Welding Isn’t Just a Career

by Jesse Furman, OHS Torch reporter  

          Welding does not just mean conjoining two pieces of paper together; it is an art and takes a lot of skill and patience learned the OHS BACC welding students.

            Welding is a very hot job that requires precision and accurate welds to hold metal together or create something. Welders have to learn all the different weld symbols and the settings for volts and amp for both mig and smaw welding.

            Robbie Gaston, OHS Junior and BACC welding student, said, “I like welding a lot and it is fun to create things and make your own things in this class. It is a little difficult to always find the right settings so you don’t burn through the metal.”

            Thinner metal is very easy to burn through so the settings need to be set lower and a way to test it out is by grabbing scrap and running a couple passes on it. Then store those settings in your head or write them down for that thickness of metal.

            PPE (personal protective equipment) is made up of a welding jacket, helmet, gloves, and safety glasses. This is to protect your eyes and skin from the heat, sparks, and flash burn from the arc.

            Matt Chapman, Senior and BACC welding student, said, “Welding is my passion and I love doing it. I am trying to make it into a welding school to get certified and then weld for a company.”

            Andrew Renfrow, Junior and BACC welding student, said, “I enjoy welding and it think it's a lot better than machining things on the lathe or mill.”

            Welding is a very rewarding career with many benefits depending on the company for whom you work for. You can obtain a skill to build just about anything and fix anything, which is what OHS BACC welding students learn in their courses.

Coach Smith Clinches 500th Win

By Ashleigh Forrest, OHS Torch Reporter

On Thursday night, April 7, at Central Catholic High School, head coach Ron Smith led his team to his 500th victory as a baseball coach.

“It’s really just a number. What means more to me is having a team that averages 24 wins a season. Most small town teams around here are proud if they average 20 wins a season,” said head coach Ron Smith.

Coach Smith has been coaching for 22 years, averaging 23-24 wins a season. According to Smith, there was a 6 year period in the team’s history where they were averaging 30 or more wins a season.

Senior Clayton Willis was the pitcher who led the team in their 500th victory and only let up three hits against the Saints. He threw more strikes than he ever has that night.

“Clayton’s pitching was better than I have ever seen it before. It was the one thing that led us to having that victory,” said Smith.

Willis said, “I just felt really good about the game walking up to the mound that night.”

In baseball, pitching is one thing that can make or break a game and obviously it worked in the boys’ favor on Thursday night. They are headed for greatness, according to assistant coach Mark Finchum.

Come out and support your Olympia Spartans at their next home game!

New Officers Selected for OHS Key Club

By Ellie Martin, OHS Torch reporter

At their April meeting, the OHS Key Club held officer elections for the upcoming school year; other discussion included plans for their Relay for Life service project on April 29th.

            On April Fool’s Day, Key Club conducted their April meeting during advisory and held nominations for officer positions. Ballots were passed out and tallied by the president and vice president to record the results.

            The officers for the upcoming school year are Natalie Stone as president, Katie Davis as vice president, Hannah Missle as treasurer, Michelle Dial as secretary, and Hannah Baker, Rebecca Kath, and Reagan Brown as historians. The old officers will pass off their positions on after the next meeting in May.

            Junior Natalie Stone said, “I was really shocked when the votes were tallied and they announced my name for president. I’m really excited to bring new ideas and serve the community even more in the coming year.”

            One of Key Club’s new historians, Hannah Baker said, “My first year in Key Club was awesome! I loved attending the meetings. I am excited about being a historian and taking pictures!”

            Key Club will be wrapping up their service projects for the year with their event for Relay for Life which will be jointed with NHS. The event will be held on April 29th from 6pm-6am at Normal West High School.

The Olympia High School team, “Fighting Spartans”, will be fundraising for the American Cancer Society before and during the event; all the proceeds go towards cancer research. At the event, participating Key Club and NHS members will walk to raise money and will honor cancer survivors as well as those who have passed.

            In May, they will hold their final meeting for the year and pass on the responsibilities to the new officers. Pizza will be provided by the Kiwanis Club to celebrate the work Key Club has accomplished this year.

Ultimate Frisbee Comes to OHS

By OHS Torch reporter Collin Miller

            Ultimate Frisbee is a sport not played by many and definitely new to Olympia, but with new Guidance Counselor Alex Castillo and his knowledge of the game, OHS will begin to experience the Ultimate in Frisbee.

            Beginning in January, the kids who wanted to try Ultimate could, but it would come with a cost. Practices happen every Friday morning at 6:30 and go until 7:45.

            Practices usually start off with a little warm up throwing and some passing drills. Once the blood is flowing, they begin playing. Limited by practice space because of the weather, the practice matches can get intense.

