Volume 20 Issue 9 | William Mason High School | 6100 Mason Montgomery Rd., Mason, OH | 5.12.23 “Chaperones Required” See page 2 Illustration by Alisha Verma
New Kings Island chaperone policy stirs controversy Alisha Soni | The Chronicle Just like a rollercoaster, Mason High School (MHS) students see the ups and downs of Kings Island’s new chaperone policy. On April 22, 2023, Kings Island began the implementation of a new chaperone policy. Now, all guests ages 15 and under visiting the park after 4 PM require a chaperone of 21 or older. Other Cedar Fair-run parks in all parts of the country, such as Knott’s Berry Farm, Carowinds and Kings Dominion, have also added this chaperone policy to their code and conduct. In the Kings Island code of conduct, Kings Island said that this policy was originally added because of “increasing incidents of unruly and inappropriate behavior across [the] industry and at other major entertainment venues.” Freshman Mehar Soni is 14 years old and visits the Kings Island park frequently during the summer with their friends. However, due to their parents and their friends’ parents being occupied with work, they are concerned about being limited in their park visits because of a lack of access to a chaperone. “If they do implement this policy strictly, then I won’t be able to go as often,” Soni said. “If we have parents that are working or there are parents that aren’t able to go to Kings Island for other reasons, what would [we] do?” In the past few years, Soni has witnessed acts of unruly behavior at Kings Island. With the new policy that the park implemented, Kings Island’s code of conduct said “[they] believe these changes will help ensure that Kings Island continues to have a positive atmosphere.” However, Soni said that the policy is unlikely to be effective in addressing inappropriate behavior. “If you want to get in a fight and if you were planning on fighting at Kings Island, a parent wouldn’t stop you,” Soni said. “If your parent is across the park, no one is gonna stop you from getting into fights. [The policy is] not practical.” Freshman Emma Musheno is 15 years old and also frequently visits the park with her friends. Musheno said that the policy will force her to visit earlier in the day, most likely reducing the frequency of her park visits because of the summer heat. Although the policy targets kids of a specific age range, Musheno said that some of the disruptive behavior that Kings Island is attempting to avoid is caused by older guests who do not fit into that age range. “I feel like it’s not necessarily about the age, it’s more about the person,” Musheno said. “Whatever happened shouldn’t have to affect the entire age group. They should just be stricter upon entry or something because [the policy] leaves a lot of people out.” Freshman Lyrelle Anderson has been a frequent guest at Kings Island since he was young and said he has noticed a difference in the park’s environment over the years due to the increased violence. Anderson said that the policy, although not effective toward safety, has a reason for being put in place. “Not a lot of people my age are mature,” Anderson said. “I probably wouldn’t blame them for enforcing the rule.” As many kids who fit in the age range of the chaperone policy look forward to the summer, the policy may limit their visits to Kings Island. Although Soni, Musheno and Anderson acknowledge the reasons for implementing the policy, they all said that changes need to be made to the policy to ensure a positive change for the park. “From a safety perspective for younger people, I can see why it’s implemented,” Musheno said. “I would say that overall, Kings Island has gone at this wrong.” Graphic by Alisha Verma 2 May 12, 2023
Students engage in discussion on fear of violence Bradyn Johnson | The Chronicle I have read countless books in my high school career, however, very few have led to important discourse on relevant topics. During the second semester, my English teacher Beth Celenza introduced a book called Their Eyes Were Watching God. At first, I was skeptical since I thought it was just another boring English book. However, over time our class did not just read the book, we discussed and analyzed its contents about race and societal pressures that women face in a differing time period. Celenza decided to intertwine some of the book’s main issues into a student-led discussion on April 18, 2023. Celenza invited Intervention Specialist Hakim Oliver to aid conversation on subjects such as race, sexual orientation, religion, etc. It truly was an eye-opening experience as I have never had the opportunity to discuss such matters in an English class. More Than an English Assignment Mason High School (MHS) senior Isaiah Rowe participated in the discussion, reflecting on the issues he faces as a young African American male. I felt for Isaiah as I listened to him express his greatest fears. Isaiah spoke about recent acts of violence against African American youth and how they have become the target of violence. I listened in as classmates became more comfortable sharing their concerns and expressing a sense of uncertainty in an uncertain world. I can see why they are concerned. Especially when their fears become a reality. A couple of weeks ago, 16-year-old Ralph Yarl, an African American high school junior in Kansas City, was shot in the head by a white homeowner simply for ringing the wrong doorbell. During the class discussion, Rowe mentioned the Yarl case. I instantly knew how the rest of the conversation was going to go. Unfortunately, this is how most of the black community feels when they see something like this. Rowe said that the incident forced him to think about his family and close friends, as it could have been any of them in that same situation. “It was frightening because of how simple the situation was and how quickly it turned dark,” Rowe said. “Such a simple mistake turned into a tragedy so fast. It could have been me or anyone else I know.” I am just like a lot of other high school students, I play sports and have a part-time job. I relate to Rowe, not just because he is a black student but because he stresses about things like his day-to-day routine. “It does make me question some of my daily activities,” Rowe said. “I enjoy hanging out with friends, [but] it’s been at the back of my mind before with other situations similar to this. If it happens to be dark outside, and I go to the wrong house by accident, what could happen to me?” As our conversations concluded in Celenza’s class, I walked away deep in thought. In fact, in the days afterward I decided it would be the subject of my final commentary on these very pages. After a lot of thought, conversations and debates I started to feel like those who are supposed to serve as our mentors, examples and guardrails for our youth are sort of letting us down. The Actions of Adults For generations, adults have felt like the youth of this world are going awry. Teens are rebellious, lazy, ignore the rules of order and are simply going to be our society’s downfall. But a closer look reveals something more about the adults instead of the teens. I grew up in a sports-oriented household, and I often watched as referees would throw unruly parents out of games. Now referees and officials are quitting in droves because they fear for their lives due to out-of-control parents. I read the headlines as business leaders conduct unethical business practices, and politicians publicly vilify one another and those who make them uncomfortable. I think the downright outbursts of what we see from adults, you know the ones who are judging our youth, goes hand in hand with events like Yarl’s. Watching adults throw tantrums demonstrates an unsteadiness that, in my opinion, is leading to societal uncertainty which is giving rise to more violent outbursts. Rowe said that seeing constant acts of unruliness and cruelty towards teenagers makes him fearful of the society he lives in. “It makes me lose trust,” Rowe said. “It gives me anxiety for whatever I do at this point. It has [gotten] to where it’s happening in neighborhoods, which is the scary part because schools and stores were bad enough, but now it’s right next to where [I] live.” As I sat and listened to Rowe become vulnerable with the class, I remember that I have just recently started a new job at Liberty Towne Centre. When Rowe talks about his fearfulness in not being able to roam freely in good consciousness it made me nervous about what could happen while I am on the job. MHS junior Lucy Schmidt also said she works at a mall. Similar to me, she said she feels the weight of being threatened on her shoulders. Fortunately, Schmidt said that her specific workplace provides in-depth safety training for all of its incoming staff members “It’s always in the back of my mind when I’m working, and even at school,” Schmidt said. “The amount of places that shootings have been in is just terrifying. It’s actually everywhere and it feels like nowhere is really safe.” As I listen closely to what Rowe really has to say, I cannot help but think about my little brother. He is a teenager that likes to hang out with his friends and go places too, and the thought of him getting hurt traumatizes me. Rowe said he has been worried about the safety of his younger relatives who do not yet understand the possible implications of their actions. “I definitely fear for my family a lot, especially my two younger cousins,” Rowe said. “They’re very naive because they’re young. You don’t know what other people have or what they will do or want to do. That’s something that I will have to teach my little cousins later, and that’s something that I really wish I didn’t have to teach.” Bridging Divide Older generations seem to constantly nag and bully us teenagers, expressing their fears about the future. Rest assured those of the older generation, while you’re getting thrown out of games, and arguing over divisive political topics, we got this. In fact, at Mason High School there are groups that make it their mission to serve and give back. There are groups that also provide safe spaces where young people can talk and share. These groups serve as safe spaces for different religions, sexualities and races to gather. Junior Cameron Miller, who is the Black Student Union (BSU) President, said that she wants BSU to be a safe space for students who may need support on certain issues. “We’re fostering a safer community,” Miller said. “We want to make sure that you feel welcome and safe. Knowing that there are people in your corner and that we’ll see you and stand up for you is our mission.” After the conversation ended, I realized how skeptical I had been about the discussion. I thought it would be yet another identity talk that no one would participate in, but it was the opposite. It was intriguing to hear about other people’s perspectives of things. Rowe said that discussions like the one that occurred in Celenza’s class are beneficial because they provide perspective for those who may not experience or understand the struggles that other groups of people face. “It’s a very important discussion to have because it exposes the fears of being black,” Rowe said. “I wouldn’t be having these fears if people weren’t thinking of people of color this way, every single day.” May 12, 2023 3 EDITOR COMMENTARY
