Wrestlers lose to Smith Center and Hill City
By Megan Kearns
The Stockton Tiger Wrestling team lost during the double duel against Smith Center and Hill City on December 11.
SHS wrestlers did their best during the Smith Center matches, but they lost as a team 68 to 9. “There’s not really much we could do but we had seven and they had a full bracket,” Sophomore Austin Sander said about the Smith Center match.
Sander scored 3 to 1 in his first match. “Going up I thought I’d get creamed. I found out if I tried I did decent,” Sander said.
Senior Derek Spires got pinned during his first match. “I need to gain some weight. He wouldn’t have been able to throw me around like he did,” Spires said.
Sophomore Connor Winters had an illegal slam during his first match. “I should have sat him down instead of slamming him. I lost because of my own mistake,” Winters said.
Winters did much better in his second match against Hill City. “He pinned me but I lost four to seven,” Winters said. The wrestling SHS team also lost 57-10.
“We could have made smarter decisions,” Spires said about the duel. “There were some moves they tried that weren’t there and got them in trouble.”
Senior Alex Henry did not make weight but wrestled an exhibition round. “We could have done a lot better. There’s a lot of matches we should have won,” Henry said. “Overall we got a pretty young group and they did pretty good.”
Tiger Wrestlers open season with the Osborne Tournament
By Megan Kearns
On December 5 the SHS Wrestling team placed 9 out of 11 at the Osborne Tournament. “As a team I felt there was a lot of individuals that could have won or placed,” Senior Carlos Gallaway said. Gallaway was one of three that placed fourth at the tournament.
“My first match I felt I did alright but the second I didn’t do too well,” Senior Derek Spires said. Spires weighs 115 pounds and he wrestled 125 pounds his second match.
“As an individual I feel like I could have won the two matches I lost,” Gallaway said. “I lost because they were in better shape.”
Gallaway wasn’t the only person to think this. His brother, Diego Gallaway, junior, said, “I lost way too much weight in one week.” Diego Gallaway also placed fourth at the tournament.
Sophomore Connor Winters said, “I think I did okay, I was just really tired.” Winters had to wrestle five times before getting into his bracket.
“We did all right. I think we could have done better, but it’s the beginning of the season,” Diego Gallaway said about his team.
Winters said, “For how small our team is I think we did good. Only eight guys went.”
Tigers lose season opener at home
By Taylor Morgan
The Stockton Tiger basketball season kicked off December 4 with a match up against the Hill City Ringnecks on Tiger territory.
The varsity Lady Tigers were first to break onto the court. With five starting seniors, Phoenix Hobdell, Brenna Schlaegel, Amber Kriley, Carlee Lindsey, and Hayley Strutt, the Lady Tigers were looking fairly strong. The Lady Tigers lead the Ringnecks by a varying peak of 12 points and a valley of four points until late in the third quarter, when the Tigers lost the lead due to multiple successful three point shots by the Ringnecks.
However, the Lady Tigers didn’t give up, and both the Tigers and the Ringnecks continued to play an intense game of basketball until the very end. The Ringnecks proved to be a difficult opponent and came out on top, winning the game 58-54.
On the boys’ side of all the action, the Ringneck/Tiger boys’ basketball match-up was also a close game. The Tigers had a very stacked starting five, but were still unable to contain the Ringnecks. The Ringnecks pulled ahead of the Tigers in the first quarter and held the lead throughout the entire game. The Tigers rallied multiple times and almost took the lead, but fell short. The final score of the game was 50-41, the Ringnecks victorious.
Dance team strides into holiday season
By Jordann Wiltfong
The Stockton High School Strider Dance Team got into the holiday spirit Friday, November 27, at this year’s Olde Tyme Christmas. “Somebody asked us if we wanted to do something in the parade,” said Delilah Griebel, freshman. “We were going to have a bake sale after, so we figured we might as well.”
