Category Archives: Freedom

National Review writer Alexandra Desanctis on Wednesday published a piecepurporting to explain how recent conservative efforts to defend religious freedom arent really about discriminating against LGBT Americans. Since she used aSalon piece written a day earlier by a former colleague of mine, Nico Lang, to illustrate how liberals are maliciously mischaracteriz[ing] FADA and other religious-freedom protections, it seems only fair to issue a point-by-point response to the specious claims made in theNational Review.

It is deeply ironic to claim, in the pieces opening argument, that Lang is deliberately mischaracterizing these legislative and executive efforts, when Desanctis goes on to misrepresentalmost every legislative and executive action she discusses.I cant speak to any malicious intent of the author, but a cursory examination of her contemporaries reveals a lopsided tendency to use religion to justify anti-LGBT discrimination,then fall eerily silent when the religious freedom of non-Christians is threatened.

Desanctis complains that Lang betrays his biases immediately, by putting the phrase religious freedom in quotes. But Lang, a seasoned reporter Ive worked with in my former capacity as managing editor of The Advocate,is on solid journalistic ground here.The weaponizedkind of religious freedom at issue in President Trumpsdraft executive order is preciselythe modern mutation ofthis foundational principle,which undoubtedlydeserves to be placed in scare quotes, as publications ranging from New York magazine to the Wall Street Journal do.

The authors complaints about Lang willfully misrepresenting the facts are particularly laughable in the face of the outright falsehoods Desanctis offers in response. Most immediately and demonstrably, Desanctis impliesthat religious freedom bills and the executive order are concerned only withmarriage. And while the Supreme Courts 2015 ruling inObergefell v. Hodges did directly deal with marriage equality (tossing a single sentence in Justice Kennedys masterful opinion to the anti-equalityconcerns of religious objectors), nearly every legislative effort billed as a protection of religious liberty since then has reached far beyond the county clerks office.

Desanctis herself mentions the First Amendment Defense Act (FADA) as one prominent example of legislation introduced to protect religious Americans who believe in heterosexual marriage. Apart from neglecting to note that FADA does not protect religious Americans who believe in marriage equality(because they do exist), Desanctis declines to mention that the bill, as introduced last year, included provisions that would allow faith-based discrimination against LGBT people, single mothers, and people of minority faiths.

Given that Texas senator and Tea Party favorite Ted Cruz has already promised to reintroduce FADA, and like-minded legislators are in turn salivating at the friendliness of the new administration to their concerns,its dishonest to suggest that any future iteration of FADA would be more limited in scope than the sweeping bill introduced last year.

Desanctis claims that religious-liberty legislation offers First Amendment protections to those Americans who hold a different view of marriage from that of the government, which is, in a limited sense, true. But these bills pointedly do notprovide First Amendment protections for those Americans whose faith-informed view of marriage differs from the government in, say, the number of spouses a person should be allowed to have, or with respect to the gender, age, or religious affiliation of the betrothed.

Similarly, Desanctis argument falls apart when she tries to follow the claim to its logical end. Certainly, she contends, it should be legal for a Christian baker to refuse to bake acake for a same-sex wedding, but that same baker should be required to bake a birthday cake for the same client.

But what if the birthday cake is for a child with same-sex parents? Under the draft executive order, a baker would be entirely within his right to refuse to bake that childs cake because the child did not emerge from the particular type of union that the baker finds morally acceptable.

Not only doreligious freedom bills in general concern themselves with more than justmarriage, buteven the leaked draft order does so as well,explicitly targetingthe validity of transgender identities by claiming that gender is an immutable characteristic defined by biology, anatomy, and a doctors declaration at birth. Bydefinition, the Americans who reject this biological essentialism are those who have experience with someone (or perhaps are themselves someone) whose gender identity differs from that which they were assigned at birth. Everyone elseindeed, the vast majority of Americansare unlikely to critically analyze this provision, since most peoples sex assigned at birth corresponds with their internal sense of gender identity. This fact, however, has no bearing on the continued existence of trans people in America.

The draft order goes even further to enshrine what is essentially conservative Christian ideology into federal policy when it declares that life begins at conception. This is, of course, a well-worn argumentused by anti-abortion advocates, butthere isnt anything even close to scientific consensus on this question. Once again, the executive order carves out protections for Americans who hold this particular religious belief about the beginning of life, but offers no accommodation for Americans whohave differing and sincerely held religious convictions about the point when life begins.

Its hard to single out one particular claim that emerges as the most absurd in the piece, but the allegation that the truth has been obfuscated by the left may well take the cake(just not to a gay wedding, of course). After directly equatingreligious Americans and religious voiceswith the voices of conservative Christian Americans, Desanctis performs an impressive bit of rhetorical acrobatics.

