For many students at Selah High School, waking up before sunrise to make it to a 7:35 am class feels nearly impossible. Sleepy faces fill the hallways, yawns echo through first period, and focus is hard to maintain. While this early schedule might seem normal, research and real-world examples show that high schoolers perform better when they start later. Shifting Selah's start time to 8:35 am would improve student health, academic performance, and overall well-being.

According to the National Institutes of Health, Teenagers' brains are biologically wired to fall asleep and wake up later than younger kids or adults. Studies have proven that schools with later start times see higher test scores, better attendance, and improved focus in class. Lack of sleep directly affects memory, attention, and problem-solving skills that are necessary for success. 

Sleep deprivation doesn’t just make students tired, it also increases stress and anxiety. Many teens juggle school, sports, work, and family responsibilities, and a later start time could relive some of that pressure. Physically, more rest can also strengthen the immune system, lower the risk of injuries during sports, and improve mood. When students are healthier and happier, the entire school environment benefits.

Across the U.S, many districts have already moved to later start times with greater results. For example, according to npr.org, Seattle public schools changed their start time from 7:50 am to 8:45 am, and studies afterward showed students got about 34 more minutes of sleep each night on average and performed better in school. If it can work in a larger district like Seattle, it can definitely work in Selah. 

Starting Selah High School at 8:35 am would not just be about sleeping; it’s about mental health, student success, and safety. A one-hour delay could make a world of difference for our entire school community. 

On Thursday, the 14th, Selah High School hosted Scott Backovich, a professional speaker, leadership trainer, and student activities fanatic, who visited our school for a workshop in the auxiliary gym. Othello, Davis, and West Valley ASBs joined us as well for this experience. It was unlike any other regular school day. He explained how he was going to teach us leadership that he knew we had never thought of, and he explained how it would include empathy, inclusion, and teamwork.

It started with him introducing himself and making jokes that sounded like Disney trying to get with the times, and yes, it did work. He said he was in LA, and that explained everything to me. He explained how we were gonna go against each other (schools). He said that we could choose the level of difficulty and gave us examples of what those levels would be, 1–3 being friendship and 10 being full toxic. Also, the entire time it felt like a comedian talking to us, also doing some crowd work, he didn't feel real, he would be like “everyone say always,” and we'd do so, and he would do it every new talking point because it would keep us engaged, and he did a really good job at that, I was giggling my butt off.

After explaining that we'd go on to the gym floor to play a game that resembles Simon Says, he would say “pair,” and everyone would scramble trying to find someone to pair up with, or he would say “triangle,” and you'd have to find two other people to create a trio and so then he told us to do it another time and this time he said that the person we'd pair up with was our bestie and to discuss an icebreaker. After he told us to make a handshake because every friendship needs a handshake, after he asked the crowd if we needed more time to remember it, he said to go crazy and scramble as far as you can, and so we did, and then when we were done, he dropped his voice and said “okay now I need you to find them in 2 seconds and act like you guys haven't seen each other in years, perhaps, do your friendship handshake,” and so that's what everyone did, but the atmosphere was crazy, it felt like a zoo that got loose.

After this, he had us find another pair, and we became four, and then told us to become eight, and so we did, and we also needed some roles: the runner, the team leader, the spokesperson, and the writer, and the rest were supposed to put in input. Mind you, because the majority ended up picking level 10 toxicity, we had to be very defensive towards the other teams. He said that we can snitch all we want, the entire time the games/challenges were happening. After this, he had us choose our base (on the bleachers), so my team and I did. He had to sit in front of his screen to see all his talking points, and we had to have a team banner and name on which he made the “runners” get the supplies, and basically had us do 5 brainstorming activities, and in between, he explained what he wanted us to do. After everything, he asked us what we learned, and the majority of it was on how we as ASB clubs could plan more directed for people who don't feel they are connected or that they don't belong, and how we can accommodate their needs because everything being done now is made from ASB people for “group A,” he would call it. He would call “group B” for people who didn't participate in school spirit, so he taught us how we can be more inclusive and how to think more and plan more for group B. What I picked up that I really liked was empathy mapping, and it was constructive feedback.

Overall, the experience was fun, but we had to sit for such long times with no back support, and if we weren't we were doing the challenges, and most of them were brainstorming, so we were sitting criss-cross on the gym floor, which wasn't too comfortable. I think if I had the chance to do it again or if he came back, I would definitely recommend other people to try it out, but personally, I would not want to go through it again, but I'm not saying it was horrible. I'm saying it's a once-in-a-lifetime training that I feel everyone should have a chance to experience.

Christmas is one of the most loved and celebrated holidays in the United States and around the world. With the holidays just around the corner, one debate always seems to pop up: when is the right time to start decorating and celebrating Christmas?

Some people start celebrating as soon as Halloween ends, filling their homes with lights, trees, and Christmas music before November even begins. While their excitement is understandable, it can feel a bit too early since Thanksgiving hasn’t even arrived yet.

Celebrating Christmas after Thanksgiving makes the most sense for many reasons. First, it gives each holiday its own time to shine. Thanksgiving is about being grateful and spending time with family, and skipping over it too quickly can take away from that special feeling. Once Thanksgiving is over, it’s the perfect time to shift into the Christmas spirit and start decorating, baking, and gift shopping.

Waiting until after Thanksgiving also keeps the Christmas season feeling fresh and exciting. If you start too early, by the time December 25th arrives, the holiday magic can start to fade. Beginning the celebrations after Thanksgiving keeps the anticipation high and makes Christmas feel more meaningful when it finally arrives.

In the end, while it’s fun to look forward to the holidays, the best time to start celebrating Christmas is right after Thanksgiving. That way, you can fully enjoy both holidays, giving thanks first, and then diving into the joy and excitement of the Christmas season.

Did you experience what you wanted to? If you were to look at your photos, you had the chance to capture what you wanted from this trimester; if you didn’t end up taking photos, you have two other trimesters to make memories. Taking a look back to the start of this year, you probably expected a pretty easy first trimester, depending on your grade, but for most, it seems the exact opposite happened; we all went through the wringer. Whether it was emotionally, physically, or mentally, everyone struggled somewhat this trimester.

Stress played a big factor this trimester. If you were in 8th grade last year, your teachers stressed getting good grades because it affects your GPA in the long run. They weren’t wrong, but they definitely put a little too much stress on you. I hope in the end you're happy with the grades you got for the first trimester. Any students worried about your grades, communicate with your teachers or even your counselors; they are here to help you.

Another thing that students have struggled with this trimester is sports or after-school activities. At least half the student body had an after-school activity, whether it was school-sponsored or not. Some activities went longer than normal, and some got shorter. With the end of the football season and the end of the drama season, students can expect some more time to themselves or more time dedicated to homework after school.

School is emotionally taxing, so make sure you take care of yourself. For example, go to bed sooner if you can, try to eat better, exercise when you have the time, and if it's available, take a nice hot bath/shower; it'll make you feel better. If none of these seem tangible to you, which is understandable, try to get yourself a treat once in a while; it’ll make the dread of having to show up to school a little bit better.

To end, the first trimester is difficult because you put your all in, especially if it’s your first year, and you burn yourself out before you can reach the last two trimesters, so take your time while you can because there is still more yet to come.

The Selah community is a small town located in central Washington. It's known for being the apple juice capital of the world. It feels like everyone knows each other, and that's part of what makes it unique. The town is surrounded by orchards and farms. Agriculture is a big part of the community, and you can find apples, cherries, and hops growing all around the valley of Selah.

 There is a strong sense of pride, especially when it comes to the Schools and sports. The Selah Vikings, the high school known for its spirit for sports and its members, plays a big part in the community, where the teachers and staff all know every kid's name and will say hi to them in the hall. Selah High School's staff and students are amazing people and play one of the most impactful parts in the community.

Even though Selah isn't a big city, it has everything people need: restaurants, shops, parks, and great views of the mountains. It's the kind of place where people all interact with each other daily, and kids can safely walk around the town without worrying about anything. There are lots of local businesses like the Kings Row, Ace of Fades, River Canyon, and its own ice cream shop, Kings Scoop. 

The Selah community is small but one of the most genuine and good communities, filled with good people who all know each other and are more than likely friends.

Veterans Day is a special holiday we celebrate every year on November 11th to honor all the men and women who have served in the United States military. It's a day to thank all who have fought to protect our country; many schools hold assemblies and a moment of silence to show respect.