4 May 12, 2023 Civil Air Patrol enables early military success Laurel Wang | The Chronicle High school students take an early flight to aerospace success through Civil Air Patrol (CAP). CAP is a civilian auxiliary of the United States Air Force. Established in 1941, CAP aims to provide emergency services, aerospace education, and cadet programs for members ages 12 through 21. Through CAP, cadets have various opportunities to gain first-hand experience in the program’s core tenets of leadership, aerospace, fitness, and character. Weekly meetings focus on developing these components with activities ranging from physical training to learning the physics behind bottle rockets. Cadets also participate in volunteer service locally. Each year, CAP members secure wreath sponsors for Wreaths Across America to honor veterans buried at three Hamilton Township cemeteries. Outside of meetings, cadets also have the opportunity to participate in orientation flights, search and rescue training, and encampment, an intense week-long summer program. Participation in CAP does not mandate military service, but the program is designed to set cadets up for success. About 10% of the first-year class at the United States Air Force Academy are CAP alumni, and many others go on to pursue careers in aerospace. For Sophomore C/SSgt. Eddy Dimiziani, CAP provides a way to explore his interest in flying while still in high school. Dimiziani has flown on one out of the five orientation flights offered to cadets so far and hopes to promote through the CAP ranks to get a head-start on his future goals. “My plan is that before I graduate high school, I want to get my second lieutenant rank so that I can get my private pilot’s license,” Dimiziani said. “If I go into the Air Force, afterward, I want to get my commercial pilot’s license and maybe go fly for an airline.” CAP utilizes a rank structure to organize its cadets, who begin in Airman Basic and advance through a series of tests in physical ability, leadership skills, and aerospace knowledge. Each achievement unlocks new responsibilities and leadership positions. Reflecting on his time in CAP, Senior C/2d Lt. Nishanth Vari believes that the experience and soft skills he developed will serve him well in the future. “Five years ago when I started, I thought I wasn’t going to fit in because I never wanted to go into the military,” Vari said. “In each position that I got, from airman to sergeant or Aerospace Education Officer, I started feeling I was in the right place. I was able to do a job well, and because of that I was able to speak confidently, order confidently, [and] improve myself.” Junior C/CMSgt. Israel Reyes echoed C/2d Lt. Vari’s sentiments. Since joining the program four years ago, C/CMSgt. As First Sergeant at the encampment, Reyes has gained firsthand leadership experience by commanding a squadron. “[CAP] gives you a bunch of experience for your resume,” C/CMSgt. Reyes said. “I’ve had so many leadership opportunities so that if I apply for a job, I can say yeah, I can work in a fast-paced environment, I can lead.” Aside from developing leadership skills, the experiences offered by CAP uniquely prepare cadets for various specialized fields. C/CMSgt. Reyes has gained the qualifications to help with Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) disaster relief efforts and participate in ground team search and rescue missions through exercises. “On one [exercise], we worked with a canine team that could smell the bones and teeth we were given and track down a scent,” C/CMSgt. Reyes said. “We learned how to understand what the dog does and how to implement it into a real search mission.” Like C/CMSgt. Reyes, Senior C/Maj. Kothnur found unique opportunities through CAP’s National Cadet Summer Programs. Last summer, C/Maj. Kothnur visited the Air Force Academy in Colorado and toured the base. Although C/Maj. Kothnur has decided to remain a civilian after her five years in CAP, she believes the program has benefited her greatly even into the future and hopes to stay involved. “I’ll definitely come back,” said Kothnur. “There have been a lot of adults in CAP who have left a huge impact on me and inspired me as to what kind of person I want to be. I had really good mentors who helped show me, ‘Okay, this is the kind of person that I want to learn to be’ and give the same opportunity to others in the future.” Photo contributed by Civil Air Patrol Civil air patrol cadets at encampment during a week-long summer intensive salute as part of their stationary drills.
May 12, 2023 5 Hilinski’s Hope Foundation addresses student-athlete mental health Megan Lee | The Chronicle Seniors, Mia Keim and Yana Parker helped bring The Hilinski´s Hope Foundation to Mason High School. On May 3rd, 2023 Mason High School (MHS) welcomed Mark and Kym Hilinski of the Hilinski´s Hope Foundation to speak to students about the importance of student-athlete mental health. Senior Hope Squad members, Keim and Parker planned and organized Hilinski´s Hope for any Mason student who was interested in learning more about mental health. The Hilinski family lost their son, Tyler Hilinski, who took his own life in 2018 after spending his high school and college career as a skilled quarterback. Since the loss of their son, the Hilinski family has used their story to encourage students to speak up about their mental health. When Keim and Parker were freshmen in Hope Squad they were given the opportunity to listen to guest speaker Kate Fagan speak about a similar aspect of mental health. Parker said this event was part of their inspiration for their project. “Because both Yana and I are studentathletes, we saw this as a great opportunity to encourage others to think about the impacts of mental health,” Keim said. Keim and Parker worked closely with MHS staff members Tony Affatato and Lauren Wise as well as the Hope Squad advisors to put this event together. Keim said that after months of planning, organizing and getting the word out, they have planned a successful event that they are proud of. “We saw Hilinski´s hope as a great opportunity to bring awareness to not just Mason athletes but students in general,” Keim said. Because Hope Squad has done impactful work around the community in relation to mental health, advisors are encouraging a new approach to learning about mental health through Senior Capstone projects. Hope Squad Advisors have integrated this project to give students creative freedom to learn more about their interests in mental health. Members can choose to do presentations, volunteer work, events or anything else they can think of. Keim said that she and Parker saw this as a chance to influence other athletes to speak up about their mental health. “We need to think of physical health as your mental health too,” Keim said. “If a sports player had an injury, they would feel more comfortable telling a coach but when it comes to mental health, I think it’s a lot harder for athletes to do that.” While some athletes may not struggle to express their emotions as much as others, Keim recognizes that some still feel the stigma of upholding a certain reputation. By bringing in Hilinski’s Hope, Keim and Parker hoped to help athletes bring mental health to the forefront. Keim said she was overwhelmed by the number of athletes that showed up to support each other. Keim and Parker both said they feel a large sense of pride when seeing how many of their classmates were impacted by this presentation. “We thought it was cool the way she kind of changed the conversation on mental health,” Parker said. “And that is exactly what we want to do. We want to change the conversation.” By aiming to change the conversation, Keim and Parker are opening the aspect of mental health to a targeted audience of student-athletes. This is their way of encouraging students to prioritize their mental health, especially when their focus is zoned in on their sports. “It’s easy to just block out your mental health and be like, I can deal with it later,” Parker said. “That mentality that I just have to get through the season is what causes me to burn out in the end.” Parker, who dances for a competition dance team, knows firsthand the difficulties that come with being an athlete while still striving to maintain a strong grade point average. Parker said that the unrealistic expectation of perfection has caused athletes to misinterpret their mental health. “Everything that is expected of us, our ability to handle things well and be perfect all the time,” Parker said. “Athletes are already feeling the pressure before they even take into account their mental health.” MHS Counselor, freshman football and girls track coach, Tony Affatato worked closely with Keim and Parker to organize Hilinski’s Hope. Affatato said it is inspiring to see two seniors he has known since freshman year, make this big of an impact. “Those two girls are just incredible,” Affatato said. “For them to put this on and be so driven to bring this awareness to the high school, it is inspiring to watch.” By hearing the story of an actual family that was impacted severely by mental health, Affatato said the Hilinski family offers advice on the impacts of reaching out for help. While still grieving the loss of their son, Mark and Kym Hilinski are striving to erase the stigma of athlete mental health all over the country, to high schools, middle schools and colleges. “Their target was athletes as well as our student body,” Affatato said. “Athletes or people that deem themselves to be tough, don’t necessarily always want to talk about their mental state.” Affatato said that the outreach of mental health should be available to anyone who will listen, including the beloved athletes that walk the halls of MHS. “Athletes in our culture now have an expectation to always be perceived as strong, or tough,” Affatato said. “Whether you can’t cry when you lose or whatever that might be, they want to take away the stigma of that.” Junior, Swaathi Reddy, a varsity tennis player, and fellow Hope Squad member, attended the Hilinski’s Hope event in hopes to learn more about the impact of studentathlete mental health. Reddy said that when she saw the parents speak about the death of their son, it opened her eyes to the lasting effects of suicide. “It was so much more than a presentation,” Reddy said. “We were seeing a real-life situation where a family was impacted by suicide.” Hearing the Hilinski’s talk about the real emotions connected to the loss of their son showed those in attendance how important it is to speak up when it comes to mental health. Reddy said the interactive and raw connection the Hilinski’s shared with the audience made the experience so special. “[In Hope Squad] we are always talking about the importance of mental health,” Reddy said.”But going to an event like this, you could see the impact of mental health firsthand.” Seeing the topic of mental health through the eyes of a different perspective gave the audience a new appreciation for those struggling in silence. Reddy said that she will continue to see this new perspective on mental health as she moves into her senior year. “I think that as a student-athlete, our team and our coaches obviously talked about [mental health] but we don’t talk about it nearly as much as we should,” Reddy said. By bringing the Hilinski family to MHS, Keim and Parker brought new ideas about the common misconceptions of mental health. Reddy said that the hard work brought by these two seniors does not go unnoticed. “We need to normalize that struggling with mental health does not make someone any less of an athlete,” Reddy said. “And by bringing Hilinski´s Hope here, Mia and Yana definitely got that message across.” Photo by Becca Hunter Kym Hilinski talks to the Mason community about possible next steps in a student-athlete’s mental health journey.