These supposed social-justice warriors will never admit the truth, she writes. That there isnt a single U.S. law permitting discrimination against individuals based on sexual orientation.

Talk about obfuscation. It is true there is no federal or state lawthat says its OK to turn away the gays if God saidyou could, but theres also no federal lawprotecting LGBT people from discrimination in the workplace, in housing, in healthcare, or in public accommodations. That bears repeating, since nearly70 percent of Americans believe its already illegal to fire someone for being LGBT.

But in reality, there is no federal law thatbarsemployers, landlords, or business-owners from refusing to hire, rent to, serve, or promote someone based on their sexual orientation or gender identity. Some states and localities have passed laws and ordinances that prohibit discrimination based on those characteristics, but those have faced stark opposition and backlashmost notably in the case of North Carolinas transphobic House Bill 2, which was drafted and passed in direct response to Charlottes city council updating its nondiscrimination ordinance to include LGBT people.

To be clear: in 30 states, it is expressly legal to fire someone because they are transgender. In 28 states, an employee could marry their same-sex spouse on Sunday, then be fired on Monday for putting a wedding photo on their desk. These arent hypothetical dilemmasreal people lose their livelihood every year because a supervisor didnt approve of their sexual orientation or gender identity.

So while Desanctis points out that there is currently no law directly approving anti-LGBT discrimination, the policies shes advocating for in her piece would change all that. The draft executive order, FADA, and similar religious liberty efforts nationwide would create a blanket license to discriminate, provided one claims their sincerely held religious belief has been offended. But even here, its important to note that the word religious is intended to mean conservative Christian.

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Sorry, National Review: Religious Freedom Bills Do Permit Bigotry ... - Religion Dispatches

Srinagar: Almost a month into last years civil unrest in Kashmir, as violence on the streets spiralled and civilian death toll increased, Ali Saffudin, 23, a rock singer here uploaded a song titled tum kitne jawa maroge on YouTube.

His song goes: Tum kitne jawa maroge, har ghar se jawa niklega/ Jo lahoo hai behta rag rag mein, wo junoon banke ubhre ga (How many youth will you kill, from every home a youth will come out/The blood which flows in the veins, will rise into a frenzy, madness)

The song became quite popular and had 30,000-odd views on YouTube.

Since last years unrest, the Valley has been seeing an increase in the number of protest songs and raps by young artistes who are composing, singing and launching their music on social media.

Ali, a post-graduate student of mass communication at Kashmir University, says, In Kashmir, there is a new wave of resistance through art and a lot of young kids joining in through their respective mediums of expressions.

Ali says his songs depict the reality. My songs portray the general sentiment on the streets of Kashmir. If I do not put those sentiments into my songs I will be blocking my natural process.

I believe people connect to the truth in my song I intent to play some Blues and Kashmiri folk songs, he adds.

Alis protest songs have catapulted him to global recognition. In October, as the unrest continued in the Valley, he appeared on a programme on BBC World Service from London and spoke about the socio-political situation in Kashmir.

Hip-hop revolution

On January 26, two Kashmiri protest raps were uploaded on YouTube Dead Eyes in English, which describes the plight of pellet victims, and Voices of Kashmir, rapped in Urdu, narrates how conflict and the ensuing deaths have ravaged the Valley.

Dead Eyes has garnered over 11,000 views on YouTube in two weeks, while Voices of Kashmir has got 9,000-odd views.

My friend Nazar ul Islam was injured by pellets during the unrest. That was the inspiration to start writing this song, said Aamir Ame (23), the singer of Dead Eyes who is doing his MBA from Kashmir University.

Danish Bhat, 22, a diploma student of engineering who wrote and rapped the Kashmiri part in Dead Eyes, says, Till the time I feel that my people are suffering injustice, I will keep writing and singing.

But the brewing hip-hop revolution is not limited only to the states summer capital Voices of Kashmir has been sung by two rappers from the strife-torn north Kashmir town of Sopore.

During the unrest, there was a neighbour of mine who told me he is going to take a stroll and two hours later I came to know he is no more. One line in my song, says, Koi ghar se gaya, duniya se gaya, said Faizaan Farooq, 22, who along with fellow musician Wani Arman composed and sang Voices of Kashmir.

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Post unrest, Kashmir 'freedom' songs making waves | india-news ... - Hindustan Times

A spokesman for Theresa May said: It is not, never has been and never will be the policy of the government to restrict the freedom of investigative journalism or public whistleblowing. Photograph: Andrew Parsons / i-Images/Photoshot/Avalon/Avalon

Downing Street has insisted the freedom of investigative journalists and whistleblowers will not be restricted, after the Law Commission published plans suggesting that maximum jail terms for those leaking information should rise from two years to 14.

