FROG takes group of children on first deer hunting trip

By Shandi Dix
1ST INF. DIV. POST

Many hunters spend hours out in the cold fully dressed in camouflage and orange just for the chance to see a deer.

Twelve-year-old Donavon Anguiano not only saw a deer but shot a 10-point, 155-pound field-dressed buck Nov. 28, 2009, as part of the Fort Riley Outdoorsmen Group’s Youth Deer Hunt.

Anguiano’s father is currently deployed to Egypt.

Five kids ranging in age from 10 to 16 years took part in the hunt designed for first-time hunters whose parents are deployed. The hunt also is open to disabled youth.

“It gives them an opportunity to experience something new or simply getting the opportunity to hunt even though their dad or mom can’t take them because of the military mission,” said Sgt. Maj. Mark Dombrowski, Directorate of Emergency Services.

The annual hunt has been sponsored by FROG for four years as a mentoring program.

“All of the FROG mentors are Soldiers or civilians who understand what these Families go through and make their services available to provide that experience,” Dombrowski said. “New hunters often have such a positive experience that they continue to hunt year after year and have a hobby that will keep them active and hopefully in the woods and out of trouble.”

The week prior to the hunt the kids enjoy a day at the range learning about the whitetail deer, firearm and hunting safety. The kids also had to show their proficiency by firing at a target.

“They follow this process throughout the entire hunt so they see the right way,” Dombrowski said. “They fire their firearms to reinforce the importance of practice and ethical hunting. Lastly, they experience the outdoors and the opportunity to see things that they ordinarily would never see. They push themselves to endure the weather conditions and exercise patience all under the supervision of an experienced outdoorsman from the FROG.”

Other kids participating in the youth hunt were Elizabeth Hobbs, 10, Justin Trunck, 15, Ryan Thomson, 16, and Liam Lawson, 10.

“The importance, though, is not for them to shoot something but have a rewarding experience that could not have happened unless their mom/dad was not deployed,” Dombrowski said.

(This article was published in the December 4, 2009, issue of The 1st Infantry Division Post.)

MHS senior dedicates himself to team

Dallas Clemens (left) plays wide receiver and defensive back for the Manhattan High School Indians. Clemens is unsure where he will attend college but does know that he wants to go into sports medicine.

By Shandi Dix
1ST INF. DIV. POST

Manhattan High School senior Dallas Clemens has been in Manhattan for nearly two years. His Family moved from Fort Huachuca, Ariz., half way through his sophomore year.

Clemens plays wide receiver and defensive back for the Indians football team. He also is a member of the Spanish Club and plays intramural basketball.

He began playing football at an early age.

“I’ve played since I was a little kid, and I just like being part of a team and playing football,” Clemens said.

The Indians were 9-0 in regular season play and made it to the second round of state playoffs. They played Maize High School Eagles Nov. 6 and won the matchup 35-6. On Nov. 13 they played and lost to Wichita Heights High School in the second round of the state championships.

He is the son of 1st Lt. John and Brandy Clemens and has three siblings.

John is a platoon leader, 1st Platoon, Company C, 1st Combined Arms Battalion, 18th Infantry Regiment, 2^nd Heavy Brigade Combat Team, 1st Infantry Division.

“I love that for the last four years of high school he has dedicated himself to the teams he has played on,” John Clemens said. “He has gotten up early every morning during the summer for conditioning when most other kids are sleeping in. He has taken part in numerous practices, fundraisers and activities, and I couldn’t be more proud of the efforts he has made. All of these kids don’t get home until late in the evening during the season and they still have homework. The dedication of my son and his teammates is something I don’t remember having at his age. I have seen him mature and gain confidence through football, and I am grateful for all the coaches, teachers and school officials that have helped him on the way.”

Clemens’ dad returned at the end of September from his second deployment.

“It’s kinda tough because he wants to be at all of the games and see all of us – me and my brothers and sisters – but we keep in touch, send him film,” Clemens said.

Clemens is unsure where he will attend college, but he said he is sure he’s not playing football.

“I’m not going to play college football,” he said.

He has applied at the University of Colorado in Boulder, Colo., the University of Arizona in Tuscan, Ariz., and Kansas State University. He wants to study sports medicine.

(This article was published in the November 20, 2009, issue of The 1st Infantry Division Post.)

Sophomore plays volleyball for MHS

By Shandi Dix
1ST INF. DIV. POST

“Katherine really loves playing volleyball and we are very proud of how well she is doing,” said Lt. Col. Matt Hanson of his daughter. “I hope she stays with it and even goes on to play in college.”

