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Wick Explores Sports Options By Addison Bennett (P. 1, 8) Student Creates Youtube Sensation By Peter Ciporin (P. 1, 7)
Around Wick
Peisch’s Puzzle Playhouse By Will Peisch, (P. 2) A Message From the President By Michael Chronert (P. 3) New Writing Center By James Whittemore (P. 3) Guys and Dolls Update By Yousef Hindy (P. 3) Joe Girardi Assembly By William Fein (P. 4) Nicholas Kristof Visits GA By Rebecca Deubler (P. 5) David Boies visits Brunswick By Jake Matthews and Matthew Cassoli (P. 6) Wick Hosts Lost Hikers By William Fein (P. 7) Featured Artist: Jerry Craft By Kirk Meyer (P. 9)
The Importance of a Field Goal By Sean Forester (P. 10) Growth of Soccer in America By Jack Seaton (P. 10) Republican Primary Analysis By Reed McMurchy (P. 11)
Legendary Coach Remembered By Holden Fett (P. 11)
Wick Sports
Varsity Basketball By Charlie Cassoli (P. 12) GA-Wick Fencing By Curren Iyer (P. 12) Varsity Basketball By Charlie Cassoli (P. 12) Freshman Basketball By Jack Duggan (P. 13) Hockey Update By Peter Khoury (P. 13) Wick Paddle By Christopher Keller (P. 13) Varsity Squash By Parker Odrich (P. 13) Wick Wrestling By Johnny Erdman (P. 14) GA Sports Update By Kat Goldsmith (P. 15)
Brunswick Community Special (P. 16)
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Wick Explores Future Sports Options
often find themselves looking for options and finding nothing especially appealing. “What we find in the winter is that we’ve got lots and lots of kids who want to play sports, but there’s nothing for them to do,” says Headmaster Tom Philip; “it’s not fair to the kids.” The lack of sports options in the winter results in an unfortunate reality: many students are turning to IM sports like IMBL and paddle tennis or alternatives such as weight training while interest in competing on Brunswick is exploring the option of building a pool at the King Street campus. school teams seems to be Photo: Dan Burns 2011 dwindling. While these IM By Addison Bennett ‘12 to accommodating everyone during alternatives to the inter-scholastic teams Managing Editor the winter season. With limited are attractive and reasonable for older The Brunswick Athletic indoor facilities, coaching staff, and a students to pursue, the school must Program, with all its strengths, surely somewhat reduced number of teams Continued on Page 8 has its limits, especially when it comes compared to other seasons, students
World Vision Club Update By Kyle Chen (P. 9)
Student Editorials
Issue 5: February 2012
By Peter Ciporin ‘15 Staff Writer
Student Creates Youtube Sensation Each time he took a picture, Grant slightly adjusted the LEGOs’ positions, a grueling process which, he says, took roughly 15 hours to shoot, 40 hours to edit, and 5 hours to touch-up at the end. The final product: a three-minute short film Grant sent to the developers for further editing before he finally put it online. The video initially depicts a
territory, leaving the conclusion of this masterful film uncertain. Grant used the game, “Stronghold Kingdoms,” as the core inspira Over this past Christmas tion for his video, but he used certain Break, while many of us were lying elements that he liked from some of on a beach somewhere in the CaribFirefly Studios’ other games to crebean or skiing mountains out west, ate a better, more entertaining story Brunswick student Grant MacFadline. One such element that many din ’15 was working hard to create viewers loved was when a LEGO a stop-motion film cow is catapulted production worthy of over the castle walls. being released to the This promoworld. Produced for tional film is not the independent game the first stop-modevelopers “Firefly tion animation that Studios” as a promoGrant has made. In tion for their newest fact, Grant has been game “Stronghold making short movKingdoms,” the threeies since his days in minute short video Lower School. It has been viewed over was only two years 14,000 times since ago, however, that Grant uploaded in to he first attempted to YouTube on January 18. Grant MacFaddin ‘15 takes thousands of still photos to create create a stop-motion stop motion animation videos. Grant created production. “In 7th the video using a stopgrade, I was fascimotion filming technique. He took sleepy old man and then progresses nated with World War I,” Grant said, many pictures each with a minute ad- into the construction of an entire “and one time I asked myself, ‘What justment in the video’s subjects, and castle and town. A king arrives; vilif World War I had just ended it all?’” then after strung together the pic- lagers and merchants appear; life With this in mind, Grant cretures into a high frame rate sequence appears to thrive within the kingated a 40 second clip, later lengthto give the illusion of motion. In this dom. At one point, a rival kingened to two minutes when he was an case, Grant filmed LEGO pieces. dom even attacks the newly formed Continued on Page 7
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The Brunswick Chronicle February 2012
Peisch’s Page
Peisch’s Puzzle Playhouse
By Will Peisch ‘12 Senior Puzzler
No column this issue due to shoulder surgery, so instead I’ve created a replacement crossword puzzle. That way you can flex your trivia bowl muscles while my actual muscles beg for mercy! (Crossword creation provided by http://puzzlemaker.discoveryeducation.com)
The Brunswick Chronicle The Brunswick Student’s News Source
Editors-In-Chief Matthew Cassoli ‘12 Jake Matthews ‘12 Managing Editor Addison Bennett ‘12 Sports Editor William Fein ‘13
Chief Photographer Matthew Savitt ‘12 Staff Writers
Will Peisch ‘12 Ray Tierney ‘12 Peter Khoury ‘13 John Erdman ‘13 Will Ponce ‘13 Jonathan Mills ‘13 Harry Parsons ‘14 Michael Savitt ‘14 Kyle Chen ‘14 Peter Ciporin ‘15 Chris Keller ‘15 Kirk Meyer ‘15 Yousef Hindy ‘15
Devin Mehra ‘12 Sean Forester ‘13 Holden Fett ‘13 James Whittemore ‘13 Curren Iyer ‘13 Parker Odrich ‘13 Rohan Das ‘14 Jack Seaton ‘14 Teddy Cassoli ‘15 Reed McMurchy ‘15 Christopher Lucey ‘15 Charlie Cassoli ‘15 Jack Duggan ‘15
Faculty Advisor Dr. Brian Freeman
Chronicle.Brunswickschool.org
Across 3. Publication and Batman sidekick 4. Path’s 2nd Avenue (Not the Harris Highway) 8. Pete Francis 10. Marriage officiate, Tiger Superfan 11. What’s lacking in our “loos” 13. Wick’s Exemplar, Mascot is Actually a Polar Bear 15. # of words in School Proverb 17. Nile Rabb’s Nickname (Hint: 7 i’s) 19. Alum-Directed Film starring People’s Sexiest Man Alive 20. Emailing King of Lost Things
Down 1. Slang for a Simpleton 2. Vision Warrior and Cookie Enthusiast 5. Male Lead of Black Comedy 6. Fitzy’s Alter Ego 7. Official Mascot of Science and Cuteness 9. Wick’s ‘Wich 12. Staple of all dining hall meals 14. “I’m 6’2, 220, and there’s two of me.” 16. You buying tickets for Guys and Dolls? 18. Mr. Philip’s Middle Name, Family in “Family Matters” Answers to the Crossword are available on The Chronicle Online.
Will Peisch ‘12 is exuberantly recovering from surgery.
Check out the Chronicle Online at Chronicle.BrunswickSchool.org
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The Brunswick Chronicle February 2012
Campus News
A Message From the President By Michael Chronert ‘15 Upper School President
For those of you who don’t know what BUST (Brunswick Upper School Tournament) is, it’s a basketball tournament that has become a tradition here at Brunswick. In recent years, however, the tournament has been a bit of a letdown. Last year, even though Yacobucci gathered many members of the student government at Cosi on a Sunday morning to create crazy teams with such names as “The Axis” (consisting of Japanese, German, and Italian students), the events that followed quickly brought the tournament downhill. Full teams didn’t show up to play their games, there were multiple arguments, and Cameron Driscoll ended up subbing in a total of 8 games. This year, the Student Government has decided to take a new approach: “BUST” will be modeled after the successful “Turkey Bowl” (thanks to Mr. Montanez for the idea). Each “BUST” team will play multiple games, and the two teams with the best records will battle it out in a championship game. While the smaller details have yet to be decided, “BUST”
will require each competitor to pay a nominal fee and the sum total of the money will go to charity (just as with the Turkey Bowl). And perhaps the most important addition: all games will take place on one day so there is no confusion on when games are being played. However, there were things that some students did not like about the Turkey Bowl: the girls, the lack of “womping,” and Mr. Montanez’s alleged fixing of the games. Let me be clear, there will be no girls because so few of them showed up at the “Turkey Bowl.” Sorry GA, but when you snooze you lose. There will be plenty of womping because “Phattraxxx” will bring all of his gear and play “Fire Hive” for a straight five hours. Finally, Mr. Montanez did not fix the games, but anyone who attempts to fix the games will be severely punished. For those of you who do not know D-Troy, he has been known to chase down squirrels on the path and eat them to obtain adequate protein. Well, if you attempt to fix games, you will be fed to D-Troy. In all seriousness, the new “BUST” tournament should be tons of fun, so sign up as soon as the Student Government starts to make annoncements.
