Jack Hatzfeld Feature- Young Visionary

Wade McNaney: A National Dog Trainer

Wade McNaney; when most Northwest students hear this name, they think of the pencil to the paper. What most may not think of when they hear the name? National Dog Trainer, and this outside passion has become a mere profession for this high school teacher. “It starts as a simple concept and whether its training a dog or training a student, I just love to develop things and feel the reward of the progress,” said McNaney. It started when his dad had always preached to him from a young age to “be a life-long learner, be a life-long changer”. Through this, McNaney has developed a passion to grow things and he has exercised this through K-9’s. A more important K-9, his dog Biscuit, is an English Pointer that has been his own prodigy and a testament to his diligence. These passions have manifested and this young female dog has meant the world to McNaney in his process. Taking 4th in Nationals is no easy task, of course. Through a sharp and quick learning curve, McNaney knuckled down with Biscuit and took their relationship to new heights. “I started with Biscuit when I trained with a professional in Archie, Missouri. He got me my start when she was 11 months and it has opened a world of opportunities,” McNaney said. Back in the fall of 2013, McNaney introduced his young dog to the world of obedience. Since then he has trained his dog and others through hunting skills that range from the basics to retrieving a 40 pound pheasant almost the same size as the dog. McNaney recently brought Biscuit to her first trial this past December 21st in Muddy Creek, Topeka. Not knowing what to expect, he began his round. The training, the hard work, the pressure all seemed like it would crumble on top of him. His approached the first bird and shot it down. Biscuit’s time to shine came, and she didn’t disappoint. She made a full 120-yard retrieval on the first bird, which happened to be incredibly impressive. Biscuit continues and retrieved the next two unphased. “Just thinking about that moment. The bird’s tail was dragging on the ground because it was so big…but in that moment, I remember the tingle that ran through my skin,” McNaney said. “It was that moment of pride, everything I had been doing was rewarding me in front of my eyes”. The round finished in a flourish, Biscuit ran as fast as she could to retrieve the last of them. With tail wagging, the real connection between Biscuit and McNaney was alive. This is McNaney’s calling, he knows that this is the reason he has accomplished what he wanted. This is why he is such a great teacher, and this is why he has been ranked 4th nationally in training. “I’ve always wanted to see how I can affect things and watch them progress, this is how I knew I had done that, the comradery with her was just there” McNaney said. “Like I said…be a life-long learner, be a life-long changer.”

Celebration of Me- Video

Newcomb: Journey to 100

Last year Doug Newcomb was competing with top competition across the Sunflower league and state. This year, he is doing just about the same thing, only glorified with the title of a 100-win varsity wrestler. Newcomb has competed all across the nation in Iowa, Nebraska, Arizona, and even ranging to Maryland. His limits are none and his determination is everything. He simply takes the competition as they come and doesn’t bat an eye. “I make sure that whoever it is, they know I mean business and am here to beat them,” Newcomb said. All of this confidence has been fed through his motivating parents, his mentor, Coach Mesa, and his teammates who will carry them across the finish line to state. “Evan Pardue, Taylor Jokerst, and Will Whitaker will carry this team, it’s all a mission,” Newcomb said. Through the process of it all comes mental and physical taxation. Sweat from every pore, blood from different body parts, and just about all limbs at a stand still by the time workouts are over. “This would be one aspect that truly takes over all aspects of like,” Newcomb said. “Cutting weight and maintaining it really can take a toll physically and mentally, sometimes I can’t even focus in class.” When passion meets challenge, Doug has learned to step up to anything the sport has thrown at him. From an outside aspect, you cannot truly understand the incredible push and pull this sport requires. “I strive to be the best and I know that everyday should be one step closer, not further,” Newcomb said.

Semester Number Two (Scavenger Hunt)

Looking Back... And Forward

Growing is how we learn and prosper. As a student of 3 years now in the convergence journalism strand, I have slowly been becoming an exceptional writer, producer, and broadcaster. The skills taken into grip in this class are some that 90% of American high school students do not have available to them.

1. I believe we have implemented a much wider variety of shots, including the 6-shot system that has become almost fundamental.

At the beginning of the year, I took viewers through Sean McPartland's journalism journey and all that he does for the program. Here is where I established just about every shot angle that came to mind. You will see wide, extra wide, medium, close up, extra close, over-the-shoulder, face, and more. Truthfully, it was an iris-brightening production. It truly opened up my eyes as I presented a new system and a story that Sean himself told, rather than I. Stories are best told by the subject, sometimes, the writer does no justice.

