We Have to Play Where?

By Travis Thornburgh

            Each school year brings changes.  From new students, to new teachers, to the classes we take, things have changed here at Interstate 35.  An additional change that high school students have to cope with this year is the realignment of the football districts in the State of Iowa. 

                This season, the schedule includes past opponents such as Clarke, Bondurant-Farrar, and Prairie City-Monroe, but also features some never before seen opponents.  The Roadrunners now have to prepare for roadtrips to North Polk in Alleman and Davis County in Bloomfield.  Interstate will also prepare for home contests against Collins-Maxwell-Baxter and Albia.

                Although it would seem that a change of scene would be a welcome sight for the football team, the reaction has been much different.  When asked his reactions, Coach Randy Calvert said that it is good to branch out opponents, but there are many downfalls.  For one, the travel has become much more demanding for the Roadrunners this fall, considering they have already logged a 2 ½ hour trek to Bloomfield.  Calvert further cited issues by saying, “When we went to district football, we lost many of the natural rivalries that we used to play.”

                Players are reacting in much the same way.  Tommy Bregar, starting quarterback for the Roadrunners stated, when asked about his feelings on the football district, that, “I just hate how spread out the district is and how much bigger the schools are than us.”  Ethan Jones, a starting lineman this fall, went on to second Bregar’s thoughts.

New Gym Floor

By Jessica Deuel 

 “It is gorgeous.” commented Brittany Mease when asked how she felt about the new gym floor. Rather than having a coffee stain colored floor, we now own a beautiful lightened floor. The floor was refinished and redesigned by Stalker Flooring, so now it looks better than ever. There is also a new roadrunner logo in the center of the gym as well as “Interstate Roadrunners” on either side of the floor. The atmosphere is noticeably different when you walk into the gym whether it’s for P.E. or a sporting event.

“Everything is just more upbeat and you can’t help but stare at it for a few seconds,” said Nicole Travis. 

Everyone who has seen the new gym floors are very pleased with the job. Even before they saw it, pictures flooded social networking sites. It is clear that the Interstate 35 community greatly appreciates this new edition.

A note from the administration: In order to protect out $25,000 investment in the redesigned and refinished gym floor, there will be no food allowed in the high school gym beginning immediately. Drinks will be allowed. Thank you for your cooperation.

Interstate Coaches Both Reach Milestones

Baseball coach Jeff Douglas and softball coach Tim Bogs both reached incredible milestones this season.  Both notched their 500th career win.  Coach Douglas collected his 500th win against his alma mater Wayne Community Schools. 

Coach Bogs' 500th win came at home against the Central Decatur Cardinals. 

Photo Courtesy of Mary Bogs

Records Keep Falling

By Ellen Lupkes
The starter’s gun has gone off and the Roadrunner’s season has started with a bang. Setting multiple meet records, school records, and personal records Interstate 35 girls track and field has set the bar high.

The sprint medley relay, consisting of Jenna Sandquist, Staci Morris, Natalie Johnson, and Maddie Beeler is ranked number one in class 2A and will be competing at the Drake Relays. Other relays off to a good start are shuttle hurdle, 4x200, distance medley, and 4x400. All are ranked in the top two in district assignments. Individuals in the top two qualifying spots include Ellen Lupkes (100 meter hurdles, 400 meter hurdle), Jenna Sanquist (100 meter hurdles), Maddie Beeler (200 meter and 400 meter), and Natalie Johnson (long jump).

Girls Golf

This year the girls’ golf team will be the only golf team fielded at Interstate 35. Not enough boys went out this year to make a full team. The girls so far have had six golf meets. Progress is being made and the girls are improving. Mr. Condon has an assistant coach in former Roadrunner golfer, Logan Tibbits. Logan graduated from I-35 last year and was on a very successful team in their last campaign. Logan has received several varsity letters in golf and hopes to help Mr. Condon improve the team. The girls that are out for golf include Alicia Lamas, Toriann Erickson, Tess Taylor, and Ashley Roth.
“We are shaving off points with each golf meet and getting closer to the other teams,” explained Ashley Roth. At the last golf meet Alicia Lamas scored 79, Toriann Erickson scored 60, Tess Taylor scored 86, and Ashley Roth scored 80.
“Logan Tibbits, the assistant coach, and having Mr. Condon as coaches really helps out in our improvements each meet,” described Roth. “It is not fun to golf in the cold weather.”
Keep up the progress and good Luck at your next meet girls.

Four Speakers Make All-State

In arguably the most difficult state contest in recent memory, the Interstate 35 speech team qualified four speakers to All-State held annually at the University of Northern Iowa. Judging for the competition was tougher than in the recent past. This was apparent by the lack of numbers making All-State this year. While there are usually a few different speakers in many categories, the numbers from the contest have been cut in half making it extra difficult to make the cut this year.
Speakers performing on Monday March 26 are Justin Pontier, Mariah Lewis, Andrew Morris, and Alex Bertrand.
Alex Bertrand put on possibly the best speech performance of his life to make the festival in reviewing. Andrew Morris, who is only in his second year of speech, made All-State in public address speaking. Justin Pontier had a tough day, but still got the nod for his senior campaign making it his fourth straight year. This year Justin will go in storytelling. Mariah will be performing for her third year at All-State with her after dinner speaking.

The Speech Team Strikes Again

By Alyssa Bissell

Last weekend the speech team traveled west the hometown of Coach Mehrhoff, Anita, for the annual Walnut Hill speech tournament. Although this tournament is known to be tough, the Interstate 35 squad came out at 2nd place with a whopping eighty six points, just under Ankeny. Last year, the team placed fourth, so this year’s outcome was truly an achievement, especially while competing against bigger schools.

The people who placed this year include:
Acting: first place Mariah Lewis, second place Justin Pontier
After Dinner: 2nd place Kaley Chicoine, 3rd Place Mariah Lewis
Freshman Poetry: 2nd place Brittany Mease
Original Oratory: 2nd place Kaley Chicoine
Public Address: 2nd place Andrew Morris, 3rd place Megan Ellis
Reviewing: 2nd place Alex Bertrand
Solo Musical Theatre: 3rd place Andrew Morris
Storytelling: 1st place Justin Pontier

With such outstanding results, the speech team has had a strong practice and idea of what is to come at State this weekend.