Senior Spotlight
Brighton "Dex" Hooker
Plans
Dex is planning on receiving both a major and a minor at Bowling Green State University. She is majoring in individualized Business and minoring in fashion design. She is a current member of the percussion section of the Shawnee band of one and plans to also be “a member of the drum line.”
Family and friends
She has three younger siblings: Sam, Marlowe, and Lennox. She also has a cat named Bowie.
Extracurriculars and Hobbies
Dex is very talented and loves the arts. She is in both marching and concert band in the percussion and drumline section. She also “ writes and create for the avatar.” She is also a part of stage crew and oversees the plays and musicals at Shawnee.
Favorites
Dex’s favorite teacher was the late Mr. Dan Meeks. “God rest his soul”. Dex says he truly inspired her more than any other teacher. To “better myself not only musically but as a person as well.”
Her favorite part of Shawnee is the drum line. She says its “hard to not be proud to be a member” with the various awards our band has received. She also gave a shout out to the amazing alumni of the band.
Overall. Her favorite memories are “making the shows come to life” during the drama productions.
Overall,
Dex is a great student, sister, and friend to all around her. She is driven to succeed and is unique in her endeavors. She’s the first student to be featured in the Chief with a major and a minor. Good luck to you Dex!
Alex Karapondo
Presidential Inauguration
Roughly two and a half weeks ago, Donald Trump was sworn in as the 47th President of the United States, intending to reshape the country’s institutions. During his speech, he claims that above all else, he will put our country first. The ceremony allowed him to share some of what he intends to do over the next four years. During Carrie Underwood's performance of ‘America, the Beautiful,’ there was a sound malfunction, which left her to perform without any music – but that didn’t stop her from singing beautifully! Overall, the ceremony was very well done and was nothing but fitting for the inauguration of our new President and Vice President.
Caden Heitmeyer
Boys Basketball
The boys have had an amazing season so far by finishing the regular season 20-2. The win against Wayne Trace was the Indians' 7th 20-win season, while it was Coach Triplett's 4th 20-win season. The regular season has been highlighted by many achievements Beckett Bertke scored his 1,000th point he is the 14th boy in Shawnee history to do so and Coach Triplett became the second coach to win 200 games at Shawnee. Also, the Indians won the WBL for the 1st time in 4 years going 9-0. This year the boys won important games against Lima Senior, Defiance, and Crestview. In the game against Defiance, the Indians were down by 7 with only a handful of seconds left but that didn’t stop them they forced the game into overtime and won 67-55 going on a 15-3 run in overtime. The Indians also won a big game against the Lima Senior Spartans who only had one loss coming into the game, the final score was 80-66. The Indians hope to have a great run in the tournament. The first game is at Shawnee on Thursday the 20th against Toledo Bowsher. The game is at 7 pm.
Pauly Caris
Ohio State's Big Win
Ohio State has won the National championship! The Ohio state university had a great 2024 season. The Buckeyes won their first five games before Oregon pulled out a close win due to a lapse in the rules. After that game, college football changed it’s rules mid-season which is extremely rare. Then Ohio State won their next five games before losing to the team up north. Michigan won 13-10 against our Buckeyes. After the game, they planted the University of Michigan's flag in the middle of our field. After their loss, Ohio state seeded 6 in the playoff bracket. On December 21st 2024 we witnessed a murder in the Horseshoe; Ohio state won against 7th seeded University of Tennessee 42-17. After that absolutely amazing win, the buckeyes followed it up with a 41-21 win against the cheating ducks out of Oregon. In the Cotton Bowl Classic or semi-finals round, Ohio state beat Texas 28-14. Notre Dame clinched a win against Penn State in the orange bowl by a field goal. The finals were set, The Ohio State Buckeyes vs the Notre Dame Fighting Irish. In the first quarter of the finals game, Notre dame took the lead by 7. The second quarter is where the Buckeyes’s offense showed up. Quinshon Judkins scored two touchdowns and Jerimiah Smith scored another. The score was 21-7 Buckeyes at half time. In the third quarter, the Bucks opened up with Quinshon Judkins scoring a rushing touchdown followed by a field goal. Notre Dame tried to make a comeback bny scoring a touchdown and went for two extra points. The fourth quarter was where Ohio state sealed Notre Dame’s fate. Notre dame scored another touchdown and saw a glimpse of hope, but then we made a huge pass to get a first down and run down the clock. We scored a field goal as the clock was ticking down. Ohio State won the game and was given the title of National Champions! Great season for Buckeye fans and hopefully more to come.
Ethan Misson
NCAAM Tournament Race
The race for the 68 spots available in the NCAA tournament is heating up as we head into March. We’ve seen teams that were not expected to perform well prove us wrong. We’ve also seen teams that were expected to be juggernauts fail their expectations. But there are so many more teams, so let’s take a look at the top dogs, bubble teams, and teams in the middle.
