The Pioneer 3.1.17

PioneerThe March 1, 2017 Maine East High School Park Ridge, Illinois @mehspioneerMaine East’s Poetry Slam Teamadvances in LTAB competitionsee page 6

Trump’s travel ban through world’s eyesBy Deepa Mani The world’s lead- taken without basis or provoke the travel ban. down the streets in German Chan-ers expressed their a legitimate threat from The British govern- protest and a petition to cellor, Angela Merkel,grievances regarding Yemeni citizens. Sudan stop Trump’s state visit telephoned Trump toTrump’s travel ban after demanded to be taken ment also condemned to Britain has exceed revisit U.S. obligationsthe executive order was off the list of countries. the ban. British Prime one million signatures. to refugees under thesigned on January 27th. Minister Theresa May Geneva convention. Iran’s foreign had met with President Not all Brits de- She scolded Trump by The executive order minister questioned Trump only hours cried the ban, however. saying a war againstprohibits citizens from the U.S. motivation before the order was Britain's right wing terrorism should notseven predominant- to create such a ban signed. Under pressure leader Nigel Farage be “a general suspi-ly Muslim countries: while the two countries from other government applauded Trump’s cion against people ofSyria, Libya, Iran, Iraq, were working together officials, she was forced attempts to “secure certain beliefs.” MerkelSomalia, Yemen, and to eliminate ISIS. The to condemn it. America from terror- even pointed out thatSudan from entering Seven countries all ism.” He justified the the discourse of thethe United States for 90 share one reaction in Sadiq Khan, mayor ban by saying that the travel ban contradictsdays. The order further common - confusion, of London, called the U.S. president is doingbans refugees from en- as they try to compre- ban “shameful and only what the people see BAN, page 4tering the U.S. for 120 hend what they did to cruel.” Thousands of elected him to do.days and indefinitely British people marchedbans Syrians. PresidentTrump repeated deniedassertions that his orderwas a “Muslim ban;” Hesaid he is simply tryingto keep the countrysafe. The Seven coun-tries that the bantargets replied withastonishment. Yemen’sForeign Affairs MinisterAbdel-Malak- al-Me-khlafi replied by sayingthat the ban is “notjustified.” The minis-ter argued that thesesecurity measures were The THE PIONEER STAFF Pioneer Adnan Basic Nicole Lach MEHS STUDENT NEWSPAPER Alisa Biju Deepa Mani Maine East High School •Park Ridge, Illinois March 1, 2017 Kristjan Gudmundsson Patrycja Pekala Twitter: @mehspioneer •Website: bit.ly/ThePioneer Hiba Hussain Sindi PiranejReaders can send story suggestions, photos, letters to the editor, or com- Saarah Junaid Richa Shahments to sponsor Matt Miller or assistant sponsor Dave Hessert via email: The Pioneer reports on news, entertainment, and [email protected] sports events for Maine East High School and the [email protected] surrounding community. The Pioneer is distribut- ed in school to students and staff; digital copies of each issue are available at The Pioneer website: bit.ly/ThePioneer2 | THE PIONEER | January 31, 2017

Pioneer PHOT POLL: the Muslim banBy Alisa BijuOn January 27th President Donald Trump issued his executive order banning travellers from seven predominantly Muslim coun-tries: Iran, Iraq, Sudan, Libya, Syria, Somalia, and Yemen from entry into the United States. The act sparked worldwide protestsand lawsuits against what many see as a “Muslim Ban.” The order is now blocked temporarily by a federal court. Let’s see whatsome of our fellow teachers and classmates think about the Muslim ban.Abdul Bajwa When Trump signed the wasn't because they were con- reassured me that he was not (Junior) executive order, I was shocked. cerned for our safety, it's purely serious about the Muslim ban; Not because of the order itself. based on religious discrimina- yet when he did sign it into I knew it was coming; his cam- tion. Trump banned immigrants effect, those same people either paign was centered on Islam- from seven Muslim-majority didn't speak about the Muslim ophobic rhetoric that antago- countries, yet no American died Ban or defended it. The Muslim nized Muslims, but because it at the hands of a terrorist from Ban was important in showing [the order] was so sudden and these countries. This ban wasn't me that Trump supporters who happened just ten days after about safety. It was based on constantly claimed they weren't his inauguration. The United islamophobic and xenophobic racist or Islamophobic are ac- States already has an extremely ideals and did nothing but tually racist and Islamophobic. strict vetting procedure for antagonize Muslims and Islam. South African activist Desmond immigrants and refugees - to What's even more disconcerting Tutu said it best: “If you are the point where a Muslim Ban to me is the fact that my friends neutral in situations of injustice, isn't needed. Whatever the and