Latest / Wenatchee Panther Podcast / Episode 9

Transcript

Episode 9 · Wenatchee Panther Podcast

0:05
SPEAKER_02: Episode 9 of the Winanche Panther Podcast Underway, brought to you by Les Schwab and TGR Inc., and we first introduce you to our athletes of the week.
0:14
SPEAKER_02: We have with us today Brooklyn Buer.
0:17
SPEAKER_02: I got that right, didn't I?
0:18
SPEAKER_02: Okay.
0:18
SPEAKER_02: All right.
0:19
SPEAKER_02: I want to remember that from when you were on the podcast before.
0:21
SPEAKER_02: She is a sophomore cross-country runner.
0:23
SPEAKER_02: We're going to catch up to date on what's happening with her season.
0:26
SPEAKER_02: And Jensen Bratton, who is a freshman football player, is that right?
0:30
SPEAKER_02: Congratulations, first of all.
0:32
SPEAKER_02: Is this a little surprise for you guys walking in here today?
0:35
SPEAKER_02: A little bit.
0:35
SPEAKER_08: Yeah.
0:37
SPEAKER_02: Um Let's talk.
0:38
SPEAKER_02: First of all, Jensen, uh, ninth grade, you guys had a big game on Friday.
0:42
SPEAKER_02: You guys always usually play before the varsity game, right?
0:45
SPEAKER_02: Yeah.
0:45
SPEAKER_02: So tell me about that game, and it it turned out to be your guys' first win.
0:49
SPEAKER_03: Yeah.
0:50
SPEAKER_03: Um we got out or we got behind early, 6-0, and then kind of came back before the half, scored right before the half.
0:58
SPEAKER_03: 14 to 6, I believe.
1:00
SPEAKER_03: And then we were up pretty much the rest of the game.
1:03
SPEAKER_03: It got close in the fourth quarter, scored a few touchdowns, and then uh I had a run at the end of the game, kind of put it away.
1:11
SPEAKER_02: This was uh against Sunnyside, and uh yeah, they had what recovered an onside kick and and scored a score scored a touchdown, something like that.
1:18
SPEAKER_02: And then so it's time to kind of run the clock out, right?
1:21
SPEAKER_02: Now you get the call.
1:23
SPEAKER_02: Is that an option play for you to go around the right side or what was that play?
1:27
SPEAKER_03: Um the whole game they couldn't really stop the run, so my coaches kept calling the run, whether it was a running back or me, but we ran that play probably 30 times that game.
1:40
SPEAKER_02: Well, that one was uh quite successful.
1:43
SPEAKER_02: What, 90 yards for a touchdown score on that one?
1:46
SPEAKER_02: I think so.
1:47
SPEAKER_02: Something close to that.
1:48
SPEAKER_02: Pretty much iced the game at that point.
1:50
SPEAKER_02: Yeah.
1:50
SPEAKER_02: So as you're getting around the corner and along your your sideline where your teammates are jumping up and down, did you think you're gonna be able to go all the way?
1:58
SPEAKER_03: Um honestly I was kind of looking back, expecting to get tackled by somebody, but just kept running and then didn't really see anybody.
2:08
SPEAKER_02: So well, congratulations.
2:10
SPEAKER_02: Athlete of the week.
2:11
SPEAKER_02: So how are you doing in school?
2:13
SPEAKER_02: Pretty good.
2:14
SPEAKER_02: What do what are you missing right now to come and do this?
2:16
SPEAKER_02: Small engines.
2:17
SPEAKER_02: Small engines?
2:18
SPEAKER_02: Yeah.
2:19
SPEAKER_02: Okay.
2:19
SPEAKER_02: So when you say small engines, like lawnmowers, that type of thing?
2:22
SPEAKER_02: Yeah, two strokes, four strokes.
2:24
SPEAKER_02: It's a pretty fun class.
2:26
SPEAKER_02: Okay.
2:26
SPEAKER_02: Well then if you have problems with your mower, then Jensen's the guy to go see.
2:30
SPEAKER_02: All right, uh, we've got Brooklyn here as well.
2:32
SPEAKER_02: Brooklyn, we had you on the podcast here a couple weeks ago, and uh you talked about cross-country running and you talked about upcoming, you had the big meet in Yakima and running the hill and everything else, and you were just in Spokane last weekend, right?
2:44
SPEAKER_02: Yeah.
2:44
SPEAKER_02: So tell us about uh how things have gone the last few weeks since we haven't seen you.
2:49
SPEAKER_06: Um they've gone pretty good.
2:50
SPEAKER_06: The course in Yakima, I was definitely like nervous for, but once we started running, it was it wasn't that bad.
2:58
SPEAKER_06: Like it was kind of just like knowing how to pace yourself throughout the course the course and pushing up like the hills.
3:04
SPEAKER_06: And I came home with seventh, so yeah.
3:08
SPEAKER_02: Was that where you kind of wanted to be?
3:09
SPEAKER_02: You wanted uh did you set yourself a a goal for that?
3:12
SPEAKER_02: I mean you you ran a bunch of l against a lot of runners, right?
3:15
SPEAKER_06: Yeah, so I ended up running in the elite race.
3:17
SPEAKER_06: And so Oh you did?
3:19
SPEAKER_06: Yes.
3:19
SPEAKER_06: Wow.
3:20
SPEAKER_06: So my goal was just to finish and like hopefully PR.
3:24
SPEAKER_06: Um and then once we started going, I was like, okay, I think I can start making some moves.
3:29
SPEAKER_06: And I didn't PR, but I was pretty close.
3:32
SPEAKER_06: I was within a few seconds.
3:34
SPEAKER_06: So yeah.
3:34
SPEAKER_02: So then last weekend you were in Spokane, tell us about that.
3:37
SPEAKER_06: Um that was a really fun meet.
3:38
SPEAKER_06: It was definitely stressful, but it was like it was very like a there was a dirt path you had to run on, and so there was a bunch of dirt just flying everywhere, which I didn't get too much dirt in my face, but I know so helps if you're in front, right?
3:51
unknown: Yeah.
3:52
SPEAKER_06: And so that meet I got 13th out of I think there's a hundred or so right now.
3:57
SPEAKER_02: So yeah.
3:58
SPEAKER_02: That's incredible.
3:59
SPEAKER_02: And just as a sophomore, so you gotta be feeling pretty good about your season so far.
4:03
SPEAKER_06: Yeah.
4:03
SPEAKER_02: So uh you're getting close to the end, right?
4:06
SPEAKER_02: Yes.
4:06
SPEAKER_02: Is it is it time for district meets here soon?
4:09
SPEAKER_06: Um we have a league meet on Tuesday, and then the next week we have districts, and then if I make it to state, that'll be like the weekend.
4:17
SPEAKER_02: Is that the goal?
4:18
SPEAKER_02: You're gonna make it?
4:19
SPEAKER_02: Okay.
4:19
SPEAKER_02: All right.
4:20
SPEAKER_02: Well, best of luck with that.
4:21
SPEAKER_02: Congratulations to you both.
4:23
SPEAKER_02: Uh the medals, I appreciate you wearing them for the podcast.
4:25
SPEAKER_02: You don't have to wear them for the rest of the day if you want.
4:28
SPEAKER_02: Or if you want to.
4:29
SPEAKER_02: I mean, go down the hall and yeah, say, hey, look at me.
4:32
SPEAKER_02: Congratulations to both of you.
4:33
SPEAKER_02: Thank you.
4:34
SPEAKER_02: All right, we'll uh take a break, come back, and more of the podcast coming up.
4:37
SPEAKER_02: We've got the superintendent.
4:38
SPEAKER_02: You guys probably saw him and thought you're in trouble or something like that.
4:41
SPEAKER_02: Superintendent of schools coming up.
4:43
SPEAKER_02: Uh Corey Kalnahar, as well as Diana Hanglin, uh communications director, will have that next on the Winanche Panther podcast brought to you by Les Schwab and TGR Inc.
4:52
SPEAKER_00: It's Cole with TGR, your roofing specialist.
4:56
SPEAKER_00: Fall is here, and it's a great time to take a look at your roof before winter arrives.
5:00
SPEAKER_00: Check for missing or damaged shingles, clogged gutters, or any signs of leaks.
5:05
SPEAKER_00: Small problems can become bigger problems once the rain, wind, and snow move in.
5:10
SPEAKER_00: If you're not sure what to look for, have a professional take-a-look.
5:13
SPEAKER_00: At TGR Roofing, we're here to help keep your home protected through every season.
5:18
SPEAKER_00: TGR Roofing, experience you can count on.
5:22
SPEAKER_01: Les Schwab Tires has been proudly serving communities for over 70 years, and we've collected thousands of inspiring stories.
5:29
SPEAKER_01: Like Kate, who was off on a long road trip with her best friend, when the dash lit up like a game show.
5:35
SPEAKER_01: They find the nearest Les Schwab.
5:37
SPEAKER_01: Turns out they really needed an oil change.
5:39
SPEAKER_01: It was done in a flash.
5:40
SPEAKER_01: Road trip saved.
5:42
SPEAKER_01: At Les Schwab, we're proud to keep you rolling.
5:45
SPEAKER_01: Les Schwab Tires.
5:46
SPEAKER_01: Our greatest story is yours.
5:48
SPEAKER_01: Stories or composites inspired by real customer feedback.
5:52
SPEAKER_02: When Athe Panther Podcast continues here on KKRV 1047.