Katherine “Kate”Hanson is a sophomore at Manhattan High School and played on the junior varsity volleyball team. Their season ended about two weeks ago.

Kate began playing volleyball in seventh grade. During the summer she also plays tennis and softball.

Her dad currently is assigned to Fort Rucker, Ala., as an Army aviation accident investigator. His assignment is for a year, and he will return to Fort Riley in the spring and has plans to retire.

Despite the distance, he is able to visit and talk to his Family on the phone.

He also has been deployed while Kate’s been in school.

“He was in Afghanistan,” Hanson said. “Every once in a while we’d be able to talk on the phone and then e-mails.”

While Hanson said she doesn’t think she wants to play volleyball in college, she said she would like to study to be a first-grade teacher and attend Kansas State University or Auburn University in Auburn, Ala.

(This article was published in the November 13, 2009, issue of The 1st Infantry Division Post.)

Abilene junior didn’t plan on cheering

By Shandi Dix
1ST INF. DIV. POST

Lacey Lokken, a junior at Abilene High School, had never thought about being an Abilene Cowboys cheerleader.

“Honestly I hadn’t even considered it, and then my friends were like, ‘Well, how about you just try out?’” Lokken said. “It turns out that I really, really enjoyed it.”

She has been a Cowboys cheerleader since moving to Abilene from Fort Carson, Colo., two years ago.

“She’s a good cheerleader,” said Jennifer Casteel, co-head coach. “She’s one of our better bases. We can always count on her to be one of our bases underneath and know that she’s going to catch our flyers when they come down. Very dependable.”

Along with cheerleading, Lokken is on the Scholar’s Bowl team and a member of the Spanish Club and the AHS Singers, a select group of juniors and seniors.

During the summer she also volunteers at the hospital.

She is not sure cheerleading will fit into her schedule at Kansas State University.

“I thought about it, but I want to be an anesthesiologist, and I’m not sure if I’m going to have time between classes and everything to do it, but I’d like to,” Lokken said.

Her parents are 1st Sgt. Chad and Shannon Lokken. Chad is with Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 1st Engineer Battalion, 1st Heavy Brigade Combat Team, 1st Infantry Division, at Fort Riley.

Lokken has been fortunate enough to have her father at home throughout her school career, she said.

Lokken recalls when her father went to Nicaragua and Bosnia when she was little, but he has never been to Iraq.

(This article was published in the November 6, 2009, issue of The 1st Infantry Division Post.)

Herington right guard plays for father

A.J. Cates (52) a senior at Herington High School lines up at right tackle Oct. 23, 2009. The Railers lost to Hillsboro High School Trojans 24-12.

By Shandi Dix
1ST INF. DIV. POST

“I play for him,” said A.J. Cates, senior at Herington High School, speaking of his father.

Cates, who plays football, baseball and also wrestles, is the son of retired 1st Sgt. Brian and LaReina Cates. His father was a first sergeant with the 72^nd Mobil Augmentation Company, 1^st Engineer Battalion, 1st Heavy Brigade Combat Team, 1st Infantry Division, before retiring in June 2009. He is now a contractor facilitating, teaching and instructing improvised explosive device defeat on the Home Station Training Lane at Fort Riley.

Cates has had the support of his Family on the field during most of his father’s four deployments.

“I taped all my games and sent them over to him,” Cates said. “He’d watch them and give me advice. My uncles would come down and watch.”

Cates has played football since he was 6 years old.

“Football’s fun,” Cates said. “I like hitting people.”

The Herington High School head football coach, Nick Fuemmeler, said Cates is a strong kid – one of the strongest the team has – and he can make up for his lack of size.

“A.J. plays our right tackle and plays some defense tackle,” Fuemmeler said.

Cates has been on the starting lineup for the Railers for more than two years.

“He runs around and makes a lot of tackles for us,” Fuemmeler said.

The Family moved to Herington four years ago. Cates remembers the exact date. It was the day of Herington’s eighth grade graduation, Cates said.

Cates also is active in Fellowship of Christian Athletes.

Cates wants to study to become a game warden while playing football.

“I’m hoping to go play for Butler (Community College) or (Fort Hays State University),”Cates said.

(This article was published in the October 30, 2009, issue of The 1st Infantry Division Post.)

Chapman junior decides to try tennis

By Shandi Dix
1ST INF. DIV. POST

Chapman High School junior Kayla Bartlett-Steede competed in her first year of tennis this fall.

“I wanted to try something new, and it looks good on college applications if you play a sport,” Bartlett-Steede said. “I ended up really liking it.”