associates who supported you have chosen the side of the administration will tell you, it Trump during his campaign oppressor.” Stephanie Casado Maleeha Farzansyed I believe that the Muslim (Junior) (Junior) ban is a terrible idea. This executive order demon- I think the Muslim Ban is an strates Islamophobia and unnecessary action that has discrimination towards been implemented. This will Muslims. We should be not only hurt Muslims and helping Muslims in need, other immigrants who are just especially since this is a trying to better their lives, it country that gives people will also cause more riots and the freedom to do whatever protests that will start to cause they can to be successful. more problems. I don't think Not giving Muslims the this will have any benefit to opportunity to come into our country because keeping America is unfair and certain people out can create demonstrates injustice. more problems. Maggie Weaver I think it's a shame that the president Anina Benny I think that the ban is a(Spanish Teacher) considers the immigration ban a valid and (Freshman) disgrace to Americans and effective way to monitor our borders. It's their values. Freedom of unfortunate that he doesn't seem to be fa- religion is one of our rights. miliar with the rigorous process immigrants The fact that anyone would go through in order to come to this country attempt to [fan the flames and the positive impact that immigrants as of] prejudice against any a whole have on our country's progress and race or religion is a black success. It is important to have procedures mark on this country’s hon- in place to maintain order and safety for all or and moral values; it is a citizens, but those procedures need to be dishonor to everyone who realistic and fair. I'm hoping that the courts fought to get these rights. will continue to rule in the favor of immi- We don’t need to make gration and help to create a more support- America great again. It was ive, safe and tolerant environment that we great before. can all be a part of. January 31, 2017 | THE PIONEER | 3

ICE raids are a cold reality under Trump regime By Sindi Piranej Obama’s presidency. The raids with a criminal backgrounds 2016 saw a 63% increase in the Following Donald Trump’s under Trump’s presidency have being arrested contradicts the number of refugee applicantsInauguration, the Immigra- arrested a much greater num- statement published by the who came to Canada from thetion and Customs Enforce- ber of people than previous Homeland Security Secretary United States. These refugeesment (ICE) has arrested over ICE raids. The main difference John Kelly, who claims that mainly consist of African im-600 people in a single week. is that ICE is also arresting ICE “targeted public safety migrants who are not used toAlthough ICE claims that they illegal immigrants who do not threats.” dealing with the cold winters inhave been trying to capture have a criminal background. Canada. Canada’s governmentillegal citizens for many years Obama assured unauthorized The increased number of acknowledged the increasingbefore President Trump, critics immigrants multiple times that ICE arrests coincides with the number of migrants and theyaccuse them of setting forth they would not be deported increasing number of Ameri- have declared Montreal to beon nationwide raids because if they had not committed cans who are fleeing to Canada. a sanctuary city. Authoritiesof Trump’s campaign promises a crime. The raids under Since Donald Trump was in Montreal will now provideto deport millions of illegal Trump’s administration have elected, hundreds of American housing and food banks forimmigrants. The Mexican gov- not adhered strictly to that migrants have been leaving for people without legal status.ernment is among the critics as policy. 75% of the 680 recently Canada. Most of these peoplethey warned their citizens that detained by ICE had a criminal aspire to get asylum in Canada.live in the United States to take background, as opposed to ICEprecautions. raids in 2016 when 90% of the The current ICE raids are people arrested had a criminaldifferent from past ones during background. The declining numbers of illegal immigrantsThe psychology of terror: the availability heuristic By Hiba Hussain something psycholo- the more likely you’ll Type in “terrorist” gists call the availability think it’ll happen. heuristic.on Google images and The availabilityendless pictures of men The availability heu- heuristic might be a per-dressed in Islamic attire ristic is simply a mental fectly reliable source if itpop up. Type in “terror- shortcut that relies on weren’t for the fact thatist” in your brain and immediate examples people construct theirmost likely an image that come to a given models of the worldof a Muslim pops up. person's mind when though the media theyAccording to the FBI, evaluating a specific consume. The worldas cited by Princeton topic, concept, method is what you see, hear,University, 94% of ter- or decision. “A person and read, but since therorist attacks on U.S. soil evaluates the probability average child sees 8,000from 1980 to 2005 have of events by the ease dramatized murders bybeen carried out by non with which relevant in- the time they turn 12,Muslims. So why is the stances come to mind,” according to Science ofword terrorist so deeply says psychologist Amos Us, they take the worldconnoted with islamic Tversky. In other words,extremists? Because of the easier it is to think see TERROR, of something for you, page 64 | THE PIONEER | January 31, 2017