5:56
SPEAKER_02: We are glad to have a couple of important people in the district here joining us.
6:00
SPEAKER_02: We have Dinah Haglin and Director of Communications.
6:02
SPEAKER_02: We have Superintendent Corey Callahart.
6:04
SPEAKER_02: Thank you so much for taking the time to come in.
6:06
SPEAKER_02: Absolutely.
6:06
SPEAKER_02: Yeah, thanks for having us, Eric.
6:08
SPEAKER_02: You bet.
6:08
SPEAKER_02: Before we start talking about uh construction and bonds and all that kind of stuff, let's talk about the year so far.
6:14
SPEAKER_02: I mean, we're I don't know how many days in, are we?
6:16
SPEAKER_04: Oh man, we're we're in October.
6:17
SPEAKER_04: We're gonna be at that hundred hundred day marker.
6:20
SPEAKER_04: We're getting there.
6:20
SPEAKER_02: Yeah.
6:20
SPEAKER_04: It just goes so quick.
6:21
SPEAKER_04: Yeah.
6:22
SPEAKER_04: Yeah.
6:22
SPEAKER_04: I mean, I was just talking with with BJ, and uh we have open gym for winter sports starting next week.
6:28
SPEAKER_04: And it's like we are moving through uh through this year.
6:30
SPEAKER_04: But no, it's been a great start to the school year.
6:33
SPEAKER_04: Uh we are in a f in a fantastic place as far as the school district is concerned, and lots of things moving and grooving, and we're just excited about student experience.
6:41
SPEAKER_02: As far as the you know, uh it's numbers, right?
6:44
SPEAKER_02: It's that's what you're concerned with, is because you set your expectations at here, and then you know, you have students that are, you know, uh migrant students as well as everybody else that might be out of town, they're coming into town, they're not here at the first of school.
6:57
SPEAKER_02: How's that coming as far as your numbers are concerned?
6:59
SPEAKER_02: Aaron Ross Powell, Jr.
6:59
SPEAKER_04: Enrollment is really this we're having a fantastic year as far as enrollment is concerned.
7:03
SPEAKER_04: Um, as we are bringing in smaller uh kindergarten classes and we're graduating, you know, larger uh you know classes of seniors, there is some disequilibrium and we have a dec declining enrollment.
7:15
SPEAKER_04: Um the projections this year were that we were gonna have like 240 less students this year um just because of attrition and uh 365 kindergartners as opposed to 550 kindergartners.
7:27
SPEAKER_04: Um but we've done some very intentional enrollment uh work and uh we ended up only 35 students less than uh than uh well actually, yeah, we're we were down 35 students instead of 240 students this year.
7:39
SPEAKER_04: So it's fantastic.
7:40
SPEAKER_04: Um Valley Academy is continues to grow.
7:43
SPEAKER_04: They're in their new location.
7:44
SPEAKER_04: They've doubled the uh enrollment of their program.
7:47
SPEAKER_04: Uh Westside High School added a few teachers and a new program.
7:51
SPEAKER_04: Um we opened up Choice, um, kind of broke down some uh some historical barriers there, and uh uh the community has responded in a huge way.
7:59
SPEAKER_04: It's been fantastic.
8:00
SPEAKER_02: Diana, when you when you look at the the bond coming up, we'll get into that now, and and you've had a chance to open the school up, especially the high school, because that's the focus of most of this bond uh election that's coming up.
8:13
SPEAKER_02: You've had a chance to do the tours.
8:14
SPEAKER_02: Tell me about how that experience has been.
8:16
SPEAKER_09: Yeah, I I can't even tell you how many tours I've given of when actually high school.
8:20
SPEAKER_09: She's so good.
8:22
SPEAKER_09: And on your right, yes, starting, you know, last spring up till just this last uh last week.
8:28
SPEAKER_09: We're we're getting people in the building, we're getting them to look at the instructional spaces.
8:31
SPEAKER_09: Going beyond the front door, which you know looks pretty good, but it's getting back into those classroom spaces.
8:37
SPEAKER_09: Um the places that people don't tend to go, but where learning happens has been really good.
8:42
SPEAKER_09: And we've toured everybody from the class of 1974 to um just recently our community leadership group through the Chamber of Commerce got a full immersion in this building.
8:52
SPEAKER_09: And this is a big space, it's 278,000 square feet, it's three and a half football fields.
8:57
SPEAKER_09: So we ask people to wear comfortable walking shoes and um dress in layers because they'll be hot by the end when we run into some of those non-air conditioned spaces.
9:06
SPEAKER_02: Uh, was we had uh board members in last week and were talking about that, and it was striking to me.
9:12
SPEAKER_02: They said the class is 74.
9:14
SPEAKER_02: Oh, it hasn't changed, which I guess that's a two-edged sword, right?
9:18
SPEAKER_02: I mean it's it's yeah, okay, nostalgic for them, but then again, yeah, this hasn't changed since 1972, really.
9:25
SPEAKER_04: Exactly.
9:26
SPEAKER_04: Yeah, and and it was interesting.
9:27
SPEAKER_04: So this uh this summer, Diane and I were able to actually Diana did uh the class of tw uh 2006.
9:34
SPEAKER_04: Okay.
9:36
SPEAKER_04: Yes, they're 20 year, and I was not able to join that one, but I saw those students a little bit later.
9:41
SPEAKER_04: And um, it's just interesting how much people enjoy remembering their high school years.
9:47
SPEAKER_04: And the same was for the class of uh, you know, 1976 as well.
9:52
SPEAKER_04: But they they they were looking at pictures on the wall and they're like, Oh, I think I'm in here.
9:55
SPEAKER_04: And I was like, No, I don't think you are, but it's it's it was good.
9:59
SPEAKER_04: They did find some that were were were that old, but it was just really fun to see it.
10:03
SPEAKER_02: I think this whole and and you're part of this, you guys are are part of this and talking with BJ and and our conversation about starting this podcast and and the We Are Wenatchee thing.
10:12
SPEAKER_02: And I think that that really encompasses that whole feeling, right?
10:17
SPEAKER_02: Yes.
10:17
SPEAKER_02: You're a graduate of Wenatchee and you're proud of Winnachee, and it is about We Are Winatchie, right?
10:22
SPEAKER_02: Absolutely.
10:23
SPEAKER_02: Yeah, go go ahead.
10:24
SPEAKER_09: I was just gonna say, yeah, I think you know, getting people into the building and there's that nostalgia of these really special times that they had in that building really brings that out in a way that I think is unique when you're an alum.
10:36
SPEAKER_09: I didn't grow up here.
10:37
SPEAKER_09: I'm not from Winatchie originally.
10:39
SPEAKER_09: My kids both go here.
10:41
SPEAKER_09: But even just watching other people have that experience and knowing that we still have many of the traditions that were established back, you know, in those days, uh is exciting for my kids to be part of that.
10:53
SPEAKER_09: And they're bigger than something you know, it's not just going to school, you're part of you're part of a community, a family, and and we want our kids to have that pride.
11:02
SPEAKER_09: And it it's really kind of this rebirth of that.
11:05
SPEAKER_09: We want people to be excited and proud to wear the purple and gold and and be uh a part of our family and be part of the We Are Wenatchee movement.
11:12
SPEAKER_02: That's the hard part is we have a ton of new people that have moved into Shillan and Douglas County and new people in the district that might not have kids.
11:21
SPEAKER_02: This is a retirement becoming a retirement committee, that type of thing.
11:24
SPEAKER_02: What's that message to them that don't have kids so they're not vested other than their property taxes?
11:30
SPEAKER_04: Yeah, I mean I think that's part of the the whole We Are Winanche theme is how do we get people to um prioritize uh local high school athletics, sports extracurriculars so it becomes part of what they do every single day.
11:44
SPEAKER_04: And I think that's the beauty of what we're seeing um in the last couple of years with BJ coming back um and really taking hold of our athletic program and harnessing it and creating the We Are Winanchee idea.
11:56
SPEAKER_04: Um, it's important.
11:57
SPEAKER_04: We want people to be at the Apple Bowl on Friday nights and Saturday afternoons and Tuesdays and um whenever whenever there's an event there and we want them wearing Winanche Panther gear.
12:06
SPEAKER_04: And I think that it really strengthens our community and it strengthens our schools, and it really shows outsiders how proud we are of our young people and uh and and how invested we are in it.
12:17
SPEAKER_04: And we all know there's so many things to be distracted by in in today's world.
12:21
SPEAKER_04: I mean, you could just sit at your home and and doom scroll all day, too.
12:25
SPEAKER_04: Um that's really a hobby and an opportunity for folks.
12:29
SPEAKER_04: But let's get out of the house and let's support our students and uh show them how much they mean to us.
12:34
SPEAKER_02: Uh I'm not from the valley either.
12:36
SPEAKER_02: I mean, I've I moved here in 89, 90, so I I feel like I'm almost a local, not quite.
12:42
SPEAKER_02: But uh for me, especially we were talking about that we are one-anche in that feeling, you cannot be not touched by that, especially I was I was involved with the Hall of Fame induction and and got a chance to MC that.
12:54
SPEAKER_02: And BG keeps throwing out the I'm the voice of the Panthers, and I kind of feel uncomfortable about that because there were many before me, including Mike Dempsey a long time ago on KPQ on the radio, and and uh I mean Ken Murtaugh, who is the biggest volunteer ever, and I'm I was happy to see him.
