H O O F B E A T S
Mercer Middle High
School
HOOFBEATS
Volume 53, Issue 3
SPRING 2017
HOOFBEATS is bringing you the latest updates
in the winter and spring sports season
and events from around the school.
INSIDE THIS ISSUE:
SPORTS
2-4
HEAP OF THE
MONTH
9
QUEBEC TRIP
HIGHLIGHTS
5
15 MINUTES
OF FAME
8
FROM THE
HORSE’S
MOUTH
6-7
SPEECH
4
HAYLIE HITS
1,000 POINTS
2
Juniors and seniors are anticipating the spring activity season
The Hoofbeats Staff would like to thank
Mercer Hardware
for all the years of support!
Page 2
Girls’ Basketball
By Haylie Glass
The Lady M’s basketball team finished
up the season with a roster of only six
girls. The team overcame a variety of
adversities throughout the season and
ended with a quarterfinal playoff game
held at Meadville High School.
The Mustangs faced Cambridge
Springs and the teams battled back and
forth until the last quarter when the
odds did not fall in Mercer’s favor. Sadly, they came up short, losing by only 7
points.
Haylie Hits 1,000!
By Nate Hinkson
Passing your drivers’
exam. Getting your first
car. Going to Prom. All of
these are much anticipated milestones of any student’s high school career.
In that respect, Haylie
Glass is just like any other high school senior.
Glass, however, holds an
honor that very few seniors have achieved. She is
Haylie’s fan club celebrates with
the team and coaches
The six ladies will hold tight to the
memories of this season
That Saturday afternoon was the last
time seniors Britney Edwards, Haylie
Glass, and Bryanna Fedorchak played a
high school basketball game. Needless to
say, it was an emotional finish sending off
the three seniors. The Lady M’s ended
the season with a respectable record of 9
-14.
the 6th female basketball
player to score over
1,000 career points in
Mercer High School history. Glass scored her
1,000th point away from
Mustang territory after
Kennedy Catholic’s Lady
Eagles kept her in their
sights all night.
Against the Farrell
Steelers on February 9,
Glass sunk her milestone
basket to the joy of fans
and family that traveled
to witness it. Although
the Lady M’s ultimately
lost the game, spirits
were high as the team
came together to celebrate their teammate’s
accomplishment.
Not only does Haylie
have this prestigious hon-
or, she shares this triumph with her older
brother Justin Glass,
Class of 2011. He
reached this same
achievement his senior
year as well. Justin and
Haylie are now only the
2nd brother and sister
duo to reach this
achievement in Mercer
County; the first being
siblings from Farrell
High School.
Glass finished her high
school basketball career
with a whopping 1,046
career points. She is
currently continuing to
practice while visiting
colleges to decide which
team she will join while
studying Early Childhood
Education.
Page 3
Boys’ Basketball
By Alayna Jacoway
The Mercer Boys’ Basketball team finished off
their 2016-2017 season
with a 4-19 record. The
Mustangs took part in the
Mercer Christmas Tournament during the second
half of the season, where
they lost 46-37 to the Slippery Rock Rockets.
Mercer later defeated
Lakeview to the same 4637 score. A few days later,
a victorious game for the
Mustangs was played
against Sharpsville, ending
with a score of 70-38.
Against Rocky Grove,
the Mustangs played a
close game to end with a
final 57-53 loss. Following
that was the Mercer vs.
Reynolds game with a 4946 score. The Mustangs
took their 4th and final
win against Sharpsville
with a score of 65-59.
On Valentine’s Day,
Mercer faced Reynolds in
a close game on Senior
Night with a 55-51 loss.
Seniors Jordan Boitnott,
Connor Richards, Kyle
Ricketts, Brock Watson,
and Alex VanWoert were
all recognized that night.
Their first playoff game
was against Iroquois. The
Mustangs played a close
game but lost 38-35.
Congratulations to our
hardwood heroes and good
luck to the seniors!
