blasting the same music seemed
to never end down the street.
The trees shook just as much as
the waiting throng did, and the
crowd of pines pressed against
the fence to get into the Bowl
just as hard as the people did.
This scene was the antsy
crowd waiting for the British
folk band Mumford & Sons.
Mumford & Sons performed in
Lincoln on August 20 th, marking
the finale to Lincoln’s summer
concerts at Pioneer’s Park. Why
did they choose a giant forest
area for a concert? They could
have performed at the Pershing,
the Rococo. This concert hall,
The Pinewood Bowl, has
witnessed an onslaught of new
publicity and renewed certainty
in a strong fan base. Thanks to
generous donations and sudden
popularity, Lincoln is witnessing
the rise of the Pinewood Bowl.
“I thought it was a great
venue for the type of concert
that it was,” Junior Erica
Thomas said. Thomas attended
the Mumford & Sons concert
on the 20 th, and was among the
throng of Toms-clothed feet. “It
just felt right. The type of music
they played really mixed well
with the trees and the air around
us. It’s really improved over the
years!”
Ever since the 1950s, the
Pinewood Bowl has been used as
a venue for summer productions
and summer blowout concerts.
Every summer, spectators take
the drive and take a seat among
the bugs and the muggy heat
to watch musicals such as this
year’s, Seven Brides for Seven
Brothers. Every year, many
people say it is a hit, but the
numbers have increased and
increased over the years. Many
are asking why?
“I think that they’ve
had a lot more publicity for this
stuff this year,” Thomas said.
She remembered there being the
normal bombardment of signs
for the plays in the grocery stores
and articles in the newspaper,
but she also mentioned its place
in ads online, multiple large
signs around town promoting
the play or the concerts, and
mostly by word of mouth. This
caused for a huge onslaught of
audiences that the Bowl has
never experienced before.
Despite the sudden rise
in publicity, the Pinewood Bowl
has also improved on what were
once technical detriments.
“The sound booth used
to be really bad. It was hard to
hear a whole lot during plays
and concerts,” Thomas said.
“And the seating was also
crummy if you got there late.
You would have to sit in the
back in the crowd. There’s no
way that you’ll be able to see
anything that way.”
In this last year alone,
the Bowl has improved their
sounding system and the
improvement on seating is
innovative to say in the least.
Screens cover the middle
section for those too far to see
the faces of those at the concert.
This way, concertgoers will still
be able to enjoy the closeness
feeling even though they are
stuck in the back.
So the Pinewood Bowl
has improved in their technical
field and their plays are
phenomenal. What about their
concerts?
Every summer, the
Pinewood Bowl hosts summer
concerts in their open-aired
concert hall. Bands from all
over come to perform for
audiences despite the heat
and the occasional mosquito
bite. However, the increase in
attendance is overwhelming.
“According to me, it’s
partially because of the bands
that they had there,” Thomas
said. “I mean, you’ve got Train
there! You’ve got Mumford &
Sons there! Those are really
big, popular bands! I think this
created a lot of popularity in
the Bowl. Plus it’s just a really
cool place for those kinds of
concerts.”
Certainly, the openness
and the forest feel of the place
added to the quality of the
folk sound of Mumford &
Sons. The surrounding pines
and the massive oaks of the
Pinewood Bowl were witness
to a huge flood of audiences
this summer, as the Pinewood
Bowl experienced, and is to
experience still, a huge increase
in their popularity.
Fall in love with fall fashion with your uniform
Audrey Kuehn
Staff Writer
This year’s Pius fall
fashion is full of bright colors
and bold prints that would make
anyone stand out in crowd.
Students have a harder
time finding ways to express
themselves through fashion for
the obvious reason of having to
wear a uniform. Uniforms can be
easy to get ready in the morning
but can pose a challenge for the
person’s individuality and mood
for that day.
Creative
ways
for
students to spice up the uniform
would be bright shoes, lanyards
and buttons with funny cute
phrases on them and fun colorful
socks. Freshman Maggie Lang
shows her fashion sense with her
bright pink neon vans and her
cheetah print jewelry. Another
option would be watches with
crazy prints or colors that would
for sure draw the eye straight to
you.
