The Picador: Volume10, Issue 5

Volume 10,Issue 5

11.21.2014 A PUBLICATION BY HOLDERNESS STUDENTS FOR THE HOLDERNESS COMMUNITY

President Harker Speaks: Let’s Work Together Dear School, Thus far, it has been a great year to be a leader at Holderness. Working with me is a talented group of individuals who I am happy to call my friends. The house and floor leaders as well as the Weld Hall leaders, vice president, and I

have spent a lot of time since last spring thinking about how to make this the best possible year for our school.

Our goals and aspirations aim high, but we realize that it’s not easy to achieve all of them. Below are some of our goals as a senior class, our proposals for our senior gift, and some weekend activities ideas.

I strongly encourage anyone in the community—freshman and senior, faculty and staff—to talk to any senior leader or me if they have any ideas that can improve life at our school.

While all suggestions can’t become a reality, we welcome your ideas. Trust me, I would love to have a pool with a high dive on the south side quad and a dorm robot that brings me coffee in bed, too.

Goals • Graduate every senior • Stay on campus for weekends (be inclusive and get involved) • Start early and be organized with the senior gift

Overall, my goal is to leave in the spring knowing that our senior class embraced life at Holderness and that every class below us sees us as an example of how to lead the school.

We will make mistakes—we already have. But, mistakes happen. So far, the vibes of the school are excellent, and a lot of people are buying into making this the best possible year. My job is to help ensure that this happens, but I can’t do this without help from everyone. So, let’s work together to make this an awesome year that everyone can walk away from smiling and laughing.

School President Charles Harker ‘15

Weekend Activities Ideas

• Introduce big, group weekend activities that bring the school together (ex: dances, grilling on the Quad)

• Capture the flag—rent lights for a night game

• Work on phone etiquette in public (don’t use phones where others can see you)

• Open House at the Head’s House

Senior Gift Ideas

• Holderness’s Got Talent • Inter-dorm competitions (ex: Niles vs Hoit in ultimate Frisbee)

• Speakers in Bartsch/Turf/Quad

• Different study hall schedule on Sunday (7:009:00, ends with all-school snack bar and 10:00 check for all)

• Patio on south side of Weld

• Sledding at night behind the Turf

• Adirondack chairs around campus

• Cable in the West Wing

• Water bottle filling stations

Photo Essay

What Are You Thankful For? “Be grateful for what you have and stop complaining it bores everybody else, does you no good, and doesn’t solve any problems.” - Zig Ziglar

Top left: “I am thankful for the people who got me through OB...and I’m thankful that it’s over forever.” Leah Scaralia ‘15; Top right: “This is Jim. I am thankful to have him in my life.” Will Peatman ‘15; Bottom left: “I am thankful to have Jack in my life.”

Drew Hodson ‘16; Bottom right: “I am thankful for my family.” Ella Butlig ‘16

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Above: “I am thankful for boys who read.” Mr. Lin; Below: “I am thankful for the couple of dorks who came into this world as my brothers and ended up my best friends.” Becca Kelly ‘15

Above: “I am thankful for Jake. He is my roommate. I love him.”

Chris Sargent ‘16; Below: “I am thankful to have had this opportunity this year!” Joe Wen ‘15

“If the only prayer you ever say in your entire life is thank you, it will be enough.” - Meister Eckhart 3

The Picador: Volume 10, Issue 5

Outside the Holderness Bubble Alumni share a different Vision of Holderness

By Charlotte Freccia ’15

duck hunting on the weekends.

There are certain alumni of Holderness who we all know--or, at least, know of. We’ve sung the praises of athletes, skiers, politicians, and artists who have graduated from Holderness in the last, say, two decades, and rightfully so. But there is a thriving subculture of alumni we don’t often hear from: these are the men of Holderness who graduated in the late fifties and early sixties when Holderness was still a boys’ school.

We like hearing from and about recent alumni, because their past is our present. Little has fundamentally changed since they graduated. But our older alumni have a very different vision.

He also told me about a lost tradition that Mr. Lockwood might want to resurrect: “There was music by the band after every lunch for about 45 minutes before sports. During a play or between sets, the choir or glee club would sing. The art and music teacher and his adorable wife worked full time to make sure we had every opportunity daily to practice some form of music.”