New Writing Center By James Whittemore ‘13 Staff Writer
It’s that time of year again. With the second semester now in full swing, papers are once again starting to pile up. For those students at a loss as to how to construct an analytical essay on a book they have barely understood, or seeking to learn how to organize facts on a history topic, etc., The Writing Center is open for business to help with any writing dilemmas. Located in the English Building and manned with History and English teachers as well as students, The Writing Center helps students develop their analytical writing skills and learn to use more sophisticated
language and style in their written work, while also addressing areas that could use improvement. To further improve its ability to help students, beginning in the second semester, The Writing Center will be open all day, as opposed to only on first periods of each day. In order to use the Writing Center, however, one must have specific questions and must, must, must send an email in advance to writing@brunswickschool.org to make an appointment. Let’s face it: none of us is perfect, and writing, as Dr. Van Atta said in his Cum Laude address, is a skill which is necessary at every stage in life. Start the semester off with a good grade and visit The Writing Center.
Guys and Dolls Update By Yousef Hindy ‘15 Staff Writer
Brunswick’s plays and musicals never fail to entertain. The performances often seem to run flawlessly and with ease for all involved. The truth, however, is everybody involved in Brunswick’s productions, from the faculty on down, works tirelessly to put together shows that are both entertaining and fun. For this year’s winter musical, the work began in spring 2011 when Mr. Potter and Mr. Constantine decided to produce Guys and Dolls. From the beginning, they knew the cast would be very large (52 actors). The large cast presented the initial problem of coordinating 52 busy students’ schedules into manageable rehearsal times. Rehearsals often start as early as 4 p.m. and go as late as 8 p.m. Mr. Potter said that when he first considered doing Guys and Dolls, he imagined the different sceneries ranging from Havana, Cuba to the sewers of New York City and how they could be constructed onto
periaktois, triangular sets that were used in Ancient Greece that spin to show different scenes. Over the past few months, Mr. Kirby-Smith and many students have put Mr. Potter’s plan into action, building the different periaktois, sceneries, and items that will be used in the show. In addition to the challenge of transforming the idea of a set to an actual set, Mr. Potter says that coordinating the schedules of each actor and balancing for snow days is especially difficult. He adds, though, he “…embraces the challenges. That’s why you do something as crazy as putting on a musical at a high school.” He emphasizes, however, that even though the process is very challenging, it is a positive memorable experience for all involved. From the beginning to the end, everyone will bond and learn a great deal about theater. Also, he adds that the level of talent he saw in auditions and in rehearsals was incredible. Get excited!
Check out the Chronicle Online at Chronicle.BrunswickSchool.org
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The Brunswick Chronicle February 2012
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Yankees Manager Gives Advice “Wherever you go in life, you have to be yourself.” By William Fein ‘13 Sports Editor
It seems sports provide the best metaphors. From making a “game-plan” and “calling an audible,” to “throwing a curveball” or coming “out of left field,” sportbased metaphors have long infiltrated American colloquial speech. This inclination toward sports metaphors has good reason: they work. On January 5, Joe Girardi visited Brunswick to talk about baseball and life. Shifting effortlessly between topics, he simultaneously addressed both for the entire assembly. As a major league baseball manager, Girardi’s assignment is to manage. Surprisingly, this duty is often overlooked. A manager provides, perhaps, the most applicable metaphor to our busy high school lives as he must manage time, players, and a long, excruciating season. As with every endeavor in his life, Girardi has met this assignment with both hard work and perseverance. Joe Girardi made his major league debut as a player in 1989. He retired in 2003 as an all-star and a
four-time World Series champion. He was the rare player possessing both talent and discretion. Players like Girardi, whose silent success keeps them out of the gossip pages, often find opposition in the New York City media. When Girardi was traded to the Yankees in 1996, his persona was immediately challenged. As he told me, “I made the mistake of trying to be someone who I wasn’t when I first came [to New York]. I tried to be a home run hitter because I replaced a home run hitter. And then I realized, after about a month and a half, that wasn’t going to work for me and then I basically won the fans over with my style of play. Wherever you go in life, you have to be yourself.” Here an elusive lesson is made understandable by an elegant sports story. Nearly every student at Brunswick will, at one time or another, think about trying to become someone other than himself, to pursue talents other than his own. At the time, it will seem logical and perhaps even necessary, but honesty in character will always prove the wiser decision. Girardi became a manager
in 2006, just three years after retiring as a player. Since then, he has both won a Manager of the Year award and has been a World Series Champion. His tasks are different now than when he was a player. The season is equally as long, but perhaps even more grueling, for he must manage his own composure and that of each of his players. He must juggle assignments like— well, like a Brunswick student. “Prioritize,” he told me, “and that takes discipline.” According to Girardi, academics come first even for great athletes. Sports are always secondary to academics and any tertiary pursuits follow sports. By ranking commitments so objectively, Girardi is asserting that to prioritize is to take commitments one at a time. From this stems one of the greatest problems a Brunswick student faces. Both athletics and academics require complete focus and tireless work. Girardi acknowledged how difficult this is when he said, “I think it’s important, though, that you still do have a release.” Many of us here at Brunswick have heard this sentiment before, but it seems more weighty coming from a World Series
champion with a degree in industrial engineering from Northwestern. Joe Girardi came to Brunswick to impart wisdom. He came endorsing hard work, discipline, honesty, loyalty, and commitment. While many Brunswick boys have heard of these values and of their importance, the message seemed particularly inspiring coming from Girardi. The true source of his power was the combination of his words and their backing by his very real achievements. In his life, Joe Girardi has been a tireless example of all that he preaches. His presence itself was powerful, as were his words. While each independently was compelling, the combination of the two was momentous. The best way to thank Girardi for taking the time to earnestly address our student body is to work hard to embody everything he tried to teach us. For many boys at Brunswick, everything makes more sense as a sport metaphor. As a catcher and a man, Girardi has let his play do the talking. We can do the same.
