Mater Dei High School - Hi Lights Yearbook (Evansville, IN)

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HALLOWEEN BUN-PUSHER: Flo Russel. cafeteria lady, shows her spirit before Halloween. All the ladies dressed up to serve the students. (Photo by Mary Ellert) MONEY MONGRELS: Senior Laura Gerber, fresh- men Jeannie Gerber and Jill Braun rest and count their profits from selling Halloween candy for the Evansville Association for Retarded Citizens. (Photo by Mary Ellert)

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36 Cathy Roe ' s comment, Yeah, I felt silly, but isn ' t that the whole idea? really summa- rized Mater Dei ' s spirit Hallo- ween weekend. Craziness abounded as students crept the streets and packed the parties as pancakes, bun- nies, witches, and vampires. Hey dracula, get your head out of the cooler! Obviously, the person that said this wasn ' t talking to the real dracu- la, but to one of his late-October-look-a- likes. Along with Halloween came ghosts, goblins, and other assorted creatures, Several costume parties were thrown for the Halloween occasion, and an assort- ment of Mater Dei personalities turned out. Regarding these costumes and emerg- ing personalities, senior Laura Gerber commented, I thought Angie Elliot ' s costume was neat; she was dressed as a vampiress. Other costumed students included Carol Schmitt as a giant pancake, Martha May as a scuba diver, and Lori Whelan and Krista Elpers dressed as twin bunny rabbits. Senior Mary Weidner said, Angie Hilakos ' and Jackie Kissel ' s costumes were really unique. They dressed as chickens and were all covered with feathers. They had big chicken feet and even wore chicken heads! Sherri Ricketts, senior, was dressed as a little girl and she said her costume was the result of a last resort. I just took an old dress and cut it real short. I got a pair of ruffley panties and carried around a big sucker all night. When Carla Decamps, senior vam- piress, was asked how it felt to NOT be herself for one night, she said, Vedy good, (ha-ha). No, I thought it was fun. You could act really ignorant and it wouldn ' t matter. People I know really well and see almost every day didn ' t even recognize me! Some party-goers wouldn ' t dress up be- cause they felt silly. Debbie Beach, senior clown, explained, Well, at first I felt silly, but when I got to the party and saw everyone else dressed up, it turned out to be pretty much fun. There were really some neat ideas too! Cathy Roe, escape convict and senior, said, Yeah, I felt silly, but isn ' t that the whole idea? — Lisa Scheller DONOVAN BE-WITCH: Junior Shannon Donovan cre- ated an eerie mood by stirring dry ice at the Hallo- ween Volleyball Sectional pep assembly. (Photo by Larry Schapker)

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' Band on the run ' 38 The summer started early for Mr. Kurt Wambach, band director; Mrs. Sandy Wenzel, Band Booster Club president; and the Band Booster Club. Their goal was to redesign the entire band uniform to match the new direction that the band was taking. The traditional band was out, and the corp style was re- group of parents and other spectators including show designer Parkey. After entering the field, the band stopped, counted off, and yelled in unison, Thank you Mr. Bill!! Oooh noooo! The band later performed at some eight football games, five contests, and two parades. The band brought in some placing it. This new approach included eleven trophies in competition. a new attitude, and it changed the en- tire outward appearance of the band. At Camp Crescendo near Lebenon Junction Kentucky, the band was intro- duced to a short, husky, dark-haired man named Mr. Bill Parkey. His purpose was to design the band ' s contest show. Mrs. Wenzel said, I really think he ' s the spark that lighted the band. The band affectionately called him Mr. Bill. At camp, another figure drew much attention and gave much support to the band. Because she did this at camp and throughout the year, Mrs. Sandy Wenzel became know to younger band members as Grandma and to senior band members as Mom. On the last morning of camp, the The setting was the football field at Heritage Hills High School September12, 1981. As the competition ended, a wea- ry yet ecstatic band raced across the field to the drum major. As the band huddled about him, the figures of Jeff Wenzel and five trophies rose above the massive crowd of confused red and gold to the cheer of We ' re number one! This was perhaps the greatest vic- tory in the history of the Mater Dei band. It was the greatest feeling, said Mrs. Wenzel. I have never been so proud. On October 3, 1981 at District Contest in Jasper, Indiana, Wambach ' s voice was heard saying, Hold it, Jeff! cutting through the count-off of the band. The band had not been given permission to ter of ceremonies. A surprised Jeff simply stopped and waited for the word to start. The band won three trophies at Jasper. On the eve of Halloween the band traveled to Cincinnati, Ohio to compete at Glen Este High School in a division with nine other Ohio bands. As the trophies were awarded, the band and a following of parents cheered on two smiling figures on the field below. While awaiting the decision of the judges, Wambach could be seen directing the cheers to be louder and then softer as if signaling a crescendo and then a decrescendo. The band re- sponded with the thrill of victory in their voices. Never had the Mater Dei Band done so well against so many bands. The band took home a proud third place out of nine bands their size. This was a year of change and victory for the band, and behind the scenes, Mr. Wambach masterminded and planned one of the band ' s most suc- cessful years. — Kevin Dick band performed for the first time for a take the field in competition by the mas- THE MARCHING WILDCATS: FRONT ROW: MA- JORETTES: Amy Castleman, LaChere Anslinger. Melissa Long, Tracy Slaton, Barb Deeg, Melony Dolletzki, Sheri Dezember, and Drum Major Jeff Wenzel. 2ND ROW: FLAG CORP: Kristi Raleigh, Teresa Baughn, Cindy Wingert, Lisa Shetler, Shelly Gries, Elaine Schultheis, Diane Bell, Trina Kinney, Lisa Kempf. 3RD ROW: Jenny Jochin. Sandy Schmitt, Jeanne Winstead, Joy Nurrenburn, Stacey Riley, Kris Koressel, Laura Knoll, Chris Pauli, Michelle Hawkins. BAND MEMBERS: 4TH ROW: Fred Kercher, Mark Seng, Tony Taylor, Alan Bur- dette. Jeanne Rivard, Peter Emmert, Pat Reisinger, Kevin Dick. 5TH ROW: Dwight Emmert, Tonya Crothers, Patty Alsop, Greg Culley, Tina Scott, Christie Neale, Brad Oliver, Greg Lehman. 6TH ROW: Jim Pauli, Mike Neale, Mary Deig, Betsy Briedenbach, Greta Emmert, Abby Baker, Cindy Neale, Chris Corcoran. 7TH ROW: Chris Paul. Dan Briedenbach, Amy Lindenschmidt, Darla Lich- tenberger, Ann Groves, Stacy Baker, Julie Hol- ler, Dennis Marx, Matt Crowe. BACK ROW: Ann Rode, Chris Hertel, Mary Ann Scheller, Lori Dun- can, Jim Reynolds, Jerry Grannan, and Ron Schneider. (Photo by Bob Straub)