FROM KLEIN HIGH SCHOOL JOURNALISM / Volume One Number One

96 degrees and high in the air, construction workers grab beams on the fourth level of the new campus structure as it is being covered in bright green exterior sheathing. The first phase, running on sched-ule, will open in December 2012. “I believe that the construction is necessary,” said sophomore Seth Jacob Thomas. “It adds some flavor to the school day.” Photo by Brooks Roach, Yearbook

New campus starting to take shape as construction hits year mark Despite record breaking heat, construction work-ers continued on the roof of the four story structures on campus. While students weave de-tours to and from class, opinions can be heard over the sounds of jack hammers and forklifts. “It’s time for moderniza-tion to kick in for Klein,” said senior Nick Praetorius.Although he will graduate in June, Praetorius added that the new high school will resemble a college facil-ity and said, “I feel lucky to graduate from the original

Klein High School.” Demolition began in Au-gust 2010 when the first building, which housed the main campus, was torn down, including the sym-bolic KHS attached to the library. The two-story white plastic letters could not be removed intact and placed in the new campus. Thomas Haggerty, the KISD Director of Facilities and School Services, over-sees construction which is running on schedule. “We have a contractor who sets aggressive schedules

and expects the subcontrac-tors to maintain these set dates,” Haggerty said. “The first finish date is December of 2012. This completion date is

-See construction page 2

NOVEMBER 201116715 Stuebner AirlineKlein, TX 77379Klein Digest

It’s pretty much a placein the sky.”

Sophomore Seth Jacob Thomas

“

Junior calls her pacemaker a...

BLESSING Looking at Kat Crawford, it is easy to tell she seeps personality in a quiet and polite manner. Yet what is not apparent is the fact the Crawford has Vaso-vagal Neurocardiogenic Syncope and has a pace-maker implanted into her chest which keeps her heart beating.

Q: What is exactly is the problem with your heart?A: I have a condition in which my heart stops ev-ery time I change to an upright position. Unfor-tunately, I have the worst case my doctors have ever seen and it eventual-ly resulted in me getting the pacemaker.

Q: When and how did you find out about it?A: My parents started taking me to hospi-

Seniors Ayla Boyd and Kat Crawford before the start of period 2 class. Photo by Dorrie Alanis-Journalism I.

-see page six

Junior Kat Crawford gives her doctor credit for deter-mining her illness after a seven year struggle.

Klein Digest / 2

New campus/from page 1

While traffic stops at the corner of Stuebner and Lou-etta, eyes continue to scan the four story buildings which replaced the original main campus housing the library. Junior Michael Ethan Sherwood said “I think it (Klein) will look less nostalgic and more mod-ern.” Photo by Anthony Serrano, Yearbook.

Construction workers pause after completion of two levels of stairwell in the academic building. Photo by Brooks Roach, Yearbook.

Above: One of the four story high buildings which will open in 2012. Left: Workers hang by scaffolding on the fourth floor while students go about the school day. Photos by Jason Lenfest, Journalism I.

comprised of the academic and athletic portions of the new building and the proj-ect is currently a few weeks ahead of schedule. The lack of rain has helped with the construction schedule.”

The heat created problems for the construction workers as well as students.

“The heat has made it more challenging for the work-ers,” Haggerty said. “As the cooler autumn weather ar-rives, the heat should no longer pose a problem to the workers.

“While I am excited to be able to graduate from the new Klein High School, the luge smells really bad,” freshman Sam Slater said of one of many construction detours.

Additionally, the distance teens daily walk to get to one of 12 separate campus buildings ranked as a com-mon daily complaint.

Slater felt that the con-struction is necessary but added, “it makes the trip around Klein High more dif-ficult”.

“It’s a problem just get-ting to class in 10 minutes because of the big crowds,” junior Michael Ethan Sher-

wood said. “It’s a little rough now, but the students will appreciate it once it’s done.”.

Without question, the most noticeable aspect of the cur-rent stage of construction is the bright green siding ap-pearing on surfaces of steel beams.

“The green building pops, it really pops,” sophomore Seth Jacob Thomas said.