Some communities even hold parades for them with marches and flags to show how important it is to them. It's very important to remember that veterans have made many sacrifices for us, like spending long amounts of time away from family, some were injured while serving, and sadly, some have lost their lives to protect our country.

Veterans Day is to pay respect to those who served, but also to remember that freedom isn't free and that the people who have served deserve a lot of respect from all. And even small acts of kindness from communities show that we care.

November 11th is a day to show we are grateful for those who defend our freedom and celebrate the lives that have been lost to protect it. Veterans Day is more than just a holiday; it's a respect for all veterans. So remember, even a thank you for your service can show a veteran you care and are thankful for everything they've done for us and our country.

Are you celebrating their life? Día de Los Muertos is a Mexican holiday that takes place on November 1st and 2nd. Día de Los Muertos is used to celebrate the life of a dead family member. This holiday also celebrates pets that have died, but they show up on a separate day, that day being October 27th. 

When you celebrate Día de Los Muertos, you commonly make an ofrenda, which is a table that has photos of the dead family members along with their favorite dishes. Some of the most common dishes that are placed on ofrendas are Pan de Muerto, sugar skulls, tamales, and mole. You can also put their favorite drinks too. There is symbolism behind each dish; the corn husks on tamales are meant to symbolize a coffin, and the masa inside the tamale is used to represent the spirit. The food offerings you give are meant to provide sustenance for the spirits as they make their journey from the afterlife to visit their families.

When in the process of making an ofrenda, it is highly traditional to place marigolds on the graves of your loved ones and on the paths to the grave and the ofrenda. You also place marigolds on the ofrenda in bouquets, garlands, or just scattered around the ofrenda. Marigolds are used for their vibrant color and scent; it is hoped that marigolds will help lead deceased loved ones back to their families.

This holiday is also celebrated with parades, parties, dancing, music, and laughter. This is used to create a festive atmosphere of remembrance and celebration. Rather than focusing solely on the loss of life, this holiday emphasizes the importance of celebrating the lives that the deceased lived and the enduring connections with them. 

This Día de Los Muertos, one of our own staff members, Señora. Perez has made a public ofrenda for anyone to place a photo of their loved ones. It does not matter if you're not from that culture; Día de Los Muertos can be celebrated by anyone, no matter where or who you are. The celebration helps people in the grieving process by allowing for cultural expression and connection with their community and ancestors.

This year, our staff members were vulnerable enough to share stories about their loved ones who have died. The most common adjectives used to describe their beloved people in these stories were intelligent, strong, funny, honest, caring, sarcastic, loving, wild, and fun. If you were to look around, you could probably relate these traits to someone you know, but just because you can relate the adjectives to someone else doesn’t make anyone less special. 

Teacher Experiences:

• Mr. Gudino: Loved spending quality time with his family

• Mr. Blain: Loved watching his dad play in his rock band

• Mrs. Turcott: Loved spending time with her friend Michael Cooper, walking the field of Gettysburg while he made jokes about camels

• Mrs. Forbes: Loved getting ready to party with her friend Julie

• Señora. Perez: Loved her grandma, Catalina Barron Gonzalez, her memory, and her ability to tell a story in a manner that made you experience the story yourself.

To end, Día de Los Muertos is a holiday that is used to experience grief in a safe way while not tarnishing your good memories with sorrow, but instead with a celebration, so you'll never forget where you came from and who helped you get where you are now through sheer love and dedication. This Día de Los Muertos, don’t forget to put their photo on the ofrenda so they can come visit you.

Most schools provide free lunches for their students, but just because it's free doesn’t mean it's good. Some kids look forward to lunch every day, while others just eat it because they’re hungry.

It seems that most kids like the school lunches. According to Education Week, 55 percent of kids think school lunches are high quality, which means over half of students actually like what’s being served. 

Opinions really depend on what’s on the menu. As Caleb Q. says, “They’re okay.” Most kids would probably agree that the lunches aren’t bad, but they’re not amazing either could still definitely use a renewed version or some kind of small change to the food.

Some items, like pizza and chicken nuggets, are actually pretty good and something kids would eat even outside of school. Other meals don’t get as much love. Even though not every meal is a hit, it’s nice that schools provide food for students so no one has to go hungry.

It seems that students do enjoy most of the lunches provided for them, even if they’re not perfect, and some foods could be skipped. At the end of the day, free food that tastes decent is better than no food at all.

Graduation Rate 

A good thing about Selah is how many students graduate. As it says in the U.S News and World Report, around 94 to 95% of students here earn their diplomas, which is higher than the state average of about 84%. That means almost everyone who starts high school here finishes it, and that’s because most teachers, counselors, and staff actually care about helping.

Growth and Involvement

Selah High is about helping students grow and be independent. There are cool programs, like if you have a job, being able to work and have it count towards school. We also get time with our counselors to make sure our schedules fit what we want. It feels like the school wants every student to find their own way.

Academics Keep Improving

When it comes to academics, Selah is working to get better. As it states in the Niche school ranking, about 52% of students are proficient in reading, and around 27% in math. Those numbers aren't the best, but they're up from what they were. There's still room to grow, and it also means our teachers putting in the effort to help us catch up and push ourselves further is actually doing something. 

Selah High School and its community are a great place to learn and connect.

With Halloween just around the corner, stores are filling up with every candy imaginable, from chocolate bars to sour gummies. Every year, millions of people stock up for trick-or-treaters or prepare to fill their own bags with sweets. But among all the treats that hit the shelves, one question always comes up: Which candy truly stands out as the most popular choice on Halloween night?

There are countless types of candy, gummies, chocolates, sour treats, soft or hard, and everyone has their personal favorite. However, when October 31st arrives, one type of candy consistently sells out faster than the rest: chocolate. Last Halloween, chocolate sales made up a huge portion of the $7.4 billion spent on candy. Data from the National Confectioners Association shows that chocolate consistently ranks as the top-selling candy category for Halloween, representing about 72% of all candy spending in recent years.

But among all the chocolate options, which brand wins the hearts (and taste buds) of trick-or-treaters? Coming in third place is a tight race between Kit Kats and Snickers, two classics that are often neck and neck in popularity. In second place is the timeless favorite, M&M’s, with both regular and peanut varieties bringing in major sales every October. And finally, in first place, with little competition, is Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups. Year after year, Reese’s continues to dominate candy aisles, earning the crown as the most popular Halloween candy.

So this Halloween, when you’re out trick or treating or passing out candy, keep an eye out for these sweet treats, the undisputed stars of spooky season!

If you’ve ever been on TikTok or anywhere online lately, you probably have seen millennials talking about “the Gen Z stare,” that blank, emotionless look we supposedly give instead of smiling or making small talk. They call us awkward, lazy, and claim we don't have “21st century skills,” but maybe they just don't get us.

The truth is, Gen Z grew up in a world that's constantly shifting. We’re used to change, chaos, and figuring things out ourselves, not posting Facebook updates about it. Sure, we might not feel the need to start every conversation or overshare our feelings, but that doesn't make us clueless. It just means we value peace over friendly performative friendliness, especially towards millennials and their “humor” and their skinny jeans.

Meanwhile, millennials are starting to sound a lot like the generation they used to complain about, that being Gen X. The “back in my day” logic, the constant criticism, and the weird obsession with blaming the younger generation for everything? 

So maybe instead of fighting over who's more “normal” or “the better generation,” both generations could chill a little. It's not that Gen Z doesn't care; we don't care about the same things. We’re not impressed by hustle culture or “adulting” jokes.

 We just want peace, stability, and people who actually mean what they say. We care about mental health, boundaries, and not wasting energy on stuff that doesn't matter. If that looks lazy to them, that's fine. We’re not changing it to make anyone else comfortable.

Are you actually you? Before you panic at the question, I’m asking, are you being authentically you? If you’re not, fix it. Everyone's life is too short for it to be wasted on a false persona.

Most likely, you make friends with like-minded people, which, while not bad in the long run, leads to an echo chamber of the same ideals or actions. These ideals, at a bigger scale, can lead to an increase in the desire to be the same or as normal as others. That’s why you perceive that you see a lot of people who look exactly the same.

What makes it worse is social media. Infinite access to different topics and opinions is good. Except that with it being such a saturated field, you end up seeing the same opinion or same style consistently because of the algorithm that is made to cater to your interests.

Another example is AI slop. Lots of people are using it because they don’t think that they are good enough to write or draw, but if you use a computer, you aren’t expressing yourself authentically. It doesn’t matter if it sucks; it matters if you made it. Bob Ross, a famous painter who used his platform to teach and spark interest in painting, once said, “Talent is a pursued interest. Anything you are willing to practice, you can do.”  There is no reason you shouldn’t be trying to create something using your own hands.

