Black River Falls Canoeing Trip

By: Katelyn Green
Mr. Wortman's second and third hour environmental problems class went canoeing down the Black River in Melrose on October 7th. River View In of Melrose donated 23 canoes for the students. The purpose of the student's canoeing was to pick up trash that they saw either in the river and on the sand bars.

Mr. Wortman and the students started on the river about 9:00am, stopped for lunch around 11:30am, and got to North Bend around 2:30pm. "It was very cold in the morning but warmed up after lunch" said senior Elizabeth Becker.

By lunch time two boys had their canoe just about full of trash. They had two plastic lawn chairs, a big blue barrel, and lots of other garbage. At lunch everyone stopped at a large sand bar for about a hour and a half. For lunch Mr. Wortman brought along two grills, hamburgers, hotdogs, carrots, and chips. "For 46 students they ate 52 hamburgers, 36 hotdogs, 2 bags of carrots, and 5 bags of chips. They were hungry students" said Wortman.

While the students were going down the river they got the chance to see many wildlife animals. They saw eagles, hawks, spiders, muskrats, and tiny fish. "We enjoyed the scenery, being out of school, and relaxing" said senior Martha Wilms. Over all the kids enjoyed it and Sparta High will keep this canoeing trip a tradition for years to come.

Life in the Navy

Life in the Navy

The Navy is a military force that protects the waters. In the Navy you will go on some kind of a boat more than likely. There are submarines, fast attacks, boomers, and air craft carriers. Only men are allowed on submarines because there is not enough room to have male and female equipment. On all other boats men and women are allowed together.

You can first start to join the navy when you turn 17 years old. To join you must talk to a recruiter. They go to schools at lunch or there is a place in LaCrosse near Kmart. Then he/she will set up a date to talk about what you would like to do in the navy. After that the recruiter will sign you up for personal training also known as "PT" to make sure you are physically capable to join. "I made it just fine through PT and boot camp. Just go with the flow and don't make anyone higher than you mad." said Jason Green.

After you have signed all the papers and are able to join you will go to boot camp in Great Lakes, IL for two months. Boot camp for the Navy is not as intense and other military forces. It is more so schooling then anything, but they do have regulations that you have to meet by the end of your two months.

Spartans rise above Saints

By:Dylan Amundson

The Sparta Spartans new head coach Mark Byom put a homecoming victory under his belt. Their victory was against the Swatcha Saints from southwest Milwaukee, Wisconsin.

The Spartans started out strong. In the sixth play of the game quarterback #16 Jordan Laufenberg Spartan senior ran in the ball for a 2-yard quarterback sneak. Then the Spartan's field goal kicker who also happens to be Laufenberg made it through the goal posts to give the Spartans a 7-0 lead with 10:16 left to go in the first quarter.

Then the Saints gained control of the ball. The Spartans giving them no chances to make a break for the end zone. They are forced to punt the ball away on fourth down. Then after five changes in possession Sparta Spartan #11 Jonathan Fendt Spartan senior intercepts the ball at the 15-yard line giving the Spartans another chance at 10:36 in the second quarter.

The Spartans were almost to the first down when Laufenberg went back for the pass and a Saint got around the outside sacking him. The Spartans stuck at the 15-yard line are forced to punt the ball away once again. The saints were on the 40-yard line and were going for a run right up the gut and the ball is stripped by #2 Casey Olson Spartan senior as his team mate recovers it giving Sparta possession. Then after eleven plays Spartan #20 Nick Anderson Spartan senior runs it in for the touchdown.

The Spartans kick to the Saints and they are less fortunate and fumble giving the Spartans possession. The Spartans take the ball all the way to the end zone for another touchdown putting them up from the saints 21-0.

At the end of the half on the Saints fourth down they try a pitch to the outside with the back missing the ball the Spartans recover in another fumble recovery. That brought it to half-time with the score still 21-0.

At the beginning of the third the saints receive the kick and bring the ball up to the 50–yard line. They then had 8 plays following making it the longest Saints possession of the night.

Then the ball is turned over to the Spartans, but their first play didn’t go quiet as planned with an interception the possession goes back to the Saints. But then after three plays the Spartans intercept the ball once again, but the saints hold their ground as Spartans are forced to turnover on downs.

The Saints try a pass play which is unsuccessful as #15 Alex Hemmersbach Spartan junior intercepts and takes it to the Saints 40-yard line. The possession ends in a Spartan touchdown pass to Fendt Putting the Spartans up 27-0 after missing extra point kick.

The Spartans then kick it to the Saints which end up being forced to kick the ball away after 5-plays. With the Spartans back in possession they punch it up the middle for the touchdown making the score 33-0.

With 9:40 left in the fourth quarter the Spartans let up a little too much on the Saints as it allows them to score making it 33-6. The Spartans after receiving their second kick in the game. Their possession ended in a fumble with the Saints recovering for the first time the entire game. The Saints then take it back for another touchdown; they also managed to get the two-point conversion.

The Spartans will have the last possession of the game making the final score 33-12 with the Spartans Victorious. “The bigger crowd from homecoming help the team push for the win” said Jesse Amundson #47 senior on the Spartans football team. The Spartans have not been very fortunate during the homecoming game in the last few years. The last time they won homecoming was the last year Larry Noll was head coach in 2004 against Holmen with the final score being 13-7.

Sparta High School homecoming dance

Sparta High School had a dance in the cafeteria on Saturday the 19th.
Sam Russ, the high school principal said " It went very well, there was about 12-13 supervisors there and I wish everybody would have went. The dance was worth it and 345 students showed up" said Russ, "The dance would have been better if more kids were involved, I feel the dance was successful this year because of school spirit and having homecoming early."
Beth Rhoades, a senior at Sparta High School said, " I thought the dance was awesome." Rhoades also stated " I think it was to hot, and there should have been fans or it could have been outside on the track field."
Savannah Mckinzie, a junior at Sparta High School also stated, " I thought the dance was good but it was really hot in there. I also thought the dance should have been on the track field."
Rhoades also said, " I didn't like how homecoming court was announced and I think it should have been more decorated and organized." On the other hand Mckinzie liked how the homecoming court was announced she said that, " They should be announced and then they should play their favorite song or a quote they like."
For the concession stand Rhoades said, " I liked how they gave out water, it was nice." Mckinzie also stated that she didn't go to the concession stand, but she heard stuff was free. Rhoades also thought that having the dance be formal was a good idea. Mckinzie stated that, " The dance shouldn't be formal because you should wear what you want so its easier to dance in."
Mckinzie thought that, "the dance could have been better if they had more room." Mckinzie also said, " The music was good but they should have had less slow songs.
Danielle Endres a sophomore at Sparta High School said, " I don't think the dance should have been in the cafeteria, I thought it was too hot." She also stated that, "The dance was fun except for the drama that went on." Mariah Kelly a freshmen at Sparta High School also stated that, " The dance would have been better if there was less drama."
Endres thought the dance would have been better if they were able to go outside during the dance and be able to come back in. Endres also stated that, " The music was good and easy to dance to." Endres also thought that the concession stand should have had more choices for the food and drinks.
Endres said that, " I think we could have the dance in the gym or somewhere where your not really hot." Endres also stated that, " The dance shouldn't be formal because, why buy a dress your only going to wear once, and why buy shoes that will hurt your feet and you will end up taking them off anyway."
Kelley said the dance was fun. Kelly also stated, " The dance should stay in the cafeteria."