13:10
SPEAKER_02: But uh I I though everywhere I turn, there is that welcoming thing that I'm getting to feel that has to do with this color right here that is tangible.
13:20
SPEAKER_02: It is something that I'm feeling in my chest that I haven't felt too many times in my life, just being a guy that talks on a microphone.
13:28
unknown: Yeah.
13:28
SPEAKER_04: No, it's it you you're right.
13:30
SPEAKER_04: You can feel it, and and I think that the folks that haven't had a chance to feel it, we need you to feel it, and it's just gonna be um grow exponentially from there.
13:38
SPEAKER_02: Aaron Ross Powell So let's talk about the the nuts and bolts of this.
13:41
SPEAKER_02: I I was listening to a radio interview with uh Dave Bernstein the other day, and and he had somebody on that was saying, well, it's a$275 million bond, but it's actually$500 million.
13:51
SPEAKER_02: And I'm like, well, we're how okay.
13:53
SPEAKER_02: Now I went to Cedar Woolley High School.
13:55
SPEAKER_02: My math skills are not the greatest, but I don't know how you get from$275 to$500.
14:00
SPEAKER_02: So kind of talk through that if you would.
14:02
SPEAKER_04: Absolutely.
14:03
SPEAKER_04: I think the the easiest thing uh that Diana and I talk about is when you look at a bond, a bond, the bond number is what the school district has to work with and what we can use to to build uh new facilities, new buildings, and uh enhance other school uh schools and buildings.
14:18
SPEAKER_04: But it's like a mortgage.
14:20
SPEAKER_04: When you buy a house, so when you buy a house for, let's say you bought a house, you got one for$400,000 these days, which is really challenging, but um what you what you that's the purchase price, right, is$400,000.
14:32
SPEAKER_04: But at the end of the 30 years, you're gonna have paid some interest to the bank because you borrowed that money.
14:37
SPEAKER_04: Well, the same is true for school districts.
14:39
SPEAKER_04: We're borrowing$275, but we have to pay that back with interest uh for the people that were kind enough to invest in that and the property uh uh owners here locally.
14:49
SPEAKER_04: And so I think the number is was more of around$440 uh million is what we'll pay in total over 20 years of that$275 million investment.
15:00
SPEAKER_04: And the same is true for the money that uh was used to build Washington Elementary and remodel Lincoln and build Castle Rock.
15:07
SPEAKER_04: Um I can't remember what the initial cost there was, but there was also interest in that.
15:11
SPEAKER_04: So that's what they're sharing.
15:12
SPEAKER_02: Okay.
15:13
SPEAKER_02: Um and and the the the retirement of that bond, right?
15:16
SPEAKER_02: That's the conversation there.
15:17
SPEAKER_02: And is that going to be retired early?
15:20
SPEAKER_02: I don't know how that works.
15:21
SPEAKER_02: We just recently off your mortgage early, right?
15:23
SPEAKER_04: Yes, it is.
15:24
SPEAKER_04: Yes.
15:24
SPEAKER_04: Uh the bond for Washington and Lincoln uh was to came out in 2015 and it uh sunsets in 2033.
15:33
SPEAKER_04: Okay.
15:33
SPEAKER_04: We refinanced it in 2024 uh to save taxpayers about six point six million dollars.
15:39
SPEAKER_04: So we felt like that was the financial financially the right thing to do for our taxpayers.
15:44
SPEAKER_04: Um, and it creates a little bit of room for uh for this new bond as well.
15:48
SPEAKER_02: Good timing because interest rates were lower than what we're seeing right now.
15:51
SPEAKER_02: It was an opportunity.
15:52
SPEAKER_09: And I think it's one of those things that people don't realize how school finance works.
15:56
SPEAKER_09: And uh at the time we didn't even know that we could refinance a bond, but we work with experts that monitor these things and are keeping track of what the what the environment is and encouraging us to capitalize on that.
16:08
SPEAKER_09: So our CFO uh in partnership with our bonding agents work to get that done.
16:13
SPEAKER_09: And yeah, that's a savings that taxpayers are gonna keep instead of.
16:17
SPEAKER_09: Yeah, it is huge.
16:18
SPEAKER_09: So we're being good stewards of those dollars.
16:20
SPEAKER_09: But just like your home mortgage, you can refinance that and lock in a lower interest rate.
16:24
SPEAKER_09: We can do the same thing on bonds.
16:25
SPEAKER_02: I hear the vernacular uh bonds are for buildings, levies are for learning.
16:30
SPEAKER_02: Is that kind of the catchphrase?
16:32
SPEAKER_09: It's the most simplified way to really understand I mean school finance.
16:35
SPEAKER_02: Because a lot of people are looking at going, well, geez, you know, how many new iPads do they need?
16:40
SPEAKER_02: That type of that type of thing.
16:41
SPEAKER_09: Yes, yeah, yeah.
16:42
SPEAKER_09: So bonds are restricted by law in um how those dollars can be spent.
16:46
SPEAKER_09: Really only on school construction, the purchase of property, and purchase of equipment to outfit you know, a new building.
16:52
SPEAKER_09: Heavily regulated, heavily audited.
16:54
SPEAKER_09: Um, so we can't give ourselves a raise if we pass the bond.
16:57
SPEAKER_09: It can really only be used on construction.
16:59
SPEAKER_09: And I think one of the more interesting points about construction, because a lot of people say, well, why is it so expensive for schools to build the build versus you know a large um business building or the PUD's new building?
17:12
SPEAKER_09: Um we have to pay prevailing wage.
17:14
SPEAKER_09: And so that really increases our cost of construction versus you building your home and hiring a contractor to do that.
17:20
SPEAKER_09: So those numbers look different for schools than they do for other entities out there.
17:25
SPEAKER_02: As you're giving these tours, what are the most remarkable things that people are going, oh my gosh, I didn't know this?
17:30
SPEAKER_09: Well, there are multiple points throughout the tour where I think there's those aha moments or like I just I didn't know.
17:37
SPEAKER_09: I think probably the biggest aha is really something we've already talked about, that it looks primarily like it did back in the 70s when it was built.
17:46
SPEAKER_09: This building was constructed as an open concept originally.
17:49
SPEAKER_09: So we have these large kind of pods that were separated by accordion walls.
17:54
SPEAKER_09: And since that time, we've put up we put up walls to create classrooms where there were none.
17:58
SPEAKER_09: So they're but they're misshaped, but they're small, they might be smaller than your bedroom.
18:02
SPEAKER_02: Which also every time you do that affects airflow.
18:04
SPEAKER_09: Right, but each one of those pods uh had one window.
18:08
SPEAKER_09: So only one classroom now that's been constructed in each one of those pods has a window.
18:12
SPEAKER_09: So that that lack of natural light is a real thing.
18:15
SPEAKER_09: Um, and then you have airflow challenges.
18:17
SPEAKER_09: But I think the infrastructure's impact on the learning environment is is the biggest aha.
18:22
SPEAKER_09: Like I didn't know.
18:23
SPEAKER_09: All of our plumbing is encased in concrete, so anytime there's an issue, uh, it's all galvanized pipes, so it's starting to corrode.
18:30
SPEAKER_09: We have to it involves a jackhammer to get to, or it's up in the fire suppression system.
18:35
SPEAKER_09: So it's leaking and we have you know roof issues there.
18:38
SPEAKER_09: So I think just the state of those classrooms is probably the biggest aha.
18:43
SPEAKER_09: Um and just knowing that the school was built at a different time, it was a Nixon era building, and now it's serving 20, you know, 2026 education, which has come a long way.
18:54
SPEAKER_02: Which it was designed for so many students then, and now you have what, 1900 students at Wenatchee High School?
19:00
SPEAKER_09: Yeah, so originally constructed for 1400 three-grade levels, now we serve four-grade levels to 1900 students.
19:07
SPEAKER_09: And the story I always like to tell at the beginning of the tour was two things happened in Wenatchee or in our nation in 1969.
19:15
SPEAKER_09: So I try to take people back there before we step into that part of the building.
19:19
SPEAKER_09: Um the first one was in July of 1969, we put a man on the moon.
19:23
SPEAKER_09: That was a big deal for advancing technology and just you know, our whole entire our world.
19:28
SPEAKER_09: The second one happened in September of 1969, and that's when the Winatchie School District passed the bond.
19:34
SPEAKER_09: $4.8 million in 1969 to build this building.
19:38
SPEAKER_09: So, I mean, that puts it in context.
19:40
SPEAKER_09: That was big money back in those days.
19:42
SPEAKER_09: And um to build this huge building that we have, and it was it was state of the art, it was modern at that time.
19:48
SPEAKER_09: Uh but the technology was uh chalk or chalkboards and overhead projectors.
19:53
SPEAKER_09: And now the technology that we carry around in our pockets and our students have Chromebooks, all of them.
19:58
SPEAKER_09: There's more technology in one of those devices than it took for us to put a man on the moon.
20:02
SPEAKER_09: And I just think that that brings it back home when we think about advances and how we're we're teaching students for jobs that don't even exist in today's uh environment in a building that was you know made for chalkboards and overhead projectors.
20:14
SPEAKER_02: With that being said, Corey, I mean, you also are produ producing some amazing students out of this school and going on to huge uh accomplishments in all of that time and all of those generations of graduates from Wenatchee High School.
20:27
SPEAKER_02: So that says a lot about the the quality of education they're getting despite these challenges.