You can see it implemented in my work here. One of the most well composed works that I have done from the shots point of view.

2. Keep it together. Documentaries have been something I have been able to discover on my own with Quen Barkyoumb. We attacked and tried to tug at the hearts of all students at Northwest. Mid-way through football season we spent about three weeks shooting and capturing the essence of two kids who are the football teams biggest fans. Jack and Colin have been hindered with Cerebral Palsy from birth but are nothing short of our teams greatest links. Even while playing football, I managed to get many shots as well as Quen. It was more so a documentary short, but we gained and used techniques that gave the story award-winning potential. We will be submitting it to E-magine, our award show. An extended version will be posted later in the year. This is one of my most prided works.

3. Aside from emotions... There is Broadcasting

I know the preview looks like an amateur fuzzy shot but this happens to be our latest edition of our news show, anchored by Kami Gibson and Myself. Broadcasting in sports is something that captured my eye in elementary school. I saw how much fun ESPN broadcasters were having while reporting news and I knew that I could do it someday. Since then, I have broadened my horizons and this year have begun to anchor full shows for all of ONW to see. All my experiences in presenting myself and being a personable guy have helped me to be much more natural when faced with a lens. I have become more proud of my broadcasting and producing. I believe the journalism strand at ONW should always be top in the state and even country. I only hope I am helping the cause.

Semester 2: Aiming High

1. I can only hope that Quen andn I's work, like I said, has the potential to be an award winning story. Our goal is to extend and show everyone the full length story and Emagine is the perfect place. The goal isn't easily obtainable but is within our reach and we firmly believe so. Looking at history, we received a total of 0 awards last year in the convergence journalism strand. This piece will hopefully represent our program in the brightest and most respectable light achievable.

2. Potential. A word I would like to use to describe this whole class. With all of the given technology, the time on our hands, and the amount of creativity kong us all, I know we are capable of unimaginable progress. I mean lets face it, we use this class for a lot of homework and it is almost as if we are shooting ourselves in the foot. Yes it can be handy, however, there are things we haven't even discovered on the tricaster, and of course potential we have yet to reach. Lets get it done boys and girls.

Week in the Life of a Wrestler- Documentary

Even though my expertises are in the Convergence Journalism strand, I figured I’d dip my feet in the entertainment strand as well. My next project is going to be a short documentary about the week in a life of a wrestler. I decided to put together a story proposal as well, which is posted below:

Title: Men of the Mat

Producers: Quen Barkyoumb & Tyler Soetaert

My documentary is about a week in the life of a high school wrestler. They seem to endure a lot and I feel like they deserve more credit than they’ve been given. The main conflict is between how much wrestlers sacrifice or the fear of all the hard work not paying off. Ultimately, I want the audience to feel intrigued and to understand the personal sacrifices these wrestlers make. I also want to make the audience appreciate what all it takes to experience the sport itself.

Characters:

Doug Newcomb- Senior wrestler, 3 time state placer, Wrestling team Captain.

Mrs. Newcomb- Doug’s Mother, involved parent, and a contributor to the Olathe Northwest wrestling booster club.

Will Whitaker – junior wrestler, state runner up at 106 pounds, one of the team leaders.

Coach Mesa- Head coach of the wrestling team, huge role model, wrestled in college.

Coach Rodden- Assistant wrestling coach, former Olathe Northwest wrestler.

Conflict:

These young men put forth every once of energy towards this sport, and it must be fearful to think that all of the hard work won’t pay off.

Climax: Doug placing at a wrestling tournament, or one of the Olathe Northwest wrestlers getting his hand waved after a match.

Plot: Throughout the project, a timeline will occur. Viewers will be captured by every drop of sweat, every painful workout, and every blow of the whistle. Act 1 will entail the beginning of the week, right after a meet in the end preparing for a new week, as well as winning. I picture a rush of events and then it finally stops and enters with an interview to begin Act 1. It will quickly and surely reel in an audience. Act 2 will be composed of mid-weeks work leading to a dual. This is the juice of the story and it will hit viewers hard. It will eventually lead to the dual and the climax will be about reached. Act three will be composed of the actual meet and what Doug Newcomb and every other wrestler had been working towards the whole week.

Resolution: The film will have all come to this. It will leave the audience with an interview by Doug finally explaining how he truly feels about it all and the hand being raised. The smile from ear to ear. The feeling of sheer satisfaction and then, the story will drop. It will finally meet the end with how the beginning started.

Production: Filming will begin over the break, cutting weight and avoiding holiday meals as part of the sacrifice. The meat of the filming will take place when we return and of course the first the meet or dual back after break.