Delivering OHHS news since 1933
Vol. 84 No. 8 - November 2017
Arrowhead
Highlights Opinion • Glorifying Drugs in Hip Hop William Koury • Senior Superlatives Chief Technology Officer
Once in a generation, there comes a person whose achieve• Thor: Ragnarok ments overshadow those of his, • A Change for Netflix or, in this case, her peers. For Ottawa Hills, that person is most Features definitely Christine Brennan, grad• Homework Overload • Sexual Assault Allega- uate of the class of ‘76. Recently, Christine retions turned to her hometown of Otta• JFK Years Later wa Hills to accept recognition as a member of the Ottawa Hills Hall School of Fame and to speak to students • Eagle Scouts • Making TAAC History at OHHS. Among the top themes of her talks were the difficulties • A New Turnabout of being a woman in the all-male sports journalism industry in the Sports 1980s and the value of discipline • Boys’ Soccer and hard work in achieving one’s • Football TAAC Title dreams. Christine, now a sportsjourFinal Analysis nalist for USA Today, got her start • No Shave November in journalism with this very publi• Top Ten cation, beginning with the first issue of the 1974-1975 Arrowhead.
Then and Now
Entertainment
Brennan speaking with students in Arrowhead
At the time, the staff published a four-page weekly edition, rather than the eight-page monthly edition that we create now. Brennan also recalls having to arrange the paper using cut-and-paste methods because typeset was too expensive and because of the lack of computer technology at the time. What is perhaps most unique about Christine’s rise to
oh breathe november
Photo By Ben McMurray
fame is her dedication to perfection, all while enjoying what she does. When asked about the nature of her work, Christine explained how she checks and rechecks all of her published works in order to verify factual accuracy. With an estimated audience of three million readers, Christine is indisputably one of the most successful OH alumni of the 20th century.
Finding Clarity in the Unknown
Caroline Koury Staff Reporter
For the second month in a row, seniors Will Rand and Maggie Mitchell have outdone themselves with their yearlong breakout session program called OH Breathe. Swapping from last month, the freshmen and sophomores were able to choose specific workshops for their hour of OH Breathe. In contrast, the juniors and seniors went to the auditorium to listen to a presentation about planning for the future from past Ottawa Hills students. In total, there were 11 classrooms with different activities in each for the underclassmen to choose from. Some of the options involving physical activity included yoga in the main gym, lifting in the weight room, and a nature walk around the village. A favorite to many, the workshop in the health room contained young therapy dogs for the students to play with as well as to learn how to train. There were two dogs in total; one was a black lab puppy named Temple, and the other was a golden retriever named Ruth.
In addition to the therapy dogs, another new addition to the workshops was cooking in Mrs. Visser’s room. As another way to relax, there were workshops dedicated to puzzles, coloring, and board games. In Mrs. Hafemann’s room, students could choose from puzzles, crossword puzzles, and sudoku. The coloring workshop was in Mrs. Puskala’s room, and Mrs. Hurst’s room had board games including scrabble, battleship, and chess. For those who wanted a quiet space where they could keep to themselves, there was leisure reading with Mr. McCarthy. In the library, there was a workshop on meditation. In the choir room, Mr. Leeds and Mr. Nixon showed the students how to use launchpads connected to their laptops to create new songs from specific beats and lyrics of other songs. For the upperclassmen, the four Ottawa Hills alumni that spoke in the auditorium were Duncan Phillips, Pamela Byrne, Parisa Eskandari, and Dennis Sawan. Each
Photo By Nathan Robinson
Therapy dogs play meet with students
person gave advice about planning for the future. They discussed their decisions on what college to go to and provided guidance on how to choose a major and profession. As they had all graduated from Ottawa Hills, they discussed the advantages of our school and how the education here helps to prepare students for college. Overall, each panelist explained that as long as you are doing what you love, you will have a successful life.