While school might make it difficult to be authentic, you can still try. It might feel hard at first, but it will get better. Everyone is too focused on trying to get through the school day to even truly remember what you wore or how your hair looked, but you’ll remember because you’ll feel truly good about yourself for once. 

Go out and be yourself. Use your hands to sculpt yourself a future that you're proud of. Experience life as you, and not someone you're not. There is still time.

Taylor Swift’s new Album, The Life Of A Showgirl, came out this October, and honestly, I’m not a fan. I usually like most of her songs and albums, but this one didn’t do it for me. It feels very flashy and overproduced, and it’s missing the real emotion that made her older albums good.

Most of the songs sound similar and kind of blend together. The lyrics talk a lot about Fame, lights, and performing. But it feels like she is just repeating old ideas. I liked albums like Folklore because they felt deeper and personal. This one sounds more like a performance than a story. 

I get that the “showgirl” theme is supposed to be dramatic and fun, but it makes the music feel fake instead of honest. There are a few songs that are okay, like “Ruin the Friendship” but overall, it’s not something I’d listen to again. 

I think Taylor’s really talented, but the Life Of A Showgirl just feels too safe and polished. It’s missing the heart and creativity that made her past albums stand out. For example, the song “Cardigan” had depth, meaning; she dug herself back into her past and made a song based on pain, loss, and identity. Her new album has none of that. 

In conclusion, I respect Taylor Swift for trying something new, but this album just doesn’t connect with me. It feels more like a performance than genuine art. And I personally prefer when her music feels real and emotional instead of flashy and staged. 

Are you sitting at the bottom of your fantasy football league, or fighting to stay the top dog? Now that Week 6 of the NFL season has wrapped up, some players have emerged as fantasy superstars, while others have left managers frustrated and scrambling for trades.

Quarterbacks are one of the most important positions in fantasy football. They earn points through passing yards, touchdowns, and sometimes rushing stats. This year, several QBs are averaging around 25 points per game, including Baker Mayfield, Matthew Stafford, and Lamar Jackson. A few surprise performers have also stepped up, such as Daniel Jones and Dak Prescott, both putting up solid fantasy numbers. However, the true stars so far are Josh Allen, Jalen Hurts, and Justin Herbert, who continue to lead the pack with high-scoring performances of around 25 to 30 points each week. The number one ranked QB is Josh Allen, Number 2 is Patrick Mahomes, and third but not least Baker Mayfield.

The Flex position allows you to play a running back, wide receiver, or sometimes even a tight end, depending on your league’s rules. Top flex players right now include Bijon Robson, who put up 35 points, Christian McCaffrey, Jonathan Taylor, Puka Nacua, and Josh Jacobs. There’s a clear trend among top fantasy managers: most prefer to use a running back in the flex spot. Running backs typically get more touches and opportunities to score, giving them the best chance to rack up fantasy points and carry your team to victory. Some sleeper picks at the flex position are Quentin Johnston, averaging 15 points; Garrett Wilson, putting up an average of 20 points; Rico Dowdle, who put up 33 points this week and last but not least, Kimiani Videl, putting up 22 points.

This week, all of these players have made a huge impact on fantasy rosters across the league. If your lineup isn’t performing as well as you’d like, consider trading for one of these standout players to strengthen your team for the rest of the season. Also, keep on the lookout for sleeper players that will take your league by storm.

Almost every teen has a phone these days. In fact, Pew Research says around 95% of teens own one. The big debate is whether or not they should be allowed in school, so here are some different reasons from both sides.

Some students think yes. “I use my phone to look stuff up in class all the time,” said sophomore Caleb Soptich. Phones can be helpful for quick research, calculators, setting reminders for homework, or even for connecting with classmates for work after school.

On the other hand, phones can be a huge distraction. A 2022 study from Common Sense Media found that teens spend approximately 8 hours a day on screens, with a significant portion of that time occurring during school, despite the school day being only around 7 hours long. It’s no secret that many students are on TikTok or Snapchat when they’re supposed to be paying attention.

Some schools ban phones completely, putting them in a magnet-locked bag, while others only allow them at lunch. Students will keep finding ways to use them, no matter what rules there are against them.

Schools should let us have phones, but only at certain times, like breaks or if a teacher allows it. Banning them doesn’t work—phones aren’t going anywhere, so schools should figure out how to handle them with limitations for students.

Where were you this past Saturday? A lot of students were at Hoco, but were you? Hoco this year was interesting to say the least. There were definitely some entertaining characters there, but overall, it was possibly one of the best hoco’s at SHS experience-wise.

We gave twelve students an intake form so we could gain a consensus on the matter. To start, most of our volunteers were seniors, so they have different perspectives than other volunteers. The rest of our volunteers have a 1,3,2 split, so at least we have a diverse group of opinions.

The theme for homecoming had an interesting split; half of the group enjoyed the theme, while others had a different perspective. To note, most of the seniors enjoyed the theme, while the other grades had mixed feelings. Most likely, this is because the seniors are experiencing nostalgia, whereas the juniors and sophomores aren’t experiencing the same type of remembrance. After all, this isn’t their last homecoming.

The music was the only thing truly agreed upon. All of our participants would’ve preferred different music. One of the suggestions came from a senior named Millie Wilkey, and their suggestion was to play “music that everyone can dance to, like Low by Flo Rida”. More musical input from students seems like it would lead to greater success at Homecoming.

Another suggestion came from a student named Iliana Garcia. They suggested that at Homecoming, we don’t allow students to request songs at the dance. To add to that suggestion, Keisha Valencia proposed that we suggest songs the day before to allow for better-known songs to play so that everyone can enjoy the party. We could have each grade level take a form on what songs they would like to hear, which would cause fewer problems and allow for more enjoyment.

Space was also a concern for students, but overall, we got feedback that people didn’t mind it. There were mixed feelings about how many vendors there were, but a common idea was that we needed at least one more to balance the sheer number of people at the event. Thankfully, practically everyone liked the decorations, so there are no notes from there.

Overall, student input for themes, amenities, music, and even where the event is held for a school gathering would lead to greater enjoyment. Allowing feedback from students after the fact can lead to improvements in function at events later down the line, which is almost guaranteed to help with the overall happiness of the student body.

If you live in Washington and are a fan of college football, you know about the Apple Cup, one of the state’s most heated and historic rivalries. Each year, the University of Washington Huskies UW and the Washington State University Cougars WSU battle it out for bragging rights, tradition, and pride.

This year’s matchup was one that Husky fans will not soon forget. The Huskies overpowered the Cougars with a commanding 59 and 24 victory, the highest point total ever scored in Apple Cup history. From the opening kickoff to the final whistle, UW showcased its depth, speed, and precision on both sides of the ball.

The Huskies’ offense was unstoppable, marching down the field almost at will. Big plays through the air and strong runs on the ground kept the Cougar defense scrambling all night. Every time WSU tried to build momentum, the Huskies answered right back with explosive scoring drives. The Cougars fought hard and had a few bright moments, but turnovers and defensive struggles made it nearly impossible to keep up with UW’s pace.

For Husky fans, this game was more than just another win; it was a statement. Breaking the Apple Cup scoring record adds another chapter to UW’s proud football tradition and gives them bragging rights across the state until next year’s rematch. For the Cougars, it’s a tough loss in a rivalry that always stirs up strong emotions, but one that will continue their drive to bounce back.

The Apple Cup has always been about more than just football; it’s about community, competition, and the pride of two schools separated by less than 300 miles. This year, the purple and gold came out on top in dominating, leaving fans already counting down the days until these two programs clash again.

Are you up and standing? When you’re at a pep assembly, you probably aren’t participating. You’re not the only one. Everyone has their reasons, but one of them is that you’re most likely not enjoying the assembly.

One of the bigger problems is the lack of engaging content. Understandably, this could be discouraging for our students who give it their all to demonstrate their skills and creativity, but this isn’t what we mean. We’re discussing the issue of which students will engage with it. For example, more student inclusion can add value to pep assemblies rather than dread.

Here are some student quotes to put some perspective on what we’re referring to. “The only fun part is when the kids are down there playing games.” “I don’t mind them, but it feels like they drag them out.” “It’s fun, but it’s kind of repetitive.”

To combat some of these problems, here are a few ideas that can be implemented by ASB or even the administration. Have a hype squad. The hype squad would be placed randomly in the bleachers. When there’s a part of the assembly that needs hype, all they have to do is cheer, because if there are enough people who are hyped, others might also get excited.