“I love my accessories
because it makes me stand out
in a crowd and show who I am,”
Lang said.
Jewelry can also add
sparkle to a lackluster ensemble.
Try boldly colored beads, bangle
bracelets or big drop earrings to
catch everyone’s eye. To follow
the latest trend, add a few fun
belts into your wardrobe or
some knee high socks that will
rock that uniform.
Everybody has their
own unique style that makes
them stand out. A great
example would be senior Alex
VanAckeren who has his sleek
looking spiked hair that only
everybody recognizes him by.
“It’s just who I am.”
VanAckeren said.
Fashion is something
that changes from season to
season and year to year, but no
‘Finding Nemo’ goes 3D
Sierra Baumgartner
Staff Writer
At first glance of the
2003 movie Finding Nemo we
all remember the excitement that
follows Marlin, the not-so funny
clownfish played by Albert
Brooks, and his journey to 42
Wallaby Way, Sydney.
Guiding him on his way,
is his short-term memory loss
friend Dory, a pacific regal blue
tang played by Ellen DeGeneres,
on their search to find his son
Nemo, also a clownfish played
by Alexander Gould.
Adding 3D enhances
the adventures throughout the
ocean. From the beginning with
Nemo’s mother, to Nemo getting
captured by a dentist, swimming
with fish- friendly sharks,
jumpin’ jellyfish, to riding with
the sea turtles, the motion of the
3D makes it feel like you’re in
the middle of the action.
On the other side of
things, Nemo is fighting his own
problems such as becoming a
member of the fish tank, staying
away from the evil fish-killer
niece, and most importantly
trying to get out of the fish tank
and back home.
Marlin’s story about
finding his son is passed around
from animal to animal, until a
certain pelican hears and spreads
the news to Nemo, and suddenly
Nemo has the courage to try to
escape again.
The popping effect of
the 3D is a fantastic, fun, spunky
way to watch a movie, especially
Finding Nemo.
You can find Nemo too!
Showtimes for Friday, Saturday & Sunday this weekend.
Edgewood Cinema - 1:30 pm, 4:30 pm, 7:05 pm, 9:45 pm
Lincoln Grand Cinema - 1:15 pm, 4:10 pm, 7:00 pm, 9:35 pm
matter what, fashion will always
be a way to show one’s own
individual character. This year
it should be everyone’s goal to
let themselves shine through.
Everybody wants that
one thing that is going to make
them stand out.
“I like to go for the
clean look, I don’t like to be
laid back, and I want to be
presentable.” VanAckeren said.
For girls this fall,
society is going for the 60s look
with fun scarves, high boots,
tight and printed skinny jeans
and odd patterns. For guys it
is the clean look with tailored
shirts and polos, skinny and fit
jeans, bright colored jackets and
shoe with shades of beige that
go with any outfit.
“I don’t find it hard to
stay current with today’s ever
changing fashion it is something
that I just make a priority.” Lang
said.
Fashion is a personal
experience; it can show what
someone is feeling that day. It
changes that person’s attitude;
dressing with no purpose can
make a person feel forgotten,
but dressing bold can make that
person feel confident.
Art festival opens
this weekend
Lauren Schieke
Entertainment Editor
As summer comes to an
end and fall comes to show its
colors, so too do artists from all
across the nation.
This weekend, the Lincoln
Arts Festival will take place at
SouthePointe Pavilions. From
ten to six on Saturday and ten to
five on Sunday, artists of all kind
will be displaying their talent and
selling works of art.
Admission is free, and
other entertainment includes food
and plenty of live music groups.
“They had lots of different
artists that would talk to you; it was
very inspirational”, junior Jennifer
Wichers said.
The Art Festival is hosted
by the Lincoln Arts Council and is
in its 12th year.
Originating back in the
year 2000, it is a tradition for our
own town of Lincoln, Nebraska to
welcome the hundreds of artists
coming from across the country.
