Exchange brings Italy here Soccer team takes 4A state championship

JENNIFER BUTLER Capital-Journal

Editor's note

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The partnership combines efforts of The Topeka Capital-Journal and each school, including students and faculty members.

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These sponsors support the individual sections, as well as make a commitment to the Newspapers In Education program, purchasing more than 30,000 daily newspapers for classroom use.

We thank the students and their teachers for a job well done, and we thank the sponsors. We hope you enjoy each of the sections.

--- Linda Laird, special

sections coordinator

By JENNIFER BUTLER

Special to The Capital-Journal

Once again Hayden High School had an opportunity that other high schools didn't. On Oct. 11, 15 students and two teachers traveled from Bari, Italy, to participate in Partnership Exchange.

The Italian students were greeted at Kansas City International Airport by their host students and families. Many of the Italians received gifts of flowers, stuffed animals and balloons.

Before their stay in Topeka, the Italians spent three days in New York City. Then they came to Topeka for 17 days.

During their stay, many activities were planned for them, such as a KU campus visit, a ScareCrows hockey game, ice skating, trips to Strawberry Hill in Kansas City, Kan., Crown Center and Rockhurst College in Kansas City, Mo., the Cosmosphere in Hutchinson and a day at Worlds of Fun.

"Worlds of Fun (was our favorite) because it was a different day. We made bungee jumping (it was) a lot of fun," said Annebella DeGenners, who stayed with Jessica Schuster, and Maria Azalea De Rose, who stayed with Cristina Ferrel.

While the Italians were in the United States they had an opportunity to learn about the American culture. They learned how to speak better English, how another culture lives and different types of food and holidays Americans celebrate, school dances and many of the activities American students do in everyday life.

"It's a good experience. (We) meet a lot of other people different from us," said Elizaveta Pojaritskaia, who stayed with Rachael Perry.

Partnership Exchange is a program in which high school students exchange visits with another student from a different country. Hayden exchanges with the Italian convent school Preziosissimo Sangue, where the majority of the population is female. Partnership Exchange wants schools to bond for at least five years.

"At first, I thought it would be hard with the differences in language, but I've learned that they have a lot in common with me and it's fun to hang out with them," junior host Rachael Perry said.

By MATT MADISON

Special to The Capital-Journal

The Wildcats varsity boys soccer team finished the season 16-4-0, with the 4A state soccer championship.

For the state finals, the boys first traveled to Tonganoxie and defeated KC Christian 1-0. Hayden's Justin Broxterman scored the winning goal on an assist by sophomore Brandon Kenney.

In the state semifinals, the Cats went head-to-head against Mill Valley. It was a game full of unsuccessful shots on goal until a high corner kick from Kenney, which was headed in by senior Joe Hennes. This goal, which came in overtime, gave the Wildcats the 2-1 victory.

The boys traveled to Wichita to play Wichita Trinity in the state quarterfinals. The boys jumped out to an early 2-0 lead after goals by Hennes and freshman Brandon Washatka. The game ended as a 4-0 shutout after second half goals by seniors Jake Cunningham and Justin Broxterman.

In the regional finals, the Cats took on DeSoto. Washatka again came up big for the boys with two huge goals. Senior Jake Cunningham and Kenney tacked on goals in the second half to secure a 4-1 victory.

"We had been off for a while, and came back and played really well," Washatka said.

It was the first soccer state championship Hayden had ever won.

By GRANT TURNER

Special to The Capital-Journal

Hot off their sub-state victory, the LadyCat Volleyball team placed third in the state tournament, beating Scott City in three games: 15-5, 12-15 and 15-4.

Ending the season 31-13, the girls brought back the third place trophy from state, Hayden's best finish ever in volleyball, to sit beside the three first-place, regular season trophies that they won this year.

"We would've liked to take first, but we were honored to take third. The team was so close and we had so much fun. We were like family. It's really hard to describe," senior Jenny Garst said.

The Cats lost the semifinal match (15-13, 15-7) to the eventual state champs Wamego, a team Hayden had beaten in Sabetha in just two games.

