Senior Supplement 2012

2

NEWS June 19, 2012

Or JULIA SHARKEY ’13 Features Editor

One Writer’s Look At This Year’s Highs and Lows Courtyard Cookout

Collab Gets Cut

PHOTO BY JULIAN CLARKE ’12 Accompanying the typical Facebook college acceptance status came something unusual. Not just a thank you to Staples, or his teachers and friends, but an Isaac Stein ’13 original. Stein invited the entire senior class to join him for a barbeque in the courtyard during the school day to show his appreciation and thanks for all that the Staples community has done for him. Seconds after the Facebook event was published came one of the first posts: “As of five minutes ago, about a hundred Hebrew National Hot Dogs and associated buns have been purchased.

And three bottles of Gulden’s mustard. Let’s go!” Eventually, over 500 hamburgers and hotdogs were purchased to celebrate the graduating class and some enterprising members of the class of 2012 brought along strip steaks of their own. Too bad the administration thought this was the senior prank.

PHOTO DRAMATIZATION BY DANNY COOPER ’13 Sophomore year brings the option of a class called Collaborative, or “Collab.”

The class was cut because, the administration says, not enough freshmen signed up to take the class next year. Seniors are fortunate that they got to experience one of the last years of this program but feel bad for the incoming. “Collab was a great class in that it allowed students to talk freely and participate in very open discussions,” said Perrin Judd ’12. Maybe with a few petitions and student attendance at the Board of Education meetings, this unique class can be brought back.

A Delayed Beginnning

On The Loose

PHOTO BY ERIC ESSAGOF ’12 How often does the first day of school get cancelled because of weather? This year marked an August cancellation not for a snow day, but the never-before-seen Hurricane (Irene) Day. Students thought this couldn’t get any better, but then Superintendent Elliot Landon extended summer by a second day. “I didn’t even care that we had to move our whole family and belongings to our aunt’s house because the beach was so damaged and out of power,” said Vasili Tziolis ‘12. “I just didn’t want to think about school for a second.” The fact that most of the town was out of power did not even register in students’ minds as all they focused on was the fact that the ’11-’12 school year was already off to a great and delayed start.

Not so hot: there wasn’t even one more snow day, delayed opening or early closing for the entire year.

PHOTO REPRODUCED WITH PERMISSION FROM WESTPORTNOW

Westport may not be the most exciting town, so a little chaos raises the alarms. In October of 2011, an alleged Massachusetts murderer in a silver Honda Civic took police on a chase, off I-95 and eventually around Westport. Including the dog park. For a few hours, the alleged criminal was on the loose, including hiding in the yet-unopened space for the U.S. Post Office in Playhouse Square and eventually hit a Westport driver’s Bentley. “I remember my assistant coach, Malcolm, saying that even if the murderer somehow was near us, he wouldn’t be able to catch us anyway.

We’re too fast for him,” said cross-country runner, Sam Cohen ’13.

Snowcoming

Security Increases The new security system of Staples was greeted variously.

This year, a new traffic guard, David Sweet, while well-liked, forced many Staples drivers and other students to change their sneaky ways. It was just plain harder to escape from school.

“You had to time it to make sure he wasn’t there; he made it more difficult to leave,” said Katie Kleinberg ’12. In addition, Officer Sweet ticketed a lot of students who were parking in faculty parking or the fire lane. A number of drivers accumulated over 20 tickets this year, cost them at least $200.

Administrators were happy. Students? Not so much.

PHOTO REPRODUCED WITH PERMISSION FROM THE NORWALK HOUR

Administrators meant for Homecoming ’11, at sunrise, practically, to be boring, with a dead-asleep crowd. Surprise.

The Wreckers crushed the Greenwich Cardinals with a handoff from Mother Nature. A blizzard of snow shocked the fans and players, especially 1952 marked the last sighting of snow before Halloween. “I stopped watching the game and started tracking the snow,” said Jacob Meisel ’13. Westport wound up with about 6 inches. As the game wound to an end and students emptied the stands, the snow filled them right back up and resulted in Staples’ first-ever Snowcoming.

Taking the temperature of a year’s events

PHOTO BY MADISON HORNE ’12

News

Inklings / June 19, 2012 / inklingsnews.com

3

Travel Buddies

When Graduation Does Not Mean Goodbye BEN REISER ’13 Managing Editor

11.

