PHS MEDIA NEWS

Senior Jordan Clark doesn’t remember life without sports. Out of all the athletics he has been a part of, however, basketball was always the one constant. He knew that regardless of what was going on in his life, he could always step on the court and forget about it all. Basketball became his outlet.   

Clark had always been around basketball for as long as he could remember. His older brother and cousin both played, but it wasn’t until Steve Lawson asked him to be a part of a team he was putting together that Clark became interested in playing himself.

“Steve Lawson asked me to be on a team when I was in the second grade. After playing with the guys, I knew basketball was a sport I wanted to continue playing for as long as I could,” said Clark.

Along with Lawson, varsity basketball coach Dusty Cole has played a major role in Clark’s development as a player and as a person. Cole has taught Clark the value of hardwork and persistence.

“Coach Cole has always taught me that nothing is going to be handed to us. We are going to have to work hard to accomplish the things we want. This doesn’t just apply to basketball, it applies to the things you do every day,” said Clark.

As well as hard work and persistence, basketball has taught Clark the importance of a good work ethic. This may be one of the most rewarding skills Clark has taken away from the sport.

“No matter who is watching or if no one is around at all, it is important to work hard because it will benefit you in the future as well as the present,” said Clark.

Basketball has also allowed Clark to create bonds with his teammates that go beyond the sport itself. He has met some of his best friends through basketball, especially those he has played with since he was in grade school.

“My favorite thing about basketball is being able to spend time with some of my closest friends on the team and sharing the experience with them,” said Clark.

As Clark moves on to the next stage in life, he hopes the underclassmen continue to work hard every day in practice and never take anything for granted. It may be cliché to say, but high school does fly by, and one day you’re not going to be on the court with the people you have grown up with. Cherish the moments you have with them before they are gone.

After graduation, Clark plans to continue his education at Indiana State University in Terre Haute. He hopes to major in exercise science and eventually pursue a career in physical therapy.

 

Story by Madison Street

Football season has come to an end, so basketball is kicking into gear. With the boys basketball team falling short in last year’s Sectional, they are expecting nothing less than a PLAC championship and a Sectional trophy this year.

Four of the top five scorers are returning from last year, a couple of players are moving up from a JV team that only lost a few games last season and head coach Dusty Cole has high expectations for this year’s season.

“Our senior, junior and sophomore classes are used to winning, and they’ve done lots of it throughout their basketball careers. It is very rare to have three season leading scorers on one team, and that is the case this year. Ashton Minton led us in scoring three years ago, Ty Lawson led two years ago and Brett Bosley led last year. Most things we do start with those three, but we can also bring in added scoring with Jordan Clark and Mason Buchanan. Carter Elliott and Hobie Bobbit are both capable varsity players as well, and both of them excel on the defensive end. Austin Carmickle and Charlie Meredith do all the little things that make a team special, and our wild card this season could be Parker Sullivan. He has grown a few inches, gotten much stronger and could be a real difference maker this year.  We have a lot of pieces that can play multiple styles and paces,” said Cole.
One of the most important things Cole’s team will need this season is team cohesiveness.

“History has shown how difficult it can be to bring a lot of stars and talent together and be successful. Everyone will have to make sacrifices and be willing to put the team first. We don’t foresee that being a problem at all with this bunch of young men, but it is still important that we make that happen,” said Cole.

The team has several goals this year, including winning the Holiday Tournament Championship, becoming PLAC champions, and even achieving the HBCA Honors Court as a team.

“Every member of the Sectional roster has to achieve certain standards and have a GPA of 3.0 or above. Every season, there are about a dozen teams in the state of Indiana that stand a legitimate chance of playing on the last day of the season in Indianapolis.  We feel like this season we are one of those 10-12 teams,” said Cole.

Aside from the big goals, Cole just wants his players to improve each day.

“If we can continue to improve and grow every day, then we will be very successful later in the year,” said Cole.

