1. Beach

2. Friends House

3. At Home

4. Playing Sports

5. Cabins

6. Work

7. Quarries

8. Camps

9. Fishing

10. Mall of America

Have a fun and safe summer BHS, enjoy your time off and Seniors good luck next year!

“I feel like she’s changed a lot over the years. She used to be Disney poster child,” said Junior Lauren Schultz. “I think because we haven’t heard a lot about her in a while it was a big deal that she came out with a new song.”

Lately, Miley has been blowing up Twitter with #wecantstop publicizing the debut of her new single, We Can’t Stop.

“I liked it. It just makes me want to sing, and I do with my friend. Bailey Braatz,” said Senior Haley Prim.  “It makes me want to party and rage my face off.”

Miley fans had a very positive reaction and accept her through all of her changes and choices.

“It’s probably my favorite song. I’ve listened to it on repeat,” said Senior Madison Herzfeld. “I waited for the premier! I was super excited. I love Miley Cyrus and everything she does is beautiful.”

Some people don’t think she’s changed for the better though.

“It’s really electronic and auto tuned. I miss the old Miley kind of,” said Senior Laura Dirks.

Form your own opinion if you haven’t heard it yet, check it out here!

“I liked it. I thought it was really nicely put together,” said Senior Chris Peterson. “It was well designed.”

“I liked a lot of the pictures for sports and how it featured the Seniors. It’s supposed to be special for them,” said Junior Lexi Jovanovich.

“I liked the cover. It was creative and different, but I hated the volleyball spread because they were inaccurate with some of their facts,” said Senior Jerika Decker. “There’s not a clock in volleyball!”

“There were a lot more mistakes this year, and sports wise I don’t think they got the facts right. If they didn’t know something they just threw it in,” said Senior Austin Youngs.

“I really liked it. It’s my favorite one I’ve gotten in high school,” said Senior Danny Kruse. “I really didn’t have any complaints.”

“A lot of mistakes, but it was really well put together,” said Senior Ian Warpula.

There were also a lot of tweets about the book:

“Love the 2013 year book.” Sophomore Shannon Labat @ShannonLabat

“Some of our seniors aren’t in the yearbook.. #PoorConnorMann #andothers” Senior Emily Varner @VARNSnNOBLE

“THE YEARBOOKS ARE SO BEAUTIFUL <33333333333333333333 THEY ARE STUNNING” Freshman Allison Roethke @aroeth16

“i didnt know you could publish a book and add a page later. haha” Senior Brody Stevens @GoldSoulTheory

“I really can’t believe I’m not in the yearbook.” Senior Burgundy Mallinger @burgundy_M

“2013 YEARBOOK IS AMAZING!” Junior Caitlyn Holm @holllm

Regardless of your opinion, enjoy your 2013 Yearbooks everyone and have a great summer!

“This was our 10th year in a row. In all of our events we’ve had guys place top three. There were a lot of contributors: Josh Alden, Michael Swearingen, Tyler Olson, Dan Pettit, Joey Merz, Andrew Mussell, Mitch Valli, and Eddie Cliffton,” said Senior Austin Youngs. “We always have really good athletes and send people to state. It’s simply a decade of excellence.”

The team this year is full of athletes who plan on competing beyond high school. Pettit is headed to SDSU, Valli is going to Florida, Olson is going up to UND, Alden and Youngs are going to Northern State, Jackson Schepp and Cliffton are going to Concordia Moorhead, and Swearingen is headed to St. Johns.

“Our team is good. We’re not only good in one area, we’re good in all areas,” said Olson. “I have high hopes to make it to State again. I got 5th last year and I’ve worked hard to hopefully do better for my last go.”

We wish the Bison good luck and FIRE UP!

The boys took the first game 7-3. The second game, the boys triumphed 8-4. An offensive highlight was Senior Jared Wycoff‘s home run. Freshman Josh Munoz and Junior Mitch Annis were on the hill for the bison.

“Double headers, you just have to play each game separately, ” said Junior Andrew Iverson. “You have to act like the previous game didn’t happen so you can play your best the second. Not get too caught up in the game before.”

The softball team split winning the first game 9-8. In the first game Senior Emily Varner hit a grand slam that gave the bison a lead and secured the win. Senior Bailey Braatz started both games and Junior Madison DesMaris came in as relief in the first game. The second game, the bison weren’t as fortunate falling 8-10 due to a few errors by the Bison defense.