Advice for reducing conflict: Just listen By Patrycja Pekala Milo Yiannopoulos, an alter- building. Some conservatives opposed to such opinions, it’s Last year, in his State of native right wing figure on the like Tomi Lahren, an American important to support a broadthe Union Address, President internet has gained a following television and online video coalition of ideas in the media.Obama stated that one of the for his extreme views on trans- host, defend Yiannopoulos We should not shut people outbiggest regrets of his presiden- genderism, and his demands to on the principle of freedom for their conservative or liberalcy is “that the rancor and suspi- stop immigration, feminism, of speech, even though he has identities. We should not onlycion between the parties has and political correctness. controversial opinions. listen to one-sided media. Wegotten worse instead of better.” should take advantage of the To lessen the degree of Earlier this month, when She herself has been a fact that the far-right, far-left,animosity on current issues he was to speak at UC Berkeley, controversial figure for her and middle are gaining a face.such as immigration, health thousands on campus protested open support of Trump andcare, economy, terrorism, and by burning trees and throwing disapproval of most things lib- If we keep in mind thatabortion, we need to start un- rocks and firecrackers at the eral. Even though we might be people are not truly polarized,derstanding why people think but are just looking out fordifferently than us. That is, we their principles, whether thoseneed to consider the experienc- principles include preventinges and background of someone global warming or preventingwho has a contrasting point of abortion, we can evolve to sup-view. port issues and not sides. We It’s important not to quick- can evolve to listen to strongly disregard anyone’s opinion arguments for their logic orbecause another’s opinion can persuasion, and not simplymake you think more critically listen to people we agree with.about a given topic. Recently, One of the best characteristics to have is to be a great listener. America, let’s listen.Immigration ban ignores country’s roots By Saarah Junaid back into the United States; utive order in a way that will will create challenges. Some The Trump Administra- they were stuck at airports pass constitutional muster. things will need to change, andtion, hasn’t been in office for around the U.S. frankly it has to be our genera-long, yet they have managed to People tend to forget tion that changes the world. Weanger many Americans. While Many Americans came out that America is a country of have to be kinder, caring andrunning for president, Don- to show support for immi- immigrants, and that no one more humane to live up to ourald Trump proposed various grants. For a week straight, is one hundred percent, except daily pledge, “with liberty andanti-immigrant strategies people came to the airports perhaps Native Americans. justice for all.\"including a “Muslim ban,” an to protest the executive order. America still has a long way toimmigration ban, and building Lawyers and other officials go, and the Trump presidency The travel bans wasa wall. came to help for free, until a widely viewed as a failure Only a week into the federal judge in Washington BAN, from page 2 which brought worldwideTrump Presidency, he signed ended the standoff by placing the values and principles confusion. The result ofan executive order placing a a stay on Trump’s executive behind world coopera- the action was chaos forhold on immigrants from sev- order. tion and peace. airports as hundreds ofen muslim majority countries: travellers with legitimateIraq, Syria, Iran, Sudan, Libya, As a country we proved Pakistan, though a visas were detained, in-Somalia, and Yemen from en- that we would not let injustice mostly Muslim coun- cluding a Hungarian cellist,tering the country for approxi- stand. We all came together to try, did not appear on multiple scientists, and themately 90 days, and from Syria support people from different Trump’s list of banned former Norwegian Prime120 days. countries and people with countries. The Interior Minister. Though the stay The order also stopped green cards who have lived Minister Chaudhry Nisar against the ban was held bygreen card holders from here their whole lives. After pointed out the seem- the federal courts, Trumpcoming into the United states, all, America is a country built ingly forgotten reality of is near the completion ofwhich is unfair. Many People by immigrants. modern terrorism- most his new travel ban.who have greencards or legal victims of terror areentrance visas weren’t allowed Federal courts are cur- Muslims. January 31, 2017 | THE PIONEER | 5 rently weighing both sides of this controversy. Meanwhile the Trump administration has promised to rewrite the exec-