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May 12, 2023 7 Seniors take different approaches in college roommate search Drew Hoffmaster | The Chronicle When a student finally reaches college, they do not have to room with their annoying sibling, but have the opportunity to choose a roommate. College is often the first time students are living independently and experience having a roommate. Mason High School students have been using a variety of methods to find roommates – through social media, talking to friends or choosing their university’s random option. When choosing roommates, students consider a variety of factors, such as sleep schedule, personality and major. Senior Grady Wilson, who will be attending the University of Cincinnati, decided to choose his university’s random option. With this, students answer questions to help gauge their living habits and schedules. Then, they are randomly assigned a roommate who the college thinks would be a good match. Wilson said that he views the process as a necessity to ensure that he has a good experience his freshman year. “Lining us up with people with similar schedules should let [me and my roommate] click,” Wilson said. “I think it’d be hard if there’s nothing in common.” Wilson said that he initially tried to find a roommate through connections at school, but after a few weeks of stress, he decided to choose a random roommate. Wilson’s sister, who is finishing her second year of college, chose a random roommate and had a positive experience making new friends. “She chose random and she met a lot of new people that way,” Wilson said. “She became friends with her roommate and her roommate’s friends and it allowed her to make so many new connections she wouldn’t have made if she chose someone she knew.” Wilson said that he does not think finding roommates on social media allowed him to understand who they were. People only put what they want others to see on social media. Because of this, he said that he thinks getting a random roommate is easier and that more students should consider it. “We are all using the other options and looking through social media without really considering choosing the unknown, which may work out better than the other options,” Wilson said. Senior Julia Li is planning to attend Washington University in St. Louis to pursue a degree in English and Economics and wanted to find a roommate that she had something in common with. She used her university’s graduating class’s online Instagram page to find a roommate with a major that aligned with her interests. “She was going for a communication design major and I really enjoy art,” Li said. “The communication design major really drew me because I saw some of myself in her.” Li said that she did not choose randomly because she was afraid of being stuck with someone who she shared nothing with. She also did not choose someone from Mason because she thought that she would be bound to her hometown. “When I was visiting [Washington University in St. Louis], I saw a bunch of different friend groups,” Li said. “I was like ‘That’s so cool. They all probably all met in college.’ I just want to branch out and find all of these wonderful people.” Finding someone online allowed Li to read their bios and learn if they had similar sleep schedules, interests and personalities. Li decided that the best way to see if they meshed was through messaging them to see how their interactions went. “If [our texts] were really awkward and she ghosted me or used tight grammar rules, I’d probably be like, maybe not,” Li said. “But she was really sweet. I feel like we have a lot in common.” Seniors Tanya Marla and Sanjana Nair are both going to attend the University of Cincinnati and are majoring in medical sciences. They are both from Mason and are planning to room because they discovered they are so compatible. “We thought it would be nice to have a start with somebody [we] know, so that even when we branch out, we still have each other. We grew close before we ever considered being roommates, but after the decision, it brought us closer together,” Marla said. “This was because we got to know so much more about each other’s lifestyles and how they are alike.” Marla said that they didn’t know each other too well prior to this year, but became better friends after sharing classes together. They decided that this made them perfect candidates to room together, as they were friends but not best friends. “I didn’t want to know them too closely, because I feel like if it’s someone you know [very well], it could lead to arguments,” Marla said. “I do not want to lose a friendship over a stupid argument.” Both of them are looking forward to leaving for college in the fall and are glad to be living with someone that is from their hometown. Nair said that it makes her feel comfortable having someone who has experienced a similar education. “I just feel that having someone from home that you’re comfortable with will help with the homesickness,” Nair said. “A lot of our friends have expressed to us issues about that problem when they travel home. But we won’t have to worry about it.” Even though both of them will not know if the choice they chose for a roommate will work out until next year, they both said they look forward to the adventures that they will experience together in college. “It’ll be a fun change,” Nair said. “Going into something like this knowing that you have someone by your side is reassuring and exciting.” but after a few weeks of stress, he decided to choose a random roommate. Wilson’s sister, who is finishing her second year of college, chose a random roommate and had a posisome of myself in her.” Li said that she er. We grew close before we ever considered being roommates, but after the decision, it brought us closer together,” Marla said. into something like this knowing that you have someone by your side is reassuring and exciting.” Graphic by Becca Hunter
8 May 12, 2023 These are paid advertisements. fifffflffiflfflffl ffiffifflfflffifflffffl fffflffffl ffl ffl fflff fflflffffl fflff fflfffflffl ffffl fflflffffl fflfffl fflfflffl fflfffflfflflffffl fflfffflflffffl fflffl fflffl ffff fflffffl fflffl flfflffiffi fflflfffflfflffl fflflffffl fflffffl fflflfffflffifflffiffl fflflffffl fflffl fffflffiffffl fflflffffl ff fflfffflffffiffi fiff fifffffflffi flffl fflffl ffffl flfffflfffflffi fflffl fflfffflfffflffffl ffl fflflffffl ffl ffffi fflffl fflfflfflffffl ffl ffl ffl fflflff fflffffl ffffifflffl fiff ffiffiffiffi ffl fflfflffffl fffflfffflflffffl ffl fflffffl flfffflffffi ffi ffl fflffffl fflfffflffl fflflffffl ffl ff fiff ffi ffl fflffl fffflflfffflffffl ffi fflfflffl fffflfffflffffl ffl ffffifflflffffl ffffi fflffl fffflflffffl ffl ffl ffl ffl ffl ffl fflffflfflffffl ffl fflflffl ffl ffff ffl fffflfffflffl fflffffl fflffl fflflffffl ffl ffffi fflffl fflflfflfffflffffi fflffl fffflflffffl fflfffflfl fflflfffflfflflfffflffifflff fflfffflflff ffl ffffifflfflffl ff ff fflfi fflffl ffffl ffl flfflffl fflffflfflfffflffl flfffflfffflffl ffl ffl flffffl ffl ffffl ffffl ffffl fffflfflffl ffl fffflffi ffl ffl fffflfflffl fffflflff fflfflffl fffflfffflfffflflfffflfflfflfflfffflffl fffflflffffl ffl fflff fiff ffl fflffi ffl fffflffffl ffl ffl fffflfflflffffl fflfi ffl fflfflffiffl fflffl fflfffflflff fflffl ffl