Senior Ashton Minton believes this could potentially be one of the most memorable and successful seasons he has ever had as a basketball player.

“I think this season will go very well. If we do what we are coached to do, it should be a very special season in the end. I, along with the rest of the seniors, have been wishing on this year since the third or fourth grade, and now it is finally here,” said Minton.

Overall, the Paoli boys basketball team wants to succeed, not just as individuals, but as a team. They know it won’t be easy, but they are willing to work hard and fight toward a victory.

“All of them have put in the work, stuck with it and are ready to contribute on one of the best teams Paoli has ever had,” said Cole.

 

Story by Gracie Walls

Many students at PHS possess their own struggles in their personal lives. Whether these struggles regard academics, family or internal issues is irrelevant; they all share a common factor of fighting a battle.

One student, senior Kayle Kibler, is currently fighting a battle of his own, as he is recovering from brain surgery. Kayle was experiencing intense migraines and constant headaches before he was issued an MRI on his brain. The MRI showed that Kayle had a mass of cells on his brain, and the mass was unknown to be cancerous or not. Kibler underwent surgery on November 13 at Indiana University Methodist Hospital in Indianapolis to remove the mass of cells inside his cranium.

“Surgery went well. They removed all of the mass. It appears to be an abnormal mass of cells, not a tumor. My family and I would like to thank everyone for the prayers, well wishes and concern. It has helped Kayle and us in this tough time,” said Kayle’s father, Kyle Kibler.

Following his surgery, Kayle was placed in ICU with drain tubes still attached to surgical sites. He came out very stable, showing slight movement in his fingers and toes; however, his blood pressure seemed to rise periodically, but this was assessed by the hospital staff.

As the days went on, Kayle began showing more movement as well as improved speech and memory. At the beginning stages of his recovery, Kayle was concerning the nurses with how much he was sleeping. A CT scan was ordered to see if there was a reason for his near constant state of rest. The results of the CT scan showed no correlation to Kayle’s excessive resting time. However, Kayle seemed to completely turn around his current state, as he started drastically improving almost immediately following the CT scan.

“Kayle is eating solid food and even feeding himself at lunch. He is still fighting some to stay awake, and his sodium is slowly going down. He is having some memory issues, which was expected. His motor skills have improved greatly, though. He is doing very well,” said Kyle.

Just after he was beginning to improve tremendously, Kayle had a setback and began experiencing a buildup of cerebrospinal fluid. Doctors had previously implemented drainage tubes for Kayle; however, the overflow of fluid has continued to reappear. After some discussion, doctors have agreed to install a permanent drain tube running from his cranium to his abdominal region. Fortunately, almost a day following his permanent drainage surgery, Kayle was moved out of ICU into a regular hospital room. Soon after he was making some progress, Kayle experienced another buildup of fluid.

“There are two cavities that hold fluid in the brain. They are connected, but for some reason, one is getting bigger than the other,” said Kyle.

Kayle received a CT scan and then moved back into ICU due to the buildup of fluid.

Kayle had just began his senior year when he began experiencing these setbacks. He has avidly participated in baseball and football since he was in elementary school. His recovery time determines his playing time in the upcoming spring baseball season. However, he is in very high hopes.

Kayle’s recovery will not be a short one, but with the help and support of his friends and family, he plans to be back at PHS in March.

To follow his journey, go to caringbridge.org and enter “Kayle Kibler” in the search engine. Family members post daily updates on Kayle and the progress he has made and will continue to make in the future.

 

Story by Jace Ingle

There are more members of the basketball team than can be seen on the court. An important asset to the boys basketball program is senior manager Tyson Line. Line is the one who quietly works behind the scenes to wash the jerseys, film the games, fill the water bottles and run the clock during practices. He has been on staff for the basketball team since his freshman year.

“I had nothing to do after football ended, so I thought it’d be fun to be able to hang out with my friends,” said Line.