2017 marks the return of the Mr. Demon PageantBy Kristjan Gudmundsson who has earned the title of What has guys with talent, Mr. Demon 2017. But it is not all down to the judges, as thedance moves, and a shirt audience and their cheers willoptional dress code? The Mr. also be part of the evaluation ofDemon male beauty pageant. each contestant.Staged for the first time since2015, this pageant takes soph- The show will consist of aomore, junior, and senior guys dance section, talent section, awith some great talents and swimsuit section, an East Pridemoves and puts them on stage section, and a question and an-to raise money for a charity swer section. With a diverse setto help fund GED programs of contestants, the talents rangein prisons to help prisoners from soccer freestyling, to ka-become more productive mem- zoo playing, to unicycling, andbers of society. much more. Our East Pride section will let our contestants After weeks of practice, show off their awesome demonthese contestants will be eval- attire and how much Eastuated by a panel of judges who pride they have. On Marchwill consider each individual’s 17th, come out to support yourperformance in each section friends and peers as they putof the show. These esteemed on a show that you definitelyjudges shall ultimately decide won’t forget. TERROR, from page 4 doesn’t make for as compelling Islamic extremists, for the sake out in different ways: maybe ato be more violent than it television. of views. This exaggeration violent shooting in a mosqueactually is. implants a continuous alert or vigorous support for the The myth of the dangerous in our minds to any possible, Muslim ban that’s keeping any The overwhelming pres- Muslim that the media has nearby danger, which then “radical Islamic terrorists” outence of media in our lives feeds consistently pushed leads to a leads to a surge in fear or anger of the United States.into our mistaken perceptions constant guard put up by our which causes people to lashor terrorism; it is a major cause minds, and constant stress.of Islamophobia. Communica- We stop thinking as clearlytions scholars Travis Dixon and and let the fear and/ or angerCharlotte Williams found that overcome our ability to reason.Muslims were unjustly over \"We seem to get stuck,\" Dr. Ericexaggerated as terrorists on Hollander, clinical professornetwork and cable news shows of psychiatry and behavioralfrom 2008 and 2012. They cited sciences at Albert EinsteinFBI findings stating that just College of Medicine in Newsix percent of terrorist attacks York said. \"President Obamawere committed by Muslims, can say our chances of gettingwhile 81 percent of terrorists killed in an act of terrorismon tv news were portrayed are smaller than in an autoas Muslims. They reason that accident. But somehow that“accurate representations of the doesn't quite work in calmingreal world are not the first goals our fears.\" Terrorism expertof many news decision-mak- John Horgan explains thaters”. terrorist attacks are \"Pure psy- chological warfare. They don't Media bias is not news, just want to frighten us or getbut the extent of it is. Many us to overreact, they want to benetwork and cable news shows always in our consciousness soplayed upon irrational fears in that we believe there's nothingAmerican minds to increase they won't do.\"their ratings. While climatechange is almost certainly a It all boils down to yellowbigger existential threat to journalism. The news that’shumanity than terrorism, it just broadcast focuses on one attractive theme, in this case6 | THE PIONEER | January 31, 2017

M.E. Slam Team to compete in LTAB Quarter-finals this weekThe Maine East PoetrySlam Team advancedto the Louder Than aBomb Quarterfinals onSaturday by winningits second consecutivebout. Saturday’s boutsaw the team overcomeChicago Military Acade-my and Morton East bya commanding margin.Junior Michael Zoellerhad the team’s topscoring individual poemin Saturday’s bout andtheir team piece scoredmultiple tens. The teamwill compete this Thurs-day night at 7pm atMalcolm X College.M.E. senior makes Poetry Out Loud State FinalsFor the second Amber and the other finalists at the school-wide Poetry Out Loudstraight year, Maine competition February 13th at Maine East.East senior AmberPrice will compete at January 31, 2017 | THE PIONEER | 7the Poetry Out LoudState Finals on March10. She earned thespot by taking 2ndPlace at the POLChicago Regionalslast week. Last yearPrice was the StateRunner-up. Hopeful-ly she can take thetitle this year – GoAmber!