fffflflfffflffffl ffi fflffl fiff ffi ffl ffl ffl fflfflfffflffffl fffflflffffl fflff ffl fflffl fflffl fffflffl fflfflffl fffflflfffflffl ffffl fl fflfffflffl ffl fflfffflffffl ffl fflfflffffl ffffl fflfflffffl ffifflffffiffl ffl fffflfflfffflflffl fffflffflfflffl fl ff ffffl fflffffl ffffifflffl fiff fflffi ff ff fffflfl fflffl fffflflfffflffl fflfffflfffflffffl flff fflfflfflffffl fflfflffffl fflffl fiff fflffiffiffi These are paid advertisements. fflffl fffflflffffl ffl fflffffl ffl fffflfflffl fflfflffl fflff ffl fflffffiffl flfffflfl ffl ffl ffl fflflffffl fflff ffl flffl flfflfflfffflflff fflffl fflffl fflflffffl fffffflfflffffl ffiff fflfffflffffifflfflffl fiff flffi ffl fi fflffiffffl ffiffffl ffffl fflff fflffl ffl fflff ffl fflffl ff fflffl ffffl fflflffl ffffl flffffl fflffl fflfffflffffiffl fflffffl fflffffl fflffl ffl ffffffi fflffl ffl fflflfffflffffl fflflffffl fflflffffl ffl fffflffl ffl flfflfffflfi fflfflfflflfffflffl fflfffflffffifflfflfflffflfflffl fiff ffiffi ffl fiffffl ffl ffl ffl ffl ff ffl ffifffflffl fflfflflffffl ffl ffl flfflff fflflffffl fflfffflflff ffl ff ffffl ffl ffff ffl fflffffl ffl fflffffl fffflfflffffl ffl ff flfflffl ffl ffl ffl ffl fflffl fffflflfffflfflffl ff flfflfffflfffflflff fflfffflfflffffiffl fflffl fl fiff ffi ff fflffl fflfffflfffflffffl ffl fffflflffffl ffl ffffi fflfflffffl fflfffflffl ffl ffl fflfflfffflffffl flff fflfffflfflffi fflfflffl ffffl fflflffffl ffl ffifffflffl fflffffl ffiffffl ffl fflflffffl fflffl fffflflfffflffl fflflffffl ffl ffl fflffl fflffffi fflfl fflfffflffffifflffl fiff fflffi ffi fflffl fflfffflffffl fffflflfffflffl fflflffffl ffl ffffi ffl ffl fffflflfffflffl fflfflfffflffl flfffflff fffflflffffl ffi fflffffffl fflffffifflffl ffl fiff ffi fflfflffffl fffflffffl ff ffl ffffifflffffiffl fflfflflffl ffffl ffffl ffl fflffl ff fflfl ffl ffffl fflffl ffffiffl fflffffl fffflflffflffl fflfl ffl fflff ffl fflfflffl ffffffl fflffl ffiff ffl ffl fflfffflfffflffl fflff fflfflffl ffl ffl fflfflfflffl fflffl fffflff fiff fi ffi ffi ff fffflffffl fflfflffffl ffl ff ffl ffl fflffffffiffl ffiflfflff ffl ffffl fflflffl fffflfflffffl ffl ffi ff fflffl ffifflfffflfffflffffl flfffflffffi ffifflffl fflfflfffflffl fflflffffl ffl fflflff fflffl flfflffiffifflflffffl fflffl ffiflfflfffflff fflfffffflfffflflff fflffl fffflflff fflfflffffi fiff ffi fflffifflfffflffffl fffflflfffflffl fflflffffl ffffi ffiffl ffffl fflfflffl fl fflffff fflffffl ffffl fflflfffflffffl ffl fflffl ff fflff fflfffflffl ffl ffffiffffl ff fflffl fflfffflflff ffl fflflfflffiffffifflffi fflfffffflfffflffl fffflfflflff ffl ffl ffffl ffffl ffl flfffflfffflfflflffffl fflfflfiffl fiff fflffiffiffiffiffi ffl Senior Sendoffs fi fflffl ffff fflfflffl fflffiffl fffflfflfffflffl flfflfflffffl fflffl fflffffl These are paid advertisements. fiff fflfflffi
May 12, 2023 9 Senior Sendoffs These are paid advertisements. fifffflffifl ffffiflffl ffl ffi fl ffl ffi ff ffl fl fflfflff ff flffff flflff ffi flffflffi fl ffiflfflflffl fffl ffiflfflffl flfflflffiffi fflff fl fflflflff flflflflflfl ffiffffffifl fl flffff ff fiff fifffflffifl ffiflffl ffffiff flfffl flfflflfl ff ffiffifl flff ffffiffiflfflffiffifl ffl fl ff flffffi flflfl fflffifffl flffi fl flfffl fl ffifflfl fffflfflflffiffi fffl fl ffff ffflfiflflflffi fiff ffffiff flfl flff flfffl ff ff fl ff ffi fl ffi fflffifl ffffl fl ffffffiffffffl fiff flff ffifffflff ff flflff flffiffl fl ffiffl fffflflffl fl fl ffflffi flffi fl flffl ffi ffl ffffl ff flff ffi fl flffff fiff ff ffffiff flfffl fl ffifflflffl flfl flfl ffiflfflfffl ff fffl ff ff fl ff ffi fl flffflffff ffl fiff ffffi ff ffifffflff flfffl ff ffl fl ff ff fl fl fl fl ffffl ffffifflfflflfl flflffifl fflfffl flfl flflfl flfflflffl flff fl ffff fiff fffl fl flff fl fl flfl fffl ffffiffffl ff ffffi ff fl fffflffffiffl fflflflff ffl flflffffl ffl ffiffl ffffl ffififlflffl flflffffl fiff flff ffff fffflff fflffiff ffffffi flff fl fflflfl ffffl fl fl ff flfl fl flffflfl ffifflfl fflflflffffl fl flfffflffl ffiffl fl ffi ffi ffffl fl ffiffl flflfflflff fl ffflfl fiff ffiflfl fl flflfffl ffi flffi ff ff ffifl fl flffl fffl fflffl fffflffiff ffiflffl fl fl fl ffflflffffffl ffi ffi flffiffl fl flfflffffl ff flff fiff flffifl flffffl fffflffi flfffl ffffff ffi flffl flflflffl ffffl fffffflffi ffifflfflff fl flfffflffifffflffl fl flffffl flffifflffiff ffl flflffiffi ffflfl ffffiffl ffl flfflfffflff ffl flfl ffl ffiffl fffflffifl ffffifflfl fl fl fiff fl ffiflffl ffiflffi ffffl ffi ff ff flflflffi ff ffi fl ffifl fl flffflfl ffiflffff fflfl flfl fflflfflffl fl flfflfl ffi ffiffifl ffiflflffl ffiffl ffl fl flflffi ffifflffflff ffflfflfffflflfffflflfl ffflffl flffffffff fiff ffifl ffiff flffflffi flffi ff ffflff ff flfl ffff ffifl fl fl ffffl ffffifflfflflfl fffflffffffi ffl ffi fflfl fl fl fl fl fffffffflff fiff ffi fl ff ffffl fffflffi flfffl ff fl ff fflffffifflfflflfl ffffl flffl fiff ff ffl flfl fffflflflfl ffffflffi fffl ff fl ff ffi fl flfffl fffl ffifflfl fflflff ff ffl flflfffflffi fffffflffi ffiffl fl ff ffflff fiff ffffifl ff ffffl ffi ffiffiffl ffflffffi fffffflfl ff ffi ffi fffffflfl flflffifflfffflfl fl fflffiflffl ffi flff fl ffffi ffff fffl ffffl ff flff ffifl flff ff fffflffiflfflffl flffiffifl fffflfffflffiffffl flff fiff ff flfflff ffi ffi flfflfflffiffffi ff flfffl ffffl ffffl ff flff ffi flffffl ff ffflffi ffffffl flfflffi ff fl ffffl ffffifflfflflflffl flffffl flff ffifl flflffi fl flfflfl ffl flff flffffiff ffifflfflffl fl fffflfl flff flffiflfflffffi ff fiff ff ffffi ffflfffffflffl flflflffflffl flffiffffl flfflflffifflffl flffi flffl ffflffifl
10 May 12, 2023 fifffflffiflfl flffflfffl fl flflffflffifffl fl ffifl fl fffl flfl flflflffflfffl flflfl fl ffifl flfl flffifl flflfl flffiff fl ffifl ffflfl ffi fl fl ffiflfl flffflflflfl flfl flfl ffiflflffffflfl fl fl fl fl flffiffiflffi fl fiff fifffflffifl ff fl fl ffflffiflflfl ffi ffflffi fl ffflffifl fl fl ffflflfl ff fl ffffflfl fl flfl ffiflflflfl ffiffflfl flflfl fl ffifl flflffifl flflffflffiffflfl ffflffflffiflfl flflfl flffflffflffifl fl flfl flfffl flfl fl flfl fiff ffff flffffi ffffifl ffflffffifl fl fl fl fl fl ffiff fl flfffl flffiffflfl ff flfifl flfl flfiflflfl flflfl flffflffiffflffifffl flffiflflflfl ffflflffiflflflfffl flflffff fl fl ffflflfl flfffl flfl ffflfl ffflfl fl fl fl fl ffi fl fffl flff fl fl flfl flflfl fffl fl ffi fl flffi ffiflfl ffifl ffffiflffiffflfl ffiflflffffiflffifl flfffl fl flfl fl fl ffifl flffi fffl flfl fl flffflffiffiflflfl fffl ffl flflfl flfl fl fl fl fiff ff ffffi ff ffffifl fl fl fl fl flffflfffl ffflfl fl ffiffffifl fl flfl ffflff ffifl flfl ffifl fl flff flfffl fl ffiflflffifl fl fl fl fl fl flfl fffl fl fflfl flflffflff fffl fl flfiflfl ffifl fl flfl flfl fiff ff fffflflffi fl fl fl ffi flfl ff fl ffiflffifl fl fffl fl fl flff ffflflffifffl flffi flfl flffflffi ffiffifl fflflflfifflfl ffiflffflffflffifl fl flfl flflfffl ff fl flfffl flffffifl fl flffifl ffflfiflfl fl ffifl flflfiflflfffffl fl flflfffl ffi ff fl flfffl fl fiff fflffi fl fl fl flfl fffl ff fl flffflff ffflfl fl flfl flff ffflflfl fl ff ffiflffiflff flfl ffflffifl flfl ffflffflff fl flffffiflff fl flffffflflfl ffiflflfffl fl flffiffflflflfffl flfffffl fl fl ff ffffi fl flflfl fiff flff ffff Senior Sendoffs flflflffflflffffiflffiffiffiflfffl flffi ffifl ffiflff flffiffflffflff flffflffiflfl These are paid advertisements. Goo dbye Seniors!
