The Hoofprint – September 5, 2008

Symptoms of a classic couch potato include: frequently sleeping in past noon, continually munching on chips and snacks, and spending a majority of one’s day in a seated position. Variations of this vaguely seri- ous illness include the obsessive video-gamer, the napper, and the reality T.V. addict.

“Many of my nights were spent in an over zealous attempt to make sure nothing proactive happened” said Senior Couch Potato Victor Johnson. “In fact I became lazy enough to use a large stick as my televi- sion remote, so I would not have to stand up at all this summer.”

Another commonly known summer character is the Beach Bum, someone who takes joy in nothing but sand in between their toes, watermelon dripping down their chin, and the feel of a beach towel that wont stay fl at.

“I really loved going to the beach with my friends this summer, I tried to go as much as I could, “ said Senior Beach Bum Hailey Eder. “I like to sit on the beach but sometimes it got so hot that I had to go in.”

Some things to ask yourself if you think you could be a beach bum are: Is there a point in time during the summer where you bathing suit is not wet? Is there sunscreen, tanning oil, towels, and a bathing suit in your trunk at all times? And fi nally do you have tan lines that will last well into spring? If you answered yes to at least two of these ques- tions then you could be a Beach Bum.

To most students, summer is a nearly unattainable, sun-filled paradise dreamed about during seemingly endless classes and lectures. As this homework-free oasis comes to an end with the beginning of the school year, students reflect on the habits and patterns they’ve built up throughout the summer. Are you a couch potato, a beach bum, all about your friends, or are you a traveller? Summer is a truly delightful time of year to many students and residents of Minnesota. As school starts up again questions like “what did you do this summer?” Can be heard filling the recently deserted hallways that are Buffalo High School. Now that school has started up once again the signs of Winter knocking on our doors is hard to ignore, but the memories that come a long with each summer experience will not be left behind.

Mexico, Costa Rica, Hawaii, and Florida are some of the few acationing spots for students and their families during the summer. you racked up your future flyying miles on your way to lay on the in Honnolulu or just went to visit Grandma in Washington almost ions are guaranteed some great times and memories for life, if not, ome out of things with a great family story or two.

“Germany was a really big culture shock to everyone on the trip,” ior Anna Lundeen. “The way the youth is treated there is so much than America.”

Coming home from a long trip to some remote resort can be diffi-ecially since you’re most likely coming home to a new school year. re you know it next summer will be here, and hey, there’s always Break.

Friends are a blessing, especially when they save you from spending the summer boxed up in your house baby sitting your little sister. Many students choose to spend the majority of their summer with friends; having a party, going to Valley Fair, having a sleep over, going to a family cabin, or just plain hanging out are some of the things students choose to do with their friends during the summer.

“My friends and I hung out a lot this summer, we actually went to Duluth a couple of times just for fun,” said Senior Becky Rein. “Even if it was just sitting around, we tried to be together all the time.”

But just because school is starting up again doesn’t mean that friends have to be forgotten. After all, friends are what makes school fun on occasionally fun, right?

Friends are a blessing, especially when they save you from spending the summer boxed up in your house baby sitting your little sister. Many students choose to spend the majority of their summer with friends; having a party, going to Valley Fair, having a sleep over, going to a family cabin, or just plain hanging out are some of the things students choose to do with their friends during the summer.

“My friends and I hung out a lot this summer, we actually went to Duluth a couple of times just for fun,” said Senior Becky Rein. “Even if it was just sitting around, we tried to be together all the time.”

But just because school is starting up again doesn’t mean that friends have to be forgotten. After all, friends are what makes school fun on occasionally fun, right?

“We’re doing [our] stuff right this year,” said Senior Captain Bruce Manz. “We have more experience overall as a team and the potential to go pretty far.”

As the summer comes to a close and Bison sports rise again teams are coming together to set goals for the year with hopes of improvement.

“We want to be conference champions and make it to the championship game,” said Junior Lucas Hein. “We could probably achieve it if we keep working hard in practices like we have been. Everyone is working hard to make this a better team.”

Along with on-field progression, a major focus in the offseason has been making friendships throughout to improve team morale.

“The closeness as friends will take us far this year,” said Senior Zach Mellon, “We’re taking a serious tone to our goals.”

Even with high aspirations throughout practice the struggle to replace lost seniority from last year remains. Looking in a new direction, upperclassmen have placed themselves in a position of leadership unfamiliar to themselves in previously.

“We all just have to work really hard in order to have a strong team all together,” said Sophomore Madalyn Nones. “We have a lot of good leaders that have stepped up to fi ll the shoes of the lost seniority from last year.”

Even with adjustments the teams are finding ways to stay optimistic and welcome the talent of their new and existing players.

“I think we’re going to do well and win lots of games,” said Sophomore Rachel Mussel. “We’re really talented as a team and we can all handle the ball well so we can score. Our talent is deeper this year; the subs coming in do just as well as the starters.”

With talent rising, a new outlook on practice has begun that differs from anything the Bison have done in the past.

“We’re doing training in Cross Country a little differently this year which will show some improvement,” said Mellon. “We have some new workouts and we’re doing a series of plyometrics, I think as far as the speed aspect we’ll be a lot faster towards the end of the race.”

With adjustments and new found seniority, high hopes remain for the players as some undergo their fi nal season in a Buffalo uniform.

“For some reason it feel like this is it,” said Manz. “We want to make it the best it can be to remember it by. It’s our last year, we want to make it our best and do something with it.”