20:32
SPEAKER_04: Yes, absolutely.
20:33
SPEAKER_04: And um and when when we started uh the educational specifications journey, and that's where architects come in and chat with each teacher, and they say what you know, what are your needs as a history teacher, what are your needs as a science teacher, what are your needs as a special education teacher, so on and so on.
20:49
SPEAKER_04: Um, what they came back in summary is they said they said we're calling it the Winnachee Way.
20:55
SPEAKER_04: This building is limiting in so many ways, and it does it seems like it would hold students and teachers back, but your staff has just found ways to work around it and they're like, this is what we got and here's what we need to do, and they have found ways to mitigate it.
21:09
SPEAKER_04: So we're so proud on many levels that this 54-year-old building is in as good condition as it is, and our staff is producing these amazing, um, you know, world-class education and wonderful students that have all options in front of them.
21:23
SPEAKER_04: And so uh the building hasn't held back the educational side of things.
21:27
SPEAKER_04: We just want the building to match what our students' needs are and what they what their possibilities could be.
21:33
SPEAKER_04: Sure.
21:33
SPEAKER_04: Yeah.
21:34
SPEAKER_02: Yeah, I I talked last week about going into other high schools in the Big Nine since I used that reference point and and how amazing it it looks.
21:41
SPEAKER_02: How hard is it to recruit?
21:42
SPEAKER_02: You guys are on that end as far as any openings you have.
21:46
SPEAKER_02: Okay, you got a high school opening here at Winatchie High School, you bring somebody in on a tour, it's got to be a little challenging.
21:53
SPEAKER_04: Yeah, I think uh there's a lot there is a lot going for us, I think, with Wenatchee Valley.
21:58
SPEAKER_04: I think Wenatchee is a desirable.
22:00
SPEAKER_04: Location and it is a place where people want to be and they want to raise their kids.
22:03
SPEAKER_04: And I think that for the most part they see a community that supports education and has historically and hopefully will in November as well.
22:11
SPEAKER_04: Um but there are times when it is challenging, especially when we have um someone who is a passionate coach and they also need a teaching job.
22:20
SPEAKER_04: Um with uh you know, with some recent uh declining enrollment um and uh uh just budget reductions.
22:26
SPEAKER_04: We have had to let some of our staff go over the last four years as we have reduced$18.7 million.
22:32
SPEAKER_04: That's where the challenge comes in is people have to be you have to be looking for the right opportunity or be flexible in how you get your foot in the door here in Wenatchee.
22:42
SPEAKER_04: Um and it's been hard for us to offer a teaching position to some coaching areas just because they haven't existed, those openings just aren't there.
22:49
SPEAKER_04: Um but we're we're working on it and we're trying to overcome some of those challenges.
22:53
SPEAKER_02: I think also the point needs to be made again is that these challenges structurally and everything else aren't going away.
22:59
SPEAKER_02: No.
22:59
SPEAKER_02: And it's not gonna get any cheaper the further we wait down the road.
23:02
SPEAKER_09: Yeah, just to put that in perspective too, um, in the last two years the district has spent um half a million dollars on our HVAC system, just keeping that going, you know, just and that's not repairing it, that's not that's just kind of limping it along, right?
23:17
SPEAKER_09: Really, yeah.
23:17
SPEAKER_09: You can't buy parts off the shelf.
23:19
SPEAKER_09: Our guys have to manufacture those or get creative with solutions.
23:22
SPEAKER_09: Um and there are 54-year-old units in this building.
23:26
SPEAKER_09: And so that's an incredible return on investment for taxpayers to have systems that have lasted that long, and it's a huge system.
23:33
SPEAKER_09: But yeah, um, we're the these are very expensive, expensive band-aids.
23:36
SPEAKER_09: These are not long-term solutions for creating spaces that are conducive for learning and for instruction.
23:42
SPEAKER_09: Our our teachers teach in these spaces too.
23:44
SPEAKER_02: As we record this podcast, the ballot should be arriving in the mail, right?
23:47
SPEAKER_02: This week.
23:48
SPEAKER_02: This week.
23:48
SPEAKER_02: Okay.
23:49
SPEAKER_02: All right.
23:49
SPEAKER_02: And it's very soon.
23:50
SPEAKER_02: It's so easy, just no, mm-mm.
23:52
SPEAKER_02: Nope, not gonna do it.
23:54
SPEAKER_02: It's another thing to even if you come to that decision, should be educated first about it.
24:00
SPEAKER_02: Are there more opportunities to do the tours?
24:02
SPEAKER_02: Are there more opportunities to learn more about what's happening?
24:05
SPEAKER_02: Absolutely.
24:06
SPEAKER_04: In fact, uh well, I'm not the this will be after the podcast, but um, we do have an opportunity uh tonight, Tuesday, October 13th, when H High School is putting on a tour, and uh they are inviting the community to come see it, and I think students will be leading it, some teachers will be leading it, our architects from Integris will be here with all of their renderings, and so it'll be it'll be a very fun event.
24:28
SPEAKER_04: And uh moving forward, I think the opportunities for us are gonna be there's a few more educational opportunities out there, but a lot of our shift will be just please get out and vote, you know.
24:38
SPEAKER_04: And uh at the end of the day, I I know Diana and I both feel strongly about this.
24:42
SPEAKER_04: We feel very good about the community engagement that we've been able to participate in in the spring and in the in the fall.
24:48
SPEAKER_04: And we just want people to make sure that uh they feel like they have enough information to make an informed decision, like you mentioned, um, and that they had an opportunity to share their voice.
24:57
SPEAKER_04: And and at the end of the day, we'll be proud of that.
24:59
SPEAKER_02: Well, best of luck.
25:00
SPEAKER_02: Thank you very much for taking the time to do this.
25:03
SPEAKER_02: And all the extra effort that it has taken to try to uh uh educate us on what the challenges are and and what the options are out there for the Wenatchee School District.
25:12
SPEAKER_02: Thanks so much for having us.
25:13
SPEAKER_02: Thank you.
25:14
SPEAKER_02: Shanna Haglin and Corey Callahar joining us here, and again, those uh ballots should be in your mailbox if you're in the Wenatchee School District.
25:21
SPEAKER_02: And uh the vote coming up, of course, November 3rd.
25:24
SPEAKER_02: And uh for more information, what website would you like them to go to to find out more?
25:28
SPEAKER_09: Winatchee schools.org slash bond.
25:30
SPEAKER_02: Oh, there you go.
25:31
SPEAKER_02: Okay, straight to it.
25:32
SPEAKER_02: I like that.
25:33
SPEAKER_02: All right, as we uh come back on the podcast, we're gonna talk a little uh girl slow pitch softball with uh head coach Taylor Files.
25:40
SPEAKER_02: We're also gonna talk with one of her uh pitchers, uh Anna Meisner.
25:43
SPEAKER_02: So that's coming up here on the Panther Podcast.
25:45
SPEAKER_02: Brought to you by Les Schwab and TGR Inc.
25:50
SPEAKER_01: Les Schwab Tires has always believed that taking care of people is the right thing to do.
25:55
SPEAKER_01: Today, that means more than trusted service.
25:58
SPEAKER_01: It means delivering real value too.
26:01
SPEAKER_01: That's why we're lowering prices on hundreds of tires without changing the service and expertise you've always counted on.
26:07
SPEAKER_01: Consumer Reports named Leshwab the best tire retailer for 2026.
26:12
SPEAKER_01: We'll keep working every day to earn your trust.
26:15
SPEAKER_01: See Leshwab.com for details.
26:18
SPEAKER_00: Hi, I'm Cole with TGR Incorporated, your roofing specialist.
26:21
SPEAKER_00: At TGR, roofing has been in our family my whole life.
26:24
SPEAKER_00: We are a locally owned and operated company with four generations of roofing experience in the Wenatchee Valley.
26:30
SPEAKER_00: We handle all types of roofing, residential and commercial roofing, repairs, reroofs.
26:35
SPEAKER_00: What matters most to us is doing the job right and treating every customer like family.
26:39
SPEAKER_00: When you need roofing work, call TGR Roofing.
26:43
SPEAKER_00: We're proud to put four generations of experience to work for you.
26:46
SPEAKER_00: TGR Incorporated, experience you can count on.
26:49
SPEAKER_02: Winatch Panther Podcast continues here on KKRV with episode number nine.
26:53
SPEAKER_02: She was with us in an early episode to talk about girls slow pitch softball.
26:57
SPEAKER_02: Taylor Files is here.
26:59
SPEAKER_02: Season's over already.
27:00
SPEAKER_02: How did that happen?
27:01
SPEAKER_02: Almost.
27:03
SPEAKER_02: Oh, okay.
27:03
SPEAKER_02: Yeah.
27:03
SPEAKER_02: So as this drops, it happened and they won.
27:06
SPEAKER_02: They won both games at the double.
27:08
SPEAKER_02: I don't know if that actually happened or not, but talk about because it doesn't come out until Thursday.
27:14
SPEAKER_02: And so yeah, it's a good thing.
27:16
SPEAKER_02: It's weird.
27:17
SPEAKER_05: Um West Alley.
27:18
SPEAKER_05: Single game.
27:18
SPEAKER_05: So we're in playoffs already.
27:19
SPEAKER_05: Oh, okay.
27:20
SPEAKER_05: Slow pitch is a really short season compared to all the other sports that'll go till mid-November.
27:25
SPEAKER_02: Okay.
