![Sophomore Lily Bell posing as a player in the senior assassin game. Seniors participating in the game eliminate others by squirting them with a water gun, and can wear goggles for immunity against others. “People did have to go out and buy [water] guns, but most people have the googles at home, but you don’t even have to use a gun, you can use water of any sort,” senior Gwyn Christensen said.](https://ahstalonnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/unnamed-1-1-900x1200.jpg)
![The shadows against a captivating blue are a nod to the “Catch Me If You Can” musical poster, both for this performance and the blue from the Broadway show. The detectives in this scene are at shooting practice, in preparation for when they finally encounter Frank Abagnale Jr. “We always say our motto is ‘theater is a team sport,’ and really just emphasizing to our students that everyone is welcome in the drama department. There's always a role for you, whether or not, on stage or behind the scenes, in the costume shop, in the scene shop. [There are] all sorts of different things that go into bringing a show to life. So we love our drama hawks and welcome everyone to drama,” Drama Director Mollie Jo Blahunka said.](https://ahstalonnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/cmiyc-1200x800.jpg)
![Henry, Emily (2021). People we meet on vacation [Book cover]. Berkley Books. Image used under fair use for purposes of commentary and review. Haley, Brett (2026). People we meet on vacation [Movie poster]. Movie poster courtesy of 3000 Pictures and Temple Hill Entertainment. Made by Adilyn Hoop using Canva.](https://ahstalonnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/vacay1.png)
![Lockhart, E. (2025). We fell apart [Book cover]. Delacorte Press. Image used under fair use for purposes of commentary and review. The newest book in the “We were liars” collection was released Nov. 4.](https://ahstalonnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/wefell1.png)
![A Group of PEOPEL PE students and helpers set up an obstacle course during class. The “Amazing Race” unit had started in PEOPEL PE where the students and helpers got to compete in a variety of different activities and games. “We try our best to make [inclusion] a school-wide event, but it's just so much more different when you actually engage with the students hands-on and actually get to know them as people.” Sophomore Bree Christensen said. Photo Taken by Ada McNulty.](https://ahstalonnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/unnamed-12-1200x900.jpg)
The boys and girls cross country teams traveled to Lakeside Municipal Golf Course in Fort Dodge this past Friday, Nov. 1 to compete in the state cross country meet. The season for both teams culminated in successful results showcasing how AHS continues to produce top level athletes.
The boy’s team accomplished an eighth-place finish against a competitive field containing the current state record holder Jaden Merrick, a junior from Cedar Falls, who ran against AHS senior Ethan Zuber. Zuber won the meet by a seven-second margin. The senior triangle of Tate Brownsberger, Justice Rathje, and Nick Robie finished their senior campaigns strong, fighting as a group to gain places in a tight field of competition.
The trio was followed closely by junior Brett Augustine who ran a first varsity season after recovering from a couple of injuries which saw him retire the spikes after the second meet of the 2023 season. Also on the boys state team are juniors Ike Smith and Jackson Kaiser.
The Hawkettes finished similarly taking seventh place on the heels of senior Drew Beason. Beason placed 14th and will graduate from AHS having placed in the top 15 of the state meet every year since she was a freshman. The future looks bright as junior Makenna Madetzke finished 21st and improved by 28 places from the 2023 state meet.
Seniors Sophia Graber and Lauren Jackson both received recognition for their four years of service to the varsity squad and have left their impact on the program that they so loved. The girls state team was rounded out by juniors Ainsley Kiene, Reagan Prendergast, and Ivy Wiegand.