All of these artists gather
together, displaying their best
works and hoping for national
recognition. As for the music groups
playing live at SouthPointe, some
featured guests are Barger & Pipher,
Toasted Ponies, Fab Tones, and the
Southpaw Bluegrass Band..
The event is very family
friendly.
The event proves to be
promising as it prepares for its
twelfth year at SouthPointe.
Sports
10
September 21, 2012
Volleyball leads senior to true destination
Corinne Simpson
Editor-in-Chief
knew I wanted to go far away. The recruiting class of 2013
is just like me. They are pretty easy-going people, but are all
Bachmann, just like most volleyball players
growing up in Nebraska, dreamed of playing for the
Huskers. But she is very happy with how everything turned
out.
“I kind of knew my entire career that I had the talent
to play college volleyball,” Bachmann said. “But I did go
through a period of doubt, debating whether I really wanted
to commit the next eight years of my life to volleyball. But
after much consideration, I couldn’t imagine my life any
other way.”
Bachmann spent much of her recruitment process
communicating with former Pius volleyball player, Elle
Ross, who now plays for Furman University. She advised
Bachmann to go for it. Ross told Bachmann that during
college, sports would keep her on the right path, in line and
out of trouble.
People always told Bachmann that when she
set foot on the campus she was supposed to go to, she’d
know.
“Tennessee-Chattanooga just
had the right feel,” Bachmann said. “I
Corinne Simpson
Editor-in-Chief
PHOTOS BY AUDREY KUEHN
AND SIERRA BAUMGARTNER
Sacrifice didn’t stop senior Anne Bachmann in
the journey towards being a NCAA Division 1 setter. The
Thunderbolt accepted a scholarship to play volleyball at
Tennessee-Chattanooga beginning in the fall of 2013. focused on the common goal on coming back to Omaha,
Nebraska and competing in the NCAA tournament.”
The senior chose to set for the Mocs (short for
Mockingbirds) over Loyola, Maryland, North Dakota and
Air Force. Bachmann was recruited as a setter and served as
one of the setters for the Thunderbolts in 2010, but made
the transition to a defensive specialist during
the 2011 season. This transition was really
Fall Sports Brief
Softball
Girls Golf
Lincoln Pius X can only
expect more after a fourth-place
finish in the girls’ state Class A
golf tournament last year. With
the top four players returning, another player who
was on and off the varsity, and three newcomers,
the Thunderbolts have good reason to expect the
highest finish possible this year.
Senior Marisa Pribnow and junior Maddie
Koenig were fifth and 14th, respectively last fall.
Seniors Miranda Paul, Kelsey Benes and Rose
Medill have plenty of tournament experience, too.
Already, the Thunderbolts have won
the Southeast Invitational beating the defending
state champions, Grand Island, won the Norfolk
Invitational, and the Kearney Invitational, and
finished second at the Elkhorn South Invitational.
“This season has been great,” senior Marisa
Pribnow said. “We have won every tournament
except for two and the overall bond of this team
is amazing. I wouldn’t trade it for the world. And
I can’t wait to see how we perform once October
rolls around.”
difficult at first, but made Bachmann a better all-around
player and improved her defense a lot.
“It was hard because I went from a position where
I touched the ball every play, to the back row where you
maybe touch the ball every other play,” Bachmann said.
“Suddenly, I became the eyes and voice of the team.”
Bachmann admitted that her Nebraska Juniors 17s
squad helped greatly in her recruiting process. This process
took about two years. She started sending emails with
videos and her volleyball resume attached and encouraged
coaches to come to tournaments and watch. “We travel all over the country so many different
coaches got the chance to look at me,” Bachmann said.
“But obviously, I was the setter for that team, so that’s the
position that the collegiate coaches watched me play. “
“Anne is unique beyond belief,” Pius X volleyball
coach Jake Moore said. “She always has high energy and
wants to please everyone. She is dedicated to the game
and puts the team before the individual which is the perfect
characteristic of a setter. She is a 4 year letter winner, which
is rare at Pius. Anne is discipline and is also the captain of
our squad this season.”
The dedication and sacrifice sparked the dream of
being an NCAA Division 1 college setter and the Pius family looks forward to watch Anne Bachmann compete for
Tennessee-Chattanooga beginning in the fall of 2013.
