Girls soccer suffers season’s second loss to BVN, defeat Gardner 7-0

The girls soccer team fell to Blue Valley North on Monday, April 22 in a 3-1 loss, then, after an inclement weather delay, crushed Gardner in a 7-0 victory two days later. The team’s first loss was a 2-0 result against Blue Valley on Friday, April 12.

Head coach Arlan Vomhof said that the pace of Monday’s game was the biggest issue for the team, something that could be a bigger factor in the future.

“I think that’s something we’re going to find if we switch leagues: the speed of play is going to be a lot faster than what we go against in our league and that’s something that we have to adjust to,” Vomhof said.

By halftime on Monday, the team was able to keep the Mustangs within one goal. Senior midfielder Kayla Hamner scored ten minutes before the break with a hard shot in the bottom right corner after a pass from junior midfielder Abby Sieperda, just out of the North keeper’s reach to equalize. Just 20 seconds before halftime, however, the Mustangs pulled ahead once again after a long cross into the box from the left side and a one-touch finish by a North forward.

The Mustangs held on to their lead for the entire second half, sealing the victory with a goal just under two minutes before the end of the game.

During the game on Wednesday at Gardner, the team shut down the Trailblazers, scoring 7 goals while sophomore goalkeeper Kaia Minter kept a shutout.

After a wet spring, the team will play a slew of makeup games over the next two weeks. Vomhof is worried about how the rigorous schedule as well as lack of practice outside will affect the team.

“We play three games this week; we play four next week; we play three the following week. It’s going affect us because of fatigue, for one, and I just feel like we haven’t been able to work on stuff on a field like we need to,” Vomhof said. “I feel like we haven’t taught the girls a lot of the stuff they need to be taught this season just because we haven’t had the use of space outside.”

The Lady Jags will play again Friday, April 26 at home against Shawnee Mission Northwest.

Girls soccer defeats Olathe North 3-1

The girls soccer team began their season with a 3-1 victory over Olathe North on Friday, March 29. Senior midfielder Kayla Hamner led the team to the win with all three of the team’s goals.

Hamner opened the scoring only a minute into the game with a strike from 30 yards out that sailed over the hands of the North keeper.

North seemed to wake up after the early goal and the two teams remained deadlocked going into the second half. Hamner finished again seven minutes into the second half on an open goal from just outside the six yard box after a cross from junior midfielder Amanda Dotts.

Soon after the second goal, North put the pressure on and had a series of close chances but saves by sophomore goalkeeper Kaia Minter denied the Eagles until forward Winnie Luginbill found space in front of goal and beat Minter.

The game began to get physical as North fought for the equalizing goal late in the game. After a yellow card was issued to each team, Hamner finished the game with another long distance shot – this one from 25 yards with eight minutes left.

Hamner, despite the good result, saw room for improvement.

“We have a lot of work to do, especially since we haven’t been able to practice outside much,” Hamner said. “But I think we did some really good things with the new [4-2-3-1] formation.”

After success in their first game, Hamner was optimistic about the rest of the season.

“I think we should do as well as we did last year if we can play to our full potential,” Hamner said.

The team finished second in the state tournament last year after a loss to St. Thomas Aquinas in the championship game.

The Lady Jags play again Monday, April 1 at home against Tonganoxie and Thursday, April 4 at home against Piper.

Marching band competes in Bonner Springs festival

The marching band received a two rating on a scale of five, one being the best, on its Crime Fighters show at the Bonner Springs Marching Festival on Thursday, Sept. 20.

The show consisted of three different songs all corresponding with the theme of Crime Fighters. They played “Get Smart,” “Soul Bossa Nova,” and a “Mission Impossible” drum feature.

Band director Deb Steiner chose the theme for the band to play.

“I wanted to do something different because we have done rock songs for the past two competitions,” Steiner said.

The band performed its songs at Bonner Springs High School for a group of judges who then explained to the band the things they could work on to make an overall better show. They broke the band into sectionals to help each section work on the things that the need to and finally came back together to see how they improved.

The show went very smoothly, according to Steiner.

“The competition went really well, especially because of the late start in the school year we only had four class periods to practice,” Steiner said.

Although the band earned a good score, there is always room for improvement.

“It was really difficult to keep everyone on time. We need to work on staying in step, having the correct notes, and having a better quality of sound because we were really quiet,” sophomore drum major Kaia Minter said, “It was a lot of fun being able to perform in my first competition.”

Student selected for honor choir

Junior Chloe Stewart has been selected as the only singer from Kansas to be on the National Association for Music Education National Honor Choir.

Stewart thinks that it will give her the opportunity to meet new people.

“I am really excited to meet kids from different states that like to do the same things that I do,” Stewart said.

The choir will be rehearsing at the Marriott hotel in Baltimore, Md. from Thursday, June 21-Sunday, June 24. They will be performing at the John F. Kennedy Performing Arts Center in Washington D.C.

There were 149 students selected for this choir from the nation and all will be directed by associate professor of music education and choral conducting at Michigan State University Sandra Snow.