No 10 said it was incorrect to suggest that either group would face greater threat of prosecution as a result of the new proposals, which have been condemned by prominent whistleblowers and civil rights groups.

Theresa Mays official spokesman said: Ive seen the way this has been reported and it is fundamentally wrong. It is not, never has been and never will be the policy of the government to restrict the freedom of investigative journalism or public whistleblowing.

One of the points of this review is to consider whether more safeguards are required to protect public sector whistleblowers and journalists.

Asked whether journalists could face jail for reporting leaked information, he said: We will not do anything to restrict the freedom of journalists.

The governments legal advisers were accused of launching a full-frontal attack on whistleblowers on Sunday over the proposals, which recommend radically increasing prison sentences for revealing and handling state secrets.

Draft recommendations from the legal advisers say the maximum prison sentence for leakers should be raised, potentially from two to 14 years, and the definition of espionage should be expanded to include obtaining sensitive information, as well as passing it on.

Media organisations and civil rights groups have also expressed alarm at the Law Commissions assertion that they were consulted over the plans, when they say no substantial discussions took place.

The Guardian, the human rights group Liberty and campaign body Open Rights Group are among a series of organisations listed by the Law Commission as having been consulted on the draft proposals, but all three say they were not meaningfully involved in the process.

The Law Commission says on its website that in making the proposals, it met extensively with and sought the views of government departments, lawyers, human rights NGOs and the media. The law commissioner, Prof David Ormerod QC, said: Weve scrutinised the law and consulted widely with ... media and human rights organisations.

But Liberty said that while a meeting was held, it was not on the understanding that this was a consultation. A source said: Liberty do not consider themselves to have been properly consulted. And we will be responding in detail to the [public] consultation.

Cathy James, the chief executive of Public Concern at Work, was also surprised to see her the whistleblowing charity listed as being involved.

She said: I didnt actually know we were listed in the document as we have been working our way through it so it is a big surprise to me. I believe my colleague met with them initially but we were not consulted in the normal sense of the word consultation. That is not what happened.

We are very worried about the extent of the provision in the recommendations both for whistleblowers and public officials. Its a huge backward step and we are very worried.

A Law Commission spokesman told the Guardian: We are currently conducting an open public consultation on the protection of official data, including the Official Secrets Acts.

We are seeking views on how the law could meet 21st-century challenges while also ensuring people dont inadvertently commit serious offences. Our provisional proposals make a number of suggestions to improve the current laws around the protection of official data, and we welcome views.

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No 10 denies plans would curb freedom of journalists and whistleblowers - The Guardian

Mashable

China is censoring social media less nowbut it's not freedom Mashable China appears to be loosening its well-known vice-like grip on what can and cannot be said on Weibo (its version of Twitter), but don't be fooled it's not easing ... and more »

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China is censoring social media less nowbut it's not freedom - Mashable

Actress Meryl Streep tore into President Trump during a speech at the Human Rights Campaign's gala in New York on Saturday, calling the commander in chief a bully and condemning his use of Twitter.

"If we live through this precarious moment - if his catastrophic instinct to retaliate doesnt lead us to nuclear winter - we will have much to thank our current leader for," Streep said, according to the Hollywood Reporter.

"He will have woken us up to how fragile freedom is. His whisperers will have alerted us to potential flaws in the balance of power in government. To how we have relied on the good will and selflessness of most previous occupants of the Oval Office," she added.

The "Iron Lady" star remarked on "how the authority of the Executive, in the hands of a self-dealer, can be wielded against the people, their Constitution and Bill of Rights."

"The whip of the Executive, through a Twitter feed, can lash and intimidate, punish and humiliate, delegitimize the press and imagined enemies with spasmodic regularity and easily provoked predictability," she said.

Streep's speech wasn't focused solely on Trump. She also discussed the arts, humanities and a transgender teacher she had in middle school.

Some social media users shared bits of the speech online.

Sing for us all, Meryl Streep. @HRC pic.twitter.com/yNqrZpOUI6

Meryl Streep pays tribute to LGBTQ pioneers and those on the front lines of fighting for civil rights. pic.twitter.com/J6PdfbVTDm

This isn't the first time the actress has been critical of Trump. During a Golden Globes speech earlier this year, she got emotional in a speech hitting Trump for being a bully.