Boys Tennis
Tennis is off to a hot start, recently winning
the ten team Skutt Invitational. Senior Trey McGill is
working at the No. 1 Singles position and senior Jack
Olsson and sophomore Landon Warner are teaming up
at No. 2 Doubles.
Junior John Cecava is 14-5 at No. 2 singles and
senior Davis Warner and sophomore Adam Olson are
developing quickly at No. 2 doubles.
The Bolts placed third at the Capital City
Classic and Spartan Invite and host the 16-team Pius X
Invite this coming weekend. “The guys have been working hard,” Coach
Nolan DeWispelare said. “They have been developing
more confidence along the way.”
The Bolts are working toward being in peak
form when the State Tournament comes around on Oct
11 and 12.
The number of returning
members the Thunderbolts have this
season is astounding. With six seniors
who have started most of their career,
this squad continues to be strong
contenders in every game thus far, this season. One of
the seniors being Arkansas recruit, Kat Woolman who
hit .467 last season.
Their season opened with the annual fight
between Pius and Lincoln Southeast. Unfortunately,
defeat fell into the hands of the Bolts that evening, as
they were swept by the Knights. While the Bolts lost
their first two games of the season, and have rebounded
since then to take to #3 spot in the Class B rankings and
taking second place in the annual Hastings Tournament
on Sept 15. This team has chalked up wins against Blair,
Norris, and Lincoln North Star.
“The team is on the right path to reaching state
this year,” senior Shelby Chapelle said. “We have many
challenges ahead and can only hope we can overcome
them as a team.”
Pius X, under the leadership of second year
Coach Don Rempe, will look to advance to the State
Tournament as they compete in the district tournament
on Oct 4 and Oct 5.
September 21, 2012
Coach’s
Sports
Corner: Mike Aldrich
Aldrich follows in the footsteps of his father,
legendary Pius X coach Vince Aldrich
that is the football team is so much more
rewarding.
Features Editor
“I love being around high school
The first home game of the football football. I think it keeps you young,” Aldrich
season brought a sea of enthusiastic Pius said.
students to Aldrich
Aldrich is the
field in varying
son of Pius’ first football
shades of neon
coach, Vince Aldrich.
shirts and shorts
His father is also the
and neon-colorednamesake of the Pius
duct-taped shoes.
football field.
Glitter
rippled
“My dad is my
through the air after
coaching role model. He
the first touchdown
was old school. He had
and the defense
the ability to adapt as
showed a dazzling
the game and as society,
- Coach Tim Alyward
display of grit and
especially in the 1970s,
determination.
changed,” Aldrich said.
T h e
As a high schoolsimple ambiance
er, Aldrich attended Pius
of high school football is breathtaking. and was a part of the Pius football team. He
Watching it from an outside perspective is graduated from Pius in 1972.
inspiring. But as assistant coach Mike Aldrich One would presume that after
knows, being a part of the roller coaster ride playing football in high school, he would
Kate Rawlinson
[
[
“Coach Aldrich
is reliable, very
reserved, but
excellent with
the players.”
Lance Armstrong
stripped of titles
Nick Esparza
Staff Writer
the game, but then we picked up and won
at the end. I was really proud of the team
then.”
As Aldrich has had the opportunity
to coach so many successful seasons of
football at Pius, he knows what ingredients
are required for the win.
“Work ethic and team unity are what
great teams are made of,” he said.
This year Pius saw the switch from
many years of Class B sports into its inaugural
twenty-first century Class A season. Whereas
some were averse to the idea of playing the
typically “better” Lincoln schools, Aldrich
greets this opportunity with the great insight
his father instilled in him.
“My dad’s philosophy was that if
you’re going to be good, you have to play the
best. It makes you better.”
Following in the footsteps of his
father, Aldrich has proven to be a valuable
and irreplaceable piece of the Pius team.
Pius fans experience first same
city atmosphere since 1992
Jacob Kreikemeier
Staff Writer
On the field, it was the
Pius Thunderbolts against the North
Star Navigators. In the stands,
paint squared off against black.