Opinion
The Arrowhead November 2017
David Rodriguez Features Editor
Drug Glorification in Hip Hop
On the night of Wednesday November 15, rising hip-hop star Lil Peep died at age 21 of an opioid overdose on his tour bus. In recent months, Lil Peep gained widespread attention in the hip-hop community for his unique sound and image. His music is often described as a cross between emo and rap, and Pitchfork recently called him “the future of emo.” Across platforms like Soundcloud and Youtube, Peep’s songs have amassed tens of millions of hits. Hours prior to a scheduled show in Tucson, AZ, Lil Peep was found unresponsive on his tour bus outside of the venue. Although the Pima County Medical Office was unable to officially say a cause of death, sources close to the artist say that he became unresponsive after taking xanax pills that were given to him by a fan. According to medical experts and toxicologists, it is highly likely that these
pills were pressed and contained fentanyl, a synthetic opioid that is about 50 times stronger than heroin. The tragic death of Peep brings a serious issue that plagues modern hip-hop into light. Among the new wave of rappers that have found success through platforms like Soundcloud, glorifying substances like xanax has almost become a common denominator. Undeniably drug use has been a part of hip-hop since its conception, but it feels like with each new rapper that gains popularity, not only do the drugs become more and more serious, but the drug abuse seems to become more and more a part of their image. Especially with these new rappers, social media has played a massive role in their rise to fame. That being said, this growing glorification of lethal substances has serious side effects. Obviously, the use of these substances is dangerous, but even more, the
Minority report Issue #2
Lauren Rownd School Editor
The women’s rights movement has been a constant struggle throughout American history. Constantly evolving, the goals of feminism have slowly expanded. Divided into three main waves, the first wave of feminism began in the 1830s and went to the early 1900s. This wave of feminism encompassed earning the right to vote and the right to own property. Feminists at the time recognized that gaining political power was the first step to sexism in the United States. Through perseverance and courage, the 19th amendment was passed, granting suffrage to women, or rather, white women. While this first wave made massive strides in women’s rights, it left out women of minority status. After women won the right to vote, the second wave of feminism, beginning in the 1960s, focused on the workplace, sexuality, family, and reproductive rights. Although many perceived that women had already reached their goals with the passage of the 19th amendment, there was still much to be done. During this time period, the Equal Pay Act, Title IX, and Roe v. Wade were all enacted, marking even more feminist achievements in the 20th century. Now, the third wave of feminism, starting in the 1990s to the present, focuses on the micropolitics of gender equality such as reproductive rights, violence against women, and intersectionality (the cross sections of oppression such as race, class, and gender). As of late, feminists have been working to further transgender rights, bring awareness to violence against women, denounce rape culture and put preventative measures in place for cases of sexual harassment. The progress that has been made since the first wave is immense, but there is still a ways to go on the path to equality. The Arrowhead November 2017
Photo By Soundcloud
Lil Peep posing for the camera
artists have a profound influence on their listeners.Hip-hop has always provoked controversy, and it has always inspired listeners around the world. As the state of the genre continues to progress, I think it’s important that artists realize the influence they have over millions of teenagers, and regardless of how many rappers say that “xanax is the wave,” putting innocent lives in danger is most definitely not the wave.
Where Are The Superlatives?
Say Goodbye to Senior Superlatives
Jan Durst Final Analysis Editor
“We are eliminating superlatives for the first time in many years,” said Lauren Hurst, the yearbook’s staff advisor, when asked about rumors of the decision to discontinue the annual Senior Superlatives. The death of this annual beloved gag inspires the question: Why? Senior Superlatives brings comic relief to the Ottawa Hills yearbook. At the end of the school year, many seniors are often anxious about their future or sad when confronted with the inescapable finality of their journey through high school. They look through the yearbook and see reminders of adventures with their close friends, games playing their respective sports, time spent on their favorite clubs, and hours studying to their teachers. The Senior Superlatives took this theme of finality in a different direction. Instead of reminding people of their past, it brought attention to their present or future. Being voted most likely to be president or most likely to take over the world excites a person and has them looking at tomorrow. The Superlatives can also poke nonsensical fun at qualities. Titles such as best cheeks or biggest procrastinator are funny because they are inherently foolish and coax chuckles from the readers.