My uncle, a graduate of the early sixties, describes the atmosphere of the school during his time as “prizes, comradeship, scholarship, freedom.” While that might sound familiar, the Holderness of old was very different from the Holderness of today. For example, my uncle brought his gun to school in the hopes that a favorite faculty member, a Mr. Rip Richards, would take him

“There were some serious 2am pranks against fellow students and teachers alike. There is a photo somewhere in the ‘61 or ‘62 year book of young men carrying a VW bug up the stairs to be placed in the gym/song room.” The same alumnus describes the familiar scene of sit-down dinners: “All meals were sit-down. The tables rotated every two weeks. You could not escape from a meal or from that table—one faculty member with six students.”

Bill Summers’51

However, not everything has changed!

Essential parts of the Holderness experience—including sit-down dinners, senior pranks, and the classic time-management struggle—remain the same.

“While I was at Holderness there was always a debate about more free time for the students,” my uncle told me.

“After two years of back and forth and committees, it was announced that se-

A photo from the 1961 yearbook

niors would have totally unstructured time from 8pm to 11pm every night during the spring of their final year.

Of course this was really meaningless.

You were still responsible for what had to be done. The faculty foisted this idea that they were giving out more responsibility and free time, when the reality was that nothing had actually changed.”

Sound familiar? Maybe so, but the way those seniors used their free time is definitely different than the way current Holderness seniors do. “The seniors would gather at the ‘Butt’ for a cigarette. I realized during my last visit that the butt room is buried under the Hagerman Auditorium.”

All of the alumni I spoke with reiterated the importance of the friends they made at Holderness. Bill Summers ’51, reunites often with his Holderness friends. “I have a really good feeling with them when we get together,” he says. “They are a part of my history that I don’t want to divorce myself from. They’re the foundation I built my life on.”

My uncle said that he has remained friends with six of his Holderness classmates. “I partnered with one in business, and I talk to another every morning. I also served with one in Vietnam.”

Mr. Summers added that staying in touch with his Holderness friends helps him to “look forward to living instead of dying.”

Though we have no butt room or post-lunch band practice, we can all relate to the fondness these seasoned graduates feel for their four years in the mountains.

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A Holderness Alumni’s Words of Wisdom When Fred Carter was a student at Holderness, he played football, basketball, hockey, and baseball. He also worked on the yearbook and student newspaper, was a member of the glee club and the service committee, and was elected a floor leader his junior year and a house leader his senior year. On his page in the 1951 yearbook, it is written, “We will always remember Fred as house leader because even though he did a good job of keeping the dorm in order, he never showed signs of being a ‘big wheel.’” Mr. Carter has maintained his friendships with his classmates and is a frequent guest at Holderness gatherings.

Recently, he wrote to us and shared his words of wisdom that were originally written for his grandchildren; he thought they might be useful to Holderness students as well.

By Fred Carter ‘51

BUy GOLD

THINK BIG BLACK ICE DON’T HITCHHIKE DEER CROSSING

DON’T TEXT & DRIVE VOTE REPUBLICAN STOP & THINK VOTE DEMoCRATIC

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“Experience comes from what you do; wisdom from what you do badly.”

Why is society so screwed up? Is success a failure on anyone else’s terms, other than your own?

Why are there so many miserable, bankrupt, overweight, chain smokers with all the advice?

Are you one who believes there is someone, an expert, that knows how to fix all your problems?

Maybe Oprah, Dr. Phil, Barack Obama, newspapers, magazines and television with advice about health, finances, raising children, dieting, and so forth? If so, ask yourself why there are so many diet books, same with exercise.

Is asking for advice a form of thinking out loud that involves no thought or rather a way to spread responsibility if things don’t work out? Is it a way to blame others if things don’t work out?

Mostly I remember advice not taken. Those offering the advice probably thought I was an idiot.

I guess I’d rather be thought of as an idiot than do something I didn’t want to do.

When was the last time I took anyone’s advice? Honestly I can’t remember, probably when my mother scolded me while saying, “If you can’t say something nice, say nothing.”

A person looks me in the eye, points a finger and says, “A word to the wise.” To me it made no sense; if I am wise, why would I need a word from anybody?

Advice is everywhere and is usually worth what you’re paying for it. On the other hand, many proverbs hit the nail on the head such as, “Common sense would be more common, if more people would only use it.”

The most powerful thing you can do is find people you respect who have opposite or different points of view from you and are willing to have open-minded exchanges with you.

I do not prepare words of wisdom to give advice; I only share them in an effort to make you think—an area in which today’s schooling I feel is sadly lacking. Yes, all of you will be computer literate, which allows research on many subjects, providing you know what to ask. This has come at the expense, however, of courses like shop, home economics, history, and religion.