May 12, 2023 11
12 May 12, 2023 Seniors, what will you Page Design by Izzy Gaspar’raj Ellie Saylor | The Chronicle Continued on page 13 fifffflffiflfflfffflfflffifflffl ffiflfflffl fflffiflffl ffl ffffl fflffffl fflfflfffflffl ffifflffl fflflfflffffl ffl ffl fflffffl ffl ffl fifffflffifl fifffflfflfflffiflfflffiffl fflffiflffl fflflfflffffl fflfl fflffifflffiffl fflflffl ffifflffffl ffl ffl fflffifl ffiffl fflfl ffifflfffflfflfflffiffl ffiffl fflfflffifflffi fiffffl ffifflffiffifflffl ffiffl fflfffflffiflfflffifl ffifflffifflfflflffl fflffl ffiffiffl ffl fflffifflffifflffifflffiflfflffl ffl fflffl ffiffl fflffffl ffl fflfl fflfflffiflffl ffiflffl ffl ffl fflfflffiflfflfflfl fflffffl ffl fflfflffl ffl ffi fflfffflflffl ffffl ffiffl fflffl fflfi ffiffl ff ffl fifffflfflffl fflffiffl fflffl ffl ffi fflfl ffl ffifflffffl fflffiflffl fflffifl fflffiffl ffl ffiffl fflffiflfflfflffl ffl ffifflffl ffi fl fifffflfflfflffifflfflffiflffl ffiflfflffifl ffifflfffflfl fflffiflfflffiflffl ffi fl ffl fflfffflfflfflfflffiffl fflffl ffl fflfflffifflffifflffi ffifflffiflffl ffl ffl ffl ffifflffl fflffiflfflffifl fflfffflfl fflffi fl ffl ffifl ffifflfffflffifflffifflfflffl ffl ffl ffl fflffffl fflffiflffl fflffifl fflffifflffi fl ffl fflffffl ffl fflffifflfl ffl ffiffl fl ffifflfl fflfflffl fflffiflffl ffifl ffl ffl fflfflffl fifffflfflffifflfflffiflffl fflffl fflfffflffl ffifflffl ffl fflflfflfflfflffl ffi ffi ffl fflfffflfflflffl fflffifflffifl ffiffl ffl fflfl fflffl fl fflfflffiflfflflflflffiffl fflffl ffl ffl fflfiffl fifffflfflffifflffl ffl ffl ffl fflfflflffl fflffifl ffifflffffl fflffifflffiffl fflffiffl fflfl fflflffl fflfflffifflflffl fl fiffffl fflffl fflffiffl fflffiflfflffi fl fflfffflfl ffl fflffiflfflffl ffl fl fl fifffflffiflfflfffflfflffl ffl ffl fflffl ffi ffl fflffifflfl fflflfflffiffl ffifflffl ffi fflfflffl fflfflfl fflffifflffl fffflfl
May 12, 2023 13 miss most about Mason? Continued from page 12 fifffflffiflflflffiflfl ffiflflfl flfffl ffifl flflflffifl fl fl flfl fl fl fl fl flfl fifffflffifffl fifffflffiflflflffifl flflfl fl fl fl fl flfl fl fl ffi fl fl ffiflfl fl ffifl flffflflflflfl flflflfl fl ffifl ffflfl flflfl ffifl fl fl flfl flfl fl flfl flflffiflflfl fiflflflfl fl ffi fl fl flflflflflfffl fl fl flflflfl fl fl ffiflfl flfl fl fl fifffflffiflflflffifl fl fl flfffl flflfl ffiflfl flffflffifl flflflffifl fl fl flffflflfl fl fl flfl ffi fffl ffi fifffflffiflflflffiflfl flffiflfl flffiflfl ffiflflflflflfl flfffflffiflflflffifl fl flflfl ffifl fl flff fifffflffiflflflffifl fl flfl flfl fl fflflffi flfffflfl flfl flflflflffifl fl flffi fffflfl fifffflffiflflflffiflfl fl flffiflfl fl flffi fffflffiflffiff fifffflffiflflflffifl flflflfl flfl fl flfl fl fl ffflffflfl fifffflffiflflflffifl fl flflflffiflfl fflfl fl fl flflfl flfffl flffifl fl flfl flflfl flffiff fifffflffiflflflffifl fl flffifl fl fl fl flflffflffifl flfl flflflfl fl flflfl fl fffl Ellie Saylor | The Chronicle Page Design by Izzy Gaspar’raj
14 May 12, 2023 fifffflffiflff fifffflffiflflflfflffifl ffflfflflff fifffflffiflff fifffflffiflflflfflffifl ffflfflflff fifffflffiflfl fifffflffifl ffflffl fififflfl Results taken from Google Form poll with a sample of 17 responses. Graphics by Allison Droege. Page design by Izzy Gaspar’raj. flff ff fl ffl fl ffl fifffflffiflff fifffflffiflflflfflffiflfffl ffl flffi ffffl fififflfl fflfl fifffflffiflffiffiffiffffiffifffflffffiflffiff ffl ffl ffl ffl ffl ffl ffffiff ffi ffiff ffl fflffifffflffffi ffiffi ffff fflffiffifl ffl ffl ffl ffl ffffi ffffifl ffiff fflffi ff fflffi ffiff ffl fflffi ffffi ffiffifffflff ffl ffl ffl ffl ffiffiffffifl ffi fflffi fflffiffifffflffffi flffiffffiff ffl ffl ffl ffl flffiffiflffi fflffiff ffl fflffifffflffffi ffi ffffl ffl ffl ffl ffl ffl ffl fl fflfl fifffflffiflfflfflffifflfifflfflffiffffl flfflff ffl ff fflfi fflffl fffflflffl ffl fflffifl fflffifffflflffl fflffiffffl fflfifflfffflffiffl ffiffffl ff fflfflffifflfflffl ffl ffiflffl flfflfifffflffiflffiffiffffffiffi ff fflffff fflfi ffl ffifflffl ffl ffl fffflfl fflffl fflfflfflffl ffifflff ffl fflffffl ffffl ffi ffl fflffffffl ffl fflffffl ff fflflffi fflff ffl fflffl fflff ffl fflfl ffl fffflff fflffiff ffffl fflffl fflffl fflfffflfflfflfflffl fflfflfflfflfffflffiffi ffflfflffl fflfflfflfflfflfflfflffl fifffflffiffff ffi fflffi ffl ffffl ffl fflfffflffifflffl ffi fifffflffiff ffffi flffifflffl ffl fflfifffflffiflffiffiff fflff
May 12, 2023 15 fifffflfiffifflflfffiffffl Top 5 picks chosen by The Chronicle Staff. Page Design by Izzy Gaspar’raj fifffflffifl ffl ff fi fifffflffifl fifffflffifflfl fflffi fflffifl fifffflffiflffl fl 4/5 ffl fi ffffi ffifl fifffflffiflfflffl 4.5/5 fflffifl fifffflffiflfflfl 4/5 fl fifffflffiflffl 3.5/5 ffi ffi fifffflffiflffl 3/5 fl ffl 5/5 5/5 ffi ffl 5/5 fl fi 4.5/5 ffi 4.5/5 fflffi flfflffiffl fi fl 5/5 fi fl flfflffiffl 4/5 ffiflffl flfflffiffl 4/5 ffl flfflffiffl 3.5/5 ffl flfflffiffl 3.5/5
16 May 12, 2023 sports Camden Paeltz | The Chronicle Andrew Little | Sports Editor The Mason girls’ track team is sprinting toward the postseason. The lineup is headlined by a young sprint group full of depth, including a record-breaking 4x100-meter relay. Junior Abby Love, junior Emilia Capiello and senior Peyton Connelly return from last season’s 4x100 and 4x200 meter relays, which placed 11th and 7th at the 2022 Ohio High School Athletic Association state meet. The team has settled into a consistent 4x100 team consisting of Capiello, Love, freshman Nora Moore and sophomore Eden Orr. The 4x200 relay has rotated “A-team” lineups including Love, Orr, Moore, sophomore hurdler Lily Eagleston and freshman Tori Killens. Capiello said that the team’s depth has allowed them to experiment with different groupings and maximize their lineups. “We had a lot of new people coming in and tried out those people in different spots at the beginning of the season,” Capiello said. “We put people in and out of different events until we got to a good point.” Moore, Capiello, Orr, and Love broke the school record in the 4x100, which had stood since 2011, with a time of 47.44 at the Centerville Relays on April 14. They then broke their record again at the Mason Rod Russell Invitational on May 5, with a state-leading time of 47.08. With two new faces in the 4x100 relay, the four runners have spent significant time nailing down their handoffs and timing. Love said they used the early season to try things out, allowing them to hit their stride as the postseason approaches. ”I would say the three biggest things that we were able to maximize was our trust chemistry and our flexibility,” Love said. “We had seen a lot of changes in rosters and lineups with the four-by-one leading up to that point. “ Capiello, Eagleston, Love and senior 400-meter runner Joy Resig all made the All-Greater Miami Conference team in individual events last year, and senior 400-meter runner Ava Arengo was a state-placer in 2021. In addition to their returning runners, the team has an influx of young runners like Killens, Moore, Orr, freshman Azarae Hawkins, freshman hurdler Maddie McCaster and junior hurdler Kate Hartley. All have risen to the varsity ranks this year and are expected to contribute in postseason races. Head coach Tony Affatato said this plethora of young talent is among the best he has ever coached and allows for endless options in relay and race assignments. “This group in particular has a lot of depth, Affatato said. “In terms of just really good ability, it’s probably the best group I’ve ever had. And that’s a lot to say because I’ve coached some really, really good kids.” The Comets have spent the past two months trying out different relay and event combinations with their sprinters and hurdlers to find the best possible combinations and to build depth. Once the postseason hits, meets are stretched across two days, putting more strain on athletes. Affatato said the team’s depth is crucial to the end of the season because it allows him to rotate lineups and relay rosters, and in the event of injury, he can be confident someone else will step in and maintain a high level of performance. “Going into the postseason, I feel more comfortable than ever,” Affatato said. “If something happens, we have another one that we can put in. We’ve never been in that situation.” The group has worked together all winter and spring, including indoor track meets and a strict strength and conditioning program. That time has allowed the runners to iron out things like handoffs before the postseason hits. Handoffs are crucial to sprint relays, proven at the Mason Rod Russell Invitational when the Comets had a clean handoff compared to the reigning state runner-up Gahanna Lincoln, who struggled with the last exchange of the 4x100 relay. That allowed the Comets to pull away and win by nearly two seconds. Moore said that the work they have put in as a team has allowed the relays to have an edge entering the outdoor postseason. “We work on our handoffs and do everything that we can get it right.” Moore said. “We got a few of them wrong at first, but we kept working at it and then we would just always train together to get our starts right and just be able to go.” Love said that the competition for spots has allowed each runner to improve, allowing the team to be as successful as possible. “If anything this year has shown us more than ever that your spot and position on the team is not guaranteed, it’s earned,” Love said. “It’s earned through work ethic, it’s earned through a positive attitude. The team expects to be in the mix for the top of the podium at this year’s state meet. None of the members of the 4x100 meter and 4x200 meter relays this year are graduating, giving the Comets a unique opportunity for sustained success. Love said their youth is their strength, and she expects the team to continue to grow throughout the postseason and into next year. “As long as the girls on our relay team can stay humble and stay hungry, we will have even bigger goals that we’re going to achieve next year,” Love said. “We are fortunate to have no seniors so nobody’s leaving, so I hope that our team can develop even more. I hope that we can send a message to these other schools that we are a team that is stable and a team that will continue to fight to stay at the top of the relay standings.” Track counting on talented young sprinters heading into postseason NEED 4 SPEED Photo by Camden Paeltz Eden Orr hands off the baton to Abby Love in the final exchange of the 4x100 meter relay at the Mason Rod Russell Invitational that set a school record time of 47.07 seconds.