To get to the semis, however, the Cats had to overcome second- and third-seeded Towanda-Circle and Haven in pool play.

The girls headed down to Salina with a 28-11 record for play in the state tournament, their first appearance there since 1992, and their second ever.

Sophomores Kyla Reed and Emily Escher were named to Kansas Volleyball Coaches Associations All Tournament team.

"It's very cool and a great honor. It's nice to know that all the hard work has paid off," Escher said.

One week earlier, the Ken Buetel Center was the host to 4A sub- state volleyball play. The Wildcats took first on their home court, beating top seed Jefferson West in the finals.

"I think we had improved a lot this season, and sub-state was a hard a fight but well worth it," said Reed.

By LIZZY BOYDEN

Special to The Capital-Journal

"Sticks and Stones may break my bones, but words will never hurt me." I said it jokingly to my friends or family as a comeback when I was little. The other day I stopped to think how untrue this statement is.

Words are the most powerful thing we have. When you remember someone, what you remember is the words. You think how a person talked and treated you.

People are influenced by everything we say whether it be in a good way or a bad way. I believe that with words we can impact another person's life in many ways. There are so many people in my class who have said kind words to me that I still remember today.

For example, think of a day when you were down and in a bad mood. Didn't you just want someone to talk to you and make you feel better? I can remember one time when I was having what I considered the worst day of my life.

Somebody out of my class stopped to talk to me and gave me a smile that I really needed. This was a person I don't normally talk to, but the fact that this person stopped to talk to me meant everything to me. That person may not remember it, but it left an impact on my heart.

Every time I see that person I think of the time when simple, caring words made my day go from awful to not so bad.

Words can also hurt. Hateful and nasty words can be remembered forever, too. One of my good friends was talking about a time in grade school when a boy made fun of her all the time, and now she remembers it every time they are in a class together still today.

We all know of that thing called gossip, telling one person what you heard about another that they heard about another, just because we have nothing better to talk about. The worst thing about gossip is it is usually about 75 percent false. We forget in our line of repeating things to each other that we may be ruining somebody's reputation.

Every time you talk to people you could make or break their day. They may need a kind word to cheer them up or somebody to talk to. If you make fun of them, they may remember that forever.

All day, every day, remember how powerful your words can be. People will remember you by what you say.

They may need a kind word to cheer them up or somebody to talk to. If you make fun of them, they may remember that forever.

By SARA WHITE

Special to The Capital-Journal

The 30 members of the Marching Wildcats earned three Superior ratings at the Paola Invitational Marching Band Festival and two Excellent and one Superior ratings at the Baker Festival last fall.

"At both festivals, I felt that the band did a super job," band director Darren Jenkins said. He is in his second year as band director.

"I think we performed very well," senior Megan Watts said. "We caught little mistakes to perfect for next time. We just had fun with it, and that really makes a difference."

Jenkins said the band has put out great effort.

"I am very proud of them and their hard work efforts thus far," Jenkins said.

By LIZZY BOYDEN

Special to The Capital-Journal

W ith the help of School Resource Officer Mike Mulford and art teacher Susan Winkelman, Hayden now has a Scholastic Crime Stoppers club.

The club has of seven students and two advisers. Officers are seniors Eddie Aldrine, president; Ben Schmidtlein, vice president; Heidi Oyler, secretary; Amber Davenport, public relations; Aaron Freeman, safety officer; and Vicky Betchley, fund-raiser; and junior Adam Hinkle, treasurer.

The club was brought to Hayden by Mulford. Seaman High School also has implemented the program.

"Crime Stoppers is an excellent opportunity for students to get involved and help make a difference at Hayden. Crime Stoppers stops a lot of frustrating moments. I think that it has been a great success and that everyone enjoys being involved in it," Schmidtlein said.

The point of the club is to help solve crimes that are presented to it. Another purpose is to help students understand that even though a crime might be small, it can be stopped.

Meetings are held every Wednesday, and members talk about crime prevention and things that can be done to help keep the crime level to a minimum at the school. Also discussed are ways to involve the Hayden community in the Crime Stoppers program.

"If the Crime Stoppers could stop one crime, then I think it would be worthwhile to have and should stay with Hayden for many years," Oyler said.