While I don’t agree, many parents don’t want their children pursuing stints in the military.

These experiences I feel go a long way toward giving one the tools required to analyze the pros and cons of many issues which then allow for thoughtful decisions.

After being a father/step-father to seven married children, fifteen grandchildren, five great grandchildren—as well as being an octogenarian—I find I’m continuously offering advice while noticing it’s rarely taken. This is unfortunate, because my wealth of wisdom is unparalleled— which should be obvious to all.

Use your head for more than a hat rack.

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SPORTS Saturday College Gameday signs never lie

By Jack Kinney and Yanchitis ‘15 With Saturday classes, members of the Holderness community are unable to witness the three-hour spectacle that is known as College Gameday.

ESPN’s College Gameday is a Saturday morning preview of the entire college football game schedule for the day and is hosted by three recurring analysts and a weekly guest. What makes this show unique is that they film at a different college every week, always in a place on the campus where large numbers of fans can congregate right behind the analysts and make it on national television.

The signature moment of the show happens when analyst Lee Corso predicts who will win the game at the college from where the show is being hosted. To announce his prediction, Corso puts on the head-gear of the mascot of the team he believes will win the game.

Perhaps even funnier than Corso’s

mascot tradition, are the signs that the fans behind the set hold up. These signs are almost always satirical in nature and often poke fun at players and coaches on the visiting teams, or one of the analysts themselves if they recently picked against the home team.

More often than not, Gameday signs feature comedic photoshop-esque pictures of celebrities on the bodies of other people. Silly rhymes are frequent as well. There is rarely vulgar humor, although some signs can be viewed as dirty. Since Jameis Winston’s crab-legstealing incident—combined with his alleged rape charges—he has often been one of the most targeted athletes out there—even when College Gameday isn’t in Tallahassee.

Miller that plays off of the notion that cargo shorts are very uncool because nobody needs that many pockets.

If you have time on a Saturday morning to tune into College Gameday, you will undoubtedly notice one or more signs directed at either an opposing coach, player, or one of the anchors on the show that references that person’s apparent love for the band Nickelback.

And of course, if a sign says that “Lee Corso Listens to Nickelback,” it must be true. Gameday signs never lie.

Of all the signs, my favorites are those with mediocre jokes and weak insults, such as “Mettenberg Shaves His Legs,” referencing former LSU quarterback, Zach Mettenberg, or “Braxton Wears Cargos,” a sign directed at former Ohio State University quarterback Braxton

Top left: FSU Quarterback and Heisman winner Jameis Winston was arrested this offseason for stealing crab legs from a supermarket; there are countless signs making fun of this; Bottom left: Host Kirk Herbstreit had picked against their team the week before, so fans found a golden picture of him from his college days; Top right: Alabama fans’ sign on Mississippi State Quarterback Dak Prescott. Bottom right: Georgia and LSU fans prior to the Bulldogs’ home kickoff against the Tigers.

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Federer is Tennis and Tennis is Federer

By Tommy Chau ‘15 Despite not being able to claim the ATP World Tour Finals championship due to an injury, thereby losing a chance to be number 1 in the world, Roger Federer is still the most popular. Not only has FedEx achieved the all-time record of 17 grand slam titles, he has also been a gentleman both on court and off court. As the 2014 ATP World Tour season comes to an end, let’s have a look at 10 reasons why the greatest tennis player of all time is also the tennis fan’s favorite.

One-handed backhand: Due to the rise of big servers such as Milos Raonic or baseliners such as Rafael Nadal, a one-handed backhand is no longer a popular option for players returning serves. However, Federer is the exception. His backhand is not only magnificent in its look, it is also a powerful weapon that the Swiss maestro employs to carry out his beautiful serveand-volley strategy.

Federer can speak seven languages: For a professional athlete, being able to communicate with the press in English is the most important thing. But for Federer, his language skills extend beyond English. He can conduct interviews with the press in seven different languages from his most fluent ones (German and French) to the least fluent ones (Italian or Spanish).

Achievements: At 82 titles, Federer has the third most titles in the Open Era, after Ivan Lendl with 94 and Jimmy Connors with 109. However, what many remember the most is his unbelievable 17 Grand Slams. Federer was born to be the champion.