May 12, 2023 17 NIERE'S NUMBERS MICHAEL NIERE 37 goals, 3rd in the 37 22 3 GMC 22 assists, 2nd in the GMC Andrew Little | Sports Editor Senior attacker Michael Niere has been a force to be reckoned with all season long for the Comets. He led the team to an undefeated regular season record and a Greater Miami Conference championship. After scoring 29 goals as a junior, second-most on the team, Niere has taken another step forward this year as a scorer. His 37 goals led the team and were third-most in the conference. He recorded 22 assists in the regular season, second-most in the GMC and up from nine in the 2022 season. Niere was critical in several of Mason’s biggest wins of the season, including a 9-8 overtime thriller against Olentangy Liberty on April 28. He scored three goals against the Patriots including a gamewinner in overtime. He also added an assist, three ground balls, and one caused turnover. During the month of April, Niere scored 26 goals. His offensive firepower has paved the way for the Comets to be one of the top teams in the state heading into the postseason (currently ranked sixth in Ohio by MaxPreps). Niere is a leading candidate for GMC Player of the Year, and his scoring and leadership will be counted on during his team’s Ohio High School Athletic Association tournament run. ‘s ofthe STUDENT ATHLETE MONTH Comet Zone’s Student Athlete of the Month selected by The Chronicle Sports Staff. Photo by Izzy Herrlinger. Graphic by Allison Droege. Page Design by Izzy Gaspar’raj Statistics last updated on May 5, 2023 3 goals including a gamewinner in OT against Olentangy Liberty
18 May 12, 2023 GOING PRO Ali Sami | The Chronicle While most seniors are balancing their last few weeks of high school with preparing for college, William Wettengel is managing being a student, getting ready for college, and being a professional athlete. Wettengel, who led the Mason High School Ultimate team to a state championship in 2021 and 2022, has taken his game to new heights by playing professionally for the Indianapolis AlleyCats, one of 24 teams in the American Ultimate Disc League (AUDL). After a successful amateur career playing for Mason’s ultimate team and several Cincinnati club teams, Wettengel has stepped into a professional career before graduating high school. Wettengel also plays soccer, and was the Greater Miami Conference player of the year and was named second-team All State this year for the Comets. Wettengel said he is very grateful for the opportunities he is given and is thankful to the coaches and players for helping him along the way. “I’m really grateful for the opportunity to play professionally in a sport I enjoy a lot,” Wettengel said. “I’m also really thankful for the coaches and teammates that got me where I am.” Wettengel is the only teenager in the AUDL’s central division. One of the teams he played for before the AlleyCats, Cincinnati Omen, is an adult club team that included several former AUDL players. That experience gave him a taste of what it would be like to play at the highest level. He said that he feels prepared to play at a high level from his years of experience, and is not intimidated by playing with professionals. “I’m the only teenager in our division,” Wettengel said. “It’s pretty cool to be one of the few in the entire league, but the pressure [of being young] doesn’t affect me since I’m used to these situations.” Wettengel is a defender for the AlleyCats and initially set his sights on winning the AUDL’s Rookie of the Year award. After his first few games, Wettengel found himself tied for second in the league in blocks and said he has now shifted his focus toward a team record in that statistic. “Rookie of the Year was my goal when I first made the team,” Wettengel said. “But after two games, my goal this year is to get the most blocks in our team history,” Wettengel said. Although Wettengel is playing a professional sport, he still has to balance out his job and school like any other teenager, just on a larger scale. All of his practices are in Indianapolis, and games are played all over the country. This requires Wettengel to spend a lot of time commuting and doing schoolwork while on the road. Wettengel will be attending the University of Cincinnati in the fall, where he plans to play for the school’s club ultimate team and continue playing in the AUDL. He said that he is already adjusting to the routine, something he will have to continue in college. “Since the car rides are normally pretty long I just do my work in the car on the way to my games,” Wettengel said. “Once I do my work I don’t have to worry much about it.” Wettengel said that he has learned a lot from his AlleyCats teammates and coaches and appreciates their guidance for him with the background they have in ultimate. “My AlleyCat teammates have really helped me with their mentorship, and Mason teammates have motivated me to perform better and better every game,” Wettengel said. “My coach helps me clarify information and strategic plans, and he elevates my understanding of the game.” Wettengel credits his dad for getting him into the sport in the sixth grade and said he owes his progression and success in the sport to his guidance. “I definitely would not be playing right now if my dad didn’t teach me,” Wettengel said. “He introduced me to this sport, and I’ve taken a lot from him.” William Wettengel catches a frisbee in his professional ultimate debut for the Indianapolis AlleyCats in an away game against the Atlanta Hustle on April 29. Wettengel takes talents to American Ultimate Disc League Photos contributed by Will Wettengel William Wettengel makes a leaping catch near the sideline for the Indianapolis AlleyCats. William Wettengel throws out of a double team in his first professional ultimate game.
Ohio National Guard Scholarship Progaram The Ohio National Guard pays up to 100% tuition at public Ohio colleges for up to four years. Those attending private institutions are also eligible for funding at the average cost of state colleges. Guard members are eligible for the ONG scholarship as soon as they enlist, as long as they remain in good standing. For more information on the Ohio National Guard Scholarship Program, including application, deadline, eligibility and more, please visit: www.ong.ohio.gov/ scholarship_index.html About Us The Ohio Army National Guard is comprised of more than 11,000 Soldiers, located in more than 50 facilities across the state. Guard members come from every walk of life, ready to put their Guard uniform on at a moment’s notice to protect our nation, state, and communities. Unlike any other branch of service, the National Guard retains the historic precedent of the Citizen-Soldier, which emphasizes that dedication to service begins at home. Guard members train so that they will be ready should the nation or their community need them. Contact Us SFC Junior Castle (513)-401-0021 SSG Bryan Converse (937)-231-3142 SGT Andrew Noland (513)-330-3849 May 12, 2023 19 SOLDIER SPOTLIGHT Josie Lorenz | The Chronicle Senior Nick Phillips is committed to the Ohio Army National Guard. After he enlisted earlier this year, he applied for the GI Bill, a scholarship to assist with room and board. He said that he is elated to begin his career in the armed forces next year as a freshman at Miami University. “I know I’ve always wanted to join the military. I had plans to go to college and join the National Guard during that time,” Phillips said. “That way [I] can serve while [I’m] in college, and then they’ll pay for [my] tuition too, which is just a plus.” When joining the National Guard, Phillips will complete ten weeks of basic combat training and then Advanced Individual Training. He will then attend what is called “Drill” one weekend every month, as well as for two weeks in the summer, to carry out the duty of whatever job he selects. He encourages those who are thinking about enlisting to take the opportunity and join. “You can enlist for any reason: if you’re patriotic and want to serve your country, or for any of the many benefits they offer,” Phillips said. “And, if you go active duty in the army, you’ll be living on base and you’ll have minimal expenses to pay.” Phillips will be participating in his university’s ROTC program. He said that by joining the armed forces directly out of high school, he is setting himself up for greater success. He hopes this is portrayed in his military field as well as his field of political science. “By doing ROTC in college, I can extend my career in the military and maybe even someday do it as my full-time career,” Phillips said. “It is helping me be successful later in life.” Josie Lorenz | The Chronicle the Ohio Army National Guard. After he enlisted earlier this year, he applied for the GI Bill, a scholarship to assist with room and board. He said that he is elated to begin his career in the armed forces next year as a freshman at Miami University. military. I had plans to go to college and join the National Guard during that time,” Phillips said. “That way [I] can serve while [I’m] in college, and then they’ll pay for [my] tuition too, which is just a plus.” will complete ten weeks of basic combat training and then Advanced Individual Training. He will then attend what is called “Drill” one weekend every month, as well as for two weeks in the summer, to carry out the duty of whatever job he selects. He encourages those who are thinking about enlisting to take the opportunity and join. patriotic and want to serve your country, or for any of the many benefits they offer,” Phillips said. “And, if you go active duty in the army, you’ll be living on base and you’ll have minimal expenses to pay.” sity’s ROTC program. He said that by joining the armed forces directly out of high school, he is setting himself up for greater success. He hopes this is portrayed in his military field as well as his field of political science. my career in the military and maybe even someday do it as my full-time career,” Phillips said. “It is helping me be successful later in life.” Nick Phillips 1-800-GO-GUARD nationalguard.com Page Design by Izzy Gaspar’raj