While Senior Superlatives are funny, they are by no means malicious or binding. When asked about the thought behind some of the awarded titles, Mrs. Hurst specified that “None of the kids [students and staff] had any malicious intent.” She also stated that “if a person did get a superlative, let’s say clumsiest, if they didn’t want that superlative, they didn’t have to be in the picture.” This means that if someone was unhappy with their awarded superlative, they could simply say no. So why were they taken away? Because someone took the joke far too seriously. It seems preposterous that Superlatives angered an individual to the point where they sought out complete and utter destruction of a tradition instead of simply saying no to an offensive title. Worse yet is the fact that this complaint was acted upon. Instead of avoiding confrontation by complying with a complaint about a joke, the executive decision was made to exclude Superlatives from the yearbook. Amid this loss, the yearbook staff has recovered by creating a new section. While we won’t see who has the best cheeks, we will find out what our seniors are aspiring to be. Opinion
Entertainment
The Arrowhead November 2017
Marvel Drops The Hammer Matt Sherman Entertainment Editor
On November 5th, eager Marvel fans and movie goers alike were treated to the highly anticipated addition to the Marvel Cinematic Universe: Thor: Ragnarok. When this new installment to the MCU was first announced, fans were ecstatic to see their favorite character: Thor, the God of Thunder, in action once again. In this film, the plot follows the heroic Asgardian, Thor as he faces yet another cosmological threat. This one is unique as it takes the form of Thor’s long lost sister, Hela the goddess of death, making her arguably the most powerful villain in Thor movie history. In the first little skirmish between Hela (Cate Blanchett) ,
Thor (Chris Hemsworth), and Loki (Tom Hiddleston), the two brothers find themselves trapped on another world; desperate to find a way home to prevent the norse end of the world, Ragnarok, the two brothers must work with one another in order to overcome a variety of conflicts. The film introduces a myriad of new characters: the runaway asgardian Valkyrie (Tessa Thompson), the good natured gladiator Korg (Taika Waititi), the eccentric Grand Master (Jeff Goldblum), and the rough and rugged Executioner (Karl Urban) all make their first appearances in the MCU. Bluntly, the movie was amazing. The film worked its way up to being one of the best Marvel movies I have ever seen.
Photo By geekeschange.com
Thor: Ragnarok hit theaters and soars in the box office
This is pretty plain to see as the film has already amassed 427 million dollars in the box office worldwide. In addition, the film has received critical acclaim as well: it was rated as a 93% on rotten tomatoes, and has gotten received four-star reviews from critics. One of the best aspects of the movie was its humor. It was probably one of the funniest Marvel films in history. In this movie, the humor of Loki was coupled with that of the Hulk (in green anger-machine
Make Your Mark at the Maker’s Mark
Kira Sindhwani Staff Reporter
Twice a year, artisans and local businesses from the greater Toledo area come together for a day full of food, crafts, clothing, and fun. This event is known as Maker’s Mart. On November 11, Handmade Toledo hosted Maker’s Mart in their store, warehouse, and driveway. It was packed with people, mostly young, doing their holiday shopping, or just coming to enjoy the event. Vendors sold guitars, patches, coins, cards, cosmetics, and a variety of other small products. Some artists even made their products customizable to their client’s liking - watches, shadowboxes, even onesies. People ordered what they wanted, and as the artist would be customizing their item, the customer could walk around and enjoy the rest
of Maker’s Mart - getting a cup of freshly brewed coffee or going onto the next desirable item. Although most of the artists were wellestablished in their trade for many years, for some, it was their first time selling their work. For example, a man from western Michigan had just began making jeans, hats, and leather goods in 2010, and Maker’s Mart was the first time he had exhibited his work. Even so, his stall was packed with people. They were coming in droves his artisan jeans, priced at $14o: he was beyond ecstatic. Maker’s Mart was a an exciting event, and it is a great way to help out the local Toledo community, as well as attain new goods for yourself. It’s creative, family-friendly, and fun.
Examples of artwork found at the Maker’s Mart
The Arrowhead November 2017
Photos By Kira Sindwhani
mode) who has developed somewhat of a personality over the two years that have passed in the Marvel universe. Along with this, Thor has now dropped his serious demi-god act and adopted a hilarious and relatable persona. All of these factors contributed to creating one of the most humorous marvel films, while still keeping the serious action of a marvel movie. Simply, Thor: Ragnarok is a must see for 2017.
