Chronicle 21.2

Volume 21 Issue 2 | William Mason High School | 6100 Mason Montgomery Rd., Mason, OH | 10.20.23 Photo by Becca Hunter “Riding their own path” see page 2

Siblings blaze their own path on two-wheeled vehicles Aybika Kamil | The Chronicle Mason High School (MHS) senior Aaditya Anandram and sophomore Amruta Anandram’s familial connection to motorcycles and mopeds kickstarted their passion for the rev. The Anandrams have grown up with the influence of motorcycles and mopeds in their lives. Aaditya said that in India, where their parents are from, the main modes of transportation are motorcycles, scooters and other twowheeled vehicles. “My dad has a motorcycle, that’s where my fascination started,” Aaditya said. “When I was growing up, he would always take me for rides on the back of the motorcycle. It’ll always be a childhood memory.” Having experienced the freedom and thrill of being on a motorcycle, Aaditya said he was eager to get his own. Before he could get a motorcycle license, Aaditya tested for a moped license when he was around 14. Mopeds are lightweight and user-friendly motorized bicycles with easier maneuverability. He had to demonstrate his responsibility and ability to follow rules to his parents on his moped. Aaditya rode a Buddy scooter– which he had inherited from his mother until he was 16 and eligible to obtain a motorcycle license. “I didn’t go straight into riding a motorcycle,” Aaditya said. “[The moped] definitely gave me a lot of road experience that you won’t get from just riding a bicycle.” Prior to purchasing his own, Aaditya had been saving up for a motorcycle and conducting research on different models. While his parents considered many elements like the cubic capacity of the engine, Aaditya personally wanted a type of sports bike. He ultimately decided on a Kawasaki Ninja 400 which fit both his and his parents’ criteria. “I got my motorcycle last year around my birthday,” Aaditya said. “I was super excited, I had been wanting one for I don’t know how many years. It’s a significant part of my life because not everyone has the chance to get a motorcycle at my age or even ride one.” A couple of months ago, Aaditya learned how to modify his bike and add a slip-on muffler. The muffler gives the sound of the engine a deeper and sportier-like rev. Amruta also has some experience with motorcycles and even cars. She said that being around her brother and father and gaining knowledge from them has been integral in immersing her in the world of vehicles. Just as Aaditya started off with a moped, Amruta is following the same route as her older brother. Amruta said that her brother’s passion created an interest for her in motorcycles too. “My brother inspired me a lot,” Amruta said. “ Just seeing him ride and with the couple of trips he’s taken me on, I have seen that it’s really fun. It is dangerous, but you only live once, you have to make the most of it.” Amruta currently rides the same moped that Aaditya had. Once December comes, she will be eligible to get a motorcycle license. She has already started the search for a motorcycle and is planning to purchase a starter bike from brands such as Yamaha or Suzuki. Amruta has been hoping that when she gets her license, she can ride her motorcycle with her brother to school before he graduates. “I rode my moped and he rode his bike the other day, we came to school together,” Amruta said. “It’s different when you ride with someone, it’s just more fun.” Drawing inspiration from Aaditya, she intends to add a new muffler to make her ride louder when she gets her motorcycle. Amruta said she is looking forward to the little moments such as when she waits at a traffic light and revs her motorcycle for kids passing by. “It’s a stress reliever if you’re stressed about something or mad about something,” Amruta said. “When you put on your helmet and you’re just riding on a straight road without traffic, it’s really peaceful. I love thrills, I love [the] adrenaline.” The Anandrams’ family members were a key influence to both of their motorcycle journeys. Aaditya and Amruta both enjoy riding with their family and hope to do so in the future. “There’s just something special about riding your motorcycle with another group and it just so happens that my group on the road is my family,” Aaditya said. “Those are the memories that have impacted my journey the most and I expect to have many more memories like that in the future.” Photo by Aybika Kamil Aaditya Anandram and Amruta Anandram drive their motorcycle and moped together to school. 2 October 20, 2023

October 20, 2023 3 The Stars Behind the New Cosmic Cafe Ruhi Kaneria | The Chronicle Photos by Ruhi Kaneria “If I’m in a ‘I need to be caffeinated’ mood then I go with a Nutella cold brew. It has cold brew, some milk and a shot of espresso. It’s really good, but if I’m not needing or wanting coffee, I really like the Bad Blood lemonade. It’s strawberry lemonade, and it’s so good,” Youngquist said. “We definitely have had some issues creating drinks because we have to do it within a certain calorie count [of 60 calories, without milk]. But they’re really just little obstacles that we have to overcome because we always find a way to make it happen,” Youngquist said. “I really like my friends and my space and my team. The community that we’ve built this year has just been really quite cool, not only to see everyone grow, share their ideas and come out of their shells, but also just to become friends with all of these people that I may or may not have known before. It’s very different from any standard class,” Witmer-Gautsch said. Joy Youngquist, Emori Witmer-Gautsch, Jackson McKinney (left to right) Students gather outside of Cosmic Cafe with their drinks Cosmic Cafe baristas take orders and work the registers Senior Shriya Parthasarathi drizzles sauce into a Cosmic Cafe drink The coffee and espresso machines in Cosmic Cafe “We’ve been working a lot with Kidd Coffee recently. Lane Kidd has been helping us run our shop. He’s helped us with basically everything frm an operations standpoint. He has been providing us with the beans that we use. His coffee has really been a help for all of the coffee shops ideas,” McKinney said. 1. Nutella Cold Brew 2. Salted Caramel Latte 3. Twix Cold Brew Graphic by Alisha Verma “I really like my friends and my space and my team. The community that we’ve built this year has just been really quite cool, not only to see everyone grow, share their ideas and come out of their shells, but also just to become friends with all of these people that I may or may not have known before. It’s very differAfter years of planning, the Cosmic Cafe opened at the beginning of September. They are located in the Large Commons concessions area and are open before school, during first and second bell and during Connect. BEST SELLERS The coffee and espresso machines in Cosmic Cafe “We’ve been working a lot with Kidd Coffee recently. Lane Kidd has been helping us run our shop. He’s helped us with basically everything frm an operations standpoint. He has been providing us with the beans that we use. His coffee has really been a help for all of the coffee shops ideas,” McKinney said. happen,” Youngquist said. BEST SELLERS “We want to be connected with the Mason community beyond just who we serve drinks to. We want to expand and reach out to parents and educators and people whether they’re at the front office, resource officers, or lunch staff. We just really want to be able to target everyone and give them something to enjoy and we also want to be able to make our staff’s days a little bit better,” Witmer-Gautsch said. Joy Youngquist, Emori Witmer-Gautsch, Jackson McKinney Senior Joy Youngquist, Marketing Team Manager and General Manager