“We didn’t play our best, but we didn’t let our mistakes control us,” said Sophomore Amber Styve. “We hit well, and if we tighten up our defense, we’ll be great. Defense wins ball games.”

Both teams play Big Lake this Thursday at home. Friday, the boys head to Waconia and the girls host Chanhassen. Good luck  to both teams the rest of the week.

Current owner, Patti Speckel, has been running the show for 34 years. She and her husband bought the flower shop in 1984. When she first started working, the spendy corsages were only five dollars, now they can cost as much as $50. Seeing prom change over the years has a been a trip for the flower shop.

“I started off working here (at the floral) as a student in 1979, and I’ve always loved prom season. Seeing everyone so happy, and knowing it’s such a big event makes it an exciting time in the shop,” said Speckel. “ I’ve been a florist over half my life, and I believe if you love what you do, keep doing it.”

Speckel has attended every Grand March at Buffalo High School since she started working at Buffalo Floral. She says it’s like a fashion show, seeing all the flowers and tuxes that the shop supplies to the students.

“I don’t even go home some nights,” said Speckel. “Other nights I go home, watch a movie, and start to prep corsages with the bows and accessories. You can’t wait until the last minute, or you’ll never get them all done! And you don’t want to let down your customers either.”

It’s hectic behind the scenes during prom time. The floral needs to hire extra help and extend hours to make sure their customers can make it into the shop. Speckel says, it’s worth every minute when the couples come in and pick up their flowers; they bring a positive energy to the shop.

“Prom season is something you look forward to, and you hate when it’s gone,” said flower shop employee, Sue Yates, “It’s like the morning after Christmas  You hate not seeing the kids anymore. When you go from seeing 40 kids a day to none, it’s bittersweet.”

Buffalo Floral is known around Buffalo for its fun environment, and happy helpful staff. Most students love the experience of going into the flower shop for the first time.

“I’m very willing to support a local business,” said Senior Trevor Dahlof. “Buffalo Floral has great service, and since they’re in Buffalo they’re close. They made the dude’s job easy.”

The students at Buffalo High School are a vital income source for this local business. Forty percent of their yearly profits come from the purchases of corsages, boutonnieres, and tuxes. They always hope the students choose Buffalo Floral for their prom attire. Some students from other schools in the area choose Buffalo Floral, too.

“Flowers are a huge deal! Not only for the floral, but for the attendees of prom,” said Senior Maddi Yates. Maddi’s mom, Sue, has been working at Buffalo Floral with Patti for 27 years. Maddi has been helping out at the floral since she was six years old, and this past summer took the position of summer delivery driver.

“My date told me she went and picked out the flowers, and I just let her do her thing. I’m just paying for them when we go pick them up,” said Senior Aaron Rouse. “I think flowers are a big deal for the girl, and guys don’t always have a big say.”

Guys might not always have a huge interest in flowers, but most boys seem to understand how flowers are a classic prom accessory, and are willing to buy the flowers. On the contrary, with the national average price spent on prom being a whopping $1,078, it’s no wonder why boys might think flowers are a little ridiculous.

“I think you need the flowers because it’s been a tradition for years,” said Senior Connor Mann. “Plus, Buffalo Floral is very affordable. $30 for both of our flowers is not a bad deal.”

“Prom season always comes to an end,” said Speckel, “But I hope the legacy of prom flowers never ends.” The students at Buffalo High School support the tradition and hope to keep it going.

“I think they’re a great reward to us seniors for walking the halls of BHS for four long years,” said Senior Eli Etzel. “I get to go enjoy my sweet time in the comfort of my home.”

Some students are satisfied by the extra 20 minutes, but some students there should be more reward for their final months of the 13 year public schooling process.

“Senior privileges are good, but I think they could do a little better than 20 minutes at the end of the day,” said Senior Kellie Robinson. “Giving us the option to leave for lunch or something like that would be a step up.”

Along with an early release, seniors also get a Senior Appreciation Day  (aka Senior Skip Day) the Friday before prom. This is a day looked forward to highly by most seniors, and the day is never waisted.

“I am probably going to go to my friends softball game and then pamper before prom,” said Senior Julia Hogan. “But let’s be honest, I’ll probably watch full house all day.”