20 May 12, 2023 Cooper seeks community input on district’s future Taylor Murray | The Chronicle Coffee and communication is fueling improvement throughout the district. On November 28, 2022, Superintendent Dr. Jonathan Cooper hosted the first “Coffee with Dr. Cooper’’ session, where Cooper met with members of the community at a local coffee shop. These events have occurred monthly since then, and are an open opportunity for parents to come and ask questions, voice concerns, or just get to know Cooper. Starting in January, Cooper added an evening event titled “Brews With The Sup’T”, which is similar to the morning coffee meetings except they take place at a local brewery in the evening, to make the events more accessible to working parents. Cooper said that making people feel heard is very important to him. Even though actively listening to and acting on parents’ ideas can be time-consuming, it helps him feel more authentic and trustworthy as a figure of leadership. “What started this process was a fundamental belief that the community should be involved in the direction of what we do,” Cooper said. “I believe in the power of people. It’s not a perfect model – it takes a bit longer and sometimes gets people frustrated because it takes a minute, but it usually serves us well.” These open sessions usually result in Cooper and other school board members settling on a couple themes or ideas to focus on. They then formulate a plan to implement these ideas in schools. Cooper said that, from the start, there was a focus on creating a culture on inclusivity and respect at the schools. “When I went out there and listened, I heard people talk about the importance of relationships [and how] relationships are the bedrock to learning,” Cooper said. “Over time, that [feedback] [helped] create our culture guide and three big rocks, which then created a focus for us as a district.” Hosting these meetings and hearing directly from the parents is making it easier for Cooper to understand the needs of the community and work to address them. He said that being commanding and controlling is not his preferred leadership style, and listening to the comments of people in the district helps him to be more accommodating. “It’s a lot more authentic [when change] is something that came from our community,” Cooper said. “[Not having that system is] when people get frustrated, because they don’t feel heard.” Although Cooper believes these talks are creating more accountability for the school district, he said there is still a long way to go in terms of building a community that is intertwined with the schools. “It’s not that our culture is perfect, because we have a long way to grow,” Cooper said. “But if we can continue to build that kind of spirit, it’s more of an invitation to tell us what we can be doing better.” A current focus for Cooper and the administration is to ensure that every student has the ability to participate in a class, club, or activity that they are passionate about. Cooper said that providing them with a range of experiences will make their time finding what they love outside of high school that much easier. “We need more authentic real life experiences for students so that if they decide to go to college, they know why,” Cooper said. “[We want students to] have the experience to know where they want to go. So far, there have been many inaction in the district due to the Comet Coffee Talks, such as putting speed bumps into place in the Mason Early Childhood Center parking lot, organizing a team of individuals to make school transitions easier on the kids, and meeting with an architect to put a gate in place at the Mason Middle School. “If we can get people to buy into this [new system], it’s good, because then you can get people to actually believe in it,” Cooper said. “And when they believe in something, it’s because they actually had a voice in it and they can see where their idea shows up.” Cooper has many hopes for the future of this program and said he is ready and willing to continue meeting with more and more people in the community. So far these monthly talks have inspired lots of positive change in the district and an open relationship with the families of students at Mason. “I hope that the chats continue to be a rhythm of the work that we do here,” Cooper said. “I hope what that creates is a culture of trust, open dialogue and ongoing feedback so that we always have a good pulse of what’s going on in the community and we move forward with alignment with expectations out there.” Photo by Taylor Murray (Center) Mason City Schools Public Information Officer, Tracey Carson and Mason City Schools Superintendent, Jonathan Cooper talk with Mason community members at Warped Wing Brewery.
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22 May 12, 2023 The Chronicle’s Policy The Chronicle Staff Editor-in-Chief Bradyn Johnson Managing Editors Risha Chada Tanya Keskar Sports Editor Andrew Little Technical Editor Izzy Gaspar’raj Business Manager Alexa Crociata Staff Designers Becca Hunter Nishka Mishra Alisha Verma Staff Writers Elina Bishoyi Divy Bose Drew Hoffmaster Megan Lee Aimee Liu Josie Lorenz Taylor Murray Camden Paeltz Ali Sami Ellie Saylor Shrija Shandilya Alisha Soni Sean Speidel Laurel Wang Ava Yungbluth Advisor Dale Conner The Chronicle is the official student newspaper of William Mason High School. The Chronicle promises to report the truth and adhere to the journalistic code of ethics through online and print mediums. The Chronicle is produced by students enrolled in Journalism I, II and III. Editorials reflect the staff ’s opinion but do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the school administration or the Mason City School District. The Chronicle is published monthly. Call 398-5025 ext. 33103 for information regarding advertising in The Chronicle. The Chronicle reserves the right to refuse advertising it deems inappropriate for a high school publication. As an open forum for students, letters to the editor are welcome, but are subject to be edited for length, libel, obscenity, clarity and poor taste. Letters to the editor may be dropped off in room C103 and must be signed. The Chronicle is a member of The Columbia Scholastic Press Association, The National Scholastic Press Association, Quill and Scroll International Honorary Society for High School Journalists and the Ohio Scholastic Media Association. Contact Information The Chronicle William Mason High School 6100 S. Mason Montgomery Rd. Mason, Ohio 45040 (513) 398-5025 Connect with the Chronicle: To graduate from any national high school, students are required to complete courses in non-academic areas that cover life skills, such as health, financial literacy and physical education (PE). To most students, it is nothing more than just a graduation requirement. However, as students prepare for the real world and the responsibilities of being an adult, many are thrust into the next steps with little to no knowledge of important applicable skills. The focus for many Mason High School (MHS) students is on academic classes and rigor, leaving them with limited capabilities when it comes to the real-world. Whether it be how to file taxes, maintain physical and mental well-being or seek out opportunities after high school, there are important skills that high school students are not getting out of high school. The required credits that every MHS student needs to earn to graduate are evidently focused on developing skills they will need later in the real world, but if students tend to neglect and brush off this information, are thwwese courses able to serve their intended purposes? According to the MHS 22-23 Program of Studies, financial literacy is designed to “prepare students to meet future financial needs,” teaching content on how to manage finances or file taxes. Students often lack knowledge of such financial skills and struggle when it comes time to actually execute them. Theoretically, financial literacy is supposed to eliminate this problem, but many students overlook the importance of the course while in it. In addition, there are students who choose to get their financial literacy credit through outside means like credit flex and avoid taking it in school. Later, when it comes time for students to get their first jobs or file taxes, kids are lost; the skills supposedly acquired in financial literacy are not retained. Whether it be through pushing the course back to later years of high school or changing our attitudes toward financial literacy, there needs to be a change in how we view such courses. Taking a class like financial literacy, which is equipped with so much valuable content, earlier in one’s high school career, will more than likely be forgotten as this student nears adulthood. However, as the future inevitably demwwands the application of financial knowledge, we should be prioritizing these classes instead of taking them solely with the intent of fulfilling the graduation requirements. Planning to take financial literacy as a senior will resonate more with the student as they transition into the next chapter of their lives. Furthermore, classes for a PE credit promote the benefits of exercise and movement as well as good mental health with the implementation of mind and body wellness. The importance of physical and emotional well being that are taught in PE are life long skills that should be taken more seriously. Health education focuses on a variety of topics such as substance abuse prevention and first aid techniques that expand beyond the classroom walls. There are many important concepts not taught in schools that go beyond the basic graduation requirements for students. As students gain their independence, they should be equipped with knowledge of basic cooking skills or practical survival skills, similar to a home economics class, which MHS does not currently offer. As students continue to enroll in required courses each year, it is crucial to realize the importance of properly learning the content taught in these classes and how to apply them in a real-world situation. Required classes to graduate are required for a reason Staff Editorial “I am so stressed out.” Walking the halls of MHS, it is almost impossible not to hear this phrase. I have used it a fair number of times in just the last week. On top of regular activities, there is no doubt that finals, end-of-course (EOC) exams, and Advanced Placement (AP) exams induce quite a bit of stress for students. It is the end of the year, and after almost 10 months of academics, extracurriculars, time management struggles and sleep deprivation, we are all looking forward to a break. Senioritis has officially hit for the graduating class, and summer cannot come sooner. However, often forgotten, especially this time of year, are teachers. Behind every assignment we turn in is a teacher who has to grade our work. Behind every complaint about how much work we have is a teacher who has to decide how to finish teaching all of the content before the end of the school year. Behind every class activity we do is a teacher who brainstormed the most effective way to engage their students. Sure, our end of year tests are stressful, but are they not for our teachers as well? They not only have to prepare students for these tests, but also manage students’ and parents’ complaints, schedule changes, grading, standards from administration and their own lives, which may include a plethora of other factors. It is so easy to antagonize our teachers, but should we really be blaming them? Teachers carefully plan their course content to fit across the school year. They have less than 180 days to get all of the information to students before the AP test or final exam. However, with snow days, absences and other issues that may get in the way of a lesson plan, following a previously planned agenda is not always possible. In addition, teachers also have to manage behavior in their classroom, and anyone who has met high schoolers would know that getting a rowdy group of 30 teenagers to calm down and focus on something is no simple feat. Individual students’ needs may require teachers to implement additional intervention. Teachers are expected to identify and assist students who may need more help, whether academic, personal or otherwise. Many students rely on their teachers to be mentors, role models and listening ears. Whether we see it or not, teachers play a wide range of roles in the school, and it is hard to deny the amount of effort they put into simply making sure all their students are