Srinidhi Valathappan | The Chronicle Mason High School (MHS) is full of students who strive for success at everything the school has to offer – including the brand new book study. This relentless drive often brings with it stress, burnout and a highly competitive culture that can take a toll on the well-being of students. Senior Nura Salem is a first-year student leader on the Inclusive Excellence (IE) team who has experienced first-hand the culture that comes with a competitive school like MHS. Salem said that the wide variety of activities, while creating bonding and opportunities for growth, can also lead to increased pressure to participate in as much as possible. “At a small school, you can easily be a big fish in a small pond, but it’s not as easy at Mason,” Salem said. “Even if you’re a big fish, you’re in an even bigger pond. With almost 4,000 students, some people just get swept along.” In a bid to continue addressing these concerns and promote a more holistic approach to success, MHS has launched a district-wide book study program centered around the book “Thrivers” by Dr. Michele Borba. The book is centered around the seven traits Dr. Borba identified as needed characteristics for a student’s lifelong success — confidence, empathy, selfcontrol, integrity, curiosity, perseverance and optimism. It was selected after Learner & Family Engagement Administrator Dr. Robyn Jordan and three students attended the Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development (ASCD) Conference in March 2023. Superintendent Dr. Jonathan Cooper said the district was spurred into action after he was approached by students aware of the pressing need for change, who approached him with possible additions to the ongoing mission to aid mental health at MHS. Their pleas served as a catalyst for the district’s commitment to improving mental health and well-being within the school community. As a result, the district implemented significant changes, including revisions to the GPA system, the elimination of class rank and the removal of valedictorian and salutatorian distinctions. Cooper said that these measures were not just about policy changes, but also about fostering a deeper understanding of students’ diverse experiences. “[The changes] broaden our understanding of different stories so that we can have a conversation that leads to curiosity,” Cooper said. Jordan, who played a key role in selecting “Thrivers,” wanted to incorporate the book into CommUNITY Conversations, which are opportunities for community members to talk with the superintendent and other members of the Mason City Schools leadership team. “The journey toward a more empathetic and inclusive school culture begins with understanding and dialogue,” Jordan said. “‘Thrivers’ offers a meaningful framework for our students and educators to engage in these crucial conversations and take meaningful actions.” The book complements the district’s work on Journey to 2030 and Portrait of a Graduate, initiatives to define what values and skills Comets need to thrive in the future. In terms of structuring the book study, various options were made available to participants, including a self-study, a virtual small-group and an in-person small-group. So far, 266 community members have signed up, with 161 of those electing to participate in small groups. “We wanted to make it as flexible as possible, so families could find their best fit,” Jordan said. The self-led option comes with an online resource supplement designed by Jordan, and is targeted primarily towards members who want an asynchronous option. In-person small groups meet monthly with the help of volunteer facilitators who are given timelines and discussion prompts. The virtual small group engages in similar discussions, but over Zoom. “The more that we can do to build opportunities for people to come together and create meaningful connections, it helps create a sense of belonging and connection with families and the community school district,” Jordan said. “Thrivers” has been well-received by students and educators alike. Sophomore Eliana Charpentier, a student leader on the IE and Big Rock teams, is part of the book study, and found the book more valuable than she initially expected. “I thought it was going to be very boring, very straightforward, but I really like all the stories that they added,” Charpentier said. “I feel like it gives a lot of perspective.” The book study also opened with a kickoff event, which Jordan described as a way to “build energy and momentum” around the book. Although not required, there were still high levels of participation. Charpentier was a student facilitator for this event on Sept. 14, which she said encouraged creativity and curiosity among attendees, who ranged from elementary students to adults. Her station’s task was to write down every single thing possible with a paperclip, resulting in a wide variety of ideas, from a Smurf-sized table to a hamster cage. “It was incredible,” Charpentier said. “I never would have thought of these ideas, and they were all so unique.” AP Microeconomics, Hope Squad and Comet Connections teacher Brandon Sethi, who is participating in the book study, said he feels that another muchneeded focus of the book is on empathy. “Society as a whole has lost empathy,” Sethi said. “Now, if [you] don’t like somebody, [you] can make a comment on Instagram and hide behind it. People forget that the person on the receiving end is a real person.” Sethi has also noticed the impact of reading the book through the lens of being a teacher and an educator. He said that in this role, his biggest takeaways have been to “keep things in perspective and meet kids where they are.” “[As a teacher], it can be as simple as me understanding that turning in the assignment a day later really isn’t that big of a deal,” Sethi said. Charpentier said she has also noticed the simplicity of applying principles from the book, working them into her job working with children as a babysitter. “I try to instill empathy in them,” Charpentier said. “I try to say, ‘How do you think that makes [her] feel?’ instead of just ‘Hey, stop leaving her out.’” Jordan has also emphasized the importance of continually applying the learnings from the book study, and referred to the book as an ongoing guide rather than a one-time read. “We’re thrilled to have community members participating and reading the book, but there’s a call to action to implement it in our lives and community,” Jordan said. As the district-wide book study of “Thrivers” continues to generate conversations and inspire actions aimed at fostering a thriving, empathetic and supportive environment for students at MHS, Jordan said it is important to remember the real impact the book could have. “It tells human stories, it talks about research studies, and it shares strategies,” Jordan said. “If we want to be a community of wellness, the strategies in “Thrivers” are what we have to take action on.” 4 October 20, 2023 New book study fosters Graphics by Becca Hunter conversation on success

October 20, 2023 5 Student scare actors bring fear to Halloween attractions Akshay Vadlamani | The Chronicle The monster in your nightmares this Halloween may very well be the kid sitting next to you in Biology class. Scare actors are people who audition for various roles in haunted houses or haunted attractions, such as Halloween Haunt at Kings Island or Twisted Trails at Kirkwood Camp & Adventure Park. Donning scary costumes and makeup, Mason High School (MHS) students who work as scare actors prowl the attractions in order to frighten guests and bring an authentic scare factor to the Halloween experience. Senior Tory Lamper works at Kings Island’s Halloween Haunt as a scare actor. Before earning the role, the audition required Lamper to perform scare actor behaviors such as walking and screaming like a monster for as long as possible. Even though the intensity of the audition made her nervous, Lamper said her passion for scaring helped her push through the process. “A million thoughts were racing through my head like ‘Can I actually scream long enough, what do I do for my [monster] walk, what if my voice cracks?’” Lamper said. “I was terrified for my audition and before I went in, I just kept telling myself, ‘I have nothing to lose.’” Lamper works as a dead usher in an underground wax museum setting and is constantly coming up with new ways to scare the guests. Lamper said that portraying a character, especially with the freedom that Halloween Haunt gives its actors, allows for her to put on a new mask and be someone else during her job. “Knowing that I’m this character and that [people] wouldn’t recognize me is a refreshing feeling because I can do whatever without feeling like all eyes are on me,” Lamper said. Senior Garrett Howard is also a first-time scarer at Halloween Haunt but has prior experience from working at a smaller haunted house in the past. Howard plays different characters in multiple rooms of an old 1920s hotel, and this gives him the opportunity to don multiple masks and personas. Portraying such a diverse range of characters allows Howard to scare people in a variety of ways. Howard said that scaring gives him a rush of excitement. “There’s just so much energy, the anticipation just keeps getting higher and higher,” Howard said. “Once you see guests coming through, it’s just a giant adrenaline rush. “You’re scaring people and getting paid to do it.” Howard is passionate about not just scare acting, but also the behind-the-scenes preparation that makes a house truly scary. “[The makeup is] a lot of light colors making my face look gone, and then dark colors on top of that [to] make me look as dead as I can,” Howard said. “I remember how much of a rush it was seeing all the cool sets and makeup and the heart-pounding that you get afterward.” Senior Noel Mettey was a scare actor in the past for Twisted Trails, which is an outdoor haunted attraction at the Kirkwood Camp & Adventure Park. However, now she helps her dad, who is the creator of the program, with the operations of the attractions. Mettey and her family have always been avid Halloween fans. The family channeled this passion into creating their spooky subdivision of the adventure park in 2019, and it has been scaring people since. “[My dad’s idea for Twisted Trails] initially started because he knew that he wanted to do something crazy,” Mettey said. “My love for Halloween and how much he loved it was kind of what pushed us to do those kinds of things.” Mettey said that haunted attractions and scare acting are how she and many others can express their Halloween spirit, even without trick-or-treating. Scare acting at Twisted Trails let Mettey show that she can do more than people expect of her, as the ability to scare people is not restricted to a select few. “When I tell people that I scare acted, they don’t believe me because I’m a very small person and I’m not very scary,” Mettey said. “It’s a way to show people that I am able to do a lot more than other people might think I’m capable of.” Evan Terribilini has been a scare actor for Twisted Trails for two years now. He first volunteered with Mason Acapella, and after falling in love with the experience, returned as a full-fledged employee. Although the objective of haunted attractions is to scare guests, Terribilini said that it is alarming for the actor to become the character. “We’re equally as afraid of ourselves,” Terribilini said. “We look in the mirror and think ‘Oh my god, I look like that’.” Terribilini said that he values that haunted attractions give various people the opportunity to come together over Halloween. “It’s so much fun and all of these [scare actors] are artists and actors and we all just share such a love for Halloween,” Terribilini said. “It’s a really fun vibe knowing that you’re adding to this atmosphere of Halloween.” Photo by Akshay Vadlamani Senior Garrett Howard scares guests as they walk through the haunted house, Hotel St. Michelle, at Kings Island’s Halloween Haunt.

Megan Lee | The Chronicle Mason High School (MHS) junior Parthav Gavini took advocating all the way to Washington, D.C. Gavini, a member of the Great Oaks Future Health Professionals (HOSA), formerly known as Health Occupations Students of America, program at MHS traveled to Washington, D.C. in September to participate in a nationwide convention debating new budget cuts within the program. The Perkins Funding Bill has been circling around Congress since 2018 to decrease the federal government funding for all Career-Technical Organizations, including HOSA. Career-Technical (Tech) Education programs have been a resource for students all over the country to pursue real-world experience and discover what they would like to do after graduation. Great Oaks sponsors the HOSA program at MHS, so with less funding, the future financial stability of the program is at risk. Gavini spent a weekend in downtown Washington with other HOSA state officials from all over the country to advocate for the program, which he said provides students with various opportunities for real-world volunteering within their desired medical or healthcare field. “We are trying to make sure there’s still funding available for organizations to help students achieve their career goals,” Gavini said. “Especially with the new budget cuts.” The convention took place from Sept. 23 to Sept. 26, 2023. During his time there, Gavini was able to learn from CareerTech professionals on how to speak for political issues like funding. “The whole [convention] taught us various skills such as how to argue about and for funding, especially to such high authorities,” Gavini said. Gavini represented Ohio as a designated state officer after undergoing an extensive application process. On the final days of the convention, each officer got to have a meeting with a government representative to voice their opinion on the new funding bill. Gavini met with the staff of Senator J.D. Vance, one of Ohio’s senators who covers health and educational policies. During the thirty minute meeting, Gavini said he was able to express his prominent goals in regards to the Perkins Funding Bill and additional funding for Career-Tech programs. “I got to really talk to him about what our goals are and why they should support our need for continued funding in our program,” Gavini said. Gavini said that having peers around him that were just as passionate about HOSA made the convention engaging and encouraging to participate in. “Connecting and networking with hundreds of other leaders that were there made the entire experience so motivational,” Gavini said. HOSA advisor, Principles of Biomedical Science and Human Body Systems teacher Karen McDonough chaperoned Gavini’s trip and said that she was blown away by his passion and ability to fight for what he believes in “To watch him professionally speak, and be able to answer questions off the cuff because he was so knowledgeable about it all, and the passion he had for what he was saying really impressed me,” McDonough said. McDonough, along with other HOSA advisor Carol Anderson, said that while she feels HOSA has helped Gavini develop his skills, it is ultimately his devotion to the cause that turns heads. “Our program along with his other involvements at MHS prepared him for the convention but he also just had the passion,” McDonough said. “Everything he said sparked a difference.” McDonough said that she knows Gavini is an involved student and loved to see him grow on a professional level to fight for continued financial support for HOSA. His dedication to the program and desire to continue to provide solid opportunities for other students is what made him so appealing as a state officer. “Seeing the professionalism he had towards the convention and how much he really wanted to change the issue, I could really see him develop not just his science skills but also his leadership skills,” McDonough said. While Gavini was able to earn himself this opportunity, he said he could not have done it without the support of the HOSA program and the outreach opportunities he has been given. By being elected into the role of state officer, Gavini knows that he is taking strides to making a difference. “HOSA as an organization was able to provide me with so many opportunities of leadership and professional development,” Gavini said. “All these opportunities are possible because of the funding that we receive from the national government.” Gavini said that while he knows the convention was short-lived, the impact he made during his time there will not be forgotten. Being able to show a student opinion of the Perkins Funding Bill, Gavini is confident he and his fellow state officers have been heard. “All these representatives and senators go to meetings 24/7 with a bunch of other adults,” Gavini said. “Hearing the passionate voices from students like us, the people that are actually going through the education system right now is a whole different perspective.” HOSA has given Gavini more than just opportunities, but also the chance to share his opinion on a national level and make a true difference for the program. As he continues to fight for equal funding for HOSA programs throughout the country, Gavini said he is ready to keep inspiring others to push for change no matter what they are up against. “We’re the people that are shaping our own futures and experiences,” Gavini said. “We need to make these representatives want to take action and actually hear our voices and make sure that we’re represented in the government.” 6 October 20, 2023 MHS student fights for funding in Washington Illustration by Alisha Verma MHS Junior Parthav Gavini

