There are many different clubs and activities offered through Muscatine High School. Some are

popular with many members, such as Student Council, and some are small with only a few members.

However, each club is important to the High School and adds character to who the students are and

each of their individual interests.

S.O.A.P., otherwise known as Students of Active Prayer has been active in the school for about

five years now and is a club all about Christian values and is known as a place where students can come

to pray and talk about all the issues in their life. Sarah Turner, a senior and also one of the leaders of

S.O.A.P., said, “I want S.O.A.P. to be a club where no one feels judged and can just freely come to pray

and talk about whatever might be on their mind.” S.O.A.P. meets every Thursday night during the school

year at alternating members’ houses.

Spanish Club is well known club throughout the Spanish department. Many students who are

taking Spanish classes like to join Spanish club to further their horizons in Spanish and have an outlet

outside of the classroom. The Spanish club has “fiestas” and “Las Lomas” nights frequently and is a great

way to learn more about Spanish culture and the language. Mrs. Kroll, the teacher who is in charge

of Spanish club said, “Spanish club is a fun time!” Spanish club meets every Thursday morning in Mrs.

National Honor Society, also known as NHS, is one of the more “prestigious” clubs of the High

School. Students must maintain a 3.5 GPA and volunteer a certain amount of hours in order to stay

a part of the club. National Honor Society can be found volunteering in many activities and events

throughout the community of Muscatine and is a great way for a student to become involved. Rachel

Lobianco, Vice President of NHS, said that, “NHS is a great club to be involved in because it helps shape

you into a better person.”

Young Republicans is a relatively new club at the High School, as it has only been active for two

years, including this present school year. The students meet during Homeroom, alternating between

Tuesdays and Thursdays. They have been involved in a food drive for the overseas troops and in

volunteering for the Iowa Caucus. I, myself, am a member and think it’s a great club to get involved in,

to learn more about politics and your country as a whole.

With so many clubs at Muscatine High School to choose from it can be a hard decision.

Whatever club you do end up choosing, you can’t go wrong.

Business is Booming!
by Savannah Sutton

One of the major academic programs at MHS is the Business department. From Economics to Marketing to Accounting to Computer Applications, the business department is full of classes designed to prepare our students for their future after MHS. These classes help our students to learn crucial skills to survive on their own “in the real world”. Most classes teach students how to manage their money in a realistic and beneficial way to better their lives and make their money take them places.
One class required to be taken by seniors is Economics. Mrs. Tometich teaches Economics with a lesson plan to enrich all types of students. She combines project based learning with standard teaching.
Maddy Mealy said, “I really like having G2 and a normal class together, it gives you just enough of each.”
Business is something every person needs to survive. Having some business classes as required class may frustrate some students, but it is for the best. Learning how to manage your money is an important skill.

BY: Taylor Bishop and Katie Meyers

The 2011 varsity volleyball team worked hard all season, and coach Rhoten makes that noticeable. “ The season overall went really well, and we were very successful,” said Rhoten. They were 5-4 in the MAC. Kryslynn Klimes and Alex Walgren were the captains of the team. Taylor Berry, a junior, also stepped up along with Katie Shoultz, an underclassman. “ All the girls worked as hard as they could, so I’m not really sure if there was room for anymore improvement,” explains Rhoten. Although she wishes they would’ve had more team building activities earlier on, she says she wouldn’t have changed a thing about the season. “Taylor Borde needs recognition for improving the most this season!” exclaims Rhoten.

The varsity volleyball team finished the season with a 26-9 record, making it to Regionals. The season started off with a win against Assumption and continued on the winning path. Kaylee Jones, junior, thinks that out of all the teams Iowa City West was their hardest competition. The easiest competition for varsity would have been Davenport North. The team has played their hearts out this season. “ We have really improved on helping each other improve and get better, I think that I have improved a lot this season with the help of my coach and teammates,” said Jones. “ Danielle Nelson, I believe, has improved the most out of everyone on my team! She really showed her talents on and off the court,” exclaimed Jones.
The sophomore volleyball season also finished very well, finishing first in the MAC. This season both started and ended well for the girls but they all think that it could have been better. Emily Meeker, sophomore, thinks that Pleasant Valley was their toughest competition. “ It really was a tough game for us, we had to play together as a team and help each other out,” said Meeker. The sophomore team all agrees that Davenport Central was the easiest team that they faced. “I believe that one way our season could have been better would have been putting more effort in to practices,” explains Meeker.
Last season was a lot more different that this season. Rhoten explains that the girls this season were a lot more competitive than the girls from last year. “They believed in making it to state, and that’s what got them there,” adds Rhoten. We’ve also improved a lot from last year. “I’m really proud of the way the program is progressing, and all the team work put forth,” says Rhoten. Good job to the volleyball girls of 2011!

by: Kaylea Rusch, Anna Noll, Taylor Carey

 This season the Muscatine Muskies went out with a record of 5-5. All wishing the season could have gone a little better; they still had a fun time playing football and being with their teammates. They are all very proud to be a part of this Muskie team. The team is their family and they love them like one.

Their toughest competition this year was Bettendorf High School. “They probably had one of the best defenses in the state,” said senior, Logan Brady. Bettendorf was the last game in the regular season for the Muskies, though hoping for a win, they came up short with a score of 48 to 14. They gave their best effort. The Muskies easiest competition this season was Davenport North says Coach Mueller, even though some of the players thought Clinton was with up their with them. They defeated north with a score of 49 to 14 in the beginning of the season. That started them off with a bang.