- Students speak

What one event stands out in your mind since you started Hayden High School?

"The Grim Reaper last year for SADD, because I was involved in it."

--- Lindsay Rippel, junior.

"I've really liked the musicals I've been in. They are really fun."

--- Sara Fox, senior.

"Homecoming. It was my first dance."

--- Rachel Ricci, freshman.

"State basketball, especially since I am only a freshman."

--- Adam Head, freshman.

"Every year when we have the all-school Mass with the bishop because I love to see all the kids unite."

--- Janet Leiker, teacher.

"Winning winter sports queen."

--- Amber Artzer, senior.

"Soccer state championship!"

--- Denis Kenny, senior.

"State football --- it was so much fun because we won."

--- Tanya Gartner, junior.

"Tearing my knee at soccer tryouts. I was out for six months."

--- Sean Valdez, freshman.

"The Holton football game; that's the most people I've ever seen at a high school football game."

--- Justin Raines, sophomore.

"My freshman year, the first week of school I threw up in Mrs. Rood's class; it was humiliating."

--- Catie Provost, sophomore.

By JENNIFER BUTLER

Special to The Capital-Journal

One of the new additions for the 2000-01 school year was principal Mark Madsen.

He decided to accept the job because he saw a need "to answer God's call."

"I feel it's my duty to help provide ministry to the church in education," Madsen said.

"The year has been great, it has run smoothly. Everyone has been very cooperative," Madsen said.

Not only is Madsen the principal at Hayden, he is also principal at Our Lady of Guadalupe. He has to have two calendars to make sure his time doesn't overlap and schedules are straight.

On Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday he works at OLG from about 6:30 to 9 a.m., and then comes to Hayden for the rest of the day. On Wednesdays he spends the afternoons at OLG.

His vision for his role is to "bring people together and develop a relationship beyond a group effort."

Managing his time is "challenging," said Madsen, who has a wife and toddler.

Madsen has been teaching for 21 years, and all of those years have been at Catholic schools. His first teaching job was in 1979 at an exclusive girls school called Immaculate Conception in Memphis, Tenn. This is one of the oldest Catholic girls schools in the nation, and he was the only male teacher. Since then he has held many jobs in teaching and administrative positions.

Former principal Adam Holden left Hayden to be principal at St. Thomas Aquinas in Kansas City, Mo.

By JENNIFER BUTLER

Special to The Capital-Journal

Two Hayden seniors joined thousands of other young people in Italy for World Youth Day 2000.

Eddie Aldrine and Dave Whitford, along with 10 other members from Christ the King Youth Group, went to Rome Aug. 11-21. World Youth Day 2000 was set up by Pope John Paul II to raise awareness among youth about the changes they can make in the world.

"It was really uplifting to see all the people of the same faith," Whitford said.

The celebration began on Aug. 14 with a special audience given by the pope. "He talked a lot about the future and getting rid of all the bad things --- war, abortion, all the hate," Aldrine said.

On Aug. 15-16, Aldrine and Whitford and their group got to see more sights, including the Roman Forum, the Coliseum and many other places. "Seeing the pope was great. Seeing the city was even better. We saw the Sistine Chapel, the Vatican Museum, St. Peter's Square, St. Peter's Tomb and St. Peter's Basilica," Whitford said.

"Everywhere we went, it was elbow-to-elbow with people, so it was hard to see things. There was just too many people to see everything," Aldrine said.

They also attended two seminars where they were taught things to do to make themselves and the world a better place. These classes were held outside of the walls of the Vatican. At night they had four course meals.

"They were really good, but it was just too much to eat," Aldrine said.

On Aug. 19-20, everyone went on a campout in Tour Vergata by the university. They had to walk six or seven miles to get to the camp site. They then camped on the ground with blankets. They talked a lot about the world and improvements. The pope was with them the entire time.

On Sunday, Aug. 20, the last day, the closing Mass was given by the pope. He talked about the virtues in the vigil.

"I had a good time and would like to go back when not so many people are there," Aldrine said.

--- Jenny Sparks/The Capital-Journal

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