Some of Line’s favorite memories come from spending time with his friends on the basketball team. He has enjoyed the many bus rides home after an on-the-road victory and all the time he has had to hang out with his friends.

Varsity head coach Dusty Cole is just one witness of Line’s work ethic.

“Tyson is a hard worker who has spent a lot of his hours around athletics, so he knows what is needed and how things need to be done. Tyson is the type of kid and manager you don’t have to put a list together of his job responsibilities,” said Cole.

Since Line has mastered the art of being a manager, he often serves as a role model or helps the team improve their game.

“Tyson is also a great leader who has taken Davis Minton and other younger managers under his wing and taught them the ropes. It isn’t out of ordinary to see our managers included in practice either. They are sometimes used in drills and can often be seen holding practice dummies and banging on our guys to help toughen them up,” said Cole.

 

Story by Maggie Vincent

Choosing to dedicate one’s time solely for the purpose of helping others is a decision which would be difficult for many to make, but for senior Sierra Rodewig, it was quite simple. With a strong desire to lend a hand and change people’s lives for the better, Rodewig was prompted to serve her community.

“I’ve always loved helping the people around me. I find more satisfaction in helping others than receiving help,” said Rodewig.

This desire Rodewig had to serve others called for an outlet. As a freshman, she found a school organization which centers around community service. National Junior Honor Society was the perfect way to start giving back to those who truly needed it.

Rodewig’s involvement in her community allowed her to observe the obstacles the members of it were forced to tackle. What she observed taught her how crucial it was for the people of Paoli to reach out and help each other.

“As the years have gone by, the community has faced countless challenges, and I find it even more important for the community to come together and be there for one another now,” said Rodewig.

The service became more personal to Rodewig when she realized how much volunteering could change things. Her discovery that giving leads receiving pushed her to continue helping others. She was rewarded with satisfaction after serving her community.

Rodewig has learned significant life skills by serving her community, such as how to have patience with both herself and others and how to communicate with people of all ages in a clear way.

Rodewig tries to donate her time to the people who really deserve to be helped out, the people who might not be considered otherwise and the people who are the most alone. By serving those who are usually in the dark, Rodewig is an encouraging, supportive influence.

“I believe my service has positively impacted others because I always try to focus on the more important opportunities. I focus on working with groups of people who aren’t always understood by everyone or who don’t have many people there for them,” said Rodewig.

Rodewig engages in several different service projects, most of which are Throop Elementary PTO sponsored. She helps out with Fall in Love with Reading, Bingo for Books and the Winter Holiday Festival. The Community Thanksgiving Dinner and the Special Olympics are also events Rodewig takes part in annually.

“I enjoy participating in these events because the PTO events serve highly influential children and allow students to make a positive impact on them early in life,” said Rodewig.

Tutoring is a large piece of her service as a whole and takes up most of her time. It is very fulfilling for her because she is able to cater to the specific student’s learning style and discuss things with them one-on-one, which they would not normally get in a classroom full of their peers. Rodewig is able to see her effect on students first-hand when helping them with school work and can tell how much of a difference she has made.

“Seeing the positive impact I have been able to make has kept me volunteering. Seeing the gratitude on other people’s faces when I am working with them is what keeps me going,” said Rodewig.

Although she loves helping others, service hasn’t always been easy for Rodewig. As a high school student, it’s not hard to get stressed out with all of the tests, homework and responsibilities one must juggle. Rodewig had all of those things to worry about and also had volunteering thrown into the mix.

All this weight on her shoulders can be overwhelming. However, Rodewig learned to balance her obligations by using all of the time available to her in the most efficient way possible.

The amount of great experiences Rodewig has had due to her service has left her with the hope to continue serving Paoli, even after she graduates this year.

Community service has become a priority to Rodewig, and its impact on her has been enriching. Her involvement in the community has shaped who she is today and has paved the way to the person she will become in the future.

 

Story by Masden Embry

Senior Jacob McDonald has been a part of the Supermileage team for six years. McDonald was drawn to the team because he has a passion for both engineering and racing; McDonald describes it as “the perfect mix.”