Ballerina on Court: Apart from the exceptional mechanics in his shots, Federer is also blessed with amazing footwork and speed. As one sees Fed

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moving around different parts of the court on his tiptoes and carrying out surprising shots, one is reminded of a ballerina performing exquisite actions on stage.

you can be Roger Federer.” FedEx can adapt to almost any surface with his appropriate strategies and superb skills, thereby maintaining a high level of consistency in his matches.

Humility: Unlike some athletes in other sports, Federer has rarely gotten involved in fights or arguments with his opponents. Winning or losing, Fed just delivers a smile and gives credits to his opponents.

Play with head: Modern tennis involves brute strength; however, Roger Federer does not use this weapon alone to defeat his opponents. He also uses his sharp tennis IQ to determine where and when the ball will land and execute appropriate shots for his advantage. For that reason, he is able to attract a lot of fans wherever he plays, even when he is playing an opponent that has the home field advantage.

Family man: Despite his busy competition schedule, the Swiss maestro tries to do his best to stay at home close to his family whenever he is not playing.

Well known for his pristine record off court, Federer is widely regarded as the epitome of the family man in the world of professional athletes.

Mental toughness: There were years when Federer had poor records and did not win any Grand Slam titles, but he still came back with his incredible will. Failures cannot bring Roger down.

Adaptability: There is a famous saying that states, “You can be a grass court specialist, a hard court specialist, or

Federer is tennis and tennis is Federer: Whenever people talk about tennis, they remember Roger Federer as the greatest player of all time. His era of dominance from 2004 to 2008 has completely ended the Sampras-Agassi era of the 1990s and opened a new page in the history of tennis. Federer has set many different records that will be hard to break in the near future.

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Humans of Holderness Joe Arsenault, B-Ball, and the Effects of OB

By Parker Densmore ‘15 Parker Densmore: What has been your favorite moment at Holderness so far?

Mr. Arsenault: JV basketball tryouts.

I love basketball and it’s nice to be back on the court, playing, and coaching.

PD: How was your fall coaching JV soccer?

JA: I thought the season went well.

Even though we started poorly, the players’ improvement as the season progressed was great to see from a coach’s standpoint.

PD: Did you have any takeaways from the season?

JA: Looking back, my greatest takeaway was that it doesn’t matter how good you are—as long as you work harder than the person across the field from you.

PD: Who were you rooting for in the World Cup? JA: USA. Obviously.

PD: What about in the final. What were you feeling when Messi missed that free kick?

JA: Disappointed. I really wanted to see Argentina win since they were, from my point of view, the underdogs in the game. I really enjoy seeing the underdogs win.

PD: Since you are coaching both soccer and basketball, do you have a favorite between the two?

JA: Basketball. I am a very controlled person and feel that basketball is a more controlled game than soccer. I like to think the ball is better protected in my hands than at my feet. I love being in the gym, and I grew up playing basketball as my main sport.

PD: Did you play either in college?

JA: At UNH, I competed on their intramural teams—soccer, basketball, and softball. I also rowed with the crew team for a year.

PD: What else did you do for fun in college?

JA: I was in an Acapella group for a couple years and spent my senior year interning at the Dover Teen Center. I spent my grad year teaching math in Nashua, NH. PD: What do you enjoy about teaching math?

JA: I enjoy math because it is structured and organized. Without math, we would essentially be nowhere. All technologies—from computers to engineering to electricity to science to insurance—are all dependent on basic mathematical foundations. I also like how it builds on itself over the twelve plus years you are learning it, and how all parts of the subject stay relevant as you advance to the next level.

PD: Which level of math is your favorite?

ing. The idea that you have the ability to take a random set of numbers and model them mathematically is really exciting. We teach it somewhat in high school curriculums, but not nearly to its full potential. Take an insurance plan for example: being able to combine all deductibles, copays, co-insurances, max and min profits into a set of functions and be able to compare plans and insurance profits is a very relevant skill in the real world.

PD: If you could be placed with any faculty member on OB, who would it be?

JA: I am actually headed to PO this year, but I am excited to do the trip someday. I would probably choose Mr. Casey. I went on O-Hike with him, and I liked his attitude of “Let’s make this the biggest we can make it.” I enjoyed having the opportunity to give the students an experience that they could be proud of, and I believe Mr. Casey would have the same mindset on OB. I am looking forward to the effect of OB on my life, since it appears to be a life-changing adventure. It is one of the reasons I came to Holderness.