The top teams are most commonly defined as the top four seeds (top 16 teams), as these are the only seeds to win the tournament more than once since 1985. As of right now (2/14/25), we see the SEC dominating these top spots, with Auburn, Alabama, and Florida all capturing 1 seeds, Tennessee and Texas A&M at 2 seeds, and Kentucky at a 3 seed. The only other conference to currently have a 1 seed is the ACC, with Duke having that spot. Other than them, the ACC sees no teams in a top 4 seed. The Big Ten doesn’t have a one seed but holds Purdue at a 2 and Michigan State, Wisconsin, and Michigan at 4 seeds. The only other conference to have teams as a top 4 seed is the Big 12, with Houston at a 2, Texas Tech, Iowa State, and Arizona at 3, and Kansas rounding out the 4 seeds. The odds are heavily in these seeds’ favor, and we will likely see one of these sixteen teams holding up the championship trophy at the end of the season.
Bubble teams are teams that probably don’t win a conference championship but had a good enough season to squeak in a bid. They are seeds 9-11, and have not won a tournament in its entire existence. There are a lot of bubble teams each season, with the most disappointing from this season being Texas, North Carolina, Baylor, Arkansas, and Indiana. These teams were expected to each be a top four seed, yet they are now battling for spots in the tournament. Some squads that have exceeded or met expectations by being on the bubble are Ohio State, Georgia, Xavier, Oklahoma, and Vanderbilt. These teams are all expected to either be low seeds entering the tournament or top seeds in the NIT (which nobody really cares for).
And then there’s the middle squads. These teams are seeds 5-8, where it’s comfortable enough to start preparations for the tournament as they’re almost a lock. These teams have won it all a combined three times. The most disappointing team in this position is UConn, who has won the past two NCAA championships and now sits on the fringe of being a bubble team but still holds an 8 seed. Looking at the other end of the spectrum, St. Johns and Memphis were expected to be bubble teams at the beginning of the season but are currently sitting at 5 seeds with the potential to be higher by the end of the regular season.
The race has really begun to rev up for these coveted tournament spots, and whether teams are exceeding or failing expectations, they all have the same goal: make it to March Madness with the best possible seed and win the tournament.
Benny Rutter
Valentine's Traditions
People often exchange Valentine's Day cards with expressions of love, affection, or friendship. Giving a bouquet of flowers, particularly roses, is a widely practiced tradition on Valentine's Day. Chocolate is a classic gift, with many people giving heart-shaped boxes of chocolates or candy. Some even prepare homemade treats. Many couples celebrate by going out to a romantic dinner at a restaurant. For those who prefer staying in, cooking a special meal together or sharing a candlelit dinner at home is also common. Some people write love letters, expressing their feelings for their partner in a more personal and heartfelt way. Gifts such as jewelry, stuffed animals, or even experiences like spa days or weekend getaways are popular choices.
Angie Karapondo
Basketball Photography
Ethan Misson
Trading Cards
Since the late 1800s, trading cards have had a grasp on consumers and collectors of all varieties in one capacity or another. That being said, within the last year or so they have had a massive turnaround with the introduction of new sets and exciting events that gave them even more traction. Sports cards have been one of the most popular of the trade (no pun intended), with some cards being the highlights of some people's collections. More recently, a Paul Skenes card has been heavily sought after and still not found, but with a value of almost $1 million. In other franchises, such as Pokemon, many new sets have been released that have left fans awestruck. In these sets, there have been cards worth up to $1,500, but with an investment in the cards, there is always the risk of not getting a good card. Most surprisingly, even newer card franchises have expensive "chase" cards. The One Piece trading card game, which is based on the series of the same name, has gained a lot of popularity recently and has many cards worth lots of money -- most notably, the Gol D. Roger golden manga panel card, which is worth anywhere from $3,000-$7000 dollars, depending on its condition (pictured on the right). Even though they have existed for a very long time, trading cards have only been increasing in popularity, and it is projected that that number will only increase. Collecting will always have you at the edge of your seat asking, "Will I find the card of a lifetime?"
Cade Hefner
Shawnee Swim
This past January 25th, The Boys and Girls swim team attended the WBL Championships here in Lima at the YMCA. It was an exciting day for the team as they placed in the top 3 overall. The girls placed 3rd overall at 214 total points, while the boys placed 1st overall at a total of 301 points. Congratulations to both teams on this accomplishment. And Congrats to Thomas Koh and CeCe Schaff for taking first place in their heats.
Caden Heitmeyer
Spy Drones in Ohio?
Over the past few months, Ohio has experienced a surge in mysterious drone sightings, particularly in counties like Mercer, Darke, and Van Wert. Residents have reported observing drones of varying sizes, with some described as being as large as hot tubs. Notably, these sightings have occurred near sensitive areas, including the Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, leading to heightened concerns about potential security implications. Despite investigations, the origins and operators of these drones remain unidentified, leaving both officials and the public seeking answers.