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Meryl Streep: Trump shows 'how fragile freedom is' - The Hill (blog)

What spiritual wisdom is expressed in the very first reading of todays Holy Mass: If you choose you can keep the commandments, they will save you. . . . Before man are life and death, good and evil, whichever he chooses shall be given him. (Sir. 15:15,17). The spiritual author W.Maestri challenges us, his readers, as follows: Yet, we must ask ourselves whether we have become as free with our love, resources, time, and service. If not, our freedom is self-serving, which runs counter to the example of Jesus who served the other. . . . Jesus was the freest of men. Yet he never tires in saying that he came to do the will of his father. Jesus freedom is grounded in obedience to the Fathers will. This is a wisdom much in need today. (Grace Upon Grace, p.65).

Yes! Indeed! Todays culture all over the world, including our own, is predominantly narcissistic. For so many people, ones ego becomes ones god, with a small g. Ones ego can then be our greatest enemy in not following God with a capital G. For so many people, the letter of the law becomes stronger than the spirit of the law. Even among our fellow-Catholics here in our country, so many go regularly to Sunday mass and follow other church rules, but so many of them are unfaithful to their spouses, and others are guilty of corruption in their jobs.

Here was a man in his forties, married for 15 years, with two children and a loving, dedicated wife. Moreover, he had a successful business that was earning very well. But underneath all this, he was having a relationship with another woman, which was unknown to his wife and children. He wanted to end the relationship, but somehow, he was not able to, for he really loved the other woman, just as he loved his wife. Moreover, he knew in his heart that the other woman would be heart-broken if they ended the relationship. At the beginning of the Lenten-Season that year, a friend of his invited him to join an Ignatian retreat of eight days in a far-away retreat house. Somehow, he felt Gods call to do it, so he went through the eight-day retreat with his friend.

He went through no less than a spiritual conversion the first time in his life. It was so liberating that after the retreat, during which time he went through a process of discernment, he was finally able to break the relationship with the other woman. Moreover, he even helped the other woman go through a spiritual conversion process herself, and they finally separated with each one experiencing inner peace. No less than a miracle! Each one of them experienced freedom through obedience. Each one did what was Gods will for ones self. Such was Gods love for each one of them.

It is of utmost importance that we become aware of our ego as our greatest enemy in following Gods will. Freedom from our ego can be our greatest instrument in being obedient to Gods commandment of love. God the Father exemplified this to us through God the Son. Jesus Christ came to be one among us and became our human role model in obeying Gods will of love. This led the human Christ to be free from his ego and became attached to God the Father and God the Holy Spirit in loving all of creation.

In our own lives, Christ showed us the way of freely loving God and neighbor, not only through his preaching, but more importantly, through his life and actions. Early in his adult life, he was led by the Holy Spirit to the desert where he fasted for no less than forty days and forty nights. At the end of that period, human that he was, the devil tempted him no less than three times. He strongly said No! to each temptation, and said at the end: The Lord your God, shall you worship and him alone shall you serve. (Mt. 4:10).

Opinion ( Article MRec ), pagematch: 1, sectionmatch: 1

Later on, he called his first disciples, went around all of Galilee, proclaimed the gospel of the kingdom, and cured those who were sick with different diseases. As our current Pope Francis would remind us, we as Christs disciples must live our lives with mercy and compassion. This was how the human Christ lived his. And the three Gospels of Matthew, Mark, and Luke repeated what Christ taught and lived as Gods greatest commandment for us all: You shall love the Lord your God, with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind. This is the greatest and the first commandment. The second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. (Mt. 22:37-40; Mk. 12:28-34; Lk. 10:25-28). When everything is said and done, love is the answer.

The Time Magazine last January 30, 2017 carried a one-page article by Ann Patchet entitled: The President Who Loved. She was referring to President Obama who recently stepped down from office after eight years. Let me end by quoting her: For eight years, President Obama gave the American people the example of his careful consideration, compassion, rigorous intelligence, and, wonder of wonders, love. Love was not something I would have previously thought to look for in a President, but now Im wondering how Ill do without it. . . . There was love in the constant celebration of the achievement of others, in the Presidents willingness to shine the klieg light of his attention onto veterans, scientists, artists, and educators. He loves books! And Obama gave more Presidential Medals of Freedom than any other President, saving the last one for his Vice-President, Joe Biden, whom he called my brother at the surprise ceremony. Biden, like the rest of us watching, was in tears. God of Love, Amen.