Junior MaryLynn Griebel, Sophomore Maggie Spires, and Freshmen Sara Saunders and Delilah Griebel went to the stage after school one day and made up a dance. After they were asked, the girls decided to teach it to the rest of the team and perform it in the parade. “It was pretty easy so everyone got it right away,” said Delilah Griebel.
The Striders placed first in the Annual Christmas Parade, and were the only students from SHS to be a part of the festivities. “It’s a fun, extra thing that the dancers can do together for the community,” said Senior Carlee Lindsey. “It was just exciting to be a part of it all.”
Goblin’s Glory
By Richelle Paulson
Candy, treats, costumes, and FFA? That’s right. On October 30, the Stockton FFA chapter had their 13th Annual Goblin’s Glory. This year the FFA students prepared by making flyers and other advertisements, setting up for the soup supper, sending letters out to the Grade School students for the costume contest, nominating the King and Queen, and of course, the games.
Sophomore Eric Pfeifer, helped out by working the can smash. “It was fun watching kids smash cans.”
The games included Wheel-of-Fortune, Dart Throw, Cake Walk, Putt-Putt Golf, Basketball Throw, English Ladder, Football Throw, Turkey, Bowling, Softball Throw, Ring Toss, Plinko, Can Smash, and Bingo.
“It was pretty cool,” said Green. “I had a blast.”
The timing of Goblin’s Glory was a little different this year than in recent years.
“Usually we do it before Halloween, like around the 20th so next year we need to decide if we want it on the Friday or Saturday before Halloween,” said Shane Austin, agriculture education instructor.
Several of the FFA Alumni helped out by cooking this year. “A lot of people come for the soup supper,” said Austin. “People thought it was a good time as long as they got soup.” Towards the end of the night they ran out of food.
The final activity of the night was the crowning of royalty. Senior FFA and FCCLA members could be nominated for Goblin’s Glory King and Queen. This year there were four SHS seniors nominated for King and Queen. They were Jordann Wiltfong, Adam Murchie, Macee Kellner, and Calvin Dix. All week SHS students voted for the finalists by donating money to the FFA chapter. There was also a table set up at Goblin’s Glory for others to vote. At the end of the night Seniors Adam Murchie and Macee Kellner were crowned King and Queen.
Art projects posted on online service
By Amanda Rubottom
Stockton students are having their artwork posted online again this year thanks for Art Teacher Barb Henson’s work with Artsonia.
One day somebody had a dream that every child would have an online art gallery where they could keep their artwork forever. Today 5,995,303 children have art pieces on ArtSonia. In addition to bringing home artwork and hanging it up on their fridge, the students’ work can also be put on T-Shirts, coffee mugs, mouse pads, or even on a card for mom. Besides just displaying artwork and buying things with their artwork on it, children can also have a fan club with friends and family where comments can be made on the artwork.
When a student completes a project, Henson takes a picture of it and puts it on ArtSonia.com.
Right now the Stockton High School students are doing a silhouette project where they have to find a black picture of a human or animal and cut it out.
Hailey Pasilas, sophomore, is doing the silhouette project. “Personally, I’m not doing too good, but I haven’t gotten very far so I hope to get better,” she said.
“I think it is quite fun. She gave us the silhouette project which I have never done before,” said Peter Sabell, freshman. “Actually my silhouette project is not going very good right now but you always got to think your getting better and always try your best even if you don’t feel like it.”
Industrial Arts students begin shop projects
By Taylor Russ
Justin Basart believes that sfafety is very important for his woods students, and he won’t let his classes work in the shop until they have passed their safety test. Some of them are finishing that step and getting to move on to projects in the shop.
Basart said his students will work with all types of wood and different types of tools. “They all worked very hard on their safety test,” he said. “The safety tests are the worst. It’s fun once you get out in the shop and move around.”
Nolan Weiser, freshman, said “I just started on my project just the other day.” Weiser said it’s important to really have to know how to use the tools before starting a project to avoid confusion about how it works.