Netflix Grabs More Cash
Nathan Robinson Staff Reporter
Netflix is the American entertainment giant best known for shows such as Stranger Things, House of Cards, and Ozark. Users of the streaming service may have experienced a small hike in their price midway through October, but it is all for the best. The increase in plan prices allows for Netflix to add more exclusive movies and TV shows, as well as new features and improvements, creating a more user friendly service. Three streaming plans are available: basic, standard, premium. Each plan is at or below that of other streaming services such as HBO Now and Hulu. Users on the basic plan can stream to one device at a time in SD resolution at the same price as before, $7.99. The standard and premium streaming plans received a small $1 and $2 price increase per month. The standard plan is now $10.99/month, and allows streaming to two screens at a time in HD resolution. Premium streaming is up to $13.99, and allows streaming to four screens at a time in HD and Ultra HD resolution. In the year of 2018, Netflix plans to spend between $6 billion and $7 billion on all types of content.
Entertainment
Features
The Arrowhead November 2017
Homework Overload
What grade are you in?
Adrienne Johnson Staff Reporter Surprise, surprise: the students at Ottawa Hills are overworked with the amount of homework we receive. It is common knowledge that a majority of the students in our school experience stress in their lives due to the difficulties we face in diversifying ourselves. The environment of our school pushes us to be the best we can be, to strive for greatness, and to succeed in every aspect of life. While these are all good things to encompass for a student body, we are pushed too hard sometimes, almost to the breaking point. Arrowhead sent out a survey sample that reached 158 students in Ottawa Hills High School, and
the results came in closely distributed across all four grades. From this voluntary response survey, we know that over 55 percent of students have between three to five hours of homework a night. Over half of our student body must tackle this amount of homework on top of the extracurriculars they participate in. 31 percent of students responded stating they had between zero and two hours of homework a night, and this was the second highest percentage. Yes, Ottawa Hills is known for our amazing academics as well as proficiency on standardized tests, but we are taught to stretch ourselves thin, causing excess stress in our lives. What do you think?
26.5%
22.7%
22.2%
28.6%
On average, how many hours of homework do you have a night? 55.1%
11.4% 1.6% 31.9%
Jim Carrey’s DescenT Into Madness
Publicity Stunt or a Cry for Help? Oscar Kasch Staff Reporter
Roy Moore in the midst of allegations
Photo By The New Yorker
Roy Moore Accused of Sexual Assualt
Santiago Garcia-Mata Editor in Chief
To many, facing accusations of sexual assault with a 14 -year- old are damning. Usually, the person accused would apologize and step out of the public eye. Roy Moore, however, running for the special election in Alabama to replace Jeff Sessions, has done exactly the opposite amongst this exact allegation, and several more. Faced with accounts of pursuing sexual relations with a 14- year- old, and several others of flirting with and asking out 16- yearolds, Moore and his allies have defended themselves vehemently. Aside from completely denying all accounts, Roy Moore continues steadfast in his race for the
senate seat. Already plagued by the controversy of using Biblical references in his rulings and his campaign promises, Moore has been at the center of political attention for a long time. Despite the importance of who fills the Republican seat in Alabama, several Republican senators, including the other Alabama senator Richard Shelby, have said that he has no place in the senate if these allegations are true. Regardless, these allegations are severe, and while some Republicans are already skeptical of Moore in the senate, these allegations may cause many others to disapprove of the aspiring senator.