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Obedience is freedom - Philippine Star

Forbes

Is 1984 Here? This Answer Is Crucial To Our Freedom - Forbes Forbes George Orwell's 1949 dystopian novel 1984 has jumped to the top of the best-seller's lists as some fear President Donald Trump is moving us in an Orwellian ... and more »

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Is 1984 Here? This Answer Is Crucial To Our Freedom - Forbes - Forbes

WASHINGTON, D.C. Speaking at a forum on tolerance, the former U.S. religious freedom ambassador said complaints about religious freedom problems in this country pale in comparison withatrocities faced by religious minorities abroad.

Rabbi David Saperstein, who recently ended his tenure at the U.S. State Department, said he takes seriously tough issues, such as abortion and gay rights, that have divided Americans who emphasize religious or civil rights.

But make no mistake: As painful and real as these issues are in the hearts and souls of the people making these competing claims, we are talking about people who are being brutalized, we are talking about people who are being imprisoned, he said of international religious freedom challenges.

I pray for the day when across the globe the worst problem that we have is how do we balance our competing civil rights claims, he added. What a day for a hallelujah that will be in terms of the entire vision of our international religious freedom efforts.

The forum, Tolerance: A Key to Religious Freedom, was hosted by the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom and co-sponsored by Religion News Service and the Religion News Foundation.

Father Thomas Reese, moderator of the event and USCIRF chair, said his bipartisan commission is addressing countries, such as North Korea and China, that are widely considered to be hostile toward religion, and nations such asIraq and Nigeria that have failed to protect the religious freedoms of theircitizens.

There are grave humanitarian consequences when religious freedom is violated, he said. These conditions underscore the need for a different way forward, one of tolerance as a key to religious freedom as well as stability and security.

A representative of the Hindu American Foundation asked the panelists why U.S. agencies that address religious freedom are dominated by members of the Abrahamic faiths and dont tend to include people with Eastern philosophies and secular standpoints.

Reese said the commission is willing to work with Hindu groups to learn more about persecution of Hindus in countries such asPakistan and Bangladesh.

I think thats very important for us to focus on, Reese said. We have to defend not just Christians, not just Jews, not just people from the Abrahamic tradition but people of all faiths or people who have no faith whatsoever, and I think that is a fundamental principle of religious freedom that we should have.

Other panelists at the forum, attended by about 80 journalists, faith leaders and religious freedom experts, stressed the role of educators in building tolerance and religious understanding.

We have to work with teachers often because they have fears and misconceptions about whether they can even teach about religion, said Joyce Dubensky, CEO of the Tanenbaum Center for Interreligious Understanding.

They even wonder, she added, whether they have to avoid talking about the reason Puritans came to the U.S. religious persecution.

John Sexton, president emeritus of New York University, teaches students in Shanghai and Abu Dhabi about government and religion, fostering discussions that range from the Crusades to Mideast tensions.

The heart of the matter is to understand that the core problem here is not anything other than a mindset of certitude and triumphalism that can manifest itself secularly as well as religiously, he said.

Former Rep. Frank Wolf, a longtime religious freedom activist, urged that Republicans and Democrats set aside partisan differences and continue to travel together to global regions to investigate religious persecution firsthand and visit the imprisoned and their families.

The worst thing in the world is being in the darkest place and think no one cares, he said.

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Experts mull religious freedom, tolerance in US and abroad - Crux: Covering all things Catholic

USA TODAY NETWORK-Wisconsin 8:06 p.m. CT Feb. 11, 2017

OCONTO FALLS - The Freedom wrestling team had five regional champions and advanced 11 wrestlers to sectionals at the WIAA Division 2 Oconto Falls regional Saturday.

Oconto Falls won the team title with 303 points and advances to the team sectional. Freedom finished second with 261 and New London was third with 135.5.

The top two individuals at each weight class advance to the sectional meet.

Zach Lahay (106 pounds), Koy Murphy (113), Mitch Garvey (126), Garrison Murphy (132) and Alex Rohan (220) won regional titles for Freedom.

Also advancing to sectionals for the Irish were Grant Vosters (120), Sam Peters (138), Evan Vosters (145), Matt Verhasselt (170), Parker Rudie (182) and Devin Moser (285).

Scott Cook of New London advanced to the sectional meet by taking first place at 138 with a 9-2 victory over Peters of Freedom.

Thomas Peters took first place at 152 and Justin Krull was second at 160 for Seymour to both advance to the sectional.