“The green materials is the exterior sheathing which is one component of the exte-rior wall system,” Haggerty said. “During the design process, we placed as many classrooms as possible along the exterior walls to maxi-mize the opportunities for windows.”

A contrast of opinions vary among the 3115 campus teens.

“I am late to all my class-es,” Thomas said. “It’s pretty depressing, but who else gets to say, “ I walked a mile ever day at school.”

Sherwood added, “It is go-ing to look fantastic and it’s going to be a better learning environment.” .Sierra SchumanDigest Writer - Journalism I

Klein Digest / 3

From Campus Principal Larry Whitehead It doesn’t take a second look to recognize that this is not just any suburban high school Where else can you find a campus housing 13 sepa-rate buildings, a massive re-building project and a Bear-kat for the mascot? We are unique and we are proud of it. There’s pride in being a Bearkat that is passed along to every incoming freshman class. Each new class strives to uphold the traditions from the past while looking to de-velop the their own identity. They hear about our suc-cesses in athletics, music, speech, drama and voca-tional programs. It all works to help create a special spirit that comes

from being a Bearkat. It started in July 1928, when the current bound-ary lines for a school dis-trict were established. Not until 1938 was the district renamed Klein Independent School District, in honor of Adam Klein. During that same year, Klein High School was cre-ated as a result of the con-solidation of the secondary schools serving the area at that time. KHS was moved to its present site at the cor-ner of Stuebner Airline and Louetta in 1963. Since the move to our cur-rent location, the campus has experienced numerous renovations but nothing compared to the complete rebuild now taking place. With the completion of the

project in 2012, KHS will be-come a sleek, modern facil-ity, ready to provide all the necessities for a high school education well into the new century. The traditions, the pride and the spirit have been 73 years in the making. While the new facility will be a wonderful addition to our campus, KHS will continue to be an original because of the enthusiasm embodied into he school by the stu-dents, faculty and commu-nity. GO BEARKATS!

Dressed as the Bearkat Mas-cot, campus principal Larry Whitehead high fives in the air during the Friday, Oct. 14 pep rally held in the gym. Photo by Brooks Roach, Yearbook.

First six weeks - Top Kat TeachersNominated by campus faculty & staff Mark Your

Calendar

November11 - End of Second Six Weeks21 - 25 Holiday Break

December1- Holiday Band Concert13- Holiday Concert - Centrum19 - 30 Winter Break

January 20122 Staff Development /Student Holiday13 - End of Semester One16 - Martin Luther King Holiday27 - School Musical Begins

Alicia EichhornEnglish

Cheryle GlocksienScience

Charlotte SandovalEnglish

Linda McKieSpecial Education

Shane HallmarkAthletics- Football

Janet SpradlingEnglish - Chair

DECA group works on awareness, competition Hands clutch plastic grocery bags containing an assort-ment of Dean’s Popcorn ranging in flavors from vanilla to white cheddar. Members not only share the task of raising money at $2 a bag but also gain skills as salesmanship. “We are in the process of having a popcorn fund-raiser in hopes to earn money we need for buses, hotel rooms and socials for the year, “ sponsor Pamela LeCompte said. “Also it helps to analyze skills of our new members to see who is willing to take the initiative to do their part to raise as much as they can for the organization.” The 60 year old organization educates students in market-ing, management as well as to be young entrepreneurs. DECA is an association of marketing students who com-pete at a local, state and international level,” president Dan-iel Rom said. “Our main goals are to make students aware of who we are, increase membership and have 20 percent of state contenders of on to compete at nationals.” With a mini-contest at UH Downtown in October and a district competition in November, members focus on being the best. “I have no doubt in my mind we are going to do really well this year in competition,” said senior Aaron Attar, DECA videographer.

-Erin Moretz, Yearbook

HOSAHealth Science program unites for dual community causes

Social studies teacher and No Place for Hate sponsor Gar-rett VandenBelt has high hopes for accomplishments due to the new students joining the club. “We hope to have a lot more involvement, as opposed to last year’s small group involved with the club,” VandenBelt said. “We have a lot more members and so much more can be accomplished, thus having a bigger impact on the school.” With twice the meetings, the group wants to give more op-portunities for involvement. “Now that we are No Place for Hate incorporated, we hope to gain more members and become known throughout the district and on campus,” senior Maddie Bruman said.

