The wrestling team getting ready to go to states in their limo on March 5th.

The wrestling team heading to states in style

Hines Named New Urbana Football Coach

by Derek Bloom

Urbana High School has named Ryan Hines head coach of the Hawks varsity football team. On February 5^th Urbana announced Hines would take over for Joe Conner, who led Urbana to an 8-3 record in his only season as coach. Hines is leaving Walkersville where he had a 17-33 record in 5 seasons to become the fourth head football coach in Urbana High School history.

Mrs. Shearer Wins 2009 Siemens Award for AP Teachers

by Sara Berteling   

  The Urbana High School Administration is very proud to announce that our own staff member, Michelle Shearer is the recipient of the 2009 Siemens Award for Advanced Placement for teachers. Shearer is the only teacher to have been chosen in the entire state of Maryland out of 50 teachers nationally for this award. In order to become a recipient, one must have an inspiring effect on the students taught , and truly love the job. Not only is this award a great honor, it comes with great opportunities. Shearer’s name will be mentioned in USA today and will be recognized nationally. Along with Shearer being honored with winning this award, Urbana High School will be rewarded as well. We will receive a $1000 check to be used towards our math and science department. The Siemens award also designates that our school has a wonderful Advanced Placement Program. As a final reward, a banner will be mailed to our school to recognize the achievement of Mrs. Shearer. Overall, this award is a wonderful thing for both the career of Shearer, and the recognition of Urbana High School. Great job Mrs. Shearer!

2010 Spring Musical Announced

by Shelby Gluck

  The 2010 Urbana spring musical has been announced: Bye Bye Birdie. This upbeat show is set in the early 1960’s, taking place in New York and Sweet Apple, Ohio. It is a spoof of Elvis going into the army, featuring main character Conrad Birdie.

  The show will be directed by drama teacher Mary Lennon, dance teacher Stephanie Weigelt, and music teachers Eric Trio, Suzanne Buxbaum, and Monika McCormick. Lennon said they chose Bye Bye Birdie because “it was the best decision for the most number of people.”

  Four shows will be performed on March 25^th, 26^th, and 27^th, one on Thursday and Friday in addition to two on Saturday. This happy teenage musical will hopefully be sold out like most Urbana theatre productions. Lennon said, “I think that everyone will really love the rock and roll feel of the show.”

  If you are interested in participating, tryouts will be held January 11^th, 12^th, and 13^th.  Tryouts consist of reading a scene, a singing audition, and a dancing audition.

  Students will be trying out to fill the ensemble roles, three major male parts, and three major female parts, alongside some featured strong-acting and non-singing roles. “There are a ton of parts; there’s really something for everyone,” Lennon said.

  One aspect of this musical that differs from many previous shows is that the roles are younger characters. Lennon said, “It will be cool because there are teenagers playing teenagers, rather than adults.”

  Bye Bye Birdie, originally on Broadway, has had many major revivals, along with a sequel and film and television productions. It was also the first musical ever performed at Urbana. Weigelt said, “I’m just excited to see it done again with a new crop of kids.”

  The story of Bye Bye Birdie begins with the biggest rock star of the 60’s, Conrad Birdie, being drafted into the army. He creates a near-riot when he stops in a small Midwestern town. When Birdie is drafted into the army, Albert Peterson, Conrad’s downhearted songwriter, becomes worried about his future.

  Albert’s secretary and romantic interest, Rosie Alvarez, convinces Albert to write Birdie a farewell song to sing on The Ed Sullivan Show to a selected fan. Kim McAfee turns out to be this lucky fan. When Birdie arrives in this hick town, the population goes crazy and in the ensuing madness, Albert must deal with the celebrity-crazy population of Sweet Apple, Kim’s frenzied father, and his own controlling and clingy mother, all while losing Rosie to a wild group called the Shriners.

  Urbana students should be able to bring these colorful characters to life with their high-quality acting, singing, and dancing abilities.

Turkey Trot

by Zach Wingate

  This year on Thanksgiving Day, some people got up early to run for the needy. Starting at 8:00am the sixth annual Turkey Trot 1k run officially began, then at 8:30am the 5k run began. All proceeds went to the Frederick Way Station to support people who have mental illnesses. No one can argue it is always a good thing to donate to your local charities, and this was a great way to do it.

  It was a great turn out this year, and over two thousand people showed up. Yet the race was won by Frederick’s own Dylan Bernard. People from all over the tri-state area came to Baker Park on Thanksgiving to support the Way Station and they raised a lot of money.

  Seniors of the girls track team help out in organizing the Turkey Trot every year, and is a way for them to give back to the community.

Urbana Golf Team Wins State Championship!

by Derek Bloom

  The golf team finished their season a perfect 15-0 after winning the Maryland 3A/4A State Championship Wednesday. The team of Chris DiSciullo, Kyler Rose, James Jaworski, and Max Dallinger shot a combined 552 and won by 8 shots over second place Churchill. That score would have won the 1A/2A class as well as beaten the winning team in last year’s state championship. This is the first golf state championship for Urbana.

Urbana Turns The Lights Out On TJ

by Derek Bloom

  Urbana beat Thomas Johnson in a varsity football game under the Friday night lights, kind of. Urbana came away with a 10-7 home win this past Friday after a thrilling come from behind victory in a game where Urbana gained just 80 yards on offense.

  Both teams traded punts early in the first quarter until Jude Merkel made a great interception in the backfield where he deflected and intercepted the pass. This led to a 27 yard field goal by kicker Ray Durante to give Urbana a 3-0 lead. That lead would last into the third quarter.

  In a very unusual event, the stadium lights went out at the beginning of the third quarter. It was pitch black in the stadium which led everyone in the bleachers to scream and pull out their cell phones for light. The blackout created about a 15 minute delay before play resumed.

  After the delay and an Urbana punt, TJ got the ball and on their third play, quarterback Ryon Lynch took a quarterback keeper 60 yards to the end zone to give TJ a 7-3 lead with 8:38 left in the third quarter.

  It looked like that lead would last with Urbana unable to get anything going offensively, until Brian Patton recovered a TJ fumble on the TJ 11 yard line with just over seven minutes to play. Three plays after the turnover, Urbana quarterback Jesse Heon, despite only completing one pass in the game, rolled right and scored on a three yard quarterback keeper to give the Hawks a 10-7 lead.

  After the touchdown Thomas Johnson got the ball and marched down the field into Urbana territory. TJ running back and University of California recruit Nick Forbes converted two fourth downs on long runs to get the ball to the Urbana 21 yard line. Then TJ shot themselves in the foot again with two of their thirteen penalties knocking them back to the 36. Then Lynch forced a pass into the end zone and Billy Kemp intercepted it to seal the win for Urbana.   

  It was a crazy game that Urbana won despite getting dominated. Thanks to three TJ turnovers leading to all ten Urbana points and 115 TJ penalty yards stalling a couple crucial drives, UHS was able to hang on.