TEAM SCORES

OCONTO FALLS 303, FREEDOM 261, NEW LONDON 135.5, SEYMOUR 120, PESHTIGO 116, MARINETTE 83, CLINTONVILLE/MARION 33

106: 1st - Zach Lahay FR dec. Tyler Budz OF 3-2. 2nd place wrestleback - Budz OF pinned Kyle Rivet P :44. 113: 1st - Koy Murphy FR dec. Zack Wauters P 11-5. 120: 1st - Bryce Peterson OF dec. Grant Vosters FR 7-5. 2nd place wrestleback - Vosters FR major dec. Adam Armour NL 9-0. 126: 1st - Mitch Garvey FR major dec. Wyatt Borkovec OF 9-0. 2nd place wrestleback - Borkovec OF pinned Brian Krouth P 4:38. 132: 1st - Garrison Murphy FR dec. Kenton Peterson OF 5-3. 2nd place wrestleback - Peterson OF dec. Garrett Ruckdashel NL 5-4. 138: 1st - Scott Cook NL dec. Sam Peters FR 9-2. 145: 1st - Bryce Ash OF pinned Evan Vosters FR 1:57. 2nd place wrestleback - Vosters FR pinned Flynn Schneider SEY :35. 152:1st - Thomas Peters SEY pinned Isaac Diaz OF 3:24. 160: 1st - Nate Trepanier OF pinned Justin Krull SEY 5:43. 2nd place wrestleback - Krull SEY pinned Sean Holk MAR 4:51. 170: 1st - Brice Delzer OF major dec. Matt Verhasselt FR 15-6. 2nd place wrestleback - Verhasselt FR pinned Gabe Oswald NL 4:10. 182: 1st - Mac Winkler OF pinned Nick Sherman SEY 1:46. 2nd place wrestleback - Parker Rudie FR dec. Sherman SEY 5-3 SV-1. 195: 1st - Garret Cole OF dec. Cam Lepkowski P 4-3. 2nd place wrestleback - Lepkowski P dec. Remington Steele NL 8-1. 220:1st - Alex Rohan FR pinned Trent Peetz OF 2:38. 285:1st - Dan Ausloos OF pinned Devin Moser FR :52.

Omro Regional

At Omro, Little Chute had two wrestlers win regional championships and advanced six wrestlers to the sectional meet.

Wautoma/Wild Rose won the team title with 244 points, while Little Chute was second with 176.5.

Logan Van Handel (152) and Bryce Schumacher (160) won regional titles for the Mustangs. Second-place finishers were Adam Kilgas (120), Colton Hawkins (182), Kristofer Runnheim (195) and Nate Hietpas (285).

Advancing for Winneconne were Anthony Keuntjes, who took first place at 120, and second-place finishers Ryan Dowling (132) and Rutger Braun (152).

Fox Valley Lutheran advanced two wrestlers to the sectional, including 106-pound regional champion Charles Ziegler. Mackenzie Kading of FVL advanced at 145 after she won her third-place match and then won by injury default in the second-place wrestleback.

TEAM SCORES

WAUTOMA/WILD ROSE 244, LITTLE CHUTE 176.5, BERLIN 166, WINNECONNE 120, FOX VALLEY LUTHERAN 103, OMRO 98, XAVIER 51

106:1st - Charles Ziegler FVL major dec. Dylan Hughes W/WR 11-2. 2nd place wrestleback - Hughes W/WR pinned Gavin Coshenet WIN 1:13. 113:1st - Abram Lezama W/WR pinned Garrett Derleth B 1:04. 2nd place wrestleback - Derleth B pinned Nathaniel Picard X 2:33. 120:1st - Anthony Keuntjes WIN pinned Adam Kilgas LC 3:14. 126:1st - Keegan Taivalmaa W/WR pinned Scotty McGibbon B 1:03. 132:1st - Tanner Deist W/WR pinned Ryan Dowling WIN 2:50. 138:1st - Preston Morgan B pinned Jacob Gaboury-Gorges W/WR 2:21. 145:1st - Paul Hernandez W/WR won by injury def. over Bryce Congdon B. 2nd place wrestleback - Mackenzie Kading FVL won by injury def. over Congdon B. 152:1st - Logan Van Handel LC pinned Rutger Braun WIN 2:35. 2nd place wrestleback - Braun WIN pinned Timo Roberts B 1:05. 160:1st - Bryce Schumacher LC dec. Jacob Kafer OM 7-1. 2nd place wrestleback - Kafer OM dec. Austin Schrei B 17-11. 170:1st - Andrew Henschel W/WR pinned Ryan Janssen LC :59. 2nd place wrestleback - Zac Boese OM dec. Janssen LC 11-6. 182:1st - C.J. Kurczek B dec. Colton Hawkins LC 4-3. 2nd place wrestleback - Hawkins LC dec. Nick Grewe WIN 2-1. 195:1st - Lucas Hackney W/WR pinned Josh Klemm WIN 2:24. 2nd place wrestleback - Kristofer Runnheim LC pinned Josh Klemm WIN 2:27. 220: 1st - Jack Dietzen OM dec. Zach Wilson B 4-0. 2nd place wrestleback - Wilson B pinned Jesse Schauer W/WR 1:56. 285: 1st - Mitchell Potratz OM pinned Nate Hietpas LC 3:27.

