Seniors who responded to Play’s senior survey were featured in this year’s senior issue, Cashing Out. Because not all responses for this category could fit in the magazine, we are listing them all here.
Olivia Baalman This year, the tennis regionals was the day after fall homecoming. Coach Anderson, Coach Bernard and the other five girls left Friday afternoon because regionals was hosted in Garden City, but because I was a homecoming candidate I was going to drive there after halftime of the football game. Once I got to Garden, it was about one in the morning, and my doubles partner Amanda Vo was really determined to have me come up to the hotel room. Turns out, my teammates wrote my name in peanut butter on my hotel bed and gave me a peanut-butter-covered crown. I have a HUGE peanut butter phobia; being around it makes me cry (embarrassing I know). Even though it was a stickier, more repulsive crown, it’s one of my favorite high school memories with some of my favorite people. Claire Beard My junior year I went to MSHS for Anatomy, and when they were taking pep club pictures I got into the front row, but within 5 minutes I got kicked out. Jacklynn Brock Throwing grapes at kids during lunch with my friends at our lunch table. Sara Calvert One time, junior year I was watching the girls basketball team play at Olathe Northwest and I did the roller coaster in front of the student section…of the other team. Cody Cambell Transferring over to Maize High I thought I was going to regret coming over here but I got settled in and realized that Maize is one of the best places to be! Sage Chaffin My most memorable moment would definitely be homecoming week. The day I found out I was a candidate I was shocked. I had no idea people were going to vote for me. That whole week was so much fun and I had never really been a guy that had any school spirit but that week I had as much as the whole cheerleading squad. I’ll never forget campaigning with Sara Calvert and seeing people wear around the sc^2 shirts. It was an awesome feeling to be up for homecoming king and I’ll never forget the memories I made that week. Aaron Chansombath My most memorable event would probably be at the Hutch invitational track meet, when I had a personal record of 13’6 in pole vault. It was a three foot personal record so everybody at the meet was just so surprised and shocked. Alyssa Cole During my sophomore year in choir, we had a test over the choreography for one of our songs. Sarah Slack, who was a freshman, forgot the dance moves and started doing an awkward kick move and free styling. It was absolutely hilarious to watch. Emily Cork One time I got a concussion….twice. Rachel Corr My freshman year the band took a trip to Chicago and I had such an amazing time. We went to Navy Pier, the Sky deck in Willis Tower, a symphony, walked the million dollar mile, went to an art museum, and saw the Blue Man group. Even though sitting on the bus for twelve hours wasn’t fun, at all, getting to experience a new city and new things made the back ache from the bus worth it. Ashtyn Dalal Dominating the juniors in powder-puff and fall homecoming activities. Lauren Debes Well, sophomore year in Mr. Kruse’s biology class Sydney McGinnis and Jessica Curtiss were singing “To the window, to the wall” and I was sitting in the middle. Sydney had papers in her hands so as she threw her hands from side to side the paper caught my eye and I screamed bloody murder. Everyone stared at me. Then as I attempted to leave for the nurse, who only comforted me with saltines and ice chips, I tripped on the file cabinet drawer sticking out. For the next week and a half my vision was blurry. To add to this it was tech week for Twelfth Night and I fell off the stage more times than I can count. This is about the norm for all of my high school experiences. Adam Denton I have only been at Maize high for two years (junior year- senior year). In that time I have met a lot of new friends and reconnected with some old friends. I have worked with lots of great teachers and administrators. My favorite story is during my junior year in science olympiad when I was number one in my event (robot arm) at the regional level and number two in the same event at the state level. I pretty much blew away the competition. Addie Driskill The most memorable moments are not at the school, but with the people I met at Maize. I owe this school so much, for they have taught me all the knowledge that fills my brain and shown me friends that fill all the love in my heart. Alexa Durano Here’s a story from marching band: Two penguins are skiing down a mountain when, suddenly, one penguin hits a tree. At that exact moment, a helicopter flies above the tree! Ha! Zach Edwards Mrs. Fisher