New Pioneer Feature!A medical professional from Maine East’s SBHC answers YOUR health- related questions!Go to bit.ly/pioneeraskthedoctor or scan this QR code to submit a question for the next issue! Medical advice from Maine East’s School Based Health Center (SBHC)Self-esteem and Body Image“I’m too fat . . .” “I’m too skinny . . .” “I wish I were taller . . .” “If only I had... ...curly hair ...straighthair ...a smaller nose ...longer legs . . . bigger muscles ...then I would be happy.”Sound familiar? If so, you are not alone. Many teens have a negative image of themselves.Self-esteem = how you value yourself and how much you feel others value you.Body image = how you view your physical self, including whether you feel you are attractive.For many people, especially teens, body image can be closely linked to self-esteem. This usually happenswhen teens go through puberty. It’s a time when your body goes through many changes. These changescan make it feel tempting to compare ourselves with others. The trouble with that is, not everyone growsor develops at the same time or in the same way. Tips for Improving Body Image:Recognize that your body is your own, no matter Try building you self-esteem by giving yourselfwhat shape or size it comes in. Try to focus on how three compliments every day. Maybe you did reallystrong and healthy your body is and the things it well on a test or you helped out a friend. Give your-can do, not what’s wrong with it or what you might self credit for the good things that you do.want to change about it. Where can I go if I need help?Remind yourself: Real people aren’t perfect and Sometimes low self-esteem and body image prob-perfect people aren’t real. Try not to compare lems are too much to handle alone. Some teensyourself to images you see on social media or in may become depressed, and some may go on tomovies/TV. These images are usually edited and develop eating disorders or use alcohol or drugs toairbrushed and are not realistic. escape these negative feelings. When you hear negative comments from within, If you are feeling this way, it can help to talk to a tell yourself to STOP. You are more than just how parent, coach, therapist, counselor, or doctor. Seek you look on any given day. Try to focus on what is help from the school-based health center at Maine unique and interesting about yourself. East or your primary care doctor.8 | THE PIONEER | January 31, 2017

Performances of The Addams Family begin this weekendFine Arts students and faculty have been working hard for weeks to preparefor the Spring Musical: The Addams Family. Weeks of preparation haveincluded Tango lessons from professional dancers; set design, construction,and painting; orchestra practice; and plenty of rehearsals. Performanceswill be this weekend and next weekend. For tickets, visit the Maine Eastwebsite or scan the QR code in the photo below. January 31, 2017 | THE PIONEER | 9

Blood donation: be a hero and save lives By Nicole Lach smoothly this time,” to the community,” history and mini-phys- pints of blood in their Every person who said Student Council said Student Council ical, donation and body, but during thedonates blood could Vice President Bisma Secretary, Deepa Mani. refreshments. donation process onlysave three lives, accord- Farzansyed. “We had a By participating in the about one pint of blooding to Bloodsource.org. great turnout; we were blood drive and orga- Also, every person is donated. By donating Maine East Student able to donate 67 units nizing the event people who donates blood is blood you are helpingCouncil runs multiple of blood, a little short create closer bonds and given a mini-physical, save people's lives whoblood drives every year of the goal of 70. We, learn valuable lessons which includes check- are in need of medicalto help kids, teens, and at student council, are through the process. ing the donor’s blood help.adults get the medical very proud of all the pressure, temperature,help they deserve. This work that was put into Donating blood is pulse, and hemoglo- Altogether theis a great way to help the blood drive, and a safe process, it has bin to make sure that blood drive was a suc-others in need and do can’t wait to improve four components to it: the donor is safe. An cess. Multiple peoplesomething nice for the process even more registration, medical average person has ten donated blood, and theyour community. for the next drive on blood that was donated This year the April 28th!” could potentially