Seniors Brock Watson, Alex VanWoert, and
Matt Mathias close in on the shooter
Mercer Wrestling By Connor Richards
The Mighty Mercer
Mustang Wrestling team
under Coach Jerry
Gawne began their season in December with a
several wins against West
Middlesex and at the Red
Bank Valley tournament.
January was a tough
month as the Mustangs
only recorded one win.
At the Mercer VFW
Tournament the team
placed 7th with senior
Noah McLaughlin placing
4th and juniors Will Chess
and Bob Gregory placing
3rd and 1st, respectively.
Chess and Gregory
both placed again at the
Grove City Tournament, taking the 5th and
4th place spots.
Six wrestlers advanced to districts in
their weight classes;
Eric Gawne and Bob
Gregory 2nd place, Will
Chess 3rd place, and
Noah McLaughlin, Zac
King, and Logan Conner 4th place. Only
Gregory, a junior, ad-
vanced to regionals,
placing 2nd and qualifying for the state tournament. Although
Gregory did not place
at the state level, he
is looking to make it
happen for his senior
year.
Senior night was
held on February 1
against Sharpsville
and honored Seniors
Eric Gawne, Noah
McLaughlin, and Zac
King.
Members of the Mercer
Wrestling team will be going to an annual wrestling
tournament held in Virginia
Beach, VA from March 24
to the 26. Congratulations
to Bob Gregory and good
luck to the seniors!
Page 4
Indoor Track
By Kristin Perrine
Mercer’s indoor track program began during the early winter season on November 4 under the
continued coaching of Mr. Derek Myers. For conditioning, the members lifted and ran after school
four days a week. Members are seniors Megan Parker and Alex Denny, and juniors James Ohler
and Justin Reno.
Alex Denny participated in triple jump and the long jump event. She enjoyed participating in indoor track because “Indoor track is a great experience to help with the upcoming outdoor track
season.” Megan Parker took part in shot put. James Ohler competed in the 800 and the mile during the season. Justin Reno participated in the mile at indoor track meets. Reno did very well this
indoor track season and even set a personal best time by 10 seconds.
The indoor track season ended on February 20, but Megan Parker’s number one fan, Alex Denny, joined Parker as she continued to practice. Parker placed first at The Spire Institute in Geneva
on Saturday February 25. She qualified for the indoor state track meet that was at Penn State’s
University Park Campus and received 15th place.
Congratulations to senior Megan Parker and good luck to these athletes as they begin the outdoor track season.
Mercer Speech
By Rachel Bish
The 2016-2017 Speech season proved to be another successful year for Mercer’s Varsity Forensics
Team. Mercer brought home a multitude of top rank trophies as individuals and as team. Tensions
were high, nerves were elevated, and emotions were in full swing leading up to the make it or break it
competition rounds for qualifying tournaments.
Advancing to the State level tournament at Bloomsburg University representing District One are
seniors Rachel Bish, Liz Ludwig and Abby Grabigel, juniors Rose Gigliotti, Brianna Jarrett, Andrew
Brinker, Sarah Turton, Mary Hogue, Evan Daugherty, Maddie Rowe, and Kate Shaffer, and sophomores Cole McDuffie and Hayden Maine. Advancing to the CFL Grand National Tournament in Louisville, Kentucky are seniors Ludwig and Bish, juniors Hogue, Rowe, Brinker, Shaffer, and Turton, and
sophomore McDuffie.
Mercer came confident and prepared to the NSDA qualifying tournament on March 11 with a good
showing in all events. 6th place finishers include Daugherty and Turton, 5th place finishers include Ludwig and Andrew Brinker. Finishing at 4th and 3rd place are Turton and Bish, respectively. 1st place
champions were Maine and Hogue, qualifying them for a National tournament in Birmingham, Alabama. We wish all of the qualifying students good luck as they do their best representing Mercer High!