27:26
SPEAKER_02: So the win happened, and then what?
27:29
SPEAKER_05: Then we either play East Mot or Moses Lake.
27:33
SPEAKER_02: Okay, so it's that big nine play-in type of thing.
27:35
SPEAKER_02: Yeah.
27:35
SPEAKER_02: Okay.
27:36
SPEAKER_02: Gotcha.
27:36
SPEAKER_02: Gotcha.
27:37
SPEAKER_02: Tell us about the season.
27:38
SPEAKER_05: Uh it I'm actually really proud of the girls.
27:40
SPEAKER_05: Um, I know earlier we have a lot of new girls.
27:44
SPEAKER_05: So we've been learning a lot throughout the season, and it's kind of funny because these group of girls are very they're just there to have fun.
27:52
SPEAKER_05: And as for Kenzie and I, the coaches, it's kind of hard because we're very, very competitive.
27:58
SPEAKER_05: Um, but kind of taking a step back and seeing it from their perspective and just being able to actually enjoy it has been a really good season.
28:04
SPEAKER_02: Has that kind of refreshed your love for the game, so to speak?
28:09
SPEAKER_05: Yeah, and it's actually allowing us to coach and like break down like the little techniques and stuff.
28:16
SPEAKER_05: So yeah, it's been really enjoyable.
28:18
SPEAKER_02: I imagine that that's a mindset change for you because you're used to being around people that have been around the game forever.
28:25
SPEAKER_02: So you get brand new people that haven't even thrown a softball before.
28:29
SPEAKER_02: I don't know if that you've had many of that.
28:30
SPEAKER_02: Yeah.
28:31
SPEAKER_02: And so you almost probably had to reteach yourself how to coach.
28:35
SPEAKER_02: Yeah.
28:35
SPEAKER_02: Right?
28:36
SPEAKER_05: Yes.
28:36
SPEAKER_05: Yeah.
28:36
SPEAKER_05: I'm like, okay, I'll ask Kenzie, I'll be like, how do we even like approach this?
28:40
SPEAKER_05: And then we have to like kind of take it back and be like, okay, well, this is how I was taught.
28:44
SPEAKER_05: Now I have to go forward with that.
28:47
SPEAKER_02: Yeah.
28:48
SPEAKER_02: Um this season, I know you'd love to have more wins than than you did, but you still got to the chance for the play-in game and that type of thing.
28:58
SPEAKER_02: I guess as a coach, no matter what level, no matter what skills, everything else, you just want to see improvement, right?
29:04
SPEAKER_05: Oh, for sure.
29:04
SPEAKER_02: So how has that been?
29:05
SPEAKER_05: Yeah.
29:06
SPEAKER_05: Um like incredible improvement.
29:09
SPEAKER_05: Um like our second baseman, for instance, has never played softball.
29:13
SPEAKER_05: Um That's incredible.
29:15
SPEAKER_05: Yeah, she was we're getting out at second with her covering.
29:19
SPEAKER_05: We had I think we had a couple double out uh oh my gosh, double double plays.
29:24
SPEAKER_05: Double plays, yes, um, throughout the season, and our catcher is like we had to explain the difference between a force and a tag, and they're actually she's setting up and has like the footwork for it.
29:39
SPEAKER_05: And overall, I mean you can see the team has grown, but like if you actually see where each position player started from the first to now, it's incredible.
29:49
SPEAKER_02: I talk to coaches a lot, and one of the things that I hear is that light bulb moment that they're so excited about because they can see it happen, and it might be after a you know, a double play or a force at second where they just never did it before, and then practice comes through in a game and it's like I just did that.
30:09
SPEAKER_05: Yeah, no, for sure.
30:10
SPEAKER_05: Yeah.
30:10
SPEAKER_05: And it's kind of funny because a lot of these girls are new, so they don't know even like the good things about the sport.
30:18
SPEAKER_05: Like, uh, they'll do something, and I'm Kenzie and I are so excited, and we're like, they're just standing there.
30:23
SPEAKER_05: I'm like, that's awesome what you just did.
30:25
SPEAKER_05: Like, I think it was one of our first games.
30:28
SPEAKER_05: Um, we had bases loaded, and our outfielder we had two outs, and the outfielder caught the ball, and she just like dude.
30:35
SPEAKER_05: I'm like, that's a giant out.
30:37
SPEAKER_05: And yeah, so just teaching them also like to enjoy it and celebrate those things.
30:42
SPEAKER_02: And do you go so far as to say, hey, watch baseball on TV or those types of things?
30:51
SPEAKER_05: Because I mean we had to break it down to what an out was, and we're like, yeah, go watch.
30:57
SPEAKER_05: And um we didn't we were trying to go over to East Mont and watch a game just so they could see, but we didn't get um we weren't able to do that.
31:05
SPEAKER_05: But yeah, I mean learning from watching it is a great way to do it.
31:10
SPEAKER_02: Once you got through fair, once you got all your team together and healthy and all that kind of fun stuff, I well you did have some health issues.
31:22
SPEAKER_05: Our other player that has a concussion.
31:24
SPEAKER_02: And a lot of people think it's slow pitch.
31:26
SPEAKER_02: How did they get a concussion?
31:27
SPEAKER_02: Well, there's a ball flying around no matter what.
31:29
SPEAKER_05: Yeah.
31:30
SPEAKER_05: Um yeah.
31:32
SPEAKER_02: And there's collisions and there's this.
31:34
SPEAKER_05: Yeah, and it was just I mean, it wasn't anything, she just took a ball and it bounced off her glove, hit her right in the cheek, and now concussion.
31:41
SPEAKER_05: So I mean it's just the littlest things.
31:44
SPEAKER_05: But yeah, and we've had girls out due to grades and attendance, and but we have almost all our girls back this week.
31:52
SPEAKER_05: So Great.
31:53
SPEAKER_02: Yes, good timing for playoffs.
31:55
SPEAKER_02: Yes, yes.
31:55
SPEAKER_02: Um, as you of course you're the the fast pitch coach as well.
32:00
SPEAKER_02: Are you gonna see these some of these faces that that have now they have the bug?
32:04
SPEAKER_02: They're like, oh, okay, this is fun.
32:06
SPEAKER_05: Yep, we just had a couple more girls sign up that are playing slow pitch for fast pitch.
32:10
SPEAKER_05: They just signed up l uh earlier this week.
32:13
SPEAKER_05: Um yeah, I think I think all of them are coming out.
32:17
SPEAKER_05: So it'll be really good to see them in that side too.
32:22
SPEAKER_02: As they step away after the season, which isn't hopefully for another few weeks.
32:27
SPEAKER_02: Hopefully, yeah.
32:28
SPEAKER_02: Uh what are what are your instructions to them on getting ready for spring?
32:32
SPEAKER_05: Um, I mean, really just it's hard because there's not I mean, unless they have a big backyard.
32:37
SPEAKER_08: Right.
32:38
SPEAKER_05: They can't really or they have a bonet or whatever at home.
32:42
SPEAKER_05: But I mean, as little as just playing catch, as little as just going for a run, just so that your muscles are staying in shape.
32:48
SPEAKER_05: And I know that the high school has the weight room open a lot, so that we're gonna try to push that heavily heavy in the spring is using the weight room because I know soccer does it and volleyball does it, and just be able to improve in that aspect of the sport.
33:02
SPEAKER_05: Um but I mean as little just playing catch when they can.
33:06
SPEAKER_02: Well, and for so many of them, like you say, brand new to the sport, hand-eye coordination is huge.
33:11
SPEAKER_02: And so any way they can work on their hand-eye coordination.
33:14
SPEAKER_02: I used to just, you know, of course as a kid take a tennis ball on my glove and just throw it against the garage door against the wall.
33:20
SPEAKER_02: And because the wall always wins.
33:22
SPEAKER_02: And but that just helps to just get that hand-eye coordination going on.
33:27
SPEAKER_05: Yeah, yeah.
33:28
SPEAKER_05: And I mean, open gym for spring starts in February.
33:32
SPEAKER_05: So I mean it's only a couple months really.
33:34
SPEAKER_05: Right.
33:35
SPEAKER_05: Then they're back at it.
33:36
SPEAKER_05: So yeah.
33:38
SPEAKER_02: Happiest moment of your season.
33:41
SPEAKER_02: Um was it that out with the bases loaded?
33:45
SPEAKER_02: Was it a double play at second base?
33:46
SPEAKER_05: What was your lot just because they worked so hard to get where they are.
33:53
SPEAKER_05: Um it was probably we had a home game doubleheader against Sunnyside, and the first game we did not play very well, and just the energy wasn't there.
34:03
SPEAKER_05: And so we gave them a little talk and said, you know, you have to just control the things you can control, and right now we're not.
34:09
SPEAKER_05: And we just need to have energy and be good people and um support each other.
34:14
SPEAKER_05: And that game they went in complete opposite of what they did the first game, and actually, we went into I want to say eight innings tied.
34:23
SPEAKER_02: Wow.
34:23
SPEAKER_05: And we actually had a walk-off hit.
34:25
SPEAKER_02: Wow.
34:25
SPEAKER_05: Yeah, bases loaded, and yeah, and it was the bottom of our lineup, and she just got out there, did her job, and again, like not knowing the sport, she stood at first, and she's like, Why is everyone running off?
34:37
SPEAKER_05: Like, to actually see, like, that's what they work for the whole season.