Bartlett-Steede’s coach was happy to have a new member to the team.

“This was her first year playing, said Cheri Tajchman, tennis coach. “She was on the JV team, and we basically worked on fundamentals.”

Bartlett-Steede also plays piccolo and flute in the Fighting Irish band and is a member of the National Honor Society.

Bartlett-Steede’s father is in the Army, and she said she was fortunate enough not to go through his last deployment alone.

“My best friend at the time, her dad was deployed, so we could help and support each other through it,” Bartlett-Steede said.

Despite being new to tennis, Bartlett-Steede would consider playing tennis in college. She’s not sure what exactly she will study but hopes to attend Kansas State University or Oklahoma State University.

“I really don’t know; it changes all the time,” Bartlett-Steede said. “Right now I’d like to be in fashion magazines as an editor or photographer.”

Her parents are Staff Sgt. Michael and Jennifer Bartlett-Steede. Her father is a member of the Commanding General’s Mounted Color Guard. The Family moved to Chapman from Fort Wainwright, Alaska about a year and a half ago.

(This article was published in the October 23, 2009, issue of The 1st Infantry Division Post.)

Golf plays large role in Family of Manhattan sophomore

By Shandi Dix
1ST INF. DIV. POST

Golf is a Family activity for Jenna Crusinberry, a sophomore at Manhattan High School.

“Most of my Family plays it,” Crusinberry said. “So I just picked it up from them.”

Crusinberry has been playing golf for the past seven years.

“Jenna is a vital member of our golf team,” said Chris George, MHS golf head coach. “Her season average is an 88, which is very impressive for a sophomore. She has medaled in several tournaments. Her lowest round was an 84 at Salina Municipal. At Manhattan Country Club last Monday, in miserable conditions, she shot an 87 for fifth place in the tournament, which was a very good score for the day.”

Crusinberry also plays mid-field in soccer and point guard in basketball and is a member of the Spanish club.

“She is a member of the Centennial League championship team,” George said. “She also competes in other sports and is a very good student as well. I am very pleased to have her on our team.”

Crusinberry has a few more years to decide on college. She’s enjoys English, but she is unsure what she will end up studying.

“I’d be fine with going to K-State,” Crusinberry said, adding that playing sports in college would depend on scholarships.

Her parents are retired Maj. Steven and Kim Crusinberry. Her father retired in 2006 from the 20th Support Command (Chemical, Biological, Radiological, Nuclear, High Yield Explosives) at Aberdeen Proving Grounds, Md. He was a G-3 operations officer. While stationed at Fort Riley from 2000 to 2005 he was with the 24th Infantry Division, G-4 and 3rd Brigade, 75th Training Support Division. Crusinberry is now chief, Operations Branch, Directorate of Plans, Training, Mobilization and Security.

(This article was published in the October 16, 2009, issue of The 1st Infantry Division Post.)

Abilene senior stays moving with sports, music, theater, journalism

By Shandi Dix
STAFF WRITER

Abilene High School senior Alexis Lipson is involved in and out of school.

She is on the dance, cross country and track teams. Lipson is a member of the band and plays oboe and flute.

Lipson also is a member of Student Peers Using Responsible Strategies, the AHS version of Students Against Destructive Decisions.

This year, with SPURS, she is setting up a concert event as an alternative to drinking and smoking.

Lipson is the editor in chief of the school newspaper, “The Booster,” a monthly student publication.

She has a role in her high school’s musical as well as performing as a cancan girl in Old Abilene Town during the summer.

Her Family has lived in Abilene since she was in the eighth grade. Her Family chose to live in Abilene because her grandparents live there.

Lipson’s parents are Lt. Col. Derek and Jennie Lipson, and she has an older sister. Her father is the commander of 1st Battalion, 20th Special Forces Group (Airborne) in Huntsville, Ala.

Lipson’s father travels a lot for his job in the military. With her father working on the east coast and being away, Lipson said, it’s difficult.

“We e-mail a lot,” Lipson said. “My mom will take a lot of pictures. We don’t talk on the phone much because he’s so busy. I just stay involved. When he comes home, he comes home.”

Her father comes home occasionally.

He tries to come back the weeks she has a cross country meet.

“One thing I had to adjust to was when he was home for a year and we lived in Fort Leavenworth where he took the Command and General Staff College,” Lipson said. “So he was home for a year with me running and everything. Then we moved here and he was away again. It was weird for him to be there for every race and then not there. My mom had to adapt to become the parent that yelled at me to run faster instead of the parent that said everything was fine.”