October 20, 2023 7 Mason staff supports student growth post-pandemic Kendall Davis | The Chronicle With the effects of COVID-19’s learning gaps becoming apparent, Mason teachers and administration innovate to move forward in new directions. Across schools worldwide, teachers and students alike have noticed difficulties with returning to learning and behaving in school post-pandemic. With the shifting of expectations during the COVID years, it has been challenging for students to keep up with the typical pace of content. Mason City Schools (MCS) teachers, administrators and students are all working towards continuing students’ growth. Teacher’s Academy teacher Marcie Blamer oversees Teacher’s Academy, a program for high school students who plan to have a career in education. She said she has noticed that in her classroom, students have experienced a delay in their social development due to the years students were not at school in-person. She also said that learning obstacles are typically noticed in a school setting. “We’re missing socialemotional behavior, self-regulation, kids’ ability to regulate their emotions and behaviors,” Blamer said. “We have missed a lot of identification of learning challenges that we could have been addressing before, but when you’re not in a classroom, these are the things you might not know.” Mason Early Childhood Center (MECC) principal Melissa Bly has been working closely with teachers to create the best possible learning experiences for students both during and after the impacts of COVID by monitoring testing scores and making necessary adjustments. She said that for young children, it was challenging to keep up with the core learning done in early childhood such as learning how to read. “When we look at the academic data from those years when the kids returned, we do see a little drop in the reading performance,” Bly said. “Definitely being back in school has shown that they can achieve at the levels we would expect at this point.” Senior Teacher Academy student Ihina Das said that when she worked with fourth and fifth graders, she observed collaboration issues students would not have had pre-COVID. “What I noticed is they [the students] wouldn’t interact with each other,” Das said. “They would only do stuff on their own or by themselves.” Freshman English and Honors English I teacher Jennifer Leitsch said she has seen an uptick in student behaviors that would typically be expected of younger grades, but that teachers can adapt to the needs of students following the online schooling years. “Behaviors are a little boisterous,” Leitsch said. “That doesn’t mean we don’t do group work anymore. That means we scaffold it differently so that you’re teaching them the behaviors that we want to see.” Blamer said that another loss from the COVID-impacted years that is still seeing effects is the learning struggles for English language learners. “A lot of that English language instruction would come from school,” Blamer said. “[It’s hard] when you don’t have that or you’re trying to do that over a computer and you don’t have someone at home that can help you in the language you’re asked to use at school.” MHS Associate Principal of Teaching and Learning Tina Drake manages many initiatives at the high school to help students repair learning gaps. She said there are many options for students who need support in school such as peer tutoring, connecting with a teacher for support, Comet Connections (an intervention bell at school) and after-school academic intervention program. However, Drake said that the school is always open to expanding the support options available to students. “We’ve got a lot of systems in place here at the high school to help students,” Drake said. “There are options, and students can self-initiate with their teachers, say, ‘Hey, I’m really struggling.’” Benchmark assessments are also given to students throughout the school year, which can be used to make sure students are making progress in their learning no matter where they were at the beginning of the year. Senior Teacher Academy student Hailey Eiserman said that the teacher she has been helping has been finding success with students through different lesson formats that let students socialize with one another. “My teacher has been having them [the students] do a lot of interactive lessons,” Eiserman said. “She’s having them sit down on the carpet and share with the class one thing they did yesterday or one thing they did over the weekend, and that’s helped a lot.” Leitsch said that if teachers adapt their expectations for what students should be able to do, it could help promote growth among students. “[Teachers can work on] shifting their mindset from, ‘These are the skills I have to teach, this is what I’ve always done,’” Leitsch said. “I think [we need to be] shifting the focus to be like, ‘Who’s in my class? What do they need? How do I grow them?’ That attitude shift can make a huge difference.” Bly said that for younger students, ensuring that they have access to a variety of good literature is a way to make progress. “All of our classrooms have plentiful libraries of books that are at different reading levels because we want them [the students] to feel really confident,” Bly said. “That helps them to stay engaged when they feel that confidence and feeling like, ‘I’m reading books, just like a grown-up would,’ and achieving that on a regular basis.” Blamer said that creating interactive and engaging lessons that are unique to in-person situations is key to rebuilding interest and success in a post-COVID school setting. “The way that we fix this [learning gap], in part, is creating an experience in our classrooms that cannot be replicated,” Blamer said. Graphics by Alisha Verma

8 October 20, 2023 ordinary people; famous names “Kaiser means emperor, and his real name was Frederick, which is my middle name.” Kaiser Frederick Wilhelm King of Prussia and Emperor of Germany from 1888-1918 Zach Bryan Chart-topping American country singer and songwriter. Zack Bryan MHS Junior Kaiser Wilhelm MHS Junior “I would typically skip a Zach Bryan song if it was played with the normal songs I listen to.” Kevin McCallister Mischievous star of Home Alone, portrayed by Macaulay Culkin. Kevin McCallister MHS Junior “One of the band directors, Mr. Jackson, always calls me Home Alone, as kind of a nickname.” Michael Jordan Six-time NBA champion and fivetime league MVP Mike Jordan Chemistry teacher Michael Jordan Six-time NBA champion and fivetime league MVP “I wasn’t as good as the real Michael Jordan, but I could play a little bit.” Page compiled by Hudson Pitcock Chronicle staff writer Hudson Pitcock searched the halls and found five Mason High School students and staff members who share a name with a famous counterpart. Kate Middleton MHS Sophomore Kate Middleton Princess of Wales and a member of the British Royal Family. “I think I could totally be a princess. Whenever I talk, people listen.”