basically set up my girlfriend and me. She made us chemistry partners and we literally had chemistry together. Amber Fisher I remember when I first met my friends as a freshmen, Austin Branson and I didn’t know what to do and how to act at lunch so we sat by ourselves. I finally got feed up and walked around till, I came across this table and they were playing Yugioh and on their DS’s I popped up and started asking if I can join them. The next day me and Austin sat with the mixed group of nerds and geeks. We were all different in many ways, but clicked. Ever since then we’ve made this group that has just grown over the years and has helped other kids and make friends. It was awesome, that was the day I met my other family, we still keep in contact and help one another. We all had hard times, but we were there for each other and it helped us face all of our hardships. I don’t know where I’d be without them; they are my brothers and sisters. Jordan Grant My best memory out of my 4 years at MHS is no doubt this year when we made school history making it to the state championship game. Even though we lost I was so proud of the girls because they worked so hard and they achieved something no other MHS basketball team has ever done before. Another great memory was this year when a group of friends and I got out of school to go to Lawrence and we went to Late Night In The Phog. It was our first road trip without any parents and I was able to gain a lot of trust from my parents. We waited in line outside Allen Fieldhouse for a good 4 hours and it was really hot. When they finally opened the doors 13,600 people ran through the doors frantically and we barely made it in because they went over capacity. It was my first time at Late Night and I’m glad I was able to experience it with my closest friends. After Late Night we had to walk what felt like 2 miles back to the car which was parked right next to the football stadium. As we were walking back to the car it started raining really hard so we all got soaked, but it was worth it. Molly Green All the beautiful third blocks I spent in the school store for the past year and a half!! Haylee Hanna My best friend and I went to the drive-in one night and didn’t have any problems getting there. We saw Grown Ups 2. On the way home we turned the wrong way onto highway 135 and ended up going towards Oklahoma City. When we finally got home we called our little adventure The Trip to Narnia and Back. Gaby Harding Freshman year my brother was a junior. One day I was walking down the hall and he yelled “Gabby you left your tampons in my car again!” Everyone in the hall turned around and laughed at me. Little embarrassing. Rachel Henderson When I had my baby in November, Mrs. Elder visited me in the hospital. My Spanish class gave me a card with gift cards to Starbucks and Dillon’s. It was really sweet. Knowing I had the support of my classmates- people I hadn’t known prior to that class- made the experience so much easier for me. Hannah Hills When we went to a basketball game in Kansas City and Sara Calvert went to the other student section and tried to start the rollercoaster. They didn’t follow and just stared at her as she ran across the gym. Had to be there. Sandra Hjelmseth I went on a cruise with my best friends mom from MHS, Avery Woods, Sydney Travis and Cassie George. We had a fun time together and became even better friends. Kavan Jobe Sophomore year basketball playing JV basketball with my best friends, Aaron Shaw, Connor Eleeson, Caleb Wilcox, Jacob Horsch, and Chase White for the best coach ever Martian Shetlar AKA Godfather AKA Gator. It was one of the best and most fun experience that I have ever had as an athlete. Camilla Linblad One of the scariest moments of my year at Maize High School must be the first day of school. As a foreign exchange student, I did not know anyone. On top of that I could not communicate in my native language and the school was so different from my school in Sweden. But everything went really well, everyone was very friendly and welcoming and took care of me. Taylor Miller There was one time in Drawing 2 when my friend Todd Nelson rubbed charcoal on my face and increased my mustache. Then my other friend Caleb Youts put a sombrero on my head and I looked like a mexican. I took the hat off and we danced around it. Mrs. Johnson thought we were crazy and I’m pretty sure she was frustrated, but she thought it was funny. It was a good time. Luke Mohr Kellor Yde, Colin Olson and I bursting out laughing when we took first at EconChallenge State after believing we were last place is one of my favorite memories. Playing “Shabba” by ASAP Ferg after winning football games. Gage Morgan playing “Shabba” by ASAP Ferg after winning