JA: I really enjoy mathematical model-

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Marvelous Talents Hidden at Holderness

By Maggie Barton ‘16 All too often, we sit next to someone in class or at a dinner table and learn about their hometown and favorite sport but never get to the juicy stuff we really want to know. We go through our lives oblivious to the obscure and marvelous skill that floats among us. The best soccer player and the smartest student are known, but the subtle and unique strengths embedded in each of us remain unpraised. So I searched high and low for the true talents on campus, though I am certain there are many I did not find. Despite the challenge of digging up the hidden talents nestled within the Holderness community (perhaps they are hidden for a reason), an interesting collection of skills surfaced: Parker Densmore can twerk… and I mean twerk.

Matt Garner can count to the 50th digit of Pi Zac Chernin is knee deep in his very own book. The topic you might ask: genetic mutating combined with people modifying themselves with machines (like cyborgs..duh).

Jessie Montague can speak Russian.

best is her Scottish accent. She refers to people as “lasses” and talks about the “Highlands.”

Chris Sargent can throw knives, ride a unicycle, and eat peanuts--even though he’s allergic to them.

Mr. Lockwood can play the nose flute.

Mrs. Lin can hula dance.

Geoff West can solve a rubix cube like no other.

Phil Stowe is a world-class cuddler.

Lindsey Houseman knows the birthday of every member of her 8th grade class.

Teagan Mosenthal can fit her entire fist in her mouth.

Cam Robertson can play the ukulele.

Jack Herrick can have a poisonous spider lay eggs in his ankle and survive.

AJ Chabot is a tremendous pianist.

Claire Caputi can talk without opening her mouth.

Mr. Barton has been a crossing guard (vest and all).

Ms. Pope knows the capital of every country (yes, EVERY country).

Taylor Mavroudis is unreal at impressions and accents. Her

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The Picador: Volume 10, Issue 5

In the Community Winter Sports Preview: Are We Ready?

Girls’ Varsity Basketball: If blood, sweat, and tears is what makes champions, then Holderness girls’ hoops is preparing for an powerful and dominate future. The team is young and full of purpose and energy. Returners Aly Axman and Storm Thompkins will be leading a squad of new players including: Laura Rinehart, Giuliana Kevlin, Geia Alverio, Donetta Johnson, and Darielle Matthews. The team is under new leadership from Head Coach Jini Rae Sparkman and Assistant Coach Pat Saunders who both bring a commitment and passion for basketball to the growing program. Look for our first home game on December 6 at 4 PM against Deerfield.

Girls’ JV Basketball (Moti Jiang): Last year as one of the most highly anticipated teams, the girls’ JV basketball team did not fail to produce a wonderful season; we tripled our game record from one win per season to a glorious three wins. This winter, we are looking for a big jump to at least four winning games. A lot of new blood is powering the team in the upcoming season, and besides a promising number of fresh

players that will be joining the team, our new coach is also ready to lead us to victory. We believe Mr. Collins will guide the team to achieve our ambitions. To returners, we feel obligated to announce the bad news that suicide sprints—our favorite drill—will not be the focus of this season. Although we have to bid farewell to this ritual, we will still preserve our tradition of diversity and competitiveness.

Let’s sharpen our expertise by jogging around the court and practicing knock-outs and get pumped for the new hoop season!

Boys’ Varsity Basketball (Charles Harker): This year’s boys’ varsity basketball team has many strong assets—some new, some old. New coach Woody Kampmann brings a hefty load of coaching experience, and the squad contains a healthy mix of seasoned veterans and young talent. New sophomores, Suk Mathon and Dan Cabassa, bring size as well as skill to the team, while new juniors Ziggy Tracey and Thomas “TJ” Jackson will contribute with agility and crafty moves to the rim. Seniors James Tyrell, Chad Knighton, and Josh Joyce look to fill it up

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from three-point land, while returners Tony Boateng and PJ Brennan bring experience marked with tough defense and quickness. Also new to the squad this year are seniors Malik Love and Jack Yanchitis and junior Cole Donovan. Cole’s sharp shooting, Malik’s riveting speed, and Yanch’s knowledge of the game are sure to add to the team’s depth. You can catch us in action this Friday as our season begins against Vermont Academy. Manager Tommy Chau is sure to impress you with his skills at the shot clock; we are poised to have the most accurate stats in the history of the Lakes Region. Go Bulls!