October 20, 2023 9 MHS girls engage in organization previously known as Boy Scouts Elina Bishoyi | The Chronicle Mason High School (MHS) girls are scouting for adventure through Scouts BSA. Originally created with the intent of training young boys in survival skills and discipline for the military, Scouts BSA has undergone many changes since it was founded as the program’s focus shifted to the development of character and skill. In 2017, the Boys Scouts of America made the decision to accept girls into the organization after families pushed for the change. The organization began officially welcoming girls in 2019 and changed its name to “Scouts BSA” to adapt to the new policy. Before the decision, Girl Scouts and Boy Scouts were exclusive to their respective genders, however, now the Scouts BSA program is inclusive of all genders. For troops in Mason, Scouts BSA have separate meetings for girls and boys, but handle excursions and projects together. Junior Hannah Knuth who is currently the president of the Venturing Scouts crew in Mason, was previously a part of the Girl Scouts organization. Knuth said she has liked the different opportunities that Scouts BSA has provided her over those in Girl Scouts. “[Girl Scouts] felt more like crafts and projects you do on your own,” Knuth said. “It was more service-related, but Boy Scouts is more fun activities, life skills and outdoor skills. [Venturing] focuses on high adventure [activities] and I like the more challenging things.” Junior McKenzie Kirchoff has been a part of Scouts BSA since they allowed women members in 2019. Kirchoff said she has noted significant effects in her personal life since she has been in the organization. “Scouting has made me more competent at being a leader,” Kirchoff said. “I wasn’t too good at public speaking or leading big groups. Once I got into [BSA] and started being a leader within the program, it made me feel confident in myself.” Senior Matthew Lyons has been in the Scouts BSA and Cub Scouts, a Scouts program designed for children up to fifth grade, for a total of 11 years. He said that the program has changed for the better with the inclusion of girls. “My older sister used to complain about not being able to do Scouts like I did,” Lyons said. “It never really made sense to me why [girls] couldn’t join. We don’t have a reason to be reserved to boys, it’s a great experience for everybody.” Eagle Scout is the highest rank of the Scouts BSA program and the Summit Rank is the highest rank of the Venturing BSA program. Before the change in the organization, girls were unable to earn this rank, but now members like Kirchoff contribute their time, effort and skills to the community in the form of an Eagle Project or Summit Award Service Project. Kirchoff is currently working on her own Eagle Scout project to make “exit bags” filled with supplies for women leaving a women’s shelter in Lebanon. “I want to help [my community],” Kirchoff said. “When [the women] are leaving the shelter, they usually don’t have much. My [Eagle] project is getting supplies to help them get back on their feet.” Senior Naomi Abernathy joined Scouts as a founding member of the troop in Mason. Previously a member of a Girl Scouts organization in Virginia, Abernathy said she wanted to experience being a member in Scouts BSA when she moved to Mason. Abernathy’s Eagle Project coordinated with The Lighthouse Foundation, an organization that assists homeless children and provides resources for the LGBTQ+ community, and The Dragonfly Foundation, an organization that provides support and care for families who have children with cancer. She painted large canvases for the organizations to display at their locations. As an aspiring art education major, Abernathy said that her Eagle Project inspired her to explore her career interests through other means, including Teacher Academy and painting for students. “My Eagle Project was great for me to be able to bring out that artistic side,” Abernathy said. “My work with the sixth-grade art teachers and other opportunities wouldn’t have happened if I hadn’t had the Eagle Scout experience.” Abernathy finished her Eagle Project in April 2023 and has remained involved with Scouts BSA in other leadership positions. Abernathy said Scouts BSA provides unique opportunities for everyone, regardless of gender. “Sometimes we associate certain personalities with [Scouts],” Abernathy said. “I think when people see girls in the [Scouts] uniform they think about selling cookies, but you can be a girly girl and still enjoy camping. There isn’t a set of parameters you have to fit in to enjoy [Scouts].” Contributed by Naomi Abernathy Senior Naomi Abernathy, bottom left, alongside other members in Scouts BSA.

10 October 20, 2023 Teenagers explore the use of workout supplements Drew Hoffmaster | The Chronicle Teens gulp down a fruit punch or blue raspberry flavored drink not knowing the true effects it has on their bodies. According to the Center of Disease Control, 51.5% of teenagers in the United States spend time in the gym building strength and becoming fit for three or more days in a week. Exercising as a teen will decrease chances for heart disease, boost energy and increase muscle mass. Some student athletes take pre-workout supplements or creatine, a natural substance used to improve exercise performance and muscle mass, to help make their time in the gym more worthwhile. Senior Lucas Lippeat is an avid gym-goer who has dabbled with both, discovering both positive and negative effects. “[Pre-workout] is good for some people if you don’t really have much motivation or if you want a better pump,” Lippeat said. “Creatine really helps build up muscle but you need to drink a lot of water.” Pre-workout is a drink mix containing 150 to 300 milliliters of caffeine per serving, equal to three cups of coffee, allowing athletes to have more energy to push weight. Lippeat was first introduced to preworkout by some of his gym buddies and quickly got hooked noticing feeling like he could lift more. After a few months, he said he decided to quit, not liking the sense of false confidence it provided him. “I didn’t want to be addicted to caffeine and just take [pre-workout] over and over again because a lot of people are, which is not good for a person’s health,” Lippeat said. “After I stopped, I felt groggy and bad, not being as motivated, but after a week it all went away.” Creatine, a type of amino acid commonly sold in powder form, helps build muscle by drawing more water to muscle cells and boosting muscle fiber growth. Lippeat said he feels it is safe to take creatine, and he drinks five to ten grams of it in hot water in the morning. “Creatine is not steroids,” Lippeat said. “It’s not gonna kill you. But you still have to take it seriously. There is the possibility it will harm your kidneys, so you have to be willing to drink tons of water.” Honors Anatomy and Physiology teacher Maggie Long decided to educate herself about pre-workout and creatine after having multiple students come to her seeking information if they should use either in the gym. “I have a lot of my Anatomy students that are going to the gym,” Long said. “I was like, ‘How can I put [pre-workout and creatine] information out for my students so they can make the logical choice?’ We talk about [supplements] when we learn about structure and functions of the body. According to Long, pre-workout and creatine are just like any other energy drink. She said supplements are not absolutely necessary, and students can get better results in the gym from having other foods. “[Pre-workout] is just like drinking a Red Bull and that is way too much caffeine,” Long said. “Combined with the sugar, it may lead to heart palpitations and sugar crashes happening in the middle of your workout.” Certified Youth Personal Trainer Amy Hershey works with many teens in the gym advising them on the best way to get stronger at Hershey Fitness, Raise the Bar in Mason. She said that she would never recommend either supplement to the students she trains because they may interfere with a person’s health and growth. “I’ll encourage them to make healthy eating choices instead,” Hershey said. “It is more important to listen to their own bodies, eat lean proteins, healthy carbohydrates, drink lots of water and eat less sugary foods.” Senior Hannah Ott started exercising at the gym as part of her rehabilitation after tearing her anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) while playing soccer. She has been tempted by friends and family to take preworkout and creatine, but she said she feels the risks of both are too high and they are not worth taking. “Healthy habits will definitely take me way further than creatine or pre-workout,” Ott said. “I’ve definitely looked into them and thought about buying them, but my reason for working out isn’t to gain the most amount of muscle.” Pre-workout and creatine can often cost from $30 to $60. Although Ott’s parents pay for her gym membership, she said she can not imagine how much more it would cost them if she bought pre-workout or creatine. “Working out is already expensive with having to get a gym membership which you have to pay for monthly,” Ott said. “Adding on the cost of [pre-workout and creatine] will definitely affect you badly economically if you’re paying for it.” According to the University of Rochester Medical, the human brain does not fully mature until a person is 25. Junior Luke Lu said he feels students are not paying enough attention to the fact that pre-workout and creatine are directly advertised to adults. “As a young person, we need to be careful about the information that we learn about online because it is not entirely tailored to kids,” Lu said. “As a kid, you’re still growing and your metabolism is really high, which is what most teens should be focusing on.” Students already get a lot of the vitamins and energy that pre-workout and creatine contain from other foods. Lu said that if students take pre-workout or creatine, they should be researching the full effects of the supplements before taking them. “We are young, and our bodies are young,” Lu said. “[Creatine and pre-workout] has been through testing, but that does not mean you shouldn’t make sure it is safe for yourself.” Lu feels the most important thing for a teen to focus on with working out is not pre-workout or creatine, but letting their body grow and get stronger. “You do not need to work out every single day of the week for two hours running on pre-workout,” Lu said. “Exercising should be for strength, adding weight and making progress, before even thinking about supplements.” Pictured above: Luke Lu working out at the gym Photo contributed by Luke Lu Graphics by Becca Hunter

October 20, 2023 11

Allie Keim | The Chronicle Taylor Murray | The Chronicle Political pins and parades are becoming a staple of the lives of several MHS students. On November 7th, Mason adults will gather to vote on numerous issues and public offices, including their preferred Mason City Council candidates for three open seats. Out of Tony Bradburn (incumbent), Josh Styrcula (incumbent), Joy Bennett, Scott Gibson and Gina Sanders, the latter three are parents to a current Mason High School (MHS) student. Senior Becca Sanders has been supporting her mom throughout this monthslong process. Between giving pins to her friends and spreading the word about the campaign, Sanders said she is very proud of her mom and happy to help in any way she can. “It’s really cool to see the way that she’s getting involved in the community,” Becca Sanders said. “It motivates me to see both of my parents up and around.” Coming from a service and non-profit background, city council candidate Gina Sanders hopes to incorporate a strong line of communication into her campaign. Sanders acknowledged the accomplishments that have been made in the community and will work to maintain Mason’s values. Sanders said that stepping into this role as a mother means she will have to sacrifice some of her time at home with her family. Becca Sanders understands what it takes for her mom to get elected and uphold her position. She said that her mom’s tenacity and work ethic are inspiring her to be more self-sufficient. “I think [the campaign] is making me a more independent person,” Becca Sanders said. “Her action motivates me to work a little bit harder. Also, I’m a senior and both of my parents are really busy doing important things now, so it’s pushing me to be more independent.” Gina Sanders said that she is thankful for the opportunity to teach her kids more about local government and have thoughtful family conversations about her daily experiences. “If anything, we’ve just been having more conversations about what it looks like to run for local office,” Gina Sanders said. “It’s a vulnerable place for us as a family - not just for me - to have my face and my name out all over the community. It doesn’t seem to have affected my kids negatively. If anything, I think they’re learning a lot.” City council candidate Joy Bennett has two MHS students, Nishka Mishra and Laasya Acharya, on her campaign staff working as a manager and an intern, respectively. She said her campaign has enabled her to have family conversations about taxes and where that money goes locally, especially with her youngest son, MHS sophomore Luke Bennett. Joy Bennett is running for public office for a third time, so her children have grown to accept seeing her signs around town. Her two sons recently joined her in the 2023 Heritage Day Parade holding campaign banners. Bennett said that being able to share the campaign process with her children helps her to gain another perspective on local issues. “Having kids who are teens and young adults helps me to have a sense of how young people are thinking about politics and the things that are important to [younger generations],” Bennett said. Bennett’s busy schedule due to her running requires compromises in her personal life, like spending less time at home. “The logistics of getting everyone where they need to go are a little more complicated because I’m out so much, whether I’m meeting with people or knocking on doors or at events,” Bennett said. “I’m home less to have those regular family life conversations about how everybody’s doing and what’s going on.” (continued on page 13) 12 October 20, 2023 friends and spreading the word about the campaign, Sanders said she is very proud of her mom and happy to help in any way she can. “It’s really cool to see the way that she’s getting involved in the comto be more self-sufficient. “I think [the campaign] is making me a more independent person,” Becca Sanders said. “Her action motivates me to work a little bit harder. Also, I’m a senior and both of my parents are really busy Graphic by Alisha Verma Mason city council race hits close Photo contributed by Crew Gibson Mason High School senior Crew Gibson and his father Scott Gibson, who is a candidate in the Mason City Council election on November 7.