saveblood drive was like no 201 lives. Look out forother. It was strategi- Organizing the the next blood drivecally planned down to blood drive is a com- on April 28 and plan toevery detail and for an munity event. “The participate because it isamazing cause. “The blood drive is one way an amazing experienceblood drive went very the Maine East student and a wonderful oppor- body comes to togeth- tunity to save multiple er as one to give back people's lives.Maine East will host “SpringCamp” EdCamp March 11 It’s the “un-con- any group that most the topics chosen. You EdCamp is an oppor- to bring an electronicference” for educators: interests them. How are don’t have to be an tunity to present their device to use with theFour hours of having the groups formed? By expert - just be willing views on how teachers available free wi-fi.fun while sharing one attendee declaring, to lead or be part of a do their work, which,knowledge, ideas and for instance, “I’d like discussion and provide in turn, allows teachers Anyone interestedworking collaborative- to know more about an authentic collabora- to gauge and perhaps may register and submitly on any topics that gamifying a classroom,” tive environment! Also, modify their work based ideas for sessions byparticipants choose. and another participant if a session doesn’t meet on student feedback. going to Eventbrite.comThis is the Spring Camp replying, “I can facilitate your needs, it’s perfectly Administrators have and searching for up-- North Side (EdCamp a discussion on that” acceptable to get up the opportunity to hear coming events in ParkExpress), hosted by and then proceeding and move to another both teacher and stu- Ridge. Questions mayMaine East High School to do so, complete with session.” dent perspectives, and be directed to Allisonfrom 8 a.m. to noon on group discussion. Other board members have the Gest through emailSaturday, March 11. groups will form around For parents, Ed- chance to interact with at agest@maine207. other issues. Camp presents a chance the educators, students org or by tagging her Educators, parents, to hear about and and parents for whom on Twitter @MrsGest.students and Board of Maine East Science discuss concepts and their work is directed. Questions also mayEducation members Department Chair approaches that teachers be emailed to Mainefrom across the suburbs Allison Gest, an orga- are utilizing and to learn Free breakfast East Science teacherare welcome to attend nizer of the event, said, about classroom inno- refreshments will be Anna Klein at aklein@and participate. The “Anyone can present vations. For students, available throughout the maine207.org or bybeauty, value and fun of morning for partici- tagging her on TwitterEdCamp Express is that pants, who are asked @annamklein.it can be shaped to coverthe topics of greatestinterest to participants. EdCamp will bedivided into three orfour time segments.For each segment,participants may join10 | THE PIONEER | January 31, 2017

Has NBA All-Star weekend lost its mojo? By Adnan Basic Porzingis. That in itself shows threw a beautiful alley-oop New Orleans Pelicans. The NBA All-Star Weekend how weak the competition to Westbrook for a dunk. The players wanted Davis to winwas once one of the marquee was. Up next was the Three main event after that seemed the MVP award in front ofevents in American sports. Point Shootout. The competi- to be players forcing the ball the New Orleans crowd. Al-Fans looked forward to tion was already missing the to Anthony Davis, star of the though it was a nice moment,seeing the best the NBA has best three point shooter in it seemed forced upon theto offer compete in contests the league, Steph Curry. Then crowd, and viewers watchingsimilar to those people play favorite Klay Thompson was at home.at their local parks. Saturday, eliminated in the first round.known as Skills Night, saw It was eventually won by Eric This year may force theplayers compete in the Skills Gordon, who is not a popular NBA to change the All StarCompetition, the Three-Point figure amongst the fans. Peo- format. The players obviouslyShootout, and the legendary ple looked toward the Dunk do not care, and the fans areDunk Contest. The weekend Contest, hoping it would be a starting to not care as well.concludes with the NBA All- saving grace. Aaron Gordon Other leagues, like the NHLStar Game on Sunday night. lit up the contest the year and NFL, have changed their This weekend was ex- before, and the crowd was own All