Denmark Regional

At Denmark, Wrightstown had four regional champs and advanced six wrestlers to the sectional meet.

Luxemburg-Casco won the team title with 275.5 points, while Wrightstown finished second with 216.

Winning regional titles for Wrightstown were Ben Durocher (132), Ben Klister (160), Bryce Herlache (182) and Matthew Van Eperen (195). Advancing with second-place finishes were Derick Bader (126) and Matthew Maitland (138).

TEAM SCORES

LUXEMBURG-CASCO 275.5, WRIGHTSTOWN 216, DENMARK 199.5, TWO RIVERS 195, STURGEON BAY/SEVASTOPOL 82, MANITOWOC LUTHERAN/RONCALLI 20

106:1st - Cody Holmes TR pinned Lucas Joniaux L-C :50. 113:1st - Bryce Bosman L-C dec. Joey Bianchi TR 3-1. 120:1st - Brock Bergelin D won by tech. fall over Walker VandeHey W18-3. 2nd place wrestleback - Reece Worachek L-C dec. VandeHey W 10-5 SV-1. 126:1st - Nathan Ronsman L-C pinned Derick Bader W :53. 132:1st - Ben Durocher W dec. Colton Worachek L-C 7-3. 2nd place wrestleback - Worachek L-C pinned Trevor Pasek TR :27. 138:1st - Cameron Lemmens L-C major dec. Matthew Maitland W 11-2. 145:1st - Laken Duerschmidt TR dec. Garrett Jeanquart L-C 5-4. 152:1st - Devan Vandenbush L-C pinned Jedd Shefchik D 1:56. 2nd place wrestleback - Shefchik D dec. Ben Rosera W 1-0. 160: 1st - Ben Klister W pinned Jacob Zellner L-C 4:38. 170: 1st - Dalton Smerchek L-C major dec. Max Schmitz D 10-1. 2nd place wrestleback - Max Schmitz D dec. Marlon Rezash TR 9-4. 182: 1st - Bryce Herlache W dec. Dalton Becker TR 3-0. 2nd place wrestleback - Becker TR major dec. Dakota Robinson L-C 11-2. 195: 1st - Matthew Van Eperen W pinned Shae Ruelle TR 5:09. 2nd place wrestleback - Gabe Wertel D pinned Ruelle TR 3:32. 220: 1st - T.J. Weidman D dec. Nate Lloyd L-C 4-2. 2nd place wrestleback - Lloyd L-C pinned Damien Bullock TR 3:09. 285: 1st - Josh Frerk D dec. Sam Skornicka TR 4-1). 2nd place wrestleback - Phil Rasmussen L-C dec. Skornicka TR 3-1.

Valders Regional

At Valders, Chilton/Hilbert had four regional champions and advanced 11 wrestlers to the sectional meet.

Valders won the team title with 265.5 points, narrowly beating Chilton/Hilbert with 260.5.

Regional champs for Chilton/Hilbert were Joe Boehnlein (106), Abraham Sell (132), PJ Ladd (160) and Garrett Casper (182).

Also advancing to sectionals for Chilton/Hilbert with second-place finishes were Peyton Ladd (113), Mavrik Ott (120), Jax Pritchard (126), Gaven Lisowe (145), Kaiden Mikalowsky (152), Jairet Mikalowsky (195) and Noah Koehler (220).

TEAM SCORES

VALDERS 265.5, CHILTON/HILBERT 260.5, ELKHART LAKE-GLENBEULAH/HOWARDS GROVE 116, NEW HOLSTEIN 105, KIEL 64, SAINT LAWRENCE SEMINARY 64

106: 1st - Joe Boehnlein C/H pinned Caitlin Meyer K 2:13. 2nd place wrestleback - Daniel Trinh SLS pinned Meyer K 5:55. 113: 1st - Colton Harrington V major dec. Peyton Ladd C/H 15-3. 120: 1st - Riley Sleger V dec. Mavrik Ott C/H 9-3. 126:1st - Casey Zipperer V major dec. Jax Pritchard C/H 12-2. 2nd place wrestleback - Pritchard C/H dec. Taylor Cain EL-G/HG 8-2. 132:1st - Abraham Sell C/H pinned Kyle Conrad V :34. 138:1st - Max Ward EL-G/HG dec. Luke Oltmanns V 9-2. 145:1st - Matthew Pekarske V dec. Gaven Lisowe C/H 6-4 SV-3. 152:1st - Dan Strouf V won by tech. fall over Kaiden Mikalowsky C/H 15-0. 160:1st - PJ Ladd C/H pinned Troy Rebedew EL-G/HG 3:00. 170: 1st - Adam Satori V pinned Jonathan Hinesh SLS 2:15. 182:1st - Garrett Casper C/H dec. Jackson Linsmeier V 4-3 TB-1. 195:1st - Matt Buechel NH pinned Jairet Mikalowsky C/H 2:20. 220:1st - Dustin Bergene V pinned Noah Koehler C/H 5:15. 285:1st - Jon Roll EL-G/HG pinned Kelly Paulsen SLS 1:25.