(continued from page 12) Senior Crew Gibson, son of candidate Scott Gibson, has been involved with family events to raise campaign funds. Crew said that his experience watching his dad run for office has opened up his eyes to the intricacies of the political process. “I didn’t realize how much marketing and fundraising went into [an election],” Gibson said. Crew Gibson understands that he and his family are very visible in the community because of his dad’s candidacy, and wants to help create a positive image for the campaign. “I am definitely on my best behavior because we’re more looked at more than if he wasn’t running for city council,” Gibson said. Becca Sanders turned 18 over the summer, and will have a unique first election as an eligible voter with her mom on the ballot. Sanders said that the situation has given her a more in depth understanding of politics as a young citizen. “It’s definitely a weird introduction into politics,” Becca Sanders said. “It’s a lot more of a personal matter and I’m participating in discussions and community events more often than I would have otherwise.” Local elections are not as prominent as larger state and national elections, especially to younger voters, but the race has a clear direct impact on the remainder of Sanders’ time at home in high school. “Typically, a city council vote has minor effects on an 18 year old,” Becca Sanders said. “This year’s results would change my day-to-day in a big way.” Gina Sanders recognizes that her family is getting additional publicity that they cannot control, and appreciates that her kids want to aid her when they can. Sanders is grateful to her kids for supporting her dream of being on the city council and helping others. “It’s maybe a bit more spotlight and attention than [my kids] would prefer,” Gina Sanders said. “But I feel like they’ve been really supportive. I think they understand my heart, passion and why it’s important to engage in your local community.” October 20, 2023 13 Photo by Taylor Murray Mason City Council candidate Joy Bennett and her son Luke Bennett, a MHS sophomore, stand next to a Bennett campaign sign on the side of Mason-Montgomery road. Photo contributed by Gina Sanders Mason High School senior Becca Sanders and her mother Gina Sanders, a Mason City Council candidate, stand together behind a Sanders campaign sign in the family’s yard. “It’s strange because typically, a city council vote has minor effects on an 18-year-old, but this year’s results would change my day-to-day in a big way. ” - MHS senior Becca Sanders to home for three MHS students

14 October 20, 2023 teacher feature club shoutout why? transportation station pets in costumes 46.4% this or that? chron catalog Photo contributed by senior Anna Schmeichel Q A scan to ask a “why?” for next month! scan to answer a this or that? for next month! Why does the Mason High School (MHS) large commons not have running soft serve frozen yogurt machines anymore? Kitchen manager Lisa McDonald- “We’re waiting for [the repairman] to come in service on the machine because it’s been a few years since it’s been in use,” McDonald said. “We have all the yogurt in the freezer. We’ve had some feedback from students, they’ve asked for it, and I’m hoping that it will be [running] before Thanksgiving time.” “People will know me for having cool cars,” Hacker said. “I do see a lot [of people] who turn their heads. And I kind of grew attached to the car because it’s just a fun car. I’d say it’s unique and it looks cool.” Results taken from Google Form poll with a sample of 28 responses Senior Chase Hacker and his 1950 Crosley Hotshot 53.6% PUMPKIN SPICE APPLE CIDER Culinary Club advisor Lisa Jacob English teacher Lori Roth on yearly Z2 teacher coordinated Halloween costumes “It started because the kids were stressed out in October and we wanted a day where they could be joyful and kids again,” Roth said. “[Planning] usually starts the year before [where] we come up with the following year’s theme. It’s usually a surprise, [but] I will tell you that this year’s costume is on trend right now.” “For October, the students decided that they wanted to make loaded mac and cheese, broccoli cheddar soup and spooky cookies,” Jacob said. “We have whatever the students decide [to make] and it gets people out of their comfort zone eating foods and ingredients that they maybe never tried or had at home. It's also a great way to feel more connected to the school and to meet new people.” Jumanji, Pitbull mix Photo contributed by senior Gina Ramirez Photo contributed by senior Lily Samuel Photo contributed by senior Ella Koshy Charlie, Shih Tzu Thor, Airedale Terrier Teddy, Goldendoodle Photo contributed by Lisa Jacob

October 20, 2023 15 entertainment by Drake FOR ALL THE DOGS The Exorcist: Believer Are We There Yet? Last June, Drake announced he was working on a new album in an advertisement for his close friend and collaborator Kenza Samir’s poetry book Titles Ruin Everything. In the announcement, Drake referenced a quote from his hit song Headlines: “They say they miss the old Drake, girl don’t tempt me,” teasing this new album would revert to his older music styles, exciting seasoned admirers and casual listeners alike. However, within 24 hours of its release, its audience score on Google was already at a 2.7 out of 5. Although Drake was still able to deliver a solid tracklist of 23 songs, the album consisted of very few well-crafted songs and had many let-downs that felt like nothing more than filler. Despite the hit-or-miss tracklist, this may have been too harsh of a first reaction. If you can ignore the forgettable songs that didn’t quite provide the high quality music usually expected from Drake, like “Members Only,” or “Another Late Night,” Drake delivers polished rhythms with at times corny lyrics on songs like “Virginia Beach” and “BBL Love (Interlude).”that I can see past to still recognize a good-sounding song. One of Drake’s best qualities is his ability to feature artists in his songs, giving them most of the glory while still managing to maintain his own presence in his own song. Despite this, on the track featuring rapper Yeat, Drake is outperformed by his guest. Singer SZA’s contribution to “Slime You Out’’ was pivotal to bringing the song to life. Beginning with with a sad Drake singing glum lyrics atop a slow, mellow flow, SZA carries listeners to the end of the song with her alluring voice. The inclusion of so many redundant tracks, like “Away From Home” and “Rich Baby Daddy” is what kept this album from getting a better score from me. A couple of these needless songs were “Away From Home,” a forgettable song in which Drake repeats the line “I remember” too many times, or “Rich Baby Daddy,” whose bawdy lyrics simply weren’t for me. At its core, FOR ALL THE DOGS is a bulky album with multiple good songs that will grow on me and many other fans as time passes. album review movie review album review by Hudson Pitcock by Ruhi Kaneria director: David Gordon Green by Rick Astley by Harper Stull Page design by Alisha Verma 3/5 3/5 4/5 The first Exorcist movie came out in 1973 and was such a hit that the franchise has since produced five more films. After an 18 year hiatus in the franchise, The Exorcist: Believer was released on October 6, 2023, bringing in $27.2 million on its opening weekend. The Exorcist: Believer’s plot follows the typical Exorcist franchise plot structure. Middle school best friends Angela and Katherine venture into the woods to contact Angela’s dead mother, only for both of them to be possessed by a demon. In this sequel, screenwriters Scott Teems, Danny McBride, and David Gordon Green attempt to make the typical kids getting lost in the woods trope work fit within the Exorcist franchise through intense gore and religious themes. Although this approach to the movie was creative, the execution was unsuccessful. The film moved incredibly slow and the ratio of scary scenes to normal scenes was very unbalanced. Though The Exorcist franchise has a reputation of producing spine-chilling movies that keep viewers as engaged as they are terrified, I was disappointed to find that the only exhilarating part of the movie was the climax. In addition, David Gordon Green’s subpar direction and the film’s lackluster screenplay made it difficult to follow what was going on in the film even when fully engaged. Supposedly pivotal scenes to the plot left me confused, dampening the impact of the film overall. With all its flaws, The Exorcist: Believer is just another horror movie sequel. I would only recommend this film if you are trying to get into scary movies or enjoy The Exorcist franchise. In Tender Prey, Bad Seeds frontman Nick Cave’s manical vocals and darkly beautiful lyrics combine to create a truly haunting, gothic rock opus. Rick Astley, popularly known for “Never Gonna Give You Up” is back from his 5 year hiatus with new, energized hits. Astley’s new album Are We There Yet?, released October 13th, 2023 contains 12 songs, with the standouts being“Never Gonna Stop” and “Dippin My Feet.” “Never Gonna Stop” is a very soul-pop song with a heart of piano chords, clapping, and funky jives. Upon the first listen, the song seems like a lighthearted self-reflection on Astley’s career. However, in reality, he uses his lyrics to comment on the loss of soul and humanity due to AI in the music industry. “It’s an artificial dream of the future,” Astley sings. “Never gonna feel the same.” The second song, “Dippin My Feet”, follows more of a groovy, country beat with twangy guitar lines. With lyrics like “Someday you may find me by the Mississippi river / Dipping my feet in the cool, cool water,” this song could easily fit into a reflective country-inspired pop road trip playlist. For listeners like me who had not been familiar with Astley’s work outside of “Never Gonna Give You Up,” these songs were a delightful surprise. From his smooth voice to his experimentation with soul-pop and country, Astley proves he’s more than just a one-hit wonder. retro recommendation By Alisha Verma Tender Prey (1988) by Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds

