The New Haven cross country team took a long trip to Jefferson Barracks this past weekend. “I think we did okay,” said Mr. Tucker. “It’s a hard race, and we still had 3 runners run under 20 minutes.” These runners include Nathan Ford, Dominick Pataky, and Jon Stone. “We also brought home 3 medals, which is good considering we were running against larger schools.” Mr. Tucker wanted to see how everyone ran on this hard course, so he could see what the team needed to work on.
   The varsity girls were missing two runners at this meet, due to band. The runners who ran on Saturday include Abby Grater, who finished 25th, Emily Lewis who finished 30th, and Lucy Roth, who finished 48th. The girls didn’t place as a team because they didn’t have 5 runners, which are needed for a team placement.
   The varsity boys finished 9th as a team. The runners who ran in Jefferson Barracks include Nathan Ford, who finished 20th; Dominick Pataky,  who finished 31st; Jon Stone, who got 52nd; Kyle Brumels, who got 75th; Cole Lensing, who got 78th;  Riley Otten, who got 86th; and Dylan Goodwin, who finished 103rd. There were 118 varsity runners.
   The boys junior varsity team had a full team. Drew Armfield finished first for the boys in 98th; behind him were Alex Majors, Alex Madden, Bubba Gale, and Robbie Cichon. This race was quite large, including 295 runners.
   The next meet is Wednesday, October 1st, in St. James, also a hilly and strenuous course, a lot like Jefferson Barracks, which proved to be a worthy challenge to the cross country team.     -by Alex Madden

   The drum major has lead the Marching Shamrocks into their first competition this year at the Sullivan Marching Festival. This year, the band is up against the same competition as last year. Vienna is the one who shot the Shamrocks down last year at this event, causing them to take second place overall in their class. This year, determined to win, the NHHS band went over the judges’ reviews before the festival. They wanted to understand what they did and didn’t like. This year, they are being judged by the same people as last year.
   In the past, New Haven Marching Shamrocks have been known for how well they march, and not necessarily their music style. Last year, that was a reason they lost to Vienna. As Mrs. Koch had said in a previous interview, as of last Friday they still had a lot of work to do before the competition this weekend. The music is still strong, but their marching still needs work.
   After the parade, the Shamrocks were feeling confident about their performance. Later that afternoon, they came and played for New Haven’s balloon festival parade.
   Around 5:30 that evening, Mrs. Koch sent out a tweet giving details about how the band scored. The tweet read, “Sullivan Today: 1st place Drumline, 1st place Drum Major, 1st place Auxiliary, 2nd place overall!” The New Haven Shamrocks received  second place, falling eight points behind Vienna. However, this year the whole band is scoring a lot higher than they were last year around this time. Mrs. Koch agrees that this weekend was a very successful one.
   Some of the section leaders were interviewed before the parade to see what they thought of their section and the band as whole. Hannah Kruse, saxophone section leader, says,”The saxophones definitely know their music and are strong marchers,” when asked about how well her section was doing. Hannah, Mackenzy Vedder, Megan Shockley, Erin Scheer, Aaron Penning, and Josh Lindley all agree on one thing when it comes to what the band can improve on-- marching. When the section leaders were questioned about what the band as a whole will do this year, they agreed again. The band will do well. Could this be the trick to beating Vienna? On Saturday, October 3rd, we will find out. Once again, the Shamrocks will be put to the test of Vienna at the Washington parade.     -by Abby Perdue

    The New Haven JV and Freshman volleyball teams played in the Union tournament on Saturday. In years past, the JV team has gone to the Linn tournament instead of the Union tournament. Since the Linn tournament is only for JV teams, and the Shamrocks had both a JV team and a freshman team, they went to the Union tournament this year.
   Due to some unexpected injuries on Varsity, players were moved to different positions on different levels. Emma Eichelberger was moved up from the freshman team to participate in the JV tournament. When asked if it was an easy transition from Freshman to JV, Emma responded by saying, “Learning the rotation was easy, but having to play up was nerve-wracking.”
   The New Haven JV team did not make it into bracket play. As a result, they did not have a chance to compete in the championship for first place. The JV team tied with Ladue, was beat by Hermann, and tied once again with Pacific. That left them third in their pool. While in a team huddle, the whole team unanimously agreed  that they would have played better if they communicated more and moved their feet on the court.
   The Freshman team did not lose any games on Saturday.  By not losing any sets, they were first in their pool, first in their bracket, and first overall. The freshman team won the championship game against Owensville, bringing home yet another first place plaque. -edited by Lauren Bergner

