The 9th Grade Experience

In the world of high school athletics, and even on previous episodes of this podcast, most of the attention is placed on the results of the varsity teams. But before the Friday Night Lights, local television, newspaper and radio coverage, and league and district championships, many athletes improve their skills on junior varsity or freshman teams. In perennially strong programs, like boys basketball, making any of the three teams is quite the accomplishment for a 9th grader. 

If the success of this season’s Freshman Boys Basketball team is any indication of future fortunes, the Hornets hoops program will be in great shape. The boys went 20-1 during the regular season and won a season-ending tournament, while outscoring teams over the course of the year by an average of 28 points per game. 

In this episode, we catch up with three members of the team, Chase Muckey, Dylan Darville, and Daniel Charlot, who spoke about the process of coming together as a team, the sacrifices of individual players for team success, and the adjustment to competitive high school basketball. 

So it’s time to run the three-man weave as we go strong to the hoop with Chase, Dylan, and Daniel.

It's getting closer to the opening curtain for the freshman involved in the production of the theater department's spring musical Hello, Dolly! In Volume 3 of this behind-the-scenes look at the preparation before the show's Wednesday, March 18 debut, we check back in with Mason Steltz, Dom Zientara, and Jacob Klinedinst to see what has happened to them since their auditions at the end of December. In this conversation that took place right before taking the stage for an afternoon dance routine practice on the stage for the first time, the boys discussed the anticipation of waiting to hear if they made the show, what the practice schedule has been like, and how they have adjusted to their roles in the show and their place in the theater department. If you are interested in learning more about the performance of Hello, Dolly! or are interested in purchasing tickets, please go to https://www.eastpennsd.org/ehs/article/hello-dolly-tickets-on-sale-now/. 

The beginning of the 2020-2021 school year will provide students with a unique school experience unlike anything currently offered at Emmaus High School. The Jasper Learning Initiative will debut with up to 125 upcoming 9th grade students who are looking to learn in a setting that values collaboration, curiosity, and authenticity that promises to be community-inspired, project-based, and inquiry-driven. 

With its name taken from a hard but workable mineral found in our area, Jasper is looking to create exciting and memorable learning experiences that benefit both students and the local community. 

In this episode, Mike Mihalik, Supervisor of Secondary Curriculum for Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math, takes us through the program’s formation and some of the commonly asked questions about Jasper’s role within Emmaus High School. So, if you are a problem-solver, collaborator, and critical thinker looking to extend your learning beyond the classroom, let’s meet Mike to learn about the Jasper Learning Initiative.

One of the goals of the 9th Grade Experience is to tell the stories of the widest-range of students possible who are involved throughout Emmaus High School. In order to dive a little deeper and really get some behind-the-scenes information, at least one time per month, the podcast will attempt to follow a group of students who are attempting to excel outside the classroom. For the remainder of the 2019-2020 school year, that focus will be on the Emmaus Theater Department and its production of the musical Hello, Dolly! We will be talking with freshman cast members, crew members, and anyone who has a hand in making the show a success in time for the anticipated opening in March 2020.

In Volume 2, you will hear from Abby Roth, Brielle Eisenberg, and Liza Duerholz right after their first round of singing auditions. They will tell you what it was like to be alone in the audition room belting out some of the musical's most know tunes and trying to impress the directors of the show. They also talk about the jump from middle school productions to the demands and expectations here at the high school.

In the Volume 1, released in December 2019, you can hear from theater director Mrs. Kuebler about her background in the theater, what roles freshmen have in the production, and how she keeps the whole operation running smoothly. In the second half of the episode you will hear from Mason Steltz, Dom Zientara, and Jacob Klinedinst before they audition and how they hope to be a part of such a strong and proud EHS Theater tradition.

Volume 2

Abby Roth

Brielle Eisenberg

Liza Duerholz

Volume 1

Mrs. Kuebler

Mason Steltz

Dom Zientara

Jacob Klinedinst

One of the goals of the 9th Grade Experience is to tell the stories of the widest-range of students possible who are involved throughout Emmaus High School. In order to dive a little deeper and really get some behind-the-scenes information, at least one time per month, the podcast will attempt to follow a group of students who are attempting to excel outside the classroom. For the remainder of the 2019-2020 school year, that focus will be on the Emmaus Theater Department and its production of the musical Hello, Dolly! We will be talking with freshman cast members, crew members, and anyone who has a hand in making the show a success in time for the anticipated opening in March 2020. 

The first installment will be in two parts. In the opening volume, you will hear from theater director Mrs. Kuebler about her background in the theater, what roles freshmen have in the production, and how she keeps the whole operation running smoothly. In the second half of the episode you will hear from Mason Steltz, Dom Zientara, and Jacob Klinedinst before they audition and how they hope to be a part of such a strong and proud EHS Theater tradition.

