1050 S. Main Payson, UT 84651 - (801) 465-6025 - (801) 465-6067 fax
January 2013
PHS Dark Horse: Nick Hindes
Tue, 01/29/2013 - 10:26 | by krystal.bakerBy Brigham Flint
During the winter months, it seems the wind, snow, and bitter cold is enough to stop anyone from running.
However, this is simply not an option for Nick Hindes. The senior distance runner satisfies his desire to run by competing in indoor track.
Nick began running his junior year. For the year, he ran his races with a bandana around his head. Though Nick no longer continues this tradition, there are other things that he now does to prepare for his race. He has a certain, specific way of stretching out, and always prays before he competes.
With this school year being his last opportunity to compete in high school sports, Nick hopes to break the 4:50 mile in his last few months as a Payson Lion. He is looking to accomplish this by being a dedicated member of the indoor track team.
“I love it,” Nick said. “I feel like I’m a part of the team and that I’m needed.”
Nick Hindes is always reaching new speeds!
Inside Scoop: Cheerleaders & Grades
Tue, 01/29/2013 - 10:17 | by krystal.baker
cheer.jpgBy Megan Ballamis
It’s always so stressful to keep your grades up, especially at the end of the term with the tests, projects and late work due. For the cheerleaders it’s even more stressful. You might think that being a cheerleader has nothing to do with grades, but that’s not the case. Grades are very important to being a cheerleader. In order for them to cheer at the games they need to keep a 3.0 grade point average. Their grades are checked every other week and their grades decide whether they will cheer at the next game.
“It adds more pressure to have our grades checked and have good grades, but we do the best we can with grades and attendance. It keeps us on our toes and we represent our school well,” said cheerleader Hailee Barrus.
Not only is it grades they need to worry about but also their attendance. Cheerleaders can only have 2 excused tardies and 3 excused absences. This keeps them on time and helps them get good grades.
“Having our grades checked keeps me on top of things and helps me not procrastinate,” said cheerleader Ariane Keele.
Third term is really important to be prepared for tryouts but second term is equally important to get good grades. The second terms grades are the grades they check for cheer tryouts. The grades you have help decide if they make cheer or not.
Having the cheerleaders grades checked is a great idea. Not only is it beneficial to the girls to have good grades in order to cheer at the games but to their parents too. It helps them care about their grades and actually be in class and on time.
PHS Drama Perfoms A Midsummer Night's Dream
Tue, 01/29/2013 - 09:52 | by krystal.baker
play.jpgBy Ciera Lundberg
You probably read A Midsummer Night’s Dream by William Shakespeare in English. Or maybe you even saw the show when you were a kid on The Suite Life of Zack and Cody. You know, where that red-headed kid is a fairy and Cody gets the donkey head? Good stuff. You really are more cultured than you think. Or maybe you saw the show in its most impressive form to date. That is when our drama department here at PHS performed it over this last weekend.
The show was great. It was funny and entertaining, but the most impressive thing about the performance was the acting. I mean, seriously, those kids should be on the next 007 movie or something.
Unlike most plays where there are generally only 1 or 2 leads, A Midsummer Night’s Dream has 9. Those 9 main characters are split up into 4 groups: The Lovers, the Court, the Fairies, and the Rustics.
The 4 characters that make up the Lovers group are Hermia, Helena, Lysander, and Demetrius. Hermia and Helena, who are played by Marisa Ruiz and Ciera Lundberg, are the women of the group. Lysander and Demetrius, played by Dayan Solis and Jared Gheen are, as you might have guessed, the men. As the name implies, they are all in love with each other. They do switch around a bit, but they all end up with the right person for them in the end.
The Court is made up of a bunch of different people, but there is only one main character in that group. Theseus, played by Brady Clark, is the king who is getting married in a couple of days to his woman. He is a big-hearted guy who likes to give advice to his subjects.
The Fairies are made up of 3 main characters: Puck, Oberon, and Titania. Oberon, played by Austin Perry, and Titania, played by Kalee Doyl, are the fairy king and queen. They argue a lot, and Oberon likes to play tricks on Titania. Puck, played by Mckenna Stewart, is Oberon’s evil henchman who wreaks havoc on Titania and the Lovers.
Then there are the Rustics. The Rustics is a group of poor guys trying to put together a play for the King’s wedding night. There are quite a few Rustics in the show, but there is one that stands out above the rest. His name is Bottom, and he is played by Spencer Parks. Bottom is the leader of the group, and he loves the attention he gets for his superb acting skills.
Shakespeare was an interesting man. What would possess him to create a play with so many main characters? Maybe he was trying to create some sort of form of equality between his cast members. But who knows? Either way, the show performed by the young actors and actresses here at Payson High was fantastic. Well acted, and well directed by Mr. Allred. Congrats, Mr. Allred! But too bad you’ll never have such a good cast ever again!
PHS Debate Season in Full-Swing
Mon, 01/28/2013 - 14:03 | by krystal.baker
debate thinker.jpgDebate is more than just a class. Debate is a way to learn to think, learn and communicate in a way that most people don’t. Debate is a way to get involved with other students and the Payson community. Debate is a way to be knowledgeable about the world around you. Debate has helped change me to be a better citizen.
Last year Ms. Ralph started practice tournaments called “Payson Practices” where the debaters compete against their teammates. A “Payson Practice” is different from a normal tournament though, instead of picking one debate and a speech/individual event, all of the debaters are required to participate in all of the events, debate and speech. Preparing for all of the events, and competing in them, broadens what the team is capable of, instead of focusing on one or two events. This year the team has gone to Timpview High School Tournament, Salem Hills Smackdown, and three Payson Practices. Many students have received rewards, in recognition of their hard work.