W

hether it’s with cool confidence, impatient irritation, or terrified trepidation, seniors ultimately venture off into the world for internships, stride across the stage at graduation, and, a few months later, bid farewell to Westport to achieve their post-high school goals.

For many of this year’s seniors, however, a piece of Westport will travel with them to their new environments, whether that will be in nearby New York City, or halfway across the country.

For these seniors, they’ll see some pretty familiar faces on their new campuses—faces that they have, in fact, been passing for four years in the halls of Staples High.

With a graduating class of 424 students, it’s not uncommon to wind up at the same college as a former classmate or two, but there are some extreme cases this year. For example, 12 Staples graduates will be attending Boston University, 15 will be headed to University of Michigan, and 21 will be here in the Nutmeg State at University of Connecticut, according to May 17 statistics from the College and Career Center.

In the opinion of Barrett Kowalsky ’12, who will attend BU, most other Staples students attending with him share similar sentiments about becoming a Terrier.

“I fell in love with the atmosphere and the sense of community that the school offered,” he said, “and I think that everyone that’s going next year feels the same way. Everyone’s personality really matches up with the students currently attending BU.” For Dani Kosinski ’12, her chief reasons for attending UConn—the campus, the sports, and, most especially, the financial aspect—also align with the other seniors who will be going there with her.

However, Cindy Im ’12, a future BU student, added that it might be difficult to interact with her previous high school classmates at college due to the large size of her school — BU has nearly 18,500 undergraduate students. But in the meantime, she believes she has grown closer to other future BU students from Staples.

“It’s a bit easier to talk to the others, because we’re all worried

3.

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9.

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GRAPHIC BY DANNY COOPER ’13 AND WILL MCDONALD ’14

From 2009-2011, an average of eight students each year have attended the University of Michigan. This year alone, 15 graduates will be attending.

10.

12 for ’12: This class’s most attended schools 1. University of Connecticut Storrs, Conn. 21 Students 2. University of Michigan - Ann Arbor, Mich. 15 Students 3. Boston University - Boston, Mass. 12 Students 4. Tulane University New Orleans, La. 9 Students 5. Syracuse University Syracuse, N.Y. 8 Students 6. Miami Universtity - Oxford, Ohio 8 Students

7. Wake Forest University - WinstonSalem, N.C. 7 Students 8. University of Maryland, College Park - College Park, Md. 6 Students 9. University of Delaware - Newark, Del. 6 Students 10. Dartmouth College - Hanover, N.H. 5 Students 11. Cornell University - Ithaca, N.Y. 5 Students 12. Elon University - Elon, N.C. 5 Students DATA WAS GATHERED FROM THE INKLINGS SENIOR LIST, WHICH SOME STUDENTS CHOOSE NOT TO PARTICIPATE IN. THEREFORE, THESE NUMBERS ARE NOT OFFICIAL..

about the same things,” Im said.

Future UConn students have also been interacting more, according to Jessica Guo ’12, who recently took a road trip with three fellow seniors to the Storrs, Conn. campus for Accepted Students Day. “The car ride there and back was a nice bonding experience, because a few of those students were people I wouldn’t normally see outside of school,” Guo said.

However, Guo added that the UConn bond has been strong in Westport as well.

“When I see a senior I don’t know too well wearing a UConn sweatshirt, I’ll ask if they’re going next year, we’ll have a short little conversation, and joke about how many Staples kids are going,” she said.

Ultimately, though, it appears that no group has gotten closer before graduation than those headed to Michigan. They have created a Facebook group called “Staples Does Michigan 2016.” Although it has only recently gained momentum, Colleen McCarthy ’12 believes it will

be helpful when she begins her freshman year.

“I think some people were going to put together a seating section for football games [in the group],” she said.

The “big campus” concern that Im professed about BU has also crossed the minds of some Michigan students—the undergraduate population exceeds 27,000 students. But according to McCarthy, this will not hold her back from meeting new people.

“It’ll be comforting know-

ing some people going in since Michigan is huge, but being so big, I feel like I’ll definitely reach out of the Staples comfort zone,” she said.

Whether a senior is headed to college knowing one person or 13 others, Kowalsky believes that bond helps to ease what will be a significant transition.