Andrew Little | Editor-in-Chief When quarterback Quinn Brown’s name is announced on Friday nights, Mason fans may be experiencing déjà vu. For the fifth time in six years, one of the Brown brothers is the signal caller for the Comets. Quinn spent the past three years playing tight end for the Mason football team, watching his older brothers Collin (2018-19) and Larson (2021-22) start at quarterback for the Comets. The youngest Brown, who fittingly has the initials “QB”, is the third in the line of the Brown quarterback dynasty. Quinn Brown entered the summer planning to play his senior year at tight end. He was thrust into a quick position change to quarterback in August after the team’s presumptive starter moved schools. Brown had under three weeks to learn a brand new position. He had watched his brothers play quarterback his entire life, but had never played under center himself. Brown leaned on his brother Larson to learn the intricacies of the position and spent hours after practice improving his form. “[Larson and I] went to the field together and worked on the little things like footwork,” Brown said. “That definitely helped me a lot. Every single day I got better and better.” Collin and Larson were both two-time second-team All-Greater Miami Conference quarterbacks, largely due to their prolific passing numbers. Collin threw for 2710 yards and 21 touchdowns during his Mason career, and spent two seasons as the starting quarterback at Wittenberg University after high school. Larson threw for 2638 yards and 26 touchdowns as a Comet, and is currently a freshman playing football at Marietta College. Quinn is more of a dual-threat quarterback than his brothers were, largely because of his experience playing tight end. In his first career game at quarterback against Gahanna Lincoln, Brown ran the ball 13 times for 52 yards. Through five games as a starter, Brown has thrown for 505 yards and five touchdowns. “I differ from them a little bit because I’m more of a running QB and they are more of throwers but I think I still have a great ball like them,” Brown said. “We play a little differently.” Quinn’s father Ryan also played the position in high school. Colin and Larson always shared a connection with their dad because they had all played the same position, something that Quinn felt he missed out on. Brown was excited to tell his dad about his position switch, as he became the fourth quarterback in the family. “My dad loves QB and loves football, so having Larson and Colin play QB and then me not playing QB was a little bit of a downer,” Brown said. “When he heard the news I was playing QB he was very happy. He loves his son’s playing there because the ball is in your hands every play.” Brown was named one of the team’s four captains early in the summer, before he made his position change. Brown said that his prior leadership role on the team made the transition to quarterback easier, as he knew his teammates already believed in him to lead the offense. “There was pressure but I felt like people wanted me back there so it gave me confidence,” Brown said. “I knew I could do it as an athlete and I just had to have confidence in myself to do it.” In week two, Brown suffered an injury to his throwing shoulder that caused him to miss four games. During that time, juniors Caden Ashurst and Ashton Sheafe stepped in at quarterback. As the quarterback and a team captain, Brown felt obligated to continue to lead the team off the field. Brown assisted Ashurst and Sheafe in their preparation during practice and helped energize the sideline on Friday nights. Brown said this involvement allowed him to stay engaged with the team as he worked to return to the field. “When the huddle was coming to the sideline I would always go up there and talk to them. When the defense is out and on the field and the offense is on the sideline I would talk to everyone and help Caden and Ashton to lead and be vocal.” Brown’s injury, a torn labrum in his right throwing shoulder, initially made it unclear if he would be able to return to the field. The team considered moving him back to tight end after he healed, but Brown had a quick and successful recovery. He was cleared to resume throwing after four weeks, and made his return in week seven against Colerain, leading the Comets to a 45-19 victory. After returning from the injury, Brown said he is even more grateful for the opportunity to play quarterback and extend both his personal and family legacy within the Mason football program. “I was very down after getting injured,” Brown said. “I don’t know if the coaches even knew if I was gonna be able to come back to play quarterback. I don’t know if [my doctor] knew [right away] if I was gonna be able to, but rehab went well. Once I found out I was gonna be able to play quarterback again I was very hyped.” 16 October 20, 2023 Brown leans on family ties in position change Photo by Lily Haller The Brown family including Collin (second to the left) and Quinn (#12) celebrate Larson (#5) on his Senior Night in 2022. QB1 in the family SPORTS Photo by Lily Haller Quinn Brown attempts a pass in his fi rst game back from injury against Colerain.

October 20, 2023 17 Sophomore Addison Cassidy has dominated the tennis scene this season, leading the Comets to a Greater Miami Conference sweep and earning the title of GMC co-athlete of the year. Cassidy went 3-0 in conference play and 5-2 overall in singles matchups, including winning the GMC tournament. Cassidy has continued her winning streak throughout the postseason, winning the OHSAA sectional singles tournament. The Comets will continue to count on her skills through the rest of the season as they fight for a seventh consecutive state title. Cassidy is a state qualifyer and is competing October 19 and 20. Photo by Savannah Libby Harper Stull | The Chronicle Follow @mhschronicle on Instagram to submit your caption for next month’s funny photo

18 October 20, 2023 MHS athletes take Smart approach to training Mitchell McMillen | The Chronicle Mason High School (MHS) athletes are embracing a new “Smart” training method. The motto has even been printed on t-shirts and worn by student-athletes throughout the school. Trent Smart, the Director of Strength and Conditioning at MHS, has brought a fresh style of training to Mason athletics since joining the staff in 2022. Smart grew up in Clarksville, Ohio, playing football at Clinton-Massie High School and Ohio University. Although working with a new age group may have been daunting, Smart saw it as an opportunity to grow as a coach. The chance to work with a new age group was a key factor in Smart’s decision to come to MHS. Before working at Mason, Smart was the Associate Director of Sports Performance at Valparaiso University and the strength and conditioning coach for the football and womens’ basketball programs. The transition from training college athletes to high school athletes brought about new challenges for Smart on top of the demands of directing all sports. “It was a new challenge for me because it’s an age population I’ve never worked with,” Smart said. “Dropping down to the high school level was a challenge in that regard, as well as it was my first opportunity to be a director of everyone.” Since working with high schoolers, Smart has recognized that he is working with students who are less experienced in the weight room compared to college athletes. Smart has adopted a more handson teaching method when instructing athletes to ensure they are performing movements and exercises correctly and safely. He believes that this helps athletes improve their coordination and maximize their athleticism. Smart’s approach to training has its roots in building a strong base for athletes. He believes in focusing more on simply increasing the athlete’s athleticism versus becoming hyper-focused on sportsspecific movements. “Especially with [high school athletes], building good movement patterns is just as important, if not more important, than sports-specific training,” Smart said. In Smart’s program, the base for athletes is built during the offseason with a consistent plan across all teams. During a sport’s respective season, Smart transitions to more specific training. “Early offseason for all sports looks relatively similar,” Smart said. “As we approach that sports competitive season, that’s where they all start to break off into tiny differences. For example, football is going to do different prehab work than volleyball because they have different demands.” His emphasis on prehab and rehab movements makes his program unique from other strength and conditioning coaches. These movements are aimed at both preventing injuries and helping athletes recover from injuries. Mason has a low injury rate, even with the enormous size of the school, which partially could be attributed to these movements. Smart mixes prehab and rehab movements into workout routines through supersets. These supersets not only keep athletes busy and focused, but they also play a role in injury prevention. “Instead of having one weight room session for strength and one session for recovery, we do both,” Smart said. “For example, when one athlete is squatting, their partner could be doing band work for the hips. A lot of athletes may feel like it’s busy work but it’s the real bread and butter of my program.” Athletes are noticing decreased time spent away from performing due to injuries. The prehab and rehab movements Smart implements in between sets are purposeful in strengthening muscles prone to injury depending on the sport. Junior softball player Alisha Fox has noticed a decrease in injuries from these movements done in the weight room. Injuries are common in a sport like softball where one side of the body is overused, so the decrease in injuries is significant to Fox. “There used to be a lot of shoulder injuries from throwing,” Fox said. “Now Smart will give us physical therapy to go through or exercises to strengthen the shoulder so injuries don’t happen anymore.” Mason athletes have noticed the positive effects of Coach Smart’s program in both their explosiveness and overall athleticism. Senior boys basketball player Ben Menker has specifically seen an increase in his explosiveness from his time spent in Smart’s weight room. Menker says he has not only seen his explosiveness improve, but he feels better prepared before games and practices by using Smart’s warm-up routine. He has also noticed the athleticism of teammates and other athletes improve from Smart’s workouts. “Everyone [who steps] foot in Coach Smart’s weight room will see their athleticism increase,” Menker said. “Smart is just going to push you and make sure you do the whole workout. That really helps everyone including me because of the explosiveness part.” Menker attributes his improvement in the weight room to Smart’s energy and encouragement. Menker says he’s noticed Smart’s commitment to building relationships to help mentor athletes. “A lot of times he lifts with us and he gets really competitive about it,” Menker said. “That really pushes us to get better. Then outside of the weight room, he’s like a mentor to us. He builds relationships with us and enjoys what we enjoy.” Athletes are seeing how their increase in athleticism is translating into benefits in their in-game performances. Fox, a pitcher, feels more confident from her time spent in Smart’s weight room and has noticed an increase in strength and stamina during games. “I feel like it’s definitely increased my speed, pitching-wise,” Fox said. “And it makes me feel stronger on the mound and more confident because I know that I have the stamina to be able to go through the whole game.” Photo by Mitchell McMillen Director of Strength and Conditioning Trent Smart coaches and motivates senior basketball player Ben Menker during a lift.