Some seniors plan fun days in the cities and sleepovers on that Thursday.

“My friends and I are going the zoo,” said Robinson. “I’m so excited. You look forward to this day for a long time.”

Based in the 1920’s, The Great Gatsby is a short read filled with strong personalities and many social issues that high school students can find interest in and relate to.

“The 1920’s was a very attractive time,” Squadroni said. “The book is short, colorful, and for a classic novel, it’s rather contemporary. I love to teach it. If I wasn’t teaching Novels, I would find a way to squeeze it into any class curriculum. I love reading it myself.”

Squad doesn’t only love reading Gatsby, but he loves to teach it.

“Gatsby is a story told in symbols. I love to watch as my students start to piece them together and understand how the symbols tie into the overall message of the book,” Squadroni said. “It’s like looking at a Picasso painting: seeing what all the parts and shapes mean and making those connections. Watching that in my students as they read Gatsby  is pretty cool. This book is always a favorite in my classes.”

Not only is it a popular novel among Classic Novel students, worldwide approximately 300,000 copies are sold each year. National Public Radio also put Jay Gatsby at the top of the 100 Best Characters in Fiction for the 1900’s. With such wide popularity, there’s no way that Gatsby isn’t indeed Great.

“Jay Gatsby is absolutely great,” Squadroni said. “He is committed to his vision, and without a doubt that can be dangerous, but he completely applies himself and it’s admirable. He has faith in life and gives himself a reason to live. He makes it worth living with great possibility. Lots of people give up on life, or they’re skeptical and jaded. Some see Gatsby as foolish, but he just had vision. DaVinci looked like a fool with his ideas, but they inspired others to believe more is possible. Heroes become heroes because they can dream and the dreamers always come first.”

Drives in the lane, shoots and makes it, foul, and one. The crowd goes wild and the student section holds up four signs: 1 0 0 0. Senior Ethan Freer scored his 1,000th point.

“My mom told me I was 13 points away before the game, so I wasn’t positive I’d get a thousand,” Freer said. “When I got 11, the fans said something about it and it crossed my mind other than that I hadn’t thought about it all game.”

Immediately after scoring the lay up his teammates congratulated him on the court. He was presented the game ball that he delivered to his mother in the stands who greeted him with a big hug.

“It felt pretty good having my teammates give me a group hug. Those guys are like my brothers,” Freer said. “I got to give my mom the ball and give her a hug. I knew they were proud of me and that was cool.”

The composed Freer has been a player for the Bison Boys’ Basketball team since his Freshman year. Freer now joins the 1,000 point club, and the boys’ season is still at full strength. The Bison were victorious over Bemidji last night and will play Cambridge tomorrow night in Cambridge. Good luck to the boys’ team in the rest of their season.

“As a first year varsity player, watching the older girls and being successful this season has set us up really well for next year,” said Sophomore Kirsten Olson. “The season ended sooner than we wanted but we gave it a good run that we’re proud of.”

Minnetonka was ranked #1 in the State and in the 6AA Section. The Skippers are the two-time defending state champions and stumped the Bison in sections the past two years as well. Tonka outshot the Bison 54-23. Unfortunately 5 goals leaked through, but Senior Goalie Lindsay Hartfiel had 49 saves against the Skippers.

“I’d rather have the other team shooting a lot, it keeps me focused,” said Hartfiel. “Like 15 less would’ve been nice, but oh well. We have nothing to look down on. We beat some of the best teams in the state and you can’t argue with that.”

The girls made major strides even improving from last years’ 14-10 record. This has been the most successful season in Bison Girls’ Hockey history. The Bison are graduating three collegiate athletes: Katie Rooney (Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute – D1), Emily Varner (UW-River Falls – D3), and Lindsey Hartfiel (St. Scholastica – D3)

“There was no drama, and it was the first year in a while we all really got along. There’s usually tension, but this year there was none of that. Just sitting in locker room for like a hour before practice every day brought us together. We would and eat and talk which made closer with age differences: we didn’t even have to do team bonding,” said Rooney. “A ton of younger girls got to compete at a varsity level, and  now they know what it takes to be good. I think the success from this year will help them prepare for next year. I think the girls will keep going strong next year. I’m going to miss everyone, and I wish them the best of luck.”

The seniors’ success will hopefully follow them to college, and this successful seasons’ legacy shall never be forgotten.