Boys’ JV Basketball (Matt Garner): JV ball is back and looking better than ever. Our style couldn’t have been better at our first practice (Nick Conner showed up with a blue arm sleeve and a Larry Bird jersey). We have gained some great additions to this year’s stunning line up. The new additions include two coaches—Coach Troy and Coach Arsenault. These average joes will work nicely with some key returning players like Minh Tran, Tyrese Cocking, and Phil Stowe. JV1 this year looks to make another run at the Lakes

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Region JV basketball finals, while JV2 looks to have another below average season with hopeful senior captains Kai Lin and Matt “Caper” Garner. The boys have their first home game on the 14th of January against the mutts of New Hampton.

Boys’ Hockey (Charlie Day): Two thirds of this year’s boys’ varsity hockey games will be away this year—a tough schedule to confront. But we are determined to not use the tough schedule as an excuse. With the addition of Coach Thompson and his experiences with Athletic Republic, the team will have more insight into strategy and be ready physically. Another key addition to the squad is forward Logan Clarke. With great speed, hands, and a high overall hockey IQ, Logan is posed to have a great junior season with the Bulls this year.

Girls’ Varsity Hockey (Maggie Barton): Although the girls’ varsity hockey team is not excessive in numbers, we make up for our petite expanse in spunk. With seven faithful returners and eight energetic newbs, the team is raring to go. Even a Saturday night practice at Cardigan couldn’t bring our spirits down. Seeing what light work

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we made of our post-practice pizza, we are clearly a team who knows what it wants. Emma and Annie, our devoted captains, have their work cut out for them keeping us all in order this season. The trajectory of the sun and the moon project abundant success for these Bulls!

Girls’ JV Hockey (Claire Caputi): The Superstars are off to a strong start this season. Although we have a lack of helmets and ice time this week, we are hoping that the momentum from last season will carry over given that we often have the winningest record of all the winter sports teams. Newcomers, such as Perry Lum and Tori Walsh, show a lot of promising grit and athleticism, while returners like Jessie Montague and Sarah Gudas have been working hard in the offseason to be on second line. Hopefully Jessie will develop her skating ability into both legs this year. Our first practice has already been canceled but will most likely require a half hour or so of putting on equipment and then walking out onto the ice. We look forward to watching ourselves grow as a team and improve as hockey players. Superstars on three: ONE, TWO, THREE—SUPERSTARSSSS!!!!!!!!!!!

Nordic (Emily Clifford): The 2014-15 nordic season is off to a great start.

Although we will deeply miss our beloved seniors (Celeste, Eliana, Drew, Tank, and Garrett) and the enthusiastic Coach Durnan, the team morale has never been higher due to the awesome new freshies – A$AP Jerome and crew.

Not to worry about the so called Nordic Blog (formerly run by Coach Durnan); Lizzy Duffy, Grace Eagan, Carter Daume and myself are taking over.

With over 10,000 hits from last year’s season alone, the bar is high! Selfie contests are judged daily and freestyle routines and many skiing adventures are documented on the reg. We are looking forward to our Wednesday Lakes Region races, Eastern Cup weekends, and the usual Thursday night ski and sauna. Hope to see you on the trails- Peace, love, think snow <3 Eastern Freestyle (Cameron Robertson and Chris Sargent): The Eastern freestyle team is pretty stoked for another epic ski season. Plus, we are ready to lead the winter teams in best hair. The squad consists of Jake Rosencranz, our fearless captain and

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contender for best hair; senior Cam Robertson back for a third year of shredding the gnar; and junior Chris Sargent hoping to keep it hifey despite his persistent back problems. Kelley Attenborough is out to defend his title of most improved and “will not let anyone stand in his way” of getting it again; Jack Finn and Chris Caulder will be fighting back and forth for 1st place; Jack Gewirz will be held to higher standards after skiing in Whistler for a month this summer; and, newest squad members Stew Hutchinson(current leader in nicest hair), Sumner Brumbaugh, and Henry Hall are all expected to contribute positively to the team. Last, but certainly not least, our intrepid sole female representative on the team, Hannah Fernandes, is expected, as usual, to sweep the girls’ section of every comp.

With a combination of pure ski talent and luscious locks, the Eastern Freestyle team this year cannot and will not be stopped.

