The Press-Dispatch
Issue link: http://www.ifoldsflip.com/i/1049018
C-12 Wednesday, November 7, 2018 The Press-Dispatch EAST GIBSON NEWS Submit school news: Email: egnews@ pressdispatch.net Deadline: Noon on Friday By Kenzie Rudolph The Wood Memorial High School Spell Bowl team, led by Mrs. Nicki Caniff, ended a great year, falling just short of qualify- ing for the state competition of class 4 schools. The Area Contest, on Oc- tober 29, at Mt. Vernon, was the deciding factor. The team had a goal of scoring 45 points at that meet, and they did just that. It was not quite enough to qualify for state, though. Wood Memo- rial placed seventh with 45 points, trailing close behind Lutheran High School with 47 points, Riverton Parke and Northeast Dubois with 55, Orleans with 58, Wash- ington Township with 61 and Barr-Reeve in 1st place with 63 points. The top five schools are state finalists. The first meet of the year was the Blue Chip Confer- ence meet at Shoals. Wood Memorial placed third there behind Barr-Reeve and Northeast Dubois, both of whom qualified for state. This years' successful team is comprised of se- niors Ryan Memmer, Syd- ney Jones, Adison and Ash- ton Stone, Shannah Powell, Kaleigh Chitwood and Ceth VanMatre, juniors Casey Clark, Katelyn Lemeron, Vada Strickland and Hope Smithhart, sophomore Cade Beach, and freshmen Faith Smithhart and Reese Morton. The student assis- tant is Shelby Clark. This was Caniff's first time coaching the team. "Mr. Wilson sent an email around seeing if any- one was interested, and I didn't want the students not to have it, so I said I would do it," said Caniff. When it came to build- ing the team, senior Ryan Memmer was a big help to Caniff. She called him her assistant coach. To start the season, the team practiced during Tro- jan Pride three times a week, and closer to the sea- son they started to practice every day. When it comes to being so close to that state cutoff mark, Caniff said, "Oh my gosh, it would've been so exciting. I wanted it so bad for the kids, because, just, sometimes, Wood Memori- al, academically, sometimes gets a bad wrap, and I was just so proud of us. Even just to see on that paper when we didn't make it, but to see where we were with other schools in the state, I mean I know what a great school we have, but that just justifies it even more that we are a good academ- ic school." According to Caniff and former Spell Bowl coach Beth Shuler, the team has not been quite this success- ful since 2013 when Wood Memorial Spell Bowl qual- ified and competed at the state competition. That team consisted of spellers Kate Bittner, Veronica Bit- tner, Gage Collins, Kaleb Dyer, Noah Elmore, Logan Lashbrook, Hannah Reis- ing, Julie Reising, Carsen Robinson, Collin Robinson, Kenzie Rudolph, Tabitha Schurter, Destiny Scraper, Katelyn Sides, Noah Smith- hart and Blayne VanMeter. Caniff has been in charge of the spelling bee's in the past, but this is her first time coaching an academ- ic team. "I really did feel that same competition that I feel when I'm coaching bas- ketball or when I'm on the court. It's that same feeling, and I like it because some of these kids don't partici- pate in sports and this way they get that same, I don't know, adrenaline rush, and fire that you feel in athlet- ics, so it was pretty cool," added Caniff. One Wood Memorial speller, according to Caniff, who did exceptionally well this year was senior, Ryan Memmer, who received a near perfect score, 8 out of 9, at the area meet. Memmer started spell bowl in the seventh grade after Shuler reached out to him, and he has been com- peting in spelling bee's since the fourth grade. "I always have had a love for spelling, so it was a nice fit...spelling has always been one of the things I am passionate about." When it comes to study- ing, Memmer wrote down the words, and his parents quizzed him a lot. He said he probably dedicated a few hours every weekend to studying the spelling word list. Along with spell bowl, Memmer has also been busy with National Honor Society, The Peers Project, the tennis team, FCA and the academic teams in the Spring. Memmer really wanted to go to state like Caniff. "It would have been re- ally neat. I was disappoint- ed, but I was really proud of our team for massive im- provement from last year. I think Mrs. Caniff did a re- ally