Antigo Regional

At Antigo, Waupaca had one regional champion and advanced three wrestlers to the sectional meet.

Antigo won the team title with 229 points, with Tomahawk second at 180 and Waupaca third at 151.

Derrick Rotta won the regional title at 195 pounds for Waupaca. Advancing to the sectional with second-place finishes were Logan Bernhardt (138) and Mark Kilcoyne (220).

TEAM SCORES

ANTIGO 229, TOMAHAWK 180, WAUPACA 151, LAKELAND 137, NEKOOSA/ASSUMPTION/PORT EDWARDS 119, MOSINEE 102

106: 1st - Blaze Thurber N/A/PE dec. Neil Bretl A 9-4. 113: 1st - Josh Ehster M pinned Lance Knight T 2:19. 120:1st - Dejay Nordrum L major dec. Brant Hall N/A/PE 9-1. 2nd place wrestleback - Hall N/A/PE dec. Tanner Johnson W 4-3. 126:1st - Craig Elsen N/A/PE dec. Benjamin Stimac A 7-5 SV-1. 132:1st - Jordan Sarver N/A/PE dec. Brandon Lucht A 7-0. 2nd place wrestleback - Lucht A major dec. Traner Weiler M 9-0. 138:1st - Jack Scandin L pinned Logan Bernhardt W 1:48. 2nd place wrestleback - Bernhardt W pinned Brady Anderson T 1:36. 145:1st - Wyatt Wenninger T dec. Aden Elsen N/A/PE 9-6. 2nd place wrestleback - Schlieve A pinned Elsen N/A/PE 2:47. 152:1st - Jake McClintock L pinned Andy Ellis M 1:23. 160:1st - Korbin Krueger A dec. Matt Turkewicz T 7-3. 170:1st - Will Dixon A major dec. Mason Holmquist L 11-3. 182:1st - Collinn Eldridge A pinned Ieon Diver L 1:17. 2nd place wrestleback - Diver L pinned Natasha Schultz W :27. 195:1st - Derrick Rotta W pinned Jacob Matti T 3:10. 220:1st - Zach Stefonich T pinned Mark Kilcoyne W 3:37. 285:1st - Jose Mohr M dec. Noah Williams A 7-6.

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Freedom wrestlers win five regional titles - Appleton Post Crescent

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Post Crescent 7:34 a.m. CT Feb. 11, 2017

Nicholas Koehn and Nicholas Paustian from Freedom are this week's top scholars.(Photo: Photos courtesy of Freedom High School)

Nicholas Koehn |FREEDOM

Nicholas Koehn, son of Crystal and Micheal Koehn, is a valedictorian for the class of 2017.While taking AP and college courses, he also has been a four- year member of the concert, pep, jazz, marching and honors bands. Nicholas serves as president of the Math League and is a four-year member of the Auto Club and golf team.He participates on the Trap Team at Outagamie CountyConservation Club and won first place for the past three years.Nicholas is an Eagle Scout and a member of the Freedom Trailblazers Snowmobile Club.He enjoys restoring old vehicles and has spearheaded a book exchange program with Country Villa Assisted Living facility in Freedom.Nicholas plans to attendSt. Norbert College in the fall to major in chemistry.

Nicholas Paustian|FREEDOM

Nicholas Paustian, son of Michelle and Greg Paustian, will graduate at the top of his class of 2017.He has taken numerous AP classes and is a member of the Spanish Club, Art Club, school newspaper, Future Farmers of Americaand soccer.Nicholas is a two-year member of the National Honor Society.He also spends a significant amount of time volunteering at Christ the Rock Community Church as well asthe Fox Valley Emergency Shelter.Nicholas enjoys running in his spare time and has played the piano for more than 10 years.Nicholas plans to attend the University of Wisconsin-Green Bay in the fall and is still deciding on whether to majorin animal biology or exercise science.

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Originally posted here:

Scholars of the Week: Freedom - Appleton Post Crescent