Student Spotlight: Claire Turner

Claire Turner is a proud senior at BHS known for her positive and outgoing personality. This year Turner is a captain of the varsity volleyball team. She started her volleyball career when she was only in second grade, and since then her love for the sport has grown tremendously. There is no doubt that Turner was a star coming into high school. She started varsity as a freshman, and has always shown a lot of dedication toward this sport making each one of her games worth watching.

Turner’s most memorable moment during her senior season was the game against Tiffin; she says, “the energy was really good. I had 14 kills that game and hit the 10-foot line twice. The game was close in all sets and we came out with the win at the end.” As her volleyball career ends, she says, “It’s bittersweet.” Turner views her teammates as family, and “it’s crazy that it’s all coming to an end so fast.” It will be hard for Turner but she’s ready to start a “new life” and focus on her future. She has had an amazing career overall, and she is thankful for everyone who has supported her over the years.

Claire Turner was voted this year’s Homecoming Queen. Turner says, “It was such an exciting moment to get recognized by the community and to be liked by so many of my classmates. It also shows how much I’ve impacted other people’s lives. It’s not just your school choosing you, it’s how they cheer for you when you’re coming down that field along with the other people in the crowd. To get recognized like that was a dream come true.”

Outside of school and sports, Turner enjoys hanging out with friends, going to the beach, and getting ice cream “of course.” Turner is known as a hard worker. Currently, she works at the Willows as a dietary aid and does landscaping. In the summer, she saves lives while working as a lifeguard at the Mil’Lympic Pool, and in December she volunteers at The First United Methodist Church with Operation Christmas Child. Her plans after high school consists of going into the EHOVE Adult Ed program for massage therapy. After receiving her certification, she hopes to work in a chiropractic office or a salon.

We congratulate Claire Turner for her time and dedication throughout the years and wish her the best of luck with her future plans!

By: Marisa Ortiz

#redpride #classof2023 #gored

Student Spotlight: Jax LaPata

On Friday nights under the lights, there’s a name that you’ll hear more than once as there is nothing Jax LaPata can’t do; he is dotting up his receivers, he’s rumbling, bumbling, and stumbling into the endzone, and laying the wood on defense. LaPata is an important member of the current 6-3 Bellevue Redmen football team, but his love for football began long before this year. LaPata, a junior, who plays football and baseball at BHS, shares how he first began playing football. “I grew up watching football, and didn’t really start to play until seventh grade. I just really enjoyed it. The physicality of it and having fun with my friends.”

At the start of the year LaPata was the team’s running back and one of two starting outside linebackers. Due to some injuries on the team, LaPata took the challenge head on and accepted the role of being the team’s middle linebacker on defense and quarterback on offense. LaPata shared he knew it was likely he was going to switch positions for this year; “At times I kinda had a little hunch of doing it, but didn’t really think it would be a full time job but here we are.”

With LaPata at quarterback, he likes to keep the defense on their toes. He spreads the ball around to all of his wide receivers, but he is not afraid to tuck and run it himself. He steps into the pocket and delivers the ball to where only his guy can catch it. He will never shy away from contact when the ball is in his hands as well. LaPata currently leads the team in tackles on defense with 58 and an interception heading into week 9. Then on the offensive side Lapata is standing out as well, throwing for over 1,110 yards and 6 touchdowns, then 933 rushing yards and 12 touchdowns himself; LaPata also has 25 receiving yards and a touchdown reception, putting him at 14 touchdowns so far this season prior to the win against Sandusky.

LaPata shared how it feels to be out under the lights on Friday night, and with a smile, he said, “It’s great. We got a lot of great athletes that are really great guys who bring the energy every night. That feeling is unmatched.” LaPata is looking forward to the playoffs with this team and helping in any way.

We wish LaPata and the rest of the Red Machine the best of luck at their last regular season game Friday night against our rivales the Clyde Flyers. A win against the Flyers would clinch a home playoff game on October 28th. We hope everyone comes out to support the Bellevue Red football team.

By: Drew Schaffer

#gored #redpride #redmachine #fridaynightlights #battleofroute20

Photos courtesy of redmenphotos.com and Mr. Ochenduski

Alumni Band Night

This year the Bellevue High School Marching Band is celebrating their 100th anniversary all season long. As part of the festivities, the Bellevue marching band hosted an alumni night during the homecoming game, against Perkins High School, on Friday, September 30th. The alumni of the Bellevue marching band joined the current marching band by playing with them during the game, and during halftime as well.

During halftime the band and alumni played two songs together, “Barbara Ann” and “Land of 1000 Dances.” These were songs that the band had performed in the past that they brought back to add to the nostalgia that most people were feeling. Band director Chistopher Meadows was the person in charge of putting this event together. Mr. Meadows originally wanted to put this together in 2020, but it had to be postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. He has been working hard for three years, and even on weekends, to be able to pull this off. He spent many hours searching through old yearbooks, and looking people up to invite. Mr. Meadows plans on making this a recurring thing by doing it again every 5 years.

Over 160 alumni members spanning 65 years joined the HS band for this reunion event at their alma mater. Of those 65 years, there was at least one person playing from 48 of those years. For some alumni, it was a special moment for them to share the field with their children and play together. For others, it was a chance to relive the days they were in band and go out on the field again. No matter what their reason was, the alumni band members were excited to get back on the field and play again. In the end, it was a great experience for all who attended, whether they played in the band, or watched our amazing band!

By: Clay Alley

#gored #redpride #bellevuebands #alumnipride #anddown