The Brunswick Chronicle
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February 2012
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Pulitzer Prize Winner Visits GA By Rebecca Deubler Special Correspondent
Nicholas Kristof, a twotime Pulitzer-winning jour nalist for The New York Times, visited GA on Febr uar y 6 to discuss his work on human rights abuses and other social injustices. He joined The New York Times in 1984 after underg raduate years at Har vard and then attending Oxford as a Rhodes Scholar; he has since become a much respected columnist and blog ger. His ar ticles on Tiananmen Square and the genocide in Darfur won the Pulitzer Prize for Inter national Repor ting and the Pulitzer Prize for Commentar y, respectively, and his book, Half the Sky: Tur ning Oppression into Oppor tunity Worldwide, has been widely acclaimed. Mr. Kristof, however, is more than a prolific and ar ticulate jour nalist. Jeffrey Toobin, a CNN leg al analyst and a former classmate of Mr. Kristof, has described him as “the moral conscience of our generation of jour nalists.” His op-ed columns and writings evince his desire not only to uncover the oppression that many still experience around the world, but also to effect real change. They are often difficult to read, as they depict evil and depravity in the for m of genocide, human trafficking, and abuse. At the same time, though, his columns are testaments to the human capacity for resilience and g oodness. Mr. Kristof ’s speech at GA demonstrated his unique ability to both educate and inspire. Most of the stories that he shared with us came from his book, which many of us read this past summer. All addressed the topic of gender equity, which he considers the fundamental moral challenge of the 21st centur y. According to Kristof, upwards of 60 million women globally—perhaps even 100 million—are “missing” today due to gender discrimination in the for m of violence towards women, a lack of adequate nutrition and healthcare, and other for ms of gender inequity. In the past ten years, more women have died from for ms of discrimination
than were killed in all of the genocides that took place during the 20th centur y. The statistics speak for themselves. Mr. Kristof told us how he became interested in the impact of women’s education in fighting pover ty while he was living in China in 1990. He met a girl in r ural China who had been forced to drop out of school because her parents could not afford the $13 yearly tuition fee. After he wrote an ar ticle about her in The New York Times, donations poured
result of an education is that educated women tend to have fewer children. An education, according to Kristof, benefits not just the girls who receive the education, but also their community and their family. Another topic that Mr. Kristof addressed, and which he discusses often in his columns, is sex trafficking. He beg an with an almost unbelievable statistic to underscore the scope of human trafficking today: in the peak of the African slave trade, 80,000 slaves
shocking that many of these brothel owners are women. Mr. Kristof spoke also of the need for family planning and access to reproductive healthcare for women in developing countries. He told us the stor y of one woman in Africa who was mar ried off at 12 to a 50-year-old man, and who developed a fistula – an inter nal injur y that leaves women leaking waste and with ner ve damage in their legs – as a result of giving bir th at a young age. The people in her community, believing she was cursed by a g od, left her in a hut without a door for the hyenas to eat her. Mr. Kristof described how she fended them off with a stick, and then over the course of a few days crawled 30 miles to a missionar y nearby. He took her to a special hospital, where she received surger y, and now she works there as a nurse, helping other women. Like many of the women in Mr. Kristof ’s stories, she took her experience and used it to help those around her. Above: Nicholas Kristof speaks to GA in the Massey Theater. Below: Mr. Kristof meets student Kira Schott ‘12. When I talked to some Photos: Wayne K. Lin of my classmates about Mr. Kristof ’s speech, they told me that they were str uck by his conviction and his ar ticulateness. At moments, there were tears in his eyes as he described the women he’d met and the trials they’d been through. Many of my classmates additionally felt it was interesting hearing about gender equity from a man. Mr. Kristof balanced sympathizing with women’s str ug gles without unduly blaming men. Mr. Kristof demonstrated in his speech not only the hor ror of gender inequity, in for her education. A $10,000 were shipped out of Africa but also the heroism of those dollar donation allowed the each year, while now more than fighting ag ainst it. In bringing principal at her school to pro- 800,000 women are transfer red to light the tr uth, Mr. Kristof vide tuition to the girls in the across inter national borders is something of a hero himself. village as long as they main- each year. These women and He discussed briefly the effor ts tained their g rades; most would children are forced to work that we can make to improve otherwise have dropped out. in brothels, where they are the situation of women around Many of these girls went on abused and raped. Mr. Kristof the globe, from simply educatto higher education as a result, spoke of buying two women ing ourselves to travelling and and have become assets in their from a brothel in Cambodia getting involved directly. His communities. This topic – the in order to help them escape message was ultimately this: power of an education – is Mr. forced prostitution, and of that although it may seem othKristof ’s main focus. With receiving receipts for them. erwise to us in America, genan education, he says, women It is difficult to imagine the der equity is a major issue at around the world can become hor ror that these women exlarge, yet there is much that we successful and bring money perience, and the kind of can do to improve the lives of and leadership into their com- person who would sell other women around the world. munities. Another impor tant human beings. It is especially
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David Boies Visits Brunswick By Jake Matthews ‘12 and Matthew Cassoli ‘12 Co-Editors-In-Chief
On Thursday, Febr uar y 9, Br unswick School was honored to host David Boies, chair man of the law fir m Boies, Schiller & Flexner. Mr. Boies’ leg al career has been nothing shor t of remarkable. He has represented interests ranging from the New York Yankees to CBS to Vice President Al Gore. Recently, Mr. Boies helped over tur n Califor nia’s Proposition 8, a law that prohibited g ay and lesbian mar riages. To him, the fight for mar riage equality in America is the “most impor tant civil rights str ug gle of this generation and one that affects people directly.” He cites his involvement in the case, Per r y vs. Brown, as his proudest professional achievement to date. Mr. Boies also mentioned his involvement in the Westermoreland versus CBS suit (1985) and the injunction he was able to get over the Republican National Committee (1986) as close seconds. Perhaps most impressive about Mr. Boies’ career, though, is not his long list of successes, but rather his dedication to helping others. Mr. Boies fought for the injunction ag ainst the RNC in ’86 because they were, “targeting black and minority districts.” He fought for marriage equality based on his principles. Even such movements as Mr. Boise might not wholehear tedly suppor t, including Occupy Wall Street, he still appreciates as they often trig ger political discussion and national ref lection. Concer ning Occupy Wall Street specifically, Mr. Boise says, “The fact that they [the protesters] offend some people means that they’re ser ving some purpose.”
In his address to the Upper School, Mr. Boies discussed the past and present role of America’s judicial system. He views the cour ts as agents necessar y to promote responsible change in society, especially today when cong ressional g ridlock can prevent decisive g over nment action. He predicts controversial issues, such as President Obama’s health care law, will increasingly be settled by the Supreme Cour t and not in Cong ress. Despite the judiciar y’s undemocratic nature (judges are appointed and ser ve for life), the cour t system is a necessar y component of liberal democracies today especially in America. Taking a step back, though, Mr. Boies is largely complimentar y about America’s g over nment str ucture. When Americans disag ree with the outcome of an election or a r uling on a par ticular issue, they rarely protest violently because of what he cites as an inherent faith in the political and leg al system. They understand that the political process is more important than any one candidate, and that there will always be another election and another choice. To Mr. Boies, America’s g over nment system is built around tr ust, and that tr ust flows from the cour ts. Near the end of our conversation, we asked Mr. Boies if, reflecting back, he had any advice to share. His answer was simple: “Patience. I think that most mistakes come from impatience and I think the failure to achieve most g reat g oals comes from not having sufficient patience.” Mr. Boies, on behalf of Br unswick School, we thank you for speaking to us, and g ood luck with your next case.
“I think that most mistakes come from impatience and I think the failure to achieve most great goals comes from not having sufficient patience.”
Check out the Chronicle Online at Chronicle.BrunswickSchool.org
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Around Wick
Youtube Sensation Cont. graphic designer and sound engineer, who supplied him with sounds from the game itself for the video. When Grant was asked if he saw himself working in the film business at some point in the future, he replied that film production was merely a hobby of his, and although he enjoys creating stop-motion animations and other types of movies, he intends to keep it this way. In regard to the process as a whole, Grant commented, “It was a very enjoyable experience creating the movie and meeting the Firefly Studios creative team. It was an honor to make a promotional video for them because I really like their work, and they ended up putting out a great product.”
Continued from Page 1 8th grader, about a war veteran in a post-apocalyptic world who goes out to explore, sees an old propaganda poster, and reminisces about how the world fell apart after the war. Grant submitted this short movie to Brunswick’s “Wick Flicks” film festival last year, and has since made other stopmotion animations in his own time. Having enjoyed creating such films for some years, it was no difficult decision for Grant to accept Firefly Studios’ offer to promote their game in a short animation, a game that Grant enjoys very much himself. In his own words, “I enjoy creating stop-motion films and I enjoy the game. Put those two together and it was an offer I couldn’t refuse.” During the process, Grant was able to meet the entire Firefly Studios creative team, including their
Lauren Eames ‘13 contributed to the writing of this article.
Wick hosts Hikers Imprisoned in Iran By Willy Fein ‘13 Sports Editor
For some years, the Class of 2005 Speaker Series has provided the Brunswick community with interesting speakers and perspectives. On January 6, Brunswick welcomed Sarah Shourd, Shane Bauer, and Josh Fattal, the three American hikers detained by the Iranian government under suspicion of espionage. The three were hiking in Iraqi Kurdistan on July 31, 2009, when they unknowingly wandered across the Iranian border. They were taken at gunpoint and brought to Tehran, the Iranian capital. There, they were accused of espionage without evidence and detained at Evin Prison. Sarah Shourd was released on September 12, 2010, after 14 months in prison, nearly all of which was served in solitary confinement. Shane Bauer and Josh Fattal were convicted of illegal entry and espionage and sentenced to 8 years in prison before being released on September 21, 2011, after more than 26 months in prison.