Another idea is we could hold votes for what students want to see or what they want to interact with. If we continue to just decide for them, then they’ll probably stay disinterested. We could also start some talk about incoming assemblies a few weeks in advance, so more people are aware, so it’s not sprung on them, because when that happens, students are annoyed and don’t want to go.

In conclusion, there are many ways that we can make assemblies better for students and teachers. From consulting students about their wants or their interests to actually providing what they asked for. It’ll take a while to implement, but it doesn’t mean it shouldn’t be considered.

Do you remember when you were allowed to take your time on your work because you knew you’d have extra time in advisory?

Sadly, this is no longer a fact and is now something we can reminisce on. Our school has switched its schedule once again, leaving us with advisory only on Wednesday. This new schedule gives us more time in class, yes, but the old schedule allowed us to have more time to do work that we hadn’t finished.

The CDC states that a healthy way to cope with stress is by “connecting with others, talking with people about your concerns, and trying to do relaxing activities that you enjoy.” Advisory was that place. To quote a few students, “I wish we had Advisory right now, dude.” “I hate this new schedule so much.” “This is so stupid; I want to be in Advisory right now.” These quotes from students who wish to remain anonymous outline people's opinions about the new class schedule. 

In contrast, the engagement team has a different opinion, such as, “Advisory seems to have students all over the place, but only having it one day a week is nice for us.” Another opinion is, “It makes it matter more; last year we had Advisory for four days out of the week. You were supposed to be there to learn important skills, but everyone was all over and not where they were supposed to be. This year it counts more because it’s only one day out of the week, making you value it more,” said Mr. Steen. 

The original schedule allowed for student athletes and students in clubs to get their work done so they could meet the grade requirements for their activities. Many students at Selah High School have other commitments after school, but we can understand our staff's frustration with the constant reminders about where we are supposed to be. Advisory was a place to hang out with friends and relax, but from the faculty's perspective, we were using Advisory as a free period and not for the intended purpose.

In conclusion, Advisory is a key point in a student’s day, allowing for work to get done and new relationships to bloom. A suggestion would be to do a hybrid of the schedules, allowing students to have a place to flourish while not stressing out the staff.

As fall is approaching, many things begin to happen. Leaves begin to brown and fall off, temperatures drop, and pumpkin spice comes into season. Pumpkin spice has been storming the nation for many years now, with products ranging from pumpkin spice popcorn and tea to even hummus. We all enjoy this seasonal treat, but has it gone too far?

Pumpkin spice is the seasonal treat that people enjoy during fall, but recently it has gone out of hand with all sorts of pumpkin spice objects. On October 10, 2003, Starbucks launched the pumpkin spice latte, and it has since become a seasonal phenomenon, becoming one of the most popular drinks in Starbucks' history. You might be wondering what this drink has to do with anything. In recent years, the media has gone wild for the pumpkin spice latte, beginning the pumpkin spice craze across social media.

Recently, things have been getting out of hand with pumpkin spice yogurt, pumpkin spice spam, slurpees, ramen noodles, and even cat litter. These products are going too far. The idea is fun, but this is just growing the problem year by year. Who knows what we will see this year?

Pumpkin spice is a wonderful fall taste, and it is great that companies can spice up the season with this seasoning. But not everything needs to be pumpkin spice. At the end of the day, this flavor should be enjoyed as a special treat of the season, not stretched into every product on the shelf.

Brain Rot: Why Teens Can’t Stop Watching

Brain rot is dumb and not funny. You may have been scrolling through TikTok or Instagram and found yourself watching something so random and unusual that you can’t look away.  If so, you have experienced Brain rot.

Brain rot is just videos with strange edits that are very odd. There are weird AI videos of fruits, Chimpanzini Bananini, and even older trends like Skibidi Toilet, which younger children like. 

A student, Caleb Quantrille, has said, "I don’t like that my little brother likes Skibidi toilet; it's very annoying".

Brain rot has become a comfort for teens who want to think about something silly or laugh at something, and for even younger children who find the nonsense amusing. According to The Rise of Brain Rot and the Decline of the Teenage Mind by the Mindwood Argus, the term "brain rot" got so big that Oxford University Press picked it as the Word of the Year in 2024, since teens use it jokingly to describe the content that they watch.

Why Teens Think It’s Funny.

The reason brain rot is funny is that it’s so overstimulating and dumb. The fast cuts and distorted visuals overload your attention span, and that chaos is the joke. High schoolers who scroll TikTok and Instagram all day find it funnier the less it makes sense. Some statistics from ACT Youth show the percentage of social media use by kids and teens: TikTok (63%), Snapchat (60%), Instagram (59%), Facebook (33%), and Discord (28%). Daily, a majority of teens visit YouTube (71%), TikTok (58%), and Snapchat (51%), with Instagram at (47%).

It feels different from regular content because there are no rules, and that unpredictability makes it entertaining. That's why kids and teens like it so much. Calling a video “brain rot” is almost like a compliment.

High school is one of the most important, fun, and exciting years of your life, but it can also be a bit overwhelming sometimes. Between your classes, extracurriculars, friendships, and planning for the future in the real world, it’s easy to feel stressed or worried about high school. But don’t worry! Here are some helpful tips to navigate through high school and make the most of these important years.

1. Stay Organized

To stay organized and keep track of schoolwork, use a planner or digital calendar to monitor assignments, tests, and activities. Breaking tasks into smaller steps can help avoid last minute work and can also reduce stress and help keep on track with everything.

2. Manage Your Time Wisely

Balancing schoolwork, hobbies, and social life can be a bit difficult, but also be very helpful. It's also best if you can manage your time because time management is also important in the real world. Prioritize what’s important first, like homework, chores, and then set aside the stuff you want to do, like hanging out with friends or relaxing.

3. Ask for Help When Needed

Don’t be afraid to reach out to teachers, counselors, or friends if you’re struggling. Everyone needs support sometimes, and there are people ready to help you succeed in anything you want to succeed in. There will always be someone willing to help you.

4. Get Involved

Join clubs, sports, or other extracurricular activities that interest you. This is a great way to meet new friends and build social skills. Social skills are going to be very important in the real world if you want a good job.

5. Take Care of Yourself

Make sure to get enough sleep, eat healthy, and stay active. Your mental and physical health are very important keys to staying focused and motivated to do your school work, and also if you're doing any sports.

6. Stay True to Yourself

High school can come with peer pressure, but remember who you are and what you value. So be yourself and only surround yourself with positive people who will like you for you, and make the right friends and decisions because who you hang out with is who you become.

 7. Plan for the Future, But Don’t Stress Too Much

It’s good to think about college or careers, but don’t let it overwhelm you. Just focus on school work, working hard, and don't fall off. All the hard work will pay off.

It’s the 2025 men’s state cross country meet. The runners stand tense at the line. “Runners, take your mark… set… BANG!” The pack surges forward. Will Selah be there—and will they win it all?

Selah Cross Country is no stranger to big moments. With state titles in its history and alumni now competing at the Division I level, the program has long been a contender. But this year’s team might just have the speed and commitment to make a serious run at another state victory.

Freshmen are already shaking things up, showing speed and promise that could carry Selah well into the future. Names like Orrin Gamache, Hudson Sager, Trent Schmierer, and Nathan Lund have emerged early as ones to watch because of their speedy times. All getting in the top 20 for this halftime dash.

But it’s not just about the incoming talent. The varsity squad brings a balanced mix of experience and grit: Josh Strand, Pavlo Rodriguez, Jaxon Mouw, Seth Lorton, Justus Cutter, and Lucas Kalaba. In their opening home meet, Selah’s top athletes set the tone for the season. Pavlo Rodriguez grabbed 2nd place, Jaxon Mouw followed in 3rd, Orrin Gamache impressed with a 4th-place finish, and Joshua Strand finished in 6th, with many others finishing in the top 20.

Coach Polly summed it up, “We have a good team and a lot of people have put in work in the summer. We’re gonna put in a lot of good work.”

That hard work will be essential. Cross country is as much a mental grind as it is a physical one. Former Selah standout and current Washington State University runner Eric Swedin encouraged, “This team has the physicality to win state, now it’s all about putting in the work and being disciplined mentally. That’s how you will win.”

With the rising freshmen, experienced varsity leaders, and a strong tradition to lean on, Selah’s 2025 team has everything it takes to make noise this fall. Whether they can turn that potential into another state trophy remains to be seen, but one thing is certain: they are ready and they won’t be overlooked.