“I think knowing that these people are going to the same school with me next year automatically brings us closer,” he said. “We’re moving on to a new community together.”

4 News

Inklings / June 19, 2012 / inklingsnews.com

Top Scholars

Silver and Chen Lead Balanced, Diverse Lives at Staples ELIZA LLEWELLYN ’14 Web News Editor

E

very year, the titles of valedictorian and salutatorian are earned by two graduating seniors, and this year the honors were earned by Matt Silver ‘12 and Carolyn Chen ‘12 respectively. But these two seniors are

more than just astronomical GPAs or straight A report cards.

Beyond their “5.0” and slew of AP courses, both are unique and have participated in everything from competitive Scrabble to Westport Emergency Medical Services (EMS).

Carolyn Chen ’12

Matt Silver ’12 His name may be Matt Silver, but this year’s Valedictorian goes for the gold. Silver’s competitive drive is evident in his pursuits throughout high school, from playing soccer and tennis in sophomore and junior year to participating in Moody’s Mega Math Challenge.

“He has a personal drive to be the best,” said Sharon Silver, his mother.

Silver’s competitive drive is evident beyond the soccer field and the tennis court.

His formidable skill in Scrabble is evident in his focused poise.

As Silver carefully alphabetizes his tiles, his opponent can already taste defeat. Even when faced with a particularly difficult set, for example one with almost all vowels, Silver said he uses words like “eugeniae” to crush challengers. In middle school, Silver succeeded in qualifying for the National Championships in both 2007 and 2008.

As the fi rst competitor to win two consecutive titles, Silver earned an appearance on “Jimmy Kimmel Live.”

Unfortunately though, due to Silver’s Scrabble prowess, William Jones, his 10th grade chemistry teacher, refused Silver the chance to beat him at Scrabble in exchange for an A in the course. “It’s like playing a computer,” Jones said of Silver’s talent. “But I would be more than willing to arm wrestle him for a grade.”

Silver has also participated in the annual Staples Spectacular Student Challenge since 10th grade. This year, the group also worked together on Moody’s Mega Math Challenge.

Silver’s strength in academics and his competitive nature fuel each other. He describes his motivation as mostly personal. “I’m a competitive person, and I like the reward of succeeding,” he said.

Sharon agreed. “If anything, I have

to remind him to have fun.”

Although he enjoys a challenge, Silver is not a cutthroat competitor but is dedicated to teamwork. Silver tutors outside of school, mentors other students in Scrabble, and motivated his team members on the Staples Math Team.

“Matt wanted to make sure they stuck with it,” Sharon said.

But Silver’s interests extend beyond academia. “Given his great successes, he’s very unassuming and down to earth,” said David Haswell ’12, a longtime friend.

When not winning competitions, doing schoolwork, or helping others, Silver enjoys techno, electronic, and classic rock music, citing “Mr. Brightside” by the Killers as his favorite song.

He also likes to read and spend time with friends and family.

Silver has allowed himself to relax as a second semester senior. “I’ve lightened up,” Silver said. According to Silver, he has more time for simple pleasures, like talking to friends on Facebook.

Silver plans to keep tutoring over the summer. He will attend Princeton next year and plans to study engineering. Although he will be transforming from a Wrecker to a Tiger, Silver is sure to be successful.

Despite her 4.57 GPA, Carolyn Chen didn’t expect to be Salutatorian.

“It just happened,” Chen said. “I never com- p a r e d grades with friends o r even knew where I stood.”

Chen kept a low profile, keeping grades private. “I didn’t put myself out there as a competitive overachiever,” she said.

Even Jennifer Chen, Caroly n’s mother, saw the title as a surprise.

“I know she always tries, so I don’t worry about what her grades are,” Jennifer said.

This year’s salutatorian “never brags, so it’s hard to get a sense of just how smart she really is,” said JoJo Bryer ‘12, a friend of Chen’s. “I brag about her more than she does.”

Despite her modesty, Chen’s achievements are worth boasting about. Chen is an Emergency Medical Technician with the Westport EMS throughout the year and during the summer.

Handling emergencies from strokes to myocardial infarctions, she is truly a lifesaver. However, Chen is quick to acknowledge her team members.