   After winning two of three games during the week, and Gold Consolation at the SEMO tournament the weekend before, the Shamrock Varsity Volleyball team had to be back on the court for their home round-robin tournament. The round-robin tournament consisted of four teams:Winfield, Belle, Bowling Green, and New Haven. New Haven’s first match was against Belle.
   In the New Haven vs. Belle match, New Haven’s starting lineup was adjusted a bit. Junior Maddie Fleer was brought up to play in place of outside hitter Kayla Borcherding, who didn’t play in the tournament due to a injury. The Shamrocks came out on top in their first game, winning in two sets, 25-19, 25-10.
   New Haven’s second game was against the 2013 New Haven Round Robin Champs, the Winfield Warriors. New Haven and Winfield played a close first set, New Haven winning 27-25. The Shamrocks won the second set, 25-17.
   In New Haven’s third game, they played Bowling Green. The Shamrocks won in two sets, consequently sending them to the championship round, where again they would have to play Winfield.
   The championship game was a rematch of the year before’s, Winfield vs. New Haven. In the end, Winfield game out on top, beating New Haven, 25-20, 25-19.
   When asked about how they felt about the tournament, the seniors on the team thought that the Shamrocks played well up until the last game and were really disappointed with losing to Winfield two years in a row. The seniors also realized that the Shamrocks had to focus on the bigger picture: coming together as a team and achieving the other goals they had set for later in the year. The Round Robin had to be a lesson, not a disappointment.
   Setter Erin Scheer stated, “The championship game we just kind of fell apart, and I feel like we could’ve definitely played better. But we have to get back up and play well in the Hermann tournament.”
   Outside Hitter Emma Borcherding added, “We lost because we didn’t play our best game, that’s the bottom line.”
   The Shamrocks next challenge is the Hermann tournament, where they will play Union, Owensville, and Hermann in their pool.

   They’re back! The Shamrocks recently competed in the Hermann Invitational Volleyball Tournament. The Shamrocks started off the tournament by playing in Pool B against teams including Union, Owensville, and Hermann.
   In their first match, New Haven played the Union Wildcats. New Haven won in two sets, 25-15, 25-17. The second pool play match-up was between the Shamrocks and the Dutchgirls of Owensville. In this match, New Haven swept the board, beating Owensville 25-9, 25-9. The last pool play game for New Haven was with the host school, the Hermann Bearcats. This didn’t affect the Shamrocks winning streak, though. New Haven came out on top, winning in two sets, 25-21, 25-19. With a pool play record of 3-0, New Haven had earned #1 in their pool, assuring them a spot in the semi-final game.
   In the semi-final game, New Haven played the number two seed in Pool A, the Washington Blue Jays. In the first set, New Haven lost, 23-25. New Haven didn’t give up on the fight. They came back and won the second set, sending the match into a sudden death third set to 25. Washington and New Haven were neck and neck the whole game, fighting for every point. In the end--with an overpass kill by Kenzy Vedder--the Shamrocks came out on top, winning the third set 26-24 against the Blue Jays.
   After winning the semi-final game, the Shamrocks had one important game left, the championship game: a place they haven’t been since 1992. Their opponents, the St. Francis Borgia Knights, are no strangers to the championship match of this tournament. In fact, they won in 2013. New Haven had their work cut out for them.
   In the first set, New Haven and Borgia battled it out. Borgia came out on top, winning 25-17. The Shamrocks had faced Borgia and this situation earlier in the season.. Would the ending result be the same? Would the Shamrocks send it to three sets? Although the Shamrocks put up a fight, they fell short to the Knights in the second set, 25-23.
   When asked about the outcome of the tournament, senior defensive specialist Trista Kormeier answered, “After the Washington game, we were all pumped up and ready to play Borgia! Even though we lost, I feel like we played really well as a team, and in the end, I felt in my heart that was better than winning.”
   Coach Jaime Hoener added, “Overall, I was pleased with how the girls played throughout the tournament.”
   As a result of their loss against Borgia, New Haven placed 2nd in the Hermann tournament: a honor the Shamrocks haven’t earned since 1992.     -by Lauren Bergner

