Produced by Makenzie White
Featuring Kevin Brennan and Paul Geary

Mike Conway and Steve McCusker discuss The Vine. They talk about what it is, how it is different from other social media, and how it allows you to make videos of cut scenes. Is The Vine here to stay or will it slowly fade away?

Reporters: Michael Conway and Steve McCusker

Produced and Edited by Makenzie White

Graphic Produced by Emma T. Conway

Download Video: MP4

In the fourth quarter, just seconds to go, Woodland is down by a point. Senior captain David Uhl gains possession of the ball on a rebound and sprints down the court to find an opening. And he does.

Taking advantage of the opening, Uhl bursts through the pocket and takes a shot before the defenders have a chance to stop him. Almost completely synchronized, the ball swooshes through the hoop as the final buzzer sounds.

For Woodland’s point guard, Uhl, it is not unusual to score large amounts of points each game. Even with only nine games so far this season, Uhl has scored a total of 147 points for his team.

Uhl is an important asset to the Boys’ Basketball team. Besides his role as one of the captains, as point guard he is in charge of leading the team while on the court, for he is the brain behind the team. Uhl’s job is to create plays for Woodland.

He did not start off this way, though, for just as everyone else, it was only hard work and dedication that brought him to where he is today.

Uhl was placed on the Freshman team when he first joined the team his freshman year, but seeing his potential, the coaches bumped him up to the junior Varsity level. Near the end of his freshman season, Uhl was placed on the varsity team. Although he watched the games intently from the bench, he was being prepared to play during his sophomore year.

And lo and behold, Uhl’s play time increased more and more his sophomore year.

“My sophomore year I started to get minutes,” said Uhl, “and I began to score my first varsity points.”

The number of total points grew, and by junior year Uhl had earned his place as a starter for varsity. So far this season, he has scored a total of 198 points for Woodland.

In fact, his favorite memory of his basketball career is from the first game of his junior year, when Woodland beat out Saint Paul by about ten points.

Now in his senior year, Uhl is leading his team into the new season with a five and four record, and hopefully to the goals that he has set for himself and his team.

“We always have the goal to make the state tournament, and that’s only eight wins, so it’s not far away,” stated Uhl, “But I want to win the division, NVLs, and to go pretty far in states.”

Uhl is a key player on the team and encourages his teammates on and off the court.

“He’s a good kid to be around, “ said junior James Giacamazzi, “before games to get us ready he tells us ‘good job’ and motivates us.”

Uhl easily fits the role of captain, and is there for his team whenever they need him. He contributes to the team’s success with each game and will no doubt lead Woodland to a good season.

“I’ve always enjoyed playing with him ever since I joined the team,” said Giacamazzi, “I’m going to miss him as a good player when he graduates.”

Kiesel’s Kristmas Sweater Brigade

LISTEN:: Nancy Kiesel tells her own story (interview by Jesse Erickson)

They’re all the rage.  They’ve created competitions and they’ve been one of the most popular party themes. The desperate are paying hundreds to have one so that they could fit in. But, there’s one who hasn’t overpaid for an ugly sweater. One who has no problem fitting in. One who has enough of these now expensive and rare things to stay festive for an entire month. It’s Mrs. Kiesel and her infamous Christmas Sweaters. It’s safe to say that Christmas is Kiesel’s favorite time of the year.

Kiesel’s collection all began back in the late 80′s when her mother presented her with a special festive sweater on Christmas morning. From that Christmas on, sweaters under the Christmas tree became an everlasting tradition.

Not only does Kiesel own twelve different kinds of holiday sweaters, she has all items necessary to accessorize with the sweaters. Since sweaters can be itchy or not, it’s important to have outfit alternatives during the Christmas season.

“I have Christmas shirts, Christmas sweatshirts, and Christmas vests,” said Kiesel.

Among her twelve sweaters, Kiesel has her favorites and of course the one she would consider “the ugliest Christmas sweater.”

Her favorite sweater from Talbot’s looks simple at first, but looking further at the sweater, one can see that the sweater tells a story. On the bottom front of the sweater, Santa is wearing his hat. But as the progression of the sweater changes from the front to the back, Santa suddenly loses his hat in the cold, winter wind.

Kiesel’s strangest sweater, however, is a little more obvious about flaunting the Christmas spirit. Described as gaudy, Kiesel’s strangest sweater is bright red and has a decorated Christmas across the entire sweater.

Luckily, Kiesel was able to start her collection earlier than others. For the people who are a little late  jumping on the Christmas sweater bandwagon, the ride hasn’t been so easy. Even Kiesel who is a festive sweater addict admits that the stores just don’t make them anymore. But she still wears the one she has– no matter how old.

“I just like to wear these sweaters to get festive and it’s just really neat that I’ve inspired the students to wear the sweaters,” said Kiesel.

Inspiring the students, sweaters plastered with Santa, reindeer, and Christmas Trees covered the hallways the Friday before the holiday break. Some students began collecting the moment they met Kiesel.

“When I had Mrs. Kiesel for a teacher and saw that she had different sweaters throughout the year for different occasions, I decided that I needed some like hers to wear on the days I had her because she was my favorite teacher,”said senior Jayme Schledewitz.

Like Kiesel, and many other students, Schledewitz just likes being in the holiday spirit.

“Christmas sweaters are all so unique and you never see the same Christmas sweater twice,” added Schledewitz. “And I just like them because they have a lot of colors and things going on.”

Kiesel, who has four Christmas trees in her own house, will continue to spread holiday cheer with her festive sweaters throughout the rest of the school year.

Although Christmas is her favorite, Kiesel has sweaters for Halloween, Valentine’s Day, and just the overall winter season. For the rest of January, Kiesel will be sporting her snowy snowmen sweaters while her Christmas Trees and reindeer are put away until another chilly holiday.

As she graduates with the class of 2013, Kiesel and her Christmas sweaters will be greatly missed– but they will not be forgotten. She has left behind not only a trend, but a legacy.

Klancic’s Korner :: June

April Klancic’s Korner

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