“I can’t say I’ve ever

saved anyone’s life by myself,” she said. “It’s always a team at EMS.” Chen’s emphasis on teamw o r k is also evident in her participation as a first violinist in the New York Youth Symphony. Every musician, from those in the back of the orchestra to the principle players, must exert tremendous energy.

“The orchestra’s as good as the worst player,” Chen said. Chen has played violin since she was 3-years-old.

Chen is also involved in art.

A favorite class is drawing, and her favorite subject the face, with its subtle expressions and nuances. “A crease near the eyes or a slight adjustment to the lips can make a huge difference,” Chen said. She won a Scholastic Gold Medal for an oil pastel drawing, a Lyme Art Award for drawing, and a Toquet Hall art contest for an oil painting.

Chen plans to attend Princeton. The school appeals to her sense of the power of a team.

“Most [students at Princeton] work together on problem sets or discuss essay topics openly,” Chen said. “They completely disprove the stereotypes that other people have warned me about. Princeton is certainly not taken over by cut-throat, arrogant, preppy people.” Clearly, there is a place at this Ivy for the hardworking, modest Chen, who plans to study either computer science or mechanical engineering.

Chen dreams of being an astronaut, but unfortunately, she is a quarter inch short of the 5-foot-2 height requirement.

Still, with such a strong background in academics, music, art, and medical know-how, she is sure to have many opportunities ahead.

PHOTO BY ELIZA LLEWLLYN ’14

Just the Facts Beyond the GPA Matt Silver

Carolyn Chen

GPA: 4.6 Latest he has stayed up on a school night: 1:30 a.m.

Number of APs: 10 Hardest Class: U.S. History Honors Easiest Class: Geometry Honors and Algebra 2 Honors Favorite Class: Pre Calc Honors Favorite lunch: Pizza Favorite unit in gym: Water Polo Lowest grade on any assignment in school: C on a chemistry test Favorite book read in English: “The Grapes of Wrath”

by John Steinbeck

GPA: 4.57 Latest she has stayed up on a school night: 2 a.m.

Number of APs: 9 Hardest Class: AP English Lit or AP Physics Easiest Class: Spanish 4 Honors Favorite Class: Drawing or East Asian Favorite lunch: Green curry with chicken and rice (brought from home) Favorite unit in gym: Scooters Lowest grade on any assignment in school: C+ in freshman English Favorite book read in English: “Nine Stories” by JD Salinger

News

One Step At A Time

Inklings / June 19, 2012 / inklingsnews.com

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For Some Teachers, Retiring Is a Gradual Process News Editor etirement, it’s the light at the end of the tunnel, the reason you roll out of bed in the mornings, the first time in your life when you can throw away your alarm clock and do what you want.

Adults dream of the day when they can hand in their resignation letter and head for the nearest beach, without looking back.

Everyone except those Staples teachers who just couldn’t let their longtime passions go.

Math teacher Allen Jolley can relate to this feeling. Last May, after 45 and a half years of teaching various math courses at Staples, Jolley made the shocking announcement that he planned to retire.

“It was just getting to be too much,” Jolley said. “There were a lot of long days, and I was not getting home until late.” Jolley, who had taught everything from A.P. Calculus to Algebra 2C, left Staples last June with no intention of returning. However, as fate would have it, there were a few open classes that needed a teacher, and so Jolley returned to Staples to continue teaching part-time, because it seemed the job included all the good parts of teaching and none of the bad Jolley isn’t the only Staples teacher who has opted to work part-time in order to reduce the stressful and demanding days teachers face. Chemistry teacher Andrew Strauss has enjoyed the benefits for the past decade at Staples.

“I still really enjoy teaching,”

PHOTO CONTRIBUTED BY BRUCE BETTS

JAMIE WHEELER-ROBERTS ’13

R

1965

PHOTO BY KATE BEISPEL ’13 1985-2010 TODAY STAPLEITE THE EVOLUTION OF A STAPLES CAREER: After graduating From Staples in 1965, Bruce Betts has never left. He first served solely as a gym teacher, before founding the boys’ and girls’ volleyball programs and serving as a head coach, in addition to his teaching duties, for 25 years.

After retiring from coaching last year, he continues to maintain a presence at Staples through his role as a gym teacher.

