The student news site of Atlantic High School

AHSneedle
The student news site of Atlantic High School

AHSneedle
The student news site of Atlantic High School

AHSneedle
All content by Staff
A group photo of student Islander representatives after the 2023 homecoming pep rally.

[Photo] “Ekichu” means Unity

J. Molina, Senior Editor
May 15, 2025
Nerensia Narios and several other girls practice hula dancing.

Sophie Rose and Clara Kennedy work together. They shared a lot of laughs and got a lot of their work done.

[Photo] How Students Spend Money

May 15, 2025
Trendy water bottles around AHS.

[Photo] Sipping in Style

April 30, 2025
Addie Freund is ready to play. Fruend played doubles with Danielle Bennett in the home tournament. Although they didn't place, they played hard and worked well together throughout the day.

Lily Willrich plays a good match against her opponent. She ended in 4th place in the division 1 bracket. She played well all day and did her best against the hard hitting players.

Addie Fruend and Danielle Bennett work together to win. With the season ending the two are sad to not be able to play with each other again. They had a good season of doubles and are proud to say they got to play together.

Taryn O'Brien smiles through the match. She didn't let the cold weather get to her and kept a smile on her face while she played. O'Brien is very happy with how the season went and can't wait to play in the fall for the next season.

Aubrey Winford gets ready to serve. She played on varsity this year and said she has really improved over the course of the season. She is proud of her self and can't wait to have a great season next year.

Eleanor Butler serves at hard hit against her opponent. Butler has worked hard the season to maintain her spot in the rankings. She had a good season and can't wait to come back in the fall to play more tennis.

Conner Johnson is ready to play. He has had a great season and is very proud of how far he has come. He is happy with how his senior year of tennis is ending and couldn't have asked for a better group of people to play with.

Kinnick Juhl battles through the weather. Although the match was cold and windy he had a good time and played very well. Juhl feels like he has improve over the season and hopes to make it to state this year.

Reid Woodward and Zayden Parker play doubles in the cold. Although it was not a very nice day for tennis, the boys worked well together. They played hard and communicated well on the court.

Ben Andersen, Holly Esbeck, and Hannah Misner stop for a photo during their daily walk through the halls on their prep periods.

[Photo] Long Term Sub, Mr. Andersen filling Kelley’s Shoes

Jaylynn Rosenbaum, Staff Writer
March 19, 2025
Mr. Trace Petersen

[Photo] Mr. Petersen’s Lasting Impact on AHS

Jacquelyn Freund, Staff Writer
March 14, 2025
Screen Shot 2025-03-11 at 9.43.18 AM

[Photo] Phone Policy Confusion Clarified

Makenna Schroeder, Junior Editor
March 11, 2025
AHS Spanish students experience the culture of Costa Rica and have a good time with their friends.

[Photo] Top 10 Bucket List Destinations

February 25, 2025
Sophomore Peyton McClaren searches for a pass at their game against Pella.

[Photo] New Year, New Us

Makenna Schroeder, Junior Editor
January 14, 2025
Zephyr and Grace Mitchell sit together and reminisce on better times. To perform scenes such as this, actors opened their hearts to show compelling emotion and vulnerability.

[Photo] Freeze the Picture: Looking Back at Mamma Mia!

Stellah Van Aernam, Staff Writer
January 3, 2025
Math teacher Mrs. Hayden checks junior Colin Rudy's work. Students in Hayden's math class turned in their assignments. Rudy had Hayden double check his work.

[Photo] Teachers in Action

December 12, 2024
Math teacher Cory Bartz helps freshman Logan Olson-Everett with his math. Olson-Everett worked on a review sheet. He studied hard for his upcoming test.

Para Samantha Gunderson helps Phoenix Cameron, Alexander Meyer, and Jaydin Nowatzke with their math packet. Gunderson was going over segment proofs with the students. She provided a lot of help.

Teacher Mary Jensen helps Keaton Schroeder understand the assignment. Schroeder had some questions about the assignment. He went to Jensen to have her look over his work.

Mr. Dodson explains to students Allan King and Grant Christensen what to do on their assignment. He provided them with the help they needed. They got the project done.

Mr. Dodson helps a student with his work. Dodson explained to him what he wanted on the paper. The student completed the assignment with no trouble.

Teacher Holly Esbeck looks over Keelin Rasmussen's packet. In her class students filled out a packet. Rasmussen had a question on a page and Esbeck helped him.

Several dual-enrolled high school students talk with professor Diana Blake.

[Photo] Community College Class Short

J. Molina, EON Producer
December 8, 2024
commUNITY-- Volunteers help serve their community at Community Thanksgiving 2023, hosted at the Cass County Community Building.