Payson debate team decorated and donated a Christmas tree to fundraise for families in the community. The team has grown together and has accomplished admirable things, for the community, and themselves. The following students are in debate this year: Analee Finbres, Baylee Moreno, Megan Snow, Cesar Valencia, Ali Bufton, Tayler Spanheimer, Jacob Buckner, Kimberly Hammons, Hope, Adams, Crystal Turner, Andy Salazar, Bethany Clark, Braedon Watson, Jake Fuhriman, Brookelyn Chapman, Ryley Liston, Catherine Havens, Ariane Keele, Maygan Stright, Jessica Bastean (Junior President), Nici Marshall, Adam Pullan, Brittlyn Robinson, Leigh Ann Stowe, Heather Reid (Junior President), Mariah Manookin, Garson Schulz, Alexis Cortez (Senior President), Brigham Flint, Zion Jaussi. I would highly recommend for everyone to take a debate class.
PHS Indoor Track: “Respect All, Fear None”
Mon, 01/28/2013 - 13:50 | by krystal.baker
Indoor Track.JPGBy Brigham Flint
The race has begun. In early January, Payson athletes assembled at the indoor track to begin practicing for the upcoming track season. Their goal is simple: win a state title by 2020.
Payson’s track team has had an exceptional start to their season. Their first competition was held on January 18 and 19 at the indoor track in the BYU Smith Field House. Dakota Lange performed best for the boys team with a 6 place finish in the 2-mile (also 15 overall in the mile) and Joe Nettleton was 10 in the shot put. Arianne Keele took 11 overall in the girls 2-mile and Erika Gee placed 16 in the girls shot put. The track team was optimistic about the meet.
“I know a lot of runners did really well,” said Joe Nettleton.
Payson is expecting to continue to stay strong.
“I think we’re looking really good for the season,” added Gunnar Mortensen.
The next meet will be the UHSTCA State Championship at the Olympic Oval on February 1-2. The season runs through February 25. The indoor track team practices every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday. It is coached by head coach David Rockwood (sprinters, throwing), Nicki O’Mary (distance), Kelsey Congdon (hurdles), and Anika Turner (jumps).
Apart from the events of outdoor track, indoor track and field also features unique events, including the 60-meter dash, the 60-meter hurdles, and various relay lengths. There are no captains of the team up to this point.
Indoor track is a great way to prepare for outdoor track or another sport, or just to have a good time with friends.
“I like being able to compete as a team but still being able to compete individually,” said Erika Gee.
Whatever the reason, Payson High School’s runner live by this simple motto: Respect All, Fear None.
Girls Look to Improve for State
Mon, 01/28/2013 - 13:48 | by krystal.baker
photo.JPGBy Braden Clark
After starting the season off on a high note with a record of 1-1, our girls took a mighty spill after a difficult pre-season they have managed a 2-15 record. Surprisingly enough they have already doubled their record from last year so if we are to look at something positive that must be it.
“We are working really hard, and we are focusing really hard and practicing harder than we have before. Our plans are still to make it to state, it’s not too far away we just got to get it together and we will get there,” said senior Brenae Rosser.
After one half of region over and very few games remaining on the schedule, our girls need to step on the gas and catch some fire if they have any hopes to make it to the state playoffs. However I do believe that they can make it to the playoffs but they need to upset one of the remaining games on their schedule, my prediction is that they beat North Sanpete and Juab and finish fourth in region and play the number one seed of region nine. I know these girls have the talent and I believe that they can get things together and make state.
Boys Basketball Dominates Juab
Mon, 01/28/2013 - 13:40 | by krystal.baker
Boys Basketball.jpgBy Brigham Flint
Going into January 18, the Payson Lions had not yet lost a region game. The Juab Wasps would put them to the test.
Around 7:00, the teams ran onto the court. After the introduction of the starting lineup, the game began. Early on, it appeared to be a very even matchup. However, just before the half, the Wasps pulled ahead and began to build a lead. At halftime, Juab was up 20-14.
Coming back onto the court, Payson was ready to roll. Immediately the Lions took a commanding lead, outscoring their opponents 25-6 in the third quarter. They held strong throughout the fourth quarter and ended with another Region win, 54-43.
The team was led by junior Daniel Reno, who scored 13 points and grabbed 8 rebounds. Jacob Humphreys and Dallin Rowley added 11 and 10 points, respectively.
With a victory from both the junior varsity and sophomore teams, it was a complete sweep for Payson.
PHS Gender Wars 2013
Mon, 01/28/2013 - 13:35 | by krystal.baker
DSC_0348.JPGBy Braden Clark
The oldest rivalry of all time, girls against the boys, and Payson High School had a fair share of it in the 2013 Gender Wars. As the crowd began to fill the stands and the girls and boys sat down on their respected sides, and the tension started to build between the two sides. As the competition had started, the boys got an early lead and simply looking dominate from start to finish. However, the girls wouldn’t go down without a fight; taking the dancing competition and the relay race that ended all the games.
With the final score 132 girls and 130 for the boys, and the girls started to cheer and chant what seemed to be their third straight victory. However, the refs huddled and began to talk over the last few competitions and tally the final score. When head ref Mr. Wright took the microphone stating that the girls had gained the lead but after a balloon bursting incident the girls were subtracted five points and thus lost the lead and the boys won their first gender wars in three years. Thus the chants started raging from “Make me a sandwich,” “Clean the bathroom,” and any other stereotypical cheers you can think of, and the final score of the 2013 Gender Wars was 127 Girls and 130 Boys.
“I never thought the boys could win, I always thought that it was rigged for the girls to win every year. So when Mr. Wright had said that the girls lost five points I was shocked and really happy! I almost wanted to cry,” said senior Caleb Crump.