The first year of college can feel overwhelming and scary. It's a step into a new world that may feel unfamiliar, exciting, and sometimes intimidating. Not knowing where to begin or how to navigate this transition can make the experience even more challenging. Entering college unprepared can hinder both your confidence and success. With some tips and insight, you can make the most of your first year and confidently embrace this new chapter. 

One of the most important things you can do is get involved. Take advantage of every opportunity to get involved on campus, join clubs, participate in activities, and explore anything your college has to offer. This will help you make new friendships and get the full college life experience. The article The First Year of College also suggests the idea of getting involved on campus. The article states that joining a group will help you with homesickness and feeling like you belong within your college community. This article also suggests staying organized, which is crucial to being up to date with all your assignments. College isn't like high school, where your teachers will have everything organized for you and lead you through all your assignments and due dates. That's why it is important to stay organized, you can buy a planner, use an organizer app, or use a big calendar. 

For your first year, it's important to avoid overloading yourself with too many classes and responsibilities. The article  Do's and Don'ts for College Freshman advises not to overschedule yourself. Overscheduling can be overwhelming and make it hard for you to keep up. In your first trimester, it is crucial to adjust yourself to the new environment. The first year of college is about getting comfortable and finding yourself in your college. Most importantly, never give up and let yourself enjoy the process. You got this! 

Did you know that there are opportunities such as scholarships and jobs focused on video games? Just like normal sports, colleges can scout players from schools across the globe to come play for their team while cutting portions of their tuition, scholarship money, or other benefits. Consisting of multiple games, ESports has a wide variety of potential for each player to have a unique job on the team.

Recently, members of the ESports team here at SHS were recruited to Columbia Basin College for a game called Overwatch 2. However, within the same High School league that they competed in, another player was signed directly to a professional team. If you want an opportunity to be scouted for college or get a scholarship, talk to Mr. Roberts about joining the ESports team.

As an example, the CBC (Columbia Basin College) ESports program is very highly funded for the college. The players are even considered athletes and get the benefits of such. Just like normal athletes, ESports recruits can have portions of their tuition paid due to scholarships while playing for the team (Up to 40%).

ESports is a very wide category, it consists of multiple games, such as popular ones like Rocket League, Valorant, Overwatch, and League of Legends. All of these games are classified into different categories; as such, each game has its own team. There are even smaller games that have professional teams, such as Brawl Stars; however, the small games aren’t very likely to have teams on the college level.

Due to the wide cast of such games, each player needs a unique role to differentiate from the rest of the team. Most competitive games will have basic roles such as tank, damage, or support, each to fulfill their role and win the game. However, games such as Rocket League don’t have roles and instead focus on team coordination, which sparks recruitment for players who can play together or upcoming players to practice together. 

However large and growing the ESports scene is, should you focus all your time on it so you can be scouted? Short answer, no. If you are good at games, you can try to make yourself look for the colleges however, it is a very unstable community with almost nobody ever getting a chance to play in the college or professional scene. Does that mean you shouldn’t try? No, get out there and give it your all; however, you do want to have other things that interest you because the chances are so very low for anybody to be noticed. No matter who you are, there is always a chance to be noticed for the hard work and effort you put into anything, even video games.

As a beginner, it's common to be unsure of what to bring and what to wear on a hike. Knowing which items are essential for surviving a hike is key. With the weather getting warm, you've decided to hike. It could be the allure of the great outdoors, the peaceful vibes, or let's be real, an Instagram-worthy post. But before you grab your shoes and head out, there are a few things to know to ensure a successful hike.

The first most important tip is to pick the best hiking trail that will suit you and your fitness level. If you pick a trail with high elevations that don't match your fitness level, you might catch yourself gasping for air. The article Hiking for Beginners: Essential Tips From an Outdoor Pro, also states to choose a suitable hiking trail. This article advises that when choosing a hiking trail, pay attention to the distance, elevation, terrain, and note potential places you can rest along the way. To find a good hike, guidebooks are great, or you can also ask a trusted friend for trail recommendations. A great suggestion would be the Twin Falls Trail near North Bend, Washington, which offers beautiful views and it's an ideal choice for beginner hikers.

When going on a bigger hike, it is important to use navigation. You need a map of the hike, either on your phone or on paper. It is smart to have both maps! The article Hiking For Beginners: 11 Essential Tips states, “Understanding where you are and where you are going is key to enjoying your hike. A combination of electronic navigation and paper is a good route for hiking beginners.” This is why, before starting your hike, print out the trail map or use your phone for navigation; you don't want to get lost on the trail!

Lastly, simple tips for hiking are taking a good pair of shoes, you don't need expensive shoes, just ones that you will walk comfortably in. Always bring a backpack because you will need essentials like water, the more water the better. Packing a healthy snack is crucial to maintaining energy and preventing burnout and exhaustion. Snacks like granola bars, trail mix, fruit, or energy bites are perfect for a hike. Bring a first aid kit incase of a quick emergency. Always make sure to clean up after yourself and leave the hiking trails clean. With these tips, I hope you are ready and informed for your first fun hike!  

Staying active while juggling a busy schedule can feel like an impossible task. Whether you're balancing school, school work, work, etc, finding time to exercise can seem impossible. However, you don't need hours at the gym to stay fit. Working out is important for both physical and mental well-being. High school students should include some fitness in their lifestyle, as it contributes to a healthier lifestyle and improves academic performance. 

You don't need hours to get a great workout in. No matter how much time you have, whether it is five, ten, or twenty minutes, it all counts. Got a short break after school? Squeeze in a quick workout- maybe a YouTube video, some pushups, or a few sit-ups. Even while studying, taking a short break to move your body can boost your energy and focus. The article How to Find Time for Exercise in a Busy Schedule, states, “exercise boosts your mood and reduces feelings of depression, anxiety, and stress. Furthermore, fitting in a good workout can help your brain function better.” This is why it's important to workout. 

Another way to stay active, is if possible walk as much as you can. Walking or biking to school is a great way to stay active. If you can't walk or bike to school, making sure to take as many steps as you can throughout the day is great for staying active. Look for opportunities to stay active while doing things. For example, do squats or calf raises while brushing your teeth or cooking. Take the stairs instead of the elevator, or walk while talking on the phone. The article Physical Activity- how to get active when you are busy also gives similar tips, for example, while watching television, do stretches and core exercise, and if you're waiting for your kettle to boil, do a few wall push-ups or calf stretches. 

Staying active while managing a busy schedule is possible with a little creativity and time management. High school students, in particular, can benefit from staying active, as it not only promotes a healthier lifestyle but also improves academic performance. With just a few minutes here and there, you can boost your energy, mood, and focus, ultimately leading to a more balanced and productive day.

AAU basketball, short for Amateur Athletic Union basketball, refers to most basketball played outside of high school. This means most competitive club or travel basketball for youth players falls under AAU. From a neutral viewpoint, AAU basketball seems like it would be beneficial to players through getting them game experience; however, there are plenty of downsides to AAU basketball.

The first and most prominent reason is the lack of training these athletes get. AAU players are often spending a copious amount of time playing games rather than working on their skills to get better at basketball. Many of these teams will not even practice; they will choose several players and put them on one team and expect it to work. Instead of developing these players and helping them play together, they jump straight into games with no experience, often hurting these kids future development.

Kobe Bryant once said, “AAU basketball, horrible, terrible AAU basketball. It’s stupid. It doesn’t teach our kids how to play the game at all so you wind up having players that are big and they bring it up and they do all this fancy crap and they don’t know how to post. They don’t know the fundamentals of the game. It’s stupid.” In this interview, Kobe complained about the issues of AAU basketball; he would bring up how it teaches kids to be selfish and how a lot of these programs are often in it for the money.

My second reason is the lack of loyalty these players have when playing AAU. Players will often play on 3-4 teams, not learning how to play correctly with their teammates. AAU has earned a reputation for isolation basketball, meaning players are more focused on personal success and scoring rather than winning. The moment a player believes they're not getting enough playing time or not getting the ball enough, they’ll leave. This habit is an overall negative for the game and will later harm their future teams, like in school basketball, as their lack of loyalty and playing together with their team will hurt their team's chemistry.

Many of these AAU teams are playing 4-5 game tournaments every weekend. With the amount of games these kids play, it’s easy to overlook the value of winning. Instead of taking every game seriously and trying their best, often a loss is disregarded as they may have a game within the next few hours. When athletes start focusing less on the overall game, it hurts their chances of improving by showing their full efforts. This also results in many injuries. When athletes aren't allowed to rest their bodies, injuries skyrocket.