[Photo] Atlantic’s Community Thanksgiving

Olivia Jensen, Junior Editor
November 20, 2024
Avery Andersen performs in a church theater production. Used with permission of the Andersen Family.

[Photo] Hope, Love, Legacy: Sunday Musical Honors AHS Alum

Olivia Jensen and J. Molina
November 13, 2024
Some of our amazing journalists spent the day at the University of Iowa attending the IHSPA Fall Conference! These students attended classes to gain knowledge on different departments of journalism! Our staff is so grateful for opportunities like this to grow our skills!

[Photo] IHSPA Conference at Iowa City

Makenna Schroeder, Junior Editor
November 4, 2024
MORNING CUP OF JOE-- An example of how cans and cups line desk walk ways.

[Photo] Breakfast– The Most Important Meal of the Day… or Drink

Makenna Schroeder, Junior Editor
November 4, 2024
The varsity football team tries to stop Green County from scoring a touchdown, Sept. 13, 2024.

[Photo] Be HARK! It’s Homecoming

Olivia Jensen, Junior Editor
September 23, 2024
Student sections cheers at the 2023 Homecoming football game.

Grant Petty, Colin Harris, and Vincent Meisinger coach the girls for Homecoming dodgeball games.

Allison Middents, Nelley Pelzer, and Rayden Wheeler rock it out at the 2023 Homecoming Dance.

FFA members enjoy tractor day.

[Photo] Atlantic High School celebrates National FFA Week

Lily Johnson
February 28, 2024
Gingerbread Houses. As tradition, during seminar students were assigned groups to assemble gingerbread houses for a prize.

[Photo] First Semester in Photos

Anna Potts, Staff Writer
December 21, 2023
Braxton Hass sits on Santa's (Mason McFadden) lap. The EON team dressed up for the holidays.

[Photo] The Santa Secret

Jayci Reed and Taylee Hagen
December 19, 2023
Senior Cohen Bruce ready to get a two-point takedown.

[Photo] Trojan Wrestling is in Full Swing

Anna Potts, Staff Writer
December 14, 2023
Choir director Mikayla Stockhaus chose "Cinderella" as the fall musical for 2023.

[Photo] The Ball Ends

Alix Nath, Editor
October 27, 2023
Juniors and seniors of AHS dance to the music at Prom 2023.

[Photo] Prom For Everyone?

Mabry Ohm, Staff Writer
October 27, 2023
The Atlantic community rallied together for Pauley by wearing blue to the football game against Creston.

[Photo] Blue Out For Pauley

Henry Knudson and Jody Williams
October 17, 2023
The 2023 Atlantic Cross Country team consists of 17 seniors. The seniors make up a majority of both Varsity lineups.

[Photo] Senior Season: An Inside Look

Anna Potts, Editor
October 17, 2023
The Atlantic Football Team Captains, Karen and Mike Pence, and the Perry Team Captains stand on the Trojan Head before the coin toss.

[Photo] Pence Flips the Coin in Trojan’s Favor

Genevieve McCalla, Editor
October 10, 2023
The 2022-2023 Journalism Team.

IHSPA Spring Contest 2023 Results

Staff
May 3, 2023
The Kindness Tree is a yearly activity that Student Council came up with to bring kindness and good vibes throughout the school! They had the students and teachers of AHS come up with encouraging quotes to tape on the wall in the shape of a tree. Sophomore Emma Winford said, “I think it’s to bring more positivity to the student body.” You never know what your classmates, or teachers/staff are going through outside of school. For some people, the Kindness Tree could brighten their mood or provide motivation to simply get through the day.

A Day in the Life at Atlantic High School

Staff, Staff Writers
April 20, 2023
Screen Shot 2023-03-02 at 9.02.39 AM

[Photo] Comparing the Cheifs and the Eagles

March 2, 2023
Coach Gaylord Schelling has coached Trojan Baseball in the past.

[Photo] Coach Schelling Makes a Comeback

Isabelle Symonds, Staff Writer
February 28, 2023
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[Photo] Working Towards Improvement

Claire Pellett, Editor
February 1, 2023
AHS students have a blast during homecoming. Dance like no one is watching and laugh like everyone sees you dance.

[Photo] Funniest Things People Have Done

Jeremy Waldmann, Staff Writer
January 25, 2023
Colton Rasmussen high-fives fans at a basketball game. Parents and students alike cheer on athletes from the stands.

[Photo] Parent’s Involvement in School Sports

Matalynn Harter, Staff Writer
January 3, 2023
Pictured above is the equipment used for archery.

Atlantic Archers Bring Home Two Trophies

Staff
May 12, 2022
Gen Z vocabulary update.

[Photo] Talking Slang

Katreen Buliche, Staff Writer
April 12, 2022
SWEET LOVE -Students in the Creative Writing A-O made Valentines with conversation hearts.