football games. Jessica Neises When I was in the middle of my junior year I wanted to learn a second instrument and couldn’t decide between flute and saxophone. My mom rented me an alto sax and I was able to fulfill my dream of being in a jazz band. Shortly after I chose to continue playing saxophone in marching band was treated like a freshman all over again. I started helping my band teacher with his elementary school woodwinds where they play flute, clarinet, and saxophone. I brought both my instruments as well as my friend’s flute and learned flute and saxophone at its very basics. One of the freshman flutes dropped in my second band class and my teacher asked me to play flute. So all in all I never really had to choose, I was able to do both. I’ve been spending so much time with our freshman I know they will turn out really amazing next year when they join the upperclassmen. The freshman band music is extremely easy but challenging for me as a beginning flute player and so I’m not bored like I used to be as a saxophonist. I’ve made so many friends among both band classes, I would give anything to have another year in both classes with completely new instruments and challenges ahead of me. Kaylor Nelssen I felt really happy when I got my basketball letter. It was really fun. Ben Nguyen Junior year, I was waiting for soccer practice to start, so my friends and I were passing the ball back and forth, then my friend to decided to be a smart Alec and blast the ball right at me, and my only reaction was to get a foot on the ball. Good things did not happen because after hitting my foot the ball popped straight up and broke the light, then obviously the next day I got called in by Mrs. Schmidt and had to pay for it and the usually.. 4 hour detention. Kelsey Nickell One time at the first football game of the season, my best friend at the time went on her first date with a boy. He came to our game. We were standing over by the bathrooms and my friend got punched in the nose on accident and it started bleeding everywhere right in front of the boy. She ran to the bathroom and I had to awkwardly stand with this boy that I didn’t even know while my friend went to go clean herself up. It was pretty eventful. Tiffany Pham Taking at least 15 minutes every single day to take attendance in Albin’s class was always a classic cause we would get sooo off track. Mr. Frye’s constant sarcasm and “wickedness” was an experience, you won’t know until you’re one of his students. Mrs. Schantz and Mr. Grill’s “real-talk” times. That is all I have to say for that 😉 I would like to thank all of my teachers and friends for an amazing four years. It was short but sweet. Everyday someone always brightened it. I love you all! Brandi Phillips This school year, to earn our five hours of community service, my encore decided to volunteer at the Tanganyika wildlife park for their Pumpkins at the Park theme around Halloween. We dressed up in costumes and handed out candy and toys to the children that came. Although it was freezing cold around then, it was a really fun time. I made friends with more people in my encore and we goofed off and had fun volunteering. Laci Rekoske My favorite memories of MHS will always consist of the wonderful assemblies before homecoming with the skits. Also when I answered my cell phone in the middle of Mr. Loving’s Photojournalism class. John Retzlaff I found 20 dollars on the ground in the parking lot one time! Lauren Robinso-Loyd Doing a parkour video sophomore year with Olivia Baalman, Becca Andrus, and Kelsie Jack. Sydney Roy I went onstage in a big purple dress and a fruit hat, singing in a ridiculous Spanish accent for choir. Johannon Rucker Fear not, no property was damaged in the following activities: We in the fine arts hall have efficiently locked the women inside the choir room using stage weights; We once had the Choir Olympics, including intense, and painful, sack races (in the choir room); We’ve had around 15 tennis balls that we were just consistently launching around the room; The trash can game is always a joy; Ask any choir kid their story relating to “The Choir Games”. Martina Salas Since I have been at Maize High School I really have enjoyed it. I have made so many friends that are wonderful. Rachel Schreiber Sophomore year at lunch, I got a pretzel with cheese and someone else got an uncrushable (PB & J sandwich). We were messing around and the other person stole my cheese and throw it in the trash can, not thinking it wouldn’t spill out, and the cheese splattered all over the wall. So, I took then uncrushable and smashed it and somehow got Peanut Butter & Jelly all over the ceiling. To this day, the cheese is still on the wall and the peanut butter & Jelly is still on