The Outlet4 Sports

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e Why did you decide to sit out your junior season? “I sat out my junior year because I lost the passion to play basketball. Also, I wanted to focus on baseball. Workouts for baseball coincide with basketball, so I did those instead of playing.”

What is your favorite memory from Borgia basketball?“The second half of my sophomore year on JV. We scrimmaged the varsity team, who would eventually win state, a lot, and we played with them too. We played so well that second half of the season. I’m thoroughly convinced that we could have beaten a lot of varsity teams. We ended up being the best JV team in Borgia history, and we had a lot of fun doing it.”

“I decided to come back the night after the guys lost state last year. A lot of my good friends were on that team, and seeing them as upset as they were really got to me. I knew that I could have helped them, so I promised them all that I would play the next year.”

Which do you like better: basketball or volleyball? “I love them both! Which ever season it is, I love that sport the most at that time.”

How did you feel when you found out you made varsity?“I was excited but also a little nervous. The other girls on my team have been so supportive and patient with me and have helped me so much.”

“I would love to be on a District Championship Team with an opportunity

to go to the State Tournament.”

What is it like being a freshman on varsity? “It’s awesome! It’s been a challenge to go from grade school basketball to high school varsity, but I’m really learning a lot and having a lot of fun.”

Mic Fox

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Janie Arand

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The Outlet 5Sports

Amongst a sea of Ohio State scarlet and University of Arkansas cardinal, the Marching Knights stood out like sore thumbs in their Borgia blue and gold at the 2011 AllState Sugar Bowl. Although the marching and jazz band students were exhausted after three days of competing, practicing, performing and taking in the sights of New Orleans, they were ready for their last hurrah: performing at halftime for 74,000 fans, as well as national television. “I was a little nervous being in front of such a big crowd,” said Maddie Piontek, senior, “but the fact that I was with so many other people who love band just as much as I do helped a lot.” Through the Bowl Games of America (BGA) organization, the Borgia band collaborated with hundreds of other band students throughout the country to play under the direction of Dr. Ken Dye, the acclaimed marching band director for the University of Notre Dame. Around 2,000 high school baton twirlers, dancers, cheerleaders, color guard members and musicians took the field in the Superdome to perform a medley of Creedence Clearwater Revival tunes. To organize such a massive group of performers, all students rehearsed together for two days prior to the game. “It’s really exciting to be in a band of about 2,000 kids inside such a great atmosphere like the Superdome,” said senior drum major, Matt Riley. In addition to attending the Sugar Bowl, the BGA trip included other opportunities for the band to showcase their talent. Competing against bands from around the country, the Marching Knights took second place in a field show contest with their show entitled “Mangione Magic.” The band was also invited to play in a gazebo on the Riverwalk, while the jazz band performed on the street

in the historic Jackson Square. Borgia band director, Sue Bright, had only compliments for the students’ performances. “I couldn’t have been more proud of all the kids for their great attitudes and for doing everything asked of them,” said Bright. Bright also notes that, although the Marching Knights attended the Alamo Bowl in 2004 and the Liberty Bowl

in 2007, this was the first trip the SFBRHS jazz band has attended. “Usually only the marching band goes to bowl games,” she said, “but, since we were going to New Orleans—the center of jazz—, I just had to take the jazz band along too.” Band members and their chaperones spent

afternoon hours touring the “center of jazz,” seeing everything from

the St. Louis Cathedral to the infamously crazy Bourbon Street. “I’d have to say The Mask Shops scattered about New Orleans were my favorite part of the city,” said sophomore, Denny Presson. “They gave a face to the Big Easy.” Students also sampled the unique Cajun cuisine while in N’awlins, including muffelettas, gumbo, beignets, jambalaya and po-boys.. “We ate our way through New Orleans,” joked Bri Hopkins, junior. The students also got a feel for the Cajun culture at a BGA banquet held for all attending band students at Mardi Gras World, a museum containing hundreds of floats from previous Mardi Gras parades. After three years of planning and fundraising, Bright was overjoyed that the trip ran so smoothly. “The kids just did what they needed to do,” she said. “It was a wonderful experience and I’ve never had kids so excited about a trip."

Band Faces No Hardships in theBig Easy: Connor Voss

Outlet Editor in Chief

Borgia band members Kyle Branson, Denny Presson, Ian Howell, and Maddie Piontek pose outside a mask shop in New Orleans.

Marching Knights Perform at Sugar Bowl, Place Second in Field Competition

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morgan tobben staff writerStudent sections have become a major fixture at SFBRHS sporting events. Gone are the days when students would not ques-tion coming to a game decked out in school colors and waving pompoms. Themed nights now play a large role in the demeanor of the Borgia crowd and the chants they yell. This year, Borgia’s exceptional student section began back in football season. Led by senior Nathan Rogers, the crowd adopted new cheers and with them, a new attitude. The most notable of these cheers is the roller coaster where the students buckle in and pretend they are on an amusement park ride to pump up the crowd. However, as a member of the varsity bas-ketball team, Rogers could not continue his role as a cheerleader during the basketball season so seniors T.J. Findeiss, David Grahl, Joe Kluesner, Brendan Chalk, Joe New-banks, Ryan Hogenmiller, Cole Piontek and Alex Piontek took over leadership positions. Findeiss created a Facebook group and be-gan pumping up the students for the season. Different from previous years, however, they were not the only fans tuning up their voices for the games. Senior, Hannah Schweissguth decided to get a pep band together and perform at Friday night home basketball games. She recruited juniors, Wes Alferman and Ben Holtmeier and sophomore, Jack Seliega to join her. Alferman plays lead guitar, Seliega assists on guitar, while Holtmeier keeps the beat on the drums. “We try to play songs that are fun and that everyone knows, even the parents.” said Schweissguth. Practicing when they felt they needed it, the band rehearsed three times before their premiere on Dec. 10. They performed be-fore the game, at half-time and after. Aside from a few minor sound glitches, they felt satisfied with their debut. “Our first time was definitely decent,” said Schweissguth, “We were not disap-pointed.” The student section was also impressed with the performance. The band’s promise to have a better song selection and sound reflected their only constructive criticism. “I thought it was good, but some bet-ter songs could have been chosen to get the guys goin’ a little more,” commented Findeiss. Though the band will only perform at two more games, they feel confident now that they have “a feel for how to flow with the game.”

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