Lipson hopes to continue running cross country in college. Lipson is considering a major in business with a minor in music. She also enjoys journalism and public relations. Her two top choices for college are Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore, Md., or Washington University in St. Louis.

(This article was published in the October 9, 2009, issue of The 1st Infantry Division Post.)

JCHS freshman soccer player copes with father’s deployment with music

Junction City High School freshman Elijha Barrett plays defense Oct. 1, 2009, against Washburn Rural High School at Al Simpler Stadium.

By Shandi Dix
STAFF WRITER

Elijha Barrett is a freshman at Junction City High School and plays on the Blue Jays junior varsity soccer team.

Barrett has played soccer for four years. He plays defender and midfield.

“I like the sport of soccer,” Barrett said. “They wanted us to participate in one activity or club. Since I love soccer, I went ahead and participated. I want to be in it the rest of my years at Junction City High School.”

He was involved in a chess club at the Middle School Teen Center on post, and he is trying to get a chess club started at JCHS. Like other kids with deployed parents Barrett said he keeps himself busy.

“Normally I go see my mom; we’ll watch a movie a lot of times together,” Barrett said. “Then I go in my room and listen to a lot of music. I guess music is a way to cope with a parent being gone or something else. Activities – trying to get yourself involved – keep your mind off things.”

Barrett said if he is awarded an academic and athletic scholarship for soccer he will attend college. He wants to attend Washington State University and study hardware and software programming in computer science.

His parents are Sgt. Matthew and Barbara Hunt. Barrett has four brothers.

(This article was published in the October 9, 2009, issue of The 1st Infantry Division Post.)

Chapman High senior stays busy

Senior Emily Richardson cheers for Chapman High School’s football team Sept. 25, 2009, during an away game against Wamego.

By Shandi Dix
STAFF WRITER

Busy, busy, busy. That’s how Emily Richardson, a senior at Chapman High School, deals with her father’s deployments.

She’s a member of the cheerleading squad for fall and winter.

“My sister was (a cheerleader),” Richardson said. “I just really enjoy it.”

She has been a cheerleader all four years of her high school career at Chapman.

“That’s the longest I’ve been at a school,” Richardson said.

Richardson also plays soccer in Wamego during the spring.

On top of her athletics she is a member of the student council, Tri-M, All For Girls, Students Against Destructive Decisions and American Field Service.

Tri-M stands for Modern Music Masters. According to Richardson it is a group for very musical individuals. AFG is a group for girls to learn how to better themselves. Chapman has about 50 members. AFS provides opportunities for people to gain the knowledge, practice the skills and acquire the attitudes to live productively and harmoniously in a multicultural global society. They help foreign exchange students throughout the year.

Richardson also is on the high honor roll and has received an academic letter.

Among the numerous activities, Richardson is extremely involved in the band. She plays the clarinet, saxophone, oboe, violin, trumpet and piano. Richardson also is the head drum major.

They are preparing for a trip to Memphis, Tenn., for the Liberty Bowl. Her dad has been deployed several times during her life, and Richardson believes keeping busy helps her through deployments.

Along with her instrumental music activities she sings in the Chapman Mixed Ensemble.

“Active is what helps,” Richardson said. “I know he’s gone, but I’m not home as much. I can be active (when he’s deployed) then it doesn’t hurt as much. I cope with being busier.”

The Chapman cheerleading squad attends camp during the summer. While at camp they participate in many contests.

They have placed first in the Extreme Routine and third in the All-American Cheer. They also have been named the Most Inspirational and Most Traditional squad.

“Emily is an amazing leader,” said Laura Witt, cheerleading coach. “She stands above her peers in situations that call for taking the initiative and setting an example. One example of what a great representative of CHS and Chapman is that each year at cheerleading camp, she takes a certain middle school squad under her wing. This year, the other squad was so excited to see Chapman (High School) at camp; they ran to Richardson and hugged her. She makes a difference in the lives of not only the

youth of our community but to other schools in Kansas. She is reliable, hardworking and motivated. In short, she isan amazing example of a well-rounded student athlete and ambassador.”

Richardson would like to pursue cheerleading in college but due to her involvement in band, she is not sure if she will be able to do both.

She is considering majoring in music education and is looking at Fort Hays State University, Kansas Wesleyan University, Kansas State University or Emporia State University.

Her parents are her father, Chief Warrant Officer 4 Troy Richardson, stepmother, Capt. Mary Richardson, and mother, Michelle Dukes. Richardson came to Chapman from Germany.

(This article was published in the October 2, 2009, issue of The 1st Infantry Division Post.)