Eastern Alpine (Chris Hyland): With a plethora of new faces, the Eastern alpine ski team is shaping up to have another successful year. There seems to be a great group of young athletes this season, so the older skiers better watch their backs. I even sense some sibling rivalries sprouting. Will Joe Gillis ever beat Sarah Gillis? Will Zac Chernin be able to hold off his sister Tori? These questions lead me to ask even more questions. Will Jack Brill ever make the bus on time? Will we ever have a fan bus for a race? Will Zane Zimerman prove to be just as wild on skis as he is in shoes? Where is Darnell? We’ll have to wait and see, but for now I wish the best of luck to those headed to Bretton Woods, Copper, and Mammoth, and may the snow be ever in your favor.

School Team Alpine (Leah Scaralia): Last season, there was the occasion when our beloved former coach Will threw McKinley’s skis on top of a building (was Will Pratt even there that day? Or was he late for the bus?).

There was Keying’s first-ever race, which, of course, she took on with a smile and an air of confidence as usual.

There was Brett’s tendency to bring

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danger to every situation. And thank goodness Lexi, Jesse, and Hannah Benson had actual experience with racing; they carried us through the season without too much embarrassment.

Last but not least, who could forget Lewis’s Wookie noises while we skied past him in training exercises?

This year, we welcome Alex, Chloe, Conner, Sydney, and Tia! While we can’t wait to shralp the gnar with them, we don’t really care if they’re good racers. What really counts is whether or not they can stack wood to Dr. Mumford’s standards. And, Ellery, we hope that you will be able to join us again at some point this year! You’ve been on the team as long as any of us, and it won’t be the same without you!

Eastern Snowboarding (Reid Moreschi): The snowboarding team is looking strong for the upcoming year and the athletes are excited to get on the slopes. The team is small but packed full of energy. As we anticipate snow and prepare ourselves for the cold, we spend our afternoons on trampolines and doing dry land training. After an undefeated season in the Lakes Region competitions last year, the team hopes to repeat the success and have fun. We have two new coaches and are looking forward to the year.

School Team Snowboarding (Rory MacLeod): The school snowboarding team has always been strong, and this year we are looking better than ever. I hear that olympic snowboarder Craig Cullen will be joining us on the slopes this season sporting his luscious locks of blonde hair. And sources tell me that Andrew MacLeod, a.k.a Salt Mine Sally, will be making a guest appearance from across the pond and plans to “show ‘em how we British boys do.”

School team snowboarding attracts the best of the best including stud muffin Will Blatz; I feel sorry for anyone who thinks they have more style than us.

This season, like every other, will be world class, and I feel honored to be a part of it.

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The Picador: Volume 10, Issue 5

In the Community Why I am “quitting Basketball”: An Editorial

By Seo Jung Kim ‘15 “What do you do for your winter sport?” is a common question that I’ve been asked recently. Some people who know that I have played basketball the past three years assume that my answer is going to be basketball, so when they hear Art in the Afternoon, they show me their surprised faces. Then they ask me why I am quitting basketball. I understand their curiosity, but honestly, it sounds very odd when people ask me why I am quitting basketball, not why I am doing art. If my response were “I am doing hockey,” would “Why are you quitting basketball?” still be their first question?

I am an artist. I love creating my own art pieces by using splendid pigments or just simple drawing pencils. It feels amazing when I see the outcome of my efforts. Art is a huge part of my life. I believe that I and many other artists and musicians on campus are very enthusiastic about their work. However, the culture of the school does not seem to support the arts.

Although the completion of an art credit is mandatory, it is evident that

Holderness School mainly focuses on sports and academics and less on the arts. Art in the Afternoon and art in general are being marginalized in this school. While both activities are considered afternoon activities, students who participate in the art activity do not get formal group photos like the sports teams. Additionally, while many great athletes receive awards during sports award assemblies, art students have no opportunity for acknowledgement. Since the art and sports programs are different, it is very difficult to treat them exactly the same, but the differences do not justify the school’s indifference towards the arts.

The limited art curriculum is another example. Among about 14 AP classes offered at Holderness, there are zero AP courses taught by the Art Department. Although last year there was one student who took an AP art course by herself under Ms. Plourde’s guidance, Holderness School needs an established AP class for students who are passionate about the arts. Of course, I am proud of Holderness athletes’ fabulous performances and thankful for our broad curriculum, but Holderness

The Picador: Volume 10, Issue 5

School needs to pay more attention to those artists who are desperately looking for support and guidance.

Back to my first question: why is it that when I say I’m doing Art in the Afternoon that I feel like all I am trying to do is get out of sports? Does it mean that my identity as an artist is not valued as much as my identity as an athlete? How can we appreciate the artists here as much as the athletes?