The Arrowhead November 2017
With there being an incessant glorification of those present on the screen, it is hard to fathom a reality where celebrities live their own lives. In recent months, a well-renowned comedic actor, Jim Carrey, has given a multitude of bizarre interviews that address this very situation. At the New York Fashion Week last month, a reporter told Jim Carrey, “We’re celebrating icons!” to which Carrey responded “Do you believe in icons? I believe in personalities. I don’t believe that you exist.” Carrey’s response to the reporter follows suit with his behavior in the public in the last few weeks, which has been publicized as a mid-life crisis or a slow descent into madness, completely unique to him. But what if Jim Carrey’s existential crisis is not just a mere publicity stunt or mid-life crisis? If Carrey’s remarks are wholly genuine, what does that mean for other long-term celebrities or the entertainment industry as a whole? People are always searching for different avenues to rid of themselves of their boredom. Actors are constantly at work, embodying made
up characters so they can entertain the masses. When Jim Carrey said “I believe in personalities. I don’t believe that you exist,” to the reporter during the New York Fashion Week, Carrey was addressing the effects of a rigorous and busy schedule and how a celebrity’s public personality has the potential to eventually override their personality in private. This raises a question about the morality of the entertainment industry, and the effects a celebrity lifestyle has on people. Many would argue that Carrey’s interviews are a cry for help, a sign of him yearning to be free of the bizarre and impromptu personality that he has portrayed for so many years. The many hurdles a celebrity needs to go through in order to step out of the limelight may have barred Carrey for some time, forcing him to embody his renowned persona. This is all speculation, of course. This very well could be Carrey’s attempt at gaining some momentum before releasing an upcoming project. But if this speculation is true, it is important to question the industry of entertainment, and whether or not the exploitation of a person is something you endorse with your viewership.
Features
Features
The Arrowhead November 2017
Chronic Assaulter Urvish Patel Features Reporter
JFK greeting a crowd hours before his murder
Photo By NBC News
The Truth Comes Out
JFK’s Documents are Released to the Public
Oscar Kasch Features Reporter It was a cool and clear day in Dallas, Texas. The President of the United States, along with his wife, was driven down one of the main streets of the city, where they were greeted with a plethora of enlivened Americans. The air was anointed with patriotism, as the most powerful man in the world stood before his people. All of a sudden, time stopped. The President’s seemingly immortal existence was suddenly disproven, as a bullet emerging from no clearly identified place struck his head. On that fateful day, November 23, 1963, John Fitzgerald Kennedy was assassinated. Anguish surged into the hearts of all Americans. Although the event was highly publicized, the intricacies of the assassination remained a secret to the people. Much of the information surrounding the case was undisclosed and classified, which raised curiosity among Americans. The aura of confidentiality which surrounded the government’s behavior regarding the assassination has finally been broken, with the release of several governmental documents about the murder being viewable to the public made possible by the National Archives. The findings of many analysts
have been, unfortunately, lackluster. Several of the documents feature handwritten, oftentimes illegible, nuggets of information which must be pieced together. Furthermore, it has been decided by President Trump to black out the names of those still living in the archived papers, for fear of their safety. Many hope that more intriguing, and more legible information will be released to the public with a new wave of the documents being brought to the people. However, any possibility for a fresh group of records in the near future has been eradicated, with their delay being announced by President Trump. This leaves analysts getting on their hands and knees searching the documents that we have for any glimmer of shocking information that was withheld from the people previously. Perhaps to your dismay, nothing in that vein has been identified. The disappointment of people because of the lack of riveting and fascinating information within the papers is certainly inevitable, as JFK’s assassination has been looked at as a pinnacle of government conspiracy for quite some time now. However, it is more assuring than disappointing, as it is great to hear my government is not up to any (at least in that case) devious activities.
It has recently come to light that Louis CK is comedic genius second, and sexual assaulter first. Five separate women have come forward claiming that Louis CK masturbated in front of them, both without consent and with coerced consent. Breaking a day before the premier of his new movie, the story put his big screen projects on hiatus. Eventually, these stories were then confirmed on Friday by Louis himself. Dana Min Goodman and Julia Wolov, two comedians, came forward claiming that Louis invited them to his room after a comedy show, and then asked if he could, “take his penis out.” Knowing he was a comedian, they laughed the question off. They stopped laughing when he got fully naked and began to vigorously masturbate in front of them. Unfortunately, the story does not stop there. In 2003 a comedian by the name of Abby Schachner called Louis CK to invite him to one of her shows. Her invitation went south when she realized that he was masturbating as they spoke. In 2005, another comedian by the name Rebecca Corry was allegedly asked by Louis if he could masturbate in front of her. Lastly, an anonymous woman has come out saying that Louis repeatedly asked her if he could masturbate in front of her. Eventually, under pressure, she said yes. These stories are deeply troubling. Sexual assault is a terrible crime, but what makes Louis’ actions even more terrible is that he forced consent out of his victims using his status as a comedic legend. This story further shows the patriarchy that exists in the professional workplace, and how women are attacked and abused even in the 21st century.