Stewart feels that there will be a lot of rehearsing for the performance.

“I think that the most difficult thing is that there will be a lot of rehearsing, so it is going to be really tiring,” Stewart said. “Other than that, I am looking forward to it.”

Photo of the week

Monday, April 30 to Friday, May 4

Q and A with StuCo vice president candidate Morgan Battes

Junior Morgan Battes

1. Why are you running for student body office?

I want to make a difference at Mill Valley. I feel like I can by being an officer on the student council.

2. What makes you qualified for the position of vice president?

I have been on StuCo for three years and I actively participate in everything.

3. What sets you apart from the other candidates?

I have been on StuCo for three years and I actively participate in everything.

4. Why do you think student council is an important aspect of school?

StuCo speaks for the students and being in StuCo you are able to talk to your friends and bring it back to the meetings and are able to get what the students want done.

5. What are your goals for next year, if elected?

I like to continue making a difference and making Mill Valley a better place.

Q and A with StuCo secretary candidate Hanna Torline

Junior Hanna Torline

1. Why are you running for student body office?

I’m running for student body office because I think I have a lot of ideas that could make the school a better place for the students to be and I think it’s important to have someone that is willing to work hard to put those ideas in place.

2. What makes you qualified for the position of secretary?

I have been on StuCo for two years and I was junior class secretary this year. Next year will be my senior year so I’m willing to put a lot of effort into making it awesome. Also, I have really good handwriting.

3. What sets you apart from the other candidates?

I think I am willing to make StuCo a priority and I’ll put as much effort as it takes into getting things done.

4. Why do you think student council is an important aspect of school?

I think student council has a lot of influence when it comes to activities that are being plans because we’re the ones that have to come up with ideas and making them fun.

5. What are your goals for next year, if elected?

If elected I want to try to make this school as much of a community as possible. I really want the focus to be on having an amazing high school experience in the school that we go to and making sure everyone gets to be a part of the experience.

Q and A with StuCo president candidate Stephen McEnery

Junior Stephen McEnery

1. Why are you running for student body office?

I have been on StuCo for two years and I feel I know how the system works and I feel like I have the ability and the responsibility to make my and my class’ senior year a good one.

2. What makes you qualified for the position of president?

I am the junior class vice president, I was the sophomore class treasurer and freshman representative, and I am involved all throughout the school I how the school works and the ability to handle schedule.

3. What sets you apart from the other candidates?

I suppose I have been involved in a variety of different groups at the school.

4. Why do you think StuCo is an important aspect of school?

It is important because we have the responsibility to build school spirit from day one. We have the responsibility of Homecoming and all the pep assemblies, and it is the student council’s responsibility to make sure all of that runs smoothly.

5. What are your goals for next year, if elected?

My goals for next year are to make sure that everyone has the opportunity to fully enjoy what our school has to offer and that all of our StuCo events are something our school can feel proud of, and that our school is something we can feel proud of.

Q and A with StuCo president candidate Lisa Galván

Junior Lisa Galván

1. Why are you running for student body office?

I’m running for a student body position because I feel that I have worked up to that point and I feel that I am responsible enough and dependable and can handle that position. One of the reasons why I’m running is because I want someone that takes the job seriously and to making Mill Valley a better school, not just to have something to put on a college application. It’s about way more than that.

2. What makes you qualified for the position of president?

Serving three years on StuCo has given me a lot of experience with several different types of committees and school activities. I’ve been taking leadership positions within committees since freshman year.

3. What sets you apart from the other candidates?

I think my ability to take a leadership role and separate my personal friendships and my duties as a StuCo member when delegating duties.

4. Why do you think student council is an important aspect of school?

Student council runs and organizes a lot of our traditional events we have every year. We wouldn’t have Homecoming without StuCo, blood drives, Mayhem, all the things that contribute to creating memories together as a school and as a community.

5. What are your goals for next year, if elected?

When elected, I would do my best to get more students involved and not only have things that appeal to upperclassmen but to also the underclassmen.

Journalism staff travels to Seattle

Members of the newspaper staff journeyed to JEA/NSPA Journalism Convention in Seattle on Tuesday, April 10, where it garnered four Best of Show awards. However, it failed to secure the Online Pacemaker award it had been nominated for. A complete list of winners can be seen here.

At the convention, students had the opportunity to attend classes on topics such as photography and design to improve their journalistic skills, as well as receive criticism and advice on their work. Additionally, awards were given for individuals and to staffs as a whole based on various achievements. Senior photographer Courtney Minter earned Honorable Mention in the sports photography category and senior editor-in-chief Sarah Darby earned a Superior rating in the news writing category.

Darby, who was previously named as the Kansas High School Journalist of the Year, was also one of six runners-up for the national title.

“My heart was beating really fast,” Darby said. “There’s a lot of suspense building up to that. It’s supsensful, and I’d been waiting to hear what the results of the contests would be.”

The next convention will be in the fall in San Antonio.

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