Star events to vary-tremely popular in the 80’s, hyped for a repeat perfor- ing degrees of success.with the legends of the game mance.showing off their abilities. There have been criesOver the past couple of sea- As they were for most of to eliminate the weekendsons, however, the weekend the night, the crowd was let altogether, giving the play-has lost its luster. This year’s down. None of the contes- ers a much needed rest.rendition kept that trend tants were able to land a dunk Viewership has continuedgoing; in fact, it was one of on their first try, which took to go down. The NBA hasthe worst All-Star Weekends the air out of the building. In to change something, or elsein recent memory. the end, Glenn Robinson III the fans will stop watching Saturday night began won, but he won’t be remem- altogether.with the Skills Challenge, a bered for it.course where players have todribble, pass, and shoot as Sunday night was thequickly as possible. Although actual All-Star game, butit would seem like a challenge it was not much of a game.made for the smaller players The only storyline goingin the league, the contest was into the game was the feudwon by seven foot Kristaps between Russell Westbrook and Kevin Durant, and even that was lackluster. They did pass to one another. Durant January 31, 2017 | THE PIONEER | 11

SPORTSFreshman gymnast named Athlete of the Month By Richa Shah At gymnastics meets, Freshman Afroditi Baltsas, who was voted Chicago Tribune Athlete of the As the winter season Afroditi is a successful com- Month, has her sights set on the State Tournament next year.comes to a close, one Maine petitor, proudly placing 2ndEast freshman athlete has overall in Conference, makingproven herself to be a valuable it to Sectionals, and winningaddition to the Maine East the Chicago Tribune’s Athlete ofgymnastics team. the Month. Afroditi Baltsas was justseven years old when she Afroditi attributes herattended a birthday party that success to working hard bothwas hosted in a gymnastics during and out of the season;gym. Amidst the balloons and she entered this season withcake, she had the most fun many years of competitivewildly jumping on the trampo- experience but learned valuableline and flinging herself back lessons at Maine East as well.and forth on the bars with theother kids. Little did she know “Maine East gymnasticsthat night would soon become taught me to be more fearlessan integral part of her life. and attempt new skills even if As soon as she got home, they won't be perfect the firstshe begged her mom to start time I do them,” said Baltsas.her in gymnastics lessons at She says the best part of beingthe very same gymnasium, on the team has not been herand a couple of months later accomplishments, but gettingshe became a member of their to know her teammates andcompetitive team. coach. “We all got super close Now a freshman at Maine and this season was very funEast, her youthful energy has with them around.”turned into graceful swings onthe bars and coordinated rou- Now that her freshmantines on the beam, Afroditi’s season is over, Baltsas’ nextstrongest events. goal will be to go to State as a sophomore. She will continue practicing in her club gymnas- tics gym to prepare new skills for her next challenge. Head Coach: BOYS TRACK & FIELD Chris Peters The boys track season is underway. The boys have looked good in their firstStar Performers: couple of meets this year. Leo Acevedo and Jacob Danyal opened the season withLeo Acevedo (Sr) each winning their first three competitions in their respective events. Raven Kha-Jacob Danyal (Sr) ya and Sammy Esha have also contributed in the sprinting and jumping events.Raven Khaya (Sr) The Maine East Invite is Saturday March 4th. The CSL Indoor Championships areSammy Esha (Sr) Friday March 17th and the CSL Outdoor Championships are Friday May 12th. We are off to a great start. Guys are performing at a high level. We have a young team that has a chance to grow into a really good team. BOYS SWIMMING TEAM Head Coach: Overall Record Conference RecordPeter Przekota 3-8 0-5 Season Highlights: Coach’s Comments:Josh Espinoza broke two Maine East records at I am very proud of our teams efforts this sea-sectionals in the 50 and 100 freestyle and placed son. Our two senior captains Josh Espinoza and6th in the 100 free. He received All-Conference Jacob Mattenson showed great leadership forhonors by finishing 2nd in the 100 free and 3rd which I’m thankful.in the 50 free at the Conference Championships.