Photo By Los Angeles Times
Louis C.K. is subject to misconduct allegations
The Gilded Age of the Hollywood Star
Numerous Allegations Accuse Hollywood Stars of Sexual Misconduct James Schwann Features Reporter
actor’s statements, and that he is a gay man. Kevin Spacey, Ben Affleck, Ed West- The lack of denials toward the allegation and wick, and Dustin Hoffman are a few of the large the blatant usage of the straw man fallacy in hollywood names that have been accused of regards to Spacey being gay signaled that the sexual misconduct, and in some cases, rape actor wanted to “break his fall”. in the last few weeks. The actor’s response ignited great The largest allegations befell on actor, controversy. People in support of gay rights Kevin Spacey who is now fifty-eight years condemned the actors behavior, and many of age. The allegations from Anthony Rapp, other celebrities signaled their disappointment another prominent actor, came as a surprise to in Spacey’s conduct and response as well. thousands of fans and the industry in general. In addition, Netflix immediately severed their When the news first hit, most people could relationship with Spacey and the company believe the allegation. However, hours after has ultimately decided that Spacy will not Rapp’s allegation became public, Spacey sent participate in the new season of his famed out a tweet to his fans: the main message television show, House of Cards. Whatever was that he was drunk at the party, where he the result turns to out to be in amid these reportedly assaulted Anthony Rapp from the Spacey allegations one thing is for sure: Kevin
The Arrowhead November 2017
Spacey’s image as a classic actor has been devastated. As time progresses, people are bound to see more and more sexual allegations to be revealed. Just this past week, actor Ed Westwick, the actor that plays Chuck Bass, was accused of sexual misconduct while on the set of Gossip Girl. For sure, there will be some allegations that have been completely falsified because people want to experience the limelight. However, fans, directors, and producers should be concerned about the amounting allegations. There is clearly a problem within the Hollywood sphere that needs to be addressed, and amid all these growing allegations there is bound to be stricter rules to be implemented.
Features
The Arrowhead November 2017
The Eagles’ Nest
Steven Randall Associate Editor
Since March of 2014, Ottawa Hills High School has seen eight Boy Scouts and one Venture Scout become Eagle Scouts. In the last three years, Noah Johnson (Venturing Crew 2127), Harrison and Emory Leinweber, Ben Calderon, Andrew Lyon, Randall Johnson, Steven Randall, Darion Wimmers, and Culver Whitehead (Troop 27) have risen through the ranks and achieved the highest honor offered by the BSA. In an organization that sees 4% of its members become Eagles (about two million since 1912), seeing nine Eagles from a troop that averages 20 Scouts is a massive achievement. One Eagle Scout in a year is good work. Nine in three years? That’s something to be commended beyond any athletic or academic accolade. Such a high concentration
School
of outstanding young men from this high school speaks to the standard of excellence to which this school holds itself.
“Such a high concentration of outstanding young men from this high school speaks to the standard of excellence to which this school holds itself.”
Photo By NESA
National Eagle Scout Association logo
This standard of excellence drives the constant work that every student at Ottawa Hills strives to achieve every day. In a year when Green Bear fall sports have conquered five TAAC championships and the spring sports seek to add to that list, it’s important to recognize the achievements of our dedicated Scouts. Hopefully Troop 27 can maintain this excellence and keep producing Eagle Scouts.