34:42
SPEAKER_05: So, yeah, that was probably the best one.
34:45
SPEAKER_02: Yeah, that's that's gotta be pretty awesome.
34:47
SPEAKER_05: Yeah.
34:48
SPEAKER_02: Um hope for the future.
34:50
SPEAKER_02: What do you hope for?
34:50
SPEAKER_02: You're gonna be back again coaching slow pitch.
34:53
SPEAKER_02: Yeah, you like this?
34:54
SPEAKER_02: Yeah, yeah, it's funny.
34:55
SPEAKER_02: It's a it's a different challenge being a fast pitch.
34:57
SPEAKER_05: Yeah, and I mean a lot for fast pitch side, it's a lot of girls that have had the experience, so it's teaching different things and coaching different things.
35:05
SPEAKER_05: Um Slow Pitch, I think since it is a fall sport, the it's a lot of the newer players.
35:11
SPEAKER_02: Right.
35:11
SPEAKER_05: Um but I I mean a hope is just more girls show up so that we're not pushing eleven, ten, eleven each game.
35:18
SPEAKER_02: But um well, especially if you have injury bugs or you have sickness bugs or whatever the case may be.
35:25
SPEAKER_05: Yeah.
35:26
SPEAKER_05: Um just more girls and just to grow the program.
35:30
SPEAKER_05: Because I mean growing slow pitch is gonna grow fast pitch and vice versa.
35:33
SPEAKER_02: And are you a person in your coaching philosophy, I guess, that also says, hey, what you're learning in this sport is going to be a life lesson for you as well.
35:45
SPEAKER_05: For sure.
35:45
SPEAKER_05: Um yeah, all of my coaches um I played basketball growing up and softball and volleyball and did it all.
35:54
SPEAKER_05: But they were like, I was taught it doesn't I don't care how good you are at the sport, but you're gonna be a good human.
36:00
SPEAKER_05: And um all my coaches have been that way, and I take that and I tell them, like, you're not gonna be disrespectful.
36:07
SPEAKER_05: You're not I'm very hard on them on grades and attendance, and because I'm like, you can't show up late to work.
36:14
SPEAKER_05: You can't when you're in college, you can't do that.
36:17
SPEAKER_05: And so yeah, I Kenzie and I push it hard and hold them very accountable for it, um, which is why now we have all girls showing up to the class on time.
36:27
SPEAKER_05: So yeah.
36:28
SPEAKER_02: You mentioned your assistant, uh what or whom are you most thankful for?
36:35
SPEAKER_05: Um in like this the season.
36:37
SPEAKER_02: Just the season, yeah.
36:39
SPEAKER_05: Um well one, McKenzie, my assistant coach.
36:44
SPEAKER_05: I mean, we coach very similar, and it's very nice to be able to have that to bounce ideas off and to be we think the same thing even if we're not talking to each other.
36:55
SPEAKER_05: And um so definitely her, also our seniors, they have stepped up and given it their all and have been the best leaders I could have asked for.
37:06
SPEAKER_05: Um and obviously my family and all them that I mean some of the girls are like, you have more supporters at our game than I do, and I'm like, it's always been that way.
37:14
SPEAKER_05: My grandparents still come, everyone still comes.
37:17
SPEAKER_05: So that's awesome.
37:18
SPEAKER_05: Yeah, I'm grateful for them.
37:19
SPEAKER_02: That's awesome.
37:20
SPEAKER_02: Tell me about is it Anna or Anna?
37:21
SPEAKER_02: Anna.
37:22
SPEAKER_02: Anna.
37:22
SPEAKER_02: Tell me about Anna that's gonna be in here next.
37:24
SPEAKER_05: Yeah, so she's our one of our seniors.
37:26
SPEAKER_05: Um, she is our pitcher, our one and only pitcher.
37:29
SPEAKER_05: Um I mean, our season, we wouldn't be here without her because no one else wants to pitch, and she's pitched every inning of every game.
37:37
SPEAKER_05: And um is she a fastballer too?
37:40
SPEAKER_02: Yes.
37:40
SPEAKER_02: Okay.
37:41
SPEAKER_02: Um does she pitch in fastball and no, she's a f uh first baseman.
37:44
SPEAKER_05: Okay.
37:44
SPEAKER_05: Yep.
37:45
SPEAKER_05: And um, I mean, she's I don't think missed anything.
37:50
SPEAKER_05: I mean, even one of our home games, she was like very sick.
37:54
SPEAKER_05: Um she was taking some Dayquil and she showed up and she pitched and she's like, I don't feel good, and I'm like, Okay, well she's like, No, I'm gonna go.
38:02
SPEAKER_05: You're all we got.
38:02
SPEAKER_05: Yeah, and she I mean she pushed through and she's an amazing person.
38:06
SPEAKER_05: She's so she's very stoic, so she's just there, very good composure.
38:12
SPEAKER_02: Um very nice, yes.
38:16
SPEAKER_05: Um, I don't know, she's an amazing kid, and she's very dry sense of humor, but very funny, and she'll do anything for any of the girls out there, so she's an amazing person.
38:26
SPEAKER_02: All right.
38:26
SPEAKER_02: Well, it's happening tonight, meaning two nights ago when this drops.
38:31
SPEAKER_02: So uh good luck, go get them.
38:33
SPEAKER_02: Thank you.
38:33
SPEAKER_02: And uh congratulations on on on the education and the learning curve that you guys had this year.
38:40
SPEAKER_02: Thank you.
38:40
SPEAKER_02: You bet.
38:40
SPEAKER_02: Taylor Files joining us here on the Wananch Panther Podcast.
38:43
SPEAKER_02: We're gonna come back and talk with Anna Meisner.
38:45
SPEAKER_02: Meisner, right?
38:46
SPEAKER_02: Okay, got alright.
38:47
SPEAKER_02: Wow, how about that?
38:48
SPEAKER_02: Uh, we'll do that right after these words on KRV 1047.
38:52
SPEAKER_00: It's Cole with TGR, your roofing specialist.
38:55
SPEAKER_00: Fall is here, and it's a great time to take a look at your roof before winter arrives.
39:00
SPEAKER_00: Check for missing or damaged shingles, clogged gutters, or any signs of leaks.
39:04
SPEAKER_00: Small problems can become bigger problems once the rain, wind, and snow move in.
39:10
SPEAKER_00: If you're not sure what to look for, have a professional take a look.
39:13
SPEAKER_00: At TGR Roofing, we're here to help keep your home protected through every season.
39:18
SPEAKER_00: TGR Roofing, experience you can count on.
39:21
SPEAKER_01: Les Schwab Tires has been proudly serving communities for over 70 years, and we've collected thousands of inspiring stories.
39:29
SPEAKER_01: Like Kate, who is off on a long road trip with her best friend, when the dash lit up like a game show.
39:34
SPEAKER_01: They find the nearest Les Schwab.
39:36
SPEAKER_01: Turns out they really needed an oil change.
39:39
SPEAKER_01: It was done in a flash.
39:40
SPEAKER_01: Road trip saved.
39:41
SPEAKER_01: At Leshwab, we're proud to keep you rolling.
39:44
SPEAKER_01: Lesh Schwab Tires.
39:46
SPEAKER_01: Our greatest story is yours.
39:48
SPEAKER_01: Stories are composites inspired by real customer feedback.
39:51
SPEAKER_02: When Anche Panther Podcast continues here on KKRV 1047, and we're now joined by a senior softballer and the only pitcher, as we just heard from her coach, we've got Anna Meisner here.
40:02
SPEAKER_02: Hi, Anna.
40:03
SPEAKER_07: Hi.
40:03
SPEAKER_07: How are you?
40:04
SPEAKER_07: I'm good.
40:05
SPEAKER_07: How are you doing?
40:05
SPEAKER_02: I'm good.
40:06
SPEAKER_02: I'm good.
40:06
SPEAKER_02: I'm glad you're doing this.
40:07
SPEAKER_02: I know you're a little nervous.
40:09
SPEAKER_07: Just a little, but I think it'll be all right.
40:11
SPEAKER_02: Okay.
40:11
SPEAKER_02: Well, you're you're in good hands here.
40:13
SPEAKER_02: I'm not gonna ask any really tough questions.
40:16
SPEAKER_02: We're gonna talk softball first of all.
40:18
SPEAKER_02: And this is weird because when this drops, it's Thursday.
40:21
SPEAKER_02: But tonight you guys have a playoff game.
40:24
SPEAKER_02: So we're gonna talk about the playoff game.
40:26
SPEAKER_02: But first let's talk about the season for you and and your coach was just saying that you came and you pitched one game when you were sick even.
40:34
SPEAKER_07: Yeah, um, I had kind of a minor uh cold, and I um I mean there's no one else to pitch, so I was like, well, I gotta go.
40:42
SPEAKER_07: So I took my Daequil and I came down to the field.
40:45
SPEAKER_02: How was that pitching on Dayquil?
40:47
SPEAKER_07: It was okay.
40:48
SPEAKER_07: Dayquil lasts about four hours.
40:50
SPEAKER_07: So we played two games, and by the end of the second game, I was like, I need to go home and take more Dayquill.
40:55
SPEAKER_02: Okay.
40:56
SPEAKER_02: Uh Dayquill, if you want to come and sponsor the podcast, you're welcome to do so.
41:00
SPEAKER_02: Um talk about this season.
41:02
SPEAKER_02: And now are you a fastballer too?