A quote from ESPN analyst Baxter Holmes stated, "AND, AGAIN, I understand I shouldn't use a broad brush to criticize the entire AAU system, because parts of it are excellent. But also parts of it are very broken, especially as it relates to injuries in the league. What we're seeing is a rash of injuries among young players." This quote can show the harmfulness of AAU basketball, as players don’t get the rest they need with their frequent tournaments, resulting in injuries like stress fractures. Down the line this can affect a player's health, drastically hurting themself and their mental state as well.

To show how much AAU is damaging American basketball, all you have to do is look at the incline of European basketball. Players from overseas are starting to take over the NBA. This is because the play of basketball is much more reliant on the fundamentals of the game. These overseas players would only play a few games a month, while they train every single day. European basketball focuses on the team aspect, forcing kids to learn to play with each other and learn how to win together while also training their skills. Being good at scoring can only take you so far, and with how much AAU prioritizes 1-on-1 scoring, it’s difficult to develop other strengths that you will need later down the line.

AAU basketball isn’t purely negative; in fact, there are many upsides. From getting college exposure to being able to train during the off-season, there are many reasons why AAU can be great. However, this relies on how these basketball programs decide to focus on getting better rather than winning tournaments. Toxic coaches and money-laundering basketball programs are often the reason kids struggle to improve. With the right people and great coaches, AAU basketball can be a great way to gain college exposure and to be able to compete at the next level.

AAU basketball is taking over America; too many kids are prioritizing playing games rather than training and becoming better. European basketball is a clear demonstration, showing how playing team basketball with mandatory practicing is how you develop a player's skills. AAU can have huge benefits, but you have to find the correct programs that can set you up for future success.

AI or Artificial Intelligence is a major problem in modern-day schooling. Recent developments in AI enable chatbots such as ChatGPT to help with simple tasks. Although most schools and teachers see AI as a problem because it can hinder students' learning process, there are many ways for students to use AI as a learning tool.

AI can be classified into three main categories: generative, conversational, and predictive. Chatbots such as the previously mentioned ChatGPT are considered conversational AI, whereas others, like generative AI, can make drawings or new pieces of work based on previous training. While not necessarily helpful for schoolwork, predictive AI looks for patterns and attempts to anticipate outcomes.

The main issue with AI in school is students copying information from AI sources, plagiarizing work. Students mainly use AI for writing and research. For example, AI is often used for essays, research projects, and short answer questions. Although AI can be used to aid the learning process, students often use these tools to complete entire assignments, removing the learning component of work.

One idea shared by a student is a custom conversational AI created by the school. This tool could be designed to support learning while preventing plagiarism by following specific rules or being limited to certain subjects. For example, if a student wants feedback on an essay they wrote, the AI could give small tips like fixing grammar or adding missing parts like a hook. Another example is in math—if a student wants help reviewing their work or understanding a topic they missed, the AI could explain how to solve a similar problem it creates on its own.

While AI presents challenges in education, particularly when students misuse it to avoid learning, AI can also offer valuable opportunities as a learning tool. When used appropriately, AI can help with research, improve understanding, and improve the quality of student work. The solution is guiding students to use AI as a tool for learning rather than a shortcut to avoid it.

According to Earth.org, about 92 million tons of fast-fashion garments end up in landfills each year due to the over 100 billion garments that are produced each year. To put this into perspective, that's about a garbage truck full of clothes ending up in landfills every second. 

Fast fashion is the business practice that replicates new looks from the runway and mass produces garments for a cheap price using cheap, low-quality synthetic fabrics. According to a study done at clevelandclinic.org, buying clothes can trigger a dopamine rush, creating a cycle of continuous shopping. 

Lastly, according to Earthday.org, they found that many people, including influencers such as Chiara Ferragni and Emma Chamberlain, prefer quantity over quality. This mindset contributes to the growing issue of overconsumption, leading to increased waste and environmental harm.

Since these fast fashion garments aren't meant to be worn repeatedly, these clothing items are recycled after a couple of wears. This habit is why landfills are filling up so quickly. Fast fashion brands like Shein, ZARA, and Temu appeal to many because of their cheap prices and their new, aesthetic looks. 

The fast fashion industry continues to fuel overconsumption and environmental damage through production and low-quality materials. The constant cycle of buying and quickly discarding clothes not only harms the environment but also encourages unsuitable shopping habits. To reduce waste, consumers should prioritize quality over quantity and support more sustainable fashion choices. 

As the earth awakens from its winter slumber, so do we. Spring's vibrant colors, fresh air, and longer days allow us to rejuvenate our minds and bodies. But what is it about this season that makes us feel so alive? As the sun and fresh air hit our faces, we get energy and happiness and start feeling alive.  

According to the Blog "Why Does Spring Make Us So Happy," we feel happy once spring starts because once we get out of the dullness of winter, the vibrant colors and fragrances of plants and flowers increase the brain's flow of dopamine, oxytocin, and serotonin, all of which help us improve our mood.      

 Once the sun starts showing up, we can finally go outside and enjoy outdoor activities. Spending time enjoying nature can help boost your mental health. The article Three Ways Getting Outside Into Nature Helps Improve Your Health states how nature can help decrease anxiety levels and help lessen stress and feelings of anger. This shows how having the ability to enjoy the outdoors once spring comes can help us improve our mood and feel good.  

There are many parks in our valley where we could go play sports such as soccer, volleyball, football, etc with our friends. Parks are also a great place to have a picnic where you can connect with nature and enjoy the outdoors. Walking, running, or hiking are an excellent source of exercise. All these activities are perfect for going outside and enjoying the weather. So, with spring approaching, make sure to take some time to enjoy the outdoors! 

Senioritis is a condition that seniors usually experience during their last year of high school. Although it is sometimes viewed as a joke, Southern New Hampshire University (SNHU) Faculty Training and Development Facilitator Abby Tincher said senioritis is a real thing people experience. 

Senioritis is a term used to describe the feeling of apathy or lack of motivation that many students feel as they approach graduation. After years of academic pressure, exams, and extracurriculars, seniors may feel like they've already “done enough” and lose the motivation to keep up their school work. But what can seniors do to beat senioritis and finish strong? 

Setting goals is one way to stay motivated and overcome senioritis. The article “What is Senioritis and is There a Cure?” Says that setting short and long-term goals helps to stay motivated. Crushing those short-term goals will make you feel good and allow you to celebrate small victories. By setting goals, you will have something to look forward to, which helps boost motivation, making you more likely to stay committed. 

Changing things up a bit in the way you study can reinvigorate your imagination. The article How to Fight Senioritis and Get to Graduation states that simply changing where you study or do schoolwork- like going to a coffee shop or your local library can make you feel more motivated. By trying new things, you will most likely feel eager to accomplish specific tasks. 

Remember that finishing your high school years strong is crucial for your future. Stay focused and remember why you started this journey in the first place. Graduation is just around the corner, and it's worth every bit of effort! 

To answer this question, let's take a look at each individual character and their primary drive:

Brook

He is already technically dead, but his devil fruit lets him keep his soul and control it, and his main drive is to help Luffy become king of the pirates but also to help him accomplish his dream that we still don't know what it is because he said it to all of his crew, but we don't know what it is yet, but there are many theories on it, but we will one day see what it is.

Franky

Franky is the shipwright, and his drive is to help Luffy become the king of the pirates and also help him on his journey by making sure the Sunny is in good condition to be able to travel to sea, but he also is fascinated by Vegapunk's technology and might also learn more about it and become overpowered possibly like one of the seraphim, but we will have to see, but his drive is to help Luffy's dream.

Jimbi 

Jimbi is a little bit still new to the crew, and he is a fishman and also really good at controlling the Sunny and knows a lot about the sea because of his history and knowledge about the sea but his drive is to help Luffy complete his dream, and once he does that, he will probably want equal rights with fishmen and humans, and I think that will be all settled once Luffy’s dream is complete because I think Luffy’s dream is to connect all the seas and have peace, but he has to be king of the pirates to be able to do that, and that could also cause the all-blue dream that Sanji dreams to see and believe in, so that would also kill two birds with one stone.

Robin

Robin can read all the Poneglyphs and wants to learn all the history that has happened, like the lost century, but can't because of the government, but her drive is to also help Luffy complete his dream and also become king of the pirates, and I think once that happens, she will be able to know everything about history and would have a school where she is allowed to share all her information without being killed by the government, but I think by then the government won't be a thing because of Luffy's final dream and the final war. But only time will tell.