   The New Haven softball team faced the Owensville Dutch Girls on Tuesday, the 23rd of September.  Coach Scheer told the girls after the Owensville Tournament the past Saturday, “You should know your opponent and know that this game is yours for the taking.”  All the the girls decided to “be pumped” for the game and hustled out to the field.
   The first inning went fast, with nothing but strikes from Emily Scheer and solid throws to first baseman Elizabeth Hughes. The next three innings went on without any runs from either team, but much was still done after that time. At the end of the fourth inning, the Shamrocks finally scored!
   The top of the fifth was when everything changed for the Shamrocks. Owensville caught a lucky break from Shamrock catcher, Cortanie Gale. Gale accidently caused a catcher's interference by letting her mitt hit the Owensville batter. This allowed one girl to score and the batter take first base. The next at bat for the Dutch Girls was not any better for the Shamrocks, since it ended with a line drive to right field. This caused Stephanie Russo to run for the ball in desperation as all runners on base scored. When Brooke Bockting was asked her thoughts on seeing that ball hit past right field, her only response was, “I sighed.”  
   The score was changed to 4-1 after that, but in the sixth inning Shamrocks did not want to give up. They were able to score two more runs; although, Owensville scored three, leaving the score at 3-7 and a win for the Dutch Girls.
-by Tenille Duessler

   Shamrocks faced the Bourbon Warhawks on Tuesday, September 30th. Having to adjust to the unpredictable outfield and the gravelly infield did not make it impossible for New Haven to pull it together later in the game. After the Shamrocks scored three, Bourbon followed suit in inning two. Then, it seemed as if something clicked.
   Batter after batter for the Shamrocks kept making contact with the ball, keeping all the runners on base moving...and scoring! The Shamrocks received a triple from Tenille Duessler, who said, “I really thought it was foul, but the umpire called fair, so I booked it.” The team adjusted to the pitcher and could not get enough of it. After coming close to striking out, but then hitting a line drive, Nicki Zeitzmann said, “I get so anxious, but with slow pitches, I really have to hold back and wait.”
   With fast defensive innings and great batting, the Shamrocks were able to score a whopping 21 runs against Bourbon, who scored four. This was another win for the Shamrocks, and with another game around the corner against Wellsville, hopefully they can keep this fire burning, and bring home another win before disticts.     -by Tenille Duessler