[Photo] Can You Feel the Consumerism Tonight? - OPINION

February 3, 2022
Damage at reporter Claire Pellet's grandparents' farm.

Tornado Strikes Atlantic Area

Staff
December 17, 2021
Senior Erin Barrick and Joel Behrens pose at Grand March last year. The theme for Prom 2019 was "A Night in Europe."

[Photo] Prom Fashion Trends

Addie DeArment, Staff Writer
March 5, 2020
Junior Maddie Botos tosses a bean bag in a game of cornhole. All sorts of activities can be found at Game Night.

[Photo] It’s Game Night

Ariel Clark, Editor
January 27, 2020
Art teacher Susan Wedemeyer helps freshman Coda Mahan with an art project during her AO period. This is Wedemeyer's first year teaching at AHS.

[Photo] The Start of Second Semester Art

Troy Roach and Carina Birkel
January 23, 2020
Senior Chloe Davis spots junior Haley Rasmussen during her workout. As part of the self-care challenge, staff members have to take care of their emotional and physical health.

[Photo] ACSD Staff Takes On Self-Care Challenge

Ava Bruckner and Harley Oliver
January 23, 2020
Sophomore Carina Birkel chats with coach Alex Bales about speech. Birkel will be attending District Large Group this weekend.

[Photo] Large Group Speech Preview

Drew Engler and Chaylei Carey
January 21, 2020
Emma Bireline's Creative Writing class chats it up. The course is offered during fifth period.

[Photo] Creative Writing: From Berryhill to Bireline

Taliya James and Dreyah Rutherford
January 20, 2020
The Atlantic FFA Chapter elected a new President after the old President graduated at semester.

[Photo] Unusual Circumstances Lead to New President

Haley Rasmussen and Aspen Niklasen
January 20, 2020
Students in Aviation work on their project. In the class, students worked on many projects throughout the semester.

[Photo] Different Teachers, Different Styles

Alyssa Brockob, Editor
January 14, 2020
Seniors Belle Wickman and Bradley Dennis pop a squat at last year's Madrigal Dinner. The two were jesters their junior year.

[Photo] Madrigal Creeps Closer

Camryn Church, Editor
December 12, 2019
Archers prepare to shoot their arrows. The archery team is comprised of middle and high schoolers.

[Photo] 2019-20 Archery Preview

Connor Church, Editor
December 6, 2019
The NHS chapter meets early in the year. Juniors and seniors meet about once a month for NHS discussions.

[Photo] The Secrets Behind Secret Santa

Ariel Clark, Editor
November 21, 2019
Senior Matt Gearheart watches his shot. Gearheart has medaled four times so far this season.

Boys Golf is Swinging Along

Staff
April 23, 2019
SMILES OF SUCCESS - Randy Watts tells the students that interviewing is a life skill.

[Photo] Students Win Gift Cards After Mock Interviews

Hannah Anstey
January 28, 2019
IN SYNC - The 2017-18 dance team performs one of their routines. They often danced at half-time during basketball games in the winter season.

[Photo] Dance Team Prepares for First Performance

Dani Mathisen and Mia Trotter
November 23, 2018
P.E teacher Cole Renken during his first year at AHS.

[Photo] Cole Renken

April 1, 2022
2017-18 Student Council members are pictured above.

[Photo] NEWS BRIEF – AHS Rounds Up New Leaders for 2018-2019 School Year

Reagan Pellett, Journalism Production Student
April 17, 2018
Nurse Kelly Evans is available for questions in her office.

[Photo] To Vaccinate or Not?

Dasha Mahan and Jared Russell
December 20, 2017
Sweeney is featured in Pro Start class on the right.

Getting to Know the Class of 2017: Shaley Sweeney

Staff
May 24, 2017
MADE IN THE SHADE - Zac Stork gets in the groove at the 2016 Junior-Senior Prom. Atlantic's prom has been closed for at least 27 years. Principal McKay said the intent of a closed prom is "a final hurrah" for the senior class.

[Photo] AHS Juniors and Seniors Only: Closed Prom

Alexis Brockman and Karsyn Rush
February 28, 2017
The Atlantic Chamber of Commerce is housed in the historic Rock Island Depot building.

[Photo] Did someone say Jimmy John’s?

Mariah Cook
March 16, 2016
If you're interested in learning more about the canned food drive or about Spanish Club, contact Sr. Vargason or Sra. Niceswanger.

[Photo] Costa Rica Canned Food Drive Fundrasier

March 20, 2015
Pictured above is the equipment used for archery.

[Photo] Trojans Take First at Archery Shoot

Savannah Sorensen
February 24, 2015
Junior Katelyn Blake crowned queen at the Winter Ball 2011.

[Photo] Winter Formal Ball

January 24, 2011
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