41:04
SPEAKER_07: Yeah, I play fast pitch.
41:06
SPEAKER_02: Okay.
41:06
SPEAKER_02: All right.
41:06
SPEAKER_02: Fastball.
41:07
SPEAKER_02: Yeah.
41:08
SPEAKER_02: Um so that transition going from fast pitch to slow pitch, it's it's quite different game, isn't it?
41:16
SPEAKER_07: It is different.
41:16
SPEAKER_07: Slow pitch moves uh slower, kind of, in some ways, especially because you can't steal.
41:22
SPEAKER_07: Right.
41:23
SPEAKER_07: Um so that part's really different.
41:25
SPEAKER_07: And then for me, in fast pitch, I don't pitch.
41:28
SPEAKER_07: Um, so it's a really different position and our fields really shifted around.
41:32
SPEAKER_02: How did it how did it come to you that you were the pitcher?
41:34
SPEAKER_02: Did Taylor have tryouts and say, okay, who can throw this slowly and get it up?
41:39
SPEAKER_02: Because there's a minimum of height you have to have, right?
41:41
SPEAKER_07: There's uh a height limit, you gotta be in a certain range.
41:44
SPEAKER_07: But um my freshman year, we had a different coach then, and it was the first time that we'd had a slow pitch team in a few years.
41:51
SPEAKER_07: Uh and he was looking for volunteers and a couple people volunteered, and he was like, Oh yeah, and Anna volunteered the other day.
41:57
SPEAKER_07: And I was like, I did what?
41:59
SPEAKER_07: He got me mixed up with another girl who's also a freshman who had volunteered.
42:04
SPEAKER_07: So I was like, mm, coachy, that wasn't me.
42:07
SPEAKER_07: I don't know about this.
42:08
SPEAKER_07: And he was like, I think you can learn.
42:10
SPEAKER_07: So we go out there, we all throw some pitches, and then we had a parent meeting that night.
42:14
SPEAKER_07: We go to the parent meeting, he's like, Oh yeah, Ava threw some really good pitches, Julia threw a few strikes, and then he gets to me, he goes, Anna tried.
42:22
SPEAKER_07: Um so came from there.
42:25
SPEAKER_07: But our starting pitcher ended up getting concussed, and so they put me in and then just built from there.
42:31
SPEAKER_02: Okay.
42:32
SPEAKER_02: So you're kind of voluntole.
42:33
SPEAKER_07: I was voluntold.
42:34
SPEAKER_02: Okay.
42:34
SPEAKER_02: All right.
42:35
SPEAKER_02: It worked out.
42:36
SPEAKER_02: Yeah, I was gonna say, how's that experience from freshman year now senior?
42:39
SPEAKER_02: I'm sure it's just flown by, right?
42:41
SPEAKER_07: It really has.
42:41
SPEAKER_07: It's crazy.
42:42
SPEAKER_07: My little sister is a freshman this year, so every time I see her, I'm like, you've got to watch out.
42:47
SPEAKER_07: It flies by.
42:49
SPEAKER_02: Does she play softball too?
42:50
SPEAKER_07: Uh she plays soccer.
42:52
SPEAKER_07: She just played she played softball for the middle school last year, but it was her first season.
42:56
SPEAKER_02: Okay.
42:57
SPEAKER_02: Okay.
42:57
SPEAKER_02: Which I understand there was a bunch of first-time players on your team this year that had never played before.
43:03
SPEAKER_02: How was that?
43:04
SPEAKER_07: Yeah, I mean, it's it makes the season different.
43:07
SPEAKER_07: You have to know the expectation coming in.
43:09
SPEAKER_07: When you have so many inexperienced players, you're just trying to get to get them to a point of understanding the game more and knowing what to do.
43:17
SPEAKER_02: So how did it meet your expectations or fall short as far as what you wanted to accomplish?
43:24
SPEAKER_07: I mean, I think it was a really good season because it's been a lot of fun.
43:28
SPEAKER_07: Um I think with this team, I think that's the thing you have to focus on is having fun.
43:34
SPEAKER_07: And it can be hard, but sometimes you go out and play really experienced teams and it's tough.
43:39
SPEAKER_07: So trying to keep the energy up and just keep it fun.
43:42
SPEAKER_02: With that and what a difference it is between spring and fall, right?
43:46
SPEAKER_02: Because spring is very competitive and you're around a bunch of ladies that play a lot of fast pitch and and things like that.
43:53
SPEAKER_02: Um does that make it a little more fun?
43:56
SPEAKER_02: Kind of cut takes the pressure off in the fall for slow pitch?
43:59
SPEAKER_07: Yeah, for sure.
44:00
SPEAKER_07: I think the fall season is always just a lot more stress-free, so it can be more fun in that way.
44:06
SPEAKER_02: I was just talking with your coach about if there were newbies that played slow pitch that are gonna come back and play fast pitch.
44:13
SPEAKER_02: Are you seeing that?
44:14
SPEAKER_07: I think we do have some people.
44:15
SPEAKER_07: A lot of people like to play in the fall to get ready for the spring season because it is a lot less competitive and it kind of gets eases you into it.
44:23
SPEAKER_02: Sure.
44:24
SPEAKER_02: Um okay, this is gonna be weird because we're gonna talk about a playoff game that's happening tonight as we record this today, even though this is going you're seeing this two days later.
44:34
SPEAKER_02: I don't care.
44:35
SPEAKER_02: So let's talk about the matchup tonight.
44:37
SPEAKER_02: Obviously, you're pitching since you're the only pitcher that you've got.
44:40
SPEAKER_07: Yeah, unless Taylor decides to switch it up today.
44:44
SPEAKER_02: So just one game.
44:46
SPEAKER_07: Yes, just one, which is gonna be strange.
44:48
SPEAKER_07: We've played all doubleheaders up till now.
44:50
SPEAKER_02: Right, right.
44:51
SPEAKER_02: And also, I mean, every out, every swing, every everything is your season, right?
44:58
SPEAKER_02: I mean, so do you think that your teammates, especially the new ones to the sport, are gonna feel that, understand that, or would it be better for them not to understand it and just go have fun?
45:10
SPEAKER_07: I think we just need to I think we need to uh not overthink it.
45:13
SPEAKER_07: So I think just going out and playing the way that we know we can.
45:16
SPEAKER_07: Um we played West Valley earlier in the season and our first game against them was really close for a lot of the games.
45:22
SPEAKER_07: So I think if we just keep things slow and don't overthink it, I think that's probably the best way to go about it.
45:28
SPEAKER_02: I was asking your coach what what the most fun moment of the season was for her.
45:32
SPEAKER_02: How about for you?
45:34
SPEAKER_07: Um, there's been a lot of good moments.
45:37
SPEAKER_07: I would say probably um let's see here.
45:40
SPEAKER_07: A couple of bus rides home.
45:41
SPEAKER_07: We've uh watched Dancing with the Stars.
45:43
SPEAKER_07: Oh my god, we brought a speaker.
45:46
SPEAKER_07: All right.
45:46
SPEAKER_07: So that's been really fun.
45:47
SPEAKER_02: It's a new season, right?
45:48
SPEAKER_02: Mm-hmm.
45:48
SPEAKER_02: Okay.
45:50
SPEAKER_02: How how is your star doing?
45:52
SPEAKER_07: Um, well, I'm a big Guillermo fan.
45:54
SPEAKER_07: Uh he's doing really well.
45:55
SPEAKER_07: We just bought his salsa and taste tested that.
45:58
SPEAKER_02: So Okay.
46:00
SPEAKER_02: Um your coach was just talking about Sunnyside last week and and a walk-off win, and whomever came up with the hit for the walk-off win didn't really realize what was going on.
46:11
SPEAKER_02: And that's I mean, that's gotta be fun, isn't it?
46:15
SPEAKER_02: In a way.
46:16
SPEAKER_07: Yeah.
46:16
SPEAKER_07: Sometimes people do things and they don't quite realize how cool it is until after the play, and you're like, that was so great.
46:25
SPEAKER_07: And they're like, what did I do?
46:28
SPEAKER_02: When you uh have free time, if you have any free time, um what do you like to do?
46:34
SPEAKER_07: Um I play so I play violin, so a lot of music stuff.
46:39
SPEAKER_07: And then in the summers, um I'm really into boating.
46:42
SPEAKER_07: I wake surf a lot, and in the winters I snowboard a little bit.
46:46
SPEAKER_02: Okay.
46:46
SPEAKER_02: Are on the water, is it here on the Columbia?
46:48
SPEAKER_02: Is it up at Schlange or?
46:49
SPEAKER_07: I'm on the Columbia mostly.
46:50
SPEAKER_02: Okay.
46:51
SPEAKER_02: All right, very good.
46:52
SPEAKER_02: So the violin, as in classical violin, or are we talking mariachi violin?
46:57
SPEAKER_02: What are we talking about?
46:58
SPEAKER_07: Classical, yeah.
46:58
SPEAKER_07: I'm an orchestra.
46:59
SPEAKER_02: Oh, okay.
47:01
SPEAKER_02: Is there any assimilation between playing a violin and playing sports?
47:07
SPEAKER_07: Interesting.
47:08
SPEAKER_07: Um I would say probably just the the focus and the multitasking.
47:14
SPEAKER_07: Like both of them have a lot of things that you have to do and you have to really pay attention to all of it.
47:19
SPEAKER_02: So And being part of an orchestra is similar to being part of the team on the field.