Strauss said. He has also found Strauss asking him to come and after 25 years of coaching volley- spend with his wife, which accordthat by teaching part-time, he is assist in the chemistry labs. ball at Staples, Betts finally called ing to Jolley was a motivating facable to enjoy his profession more.

Ten years later, Strauss’s it quits. tor in his decision to retire.

“I don’t have to get up quite as ear- schedule varies from semester to “It was just the right time for ly and I can lower the stress of my me. People will tell you, that you Each teacher confirmed how will know when to retire from important their students were in something, and I just knew this their decisions. “I don’t like to say was it,” Betts said. nice thing about my students, but Even though he decided that they are wonderful,” Strauss said. it was time to give up coaching, The students can certainly Betts made the decision to stay on feel the retired teachers’ value. as a gym teacher at Staples. “I still “He was a great teacher,” said love my job. I love my classes and Ashley Hyun ’13, one of Jolley’s the people I work with. I can’t wait pre-calculus students. “I’m so glad to get here each morning.” that I got the chance to have him Like Betts, Jolley arrives ear- this year.” workload.” semester, ranging anywhere from ly, still showing up at 6:50 a.m. as Even though Strauss won’t In 1999, after retiring from four to one class. Still Strauss re- he has for the four decades he has be returning to Staples next year, New York State as a teacher and calls a more hectic time in his life taught. The only difference is that Jolley has decided to stay on for also as the coach of the boys’ and when he balanced coaching and instead of having 12 hour days, at least another year pending an girls’ soccer teams, Strauss spent teaching. “I would have to get up Jolley is now able to get home by opening in the department. “I the first few years of his retire- at 6 a.m. and wouldn’t get home 2:30 p.m., having completed all of can’t imagine being anywhere ment dedicated to philately, or col- until 11 p.m.” his lesson plans and correcting in else,” Jolley said. “I just love teachlecting stamps. This is, until 2002, Gym teacher Bruce Betts his spare time after his period two ing, it doesn’t matter if it’s A.P. when then-head of the science de- knows a thing or two about getting and three classes. This leaves him kids or students who don’t really partment Dr. Rosvally contacted home late after a game. Last year with stress-free nights that he can like math.”

I still really enjoy teaching.

I don’t have to get up quite as early, and I can lower the stress of my workload.”

–Andrew Strauss

6

Congratulations to

Senior Supplement 2012 Inklings / June 19, 2012 / Inklingsnews.com

Joel Abbot University of Connecticut

Samuel Boas Tufts University

Alexandra Crofts University of Connecticut

Joshua Furth Keene State College

Katherine Heller Keene State College

Jocelyn Abel University of Miami

Peter Bonenfant The Catholic University of America

Erin Cullen University of Rhode Island

Dillon Gannon Lyndon State College of Vermont

Brian Hershey Johns Hopkins University

Olivia Acevedo Mannes School of Music Elena Adams Dickinson College Jonah Aelyon University of Wisconsin Hanna Ahlgrim Loyola University Maryland Austin Alianiello Wheaton College Adrian Allen Syracuse University Jessica Ambrose Columbia University Katherine Ambrose Wake Forest University Sara Andros Vanderbilt University Michael Argosh Swarthmore College Jorge Arteaga Northeastern University Emily Ashken University of Michigan Jessica Avitabile Dartmouth College Charlotte Axthelm University of Massachusetts Amherst Kyle Bacon University of Connecticut

Giles Bonner Susquehanna University Gregg Bonti University of Vermont Emily Bowman University of Michigan Spencer Bratman Bryant University Charlotte Breig University of Pennsylvania Nicole Brouillet Santa Clara University Morgan Brown Boston University

Jesse Currier Eastern Connecticut State University Nicholas Daley Gap year then Colorado College Cooper Davis Boston University Evan Davis Dickinson College Lucy DeFlavio University of Vermont Alexandra DeFoe School of Visual Arts

Christianna Giaume University of Hartford

Bo Gibson Dartmouth College

Jayne Bryer Muhlenberg College

Marie Danielle Egipto University of Connecticut

Jack Gibson Vanderbilt University

Josephine Bryer Muhlenberg College

Carson Einarsen Savannah College of Art and Design

Max Gibson Dartmouth College

Annabel Burchill College of Charleston Quentin Carbone University of Pittsburgh Juan Castro Polytechnic Institute of New York University Carolyn Chen Princeton University