At Brunswick, the three focused less on the details of their imprisonment than on their personal reactions to the tragedy. As Shourd said, “Bad things happen…the only thing you can control is how you react.” As a group, they seemed to have made a conscious decision to react not with anger, but with a sincere desire for activism. If they were to assign blame, which they were reluctant to do, it seems they would fault the hostile and ineffective at-
tempts at diplomacy between the American and Iranian governments. Addressing the school, Fattal made sure to differentiate between the Iranian people and the Iranian government, and to do the same with the United States. He warned against the detrimental effects of revenge and of reactionary violence. Much of Iranian injustice, he explained, is justified within Iran by what they see as similar American violations. Without con-
doning this vengeful mindset, the hikers made a point of simultaneously both critiquing the American and Iranian governments and asserting that the people of both countries would favor peaceful mediation to the current hostility. None of the speakers seemed to fit the popular classification of “hikers.” Brunswick hosted activists and journalists who worked to define themselves by these pursuits far more than their famous tale. Sarah Shroud focused on personal reactions to strife. Shane Bauer focused on justice and the danger of assumption. Josh Fattal focused on peaceful and informed resolution and warned against revenge. Since Fattal and Bauer were released in September, very few audiences have had the privilege to hear their unique and interesting points of view. We can only hope that their words of advice and pleas for peaceful resolution are not quickly forgotten.
Check out the Chronicle Online at Chronicle.BrunswickSchool.org
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Exploring Sports Options Cont. Continued from Page 1
still provide different options for those interested in competing at a higher level. Younger students especially, who are required to compete at the inter-scholastic level, are sometimes unable to participate in a real way on a Brunswick team in the winter. The case of this year’s 9th grade basketball team demonstrates the school’s need to pursue other options. Coached by Mr. Montanez, the team has an unwieldy 43 members, and they must constantly be rotated for playing and practice time. While he works to maintain as much of a normal atmosphere for his team as possible, Mr. Montanez agrees that the system is not ideal. “We’re trying to do the right thing,” says Montanez. “We give the kids quality instruction, but we can’t give them individual attention. The ratio is 43 to 1.” While the 9th grade team seems to be faring well given the circumstances, the situation is still not a fair deal to the players. Practice rotations and nonindividualized coaching are only the beginning. Players on a 43-member team cannot possibly experience the same level of involvement as players on smaller teams. Despite efforts by the coaches to accommodate the players, the reality is that only five players can be on the court at any one time. No amount of rotating can give all the available players the proper amount of time on the court. Mr. Montanez clearly cares for his players, but he says the challenge of providing “play space, safety, and a bunch of other things for 43 kids on two basketball courts” is a difficult one. “Are there better options?” asks Mr. Montanez, “I’m sure.” Mr. Philip agrees that there are surely practical alternatives. While the athletic program as a whole has excelled in many areas in recent years, the sub-varsity teams still sometimes struggle. “There aren’t enough teams to play, and it’s not the level of experience we’re expecting,” says Mr. Philip. Especially at Brunswick, where athletics have always held a high standing, opportunity should be made available to all who seek it. “We believe in [sports]…kids should be on a team,” says Mr. Philip, and he voices a belief held fairly uniformly at Brunswick. We at Brunswick do believe in the power of sports to bond a community and mold an individual athlete. We see it
at hockey and football games, where hundreds gather to support the teams, and we see it on the teams themselves, where friendships are formed and championships won, but the current reality is that not everyone has access to that experience. Forty-three freshmen certainly do not have that chance when they are grouped into one team. When asked what might improve with the winter sports program, Mr. Philip was quick to mention that improvements are already being considered, and the most notable option on the table right now is the addition of a swimming program. “It seems the most viable,” says Mr. Philip. A swim team would offer enough space for a large number of participants, as well as many options, ranging from various strokes and races to the possibility of a diving team. Swimming and diving would add more spaces to the Brunswick inter-scholastic team rosters, and add more variety
become much less practical with a larger contingent of students reliant on time in the pool. Mr. Philip has stated that the pool at King Street, if it happens, “is probably a year or two away.” Brunswick could almost certainly field a strong swimming and diving team, especially with access to its own facility. Given Brunswick’s strong recent history in athletic competition, including multiple New England Championships and a near-national Championship by the squash team, the department could put together a strong group of coaches in an attractive facility. A swim team and a new pool have the potential to bring Brunswick more school pride, more athletic prestige, and more students interested in competing at a high level. A pool would bring advantages to the school even beyond those enjoyed by our own swim team. Mr. Philip points out that it would both open up options for the school to host more summer
“While it is easy to get excited when contemplating new facilities, sports, and opportunity for regional prestige, the school must also remember that the program must grow to accomodate athletes of all levels.” to an already strong sports program. While the addition of water polo to the program a few years ago brought the first water sport to Brunswick, increasing amount of students’ time in the pool would create more challenges, which is why adding a swimming pool to the King Street Campus is also considered a strong possibility. A decision to invest in a pool complex would be prudent on the part of the school, for relying on the YMCA or other pools in the area has already proven difficult for the water polo team at times. Using another entity’s space often leads to inconvenient practice schedules and unpredictable pool times. Coupled with the lack of a dedicated space athletes can consider their home turf, renting outside pool time would
camps and provide more sports for lower and middle school gym classes. A new pool would also be an asset to the community at large, for the faculty who live at King Street and the students who pass through regularly would be granted access to yet another state-of-the-art athletic facility. While the benefits of this process might be years away, it certainly seems wise for the school to start working on this improvement. Swimming is not the only addition Mr. Philip and the athletic department hope eventually to make. While adding large facilities is an arduous and costly process, a long-term goal is to also add a track facility, either at King Street or wherever purchasing convenient land is possible. “It’s amazing what the [track] coaches do
without their own facility,” commented Mr. Philip, but a dedicated facility at Brunswick would certainly improve the new program. Both the addition of swimming and the possible growth of track would increase the options for Upper School students seeking a place to engage in athletic opportunities. While it is easy to get excited when contemplating new facilities, sports, and opportunity for regional prestige, the school must also remember that the program must grow to accommodate athletes of all levels. IM sports are understandably the most appealing to many older students, but often those teams, IMBL in particular, fill up with athletes with nowhere else to go. The school must provide ample opportunity for all students. If the sports requirement is to continue in its current form, the program must become more accommodating. The school currently expects all students to follow the fairly strict rules without allowing everyone the proper opportunity to participate at a reasonable level. Adding a swimming program would certainly be a positive development in the school’s mission to change the program for the better. As the school looks further into the future, a dedicated track facility would also help to achieve that goal. Another solution to the problem of overcrowded teams might be to reduce the requirement for students to play a sport all three seasons. Many students would be better served dedicating some of their time to arts, theater, or community service. While the benefits of athletics are obvious, the community bonding and sense of accomplishment gained pursuing many other activities are also equally valuable. Allowing students to allocate after-school time to interests outside of athletics would enable students to pursue their true interests and reduce the burden on large, subvarsity teams like 9th grade basketball. Brunswick has a dedicated interest in providing for the future of the sports program, and making serious investments in future facilities and teams like swimming is significant. As the program continues to grow, students will be given more options, which will hopefully allow for smaller teams, more focused coaching, and general sports opportunities that students will want to seek out for reasons other than simply the need to fulfill a requirement.
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The Brunswick Chronicle February 2012
Around Wick
Featured Artist: Jerry Craft By Kirk Meyer ‘15 Staff Writer
Boyz was in the premise itself. When I was a kid, most of my friends were being raised by either their Jerry Craft is a cartoonist, and mothers or their grandmothers. I creator of “Mama’s Boys.” HIs was one of the few who had a dad work is currnetly being displayed at home. So I created a strip that in the art gallery outside of Baker honored all of the women who had Theater. Kirk Meyer: What made to raise kids like some of my friends. you want to have a display of KM: Mama’s Boyz Mama’s Boyz put up at Brunswick? Jerry Craft: I always love my depicts a single African-American work to be seen by kids and young mother of two in a very closeadults. They give the most honest knit family. Did you have a similar feedback. And it’s always a good family structure growing up? JC: I was more of a Daddy’s time to win over some new fans. boy. My father and I were very KM: You grew up in close. My mom worked a lot, and Washington Heights, what my brother and sister were 9 and 10 experiences did you have there that years older than me. Dad worked might have affected Mama’s Boyz? nights, so he was always home JC: The biggest thing that when I got home from school. my growing up added to Mama’s
KM: Many of your comics help to raise awareness for causes like Diabetes and AIDS. Have you or friends and family been directly affected by these types of diseases? JC: Fortunately, not. But I feel that since I have a platform to help spread a positive message, I owe it to my community. I’ve also done strips on teenage pregnancy, childhood obesity, and believe it or not, organ and tissue donation.