October 20, 2023 19 1-800-GO-GUARD nationalguard.com About Us The Ohio Army National Guard is made up of more than 11,500 Soldiers from all across the state. Guard members come from every walk of life, ready to put on the uniform at a moment’s notice to protect their families, neighbors, and community. Unlike any other branch of service, the Army National Guard focuses on the Citizen-Soldier, which emphasizes that dedication to service begins at home. Guard members train so that they will be ready if their community or their nation needs them. Ohio National Guard Scholaship Program The Ohio National Guard pays for up to 100% tuition at public Ohio colleges for up to four years. Those attending private insitutions 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 Contact Us SGT Andrew A. Noland (513)-330-3849 What is ONGSP? The Ohio National Guard Scholarship Program (ONGSP) is a state-funded scholarship program for individuals who enlist, extend, or re-enlist into the Ohio National Guard. This educational program is only offered by the Ohio National Guard. No other branch of service offers this program. This program exists through Ohio Revised Code 5919.34, which means it is statefunded and not subject to changing federal budgets. Let’s Talk Money The ONGSP pays up to 100% of the total instruction and general fee charges of Ohio public colleges and universities in pursuit of an undergraduate degree. The ONGSP will also pay the average cost of Ohio public college tuition and general fees towards approved private or proprietary degree-granting institutions of higher education. Let’s Talk Eligbility Each participant with a six-year enlistment is eligible for four years of scholarship as a full-time student. Participants with a threeyear enlistment are eligible for two years of scholarship as a full-time student. Members are eligible for benefi ts upon enlistment. Participants must remain enrolled for a minimum of three credit hours per term in a degree-granting program. Talk to a Recruiter to learn how part-time students use ONGSP. *Certain eligibility requirements may be subject to change Eligible universities include but not limited to:

20 October 20, 2023 Camden Paeltz | The Chronicle Photos by Camden Paeltz On Thursday, October 5, the girls’ volleyball team went up against Sycamore in their pinkout game. This event wasn’t just another match; it was a showdown between two undefeated teams in the Greater Miami Conference (GMC). The Comets lost the first set 21-25 but quickly pulled ahead, winning the next three sets 21-25 19-25, 20-25. This win made Mason the only team in the GMC to remain undefeated. This victory helped set them apart from the other teams and ultimately gave the team their eighth consecutive GMC championship victory. Addy Bianchini led the game with 17 kills, followed by Katie Helmes and Avery Renners with 10 kills. The significance of this event extended beyond the volleyball court. It was a pink-out game with a purpose. 70% of all sales made during the event were donated to breast cancer research. Before the game started, athletes were given pink roses, symbolizing hope and strength. This simple yet powerful gesture allowed them to reach out to family members who have overcome the challenges of cancer or breast cancer and to honor their resilience. Pink ut: Mason vs Sycamore Kate Zazycki setting the ball for Addison Nutley Eligh Amshoff and Noah Kelly starting their race. Sophomore Addison Nutley spiking the ball on two defenders Senior Payton Evans setting the ball

October 20, 2023 21 Boys water polo reaching new heights entering postseason Shrija Shandilya | The Chronicle The Mason boys’ water polo team is entering uncharted waters during its most successful season ever. The team recently placed second at the Ohio Cup, its highest finish ever, and is the second seed in the upcoming Ohio Water Polo Association (OWPA) state tournament. Senior Andrei Khudiakov attributes the team’s success to their increased intensity during training, including implementing an offseason strength and conditioning program. “We’ve seen a strength training program develop for the offseason,” Khudiakov said. “There’s also been a lot more care and thought put into every practice.” Khudiakov has noticed more players buying into the program and turning the sport into a passion, including an uptick in players playing the sport year-round. “There used to be only a couple people who were good because they were the only ones who really cared, but coaches have brought this idea that everyone does matter,” Khudiakov said. “This has led to a lot of new people finding more of a passion for the sport and they get a lot better. ” He said that this improvement has led to the development of a solid second line on the team and this will help in the future of the program. “This year we have a lot more of a secondary level to our team and that’s brought a lot of success,” Khudiakov said. “We also have an increase in recruitment and I think this program is going to take off in the next couple years.” Khudiakov has been on the varsity team since his freshman year. A strong senior class has grown together into an experienced unit. Khudiakov said the group reinforces a competitive spirit throughout the team, and has created a tight-knit group. “We’ve gotten closer as an entire team,” Khudiakov said. “When you know people and you think of them more as friends, you really don’t want to let them down.” Khudiakov said the team is working towards an ultimate goal of a state championship, but is just as focused on building up the team’s culture and reputation so they can sustain the success in future seasons. “The hope this year is to win states,” Khudiakov said. “Going forward, I hope to see a lot of really strong players develop and the program continue to build the championship pedigree that the coaches want.” In 2022, Adam Livingston and Arija Walsh were hired as the new head coaches for the boys and girls’ teams within the program. Senior Ryan Roth said the new regime has changed the culture and helped him and his teammates improve their skills, and improved their drive to win. “It used to be something you would do for fun,” Roth said, “Our coach gives us so much confidence and you can see they put their heart and soul into the program.” Roth said the greatest strength of the team is their camaraderie, which has allowed them to work cohesively as a team. “It’s like you know what the other person is about to do in the game,” Roth said. “Having this mental thing has helped us a lot” Roth cited their game against Upper Arlington in the Ohio Cup as a major turning point for the team. At the end of the first quarter the team was down, and the players rallied for a comeback victory. “We had our coach speeches obviously, but then players also started to say something to each other,” Roth said. “We said that we deserve to win this because of all the work we’ve put in together and it triggered something in everyone because we went on to win by 6.” The team’s culture shift has motivated several players to gain interest in coaching. Roth said he and other seniors want to continue helping the program grow after they graduate. “It’s definitely a program we love and enjoy and we want to see it continue to thrive,” said Roth. Photo by Shrija Shandilya The Mason boys’ water polo team is the second seed in the Ohio Water Polo Association state tournament, and begins their tournament run on October 22. Photo by Savannah Libby Senior Andrei Khudiakov looks to make a pass. Photo by Savannah Libby Senior goalkeeper Ryan Roth looks to pass after making a save.