Michelle Elsas Connecticut College Elliott Enriquez Columbia College Jacob Epstein Middlebury College Eric Essagof George Washington University

Christopher Chu University of Maryland

Abigail Fagan Connecticut College

Olivia Bartie Youngstown University

Marissa Cipollone Fairfield University

Madelaine Feakins Trinity College

Gwendolyn Beal Trinity College

Catherine Clair Case Western Reserve University

Charlotte Feinstein Parsons The New School For Design

Julian Clarke Washington University in St. Louis

Sophia Ferry Indiana University

Lindsay Bernard Syracuse University

Anna Gerla Union College

Elizabeth Duvall Virginia Tech

Ana Barcelona Roger Williams University

Drew Berman University of Georgia

Matthew George University of Arizona

Kristoffer Bru The Norwegian School of Economics

Dylan Evans University of St. Andrews

Brittany Berlin University of Richmond

Jacqueline Gazerro University of Connecticut

Sophie Dodd Skidmore College

Sean Christie University of Colorado at Boulder

Brandon Beller Champlain College

Corinna Gavin Miami University

Terence Gibbons The Catholic University of America

Isabel Baker New York University

James Bell Norwalk Community College

Michael Garrity University of West Virginia

Margaux Clayton-Stamm Miami University Shira Clement University of Delaware Jessica Coelho Babson College

Ilana Bernstein Duke University

Scott Cohen University of California, Santa Barbara

Henry Betar Lindenwood University

Kathryn Collins Union College

Amanda Beusse James Madison University

Molly Collins University of Richmond

Emily Bicks Colgate University

Andrew Fishman Trinity College Emily Fishman Wake Forest University Maeve Flaherty Brown University Caroline Foster Villanova University

Margaret Goelz University of Michigan Ethan Goff Columbia College

Caroline Hiner Georgetown University Maxwell Hoberman Emory University Kyle Hoberman Syracuse University Samantha Hodgson Sacred Heart University Annika Holbrook University of Utah Kevin Holden Arizona State University Julia Holewinski Carleton College Daniel Horelik Plymouth State University Ana Horn University of Connecticut Madison Horne School of Visual Arts

Ellen Kempner Sarah Lawrence College Jaclyn Kerames American University of Paris Hamza Khan Boston University Nicholas Kiedaisch College of Charleston Madeleine Kimble University of Michigan Mikaela Kirby Skidmore College Channing Klein Lincoln College Stephanie Klein University of Pennsylvania Katie Kleinberg Pennsylvania State University Sarah Kleine Dickinson College Luke Klinga University of Connecticut Peter Klouda University of New Hampshire

