SENIOR STORY

As we bid farewell to those friends and administrators who have shared the past four years with us, we, the graduating class of 1982, leave behind a reputation hard to beat. Through the years, we have shown both the community and our peers that we have potential, pride, and most of all, unity. In the school activities in which we have been involved, we have come together as a group--or a "class". We have demonstrated a closeness, a camaraderie, and it is because of our "unifying efforts," that we can truly graduate as a "class".

One morning in September, 1978, we walked through the doors of STHS ready to take a shot at high school. We started off on the right foot and elected some familiar faces to office -- Gretchen Crist, President; Terry Donovan, Vice-President; Kerry Peters, Secretary; Rhonda Huffman, Treasurer; and Wendy Alcott, Representitive. Our first big activity was Homecoming, and boy were we looking forward to the parade and night rally. Much to our great surprise and disapproval, the administration cancelled these activities, causing the first South Tahoe High School student strike. As a compromise, we got the night rally back and the all-new chariot races. Unfortunately, we got fourth place, but it was a good experience, and we would be ready to go next year. The dance was held at the Wolf Run with the theme, "A Night in Heaven." Melinda Meyers was chosen as our princess. Our Football team fared well with a 3-3 season. Next came the winter formal sponsored by the Key Club. Jenee LaBossiere reigned as the freshman princess. One of the let-downs that year was the school newspaper with its new numbering system and its late editions. Of course, last but not least, we all lost a dear friend and teacher, Mr. Keever Jankovich, who we still miss dearly. The rest of the year went smoothly with our freshman year coming to a close.

As the doors opened to begin our sophomore year, we knew that something would be different -- We would no longer be at the bottom of the totem pole of high school. Elected to lead us through our second year were: Gretchen Crist, Stacy Ghiggia, Terry Donovan, Elaine Hawley, and Danny Masellones. Homecoming came around with us no longer being ignorant of the activities, except for the parade which had now returned. Not doing too badly, we placed third with our first float, "Sink the Falcons". Even in the snow, our J.V. team did just that, winning Homecoming 6-0. At the dance, "We've Only Just Begun," held at the Monte Vista, Tiffany Fields reigned as our princess. Honors and records were taken by many of our athletes. Some teams were improving while some had nowhere else to go as they were already at the top. All in all, coaches expected talent, records, and championships by the next year's Varsity athletes. Even though there was no Christmas Ball, the Key Club still chose their royalty with Lisa Fischer chosen as the Sophomore princess. As spring rolled around, we all began to get the "fever", waiting for the day that we would say good-bye to the class of 1980 and say hello to finally becoming upperclassmen.

We returned to school knowing that one of our students would never return. Richard Swanson was murdered while working at a local gas station. *To this day, his murder goes unsolved.* After a well-deserved summer, the class of 82' came in with, would you say, more mature attitudes, knowing now that we didn't know everything there was to know, last year. Many were driving, and stepping out of your car in the parking lot was a feeling of seventh heaven. (That soon wore off for most of us and driving became a means of getting to school). We had some new faces in leadership as Jon Wilson, Shawn Machen, Gretchen Crist, Michelle Spain, and Danny Masellones led us to a profitible year. Homecoming rolled around on schedule. Mastering float building on our second try, we took first place for our somewhat gruesome float, "Grind Galt". Along with the Homecoming game came the first signs of winter. Debbie Mederios was chosen as the 1980 Homecoming Junior Princess. In another game, the Varsity Football team slaughtered Colfax 37-7 with many Juniors playing a major role in the win. As winter sports rolled in, the Varsity Basketball team came on strong. For the first time in Viking History they took the GEL (Golden Empire League) Championship. The nordic ski team and the wrestling team took league championships, with all the other teams making a threat to their opponents. Key Club chose their royalty with Gretchen Crist as the Junior Princess and Tammy Della-Russo reigning as the Key Club Sweetheart. Spring arrived and we all anticipated the day when we would bid the Seniors farewell and now become the rulers of STHS. With one more activity awaiting, Junior-Senior arrived at, where else, Monte Vista. The theme was, "A Night In Paradise" and truly it was for many. Eric Morgan and Tiffany Fields reigned as our prince and princess.

Summer ended and STHS reopened its doors. We arrived carrying the long-awaited title of Seniors. Knowing that we had many standards to hold up, we finally decided to get our act together and show STHS what spirit and unity was. All Seniors were elected to run the student body. Bob Kingman was chosen as President; Danny Masellones, Vice-President; Mylene Scoz, Director of Student Affairs; Terry Donovan, Rally Commissioner; Terri Lacroix, Treasurer; Leslie Ames, Chief Justice and Tiffany Fields, Secretary. The Senior class officers had a few new faces with John Wolf, Marjorie Ball, Irene Kaelin, Gretchen Crist, and Michelle Spain leading us to a very good year. Homecoming rolled around early this year but we already had our act together. We showed the rest of the student body how Homecoming should be done. We swept all Homecoming activities including every competition at the Night Rally. Remember the huge sign which rolled down over the entire class reading, "Awesome 82'"? Our float, "Seniors Sail Away" also took first place honors. At the game, many traditions were broken as it didn't snow, in fact it was quite warm, and for the first time in 20 Years, we won Homecoming 14-13 in a heart stopping game against Colfax. Eric Morgan and Tiffany Fields reigned as King and Queen with our princesses being Dorothy Roche and Julie Muskovitz. Christmas came upon us and we were all very happy for we needed the vacation. Vacation was extended one week by one of the biggest snow storms ever to hit Lake Tahoe. It was great at the time, but little did we know, that we would be in shool until the end of June. Baketball season arrived and, of course, we came on strong. With only a few games left in the season, the Vikes seized first place. They held on to win first place in the GEL for the second year in a row. Our other teams did well with the Nordic Ski Team sending skiers to Lake Placid for Junior Nationals and the Wrestling Team sending a few members to the State Tournament. The Key Club came back with the Winter Formal and chose Irene Kaelin as our Princess.

Although, in leaving our childhood days and our fondest companions behind, we experience sorrow, we must keep our gaze and attention fixed upon the future; For it is in the future that we will aquire new memories and make new friendships, thus SEIZING THE DAY!

This page hosted byGet your own Free Home Page