HOT PURSUIT
A group of girls set a new school record at Medford with the seat belt challenge. The winners include: Jenesis McGuire, Jackie Cole, Adalia List and Morgan Jones. Staff photo by Rick Bussler
It took nine attempts but, in the end, it was all worth the effort.
A team of four girls from Medford High School set the school record for the seat belt challenge at 28.21 seconds. Included on the team were Adalia List, Morgan Jones, Jenesis McGuire and Jackie Cole, the lone junior. They battled through the competition with the team name, “Your Dad.”
The girls were competing against their classmates in a friendly competition that encourages teens at local high school to increase seat belt usage. This seems to be an excellent way for teens to contribute something positive within their schools and communities.
The competition itself is pretty simple: Four-person teams are seated inside a vehicle with the seat belts buckled. When the timer starts, they jump out and run to the next seat and buckle up again. The process continues until they’re back in their original seat.
“Communication and patience,” the girls agreed as to the keys to their record victory.
During one of the attempts, the girls slapped some high fives amongst themselves and had a little discussion huddle. It paid off as they actually set two school records—one at 31.41 seconds before smashing the record again at 28.21 seconds.
A group of boys consisting of Evan Schweisthal, Dylan Heiderscheidt, Louis Lopez and Jack Meyer tried their best to upend the girls. They set a new record after the girls recorded the initial record, but then lost when the girls came back with their final time.
Local realtor Kathy Kalow presented the winning team with gift bags, including $35 in gift cards for each of them.
The seat belt challenge was just one of the activities included in the pre-prom safety lesson put on by Sheriff Lon Thiele and several of his deputies Thursday at the school. Other activities included: Fatal Vision goggles while operating a go-kart and tossing bean bags and a driving simulator. Teens also signed a pledge to not drink or use drugs.
Sophomore Lydia Heiderscheidt struggled with the Fatal Vision goggles, which simulate the effects of being drunk or high on drugs.
“You feel dizzy. Everything is tilted and twisted,” said Lydia in describing the drunk goggles. “Your world is turned. It’s all super confusing and messy.”
She had trouble getting the bean bags into the holes. “This was the most beneficial to see what the effects are like when you are under the influence,” Lydia said.
Senior Weston Janke couldn’t agree more with Lydia’s assessment.
“The goggles offset everything,” Janke said. “It didn’t feel right. You’re just dizzy and stumbling around. It throws everything off.”
Exactly the points sheriff’s officials were hoping to achieve.
Thiele had this event strategically scheduled for two days before the prom in the parking lot of the school. The sheriff is concerned about the safety of all people, especially teenagers who have an entire lifetime ahead of them.
Morgan Jones appreciated the efforts of local law enforcement.
“I would obviously never drunk drive,” Jones said. “It was a good representation of what it’s like.”
Most importantly, it worked for everyone. Prom went off without a hitch and everyone got to their destinations safely.
Let’s hope the message sticks as seniors go in hot pursuit of graduating early next month.