Page 5
Quebec Trip Highlights
By Carlene Murray
A splash of fresh maple syrup and a
chilly tour were just the beginning
This was a big year for the Mercer French
cuisine. Students got to eat croissants and hot
classes as they traveled across the border to
chocolate for breakfast and enjoyed desserts in
Quebec for a field trip. The students were away
from February 1 through February 5 and were
French-style bakeries.
It also allowed the classes to observe Canadian
able to learn more about the fascinating French
life as they learned how to make maple butter and
culture.
tour the old fashioned streets of Quebec. The
Every day consisted of waking up early and
taking part in a full schedule of planned events.
French students learned how to make art with
copper, toured underground tunnels, and observed
The students made sure to dress warm as they
a beautiful waterfall on the trip as well.
participated in many frigid activities such as dog
Jessica Cameron described her experience by
sledding, tubing, and going to the winter carnival.
The winter carnival consisted of music, sled-
saying, “The 12-hour bus ride was totally worth it.
I had a great time and made so many fun memories
riding and a beautiful ice palace that the kids
in Quebec.” This exciting field trip was full of edu-
could tour.
cational adventures that the students will never
This trip was a great opportunity to learn
more about the French language and try French
forget.
Page 6
Straight from the Horse’s Mouth: What Scares you the most?
Middle School
Robby Feilke: Being stuck in a
small space
Derek Geer: “His dark soul”
Michael Berger: Badgers
Connor Grossman: Snapping
turtles
Ethan Downing: Arachnids
Cole Doolin: Bees
Ellie Shipton: Stink bugs
Freshmen
Sophomores
Adrianna Lutes: Snakes
Hannah Ridgway: Open Water
Jordan Link: Spiders
Brayden Ellis: Manchester City losing
Lydia Pennington: Mice
Austin Vernille: Heights
PJ Boggs: My Harrison leaving me
Elizabeth Sharman: Spiders
Tony McCrea: Open water
Jenna Vincent: Stink bugs
to Monaco
Nikayla Jacoway: Bats
Alayna Jacoway: Losing in 8 ball pool
Kevin Chen: Being in a Plane Crash
Asher Myers: Never Ending Universe
+ Loneliness
Jacob Sirofchuck: Manchester Unit-
Alyssa Fox: Roller coasters
ed not winning the Champions League
Ian Taylor: Spiders
Alex Long: Hostage Situations
Lizzy Fedorchak: Snakes
Joey Prentice: Spiders
college
Sarah Coryea: Spiders
Matthew Hoge: Never being as good
Erin Wingard: Big spiders
Aubrey Simcik: Ella Garner
as my brother Adam
Emily Kowal: Clowns
Ella Garner: Aubrey Simcik’s face
Casey Covert: Dying in my sleep
J.P. Burk: A mad Mrs. Christy
Adrienne Schupp: Spiders
Madison Kimes: Pre- Calculus
Peyton Miller: Death
Isaiah Phillips: My face
Jocelyn Brown: Going to college and
Lilly Roman: School
Brooke Jones: Snakes
Amanda Bish: Snakes
Kayla Glaser: Porcelain Dolls
Azaria Wolf: Big spiders
Abby McNellis: The dark
Alana Smith: Not getting in to
Ryanne Moore-Michaels: Spiders Hannah Link: Clowns
Carson Filer: The afterlife
Kaila Peters: Snakes
Harrison Murray: Death
Jacob Smith: Spiders
Owen Sagulla: Centipedes
Angelina Jonnoon: Dolls
not having any money
Keely Heffern: Roller coasters
Kayleigh Rickard: Heights
Chayse Fussell: Failing at something
Craig Howard: Flamethrowers
Virginia Reagle: Noses
Hayden Maine: Voldemort
Page 7
Straight from the Horse’s Mouth: What scares you the most?