great job." Memmer added that Can- iff motivated the team, es- pecially himself. Memmer said, "The one thing about this year that I can't complain about is even if people did well or didn't, I really feel like everyone put in their best effort. There wasn't one person out of the ten that went down there and didn't study, it just didn't work out as well for some." Oakland City Elementary Spell Bowl Team- Pictured is the Wood Memorial Spell Bowl Team at the Area Competition with coach Mrs. Caniff. Contributed photo Spell Bowl Ryan Memmer- Ryan Memmer, se- nior speller, is pictured after being announced for his near perfect score at the Area Competi- tion. Contributed photo Mr. Cody Shoultz Shoultz's 19th year as a Trojan teacher By Kenzie Rudolph Cody Shoultz, Econ, U.S. History and 7th grade Civ- ics teacher at Wood Memo- rial High School, followed in his parents' footsteps when deciding to become a teach- er. Mr. Shoultz is from Pike County, and he has a 13-year-old-daughter at Pike Central and a two-year- old little boy. Shoultz, after studying at Oakland City University, was hired at Wood Memori- al in January of 2001. This is his 19th year as a Trojan teacher. He also coached boys track at the High School for over a decade. "It was kind of weird at the beginning cause you know, when you're an ear- ly teacher, early in your ca- reer, you're not much older than the kids you're teach- ing...so that was a little dif- ficult at the beginning," said Shoultz. His favorite part of teach- ing is "trying to make peo- ple better" and "seeing the light go off in some people's heads." When it comes to Wood Memorial specifically, Shoultz said that he likes the small-school environ- ment, and he likes knowing all of the kids. He planned to be with Wood Memorial for the long haul, and he never applied anywhere else. When it comes to what parts of History Shoultz likes to teach, he said, "All of it." He added that the boys especially like to learn about the wars. Shoultz said that he tries to be personable, and he tries to break the history components down to relate them to things happening today. MENU Thursday, November 8: Salisbury steak and pota- toes, chicken patty, Italian salad or PB&J with Green beans, fresh fruit, veggies and applesauce. Friday, November 9: Cheese pizza, hotdog, grilled chicken salad or ham and cheese sandwich with sweet corn, fresh fruit, veggies and mixed fruit. Monday, November 12: Chicken patty, riblet, chef salad or PD&J with car- rots, fresh fruit, veggies and mixed fruit. Tuesday, November 13: Nachos, grilled cheese, popcorn chicken salad or ham and cheese sandwich with green beans, fresh fruit, veggies and diced peaches. Wednesday, November 14: Chicken nuggets, hot- dog, taco salad or turkey and cheese sandwich with baked beans, fresh fruit, veggies, diced pears and jello. CALENDER Nov. 7–Breakfast with the principal Nov. 9 –Early Dismissal at 12:50 p.m. P TO Fall Festival 5 -7 p.m. Nov. 12–Veterans Day pro- gram, High School Gym, 9 a.m. Nov. 13–Fifth grade(Girls and Boys) Basketball at St. Joe, 5 p.m. Nov. 15 –Mid terms Nov. 19 –Boys' Basketball (5 & 6) vs. Haubstadt, 4:30 p.m. Nov. 20 –Spelling Bee, 8:30 a.m. Girls' Basketball (5 & 6) at Haubstadt, 5 p.m. Nov. 21 - Nov. 23–No School Thanksgiving Break Nov. 26 –Girls' Basketball (5 & 6) vs. Fort Branch, 4:30 p.m. Nov. 27–Fifth grade(Girls and Boys) Basketball vs. Ho- ly Cross, 4:30 p.m. Nov. 29 –Evansville Music Academy Program Boys' Basketball (5 & 6) vs. Owensville, 4:30 p.m. Nov. 30 –Geography Bee, 8:30 a.m. Wood Memorial Spell Bowl team almost makes state cut OAKLAND CITY ELEMENTARY HALLOWEEN WALK Grace Jones in an interesting Halloween cos- tume, dirty laundry, at Oakland City Elementary. Kenzie Rudolph photo Blaize Fox makes a great Luigi at OCE's Hal- loween walk, where area businesses came to pass out candy. Kenzie Rudolph photo Wyatt Brogan as the red power ranger and Lay- la Norrick as a Ladybug trick or treat while area businesses hand out candy at OCE on Halloween morning. Kenzie Rudolph photo Ember Beasley and Avery Carr participate in OCE's Halloween walk last Wednesday morning. Kenzie Rudolph photo Aubrey Hedges sports an interesting costume at OCE's Halloween walk. Kenzie Rudolph photo Oakland City Elementary student, Kendrix Beasley, as a scientist for Halloween. Kenzie Ru- dolph photo