The indifference towards the arts does not mean that one particular group needs to be blamed; everyone needs to contemplate how to create an artistic atmosphere on campus. Both athletes and artists should respect and acknowledge each other’s varied talents.

Holderness School should find ways to provide more opportunities to art students, and art students also need to let the school know what they need and want. If we work cooperatively and genuinely care about our programs, the Holderness community will be more inclusive, embracing both athletes and artists.

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Did You Know? Random Facts About Thanksgiving http://www.allparenting.com/my-life/articles/969379/20-thanksgiving-fun-facts-to-teach-kids

The first Thanksgiving was held in the autumn of 1621 and included 50 Pilgrims and 90 Wampanoag Indians and lasted three days. Many historians believe that only five women were present at that first Thanksgiving, as many women settlers didn’t survive that difficult first year in the U.S. Thanksgiving didn’t become a national holiday until over 200 years later! Sarah Josepha Hale, the woman who actually wrote the classic song “Mary Had a Little Lamb,” convinced President Lincoln in 1863 to make Thanksgiving a national holiday, after writing letters for 17 years campaigning for this to happen.

Historians say that no turkey was served at the first Thanksgiving! What was on the menu? Deer or venison, ducks, geese, oysters, lobster, eel and fish. They probably ate pumpkins, but no pumpkin pies. They also didn’t eat mashed potatoes or cranberry relish, but they probably ate cranberries. And no, Turduckens (a turkey stuffed with a duck stuffed with a chicken) were nowhere to be found during that first Thanksgiving.

The first Thanksgiving was eaten with spoons and knives — but no forks!

That’s right, forks weren’t even introduced to the Pilgrims until 10 years later and weren’t a popular utensil until the 18th century.

Thanksgiving is the reason for TV dinners! In 1953, Swanson had so much extra turkey (260 tons) that a salesman told them they should package it onto aluminum trays with other sides like sweet potatoes — and the first TV dinner was born!

Each year, the president of the U.S pardons a turkey and spares it from being eaten for Thanksgiving dinner. The first turkey pardon ceremony started with

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President Truman in 1947. President Obama pardoned a 45-pound turkey named Courage, who was flown to Disneyland and served as Grand Marshal of the park’s Thanksgiving Day parade!

The Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade began in 1924 with 400 employees marching from Convent Ave to 145th street in New York City. No large bal-

loons were at this parade, as it featured only live animals from Central Park Zoo. Wild turkeys can run 20 miles per hour when they are scared.

Thanksgiving Trivia — The Speed Round!

- Benjamin Franklin wanted the turkey to be the national bird, not the eagle.

- Americans eat 46 million turkeys each Thanksgiving.

- Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin’s first meal in space after walking on the moon was foil packets with roasted turkey.

- The heaviest turkey on record, according to the Guinness Book of Records, weighs 86 pounds.

- Californians consume the most turkey in the U.S. on Thanksgiving Day! - Female turkeys (called hens) do not gobble. Only male turkeys gobble.

- The average turkey for Thanksgiving weighs 15 pounds.

The Picador: Volume 10, Issue 5

Shoutouts

Compiled by Lilly Vittum ‘15

MB & CR = And the Best Dressed couple award goes too...

HF & AL = So true & so new CR & CK = Was it art that inspired this new flame?

RM & SH = She’s not getting a ring, but she’s getting a walk back

Overheards

Compiled By Parker Densmore ‘15 It costs 20 dollars for one queen bee!

I am super excited to watch games at the rink.

We should have put the bonfire in the trench and jumped it.

I can already taste the stomachache.

Does Yifu do weddings?

Well I’m glad midterms are over.

Senior Editors Youngjae Cha Tommy Chau Parker Densmore Charlotte Freccia Charles Harker Jack Yanchitis Junior Editors Maggie Barton AJ Chabot Layout and Design Moti Jiang Keying Yang

Faculty Advisors Ms. Magnus Mr. Herring Contact Information Holderness School Chapel Lane P.O. Box 1879 Plymouth, NH 03245 Phone Number: 603.536.1257 Email: info@holderness.org

In and Out

By Phil Stowe ‘16 and Will Tessier ‘15

In

Out

Winter

Going Outside

Winter Sickness

“Summertime Sadness”

Turtlenecks

Neckties

Thanksgiving

Hunger

Teachers Cramming Before Midterms

Peace/Sleep

Ms. Weymouth’s English Class

Shakespeare’s acting company

Natalie McBeath

Adele