Juniors
Carlene Murray: Snakes
Rose Gigliotti: Thunderstorms
Anna Robertson: Glass dolls
Tori Adams: Too much sauce
Brianna Jarrett: A.P. chem tests
Cassidy Pears: Breaking a bone
Hannah Schmid: Forgetting my
POD folder
Josh Wamboldt: Looking dumb in
Seniors
Isaiah Bartolone: Losing
Kaylynn
Kaylynn Foore: Spiders
Britney Edwards: Heights
Avery Hoover: The unexpected
Gena Schupp: Bridges
Billy Priester: Snakes
Matt Mathias: Acceptance
front of others
Hannah Bungar: Spiders
Jessica Cameron: Public embar-
Jordan Boitnott: Failure
rassment
Mary Hogue: Unrestrained
heights
Maddie Rowe: Cats, heights, birds
Will Chess: Nicholas Cage
Justin LaBarge: Falling off of tall
stuff
Anna Brunson: Never marrying
Mason Borowicz: Geese
Annie Miller: Totaling another
car
Ashley Shoemaker: Being kidnapped
Liam McQuiston: Dealing with
people I dislike
Natasha McNulty- Miller:
Clowns
Logan Deitz: Chucky
Kate Shaffer: Being stuck underwater
Staff
Mr. Mausser: Being a bad parent
Mrs. Watson: Vomiting
Mr. Degraaf: My wife
Mr. Myers: Nothing
Mr. Gadsby: Snakes
Mr. Walter: Porcelain dolls
Mrs. Rowe: Camping
Mr. Krenzer: Freshmen
Mr. Chess: Spiders
Mr. Rust: The Snuggles fabric softener bear
Kenzie Haight: The Dark
Miss Giles: Crying babies or Mr. My-
Morgan Winland: When fly-
ers
ers don’t twist properly in a
Miss Martin: Falling from high places
twist down
Kristin Perrine: That Starbucks will close
Brandi Edwards: Bugs
Megan Parker: Dying
Jon-Carl Hostetler: Going 0
Mr. Morris: Snakes and Spiders
Mrs. Bello: Heights
Mrs. Sibenac: Mice
Mrs. Haggerty: Uncertainty
Mrs. Santom: Heights
and 9
Ms. Vicki Zambino: Rodents
Jaime Burdette: Drowning
Mrs. McConnell: Driving on the In-
Connor Richards: Frogs and
smelling bad
Nate Hinkson: Styrofoam and
Matt Mathias
Haylie Glass: Losing Rachel
when she moves to Tennessee
terstate
Mrs. Oates: Kidnappers
Page 8
Austin Vernille
Kara Peters
Miranda Wimer
What is your favor-
What is your best
ite spring activity:
memory so far this
Spring Soccer
year: Jackson Ha-
Favorite show on
Netflix: The Office
zelet looking at pic-
Megan Reed
If you could be any
How many siblings
celebrity, who would
do you have: 8
it be: Jennifer Aniston
If you could have
Favorite movie out
any wish come true
right now: Split
what would it be: to
own a Ford Raptor
If you could move
anywhere where
Dream job: To join
would you go: South
the Marines
Carolina
IPhone or Android:
What is your favor-
Android
ite shoe brand: Nike
Pizza or Wings:
Dream job: Grave
Wings
Digger
Favorite TV show:
If you could be any
Supernatural
animal what animal
If you could marry
any celebrity who
Buffalo and Ranch
Chipotle
wings
Favorite kind of
What’s your favorite
ite class this year:
Rascal Flatts
Adv. Gov.
