Student Profile: Josie Watkins
By Jentry Freemyer

A year and a half ago on June 1, then-freshman Josie Watkins tore her achilles tendon during summer basketball practice. Josie had already been preparing for her first cross country season with aspirations to qualify for state as a freshman.
After her injury, Josie had her first surgery to repair her achilles, the largest tendon in the body. Josie’s surgeon then accepted her as a case study patient since it is so uncommon for such a young athlete to tear this massive tendon.
The surgery left her on crutches for two months but still with high hopes of participating in district cross country. When slowly preparing for districts, Josie attained bursitis. Josie was unable to run, yet remained positive through physical therapy.
Doing everyday things such as walking became very difficult for Josie even after her first surgery. The Watkins family soon learned that Josie had developed Haglund’s deformity, a bump in the back of the heel bone which the achilles tendon runs along.
After meeting with the surgeon, a final surgery was booked for May 2 with intentions to remove the top of the heel bone and completely remove the bursa. Josie was only on crutches for a few weeks and began her recovery for this cross country season.
This year, sophomore Josie Watkins was able to finish her cross country season, even placing in the top 15 at a regular season meet.
“I have been Josie’s coach since her injury and have watched her grow as a runner. I have high hopes with her determination, attitude and perseverance that she will continue to improve and be able to run the way she wants to again,” cross country coach Chris Gebhards said.
As a friend of Josie’s, I have learned so much from her. Even when facing such a difficult experience, she always did her best to stay positive. Josie has been an inspiration to the community through her slow but hopeful journey to a full recovery.

If RPHS ran the world…
High school social studies teacher Thomas Herron organized a mock election for students in grades 7-12 and their teachers to vote on some of the top races in this year’s election.
Students were called out of first hour classes one grade at a time on Thursday, November 3, and reported to the High School Commons, where a “voting official” had them sign beside their name. Students then proceeded to “voting stations”: student desks with Chrome Books open to a Google Form. Mr. Herron created the form.
After voting was completed, results were available on the interactive TV in the commons as well as posted online.
If RPHS were to decide the 2016 Election, Donald Trump would be President; Greitens would squeak out a gubernatorial win; Blunt would be our Senatorial representative; and Graves would remain in office as our District 6 Congressman.
This election has surely been a memorable one, and RPHS students look forward to seeing how accurate their mock election was.
Results courtesy of Thomas Herron.