A Facelift for Bears Make Taac history Ottawa Hills Wins 6 of 7 Conference Titles Turnabout Student Council Re-names Turnabout
Lauren Rownd Staff Reporter
This year, Student Council has decided to give Turnabout what some would call a facelift. Dreaded and tired, Turnabout over the past couple of years has become a dance that is less than desireable among students. In an attempt to give this dull dance a makeover, Student Council decided to the move the dance to Saturday, January 20th, much earlier than the usual date. Additionally, it will now be called the ‘Snow Ball.’ Now a winter themed dance, Student Council hopes the Snow Ball dance can be something to look forward to during the traditionally depressing month of January. Because this dance is so much earlier than what is typical, bids are going on sale before winter break, however only if you would like a T-shirt as well. Bids will also be sold after winter break, but without the option of purchasing a T-shirt. Ethan Riepenhoff, Student Body President, has also released a statement regarding the asking procedures of this new dance, “You can always ask however you would like to, but we predict that it will follow the same trend in years past, girls asking guys. We encourage all students to go, however, no matter if you have gotten asked or not.” Happy asking, Green Bears!
Design By Priya Bhatt
The Snow Ball dance logo
The Arrowhead November 2017
Abby Hauck Design Editor
The Green Bears’ 6 TAAC trophies.
Not only has Ottawa Hills succeeded academically this year, but the Green Bear athletics have also excelled to new heights. For the first time ever, Ottawa Hills won six of the seven TAAC championships this fall sports season, securing the All-Sports Award for the school. Football, boys’ golf, boys’ and girls’ soccer, and boys’ and girls’ cross country all achieved the top spot in their respective sports. This array of feats came with much celebration as for many teams, the victories hadn’t been achieved for many seasons or even for one, was unprecedented. The football team, who hadn’t won the TAAC title since 2005, topped the conference after a stellar season. As for boys’ golf, they added yet another season onto their now 9-year streak of winning TAAC. Girls’ soccer proved their resilience and came out on top at the end of a great season.
Photo By Nathan Robinson
For boys’ soccer, the Green Bears undoubtedly won the league as their 20-0 season carried on long after the TAAC title, taking them all the way to Columbus in the state finals. Girls’ cross country made history by winning TAAC for the first time ever for Ottawa Hills, defeating Gibsonburg by one mere point. Finally, boys’ cross country took the title for the fourth year in a row, marking an end to a great year. These numerous accomplishments reflect not only the athletic caliber Ottawa Hills upholds, but the tradition of excellence instilled in Green Bear Nation. Athletic Administrator Tammy Talmadge is elated with the results of the conference wins as she expressed, “I think winning 6 out of the 7 Fall TAAC titles is almost a once in a lifetime feat. It is a majority of our Fall athletes coming together in their various sports and rising to the top of the competition.” Congratulations to all the victorious teams!
School
The Arrowhead November 2017
Samantha Fischer Staff Reporter
Sports
We won’t stop
Boys’ Soccer Places Second in the State
Saturday evening, Green Bear Nation traveled to Mapfre Stadium, home of the Columbus Crew professional soccer team, to watch the boys’ high school soccer state championship game. The stands were full of Ottawa Hills alums, parents, teachers, and students who were there to cheer on the Green Bears. The team’s journey towards states began after their success in both the district and regional finals competitions. Senior captain Jan Durst attributes the team’s success to, “The great team chemistry and hard work on and off the field.”
Green Bears in every grade traveled on the spirit bus to Clyde High School to support the varsity team in the state semi-finals against Central Christian on Wednesday, Nov. 8. Junior captain Kevin Hileman scored the game winning goal resulting in a 1-0 victory for the Green Bears. Hileman describes how he felt after the boys’ win, “I was surprised that we won and I didn’t really realize we would be playing in the finals until the bus ride back.” On Saturday, Nov. 11, the boys’ varsity soccer team left for the state final
game at ten in the morning. Gathering in the senior parking lot, a group of students, teachers, and parents met to send the boys off on their journey down to Columbus. For the first time since 2008, the boys’ team competed in the championship game. Going into the state final with a 20-0 record, the boys were confident. With a tough loss, 0-1, against Summit Country Day School, the team placed second in the state for Division III soccer. The team is confident they will make it to the state final in 2018 and end next year with a victory.