-Brett German, Yearbook

At the Sept. 24 Alzheimer’s Walk at The Vintage, HOSA mem-bers joined forces before and after the walk to set up, clean and cheer walkers along the route. Senior Anna Frosch said, “I love volunteering for HOSA with my friends as it feels good to give back to the community.”

Klein Digest / 4

With 241 members, Health Occupation Students of America (HOSA) hit the ground running despite al-ready being one of the top programs in the nation. Yet one of the largest groups on campus contin-ued the pace with back to back activities in and out of school. “We are very involved with the community and love helping out wherever we can,” Health Science Technology instructor Kris-ten Haggard, a Registered Nurse said. Lending a helping hand, HOSA students volunteer at Silverdo Nursing Home as well as volunteering at the Sept. 24 Alzheimer’s Walk at Vintage Park. Additionally, 40 members gave time at the Feed the Children program where they worked assembly lines boxing food for families. “At Feed the Children, there’s like an assembly line where you make care

packages of either food or cosmetics,” senior Pooja Sri-kanth said. Sometimes you have packaged over 200 box-es and you really feel good about yourself.”“ While giving serves as an impor-tant element in HOSA, a future medical career is the focal point. “It’s a club for students interest in a future medi-cal field with lots of great opportunities to do com-munity service and make new friends,” senior Alvina Waqar said. Sergeant at Arms and se-nior Karuna Antani added “ HOSA isn’t just a club you join for the sake of writing it down on your college appli-cation. It’s a club where you actually get a chance to help people through commu-nity service and learn about healthcare. But while doing that, you get to have tons of fun too,” Antani said.

MINA KHAN Digest Writer - Newspaper

Special Olympics kicks off year with golf tournament

No Place for Hate gains momentum in numbers

Special Olympics competed in a golf tournament at Cy-press Lakes on Sept. 26 where two of the team’s skilled play-ers, seniors Ross Kingdon and Jeremy Mosbey had the op-portunity to play with their fathers. “I love golf because I get to play with my friends,” Mose-bey said. “The tournament was awesome because I played with my dad. He needs to work on his golf skills though - just kidding as he is great.” -Karina Pinzon, Newspaper

Check out six new Kat faculty & staff;

FFA student earns over $10,000 in scholarships

A big round of applause for...

Klein Digest / 5

Rory Tucker, FFA chapter president, won two scholar-ships in agriscience over the summer months. She was awarded third place at the San Antonio Livestock Expo-sition with her Agriscience Fair project entitled “The Effects of Cryopreservation on Seed Germination” in the Botany division and re-ceived a $10,000 scholarship for her accomplishments. She showed the same proj-ect at the KISD FFA Livestock and Project Show where she was Grand Champion in February. In July, Tucker won the Star Chapter Award in Agri-science at the Texas FFA Convention in Lubbock for which she received a $1,000

scholarship. “The common idea is that FFA is only about farming, Tucker, a junior, said. “It is an agricultural organization that offers great career and leadership opportunities.” Additionally, Tucker won the Grand Champion Horti-culture project on Oct. 21 at the Harris County Fair. gar-

National Merit Semifinalistsannounced The National Merit Schol-arship Corporation named five campus students as the 2012 National Merit Semifi-nalists. Semifinalists include se-niors Sooraj Bhakthavacha-lam, Adam Mansfield, Na-than McCammon, Brandon Newman and Pooja Sri-kanth.

20 seniors named 2012 Who’s Who With a senior class of 75120 teens were selected as the Who’s Who of the class of 2012. Voted by faculty, the stu-dents are; Amanda Akin, Avery Beckstorm, Kat Akin, Rafael Dominquez, Taylor Berry, Brett Edleman, Sarah Doherty, Drew Hohlt, Mi-chele Glocksein, Cole Mac-Donald, Kaysie Hermsdorf, Robert (Steele) Stephens, Elizabeth (Paige) Klein, Luke Stokes, Grace Mueller, TJ Weido, Puja Patel, Max Zaluski , Lauren Sestak and Tyler Zorn.