In Volume 2, slated to be released in early January, you will hear from Abby Roth, Brielle Eisenberg, and Liza Duerholz right after their first round of singing auditions. They will tell you what it was like to be alone in the audition room belting out some of the musical's most know tunes and trying to impress the directors of the show.  They also talk about the jump from middle school productions to the demands and expectations here at the high school.

Volume 1

Mrs. Kuebler

Mason Steltz

Dom Zientara

Jacob Klinedinst

Volume 2

Abby Roth

Brielle Eisenberg

Liza Duerholz

As a player and a teammate, starting varsity girls basketball player Keziah Brantley is always looking to conquer the next challenge ahead of her. 

As an 8th grader at Lower Macungie Middle School, she played for the high school freshman team, coached by Emmaus social studies teacher Mr. Carolla. This year, she reached her goal of making the varsity team as a 9th grader. She scored a team-high 17 points in her second varsity game, a 51 to 46 victory on the road over Northwestern on Saturday, December 7. 

But it is her team-first, humble attitude that really stands out about Keziah. She spoke of team goals - strong defensive effort, getting her teammates involved, and winning enough games to get the Hornets back into the playoffs - as real motivators for her upcoming season. 

So it’s time to lace up those sneaks and hit the hardwood and meet Keziah Brantley.

As we approach the holiday season and the end of 2019, it is a great time to reflect on all that we have to be thankful for here at Emmaus High School. There are many people, either in a classroom, on the field or court, or in the school’s many offices that work together to make the transition from middle school to high school as smooth and successful as possible for all students. On this very special episode, we hear from 40 people within EHS as they tell us who or what they are thankful for from the first three months of school. So before you fill your plates with food, fill yourself with an attitude of gratitude, with the members of the EHS community.

Many thanks to all those who appeared in this episode! Below is a list of all students and staff who participated in order of their appearance

Dr. Kieres

Mr. Annoni

Colleen Demchak

Zachary Zoltack

Sheldyne Pierre

David Svoboda

Cameron Blews

Jhomar Rosaliere

William Holmwood

Emily Terrero

Kaleb Tran

Deb Kalb

Victoria Smith

Tiffany Shimmel

Dawn Laubner

Tammy Kita

Zoe Spalding

Hannah Schneider

Marina Lamb

Jaiden Singleton

Emily Carchipulla Paladines

Jill Killo

Lesha Kershner

Kristen Scrak

Carol Richards-Brown

Noelle DeRienzo

Alison Horner

Pam Hunter

Beth Stoudt

Celine Pissarra

Eric Luckenbill

Kevin Remaly

Katie Pfenninger

Kelly Bower

Aimee Green

Reid Scharer

Chris Bowser

Ian Rompilla

E.J. Boney

Austin Portz

Chris Stuchko

When Maddie Carlson was asked to be a guest on today’s show, she had one favor to ask - she wanted her friend Abby Burnett to record as well. Luckily for the listeners, her request is everyone’s benefit because on this episode you will get to hear from two high-performing students making great strides in their ninth grade years. 

The girls are both members of the Key Club as they look to help out in their community and build friendships with other classmates. In addition to taking rigorous class loads, Maddie is a member of Student Government and orchestra while Abby just completed an outstanding season as a starter on the District 11 Champion and State Final Four field hockey team. 

So remember, that as you go through your ninth grade year, everyone is figuring high school out together, and here to help you along the way are Maddie and Abby.

For Sophia Iacobelli and Nicole Nosal, keeping busy has been key to a successful transition this year at Emmaus High School. These freshmen are taking demanding course loads, which include at least two honors classes each, a Project Lead the Way Engineering class, and a shared Spanish 2 class at the end of their days. 

Outside of the classroom, Sophia is involved in orchestra, student government, and will soon begin tryouts for the swim team; while Nicole recently finished her cross country season and is now training with the Fitness Team. In this episode they talk about the importance of balancing their time, keeping up with their work, and getting involved early in their high school career in order to learn the school and make friends.  

We slowed them down just enough to record this episode, so here are Sophia and Nicole.

Senior night in the next to the last game of the football regular season is not usually a time to make a change to a new quarterback, especially not to a freshman who hasn’t seen the varsity field all season. But for Jake Fotta, who was facing a 13 to 0 deficit, the second quarter of the Hornets’ game on Friday, October 18, against Bethlehem Catholic was the time. Unfazed, he stepped in and threw a touchdown pass before halftime to narrow the score and then went on to lead the team to 20 more unanswered points in the second half as Emmaus stormed back to win 27 to 13. 

Adding to the unique nature of his story, it is unofficially the first time since the early 2000s that a freshman quarterback has seen action for the Emmaus varsity team. 

It has not only been his preparation on the football field that has allowed Jake to succeed, but also his humility and team-first attitude, approach to getting work done, managing his time, and finding balance as a potential three-sport athlete. In this episode Jake talks about finding out how he was no longer on the freshman team, what it was like in the huddle on the first drive, and how he was able to be successful in such a pressure-packed situation. 

So line up and get ready for the pass as we catch the freshman experience from Jake Fotta.