The Torch - In Focus

Seniors Head to Six Flags
By Cami Prater
Seniors email us your Six Flags pictures, and we will post them here!

     The tradition continues as the class of 2007 goes to Six Flags just like the classes of 2000 through 2006. The seniors are going to Six Flags in Gurnee, Illinois near Chicago on May 17th. The trip will cost each student $32 for admission and approximately $30 for transportation. The approximate total would be $62. The entire cost depends on the number of total students going.
     Some wonder what the seniors think of the senior trip, so I went out and asked them exactly what they thought.
     Senior Sarah Martin said, “I don’t really like the day that was picked and I know a lot of people were thinking of not going because of the date, but I think it could still be fun.”
     Senior Class Advisor Mrs. Hieronymus said, “Typically the kids who go on the trip have a good time.”
     Mr. Thurman said,” The senior trip is a nice activity for the seniors to get together for one last time and have fun before they graduate. I also like that it’s a one day trip, because that pretty much eliminates the possibility for the students to misbehave. What I don’t support is a senior trip out of state or the country because it wouldn’t be fair to ask tax payers to pay for that.”
     The class officers hope to make this a fun and successful Senior Day for the Class of 2007.

A Walk Down Memory Lane
By Austin Myers

     I asked a few seniors to take a long, long walk down memory lane and think of their favorite memories from their Olympia High School career. They all had very different answers, but could all recall memories from the past that will never be forgotten.
     Dustin Wall had to think for a while because a rush of memories came to mind, but he said, “The time when Jesse Schmidgall, Kyle Hurley and I set a teepee outside of the school on fire.” Kyle Hurley replied, “ Hanging out with all the guys in advisory and doing whatever I want.” David Walker’s most memorable moment happened this year, not too long ago, and that was getting crowned Mr. Spartan 2007, I will also miss all the times with Colt Stroud, my favorite junior.”
     Melissa Rawlings said, “ My whole semester with Mrs. Severtson.” I asked Grace what her favorite memory from high school was and she said, “ In Mrs. Severtson’s class, dissecting Chester the rat with Melissa and naming all her pets like the British soldiers.”
     I’m sure all of you out there have a memory with the beloved senior class of 2007, maybe after reading this article, reflect and get a laugh out of your own memories with all the seniors that will be missed so much.

Senior Athletes Share Experiences
By Jeff Freitag

     Here are the Senior athletes at Olympia High School: Megann Albight, Emily Baldyga, Lisa Behrens, Robert Brown, Jermyth Carcamo, Kylie Carpenter, Lindsay Clements, Markie Crismon, Jonathan Crow, Michael Deweese, Drake Fairfield, Brian Foley, Stefan Frazier, Tyler Gottschalk, Jack Hainline, Melissa Hall, Beth Anne Halsey, Travis Hardesty, Shane Harrison, Ashley Henderson, Nathan Holt, Jessica Honegger, Jacob Israel, Eric Kaufman, Alyssa King, Cody Litwiller, Rosie Litwiller, Bryce Livingston, Tony Logston, Sarah Lyle, Sarah Martin, Stephany Meyer, Drew Miller, Lauren Miller, Austin Myers, Justina Nafziger, Cami Prater, Jesse Schmidgall, Jessica Smith, Jesse Springer, Grace Thomas, Benjamin Trout, Erin Twente, David Walker, Jillie Weaver, Ashley Webb, Matt Westerfield, Ed Wittrig.
     I asked some of these students about their experiences as senior athletes. Ashley Webb participated in cheerleading and said that it was pretty decent. She said that it was overall a good time; especially senior night.
     Stephany Meyer started off by reminding me that cheerleading is a sport. She said that she wished she could have cheered the whole year but could not because she fractured 2 bones in her hand and had to sit out for part of the season. But despite her injury, she still had a fun time throughout the season.
     David Walker, our Mr. Spartan, says that it is a win-lose situation because he had a lot of fun his senior football season, but said that he would do anything to spend one more year wearing the #58, lacing up the cleats, and striking fear in every quarterback in the Corn Belt Conference.
     Jesse Springer, another two sport athlete here at Olympia, just enjoyed basking in the glory of being a studly senior athlete.

The Class of 2007!

Most Likely To...