Favorites, seniorsuperlatives named With a final class motto of 2012: Saving the best for last,

seniors selected 14 peers as superlatives. Miss KHS - Amanda Akin and Mr. KHS - Max Zaluski. Most Likely to Succeed - Morgan Nacewski and TJ Weido. Most Athletic - Lauren Ses-tak and DaVante’ Smith. Most Artistic - Emily Pirky and Phillip Frye. Most Musical - Melissa Beaird and Jared Allen. Best Personality - Rachel Ashmore and Zane Muddi-man. Most Spirited - Amanda Akin and Josh Bowron. Underclass class favorite voting took place at the start of testing on Oct. 12. Elected favorites are fresh-men - Carson Andersen and McCray (Mac) Odom. Sophomore - Emma Baker and David Hamm. Juniors - Kathryn Poe and Alexander (Alex) Nguyen.

Jessica Clay/EnglishOver the summer, senior Pooja Srikanth placed seventh in the nation at the National HOSA Competition held at Disney-land. “Pooja competed against the best up and coming medi-cal students of the future at the competition in Anaheim, CA this past June and the endless hours of studying paid off,” Health Science Instructor Kris-ten Haggard said. “Facing off against the top three students from each state in Pathophysi-ology, Pooja finished seventh and we are extremely proud. She will make an outstanding

Jonathan Schroif/S. Studies Patricia Boilver/Spanish

John Irby/Math Virginia Jacob/Nurse Moneet Williams/Math

National Champ!

standing doctor one day.”

Klein Digest / 6

From Senior Class

President Tiffany Young

‘Doing something is better than doing nothing’

. As a freshman you should push to make the best pos-sible grades because when you receive your final rank and GPA during senior year, the last thing you want to say is “I wish I tried harder”. Everything can make a dif-ference and mistakes really do follow you through your high school years. Motivation can make the difference, as you do not want your high school GPA to dictate where you go to college. With strong grades in high school you can gain ac-ceptance to a good college which will lead to gradua-

Changing your mind set for school is something ev-eryone struggles with, even adults in the past. Look at your overall goal and split it into more ob-tainable goals. With smaller goals it is less intimidating and easier to accomplish. Motivation can come from a lot of places and you have to wholeheartedly want some-thing in order to do your best. As seniors go off to college in the upcoming months,and underclassmen continue on, take time to get personally interested and invested in all that you do in high school. Look at the Washington Post statistics again and start to realize how difficult of a road may lie ahead for you if better choices are not made now. Doing something is better than doing nothing.

see this look of sympathy in their eyes. I just want to scream “I’m just like you!” After so many years of suf-fering, my pacemaker is a blessing so there is nothing to be sympathetic for.

Q: Has it changed you in any way?

A: I am still the wild and crazy girl I was before I re-ceived my pacemaker, if not crazier. I am so thankful my doctor finally figured out what I had and I try to live every day to the fullest.

Student blessing/from page 1

AYLA BOYDDigest Writer - Journalism I

It is a startling fact from a recent Washington Post. The US has the highest un-employment rate for 16-29 year olds since World War II, You might not think grades or motivation in high school has any relation, but think again.

tals when I was nine after I passed out trying to get off my couch. It took seven years. Seven years and many doctors later, Dr. Stickland read my symptoms and said “I know what you have”. Af-ter hearing those words, my mom and I cried.

Q: Is there anything you used to love to do that you can not do now?A: I used to be a national level swimmer competing twice a month. Swimming was my life and everything I did revolved around it. Af-ter finding out my heart was constantly stopping, we all decided it was best for me toquit. I have not returned to

the water, but it is my ulti-mate goal.

Q: What limitations do you have now?A: Thankfully with my pacemaker, I have very little limitations. I am not allowed to lift anything over 15 lbs due to the risk of ripping my leads out. I have to be careful in the heat and I am not allowed to climb stairs by myself due to the risk of passing out.