the ceiling. It is safe to say we have left our mark. Trevor Schweikert During the summer for fun a couple of friends and I threw water balloons at cars on the road. There were many reactions, but on sticks with me when a man got out of his car, grabbed a shotgun and looked for us. Don’t throw stuff at cars boys and girls. Haley Smith I went to Disney world with the women’s choir over thanksgiving and I cried a lot and had the most amazing experience. Matthew Smith My friends and I make inside jokes in yearbook, mostly just on how the person responds to questions or how someone looks in a photo. Austin Snell As a sophomore, I was still pretty introverted. At lunch, I used to sit alone behind the commons’ glass wall. One day, one of the upperclassmen from choir invited me to sit and eat with her and her group of choir friends. This was definitely the most important moment of my time at Maize High School. The Choir Games (Nerf Gun Hunger Games Parody) and being assigned to the dance captain of the school musical “How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying”
Every second spent in the choir room. Tyler Stratton During my freshman to sophomore year my metals class would habe a cookout every week on the last day before the weekend. Trevor Cox, one of my good friends, brought deer steaks to cook for everyone in class. We only had a limited amount of time to cook, so we ate our steaks medium rare. They were really juciy and had a bright pink center. About 20 minutes afrer everyone was done eating, people were puking left and right. We were all sick because it was like eating raw meat. Needless to say, no one went to their next block class. I will never forget this moment. Blair Summers Beating Salina South. Megan Theodore That I had a great time and I made lots of friends and I will always remember this school no matter where I go. Lauren Villarreal Not to mention she saved my life! I was choking on a sunflower seed when a few of us were working after school on the yearbook my sophomore year. Not one of my shining moments, but I am glad she was certified to give the Heimlich maneuver. Hannah Wagner Mrs. Shurts’ room: Junior year. We were all sitting in class when suddenly we hear a scream from the back of the room… Turns out a mouse had gotten into the building and was scurrying around the class under our tables! A bunch of us jumped up on chairs, tables… whatever we could find, and others tried to catch it. We were able to capture it within about five minutes, and we released it outside… but none of us REALLY focused on chemistry for the rest of the day. Samantha Watson my memories at MHS is me hanging out with my friends and enjoying every year there and having fun and the best memory is me going to prom and enjoying senior year with my friends and having fun. Emma Watt Well, my first day here when I moved from Russia to Kansas my art teacher told us to “please not do drugs in class” he was joking, but still that really scared me. Anna Weaver Senior year, Mr. Kershen was up at the whiteboard when his pull down screen unbolted from the wall and swung down and almost hit him, then he continued on with the math lesson like he almost didn’t die. I’ve loved almost every moment in my yearbook class. I wouldn’t take back the long nights working after school on pages, the inside jokes, or the extremely unique people that I’ve met. The class has taken me across the country to Boston, bringing me closer to my staff and the Newsmag staff. It’s the one class I’ve taken throughout high school and it’s the one class that I’ve gotten the most out of. Suzanne Webb I had the urge to walk on my hands at senior prom, but I couldn’t because I was in a dress. Ezekiel Welch One time I cut gabby with scissors because she moved. Clay Wells Fork fighting. Cora Whitten In between my freshman and sophomore year. My hero passed away. My grandmama Sue Witten passed away from 3 types of cancers at once. I am was a very insecure person and once she said her last words to me about how beautiful I was and how strong I have become. I learned to be myself at school to not let anyone tell me different. Amelia Wynn One of my most memorable moments in high school was my first pep assembly performing with the Fly Girls freshman year. We did a hip hop dance to “Get Outta Your Mind” and I’m really bad at hip hop. I was nervous because my peers had never watched me dance before and I’ve never danced at school before. Overall it went well and I got a lot of compliments. I enjoyed dancing and sharing my talent with the Fly Girls all four years of high school. Dustin Yoder Any moment that made me do my high-pitched laugh-cry was definitely memorable. Thanks to anyone who caused those embarrassing moments to happen.