school, there were so many things that I had to think about besides studying. There’s actually a LOT more pressure than you think, even for those of us who seemed to fit it. Each morning I went from a neighborhood that was almost exclusively black to a class that had 8 black students out of 105. Not only can it be difficult to fit in there, but it also makes it difficult to fit in around your block. I’ve added some of that to Mama’s Boyz, and have been KM: You attended a private thinking about ways to address school for much of your childhood it even more. So stay tuned. while living in Washington Heights. In what ways did the differences in More of Jerry’s work, surroundings affect your views and information on his creative process, how does this show in the comic strip? and a link to his website can be found JC: Great question. As on the Chronicle Online, Chronicle. an African American attending Brunswickschool.org, or directly on Jerry’s a predominately white private personal website, www.mamasboyz.com
World vision Club Update By Kyle Chen ‘14 Staff Writer
Thanks to the recent successes of our wristband sale and food sales, the World Vision Club is excited to announce that it is now sponsoring two children, and hopes to sponsor two additional children in the coming months. Currently, the club is sponsoring Sunbake Habunga, a 5-year old boy from Zambia, and Princess Muleya, a 10-year old girl from Zimbabwe. Sponsorship of the
two children consists of providing them and their communities with basic needs such as nutritious food, clean water, education, and health care. Both of the children live in AIDS-affected communities, but it is the hope of the sponsorship is to minimize the impact of AIDS in their communities through tangible prevention and care programs. The club also plans on sending letters and schools supplies to the children in the near future, and hopes to establish an ongoing relationship with them and their families. The World Vision Club is always
looking for new members, so please contact Kyle Chen ‘14 or Ian Coupe ‘14 if you would like to join. If you’re interested in additional informa-
tion about the program itself, visit www.WorldVision.org to find out more about how you can sponsor a child today for just $35 a month.
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Page 10
The Brunswick Chronicle February 2012
Student Editorials
The Importance of a Field Goal By Sean Forester ‘13 Staff Writer I recently asked Brunswick School kicker Nile Rabb if he would have made a 32-yard field goal, the same kick that Baltimore Ravens’ kicker Billy Cundiff pushed wide left in the AFC Championship game, sending the New England Patriots to Indianapolis for the 2012 Super Bowl. Nile did not answer right away, but modestly replied with a composed “yeah.” A 32-yarder, in and of itself, is no big deal in football; it’s football’s equivalent of a “chip-shot.” Yet, the pressure of the moment can be immeasurable. The thought of living and dying by a single action is a scary one, and one faced by almost all kickers in the NFL. Kickers are judged by current successes. This perception must have been floating in Cundiff ’s mind as he lined up for the 32-yard try, and the magnitude of the kick would have placed an extra burden on the despondent-looking Cundiff. Ironically, last season’s ‘goat,’ David Akers, who missed two very feasible kicks in a game in which his Philadelphia Eagles lost by 5 points, thrived as the San Francisco 49ers kicker this season, earning Pro Bowl honors and remaining flawless throughout the playoffs. The profession of kicking in the NFL is an underappreciated one, as even the league’s elite can be cut or humiliated for a few errant kicks. Take Akers, for example, who had a phenomenal year with the Eagles: he missed only six kicks all year before self-destructing against the Packers, and he split All-Pro honors with none other than Billy Cundiff. Kickers
live and die by immediate success; they are given one job and one job only. Kick a football through metal posts that are painted yellow. Kickers consistently earn under one million dollars a year, which is astounding when you realize that certain players are making around twenty million dollars to do the same thing for their team: score points. Even
200 pound man (not very large at all by NFL standards) who kicks a football? There are 22 players, 11 on offense and 11 on defense, on each team who pour their heart and soul into this football game, bleed and sweat until they can not run anymore, and work all game to put their team in the position to win, but the decider of their success turns out to be an
Billy Cundiff’s reaction after missing the 32 yard field goal that would have brought the Ravens to the Super Bowl
successful kickers are often spurned members of the team, pseudoathletes disparaged due to inaction at practices. When he is not getting the job done on Sundays, the disrespect they shoulder multiplies. Kickers are very important, and I am not rejecting that notion, but sometimes they should be expected to make kicks. Cundiff should have made that kick. However, should the outcome of arguably the biggest game of the NFL season to that point truly be decided by a 6-foot,
“athlete” apprehensive about kicking a football? Does that really make sense? Those who train hard in the weight room during the offseason and those who play through injuries to get a Super Bowl ring, not the kicker, should decide the game. That is why a consistent kicker is an undervalued player in the league. The Oakland Raiders’ Sebastian Jankowski, who drilled a 63-yard field goal in a game last season, tying the NFL record for longest field-goal, is the only kicker ever to be selected in the
first round of the NFL draft. Many owners chastised their colleague Al Davis for the questionable choice, but those same owners are beginning to wonder if the value of a reliable, strong-footed kicker has increased due to the weight that a three-point try holds. However, the late Davis’ unorthodox methodology seems to be paying dividends, as Janikowski made the Pro Bowl this year and is always a threat to score once the ball crosses half-field, adding an element to the Raider offense that no other team possesses. Maybe the rebellious Davis was ahead of his time in the fact that he wanted the ability to score three points from a larger range, and the ability to pin the opponent on their own 20yard line after every kickoff. It may seem like a simple formula, but only Davis has taken the risk and placed first-round importance on a kicker. The kicker is an underappreciated position in the NFL. He works as an integral part of a team until he fails. Then, he becomes an unwavering nomad, constantly being swapped out for a better kicker if he cannot get the job done. It is the only position in which the best players at that position can cycle through numerous teams in their careers. Neither the media nor average fans see this injustice. Few NFL fans track the role of the kicker on even their favorite teams, but the value and security linked to a topnotch kicker in the NFL is undeniable, as teams live and die by football’s three pointer in the most important games of the season.
Soccer Grows in America
By Jack Seaton ‘14 Staff Writer What could be bigger than the Giants beating the Patriots on Super Bowl Sunday? Well, apparently the Soccer World Cup Final. Over 600 million people watched the 2010 World Cup Final making it the world’s most watched sporting event. In comparison, a meager 110 million people watched the Super Bowl. Yet, despite its massive popularity, soccer, or as they say in most countries “football,” has never seemed to catch on to the same degree in America. While America is home to the best leagues in basketball, baseball, football, hockey
and more, soccer has never had the same level of public support. In 2000, 192 games were played in the American Soccer League known as Major League Soccer, or the MLS, with a total attendance of 2.6 million fans. By contrast, in the MLB, there were 2,420 games played with a total attendance of 73 million fans. In recent years, however, soccer’s popularity has increased due to a few important factors, including some well-known international players. David Beckham joined the Los Angeles Galaxy 2007 and since then has become one of the most recognized faces of the MLS. One source stated, “Depending on
specification, our results indicate that Beckham increased ticket sales as a share of stadium capacity by about 55 percentage points.” Another European star that has joined the MLS in more recent years is Thierry Henry. Henry is known as having been one of the greatest strikers in English Premier League history, a player who has gained respect and interest playing for the New York Redbulls in the MLS. Another player who has had a major effect on the MLS is Landon Donovan. Landon Donovan is the star player of the USA national team, and is arguably the best player in the MLS today. He has scored 46 goals for the US
team throughout his career and led them into the knockout stages of the World Cup in the summer of 2010. Since the United States played so well in the World Cup, the legitimacy of the United States soccer team increased and the sport’s popularity slightly improved. Attendance at MLS games was about 3.5 million in 2008, up 35% since 2000, and has been increasing since. Soccer in America has begun to grow in popularity thanks to the star faces of the MLS and the growing strength of the US national team. Maybe eventually the USA will be considered a powerhouse in the sport of soccer as it is for so many other sports.