Q: Do people treat you dif-ferently once they know you have a pacemaker?A: After finding out about my condition, most people do treat me differently. I can

tion and a path towards be-coming a successful person. Personally, I let the ball drop my junior year and it has affected my rank and GPA. Now that I am a se-nior, I am not happy with where I am in my class and I can’t do much to change it at this point. I am having to look for al-ternate routes to get into the school of my choice, but had I been more motivated ear-lier I would have been in a great place to carry out my overall plan. Everyone has motivation problems. It just comes down to being lazy and we would rather sit around than take care of business. To get motivated you need to understand the end result is worth all your effort. It is hard for kids that have no interest in high school and even harder to find that in-ner motivation.

Have something to say? Write a column for the next Klein Digest. Stop by room 820 for details.

Wearing a shirt with a bright heart on the front, Kat Crawford is surrounded by freshman Madi Linney, left and senior Jan-son Lenfest, right. Photo by Dorrie Alanis, Journalism I.

Klein Digest / 7Street Beat / Clubs

Junior/Senior girls Bible study

With only the second six weeks of the school year, the junior/senior girls Bible study is in full swing meeting ev-ery Friday at 6:50 am in sponsor Christi Zorn’s classroom. “Right now we are watching Rob Bell videos. He talks about different things that we struggle with in our lives and encourages us in our walk with Christ,”club member and junior Nicole Faulkenberry said. “At the end of every meeting we have a prayer circle, which is a great conclu-sion because it brings us closer to each other.” While members strive to assist others in the group, they also want to reach out to help others. “This is an amazing group of faithful young women who come together on Friday mornings to share their faith, friendship and doughnuts,” Zorn said. “They pray for our school and community and challenge themselves to be a light to others here at Klein. They are amazing women.”Catherine HortonDigest Writer - Yearbook

ROTC members gain confidence With only 25 percent of females registered in the campus ROTC program, Major Edwin Reyes maintains a positive outlook on his cadets. “I really wish more females would join ROTC,” Reyes said. “The girls that are in it become very tough and say that they love the challenge. I am still very excited with this year’s cadets though.” The group of 131 cadets can be seen rehearsing drills on campus, but the group consists of more than lineups. “Four of our teams competed on Oct. 8 at the Oak Ridge HS Drill Meet,” Reyes said. “Armed, Unarmed, Varsity Color Guard and Junior Varsity Color Guard. We took third place in Varsity Color Guard and first place in JV Color Guard.” Putting aside work for a day, ROTC also hosted an an-nual picnic in September. “We invite all the freshmen, who we call A.S. 100’s to come to a picnic at Collins Park,” senior Monica Walls said. “It was on a Saturday and we played sports, eat and get to know each other. It is always a good time that ev-eryone looks forward to as it is one of our biggest events.”SARAH HALEYDigest Writer - Yearbook

ROTC Gallery: First Six Weeks

At the Oct. 21 morning meet-ing the group listens to senior Claire Anderson. Junior/Se-nior Bible Study group meets each Friday in room T-26. Pho-to by Catherine Horton, Year-book.

Above - Presenting col-ors at the Klein Memo-rial Stadium, sophomore Bishop Elder, junior En-rique Ramos, sophomore Joseph Nordin and senior Jesse Burgos unite for ROTC.Right - After school from 2:45 to 4pm, sophomore Jonathan Handel practic-es armed drills. Photo by Leigh Ann Hahn.

During lunch in the commons area, a Marine recruiter talks to junior Victoria Lessard.

Klein Digest / 8

Klein Alumni News

Rachel Yesak - Class of 2008 is a senior at Nich-olls State and a member of the volleyball team. Yesak has been named Most Valuable Player earning double doubles in matches against Jackson State and South Alabama.

Vicki Harvell - Class of 2004 is a junior/senior high school youth minister at Northside Christian Church and is expecting her first child in March.

Jonathan Harvell - Class of 2005 is a physi-cal education teacher at Benignus and Benfer Elementary Schools and will be married on Oct. 29.

Garrett Haake - Class of 2003 is currently one of eight embedded reporters for NBC News covering Repub-lican presidential candidate Mitt Romney in Decision 2012. Haake, a 2007 SMU graduate with a degree in journalism, will be covering the campaign for NBC for the next year.

Ricky Gonzales - Class of 2008 is a senior at Kettering University located in Flint, Michigan and major-ing in Mechanical Engineering with an automotive special-ity. Gonzales has had an internship at General Motors and spent three months studying in Germany.