Besides the safety tests, planning and getting materials have also kept some students from getting started with projects before now. Bryce Reichard, sophomore, said, “I can’t work on my project until they get my type of wood. I am making an entertainment center out of oak.” This is Reichard’s second year in industrial arts. “I know how to work all the machines. My favorite one is the table saw, because you can cross cut, rip, stock, and that’s all you need to know,” said Reichard.
Freshman Micah Baughman is also getting the materials together for his project. “I am rounding up all the wood that I need for my project, so I can start working on it. I am making a poker table,” he said. Baughman said he likes industrials arts because it’s pretty basic. “I didn’t have to retake any of my safety tests because I’m a beast.”
Scholars Bowl success due to preparation
By Kacey Scott
The Stockton High School Scholars Bowl team has had a good season so far, but that kind of success doesn’t happen over night. The team spends plenty of time preparing their minds for the questions they could be asked in upcoming meet.
“Every Thursday, the whole team practices at 7:30 in the morning. At the beginning of practice we do a vocabulary quiz, then we use the actual buzzers and go though a round or two of questions,” said Molly Schleicher, sophomore.
On the Stockton Scholars Bowl team there is a Varsity and a Junior Varsity team. Even though they are at different levels of their education, they all practice together, and answer the same types of questions and the same difficulty of questions.
The team practices hard every week, but they know that there is still the possibility of not knowing an answer. “We are as well-prepared as you can be, considering there is an infinite amount of questions they could ask,” said Jameson Nyp, senior.
As the season continues, members become more aware of the areas they could improve in. “I wish I knew more of the authors, like the older books, but that is thanks to our lovely English teacher,” said Jon Reed, junior.
Choir, Band have group performances
By Janie Gilmore
Both the Stockton High School Choir and Band have been preparing for group performances that allow them to participate with other students from the area.
The Choir took part in the Mid-Continent League vocal clinic on November 6 at SHS. “The clinician is coming from Oakley. His name is Shane Stephenson and he is very excited to work with our students,” said Paulette Wildeman, vocal instructor.
“I don’t feel the whole choir is prepared, but I think we will do well. I like the fact that we get to sing all day. Some people might not understand that, but it’s what I live for; I like when the instructor critiques us during the day, the concert on the other hand isn’t really my thing,” said Junior Billie Chesney.
The participants were Seniors Megan Kearns, Jared Keas, Ashley Graf, Shelby Moore, Taylor Morgan, Jordann Wiltfong, and Aftan Winters; Juniors Chesney, Nikki Graf, and MaryLynn Griebel; Sophomores Alyssa Conyac, Chrissie Cox, Chandler Nyp, Hailey Pasilas, and Ravin States; and Freshmen Nolan Weiser and Kia King.
Two of the vocal students are also trying out for Honor Choir on November 7 at Fort Hays State University. These students are Chrissie Cox and Jordann Wiltfong. “I’m nervous, but ready to sing my hardest and make the cut for Honor Choir. As for MCL, I believe we are a prepared group of young singers, and it will be a great experience for all who attend,” said Cox.
Band members are also preparing for tryouts for Honor Band. They record the required instrumental curriculum and send in to the board of judges. The students preparing for Honor Band are: Seniors Alex Henry and Megan Kearns, Junior MaryLynn Griebel, Sophomore Rebekah Niblock, and Freshmen Koby Beougher, and Delilah Griebel.
“For your recordings you have to play the chromatic scale and two songs of different styles, the board normally selects nine or so musicians for each instrument so it is very competitive and you have to give it your all,” said MaryLynn Griebel.
Students compete in Math Relays
By Peter Sabell
Adam North, one of two Stockton High School math teachers, is taking students to Math Relays at Fort Hays State University on November 12.
Each school is allowed to bring 12 to 15 students who can range in any grade level from freshman to senior. The math teachers in each school choose these selected students.
“I think that the reason this is so important is because it gives students a chance to put their academic skills to the ultimate test against other students from other schools,” said North.
This competition at FHSU is on a variety of math subjects. On the teams, the three members each get a few minutes to work on the test. After each team member has had a chance at the information, the judges tally the scores.
“I always hope we do our best, that we come out on top, and always stay positive,” said North.
