![Watching a small group scrimmage, Ben Lundt, St. Louis City SC goalkeeper and founder of Lundt Pro Soccer Training, shouts words of encouragement to players on Sunday, April 26 n the Lafayette grass soccer field. “The idea behind [the event] was to bring the professional soccer players closer to the community because usually people only get to see us on TV or in the stadium. [Families] actually having the opportunity to have their kids on the field with us is the most important aspect,” Ben Lundt said.](https://lancerfeed.press/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/IMG_6823-1200x800.jpg)
![In celebration of winning his second straight state title in the 215 weight class, junior Carter Brown backflips before leaving the mat. Brown won his bout against junior Kobe Rhymes of North Kansas City High School by fall in just 41 seconds. "Carter does what Carter does. We expect [success] out of him and his goals are bigger than the state championship," coach Sam Ritchie said.](https://lancerfeed.press/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/IMG_2784-1200x800.jpg)
Poetry is not just something to be read in language arts.
Students performed poems as part of a nationwide contest called Poetry Out Loud on Jan. 29.
Participants chose a piece from the Poetry Out Loud anthology, then were required to “recite it with emphasis on oral interpretation,” language arts teacher Melissa Schumacher said.
Poetry Out Loud is funded through the National Endowment for the Arts and the Poetry Foundation, in an effort to increase interest in and support of the arts.
Schumacher had the idea to host the event and several members of the language arts department also supported the idea.
“It is a phenomenal opportunity for students to potentially win a trip to Washington D.C. and maybe even cash prizes. Also, we always wish to encourage students to improve their analytical skills by studying poetry,” Schumacher said.
Senior Jennifer Helderle won the event and junior Racheal Rice was the runner up.
Helderle received a $20 iTunes card and the chance to move on to Regionals. Winners at the state level receive a $200 prize, and a $500 stipend for the purchase of poetry books for their school library, as well as an all-expenses-paid trip to Washington D.C. for the National Finals. The Poetry Out Loud National Champion will win $20,000.