Melissa Sullivan Class of 1999 graduated from Texas A&M University in 2004 and started the journalism program at Cy Ranch HS four years again where she advises both the newspaper and yearbook. Sullivan is getting mar-ried Nov. 18.

OCT.2011

Homecoming King & Queen 2011

University of Texas freshman Chris Akin and 2010 Home-coming King presented crowns to seniors Alexa Collins and Justin Shih on Oct. 14.

Alexa Collins and Justin Shih

Klein Alumni News

Senior King & Queen Nominees

Sarah DohertyRegina PredomMolly RedusTaylor RichardsonChandler Young

Zach DobsonJ.P. GarzaSteele StephensNathan Tjon-Joe-PenMax Zaluski

Klein Digest / 9

OCT.2011

Tues. Wed.

Photo Gallery: Homecoming Dress Up Days Thurs.

Hillbilly Character Nerd Spirit

Zach DobsonJ.P. GarzaSteele StephensNathan Tjon-Joe-PenMax Zaluski

Fri.

11

12 13 1411

Above - Posing as hillbillies, sophomore Alex Elder and junior Cody Burling, top off the look with straw hats.

Walking through the construction luge on character day, sophomore Alex Karim walks eith juniors Alexus Lopez and Samantha McK-inzie.

Above: Hanging in the high rise, s o p h o m o r e s Andrea Chu and Stephanie Flakes put their own spin on nerd day.Left; Dressed as a campus cheer-leader, senior Gordon Mar-tinson takes a study break on spirit dress up day.

Above - Decked out with taped glasses and suspenders, sophomore Matt Gillete hangs out at lunch. Photo by Megan Hut-son, Yearbook. Left - Junior Julia Gregory completes her hillbilly look with a bam-boo fishing pole.

Klein Digest / 10

The hill approaching fast, senior varsity runner Blake Johnson mentally thanks the new workouts that week given by the new assistant coach as he pumps his legs faster, widening his stride passing another runner. “His workouts strengthen us for the event,” Johnson said of coach Tony Vo. Runners considered Vo’s style of coaching ‘hands on’ adding that he actively participates with the team. “Coach Vo has brought a new training aspect to cross country,” sophomore varsity runner Selena Wicklund said. “He has helped our team’s with injury prevention by cross training and strength building. Our overall team’s injury average has significantly decreased and our times in meets have increased dramatically.” Also, head cross country coach Daniel Lawton felt Vo fit in immediately’. “Coach Vo is a great addition to the team. He has a sound understanding of strengthening workouts that we have incorporated into our workouts and they havemade us a better, faster team,” Lawton said. “He is also enthusiastic about the sport and dedicated to helping

Cross Country team motivated by two ‘hands on’ coaches

teach athletes to succeed.” Diane Evans also stressed appreciation for the team coaching staff. “Coach Lawton is an amazing coach. He is the best runner and really knows what he is talking about. He is always encouraging the athletes and really motivates us to reach our full potential, “ Evans said. “Coach Vo is new to cross country this year and is a great addition to the team. He brings new workouts and is always pushing us in practice.”

-Francesca Gay

GOLF: Teams plays with focus, determinationunder coaches Denise Stevens, Glenn Arnold

Digest Writer - Yearbook

Golf, a sport like no oth-er. While the goal is to hit the ball, your main oppo-nent is you. It’s a game that requires focus, confidence and de-termination which is all stressed on campus with the two golf teams. Both coach Denise Ste-vens and Glen Arnold have been involved in the campus golf program for 16 years. “We are expecting our teams to be competitive and make a run at the District Championships in April,” Stevens said. Playing her first year, freshman Victoria Allen hopes she can not only contribute to her team but the school. “I love to play golf be-

cause it is a game of pa-tience and fun. It is a game that fits me and I think it will make me a better per-son and will also help me in the future,” Allen said. With 43 golfers total on the teams, 21 on the girls teams and 22 boys,Stevens said the fall sea-

son is used to gauge the strength of the season. “Only the top 13 players will be allowed to qual-ity for the district tourna-ment so play throughout the year will be intense and will help determine the rank order for the tournament with hopes of

advancing to Regionals,” Stevens said. “We are excited about this year’s group of and feel if they continue to work hard and remain focused, good things will happen.”