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The Brunswick Chronicle
Page 11
February 2012
Student Editorials
Republican Primary Analysis
By Reed McMurchy ‘15 Staff Writer Eight primaries are behind us: Iowa, New Hampshire, South Carolina, Florida, Nevada, Missouri, Minnesota, and Colorado. This Republican Primary Cycle stands out from its recent predecessors due to its volatility as well as the remaining four contenders’ determination to hold on to their hopes of victory. Numerous factors have influenced this race, including the Tea Party and conservative nostalgia for the days of the Ronald Reagan Presidency. This has also been the first presidential primary affected by the Supreme Court ruling, FEC v Citizens United (2010), which allows the unrestricted fundraising for politicians through Super PACs. Lastly, in an attempt to lengthen the primary election cycle and prevent any one candidate from gaining front-runner status too early, many states no longer allow the winner to claim all of their delegates to the National Convention, but they instead award their delegates on a proportional basis. The primary contest began with a moderately large field, but the number of contenders has dwindled over time, leaving Mitt Romney, a former Massachusetts Governor, Newt Gingrich, former Speaker of the House, Rick Santorum, a former Senator from Pennsylvania,
and Ron Paul, Congressman from Texas. These men come from very different backgrounds, but all have one goal: to defeat President Barack Obama in the 2012 general election. Mitt Romney, the current front-runner, comes from a business background having successfully founded Bain Capitol, a private equity firm. He then guided and rescued the Salt Lake City 2002 Winter Olympics from near fiscal disaster, and eventually was elected governor of Massachusetts. After an unsuccessful bid for the party’s nomination in 2008, he returned to private life until announcing his plans for the White House this past summer. Many Republicans see him to be the most electable of all of the candidates. Recently he has received endorsements from well known public figures, including former President George H. W. Bush, New Jersey Governor Chris Christie, South Carolina Governor Nikki Haley, and real estate mogul Donald Trump, to name a few. Romney has a very well-funded campaign, he attracts the independent vote, and he seems to be the one candidate the Obama Administration fears. Newt Gingrich is vying for the nomination by claiming to be the anti-establishment candidate. Gingrich served as a congressman from Georgia, eventually becoming Speaker of the House in 1994.
As Speaker, he achieved many Republican victories, the foremost being the “Contract with America,” which detailed the plans the Republican’s had for Congress after being controlled by Democrats for 40 years. He was named Time’s “Man of the Year” in 1995 for enacting welfare reform and passing a capitol gains tax cut. Unfortunately, he also attracted controversy for misuse of tax-exempt donations. Other moral conflicts plagued his career, eventually forcing him to step down as Speaker. Rick Santorum, a strong social conservative, holds a number of views popular within the Republican Party, including opposition to same sex marriage and abortion. These views have helped him gain the evangelical vote in Iowa, leading to his first place finish there. These views are not as widely accepted with Independents and Democrats, however, and if he does indeed get the nomination, his strong opinions could very well hurt him. As Senator from Pennsylvania, he voted for tax cuts, supported welfare reform, and tried to help pass a balanced budget amendment. His campaign has been unable to raise large amounts of money thus far, and though at this point it seems improbable Rick Santorum will win the nomination, he continues his campaign for the presidency.
Recent wins in early February have vaulted Santorum up the polls. Ron Paul is seeking a third bid for the presidency after running in 1988 and 2008. Before entering politics, Paul served as a medical officer in the U.S. Air Force and afterwards continued serving as a physician for many years. He holds strong Libertarian values and has a large following. He is especially well liked by many younger Americans. Paul is known for holding some views that are unpopular within the Republican Party, including his harsh criticism of U.S. foreign involvement and an idiosyncratic monetary policy. Ron Paul has been elected to the House of Representatives ten times, but has decided not to seek reelection in his home district this year in an attempt to concentrate on his bid for the presidency. With only eight primaries and caucuses completed, it is impossible to say yet who will gain the nomination. Though the candidates have their differences, they all want to take the country in a dramatically different direction than the course it is currently on. It still remains to be seen whether Americans will decide to turn towards more conservative policies, or whether the ideology of the Democratic Party will continue to lead America in the upcoming years.
Legendary Coach Remembered By Holden Fett ‘13 Staff Writer
Joe Paterno, or JoePa as he was known to the sporting world, recently passed away on January 22nd after a battle with lung cancer. His passing ended a rollercoaster season for the Nittany Lions and their fans. The story started with accusations against ex-defensive coordinator Jerry Sandusky and ended with the firing and subsequent death of the legendary Paterno. While prosecutors indicted Sandusky on forty counts of sexual abuse of young boys, public eyes turned to Joe Paterno to find out how something like this could have happened under his watch and often in his facilities. Paterno admitted knowledge
of the case and wished he “did more to stop it,” but such regrets were too little too late for many disappointed fans. All Paterno did was alert the Penn State Athletic Director, Tim Curley, who failed to contact the proper authorities. So, the sexual abuse continued to happen while Paterno and other Penn State Officials simply looked the other way, endangering countless children and silently condoning unconscionable abuse. It was more than a bump in the road for Paterno; this one scandal dismantled his entire career and has left a permanent mark on the hearts of all of Happy Valley. All that Paterno had worked for, his 409 Victories and two national championships,
have now been swept under the rug just as the Sandusky abuses were on his watch. Although Paterno announced his retirement would come at the end of the season, the board of trustees and PSU fired him the day after. Paterno was left alone with regrets in his home in State College, PA. Unfortunately, these regrets came a decade too late and all that he worked for had been sullied. That Paterno died less than a month after the scandal broke may seem mere coincidence to many, but to some, it seems all too apt. The man who lived for his team and his fans died soon after being fired. Yet, to many, Joe Paterno’s death remains a tragedy. It meant the passing of an icon, someone who defined the way
PSU was represented in the college community, both academically and athletically. It was the tragic end of a glorious era for Penn State, and an end that sheds a negative light on all the good years. Joe Paterno’s death was cautionary to many people who had seen him as larger than life. One mistake, it proved, can outshine a lifetime of achievement. Now, of course, Paterno will still go down in the record books as the greatest coach in college football and possibly college sports. But to those who do not follow college football, or sports for that matter, Paterno will always be the man who tried to cover up the abuse scandal, and for that his legacy is tarnished forever.
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Page 12
The Brunswick Chronicle February 2012
Wick Sports Overview
Taylor Gang Sparks Enthusiasm By Charlie Cassoli ‘15 Staff Writer Starting Wick’s Basketball season with 8 wins and 7 losses, newly named head coach Robert Taylor has made steady improvements over last year. Coach Taylor’s basketball résumé is quite impressive. He has eight years of coaching at Brunswick under his belt, and he himself played basketball as a collegiate athlete. Well known throughout the school, the “Taylor Gang” is a source of energy and excitement. Perhaps because of the team’s close games or the players’ off-court enthusiasm, the “Taylor Gang” has certainly made its presence felt throughout Brunswick. As senior co-captain Devin Mehra explains, “At first ‘Taylor Gang’ was a joking name, but it eventually caught on.” A humble head coach, Mr. Taylor said, “I would rather have the attention focused on the team.” In a recent conversation with Mr. Taylor, he expressed his pride at how the team has come together: “They work hard to support each other as a team.” Although this year’s record may not be a perfect one, Coach Taylor wants “to lay a foundation, and to have a culture of
supporting each other.” However, support for the basketball team does not only come from within. According to Devin, “It helps to play in front of your friends and family. You want to make the school proud.” Echoing that sentiment, Mr. Taylor said, “The boys are really proud of representing the school. They all recognize that it is an honor to play.” Next year, the team will have to face the challenge of filling the shoes of five graduating seniors. However, Coach Taylor remains optimistic, and is confident in his bench players’ ability to step up in upcoming seasons; as he said, “They have been ready to play every game.” He also emphasized that this year’s “starters have been great leaders, and very supportive,” and that the coaching staff has focused on “maximizing the potential of each player.” Coming into a new environment as a head coach can sometimes be challenging, but Mr. Taylor was immediately greeted with respect. “I’ve been happy to see how open last years players have been,” said the head coach. Both players and staff have expressed how excited they are for the FAA tournament and a chance to reclaim their spot on the top.
Ga-Wick Fencing Update By Curren Iyer ‘13 Staff Writer “It all started years ago, in a preschool gym . . . one Ukranian . . . one dream . . . one Joe Hull. . . .” Those were the words that Robbie Fernandez ’12 used to describe the rise of the Wick Fencing Team. Of course, the team was around long before the era of Joe Hull, but this year was different. Several changes were made. First, the team welcomed their new coach, Rebeccah Killian, a Middle School Latin teacher at GA. Readers who took Latin at Brunswick’s Middle School may remember her as Ms. Amendola. Second, there was a sizable increase in the Girls’ Fencing team, a drastic rise from three members last year to sixteen this year, mainly composed of underclassmen. The changes have not gone unfelt. The team this year has been much more intense. Practices happen every day. In past years, the team practiced only three times a week, while the other two days were used for fitness. This change is mainly due to the team no longer practicing in the Preschool Gym after IMBL finishes, but rather in the Student Center. Cocaptain Jack Costello ’12 summarized
the changes, saying, “We’ve gone a long way from a group of people watching instructional videos to a much larger team, co-ed in fact, that practices everyday.” This year the team has faced many tough rivals, including Irvington, Hackley, and its local rival, Greenwich High School. Most recently, the team took part in a novice tournament hosted by Guilford High School on Saturday, February 4. Just before the tournament began, co-captain Pierre Delcourt ’12 reflected on the progress the team had made over the past weeks: “After eight weeks we have come to this tournament, and our first-time fencers will do a great job. We’ve shown a lively spirit every step of the journey.” Indeed, the team’s novices fared well, placing 4 girls in the top 10, with Nico Wada ’15 placing 4th. On the boys’ side, Eric Mertz ‘14 placed 22nd out of 91. With this recent success, the team looks ahead to its next major hurdle: the Individual State Championships, hosted by Hackley, in March. Looking to the future, co-captain Rick Salamé ’12 said, “I hope to see the team thrive, come into its own, and grow with its young membership.”