22 October 20, 2023 THE CHRONICLE’S POLICY Connect with the Chronicle: Back when our parents graduated, it was common to hear that people were only applying to two or three different colleges. When a student is asked now, the student might respond with anywhere from five to fifteen colleges. At Mason High School, many students place a large amount of pressure on themselves by loading their schedule with Advanced Placement and Honors classes. For students, five hours of homework and extracurricular activities is normal. This desire to overachieve can extend into the college application process when crafting a list of schools. Each additional college adds on new supplemental questions and essays, and another application fee. We bite off way more than we can chew and begin sacrificing sleep and free time just to get everything done. Time to relax and focus on self-care becomes nonexistent in a very stressful time. But why? Are we applying to so many schools because more equals better in our society? Are we trying to appease our family or friends? Are we hoping to brag about how many schools we are accepted to? Are we unsure of our next step and want as many options as possible? The issue is that we often throw schools on our lists with bare bones research. Does the school have the academic program you want? Is it a size and culture fit? Is the location a fit? Is it a healthy financial choice? Do you have time to visit campus? These factors are all critical in making a college decision, and larger lists muddy up our ability to collect enough information on each school. Applying to ten schools on minimal research leaves out key details, and can lead to us underestimating factors that swing decisions. The eighth school on your list may have an amazing new research facility in your program of study, but you never visit campus and overlook it. It is very easy to take an “apply now, visit later if I get in” approach on schools, especially prestigious and out of state universities. This practice can be helpful if you are certain you are interested in a school but haven’t had the opportunity to take a trip and visit, but it is also dangerous. Putting off college visits until second semester only further delays your final decision, and requires you to fit a trip into your schedule. The average application fee ranges from $50-60, and it can cost an additional $20 to send test scores to each college. Those fees can pile up very quickly. Instead of spending multiple hours on supplemental essays for a school you are more than likely not going to attend, use that time to research the university and decide if it’s a fit. Narrow down your list before taking the time to fill out each individual application and pay an excessive amount of fees. So why apply to so many colleges, some of which we know we will never go to? Just to say you applied to an Ivy league school? Just to appease an alumni family member? Just because your friend is also applying there? We wield our own destinies, and our decision on life after high school is critical to building towards our desired future. Our college lists should reflect that and not be cluttered up by the expectations and standards set by others. Choosing a home for the next four years of our lives is stressful enough, don’t make it more difficult by overextending yourself on an unmanageable number of applications and schools to choose from. Maintain perspective during college search and application process STAFF EDITORIAL Kelly green. A comet logo. The capital M. Branding, social media and marketing is a key component to building a school image. Using marketing, administration and students can create a unique identity that can stand out in the community. Mason City Schools is no stranger to strategic marketing. Just think of the usage of space terms such as “Cosmic” or “Black Hole,” or key words like “Mason Moment” that are often incorporated into the school’s lifestyle and social media. This image of Mason has been so deeply integrated into our school culture that many students are unphased by these terms and this branding. But, I believe it is only fitting to turn a contemplative eye toward Mason marketing. How much of what we see and hear in public branding is truly embodied by our school and how do we battle sharing genuine accomplishments and moments versus advertising the ‘good’ images to the public? Social media, marketing and the creation of an identity when used in an authentic setting can no doubt be a smart and powerful tool to share Mason’s achievements, academics and athletics with other people in the community. It can also be a place to spotlight underrepresented groups and promote good student work. But I believe it is more important for a school to be authentic. For example, what is truly a “Mason Moment?” Is it an authentic gesture of students and staff or a marketing term coined to make an interaction into a sellable story? What about “Comet Culture?” Does this term signify a genuine fostering of a culture or is it just another ‘key word’ with little importance created to become a hashtag? I am in no way saying that the administration is warping our school image. Positive club spotlighting and unity due to a branding certainly exists within the school. However, I am asking that everyone be mindful of what they interpret on social media when they see such phrases and images over and over. I understand that it is a good thing for schools to share and promote good work and that it is a necessary step to be taken to create an identity for themselves. But is it really necessary to take photos with students to make them feel heard or promote a certain culture, when in reality, these people and ideas may be left unforgotten outside of an Instagram square? I believe that being in a moment is more important than sharing it out to other uninvolved people. I believe that an accepting culture between students and teachers doesn’t need to be coined into a single term. I am proud of Mason. I am proud to be a Comet. I am proud of my diversity and culture. But, I believe there is still room for improvement in the way we can use branding, social media and marketing. I know that such items are necessary to maintain a presence in the community, however I ask that rather than scrolling past a post from Mason, let’s focus on actually embodying those values. Rather than being the school presented in an Instagram square or a tagline, let’s be the school who truly displays a culture and shares authentic moments. Ruhi Kaneria | The Chronicle What really is “Comet Culture?” @mhschronicle facebook.com/ mhschronicle @mhschronicle mhschronicle.com fi e Chronicle is the ofi cial student newspaper of William Mason High School. fi e Chronicle promises to report the truth and adhere to the journalistic code of ethics through online and print media, a, informing and engaging with Mason’s student body and the surrounding community. fi e Chronicle is produced by students enrolled in Journalism I, II and III. Editorials reff ect the staffl ’s opinion but do not necessarily reff ect the opinions of the school administration or the Mason City School District. fi e Chronicle is published monthly. Call 398-5025 ext. 33103 for information regarding advertising in fi e Chronicle. fi e 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 offl in room C103 and must be signed. fi e Chronicle is a member of ffi e Columbia Scholastic Press Association, ffi e National Scholastic Press Association, Quill and Scroll International Honorary Society for High School Journalists and the Ohio Scholastic Media Association. Contact Information fi e Chronicle William Mason High School 6100 S. Mason Montgomery Rd. Mason, Ohio 45040 (513) 398-5025 fi e Chronicle Staff Editor-in-Chief Andrew Little Managing Editors Aimee Liu Alisha Soni Business Manager Nishka Mishra Business Intern Ali Sami Stafi Designers Becca Hunter Alisha Verma Stafi Writers Elina Bishoyi Kendall Davis Drew Hoffl master Aybika Kamil Ruhi Kaneria Allie Keim Megan Lee Mitchell McMillen Taylor Murray Camden Paeltz Hudson Pitcock Shrija Shandilya Harper Stull Akshay Vadlamani Srinidhi Valathappan Advisor Dale Conner OPINION

October 20, 2023 23 While the stress of college applications is very real and daunting, there’s a sense of accomplishment that comes with reaching senior year. You feel like you’ve made it past the worst of it all. Looking back at past years as a senior proves that hindsight really is 20/20. Freshman year is easily the best year to try everything you can, because you do not have to know what you want to do in the future yet and it’s completely alright if your plans change. Explore diverse subjects, join that club and try out for that team, because you truly never know what you like until you try it. For the longest time I thought I wanted to go into medicine, but freshman year I realized how much I love to write and debate through taking Honors English and joining Debate and this completely changed my path for the future for the better. Sophomore year is when you begin to figure out who you are and where you develop the study habits and skills you will need going forward. It’s a good idea to start looking into what you want to do in the future and as a career. You can take your first AP class and your first ACTor SAT. It’s good to be proactive but there’s no reason to stress out quite yet. Junior year is one of the most testing years, academically and emotionally. You’re taking the hardest classes you’ll take in your high school life, studying for the ACT and SAT, and you try your hardest to build the best extracurriculars you can. It’s an incredibly crucial year and everything feels very do or die. The stress of junior year is compound because not only are you taking tough classes but you also have many expectations because it’s the last full year of your transcript that colleges will see. It’s so incredibly easy to drown in the sea of stress and expectations, but it’s important to take a step back. You have to realize that stress is normal, but you can’t let it consume you. The best thing to remember for charting junior year is to focus on one thing at a time. If you focus on individual tasks you have to do, then the mountain of work you will inevitably have will feel much smaller and more doable. By the time you’re a senior you will have gone through it all and even if it doesn’t seem that way in the moment, you gain a lot from struggling a lot. It’s unfortunate that going through this stress and seeing people around you go through it is just a normal part of high school but it’s a great opportunity to continue to learn and grow more. Of course it’s easy to say all of this after making it out of the worst of it, but reflecting on the past will make you realize that you’re grateful for each and every experience and would not change it. I can’t count the number of times I’ve heard someone say, “Hollywood has run out of creative ideas,” while watching television and seeing an advertisement for the latest blockbuster. The trend of sequels, reboots, and adaptations of existing Intellectual Property (IP) has dominated the film industry for the majority of my lifetime. The phenomenon seems to reach its peak every October with the latest horror releases. In the past five years there have been two “Scream” films, two “Saw” films, four films in “The Conjuring” universes, an entire new trilogy in the “Halloween” franchise, and a 52-years late sequel to “The Exorcist.” With every release comes eye rolls and “why can’t they come up with something original” comments from my dad. Many of the films are critically panned, but every year another set of unnecessary sequels rolls around. Why do studios continue cranking out these sequels? Because audiences will continue to buy tickets for them. There is a consistent audience for familiar franchises like these, and the movies are cheap and very profitable for studios. The problem does not lie in the existence of these properties, but the lack of support for the original stories that people clamor for, yet rarely go out and see. Similar sentiments are echoed in the music industry. Audiences gravitate towards the same few artists and blindly support whatever they release, then complain about the lack of originality and quality. There is no better example than Drake’s last three solo studio albums. His most recent release, “For All The Dogs,” was one of the most anticipated albums of the decade. The album’s marketing campaign promised a return to the “old Drake” style of his early 2010’s classic projects like “Take Care,” “Nothing Was The Same,” and “Views.” The album has polarized fans, with many criticizing it as uninspired and disappointing. Still, “For All The Dogs” sold 409,000 album equivalents in its first week sales, the second biggest debut of 2023. Disney’s 20th Century Studios released “The Creator,” an $80 million Science Fiction epic based on an original story from director Gareth Edwards (“Rogue One,” “Godzilla”). Edwards spent seven years crafting the passion project to his distinct vision. The film was generally well received by critics, with wide acclaim for its visuals and special effects. In its first three weeks, the movie made $79 million globally, not enough to recoup its production budget. After adjusting for marketing costs and theater shares, the film is a financial flop for the studio. I saw the film during its opening weekend in a largely empty theater. It’s an ambitious film that won’t work for everyone, but I really enjoyed it and it is worthy of being seen on the big screen. General audiences did not even give the film a chance, and are sending studios the message that mid-budget original blockbusters are not worth producing. Original films like “The Creator” from major studios are becoming more and more rare nowadays. Instead, studios are focusing their financial resources towards IP projects. Disney films have struggled at the box office, with sequels and reboots like “Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny,” “Haunted Mansion,” and “AntMan and the Wasp: Quantamania” all underperforming at the box office despite their large budgets. These results signal that the trend of reboots, legacy sequels and superhero films is wearing down on audiences, and the films are no longer guaranteed success. If “The Creator” had been a massive success for Disney, it would have further emphasized that there is an audience for original tentpole movies. Instead, creatives are having to turn to television and streaming platforms like Netflix, or smaller studios like A24 to tell their original stories with much smaller budgets and more niche audiences. Consumers are getting what they asked for, and yet still are unhappy. The public speaks through its wallet, and studios follow the dollar signs. Why would a studio take a risk on an expensive, original project over a safe, easy to produce sequel with a built in audience? Why should artists like Drake make changes when every album has recordbreaking sales regardless of its reception? Our risk-averse consuming habits have created an environment where creatives are rewarded for taking the easy route, and innovative ideas are being pushed out of the mainstream. Audiences are afraid to take risks Andrew Little | The Chronicle Editorial Cartoon I’m almost there, how what I’ve learned can help you Shrija Shandilya | The Chronicle OPINION

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