Sports & Entertainment Central

Editor: Laurel Mishevski


Taking a look into MVHS students' favorite Halloween movies

No matter which Halloween movie is your favorite, all Halloween movies provide intriguing covers with a nostalgic feel that keeps the spooky season feeling fun!

As the leaves outside change from the common color of spring green to the more elaborate colors of fiery red and golden yellow, the apparent feeling of fall time holidays approaching lingers in the chilly autumn air. One of these holidays, Halloween, is a favorite among many people.


The nostalgic feeling that comes from the spook-induced holiday is one that people find most special. From the costume planning and the pumpkin carving to the common trip to a haunted house, Halloween is a holiday packed with a lot of fall time fun. However, one of the most common things to delve into when the spooky season arrives is the traditional activity of watching Halloween-themed movies.


The serotonin-inducing feeling of sitting down in front of a TV with a cozy blanket and watching your favorite traditional Halloween film can be one of the best things to do on Halloween night. It seems here at MVHS many students and faculty members practice this common tradition during the October month.


In a survey conducted among the students and staff here at MVHS, many voted on their favorite spooky cinema to watch during Halloween time. The options to choose from included many of the most well-known Halloween movies ranging from the horror filled world of Halloween to the love stricken story of the Corpse Bride. Featured below are the results from the survey giving a great insight into the most popular Halloween movies.

Students as MVHS provided their input on their spooky Halloween cinema favorites! Image screenshotted from poll results by Kandice Williams

From the results, it’s clear that the popular film Hocus Pocus is a common favorite among MVHS followed by Ghostbusters and Nightmare Before Christmas. People who took the survey also provided their own Halloween favorites that weren’t on the list. Here are a few of those results.

Students and teachers who responded to the survey also provided movies that weren't included on the list! These are also great options for the spooky season. Image screenshotted from poll results by Kandice Williams

Overall whether your favorite is the nostalgic childhood It's the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown, or even if you don’t like scary movies at all, Halloween should be a holiday filled with nostalgic fun and spooky films playing on every TV in the house. After all, there’s nothing more cozy than curling up in a fuzzy blanket, making a cup of soul-warming pumpkin spiced coffee, and enjoying the magical world of spooky cinema. It’s simply what makes Halloween feel so special!


Players who qualified for state doubles competition are cheered on by classmates before they head to the courts at Cooper Tennis Complex in Springfield, Missouri. State qualifiers include juniors Bella Mosely and Allie Schubert (pictured in front) and seniors Brooke Loftus and Jessah Anderson (pictured behind). Photo by Tanya Hannaford

‘Minor’ athletes crave ‘major’ fan love

Away from the arc of Friday night lights and without the sounds of a crowd or cheerleaders, some of this school’s top athletes quietly perform their excellence. Many students and teachers in this school will never know of their greatness as these tennis players, golfers, and runners put their heads down, do the hard work in practice, and bring home trophies.

The girls tennis team won the Class I District 11 Tennis Championship and sent two doubles teams to state competition this season, including the senior pair, Brooke Loftus and Jessah Anderson, and the junior pair, Bella Mosley and Allie Schubert. Coach Christine Maddocks said she’s excited for the “privilege of taking two doubles teams to sectionals.”

It was no easy feat. “Playing tennis teaches you a lot about yourself: the depth of your inner strength, your discipline, your tenacity and the mastery of your emotions,” Coach Maddocks explained.

The lack of acknowledgement gets to the girls a bit, Coach Maddocks added. “If we do have kids come down to ‘watch’ they stay long enough to get a picture...for Squad [participation points].” She noted that this lack of enthusiasm from the student body is especially frustrating in light of the fact that players have competed at state level for eight years running and have brought home four district championship trophies.

At a Carl Junction match, freshman Audrey Bittle serves the ball. “One of the first things you learn in tennis practice is to trust yourself and your instincts,” said Coach Maddocks. Photo by Janey Hood
Senior Jessah Anderson returns a serve from a Lamar opponent. Coach Maddocks said, “We learn integrity because we are our own referees. We do not have people that call our lines like volleyball and we don’t have several coaches doing different jobs on the field or court.” Photo by Janey Hood.

Girls golf coach T.J. Hagerman agrees. “In an ideal world there would be pep rallies for every sport to recognize those athletes for all their hard work, but just an acknowledgement by others I'm sure would be very much appreciated by the golf girls.”

With a first place trophy from the Seneca tournament, a strong Big 8 tournament finish, and a seventh-place state competition finish for sophomore Kenadi Killingsworth, Coach Hagerman feels a sense of pride for what his team has accomplished. “I could not ask for a better group of ladies to work with. This team is going to be a force to reckon with in the coming years.”

The girls golf team includes seven players. Front row: sophomores Kenadi Killingsworth and Akaymi Cummins and freshmen Courtnee Bishop and Madi Phillips. Back row: junior Madalyn Cook, sophomore Reese Barrett and freshman Maddie Schubert. “It is fun to learn their different personalities and how to handle each situation with them. We are having a good season and we are enjoying it, as we do each year,” said Coach Hagerman. Photo by Scott Cook

Coach Hagerman notes that his team is small, but that has been an advantage: “I believe it is easier to build individual and team unity on a smaller squad. Definitely a family atmosphere. You get more one on one individual attention. Having a smaller squad allows me to let my players participate on other teams as well. I can work with them on their practice schedules and contest dates.”

Besides good form and a strong putting game, Coach Hagerman explained, golfers also gain important skills in time management, integrity, mental strength, and relationship-building. He said the players on his team “have put in a tremendous amount of time and effort to get better and all seven ladies have seen varsity action this year.”

From the fringe, junior Madalyn Cook attempts a long putt in Carthage. Coach Hagerman said the team would appreciate it “if others besides parents would show them more support and appreciation, by attending these students' matches [and] tournaments.” Photo by Scott Cook

Likewise, cross country track coach Jim Kleine noted, “There is an extreme amount of work and training involved, so [this sport] is not for those who are weak minded.” Despite the fact that most students are only peripherally aware of the cross country team, Coach Kleine says, “None of the kids look at Cross Country as a lesser sport. They know how difficult it is, and realize that they are doing something that very few are willing to try, let alone achieve.”

Coach Kleine noted that top runners on the team include senior Isaak Barker and sophomore Rylee Simons. “I see Cross Country as an opportunity for a different kind of athlete to compete, and excel,” he said.