The team with their state runner-up trophy after a hard fought game in Columbus
Dry Since ‘05 Boys’ Football Win TAAC Title For First Time Since 2005
Adam Simon Sports Reporter
Strength, speed, and technique. These are the three things it took for the 2017 Ottawa Hills football team to win the TAAC championship. The team has won the TAAC championship for the first time since 2005 and Ottawa Hills couldn’t be more proud. The team was extremely experienced and consisted of nine seniors. Of these nine seniors eight of them started on offense and defense. The team started off slow winning only 1 of their first three games, but then they turned on the jets and went on an astonishing 6-1 streak to finish the season 7-3. Coach Neuendorf has been able to turn the football program around since his first season at Ottawa Hills when his team went 3-7. Neuendorf has been able to get the players in the weight room almost every day during the off-season and has motivated the players to come to practice ready to work hard. This was Coach Neuendorfs fourth season at Ottawa Hills and he has brought the TAAC Championship back to Ottawa Hills. The school never had faith in the football program. They expected the football team to have another average season and only beat the bad teams in the area. This was not the case. Coach Neuendorf has returned faith to Ottawa Hills and throughout this year the amount of fans at every game increased exponentially. Although the team is losing 9 seniors, they expect to come back next year with another great season. The Arrowhead November 2017
Photo By Katie Rausch
A Houston CityAstros of Win Champions the World Series Ben Werner Sports Reporter
For the second year in a row, the World Series has lived up to expectations, as two powerhouse baseball organizations, the Los Angeles Dodgers and the Houston Astros, took title contention to the biggest stage in all of sports: Game 7. The Houston Astros were the victors in this back and forth series, winning their first world series championship in franchise history. George Springer was crowned World Series MVP, as the All-Star outfielder slugged five home runs in the best of 7 series. This feat tied Reggie Jackson and Chase Utley for the most home runs in a series in World Series history. For the Dodgers, their World Series drought continues dating back to 1988. Despite the loss, the ballclub had a historic season. Having a remarkable 91-36 record in late August, questions surrounded the sports world of whether this Dodger team was the best MLB team
ever. With the players and coaches throughout the organization, Los Angeles will look to the 2018 season to claim the highest award in America’s pastime. The championship title for the Houston Astros is not only the first in franchise history, but it gives the city something to celebrate after the horrific Hurricane Harvey took the lives of 77 people and inflicted nearly 200 billion dollars in damage. The World Series surely wasn’t about who the better team was, but about who executed. Both teams entered the series with plenty of firepower and some of the most talented players in all of baseball; a combined 12 players on the Astros and Dodgers were 2017 MLB AllStars. This electrifying series not only brought us to a Game 7, but created high aspirations for a hopeful rematch in next year’s edition of the Fall Classic.
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The Arrowhead November 2017
Final Analysis
A New Era for No Shave November
Isabella Iorio Staff Reporter
No Shave November. Many know it as the month when their husbands, sons, and brothers refrain from shaving their beards. But have you ever seen a female participate in this tradition? Many men around the world participate in No Shave November, including many teachers at Ottawa Hills. Mr. Nixon, Mr. Neuendorf, Mr. Lindsay, and Mr. Mercer are only a few of the male teachers at our school who engage in this custom. Unknown by many, No Shave November was originally a movement to spread awareness of prostate cancer. Although prostate cancer is a disease that only affects men, women are allowed to spread awareness and take part in this custom too. Women tend to avoid participating in No Shave November. Why is that? Men tend to forget or are unaware that this month is about more than not shaving, and shame women who participate in this custom. Most men find it disgusting that women would even consider taking part in this tradition and aren’t afraid to let them know. Taking to twitter, these men tweet things such as “#keepitcleanladies” or they complain over how No Shave November is just for boys. It is about time women destroy the typical stereotype of being the sweet, pretty girls who should always be clean-shaven. Women should be able to participate in No Shave November without fear that men will judge them or call them revolting. No Shave November is the time of year to help spread awareness of prostate cancer, and all genders should be free to participate in it peacefully.
Top Ten Meme Songs
William Tunis Staff Reporter
10. Never Gonna Give You Up 9. Sandstorm 8. Cotton Eye Joe 7. What Does The Fox Say? 6. Crazy Frog - Axel F Remix 5. All Star 4. Gangnam Style 3. Fireflies 2. Shooting Stars 1. Friday
Photo By Nathan Robinson
Senior Matt Sherman participating in No Shave November
The Arrowhead November 2017
Final Analysis