okay. Grading is another element of teaching we may not always acknowledge: for every one essay we write, our teachers likely have hundreds more to grade. Getting these grades back to students, providing quality feedback and doing so in a timely and efficient manner, is not always easy. On top of this, I cannot imagine what it must be like for teachers to constantly hear students nag about their grades when I, as a student myself, already get fed up with the never-ending academic comparison. Teachers are also expected to write letters of recommendation for their students, an additional task that may not always be written out in the job summary. While writing these letters may not necessarily be an unpleasant experience, it surely takes time out of teachers’ already busy schedules. Many teachers also advise or organize clubs and oversee various programs within the community. Again, although this may be an enjoyable responsibility, it is another commitment many teachers make to see us succeed. Yet despite the endless list of jobs teachers are tasked with, they are often vilified by the media. We live within a political climate that loves to hate on teachers and undermine the importance of what they do. On top of being underpaid, teachers face rude comments from parents, people questioning their qualifications and diminishing their expertise, decisions on whether to teach certain content that could be deemed controversial and rampant criticism of the teacher shortage. Meanwhile, they are expected to be innovative, adaptable, keep up with the changing times, while still being good teachers and carrying out all of the above responsibilities. We try to mend these issues with things like Teacher Appreciation Week, but is that really enough? It is so easy to get caught up in our own problems, but maybe teachers are not the enemy. We have all experienced the last year together and have faced many of the same struggles. As cliche as it is, we have all been in the same boat. I am sure teachers are just as tired, if not more, than we are. Cut them a little slack, stop yourself before your third complaint of the class, maybe even say thank you. At the end of the day, I think it is fair to say that we are all trying our best, and maybe a little compassion could make it just a bit easier for all of us. Maybe collectively embracing the ups and downs of the past year, and maybe giving each other just the slightest bit of additional grace will eliminate some of the stress we face as we all get through this home stretch. Aimee Liu | The Chronicle Give your teachers some grace @mhschronicle facebook.com/ mhschronicle @mhschronicle mhschronicle.com
May 12, 2023 23 The show Gilmore Girls is equipped with seven seasons of approximately 20 episodes each, filled with witty humor and tons of drama. For the first four, the main character Rory Gilmore was in high school. I would watch Rory go to school, date Dean, break up with Dean, date Jess, go to Yale, break up with Jess, date Logan, and then refuse to marry him after a four-year relationship. Personally, I would have married Logan in 0.2 seconds, but that’s just my thought process. And no this is not a spoiler, the show has been out for almost 20 years. Gilmore Girls became my expectation for the high school experience; it almost felt like a false sense of hope. I thought there would be cliques, mean girls, a controlling, annoying boyfriend (Dean), and super hot boys that made your eyes sparkle in the light. I automatically assumed that Rory’s experience was going to be just like mine. While I have had my fair share of crushes and mean girl encounters, it is safe to say that the Gilmore Girls series set me up for failure. When I first started watching Gilmore Girls, I was in middle school. It goes without saying that it was an awkward time period – uncomfortable braces, acne and a weird fashion sense. Because of my lack of knowledge of style and high school, I would practically foam at the mouth thinking about all of the new possibilities high school would bring. In Rory’s world, attending a new high school brought beautiful boys named Tristan and an arch nemesis named Paris. Even though I had these false expectations and narratives about high school, there was always a small part of me that thought it was so far away, that I did not have to think about it. I was not ready to mature, constantly denying the fact that I would not be in intermediate school forever. I mean, for goodness’ sake, I was still playing with slime until the end of eighth grade! Incoming freshman Bradyn did not care about which important classes to take or which opportunities to take advantage of. The thought of mentioning high school made my 14-year-old self shudder. Now that I am almost done with high school I can now say that no, teachers were not the obtuse, boring squares I had imagined them to be; they were actually pretty cool once I got to know them. And no, there was not a highly exclusive, hard to get into club called The Puffs. Although there were so many countless hours of homework, I now realize there were a ton of moments that are worth remembering, like the time I fell going up the stairs, yes up! Or the time I tried squatting my friends at one of the boys’ basketball games. My ultimate favorite memories have come from playing basketball games with my team with all my family and friends watching me. One thing I do have in common with Rory at this moment is that I have a huge list of things I still have to do before I can graduate – a couple of statistics projects, a five to six-minute speech in English and a presentation in my Bestsellers class. Very soon, I will be able to check all those things off my list, just like Rory did, and graduate. I am so excited to hear the bell ring one last time, signaling the end of my four year career. In my opinion, the best episode of Gilmore Girls is when Rory finishes school and she graduates from Chilton. She takes one last walk around the school after she graduates. Her mom, Lorelai makes her stop and look around, telling her, “It’s not so scary anymore,” and Rory agrees. As I reflect on my high school career, I wish I could tell freshman year me that, no, it is not that scary. The idea of “self-care” stems from medical terminology of the 1950s. But it first took on the meaning we know today through the Black Panther Party, as ways civil rights activists could care for themselves to prevent burnout. Alongside self-care came the concept of community care, or a system of support for our communities. The two ideas go handin-hand – only after taking proper care of yourself can you meaningfully participate in your community and take care of others. But recently, the mainstream definition of the term has skewed more toward face masks, bubble baths and self-imposed social isolation. If that last one seems out of place, it is because it is usually packaged to blend right in a feed of flat Canva infographics or clipped from a podcast interview of a lifestyle influencer. Mantras like “protect your peace” or “keep your circle small” advertise a solitary life, above the messy, snotty emotions that plague relationships. They tell us: set your boundaries and hold them tight. Cut out people that hurt you and forget them completely. You don’t need anyone else. You don’t owe anything to anyone else. You are your own most valuable asset, and you should always, always put yourself first. With our time freed up from our relationships and personal lives, we’re freer to throw ourselves into work – Paris Geller’s “I’ll have friends after I graduate from Harvard” anyone? Bite down on the messy humanity and leave the productive, quantifiable parts of our existence behind (after all, it’s hard to be a good employee through the blur of post-break-up tears, and overtime looks far less attractive when you’ve got plans for the night). After years of this self-imposed solitude comes the glossy promise of a future where the new and improved, “fully healed” version of yourself emerges from the cocoon of isolation to engage in frictionless relationships with other mature, “high value” people that handle themselves with the poise and care you deserve in a partner. But sacrificing relationships and a social life for some kind of mysterious healing process seems more akin to self-harm than care. Our social needs are not just dispensable parts of ourselves that we can drop when relationships get tough. Just like focusing on your studies or going to therapy is a form of self-improvement, so is developing socially. Many of the proposed self-improvement solutions seem to focus more on improving appearances (accumulating wealth, going to the gym) rather than helping you figure out what caused your last fight with your friend. Growth will only come from being challenged, most often by those who love you enough to see your flaws and want to see you grow. When presented under the guise of self-care, this individualistic thinking feels pretty insidious. We are now choosing to cut ourselves off from our relationships of our volition. In romanticizing our melancholic solitude, we make ourselves more vulnerable to the well-documented effects of social isolation, which include higher rates of depression, heart disease, and even cognitive decline and dementia. We don’t have to be perfect people to be deserving of love from those around us. Quarantining yourself away is no way to induce some kind of dubiously-defined emotional healing. After all, healing, like maturity, is never a completed process, and there is no such thing as a perfect person, no matter how many years of therapy and self-care you’ve undergone. I have been guilty of this myself. When others hurt me, I slashed them out of my life entirely, justified by the mature language of boundaries and toxic relationships. But looking back, it was actually just running away from the difficult conversations and work needed to keep my relationships. Fleeing from conflict was ultimately just a way for me to ignore my problems instead of working to solve them. The choice to cut off others entirely is a blunt knife to relationships that should be handled with nuance. You are not obligated to fix someone else’s life, and if a relationship is hurting you, you have all the right in the world to leave it. But these extreme techniques should be used in similarly extreme circumstances, not over petty high-school drama. We all owe something to somebody: our parents who give our teenage outbursts endless amounts of grace, the friends you can pour your heart out to, the teachers that really get it, every zealous Amazon reviewer ever, the stranger that smiles at you on a bad day. There is no glamor in denying yourself connection in isolation. In fact, accepting love from others is one of the most important and joyful parts of life. People make mistakes, they cross boundaries, and they hurt others. But they can also be kind, loving, and make us better. Our entire existence depends on our communities, and it is up to us to keep them thriving by reciprocating the same kindness and compassion they show us. Self-care was made to support community care. Let us keep it that way. What we owe to each other Laurel Wang | The Chronicle Editorial Cartoon Gilmore Girls set me up for failure Bradyn Johnson | The Chronicle
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