By Jermyth Carcamo

     American television has turned to viewing the lives of others through various reality shows. With graduation just around the corner I had to wonder what would happen if some of our fellow classmates appeared on some of our favorite reality shows? I had my personal opinions on who would be most likely to be on them, but I had to find out what the rest of the seniors and some of the Olympia faculty thought.
     Melissa Rawlings and Megann Albright might as well be the next Paris Hilton and Nicole Richie because they were voted most likely to appear on their hit reality show The Simple Life. When Senior Melissa Rawlings was asked how she feels about being most likely to appear on this show she said, “I don’t know, what do you say to that? I’m really not like Paris or Nicole, but Megann’s personality fits, I could see her on The Simple Life.”
     Let’s hope that Football season prepared seniors Ed Wittrig and Tyler Gottschalk physically and mentally this year because they were both voted most likely to appear on Survivor. Carmen Ditchen and myself (Jermyth Carcamo) might be two of the seven strangers living in a house, having their lives recorded each and every day on the popular MTV show The Real World. Funny guys Austin Myers and Stephen Kupferschmid need to get their act together for the show Last Comic Standing. Better get some new knock knock jokes Austin.
     Don’t be surprised if you see senior girls Alyssa King and Ashley Webb fighting for Matt Westerfield’s affection and vice versa on the shows The Bachelor, or The Bacholorette. Senior Jesse Springer says this about the reason on why Matt Westerfield was voted by far the most likely to appear on the show the Bachelor, “ There are so many things that I’d like to say but, I can’t.”
     Now when the question of who has the moves comes up, it seems that Jack Hainline, Jess Goujon, and myself come to mind, we might be the next contestants on the summer series of So You Think You Can Dance. Beth Halsey and David Walker might be facing Simon Cowell on an upcoming season of American Idol sometime soon. Though Beth might have to face more than just Simon, because she was also voted most likely to appear on Project Runway, and might be joined to face Tyra Banks with fellow classmate Ashley Webb on America’s Next Top Model. But who will have to face the Donald and his intimidating hair? That’s right Jon Biever and Ed Wittrig might be the next two guys to hear “You’re fired.”
     With less then two months left of high school for the seniors, we will have to see if some of these predictions actually come true. Maybe Megann Albright really will be chasing pigs on a farm, or enjoying some of Austin’s funniest moments on television.

Senioritis Strikes!!!
By Ashley Webb
posted 9:17 AM CST, March 19, 2007

Senioritis can strike at any time during the senior year in high school. For many seniors at Olympia, the symptoms of this terrible ailment have already surfaced, causing falling grades, tardiness, absences, and all around carelessness.
Teachers are the first to notice these symptoms. Mrs. Goff said that she had a senior in her class that left school for Spring Break and just never returned! Many seniors wish they could follow in that student’s footsteps. I asked Mrs. Hapgood when she usually first started noticing the signs of senioritis in her students. She replied by saying, “Some in October, but for most students, they begin to be very antsy at the beginning of April. Cold weather helps keep the seniors in check, but once it gets warmer it sets in for good.”

When asked about senioritis, senior Matt Guderjan said he got it at the beginning of the year. “All the freshmen made me mad by standing in the hallway like they owned the place.” I also asked him how he got senioritis, and he replied by saying “because I’m lazy and I don’t want to do work anymore.” Eric Kaufman had quite a different outlook on the issue. “I hate the world! I hate school, and I just want to go to college. And I want the tears of a gypsy.” I’m not sure what that last part is all about, but whatever. Jon Crow said he knows that he has senioritis. “I don’t show up until at least 9:30 sometimes, and I don’t ever do anything.”
A few words of advice seniors, don’t let your grades slip and stay focused! There’s only a few weeks left so hang in there!

Peace Out Girl Scout
By Austin Myers and Grace Thomas
posted 9:17 AM CST, May 18, 2007

     Well, it’s time for the seniors to say goodbye, to clean out lockers and move on towards bigger and better things. As Editors in Chief for the Olympia Torch Newspaper, Austin and I decided to give a farewell to all fellow classmates, and to those who will return next year.
     As the class of 2007, we’ve shared laughs, failure, joy, heartache and tears which has only brought us closer together. In the past four years we’ve all lost and gained friends, we’ve spent hours on homework countless times during the week but most importantly we’ve all stuck together to achieve one major goal to have our name called as we walk across the stage to receive our high school diplomas.
     Austin and I exchanged some thoughts on what kind of advice we would give to the underclassmen and we came up with a few to share with all who take the time to read this wonderful article. Most importantly, enjoy high school now. Ask any senior, the time flies by way too fast. No matter how anxious one might be to get out of high school, we think it’s easy to say high school years will be missed the most. Another piece of advice we’d like to offer up, don’t waste your time dwelling on little dramas or spending hours trying to impress the “cool kids.” It’s way more fun to go through high school as carefree as possible and creating memories with your closest friends along the way.
     So as this year comes to an end remember these words of advice. Seniors, take all you’ve learned and hold it close as these past four years have probably been some of the best of your lives. Underclassmen, don’t waste these years and cherish every memory you make. If you take anything away from this article, just remember to live your life to the fullest and don’t let others make decisions for you. Keep your friends close and don’t let stupid fights ruin friendships. Peace out, girl scout.A