47:24
SPEAKER_02: Is you all have to depend on each other in order to pull off this play or to pull off this song, right?
47:31
SPEAKER_07: Yeah.
47:31
SPEAKER_02: Okay.
47:32
SPEAKER_02: That was a reach.
47:33
SPEAKER_02: I know.
47:33
SPEAKER_02: That's okay.
47:34
SPEAKER_02: Um, so do you have any pets, any animals, anything like that?
47:36
SPEAKER_07: Uh yeah, I have one dog.
47:38
SPEAKER_07: She's a mini labberdoodle named Bella.
47:40
SPEAKER_02: Labradoodle named Bella?
47:42
SPEAKER_07: Yes.
47:42
SPEAKER_02: What color is Bella?
47:44
SPEAKER_07: She is kind of blonde.
47:46
SPEAKER_02: Blonde.
47:46
SPEAKER_07: Mm-hmm.
47:47
SPEAKER_02: Okay.
47:47
SPEAKER_02: Like a dirty blonde?
47:48
SPEAKER_07: She's pretty light.
47:49
SPEAKER_07: I was supposed to be like reddish, and then she got her first haircut and it all went away.
47:53
SPEAKER_02: Oh.
47:54
SPEAKER_02: How old is Bella?
47:55
SPEAKER_07: Ooh, she's about eight or nine now.
47:57
SPEAKER_07: She's getting up there.
47:58
SPEAKER_02: Okay.
47:58
SPEAKER_02: All right.
47:59
SPEAKER_02: Is Bella still able to get around pretty good?
48:01
SPEAKER_07: She does a good job.
48:02
SPEAKER_07: She um she doesn't like to.
48:04
SPEAKER_02: She's pretty lazy, but does Bella get up on your bed?
48:07
SPEAKER_07: My bed's pretty tall, so she makes me pick her up and put her on there, but she goes.
48:13
SPEAKER_02: So she's allowed on your bed.
48:14
SPEAKER_02: She's allowed, yes.
48:15
SPEAKER_02: Okay.
48:15
SPEAKER_02: Is that is that your cuddle buddy if you're having a kind of a rough day?
48:18
SPEAKER_07: Well, you know, sometimes it gets really cold down there, so I'm like, yeah.
48:22
SPEAKER_02: Are you in the basement?
48:23
SPEAKER_07: I am.
48:23
SPEAKER_02: I think did that happen about the time you started uh playing a violin?
48:32
SPEAKER_02: Not saying, but you know, uh you if you're in the basement, you can't very well hear what's going on down there.
48:38
SPEAKER_07: So that's a good theory.
48:39
SPEAKER_07: I should ask about that.
48:42
SPEAKER_02: Okay.
48:42
SPEAKER_02: Um nicknames.
48:44
SPEAKER_02: I ask everybody about nicknames.
48:45
SPEAKER_02: Do you have a nickname?
48:47
SPEAKER_07: Um well after your last podcast episode, I actually do have a nickname.
48:50
SPEAKER_07: It's Bingo.
48:52
SPEAKER_02: Bingo?
48:52
SPEAKER_07: Mm-hmm.
48:53
SPEAKER_02: Why bingo?
48:54
SPEAKER_07: Uh it's a Bluey character.
48:55
SPEAKER_07: So my teammate Hayden came on, she was Muffin, which is also a character from Bluey.
49:00
SPEAKER_07: And then a couple of people call me Hannah.
49:02
SPEAKER_02: Hannah.
49:03
SPEAKER_07: Because I told them that that was my name and that Anna was short for Hannah.
49:07
SPEAKER_02: Oh, which is not true.
49:09
SPEAKER_07: Which is not true, but they thought it was.
49:11
SPEAKER_02: And Anna's not short for anything.
49:12
SPEAKER_02: You're not like a birth certificate somewhere that says Annabelle or anything like that.
49:16
SPEAKER_07: No, it's just Anna, but I told them, I said on my birth certificate it says Hannah.
49:21
SPEAKER_02: Now why did you do that?
49:23
SPEAKER_02: You know, somebody else And has your mom learned this?
49:26
SPEAKER_02: Because I'm sure she's like, What are you doing?
49:28
SPEAKER_07: Somebody else started it, and I was like, well, okay.
49:32
SPEAKER_02: All right.
49:32
SPEAKER_02: So you're a senior, what do you hope to do?
49:34
SPEAKER_02: What's what's next?
49:35
SPEAKER_02: What's college?
49:35
SPEAKER_02: You going off to the work world?
49:37
SPEAKER_02: What do you what do you got planned?
49:38
SPEAKER_07: I'm hoping to go off to uh college.
49:40
SPEAKER_07: I'm a in-running start, so I'm hoping to go to a four-year university after this, and I want to get my undergraduate degree in environmental policy and then go to law school.
49:50
SPEAKER_02: Okay.
49:51
SPEAKER_02: Will the violin be with you for the rest of your life or is it just for now?
49:54
SPEAKER_07: We'll have to see.
49:55
SPEAKER_07: We'll have to see.
49:56
SPEAKER_07: It might just be like a side thing that I do for fun sometimes.
49:59
SPEAKER_02: Okay.
50:00
SPEAKER_02: Because violin, you kind of have to play it to play it, right?
50:03
SPEAKER_02: I mean it's if you let it down and you don't pick it up for a while, then Yeah, for sure.
50:09
SPEAKER_07: Okay.
50:09
SPEAKER_07: Then you kind of forget everything.
50:10
SPEAKER_07: You're like, ooh.
50:12
SPEAKER_02: And how how hard is a violin to keep in tune?
50:16
SPEAKER_07: It's it's relatively simple.
50:18
SPEAKER_07: Um once you get them in tune, the first time they slip a little bit, and then do you have an app on your phone where you tune it?
50:24
SPEAKER_02: Do you have some sort of tuning device, or is it just your ears are so good you just know right away.
50:29
SPEAKER_07: Ooh, my ears are not that good.
50:31
SPEAKER_07: I um I have a a tuning app on my phone that I use, or in class we have tuners that are handed out.
50:38
SPEAKER_02: Okay.
50:38
SPEAKER_02: So I'm gonna ask you a difficult question.
50:40
SPEAKER_02: Uh-huh.
50:40
SPEAKER_02: Song related.
50:41
SPEAKER_02: Doesn't have to be violin, but or an orchestral piece.
50:46
SPEAKER_02: If you were to pick a song that represented this year's softball season for slow pitch, what would it be?
50:55
SPEAKER_07: Hmm.
50:55
SPEAKER_07: That is a that is a tough one.
50:57
SPEAKER_07: I'm gonna say uh the bluey themed song.
50:59
SPEAKER_02: Blue.
51:01
SPEAKER_02: It's been a fun season.
51:02
SPEAKER_02: Okay, all right.
51:03
SPEAKER_02: Well, uh, congratulations on everything and uh best of luck in the game two nights ago.
51:10
SPEAKER_02: I don't know how that works, but um and good luck on the fast pitch season this spring, too.
51:15
SPEAKER_07: Thank you.
51:15
SPEAKER_02: All right, there you go.
51:16
SPEAKER_02: Uh that's gonna wrap it up for this week's podcast.
51:18
SPEAKER_02: Uh thanks to Anna Meisner and to Taylor Files, her coach, also to Corey Kallahar and Diana Hanglin, and to our uh two athletes of the week, Brooklyn Buwer and Jensen Bratton, freshman football player.
51:30
SPEAKER_02: Another freshman joining us here on the podcast.
51:32
SPEAKER_02: How about that?
51:32
SPEAKER_02: Coming up on next week's podcast, we'll have Jody Roberts, who is the athletic trainer.
51:37
SPEAKER_02: We'll have uh Larry with the ROTC and one of the ROTC students, uh Brea Mann.
51:43
SPEAKER_02: I don't know if I'm getting that right.
51:45
SPEAKER_02: Do you know Brea?
51:46
SPEAKER_02: I do know.
51:46
SPEAKER_02: Okay, all right.
51:47
SPEAKER_02: We'll we'll figure that one out next week.
51:49
SPEAKER_02: Also, just a reminder that uh tonight, now again, this is Thursday, uh Panther volleyball is across the river at Eastwont at 6 30.
51:57
SPEAKER_02: Panther football at Eastmont for the Battle of the Bridge.
51:59
SPEAKER_02: Do you call it the Battle of the Bridge or do you call it the Bridge of Sportsmanship?
52:02
SPEAKER_07: I think Battle of the Bridges.
52:03
SPEAKER_02: Okay, no sportsmanship.
52:05
SPEAKER_02: Okay, Derek.
52:05
SPEAKER_02: Yeah, no sportsmanship.
52:07
SPEAKER_02: Uh that's on Friday.
52:08
SPEAKER_02: That's our Weinstein Beverage uh Panther game of the week.
52:10
SPEAKER_02: We'll have that on our YouTube channel with a pregame at 6 30, 7 o'clock with kickoff.
52:15
SPEAKER_02: And then on Saturday, the girls' soccer team is hosting Eastwants in the Apple Bowl.
52:20
SPEAKER_02: That's a night game.
52:21
SPEAKER_02: Usually those uh games on the weekend are on the day.
52:24
SPEAKER_02: This will be on Saturday night at 6 o'clock.
52:26
SPEAKER_02: That's a wrap for this week's edition of the One At You Panther Podcast, brought to you by Les Schwab and TGR Inc.