ADRIAN ACEVEDODigest Writer - Journalism I

Seven Lakes Invitational Results/ Sept. 2011

Varsity Girls Results

19:54.1 Diana Evans20:17.2 Lanie Tubbs20:56.2 Adina Schunicht21:07.3 Hannah Bayer

Varsity Boys Results

15:38.2 Dillon Worley17:12.3 Ben Howell17:19.1 Blake Johnston17:42.9 Jamahl Bottoms

Carrying the Bearkat blue golf bag, sophomore Aman-da Stevens ranks as one of the top five players accord-ing to coach Denise Stevens.

Golf seniors front row, left to right; Michael Charron, C.J. Stevens,Taylor Williamson, Ann Barbee, Catherine Rogers, Meredith Pad-field, Sarah Doherty, Stephanie Mausser, Drew Lanphear, Jaleel Adatia. Second row; Kyle Taylor, Zachary Turner, Alex Bradley, Chris Baylor, Hunter Klatt, Weston Salyers, Karan Patel.

Klein Digest / 11

Teams plays with focus, determinationunder coaches Denise Stevens, Glenn Arnold

Digest Writer - Yearbook

Seven Lakes Invitational Results/ Sept. 2011

Take six players, one net and one ball pushing to be the first team to reach 25 and the sport of volley-ball comes to mind. Unlike tennis, golf or track, volleyball involves each player to act as one serving a crucial part in each match. Led by head varsity coach Cynthia Yarotsky, the volleyball program has reconstructed itself over the past year. “My most memorable moment was the night we beat Klein Oak in three,” Yarotsky said. “ My girls were so focused and de-termined to beat a team we have not been able

Volleyball program shows combination of playoff power mixed with ‘pink’ compassion

to defeat in years. After that game you would have thought we won the state championship as we all ran off the court hug-ging.” United in the support of the campaign to fight breast cancer, the volley-ball teams joined other campus sports to spread awareness wearing the color pink. Yarotsky said, “they are very compassionate young ladies that care for the cause of that night, breast cancer.” Joining Yarotsky in coaching and building the program are Paula Murphy, Lindsey Loyd

and Ryan Pondraza who coach the junior varsity and freshman A and B teams. Undefeated in district this year, sophomore Ken-dyl Russell credits coach Murphy. “Coach Murphy is a great coach as she keeps us calm and gives us the confidence to succeed even if we doubted our-selves.” The freshman teams also gave credit to the coach-ing staff. Freshman Jasine Koonts said she experienced a great season and loved having Loyd as a coach. “It’s been a challenging

season, but the experience I had was worth every minute of it,” Koonts said. Yet as the playoffs beginfor the varsity girls, Yar-otsky believes ‘the time is now for her team’. “We have to face Col-lege Park for the first round of playoffs and they are ranked number one in Houston and sec-ond in state,” Yarotsky said. “They are a great team that is well coached by my good friend Candy Collins. In playoffs, any-thing can happen and it all depends on who gets hot at the right time.”TAYLOR BERRYDigest Writer - Journalism I

Above; Varsity players Julia Cole, Al-lison Grosch, Kayline Storey, Monica Rogriquez, Macey Pool and Lauren Hutchinson surround coach Cynthia Yar-otsky after a win against Klein Oak.

Above: Playing at home, Kayla Godwin, Madison Medley and Courtney Taylor Left: Em-braced in team support, Happi-ness Okeke, Eva Garza, Carly Vandegried and Lauren Casey.

Klein Digest / 12

October - Earth Club Kayla

Aug. 22 - Picking up her class schedule be-fore school, junior Carol Painter searches for her name in the main cafeteria. Photo by Beca Gonzales

September - Earth club resumes campus pick up with the help of sophomore Melissa Mayne and Emily Wanko. Photo by Kayla Hunter.

October - Seniors P.J. Bonden, Ali McEvoy, Mary Susan Kaetzer, Sarah Dohertycheer for the Bearkat varsity team.

September - Freshman mixer fun lead by seniors Chandler Young and Stephanie Mausser. Photo by Brooks Roach

August, September, OctoberFast look @