Chopper

Chopper is the doctor in the Straw Hat Pirates, and his drive is to also help Luffy complete his dream and become king of the pirates, and since he is the doctor and has a bounty of 1000, I don't think he will be killed, maybe sacrificing himself for Luffy, but I don't think that will happen.

Sanji

Sanji’s role in the crew is to cook and feed the crew and he is also a very strong fighter, as we saw in Wano when his Germa double six genetics kicked in while fighting queen, and we really saw his potential in the crew and his goal is the same as everyone else's, and it is to help Luffy become king of the pirates and he is one of the strongest in the crew and I do think once he can fully control his germa genetics and powers he can be one of the strongest in the series.

Usopp

Usopp is the sniper Well, that's what he is known for, but he is one of the weakest Straw Hats because he doesn’t even know how to use Haki, and I think he will be a lot stronger once the Elebaf arc happens and he trains with the giants and maybe learns the Elebaf's certain type of Haki, as we saw in Wano when Luffy learned Ryuo maybe that will happen with Usopp, and his goal is to also help Luffy become king of the pirates, but I think Usopp will become very strong once he can use Haki, as we know in Shanks crew, his father Yasopp is one of the best snipers with his ability to use observation Haki, and maybe Usopp can live up to his dad's glory.

Nami

Nami’s role in the crew is to be the navigator and she is also one of the weakest in the crew compared to Luffy and Zoro but she can handle a fight, because in Wano when she basically tamed Zeus and he is very strong and can basically shoot lighting because he's a thunder cloud, anyways she is the navigator and she is very important to find the one piece to help luffys dream to become king of the pirates so i think she wouldn't die, because oda the author did state that one member of the straw hat crew will die but we don't know who yet. 

Zoro

Zoro, the first person in Luffy's crew and one of the most loyal person you will ever meet. He is a swordsman, and he currently has the Wado Ichimonji, Sandai Kitetsu, and Enma. he is one of the strongest people in the crew and I can see him sacrificing himself to protect Luffy or giving his life to help Luffy obtain his title as the pirate king.

In conclusion, I think Zoro and Usopp would die. I think Usopp would sacrifice himself, and he would also do it because he would want the honor of dying to save Luffy. We all know Usopp, and that's something he would do. Now for Zoro, I think he would either die in the final war fighting someone or sacrifice himself to save Luffy's life. But I don't think Luffy would die; there is a possibility, but if that's what Oda intended by a straw hat dying, then that would make sense and would be a huge curveball.

Spring is coming, and that means more sports at Selah High School. Notably, Selah baseball has been practicing for about a week now. I got to ask a few of the players some questions about their goals for this season and how they will accomplish them. 

When asked about their goals for the season, Rowdy Mullins and Evan Ancira, both seniors, had the same thing to say: Consistently getting better and being a great teammate. The way they said they were going to accomplish these things? The obvious answer… Hard work. Another statement Rowdy and Evan had that matched up was “working for the guy next to you because the most important guy on the team is your teammates”. 

Looking into the Vikings schedule in a tough Central Washington Athletic Conference, Evan said there were no “gimmies.” Rowdy and Beau Benjamin, another senior, thought East Valley and Othello would be games they needed to be locked in for. Rowdy also said that they would need to be prepared for Ellensburg's peak at the end of the season. Dylan Kingston, a junior, had a lot of confidence, saying that he expects the Vikings to be at the top of the league and also have the best defense.  

The Vikings will host Sehome on Saturday, March 15, for their first doubleheader of the season. All 4 of these key players expect to start the season off 2-0 with confidence. Rowdy and Evan both said, “The games this Saturday should go very well…our defense will always be great” and “we’ve been putting in high-intensity work at practice, and I think it will pay off on Saturday”. The Vikings' first game is at 12, and the second will be at 2. Show some support and come out and watch the season opener at Archer field! 

Selah has been successful the last few years on track in a few different events. Caleb Williams placed 5th in the district as a junior in the 300m. Selah has two great hurdlers returning to track for their junior year;  Seth Lorton and Luke Anderson were top 5 in the district for the event. Senior Owen Moultray was the best pole vaulter, who placed 2nd in the district and 8th in state.

Our girls' softball team was young last year, with only 1 senior on the entire team and only 3 upperclassmen. Despite this, they still finished 4th in the Cwac. Kyra Rudrick, who was only a sophomore, managed to lead the team in home runs with 5. She also led the team in hits and had the highest slugging percentage. Freshman Elliott McLaughlin helped the team with a .923 fielding percentage and led the team in triples. Ellie Urlacker, one of the juniors on the team, showed her experience as she led the team in base percentage and hit 7 doubles. The Vikings softball team will have 3 returning captains: Avery Brewer, Ellie Urlacher, and Laci Ross. 

Although Selah had plenty of great seniors last year, there are plenty of juniors and underclassmen who are ready to fill in for them. Braxton Young, who was just a freshman last year, almost led the team in hits, proving to be reliable in big moments. Beau Benjamin, Rowdy Mullins, and Keaton Pitzer are all returning for their senior year and are going to be a necessity for the Selah team. Rowdy, the team's leading pitcher, was able to strike out 43 people while only having 15 walks. Beau was an amazing 2nd baseman, having only two errors, a .345 batting average, and 22 RBIs. 

Selah’s boys' soccer team finished 4th in the Cwac last year, but with young talent coming up, they have room to improve. Senior Colton Shea was a great center back for Selah last year; he was a great leader of the team and was selected for honorable mentions at the end of the season. Another senior, Rylan Tilley, is a great right wing who not only was 2nd in goals with 7 for the team in goals but also has great crossing abilities to get other strikers some goals. Carlos was selected for the 2nd team and was only a sophomore, and he is a great team leader. Baltimore, another senior who helped the team last year, will be returning; his speed as a left winger helped the team get great scoring opportunities.

This Thursday through Saturday, the boys' basketball team is heading to state and looking to bring home a State Championship. Selah has not been to state since 2019, five years have passed, and Selah is ready to come back and make a name for itself.

Selah is led by starters: Jackson Pepper, Eli Wright, Beau Benjamin, Rylan Tilley, and Jaiden Alexander. Over the year Selah has been consistently dominant; this has been shown with their impressive record of 20-4 and two very important wins over teams like Prosser, and West Valley(Spokane).

Selah is one of two teams from the CWAC to make it to state. Throughout the year it was a battle between Grandview, Selah, and Prosser; the two in the end that punched their ticket were Selah and Prosser. Grandview was ranked 2nd in the state throughout the season but had a few rough losses at the end that sealed their season.

After a blowout victory over 4 seed West Valley Selah earns themselves a first-round bye and is looking at a matchup against either Lakewood or Columbia River. Both are very respectable teams.

Lakewood is the only team this year to hand a loss to defending state champ Lynden. Who averaged almost 63 points a game, Lakewood kept them under 50 points.

Ultimately, Selah has a great chance of winning a State Championship and to do this they need the starters to keep playing amazing. Over the year everyone has played a detrimental part in succeeding. Jackson Pepper has led the team and continues to be a force on the court, alongside players like Beau Benjamin and Eli Wright have shown impressive grit which has led to the team's success. You can check out how Selah is doing this Thursday at 9:00 am when they take on the winner of Lakewood, Columbia River.

This past week, Washington's wrestling season ended as the State tournament took place at the Tacoma Dome last weekend. With this being said, the Central Washington Athletic Conference (CWAC) has released its All-League Awards. Selah had one girl on the team and three boys on the list, one of whom was named Wrestler of the Year. 

Junior Mario Lamas finished the season as the CWAC UpperWeight Wrestler of the Year. He won districts in the 165 lb weight class and had a 4th place finish at the state tournament. 

Sophomore wrestler D’Anthony Garcia Reyes had a standout year with a 3rd-place finish at the Tacoma Dome. Not only did he reaffirm himself at the state tournament, but he also earned First-Team All-League honors for the 106 lb weight class. He was one of two sophomores to make this list in the 2024-25 season. 

Junior Shaun Lay was one of the 4 boys with a state appearance this year. Not only did he make a run at state, but he also got Second-Team All League honors for the 175 lb weight class. 

On the girl's side of things, Senior Anna Rodriguez earned an Honorable Mention from the CWAC All-League honors. Not only did she have a good season in conference play, but also had a standout finish in the postseason placing 4th in the state tournament for the 125 lb weight class. 