The atmosphere was electric. This
was not only Homecoming; it was
the first inter-Lincoln game of the
season. It was war.
Pius has not played a varsity
football game against another
Lincoln team since playing Lincoln
East and Lincoln High in the 90s.
Head coach Tim Alyward expected
a large crowd from both schools
and the turnout was definitely there
for Pius. Alyward stated that there
was a great atmosphere and the
fans really came with a lot of spirit
to cheer on the Thunderbolts.
“The crowd helped a lot in the
second half and kept the team
going,” said Alyward.
It continued cheering despite the
score. The fans kept the home field
advantage for Pius which was one
of the reasons Alyward wanted
to keep the game at Aldrich Field
and not travel down “A” street to
Seacrest Field.
It’s a new season with new cheers.
The game was started with the Laser
Quest Players Code followed by the
famous “I Believe...” This one of
the favorite cheers of senior Scott
Jenkins. Jenkins was very excited
for the first inter-Lincoln game,
as were many of the other seniors
who led the student section.
Jenkins said, “Everyone participated
in the theme and cheered.”
He was happy with the turn out and
the way the students came together
to make the game as loud as it
could be.
All the fans seemed to
really enjoy the game despite the
score. The cheering died down a
few times. When it did, it was soon
revitalized with a creative chant
that really made the game fun.
At points it would seem as if the
(top) Pius X fan section during the first football game vs
anotther Lincoln school since 1992.
(Bottom left) The new visitor seats with the North Star fan
section from the game on September 14.
(Bottom right) The student section came covered in paint
and cheered loud all night from a successful homecoming.
Thunderbolts were crushing North
Star because of the electricity
coming from the fans.
Pius is showing the rest of
class A, that although it may be the
new kid on the block, it knows how
to run a student section and show
school pride. The competition is
not only greater on, but off the field
also.
Hopefully this will continue
throughout the year and Pius will
have an even greater crowd at
away games since some of the
future away games will be played
at Seacrest Field here in Lincoln.
Seacrest is by no means our home
Aldrich Field, but Pius will make
sure that the other Lincoln schools
remember the Thunderbolts.
PHOTOS BY MORGAN NOEL
AND MONICA CONDON
After an unimaginable feat
of endurance and strength in the
cycling world, Lance Armstrong has
decided to stop fighting accusations
that he participated in blood doping.
Armstrong said to the
media, “There comes a point in
every man’s life when he has to say:
‘Enough is enough.’ For me, that
time is now”.
Lance had been fighting
accusations since 1999 that he had
cheated and had an unfair advantage
in winning his seven Tour de France
races.
This June the United
States Anti-Doping Agency charged
Armstrong with drug trafficking;
using illegal steroids, a red blood
cell booster called: erythropoietin
or “EPO”, human growth hormones
as well as illegal blood transfusions
dating back to 1986.
The proof is very vague
however the USADA claims to
have manuscripts of blood samples
and testimonies from ten former
teammates.
The head of Bike Club,
Sandra Sullivan, had an interesting
input on the Armstrong doping
scandal.
“It’s very hard to prove
whether or not he was guilty”, she
said. “But it seems like he’s guilty if
he’s done fighting the allegations.”
The USADA wants to take
Lance and some of his trainers to a
hearing. Then they want to make the
evidence against Armstrong public.
Cycling has a history of
cleaning titles if a winner is found
guilty of doping charges. This year
Andy Schleck was given the 2010
Tour de France’s first prize jersey
after previous winner Alberto
Contador was stripped of his title. It
was embarrassing for Schleck and
the cycling world.
“I think that if we stripped
most heroes of their achievements,
we would have very little,”
Sullivan said. “I understand it’s
hard to fight accusations like that
but it’s disappointing. You have an
obligation as a figure that people
look up to, to do good.”
So given the news of
Armstrong stopping to fight charges,
the cycling power the International
Cycling Union awarded seven new
champions who received second
place to him, though some of the
second-place-finishers had already
been banned from the sport.
have pursued a college football team as well.
