^{By Jordan Dawson}

After 16 years of coaching the PHS cheerleaders, Carol Jones has retired.

"I have enjoyed 16 years directing the cheerleader program and working with the individual girls, parents, faculty, coaches, and the student body of Polson High School," says Jones.

In the fall of 1983 there was no one to coach the cheerleading squad, so Jones volunteered since her husband Dennis, vice principle at PHS, was the athletic director. For the first several years her position was on a volunteer basis. "You have to love cheerleading to put in the amount of time it takes," says Jones. Love it she does. Jones cheered in high school for three years, for Montana State University for one year, and coached the PHS cheerleaders for 16 years.

The sport has changed a lot since Jones started coaching. "Stunting is the biggest change. When I started coaching, very few stunts were done. Now it's a big part of cheerleading," explains Jones. "Also cheerleaders didn't do half time routines. In 1987 PHS became the first class A school to do half time routines," continues Jones.

"I believe that the girls involved in the cheerleading program develop strong work ethics, goal setting, time management skills, and pride in their school and community. I believe that these traits will help them to be a success in their life endeavors," shares Jones.

After many years, her leadership of the cheerleaders has to come to and end. "My purpose in retiring from this position at this time is to spend more time with my mother, who recently moved to Polson, and with my seven grandchildren, who live in Missoula and Great Falls," says Jones.

Although her favorite part about coaching has been working with the girls, the most challenging part has been "taking the different personalities that are part of a squad, and teaching them how to work together," Jones says.

"I believe that the girls involved in the cheerleading program develop strong work ethics, goal setting, time management skills, and pride in their school and community. I believe that these traits will help them to be a success in their life endeavors," shares Jones.

"I feel really good about being able to retire and finding someone with as tremendous capabilities as Melissa. I feel like I've left the program in good hands, and it will be every bit as good as it always has," Jones proudly states with a smile. Melissa Chowning, a former PHS cheerleader, began coaching the PHS cheerleaders at the end of August.

Chowning was a varsity cheerleader at PHS from the summer of 1991 to the spring of 1994. After graduating she worked with the girls on stunting. She has also choreographed every half time performance since the fall of 1991 with the exception of one. "I enjoy choreographing half time routines, and find it challenging working with all the different personality traits," explains Chowning about taking the position as head coach of the cheerleaders.

She does plan to make a few changes in the program though. "I plan on incorporating competitions in the spring and working on more gymnastics," says Chowning. As for the future of the program her goals are "to get more student involvement whether in the stands or on the sidelines, and above all to keep the Polson High School cheerleading program fun," says Chowning.

So, as Jones retires we as members of the PHS community thank her for her countless hours of hard work both behind the scenes and in front of the crowd, and the many years of dedication she has given to pump up the spirit at PHS. Thank you Carol Jones you will be missed and never forgotten.

^{By Eric Lund}

Two juniors from Polson High School have achieved that honor for their music abilities - Brad Briney and Levi Mazurek. Briney and Mazurek are both All State Band member designees.

This is Mazurek's second year of making All State. "It is really fun to be in," says Mazurek, a trombone player in the PHS symphonic band. "There are a lot of awesome players."

"What they do is have tryouts on tape, playing a prepared piece, and all the people in the section have the same piece," says Polson band director Bob Mazurek about the selection process. "Then, they send a tape to the All State Chairman, and he goes through a section process."

"I wasn't sure if I made it or not. I thought I did better last year, so I was pretty nervous about hearing back from them," says Levi Mazurek, band director Bob Mazurek's son. "But I like it better on tape, because you can always go over anything you mess up on, where when you play in front of someone it is one chance. I just think tape is better."

"I didn't think the music was that hard," says Briney. "All I had to really practice was some rolls on the snare drum." Briney plays percussion in the PHS symphonic band. "This was my second year trying out. I didn't make it last year, but I tried again this year, and made it," he added

"There are about 1,000 people who try out for All State Band and Choir," says director Mazurek. "There are only about 100 band members that make it, and that is out of the whole state."

"There was a lot for me to practice like technique drills, the chromatic scale, and you have to work a lot on your tone," said Mazurek.

"They only have about a month to submit a tape to the state. That really makes it hard. They have to get the piece in as good sounding shape they can, in a little amount of time," says director Mazurek about the time his players and all players in the state have to practice the piece they are given for the tryouts.

After about two months of anxiously waiting for the results, a confirmation letter is sent to each school's band director, and the players are informed by them, about the beginning of September. At the end of September the players are sent a piece that they must work on individually and prepare for when they get together with the other players from across the state who made All State Band. "We go through two days of intense practice, then we perform," says Levi Mazurek, recalling his experiences from last year's All State. "It is kind of hard, but the people work really hard, so it is really fun."

Before rehearsal can begin, chairing takes place. Chairing is where a director selects the best players of a certain instrument in the band, and finds out who "the best of the best are," or rank orders them. First chair is the highest, and so on down.

While chairing is taking place, and it is found that a player can't play his/her music, players are sent home, no questions asked. "They don't mess around, this is serious stuff to them," said Bob Mazurek.

After the chairs are decided, two days of practice takes place before the state concert for the public and the states music teachers. "No matter where they play, the place is always packed, and people are always turned away at the door because it is too packed. It is a big deal, for the public as well as the kids," said director Mazurek.

^{By Elizabeth Humble}

Polson High School has a record number of All-State Choir members this year according to choir director Chris Bumgarner.

Out of over 1000 people who auditioned for All-State, 140 students were chosen. Seven are from Polson. Polson also has three alternates.

Sophomore Nathan Hunsucker will sing Tenor 1 in the All-State event.Also singing Tenor is junior Brian Privette.

Singing Bass are junior Stephan Pitts, senior Andrew Gran, and junior Kris Schallock.

Senior Nichole Wilde will sing Alto 1 and senior Faith Rowold will sing Soprano 1.

Students selected alternates are: sophomore Matt Beeks, Tenor 1; junior Nathan Ofstad, Bass 1; and senior Kristen Shima, Alto 2.

"We had hoped for 8 and we got 7 which is still good,"says Bumgarner.

"We had really exceptional audition tapes," said Bumgarner about why so many students from Polson were selected this year.

The concert will be Friday, Oct.22 at 7 p.m. in the Lincoln School auditorium in Billings. Those planning to attend are advised to come early, as these concerts usually sell out, says Bumgarner.