   The Shamrocks Softball Team played two make up games in the Owensville Tournament Saturday,September 20, 2014. To start the morning off, the Shamrocks challenged the Owensville Dutchgirls to a 10:30 game. Owensville started the first inning off earning two runs. Leadoff batter Molly Munsinger got things rolling for the Shamrocks by hitting a double out to center field. She would be the only one to get on base that inning, leaving the Shamrocks scoreless going into the second inning. Neither the Shamrocks or the Dutchgirls scored in the second inning.
   Owensville would score in the third inning, making the score 3-0 going into the fourth. The Dutchgirls were on fire in the fourth inning, adding five more runs to the scoreboard. Cortanie Gale hit a solid ball to center field and chugged her way to second base; however, she would be left stranded, and the Shamrocks would go scoreless. The Shamrocks and the Dutchgirls both held each other in the fifth inning, making the score 8-0. Owensville would add five more to the board, making it 13-0 in the top of the sixth.
   The Shamrocks would not give up here, though. The first batter, Carlie Steinbeck, was walked to first. The next batter, Lindsey Nixon, hit a blooper to the pitcher but sped down the first base line to be called safe after an overthrow. This would would put runners in scoring position on first and third. Steinbeck would be the first to score for the Shamrocks on a wild pitch, which would allow Lindsey to reach third. Cortanie hit the ball in the infield for an out, but it allowed Lindsey to score, earning Cortanie an RBI.
   The Shamrocks end up losing to the Dutchgirls 13-2. They will get a redemption game Tuesday, September 23, at New Haven’s Lions Field. Coach Tim Scheer said,“We did some good things, but we still need to be confident at the plate. We cannot watch the third strike go by.”
   The Shamrocks immediately played another game, this time playing Father Tolton Catholic. Father Tolton came out strong against Shamrocks’ pitcher Emily Scheer, scoring three runs in the first inning. The Shamrocks first three batters couldn’t seem to handle Father Tolton’s pitcher: all three got out. In the second inning, Father Tolton exploded, scoring nine runs. The Shamrocks wouldn’t give up. Freshman Emily Scheer took a swing at the first pitch and hit a beautiful out of the park homerun! Once Scheer arrived at the bench after running her bases, she sat down, took a drink, and with a huge smile said, “That felt AMAZING!”
   Lindsey NIxon would keep the momentum going and hit a fastball out to right field, to land her on second base. Nixon then stole third and made it home on a wild pitch, adding another run to the board.
   Both teams would go scoreless in the third inning. Tolton added two more to the boards in the fourth and would hold the Shamrocks. Cortanie Gale made a beautiful play, saving a run for scoring. “It was exciting when I dove to tag the girl out at home after I missed the other girl who came home. I learned not to beat yourself up over one play. I knew what I did wrong and was able to fix that,” quotes catcher Cortanie Gale.
   To start the fifth inning, Tolton led the Shamrocks 14-2. The Shamrocks would not settle for this. The Shamrocks got down to business and added five more runs to cut Father Tolton's lead to 14-7. Both teams would add one more run to the scoreboard, making the final score 15-8. Though New Haven fell short in the tournament they made improvements in their batting and fielding which will help them prepare for districts which begins October 8.   -by Molly Munsinger

   Our technology has increased over the years and so have the career choices for high school students. The choices at Four Rivers Career Center are Agriculture, Automotive Technology, Building Construction, Collision Repair Technology, Graphic Communications,  Health Occupations, Information Technology, Machine Tool, Marketing, Welding, and  Practical Nursing.The students at New Haven High school go to almost all the class choices.  
   Every morning, all the Hermann kids and New Haven kids get on the bus at 8:00 A.M. and head to Votech until 11:30 P.M. The bus is basically cut in half, Hermann in front, and New Haven in back. It’’s mostly a calm bus ride.  Justin Terschule said, “The bus ride`s nice. I just sit back and relax and talk to friends.” When the students get to Votech, Mr. Cozart is there everyday by the door. Mr Cozart said, “I like to see smiles on kids’ faces coming into votech because votech is fun and good experience.”
   Inside votech, on the right hand side, there is collision repair. Dean Lockhart is the only one who goes to collision repair for New Haven.”In Collision Repairs we work on cars that were in a wreck and fix them to get back on the road,” said Dean.  Past collision repairs, on the left hand side, are a bunch of lockers,and on the right hand side is the welding room, which is where they teach welding. We have four New Haven kids that go to Four Rivers for welding.  Nick Solcum said,”In the welding room we weld pieces together and don't look at the light.”  Next to the welding room, down the hall and on the right hand side, is the information technology class.  New Haven has one student that in that class.  Josh Thurman said, ”We take apart computers and find out what's wrong with the computer.”  Across the hallway is the machine tool room, and we have two kids that go there: Kyle Luecke,and Zach Boehmer.  Kyle Luecke said, ”We make and draw out projects with powerful machines.”
   Down the hall on the right hand side is the Graphic Design room and Jenny Gallardo and Alex Madden. Alex Madden said,”They make websites and create T- shirts.” Down the hall is the building trades room, which has John Wintjen from New Haven.  John said, “They build  water heaters and put basic home appliances in.”  Down  the hall is the Health Occupations room where Hannah Prussner,Courtney Yowell,Julie Moeckli, Trista Kormeier, and Erica Kotthoff go. Erica Kotthoff said, ”We learn the basic studies of the human body.” The four other New Haven Students, Chase Moeckli, Dan Scheer,  Karissa Durbin, and Hannah Pehle,  attend agriculture classes. Dan scheer said,”We learn the basics of farming in the class.”
   As you can see, there are so many things to do at Four Rivers, for the students of New Haven High!     -by Kyle Luecke