Most annoyed by:
What is your least
Disrespectful people
favorite word: Uber
Favorite class:
What is your big-
English
gest pet peeve:
Hobbies: Drawing
Plans after graduating: Go into military
Chocolate Factory
Favorite TV
show: Supernatural
song: “Issues” by Julia
Favorite movie:
Michaels
Longest Ride
thing you would
Greatest weak-
buy if you won the
ness: Puppies
lottery: Guns, trucks
Dream vacation:
and a house
Do you have any
strange talents: Not
that I know of
What is your favor-
Favorite singer:
Rocky Mountain
color: Black
What is the first
ite restaurant:
duh
What’s your favorite
cheese: ’Merican
What is your favor-
would you be: Cat,
Grace Moretz
study hall
Favorite food:
Favorite store:
would it be: Chloë
tures of Shakira in
Bahamas
Favorite type of
music: Country
People who drive the
speed limit on the left
side of the interstate
What is your favorite animal: Dogs
Dunkin or Starbucks: Dunkin
What is your favorite TV show: People
vs. OJ
What is your least
favorite food: Anything that swims
Page 9
Page 9
Heap Of The Month By Nate Hinkson
This issue’s “Heap of the
Month” is Noah McLaughlin’s
Chevy S10. What makes Noah’s car affectionately named
“Little Pinky” a heap? Well
first let’s mention that “Little
Pinky” is 23 years old. 1994
was a simpler time and power
windows were a luxury. For
being so old though “Little
Pinky” only has 174,000 miles
on the odometer, but that
quit working a while ago.
“Little Pinky” was accidentfree before Noah got behind
the wheel. Noah has put
“Little Pinky” in a ditch and
busted the driver’s side mirror and shattered the window. Luckily for Noah and his
truck, they survived. Noah is
a bit of a self-proclaimed
music aficionado, so he
put a new radio into his
car, allowing him to
bump to his favorite
tunes.
Noah loves his truck
though and wouldn’t
want anything else.
“Little Pinky” is rear
wheel drive and Noah
claims it makes him the
“Burnout King,” but this
is not true. Noah wanted
to note that his truck,
“purrs like a kitten” and
this is true because his
exhaust is actual garbage.
The tires on “Little
Pinky” are very bald, and
the nozzles are broken
off so they are losing air
at a slow pace and will
need replaced soon.
Mercer Location
724-662-2433
Noah posing on
“Little Pinky”
Page 10
Mercer High School Presents “Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat”
By Shawna Link
This musical tells the
biblically-inspired tale
of the favorite of
Jacob’s twelve sons.
Being the favored one
of his father, Joseph
receives a special token, making the other
eleven sons jealous.
Quickly, Joseph finds
himself sold into slavery
in the household of
Potiphar. Being wrongly
accused of passionate
crimes, Joseph lands in
jail, warning the people
of upcoming plagues.
The pharaoh, hearing
of Joseph’s prophetic
abilities, summons his
and hilarity ensues as
Egypt rails from disasters. Can this buy Joseph
his freedom? Will Joseph
be able to keep his faith
while overcoming these
obstacles?
The title character of
Joseph is played by veteran actor junior Andrew Brinker. Marcus
Ryan fills out the role of
the glamorous Pharaoh.
Max Pushkar plays Jacob,
father of Joseph. Seniors
Leah Fuge and Grace
Ruhlman, as well as, junior Sarah Turton will
guide the audience
through this scintillating
adventure as the narrators.
Catchy tunes and outrageous costumes are
just a few highlights of
this tantalizing tale of
redemption. The cast
has been preparing for
the show since November and has had fun
along the way. Senior
Fuge will always fondly
remember the rehearsal
that found them blowing
bubbles. Junior Garrett
Shiemke, who plays Joseph’s brother Gad, enjoys “singing in ‘Canaan
Days’ because it is just
the brothers on stage.”
HOOFBEATS
Hoofbeats thanks our sponsors!
American Legion Post #159
Mercer Hardware
Armstrong Insurance
Mercer Physical Therapy
Mercer Forge
Newton Financial Services
Hoofbeats Staff
Senior Editor
Rachel Bish
Junior Editor
Carlene Murray
Feature Staff
Haylie Glass
Nate Hinkson
Feature Staff
Shawna Link
Kristin Perrine
Jackson Hazelet
Alayna Jacoway
Connor Richards
Hannah Ridgway
Cameron Zuschlag
Mercer American Legion
Post # 159