“A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step.”
Coach Taylor Sam Fraser ‘13 Photos: Matthew Savitt 2012
Pick up a pen and start writing for The Brunswick Chronicle today! Email Jake Matthews at jmatthews@brunswickschool.org or Matthew Cassoli at
mcassoli@brunswickschool.org to join.
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The Brunswick Chronicle
Page 13
February 2012
Wick Sports Overview
Montanez Gang By Jack Duggan ‘15 Staff Writer With three quarters of the winter season in the books, Wick’s freshman basketball team is looking very good. Under the inspired coaching of Mr. Montanez and with help from Mr. Scheufele and Mrs. Harris, the team has a 6-2-0 record with a total of 362 points scored. In contrast, Wick’s opponents have only managed to score 256 total points. The team seems to be equally adept both at offense and defense, a combination that has led to some pretty impressive results. The team opened the season at home against an athletic FrenchAmerican School. The Bruins started off a little shaky, but soon took control of the game winning 50-24. The next game was against Hackley School, a team that showed up with only five players. Hackley soon learned of their mistake as Brunswick maintained a full court press to tire Hackley’s players. It worked. Brunswick went 2-0 beating Hackley 52-14. Brunswick’s first away game of the year was against New Canaan Country School. Wick showed up ready to play, but New Canaan surprised them with their talent on court. The game went back and forth until Brunswick managed to pull ahead with two minutes left. New Canaan Country School stayed with it though, and with ten seconds left, was
up by three. The Bruins got the ball, but due to a misunderstanding, shot a two pointer. The final score was 46-45. Coming off this tough loss, the Bruins next faced Greens Farms Academy. Brunswick forgot their jerseys up in Greenwich and had to use green pinnies lent from Greens Farms. Brunswick was undeterred, however. The freshmen took an early lead and held it the whole game. The team then turned to face a tough Stanwich opponent, and won here as well, 4026. The next game was a rematch against Hackley. Brunswick’s team was initially taken aback by Hackley’s intensity, but they managed to hold their own, and by the end won 57-39. Earlier in the year, Brunswick’s Junior Varsity team played King Low Heywood Thomas and beat them by 20 points. King was looking for another game against Brunswick and Mr. Montanez volunteered his team for the challenge. The Bruins had a very rough start after which it was hard to come back. The final score was Brunswick 31, King 46. Brunswick, however, leaned many valuable lessons during the game that should help with the rest of the season. This past week the Brunswick freshman team played the Hamden Hall School. It wasn’t much of a contest as Brunswick blew them out of the water, 41-21. The team has four more games on the season and aims to do well in all of them. Good luck to everyone on the freshman team.
Paddle Tennis By Christopher Keller ‘15 Staff Writer This winter, the Brunswick IM Paddle Tennis Team has stepped it up. The team practices twice a week at the Greenwich Field Club. Practices are from 3:00 to 4:00 and consist mostly of doubles play. For those who don’t know much about the sport, paddle tennis is similar to tennis but played on a smaller court and with a surrounding screen. Balls that bounce off of the screen are playable. For the first time in its young history, Wick’s Paddle Tennis Team has played other schools, testing the team’s intensity and skill. Brunswick played the New Canaan High School crew twice. The New Canaan Team consists mainly of girls, and Brunswick managed to defeat them easily in both matches. The team may play Rowayton High School as well in the
coming weeks before the winter season comes to an end. The matches are not only exciting for their competition, but are also fun social gatherings. Mr. Carter Hempleman, a Brunswick graduate and fifth grade teacher at Brunswick’s Middle School, coaches the team. Mr. Harris, Mrs. Harris, and Mr. Hastings also occasionally help the team practice, even joining in the team’s routine doubles matches during practice. Perhaps the highlight of the season so far has been an inter-team, small doubles tournament that took place right before the holiday break. The competition and camaraderie are incredible for such a young team. Anyone who likes racket sports or just enjoys being outdoors should consider playing paddle tennis next winter since it is a good sport to help you to relax and have some fun.
Hockey Update By Peter Khoury ‘13 Staff Writer This year, the winter sports season seems to be going by faster than usual. But before they must put away their sticks, Wick’s Varsity Hockey Team is looking to make a strong push to make the postseason in their final couple games of the season. After starting the season strong at 7-3, the team faltered, dropping 5 of the next 6 games. Next, however, with exams finished, the team returned to action in a Friday night game against Kents Hill. They won 6-0. Brunswick’s Hockey team has now won 6 out of their last 7 games. The one loss came against an incredibly big, fast, and talented Salisbury team. As senior co-captain Luke Esposito says, “The Salisbury game was a wake-up call for us as to what a top team in New England looks like. We never quit and everybody played hard, but after a few luck bounces, Salisbury’s offense got going and we were unable to climb back into the game.” In their recent winning streak, the hockey team has earned solid wins against Loomis, Pomfret, Hoosac, and, most impressively, Albany Academy, a team that took down Salisbury earlier this season. When asked about the team’s recent success, Luke had this to say: “Now riding a three game win streak, we have started to find a groove. The Albany Game was a great game all around for our team.
We came out firing and showed them that we simply wanted to win more, finishing the first period up 3-0 with 3 power play goals.” Luke added, “In the second period, we weathered the storm for the most part, giving up 2 goals but scoring one late. Overall, the team played extremely hard and simply ‘wanted it more,’ something Coach Kennedy stressed in the locker room before the game.” Injuries to key players have been a common theme throughout the season for the hockey team. In early January, in a game at Westminster, Andre Masse took a hard hit behind his own net, and suffered a broken collarbone. The injury will keep one of Wick’s top defensemen out for the rest of the year. In addition, Harry Clifford suffered a torn ACL in a Friday night game against South Kent. He is also unable to play for the rest of the season. The team will definitely miss Clifford on the ice with his ability to score and distribute the puck. Others injured this year include forward Nick Sanchez (separated shoulder), Mike Faulkner (sprained knee), Peter Khoury (separated shoulder), Travis Buck (broken wrist), Kevin Duane (torn MCL), Luke Esposito (shoulder), and John Kelly (torn ACL). In the final few weeks of the season, the team will face Lawrenceville, Kent, Hebron, Kents Hill (again), Kingswood Oxford (senior night), and then end its regular season with the Empire Cup Tournament at the end of February.
Varsity Squash By Parker Odrich ‘13 Staff Writer This past weekend at Yale University (February 3-5), Brunswick Varsity Squash had a tremendous showing. The “A” Team placed 2nd and the “B” team placed 9th both in the first division. Brunswick’s “C” team placed 5th in the second division. The tournament was remarkable for a number of reasons. Brunswick was the first high school in the tournament’s history to have two teams in the first division, and further, both Wick teams placed within the top ten. The “A” team (Hayes Murphy, Cooper Briggs, Benton Turner, Alex Baldock, Michael Petrick, Reid Breck, Harrison Croll, Will McFarlane) came out with impressive wins over the talented teams of Milton Academy in the first round, Westminster School in the quarter-
finals, and Belmont Hill (our New England Rival) in an exhilarating semifinal match. Brunswick played perennial powerhouse Episcopal Academy in the finals. Unfortunately, Wick could not pull out the victory, despite putting up tough fights in every match. Episcopal won 5-2. Equally impressive in their own right, Brunswick’s “B” team (Jake Matthews, Marc Dudzik, Chris Hart, Jarett Odrich, Yousef Hindy, John Fitzgerald, Parker Odrich, Billy Berner) performed exceptionally well in its first Division I appearance. While losing to Chestnut Hill Academy, also from Philadelphia, in the first round, they cruised to win in the consolation bracket by beating the varsity teams of Hotchkiss, Lawrenceville, and the very talented St. Ann’s School of Brooklyn. Overall it was a very exciting weekend and a stellar performance by all of the Brunswick teams.