Almost every senior this year really stepped up and became a leader this year, but some that stood out more to others were Tanner Bohling. Tanner broke many records this year and was a huge contribution to the Muskie Football Program. Logan Brady, “who didn’t see the field much last year really pushed in the off season and played well this year,” said senior, Tanner Bohling. Fischer Herald, who didn’t see the field as much either, “really stepped up and worked hard and became a key player for us during the season,” said Jake Shoultz, junior. Coach Mueller also thought that Colton McConnaha was a key component of the team this season.

This year the boys made it to the dome in Cedar Falls. “Playing in the dome is always a fun experience with both fans echoing cheers it can get pretty loud,” said Bohling. Though it is a far travel, lots of people still have the trip to support our Muskies. “It is a nice place and is good for the kids. It is always nice to have the fans and students support at the game as well, it really means a lot,” said Mueller. Junior, Jake Shoultz said, “It’s an adrenaline rush and an experience you can’t describe.”

Over all Mueller thought the boys worked hard during this season and during the off season. Of course he wishes they could have won more games, but so does everyone else. It was a very fun season and they are really looking forward to next. The boys cannot wait to start up again this upcoming year.

  The Season for the Cheerleaders

     By: Darrien Musser

The cheerleaders were off to a rough season this year with a new coach and a new assistant coach. Dawnese Openshaw, head coach, has had many good and bad experiences with the football cheerleaders this year. They have had some cheerleaders quit and many, many injuries. Despite all of the injuries the cheerleaders decided they wanted to go to a competition in November.
On November 5th the cheerleaders went to state. This was the first time that the Muscatine High School cheerleaders have ever been to state. The team competed in the co-ed division, with two male cheerleaders. This was the first time that they have ever competed co-ed as well. The team ended up placing 8th out of 8 teams but everyone was happy. They put their hearts out on that mat and did the best they could. They got minor deductions for things that they did not know were illegal including; hair in the face, finger nails being too long, taking eyes off of a stunt, and stepping on a sign. The end pyramid fell and that also deducted many points. the team would have gotten 4th if the end would have been a success. Darci Lepton, choreographer and assistant coach said that next year the MHS cheerleaders are bringing the heat and other teams better be ready! Now is winter cheer leading and Dawnese hopes that it goes just as well, or better than football season.

Victory Amongst Teammates: Cross Country

By Ashley Campbell and Austin Thomas

Cross country season has wrapped up! Meaning another wonderful, memorable season for all MHS cross country members and coaches!

Conar Dolan, a senior and varisty boys runner explained his season:

“I think it was a team strength-season. We started to build a team with depth. We worked really hard, and started to build a tradition of hard work. Which will hopefully get us, as a team, to state in the future.”

Dolan broke a record and goal with a 17 minute, 5k run with his time of 16:54:02. Even though Dolan graduates this year, he plans to possibly participate in cross country again in college. His advice to other runners?

“Long, hard miles early in the season, and the right mindset really pay off.”

Marci Paca’s, a junior and junior-varsity runner, most favorite memory this season;

“Running junior varsity with Sarah Turner and Natalie Fillmore- we had a secret hand signal just for us!”

Although Paca likes to run for fun; loves the girls, Coach Armstrong and France; and it keeps her in shape, she had no personal record or goal this season.

Paca’s advice to fellow cross country runners?
“The first week is terrible, but once you get started it’s not that bad, so start in the summer!”
Tim Armstrong, girls cross country coach, explain this season as very successful.
“We really don’t have a record, because our meets involve multiple teams, however we finished ahead of a majority of the schools we ran. It was one of the most successful seasons in the past several years due to the hard work and dedication of the girls.”
Coach Armstrong said his MVP’s this season was senior, Lindsay Brunson, and sophomore, Rachel Turner.
Jacob Nichols is a junior and second junior-varsity runner, who found this years cross country season exciting.
“What was most memorable for me was at Cedar Rapids when everyone dropped time. And going to the district meet and stuffing myself at Golden Corrall!”
Nichols plans to participate in cross country again next year as his senior year, and had similar advice as Paca;
“Run track and run during the summer.”

Breaking the Records

By Anna Noll

Everyone wants to be known for something while they are in high school, whether it is for band, grades, attendance, personality, or breaking many school records.  Well Sarah did just that her first year at the high school for swimming.
Sarah has been swimming competitively since she was eight years old.  Within those eight years Sarah has swam for five different organizations; YMCA, MHS varsity swimming, QCA, Iowa City, and now currently swimming for Lane Four Aquatics. With all these different organizations helping her improve, Sarah said that the one coach that has helped her the most was Bob Calegan.  Sarah said that without Bob she would be where she is today in her swimming career.
Along with the help from her coaches, Sarah also finds help and motivation from her long time friend and team mate, Hailey Oepping.  Hailey has swam beside Sarah since they both joined YMCA swimming when they were just eight years old.  Since then Sarah and Hailey have been close friends and team mates. Together during practice they both like to mess around with each other and have fun but also push each other to do better. Hailey said that Sarah has helped her become a better swimming today, because of the push Sarah gives Hailey when she needs it.
With all the help from friends and coaches it had help Sarah break four high school records her freshmen year. Sarah broke three relay records and broke the 500 free style record by herself.  From breaking all these records, Sarah went to state for all her events. She got 5th in a relay and 10th in the state in the 500 her freshmen year. To be a freshmen and able to do all of this is pretty out of the ordinary.
Sarah plans on breaking more school records in the near future and also plans on going to college for swimming. But till then Sarah will be pushed and motivated by her friends and coaches to grow in her swimming career.