The 2025-26 season is looking strong, as many All-League recipients are returning next season. The Vikings look strong and are ready to compete for more state placings and district titles. 

The CWAC is one of the most competitive 2A Conferences in the state of Washington when it comes to boys basketball and that brings us a very entertaining tournament to watch. 

The seeding for the district tournament was:

1 - Grandview

2 - Prosser

3 - Selah

4 - Ellensburg

5 - East Valley

6 - Toppenish

7 - Ephrata

8 - Quincy

In the opening round, East Valley beat Quincy in a loser-out game where East Valley won, they were led by Senior guard Eli Esquivel who would put up 23 points in a 79-58 victory for the Red Devils. In the other elimination game, Toppenish held off Ephrata 46-43 led by 19 points from Alex Bazan, meaning East Valley and Toppenish would both survive and advance to the next round.

In a placement game, Ellensburg would travel to Grandview who had an undefeated run throughout conference play and they would continue their winning ways winning this one 68-48, advancing straight to the semi-final. In the other placement game, Selah would travel to Prosser and this game was a nail-biter. Coming down to the final seconds where the Selah Vikings came out on top in this one 70-69. This was a very controversial game which led Prosser to protest and appeal the game to the WIAA. Prosser ended up losing the appeal meaning Selah would advance to the semi-finals.

In the next round, Ellensburg would host East Valley in a loser-out, winner to the semi-final game. East Valley would come out on top upsetting Ellensburg and ending their season 12-10. In the other matchup, Prosser would dominate the Toppenish Wildcats 82-58. Toppenish ended their season with a 9-13 record. Setting the semi-final matchups as 5-seed East Valley at 3-seed Selah and 2-seed Prosser at 1-seed Grandview.

Selah would continue their winning ways against the Red Devils in a dominant fashion with a commonding 87-59 win to advance to the championship. Senior guard Jackson Pepper´s 24 points led four viking scorers indouble digits. On the other side of things, Prosser would shock Grandview handing them their first loss in league play. The Mustangs came out on top 86-83 led by 31 points from back to back CWAC MVP Koby McClure.

This lined up a rematch of the closest game in the district tournament between the 3-seed Selah Vikings and the 2-seed Prosser Mustangs. After a slow first quarter, the scoring picked up quick with Selah up 39-30 at halftime. The Vikings would keep this pace in the second half ending the game with a nice finish from Jackson Pepper and a deep three from his younger brother Oliver in the final seconds to secure the win 81-70. 

33 points from Koby McClure was not enough as the Pepper´s led the charge for the Vikings, Jackson finished with 28 points and Oliver followed with 17. This gave the Selah boys their first district title in 6 years. In the third place game, Grandview breezed past East Valley 84-50 led by 25 points from senior Cameron Draculan and another 19 from junior Frankie Medina. 

Since the Vikings claimed first place in the district, they would advance straight to the state tournament while Prosser and Grandview would have to play a crossover to prove that they deserve a spot in state. The CWAC´s 2nd place, Prosser would face the GSL´s 2nd place Pullman Greyhounds and after being down 42-26 at halftime, The Mustangs looked like a different team in the second half. After cutting the lead to nine after three quarters, They outscored Pullman 27-3 in the fourth quarter to cap off a 72-57 win to clinch a state berth. Prosser was once again led by Koby McClure with 32 points.

In the other District 5/6 crossover, Grandview went up to West Valley (Spokane) in a winner to state, loser out and after being ranked in the top 3 all season, Grandview was shocked by West Valley. The West Valley Eagles took a 40-26 lead into the break and Grandview started to claw back into the game but it just was not enough. The Eagles topped the Greyhounds 75-70 as Grandview´s season ended with a 21-4 record.

On February 19th, the Selah Vikings were able to upset the 2nd-seeded Prosser in an 81-70 victory to advance to the state tournament. Selah came into the district tournament as the 3rd seed, but throughout the tournament continued to prove why they are one of the best teams in the state. Through Selah’s remarkable 3-point shooting and a defense that has proved to be the best in the district, they could win games when it mattered the most.

The first game in the district tournament was a rematch against Prosser, the same team they lost to just a week before by double digits. Even with this big loss, Selah didn’t let this affect them and came into the game struggling, missing multiple outside shots and having a poor defensive performance.

Despite this, they only trailed by 2 going into the second. From here the Vikings would pick it up, limiting turnovers and holding their own at the defensive end, taking a 5-point lead going into the half. It was a back-and-forth from there into the fourth, until Selah managed to pull ahead with only a few minutes left in the 4th, even capturing a double-digit lead with only 2 minutes remaining in the game.

Prosser kept fighting their way back into the game, pressuring the ball and causing Selah to have several turnovers. With under 10 seconds left, senior Koby McClure hit a three, making it a 1-point game, but due to Prosser not having a timeout, Selah let the clock run out, ending the game 70-69. Selah had a very dispersed scoring game, but seniors Jackson and Eli led the scoring total with 16. Eli also recorded an impressive 14 rebounds, and Beau Benjamin led the team with 6 assists.

After a big win for Selah, they had to beat 5th-seeded East Valley, who's coming off a big win against 4th-seeded Ellensburg. East Valley is led by 1st team member Eli Esquivel and second team member Chase Staymates. Selah started off the game strong, capturing a 14-point lead in just the first quarter, led by the Pepper brothers outside shooting. Selah would maintain this lead from the 2nd–3rd quarter. In the 4th quarter, Selah would add to the league, doubling East Valley's point total in the 4th capturing an 87-59 win and making their way to the district championship. 

After an upset that had Prosser beating Grandview, Selah would have to play Prosser for the 3rd time in a month. Selah started the game strong, with good outside shooting; they led going into the second, where it was a similar story of good shooting with Oli, Rylan, and Jackson all hitting threes. The third quarter looked promising for the Vikings, gaining an 18-point lead due to great pressure on defense, causing turnovers that led to points on the offensive end. Koby McClure for Prosser was able to keep them in the game, scoring a deep three and a shot while being fouled, adding another 3 points. With a few more buckets from Prosser, they cut it to an eight-point game before the 4th

The 4th quarter started with Prosser looking for a comeback, getting the score difference to only 4. With 3 minutes remaining, seniors Jackson and Eli Wright weren’t going to let Selah lose, scoring clutch buckets down the stretch, leading to an 81-70 win. The Peppers lead the team in scoring with Jackson having 28 and Oliver having 17, and right behind him was Eli Wright with 15 and 10 rebounds. Beau Benjamin helped distribute the ball around with 6 assists, and Rylan Tilley contributed on the defensive end with 4 steals.

After an impressive showing during the district tournament, Selah will now have to compete in the state on March 3rd for the first time in 5 years. Throughout the season Selah has fought through adversity and combatted all types of challenges. The Vikings have been getting better all season, and now they have a chance to prove to the state why they're one of the best teams in Washington.

This weekend Washington state wrestling is taking place at the Tacoma Dome. The Selah team has 4 boys heading to the dome in hopes of bringing home a state title. Here is what you need to know.

Shaun Lay is in the 175 pound division and plans on placing in the top 4 of wrestlers in Washington state. Shaun has had a great season with a record of 26 wins and 12 losses. Although Shaun has not placed in either of his last two years this is not going to stop him from attempting to place in state and secure his spot in selah wrestling history.

Another Wrestler to keep in mind is Chase Bugni. Chase has had an impressive season with a 27-9 record. After placing 8th in state Chase has set his goals higher. This last weekend Chase took 3rd in districts and is moving on to the state tournament. Even though for the heavyweight division Chase is undersized this is not going to stop him. Chase has speed and technical skills to his advantage that his bigger opponents will not be able to keep up with. 

D’Anthony Garcia-Reyes one of four selah wrestlers going to state. In his division which is 106 pounds he is ranked 2nd in the state of washington. D’Anthony has had a very impressive sophomore season and plans on taking home a state championship title. He placed 4th in state last year and has been the district Champion out of the CWAC for 2 years in a row. D’Anthony has an outstanding record of 37-4.

Finally, as the Washington high school wrestling season comes to an end and all eyes are on Mario Lamas the infamous 165 pounder who has a stunning record of 34 - 3 and has been consistently dominant in the CWAC league. After last weekend Mario won Districts yet again for the third consecutive year. Keep in mind Mario is only a junior, the skills and ferocity he shows on the mat is only getting better. After a successful sophomore season finishing 4th in state Mario hopes to take home a state championship title and cement his legacy as one of the best wrestlers to ever wrestle for Selah.