In response to the growing number of drone incidents, Ohio lawmakers have taken steps to regulate unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) operations within the state. Governor Mike DeWine recently signed legislation granting Ohio the authority to enforce its own UAV laws, aligning closely with existing federal regulations. This move empowers local authorities to prosecute unsafe drone operations without solely relying on federal enforcement, aiming to enhance public safety and address the unique challenges posed by unauthorized drone activities in the region.
The new drone laws in Ohio introduce specific guidelines for drone operators to ensure responsible usage. Operators are prohibited from flying drones near critical facilities, such as military bases and infrastructure, especially with malicious intent. Careless or reckless operations that endanger people or property are also forbidden. Violations of these regulations can result in fines up to $500 and/or imprisonment for up to six months, depending on the severity of the offense. These measures aim to deter unauthorized drone activities and promote safe integration of drones into Ohio’s airspace.
For recreational drone users, the laws mandate adherence to safety protocols to prevent accidents and interference with manned aircraft. Operators must keep their drones within visual line of sight, avoid flying over groups of people, and respect privacy by not capturing images or videos without consent. Additionally, flying drones near emergency response efforts is restricted to prevent hindrance of critical operations. By implementing these regulations, Ohio aims to balance the benefits of drone technology with the need to protect public safety and privacy.
Alex Karapondo
Luka Moves to the Lakers
“What just happened?” was what every NBA fan was wondering on February 2nd. Luka Doncic, a top-five player in the league that just brought the Dallas Mavericks to an NBA finals, was traded to the Los Angeles Lakers for Anthony Davis and the NBA equivalent to a bag of chips.
This trade was a huge blockbuster to the NBA world, largely because nobody was expecting this at all. Luka had not requested a trade: the GM was concerned about ‘a lack of discipline regarding his diet and conditioning.’ It’s ridiculous that an MVP candidate such as Luka can get traded due to becoming a bit heavier, especially because he isn’t even an athletic player in the first place -- he’s just incredibly skilled with basketball.
Anthony Davis was content with Los Angeles and was prepared to try for another title run alongside LeBron James. Doncic has been nursing an injury for a large part of the season, yet his averages are 27 points, 8 rebounds, and 7.5 assists per game. His first two games as a Laker, however, have been underwhelming. Both games were played against the trash Utah Jazz, yet he has been struggling. Lukla only scored 14 on 35.7% efficiency in a win to open his Lakers career, followed by a 16 point performance in a loss where he almost fouled out. Sure, these are solid stats, but, for a guy who’s averaged 28.6 points per game for his career, are underwhelming for a player of Luka’s caliber.
On the other end, Anthony Davis had a rollercoaster of a debut for the Mavericks. He had 26 points, 16 rebounds, 7 assists, and 3 blocks without a single foul in his opening performance. Unfortunately for AD and the Mavs, he suffered a groin injury in the third quarter that will likely sideline him for over a month.
We’ll continue to watch the Luka Magic show in Los Angeles as he hopefully begins to play better for the Lakers and return to his full form, as well as the Davis-less Mavericks trying to make a playoff push in the following month.
Benny Rutter
The Superbowl
Superbowl LIX was hosted in New Orleans this year between the Philadelphia Eagles and Kansas City Chiefs. If the Chiefs win this year, they will be the first team in NFL history to win three Super Bowls in a row. The Chief’s star players are Patrick Mahomes and Travis Kelce. The Eagle’s star players are Jalen Hurts, AJ Brown, and Saquon Barkley. The Chiefs were expected to win, however, in the first half, the Eagles were crushing the Chiefs 24-0. Kendrick Lamar hosted the Super Bowl halftime show, where e played his famous Grammy-winning award song “Not Like Us”. The Chiefs had a small comeback but the game ended with the Eagles winning 40-22.
Angie Karapondo
Shawnee Girls Basketball
This year the girl's team finished the regular season 8-14. This year they played some tough teams but never gave up. This season has been highlighted by some tough losses but the Lady Indians never gave up. This year's team had lots of good players including Freshman Ava Gadson, Freshman Cadence Wilson, Senior Syndey Burris, and Senior Kamryn Morris. This year the Ladies had a tough loss against the Crestview Knights. The Lady Indians were within in 4 points late in the 3rd but then for the rest of the game the Knights controlled the game. The lady Indians started the torment on the road at the Lady Bulldogs of Defiance. Our lady Indians played a hard-fought game and won the first sectional title in girl's basketball history for Shawnee. Their next game is at Columbus Grove on February 19th at 6 pm against the Lima Senior Spartans.
Pauly Caris
Thank you for reading, and as always, please see Mrs. Kuhlman or Cade Hefner if you are interested in writing!
Senior Editor
Cade Hefner
Staff
Pauly Caris
Alex Karapondo
Benny Rutter
Angie Karapondo
Caden Heitmeyer