Boys Basketball vs Pennfield

The Western Varsity Boys Basketball team won against Pennfield with 73-55 Friday night in the season's 2nd edition of the Panther Bowl.  The Western Panthers were winning 21-13 after the first quarter.  The boys fought during the second quarter to only be trailing by 1 at the half.  Western came out of the locker room fired up, outscoring Pennfield by 19 points.

Connor Cottingham led the way with a career high in both points (25) and 3 pointers made (5).  Steele Fortress and Desmond Price dominated the paint as they both recorded double doubles. Fortress had 19 and 15 while Price had 15 and 10.  Jordan Range poured in 10 points along with dishing out 3 assists.

This is the fourth game in row that Western was able to win. "This was a big win.  Pennfield is a very good team and had been playing really well as of late.  Our guys continue to fight every night and I am very happy for them" said coach Ryan Mulnix after the game.

 With the victory the Panthers move to 11-2 overall and remain in a tie for first place in the I-8 conference with a record of 7-1.  Next Friday at the Den will be a showdown of 1st place teams as Western battles the Coldwater Cardinals. Looking at the scoring averages of both teams, it will be a close game. Western’s scoring average is slightly higher with 58.4 while Coldwater’s is 56.6. The panthers were able to win the last matchup between these two team with 59-51. Coldwater won the last 2 games (Marshall and Hastings). They are going to take on Sturgis on Tuesday, January 31st.

Anime enthusiasts create Otaku club

Western gives its students great opportunities to start and join clubs that put them in touch with other students of the same interests.
The otaku club is a great example of this. The otaku club is a weekly anime club that meets on fridays in Mr. Ford’s room after school to discuss and watch and draw anime.
Anime is a style of Japanese film and television animation, typically aimed at adults as well as children.
“It helps me find other people with the same interests as me” says Ann Kwaske, a member of the club.
“If you love anime come here” says Christin Hamm, another member of the Otaku club.
It was stressed during the interview that anyone with a love of anime is welcome to the club to enjoy some good discussion and friendship over anime. The otaku club plans on attending anime cons in the future and building their own costumes to go.
Anime cons are large conventions of enthusiasts that come together to discuss, and watch, and celebrate anime usually over the course of a weekend.

Jackson United vs Lumen Christi

In an exciting 5-2 game, our Jackson United Vikings claimed the ‘Old Leather Skate’ once again. With Seth Maloney as goalie and goals were scored by Dalton Yoxheimer, Dakota Hitt (2), Adam Sherman, and the empty netter by western’s own, Bode Buseth. Assists by Nic Weller, Bryce Darrow, Adam Sherman, Karson Collier, and Dakota Hitt. In an interview with Bode Buseth he expressed his utmost happiness with Saturday’s win. “I knew it was going to be a tough game,” said Buseth. “There were a lot of people there.” He wasn't lying. Lumen was really trying hard and hitting harder, but no matter how hard they tried they weren't able to match what Jackson United was giving to them. When asked how he felt about the outcome of the game, Alex Inocencio said “I think it was great that lumen took the ‘L’”. And what an ‘L’ they took.

Foods and their restrictions at Western High School

WSD Food Service Director
Jenny Lucas

Almost, if not everyone, at Western has had our school lunch at least once in their life. But what is the best deals you can get on food here? According to several lunch ladies that we have asked, the best food and the best deals come from the specials or the wraps.

“The most cost effective foods according to portions would probably be the chicken sandwiches or pizza.” According to Jenny Lucas, the food director at Western High School, the “Healthy Hunger Free Kids Act” is expired, but we still have to follow the rules of it. “All students have to have one piece of fruit, meats, grains, vegetables and milk, but we also have to keep sodium levels at a certain level.” says Jenny Lucas

However, these restrictions have made things difficult to accustom to for the workers in the cafeteria. “It is more expensive, and most of the high school kids that eat hot lunches don’t eat them. But, for some reason, elementary kids love them.”

Check Mate and Other Chess News

Check Mate and other Chess Club News

Many kids far and wide of the Western High School Panthers gather, of many different skill levels to Mr. Kim’s room. To do what, might you ask? To compete against one other person as they duke it out on a chessboard.

The history of chess can be traced back nearly 1500 years, although the earliest origins are uncertain. Chess is a game played between two opponents on opposite sides of a board containing 64 squares of alternating colors. Each player has sixteen pieces: a king, a queen, two rooks, two bishops, two knights, and eight pawns. The goal of the game is to checkmate the other king. Checkmate happens when the king is in a position to be captured (in check) and cannot escape from capture.

Gathering every Thursday in Mr. Kim’s room are a few of your most problem-busting and skill-stretching men and ladies.

That’s right WHS has a chess club. Not many people know about it though because it hasn’t been talked about much. The ones who have heard about chess club likely heard it from someone already in the club and suffered to see the same reaction you might have while reading this. Trust me I was shocked to find out that not only we have a chess club, but that it has been with us here at WHS for well over five years.

Chess club is... Yes in Mr. Kim’s room but, he, in fact, does not lead the club. The club is led by Frank Ladwig who is the WHS chess club president. Though Mr. Kim does play occasionally. “Every week we’ll have between six to ten or twelve kids who come and participate,” Mr. Kim said.

This year the Chess Club is planning to possibly go head to head with the Lumen Christi Titans soon. Chess Club President Frank Ladwig is hoping to work out the details and face off on a future Thursday.

“Someone from Lumen, I’m not sure if it was kid or teacher but they reached out to Mr.Kim and were like ‘yo this would be cool if we could play against each other’.” said Frank Ladwig.

The Chess Club members hope to then take it a step farther to compete with other schools.

“We’d like to see if this works out with Lumen first and then if it does, play against other schools.” said Frank Ladwig.

Western Hemisphere Upload (week of 1/31/17)

In this week's edition:
Preview of Snowfest
Recap of Jackson United's hockey win over Lumen Christi
Introducing the Otaku Club

Candy Grams

Do you have someone you would like to send a Valentine's surprise to?
Cupid’s Crunch packages (a special popcorn mix created especially for your valentine) will be on sale during lunch to be delivered to your valentine during flex on February 14th.
These candy grams will be on sale Tuesday, January 31st through Friday, February 10th during lunch.
Proceeds benefit the WHS LINK’s program activities.