“I enjoy ultimate but the morning practices is not the best,” said Junior Jake Eichellberger

With the weather getting better, they decided to practice outside for once. Wind is definitely a factor and that's something they had to adjust to.

“Inside practices are lit, outside its way more challenging obviously because of the wind,”said Senior Triston Ballinger.

Coach Castillio started promoting the tourney April 6th passing out flyers. The team is scheduled for a tournament on May 7th at Olympia. The opponents will be announced at a later time.

It takes seven to field a team Olympia has enough to play but are in need of some extras to keep the players better rested. All in all, Ultimate Frisbee has proven to have brought a positive impact and an extremely amusing appeal along with it through its introduction to Olympia.

Oly Softball Takes on the Cornbelt Conference

By Genna VanWye, OHS Torch reporter

The Olympia High School softball team season is underway; with several wins under their belt, the team is excited to see what the season and conference games will hold.

            The softball team is currently 7-4 and 2-2 in the Cornbelt conference. The team has over 20 games left in regular season and hopes of a successful post-season run.

            Kylie Bishop, Junior, said, “We have a really close team and I believe that this will help us be successful in the conference and on into post season.”

            The team has competed successfully in the Cornbelt conference over the years. Softball finished 3rd in the conference last year.

            “Most of the teams have improved from last year; they are much more aggressive,” said Madi Wille, Junior.

            With a heavy schedule of conference play coming up, the softball team is gearing up. In the next two weeks they will play some of the tougher competition in the conference. These teams include Pontiac, Central Catholic, Eureka, and U-High.

            Ashley Miller, Junior, said, “So far, the teams we have played can hit the ball well. Several of them are young teams that are hungry to win.”

            The softball team will play each conference team twice, being only half way through the first round. Schedules can be found on the OHS website. Come out to support your Lady Spartans.

           

            

OHS Bank Board Students Learns All There is to Know About Credit

By Sara Rathbun OHS Torch reporter

            On March 28, OHS bank board students took a trip to the Minier Bank where they gained a vast amount of knowledge about credit history and how to apply and manage loans.

            Bank Board lessons are not only full of useful knowledge for classes in school, such as consumer ed, but it is also useful for later in life. Students in Bank Board have mentioned to teachers that what they are learning can be applied to what they are talking about in that class which therefore helps their understanding of certain topics.

            OHS Bank Board student, Katie Bergeron, said, ”The lesson about credit was a very personable lesson and it helped me understand a lot more about credit which is what we were talking about in consumer ed and that helped me on the test later on in that class.”

The credit and loan lesson not only helped students in their consumer ed classes, but it helped the students who are going to be in college next year better understand the idea of student loans. Student loans are something that most college students will have to encounter so it was a very relatable lesson.

            OHS Bank Board student, Lucas Smith, said, “I learned a lot about student loans which is going to help me next year when I have to apply for them in college.”

            Not only can the students learn about the lessons in depth, but they have gained insight on how it can directly affect them. Along with stories and examples on how it relates to them, they also play games relating to their topic of discussion to help reinforce the information.

            OHS Bank Board Advisor, Mr. Josh Klokkenga, said,” I think the students have most benefitted from our last meeting about credit because they gained knowledge on understanding paying down loans, getting and maintaining good credit history and applying for loans.”

            Overall, Bank Board students have learned interesting facts about numerous topics regarding business, but the most recent meeting has shown to be the most personable to these students. Bank Board advisors and students are looking forward to the upcoming meeting and learning more useful information.

Olympia High School Baseball to Host OPBA Day

By Torch reporter Nick Barclay

On a brisk Saturday in April, at the Olympia ball diamond, all summer OPBA baseball teams will be recognized followed up with a high school varsity double header that afternoon.

The OPBA organization is a youth baseball program for kids within the Olympia School district. Through this the kids can learn how to play baseball and play all summer.

The organization was founded in the 90s and has been a success ever since. The teams help the community and have left a mark on our community.

At OPBA day the teams are announced and the players run through a tunnel made by the high school players, then a group photo is taken in center field with every single coach and player in the organization. The incoming freshman then take infield with the varsity team, before the game.

OPBA alumni and baseball player Blake Dehn said, “ OPBA gave me chances to play at a young age with all my friends and taught me everything i know about baseball.”

At the game, great food is provided at the concession stand with proceeds going back to the program. The menu usually includes hot dogs, popcorn, soda/Gatorade, homemade corn dogs and a pork sandwich.

Baseball Player Clay Bachman said, “I love OPBA day it's a great time with all the kids and the food is always good, it's crazy to think i was taking the picture just a few years ago.”

Come on out to OPBA day to support all your local youth baseball teams this spring. There is always a whole lot of food, fun and of course Olympia baseball.