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The Brunswick Chronicle February 2012
Wick Sports Overview
Wrestling W.N.E.I.S.W.A. Runner-Ups By Johnny Erdman ‘13 Staff Writer
Featuring one freshman, seven sophomores, and five juniors, the Brunswick Wrestling team has been challenged all season by its lack of experience. The team showcases six first-year varsity wrestlers, including a number of wrestlers who are completely new to the sport. At the lower weights, the Bruins return sophomore Jimmy Bell at the 126 lb. division as well as fellow sophomore Owen Schubert at 120 lb. In the middle weights, co-captains Peter Briggs and Costas Hadjipateras anchor the lineup. Having graduated the starters at the 170 lb. weight class and above, Coach Ostrye had to look outside of last year’s team members to find wrestlers to fill the gap. He eventually convinced juniors Michael Keating, Willy Rosato, Nick Ulanoff, and senior Will Hayden to join. Although new to the sport, these four new wrestlers have adapted well and have provided several key wins throughout the season. So far this season, Brunswick’s Wrestling Team has worked hard to beat more
experienced teams. The season began with a strong performance at the Canterbury Tournament, where Rohan Das won the 106 lb. division. The team finished fifth overall. The Bruins then turned its attention to a very experienced and competitive Avon Old Farms team. Wick lost, but only by a meager three points; it was another strong performance. Rebounding, Brunswick then beat a very competitive Choate team at home with pins in the last three matches. After the Christmas break, the team started the second half by beating a very competitive outof-league Iona Prep team 55-12, followed by a defeat at the hands of the perennially talented and experienced Horace Mann wrestlers. Brunswick’s wrestlers then turned to the FAA tournament, which they have won 28 out of the past 29 years. Facing and defeating Hopkins School, Greens Farms Academy, Hamden Hall, and Rye Country Day, the Bruins secured now their 29th FAA title in the past 30 years. Rohan Das, Owen Schubert, Peter Briggs, Gregg Nabhan, Will Hayden, Willy Rosato, and Nick Ulanoff all
received All-FAA honors for going undefeated in the tournament, and Captain Hadjipateras received an Honorable Mention. The Bruins followed this with one of their bigger home matches of the season against cross-town rival Greenwich High School. With a packed house and a great atmosphere, the Bruins
picked up crucial wins from Rohan Das, Jimmy Bell, eighth-grader Griffin Thomas, Peter Briggs, Conor Kupersmith, Will Hayden, and Willy Rosato to win. The Bruins have had to work as hard or harder than in past years to maintain their level of excellence. They clearly have stepped up to the challenge.
Will Hayden ‘12 with wrestling captains Pete Briggs ‘13 and Costas Hadjipateras ‘12 after finishing in second place in the W.N.E.I.S.W.A. Championship Photos: Matthew Savitt 2012 and Dan Burns 2012
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The Brunswick Chronicle February 2012
Wick Sports
GA Shows Athletic Prowess By Katherine Goldsmith ‘12 Special Correspondent
Judging by recent attendance rates, it seems our fellow peers and loving classmates have forgotten that GA has sports teams. And sports teams that actually win stuff too! I know this whole “winning” concept may be foreign to some of you, but GA girls are rocking out on the courts, killing on the ice, and taking names in the gym. Ice hockey girls, besides making helmets and pads the new pink, have a winning season. The team is young. According to Captain Justine Daum, “Everyone has stepped it up this year. With three of our four seniors hurt, girls from all grades, including our eighth grader, have stepped it up to work together and act as leaders on the ice.” The games so far have been super exciting; a game against Hotchkiss, where GA lost 1-0 with .8 seconds on the clock, proved that even we day-schoolers can compete with the best of them. Our basketball team, captained by Caroline Vaughn and Galen Hughes, has so far won 5 games. That’s already more than last year, and the season is far from over. GA Basketball is certainly a team to watch out
for; don’t be surprised if they’re a dark horse for the post season! Fencing, new to the GA program, already has four novices ranked in the top ten of the state. On January 20th, the team experienced their first win against Irvington. When asked to describe her teammates, leader Lauren Eames mentions their inherent “quickness, both in the sense of foot work and intelligence.” GA swimming, currently 7-3, is having a tremendously successful
season. They most recently crushed long time rival Sacred Heart in front of the Gator Crew, a group of students who go to games and avidly support GA’s sports teams. GA has now beaten Sacred Heart in every sport, while Wick has never beaten Sacred Heart in any sport. Coincidence? Our squash team is actually pretty good, too. Who knew? They once again pulled off a national title, beating Deerfield in the finals 6-1. Out of the eight
national championships held, GA has won seven, and is currently on a five-year winning streak. Not too shabby, if you ask me. Last, but not least, are our out-of-season athletes and gym class enthusiasts. Ergs line the top balcony, girls fight for ellipticals, and dodgeballs fly through the air. Rather than writing a witty and borderline offensive email, come and support us in our endeavors. Because if you come support us, we’ll come to support you.
Below: GA Squash after winning 2012 Nationals for a second year in a row Photo: greenwichacademy.org
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The Brunswick Chronicle
WICK
February 2012
2012
Brunswick Community
A Message from the Lower School By Mrs. Spaulding’s 4th grade class Junior Writers Brunswick Lower School is the best school around. It has phenomenal teachers and stupendous field trips. Our teachers here help make learning easy and fun—especially this year. They not only teach us about the basic subjects like math, but also about the values of life. Our favorite trip in Lower School was our fourth grade trip to Plymouth, Massachusetts. We had a great time. We went on a tour of the Mayflower and found out many facts about the Pilgrims. Later that night, we slid down an awesome slide and heard ghost stories. Some of them were so scary a few of us couldn’t sleep. The next day, we learned about the Native Americans and saw their actual Native homes. Our trip to Plymouth was our best experience in the Lower School. We love all the fantastic special classes. One of our favorite classes is science. We are learning many useful things about magnetism, electricity, measurement, and the skeletal system. We also do many challenging things in gym. We are wrestling and doing a lot of pushups and sit-ups. We love art class because Ms. Amussen assigns us interesting projects like “ink monsters” and the “son of man.” In Spanish, we are beginning to learn how to speak to each other and we are catching on pretty quickly. Senora Hoyas is a great teacher. In computer, we are discovering new tools on the Power Point program and we are becoming computer experts. We think these classes are exciting and can’t wait to do them each day. The campus of the Lower School is amazing. First, when you walk through the front door, you see all the colorful fish in the tanks. Second, you can’t miss the one and only Stan the dinosaur. Then you can stare into the cafeteria where they serve food that tastes like it was prepared in a restaurant. Our favorite food at lunch is pizza with ice cream. Our classrooms are cool and they all have smart boards and projectors. Every class has a unique sense of style made by the best teachers. Outside, we love to play on the turf. We play soccer and football of course, but our latest games are Sharks and Minnows or Octoball. We always have a lot of fun. The Field house is also great; we play in there sometimes when it’s raining or freezing outside. We also have our annual wrestling tournament there. Brunswick Lower School can’t be beat because of its teachers, classes, and incredible facility. We love it here!
A Middle School Perspective
“Mr. Cosby’s statue always watches over us where we are playing, and we love to shake his hand.” -LS
By Taylor Huffman ‘17 and John Kulesh ‘17 As a Lower School student, I always dreamed of what the Middle School would be like. I heard only rumors as I learned about shapes in first grade. I listened as my friends who had older brothers raved about their really good teachers. I was most excited about the independence gained in Brunswick’s next level of education: no more walking in lines or being monitored by a teacher at all times. Students also had to wear a coat and tie, which felt to me at the time as if, in the Middle School, students became adults. Above the rest, though, two things stand out about the Caputo Middle School: the atmosphere and amazing facilities. The atmosphere within Brunswick’s Middle School is unique. School is fun from the first moments of homeroom to the end of the day. The common stereotype is that school is a drag, but for me, Brunswick isn’t really like that. The school day begins with homeroom. Students talk with their friends and advisors and get excited about the day ahead. Then, right away, first period begins. There’s stress during the school day—there’s no doubt about that. When I take a test, I sometimes feel confused and frustrated, but weekends are fun and friends are always supportive. Brunswick’s Middle School offers some amazing experiences. So far, it’s been incredibly fun.
Other Lower and Middle School publications include The Times of Brunswick Jr, The LitMag, The Bruin, and The Beacon. Links available on
The Chronicle Online.