When McDonald first joined Supermileage, they were a team that designed a car to operate on gas. Currently, McDonald and the rest of the team strive to construct a car that runs on electricity. To McDonald, constructing the different cars is the most exciting part.

“I am very proud of the way my team works together. We have come a long way as a team. We are able to work together and solve problems together the way a team should,” said McDonald.

Along with having the responsibility of building a car from scratch to race in competitions, McDonald has had to hold the weight of being Team Captain for four years. Although this position has given him a few struggles, McDonald has learned patience and leadership from it as well.

“These skills will help me later in life in whatever career path I take,” said McDonald.

Because McDonald wants to continue in the engineering field, being on the Supermileage team as been extremely beneficial for him. McDonald has learned skills related to engineering as well as what to expect when pursuing an engineering career.

“I have also learned to expect the unexpected when it comes to building the cars because everything imaginable can and will happen. I’ve learned to work through the frustrations of cars not working and things not going the right way,” said McDonald.

Supermileage has been a part of McDonald’s life for six years, so the team as well as the people involved in it have left an impact on him. The faculty support comes from ITE teacher Jason Goodman and economics teacher Cliff Brannon as well as volunteer work from members in the community, including Jerrell Dennis, Luke Becht and Ben Bosley.

“This team has meant so much to me over the years. I’m not sure what I will miss the most, but this team has impacted my life forever and will not be forgotten. We have been nothing short of a family,” said McDonald.

McDonald highly recommends Supermileage to anyone planning on going towards an engineering path. Within the club, members learn about STEM curriculum, calculating and constructing, all skills required in an engineering job. Supermileage has been a beneficial experience for McDonald, and it has prepared him for his future.

McDonald plans to attend Purdue University with a major in agricultural systems management and minor in business. In addition, McDonald plans to be on Purdue’s Supermileage team.

 

Story by Sara Kesterson

In our town and school, hunting is a regular occurrence and topic of conversation. For freshman Noah Chaplin, hunting is a big part of his life, as he started his hunting career when he was just 11 years old. His uncle Kevin was the person who first sparked this passion in Chaplin. On his first hunt, he was with his uncle and killed a small jake, which is a young male turkey. Even though it was a small catch, Chaplin still remembers it to this day.

“When I killed my first turkey, I instantly wanted to hunt again, and it has fed my passion ever since. My heart was pounding, and I couldn’t believe I did it,” said Chaplin.

When hunting, a lot of gear is required in order to be successful, but every hunter has their own way of doing things. The first thing Chaplin does is lay all of his camouflage gear outside so it loses his smell. He does this so he can be near the animals without them picking up his scent. He also has to set up a ground blind or tree stand as a place to hunt from. Chaplin also has three main weapons he uses. One of them is a 12 gauge shotgun that is used mainly for deer and turkeys. Another gun he uses is a .243 Remington, which is a rifle that has a longer range. Depending on the season, he also uses a diamond camouflage bow. A skinning knife and a sitting pad are two more essential items Chaplin brings along.

“I am very happy with the guns I have because they have been given to me as gifts, and they mean a lot to me. I would like a couple more as I get older, though,” said Chaplin.

After killing an animal, he is given two choices. One thing Chaplin has done is mount the animal.

“If it is a good animal, like a mature turkey or buck, you can get it mounted to put on the wall. If it was just for meat, you can either gut it in the field or take it with you and gut it at home,” said Chaplin.

So far in his hunting career, Chaplin has only killed two animals. One was the small jake, and the other was a tom, which is a mature male turkey. Although he has only killed turkeys, his favorite hunting season is deer season. Chaplin enjoys everything about hunting, from all the preparation to the clean-up.

“My favorite part about hunting is when you are sitting in the woods and you finally get the chance to take down the animal you have been waiting for the whole time,” said Chaplin.

 

Story by Michael Hannon