This, however, was not the route Aldrich
wanted to take.
“I didn’t try out for football in
college. I think I actually tried out for the golf
team,” he said as he chuckled.
When Aldrich isn’t busy coaching
or scheming for the Pius football team, he is
cheering on the Nebraska Cornhuskers in all
their college sports and the pro-football team,
the San Francisco 49ers.
His true love, however, is his Pius
football team. In his entire 32-year career, his
favorite memory comes not from the varsity
team, but from his junior varsity teams.
“From 1992 to 1997, the JV team
was on a 39-game win streak. That was
something pretty special,” Aldrich said.
When it comes to the varsity team,
though, his most prized memory came only
eight years ago.
Aldrich said, “It was in 2004 when
the State Championship was on the line. We
were looking pretty dead at the beginning of
11
Back Page
September 21, 2012
12
Meet the X-Change staff
Mr. DeWispelare
Senior
Editor-in-Chief, Sports Editor
Favorite media outlet:
Twitter
Jack Thompson
Kathryn Budell
Senior
Graphics Editor
Favorite media outlet:
the internet
Junior
X-Clusives Editor
Favorite media outlet:
BBC and Tumblr
Nick Esparza
Zach Hammack
Junior
Staff Writer
Favorite media outlet:
Reddit
Junior
News and Opinion Editor
Favorite media outlet:
USA Today
Anna Ondracek
Kate Rawlinson
Junior
Copy Editor
Favorite media outlet:
Twitter
Junior
Features Editor, Copy Editor
Favorite media outlet:
Pinterest
Lauren Schieke
Sierra Baumgartner
Monica Condon
Jacob Kreikemeier
Morgan Noel
Ben Schell
Junior
Entertainment Editor
Favorite media outlet:
Sunday Comics
FFREE
R E E DESIGNER
D E S I G N ER DEB
DEBIT
B I T CCARD.
ARD. RREWARDS
E WA R D S PPOINTS
O I N T S FFOR
O R MMUSIC.
U S I C . $$50.
50.
Just one of the many ways you can build your MyStyle account.
Sophomore
Staff Writer
Favorite media outlet:
Good Morning, America
MyStyle Checking:
Choose 3 options, then go be you:
• $50
• ATM Fee Freedom
• Rewards Points to Use on Food, Music and More
• Free Designer Debit Card
• Free Replacement Card
MyStyle Checking available to persons age 16 to 25. Requires $50 opening deposit and enrollment in e-Statements. The following applies if option selected:
$50 cash deposited to your account within 30 days of month-end following your 10th point-of-sale debit card transaction if conducted within 2 months of account
opening; 2500 Reward Points credited to your Points2U account within 60 days of account opening. If ATM Fee Freedom option selected, $2 ATM Usage Fee at
non-UBT ATMs is waived on first 20 transactions per statement cycle; some ATM owners may assess a surcharge of which we have no control and are not able to
waive. Other restrictions apply. Member FDIC
Sophomore
Staff Writer
Favorite media outlet:
Pinterest
Sophomore
Staff Writer
Favorite media outlet:
YouTube
Sophomore
Staff Writer
Favorite media outlet:
Disney Channel
Sophomore
Cover Editor
Favorite media outlet:
Sportscenter
Kaitlin VanLoon
Audrey Kuehn
Sophomore
Staff Writer
Favorite media outlet:
Disney Channel
Visit ubt.com/mystyle or stop into
any ubt branch to learn more.
Corinne Simpson
Faculty
Adviser
Favorite media outlet:
10/11 News
Freshman
Staff Writer
Favorite media outlet:
Facebook
Straight from the Bolts
What was your favorite part of the Olympics
U771-027012_C7 Be You My Style Print Ad
Color: B/W
Size: 4.875” x 10”
Sandy Hartman
Halley Gaucher
Catherine Gries
Riley Deubelbeiss
Austin Jambor
“The stories about the
sacrifices the athletes
make to go for the
gold.”
“Swimming.”
“Cheering and girls
gym.”
“ USA basketball. ”
“4 x 100.”
staff
senior
junior
sophomore
freshman