Emily Goldberg University of Southern California

Caroline Howe University of San Diego

Patrick Kohlmann University of West Virginia

George Goodell Emerson College

Isak Hrvacic University of Connecticut

James Kopack University of Connecticut

Kumiko Goto Lehigh University

Graham Hyman Colby College

Jamie Korn University of Michigan

Augustine Gradoux-Matt University of Maryland

Kimberly Hynes Union College

Danielle Kosinski University of Connecticut

Benjamin Greenberg Elon University

Cindy Im Boston University

Emily Kowal Washington University in St. Louis

Zoe Greenblatt Boston University

Alexandra Jabick University of Connecticut

Emily Greene Colorado College

Thomas Jenkins University of Arizona

Charles Greenwald Emerson College

Daniel Jonas University of Maine

Josephine Grevers Gettysburg College

Perrin Judd Bucknell University

Sam Grosso University of Rhode Island

David Kalb Bucknell University

Jessica Guo University of Connecticut

Jay Kaplan George Washington University

Abigail Lake Trinity College

Alec Kaplan Tulane University

Juliana Lametta University of Rhode Island

Thomas Karrel Tulane University

Kelsey Landauer Tulane University

Madison Kashetta James Madison University

Kevin Laney College of William and Mary

David Katter University of Notre Dame

Karolina Laredo University of Miami

Griffin Katz University of Michigan

Niles Lathrop University of Wyoming

Caroline Kearney Pennsylvania State University

Sarah Lavy Boston University

Casey Haffner Roger Williams University Olivia Hammer University of Maryland

Jonathan Friedman Wake Forest University

Sam Hammer University of Vermont

James Conroy Indiana University

Blair Friedman University of Connecticut, Stamford Campus

Daniel Haroun University of Pennsylvania

Brianne Birch Miami University

Elise Cotton Cornell University

Jake Frimet Indiana University

William Bitsky Cornell University

Elizabeth Courtney College of William and Mary

Jacquelyn Fritz University of Colorado Boulder

Leah Bitsky American University

Morgan Cravenho School of the Art Institute of Chicago

Connor Fulbright Lehigh University

Christine Crawford Norwalk Community College

Mackenzie Furman Skidmore College

Katie Blumenfeld Union College

Marc Himmel University of Connecticut

Christina Kelly University of San Diego

Sydney Houseworth Bryant University

Cornelia Franzen Lule책 University of Technology

Hannah Blumenfeld Gap year

Meghan Hill Fordham University

Alexis Kelly Savannah College of Art and Design

Danielle Hartog Culinary Institute of America David Haswell Harvard University Dean Hefnawy Manhattan College Jonathan Heil Tulane University Jeremy Heitz-Cahill Lynn University

Mairead Keenan Purchase College, SUNY Amanda Keiser University of Delaware

Barrett Kowalsky Boston University Jordan Kranz University of Pennsylvania Mikolaj Kulis University of Connecticut Ryan Lach Colorado College William LaHiff University of Georgia

Shweta Lawande New York University Austin Lazar Rollins College Benjamin Lendrim University of Alabama

o the Class of 2012

Senior Supplement 2012 Inklings / June 19, 2012 / Inklingsnews.com

7

Alexander Lerangis Wake Forest University Zachary Lerangis Duke University Shannon Lesch University of Notre Dame Daniel Leskin Villanova University Matthew Lev Syracuse University David Levi Johns Hopkins University Zachary Levins Franklin & Marshall College Adam Levinson Vanderbilt University Benjamin Lewin Brandeis University Jacob Lewis Miami University Kelsey Lewis Syracuse University Anna Link Connecticut College Aaron Liu Colby College

Aiden McConnell Wake Forest University

Michael O’Day James Madison University

Christina Revelli Indiana University

Samuel Shaffer Elon University

Matthew Trdevaj Santa Barbara City College

Alexandra McCullough Lafayette College

Jessica Oestreicher University of Delaware

Matthew Reynolds Vanderbilt University

Rachael Shapiro Oberlin College and Conservatory

Jay Tsai Georgetown University

Caitlin McDonald Johns Hopkins University

John O’Kelly Central Connecticut State University

Sofia Ribolla Cornell University

Michael McGahern Becker College Jamie McGlynn Tulane University Taylor McNair Emory University Caitlin McVaney University of Michigan Victoria Mechanic University of Delaware Andrew Medina Eastern Connecticut State University

Madeline Melnick Duke University

Jillian Pecoriello Washington University in St. Louis

Anya Rosen Dartmouth College

Matheos Lopez Working in Brazil

Elaine Miller Emory University

Simona Lourekas James Madison University

Andrew Miller Roger Williams University

Alicia Lourekas University of Massachusetts Amherst

Marina Mitas Marist College

Nicole Marcante Lehigh University Andrew Martins University of Connecticut

Michael Sila Lafayette College

Logan Rosen Cornell University

Kyle Mikesh Marist College

Lorgine-Evan Manantan Manhattanville College

Mackenzie Roof University of Southern California

Alexis Paul Elon University

Callie Loparo Pepperdine University

Jacob Malowitz Union College

Halli Sigel Lehigh University

Jedd Mellin University of Michigan

Melanie Mignucci Bard College

Adele Mackey Skidmore College

Marco Romero University of Maryland

Alexandria Rosa University of Connecticut

Nina Lochoff McGill University

Riley MacDonald Elon University

Ryan Panny Butler University

Kelsey Robbins Gap year

Peter Paul Oberlin College

Bradley Menchaca Wake Forest University

Michael Lynch Lynn University

Mason Pajolek Miami University

Zachary Mitchell University of Connecticut

Robert Pedro Housatonic Community College

David Rosenbloom University of New Hampshire

Matthew Silver Princeton University Solomon Sloat Traveling Caroline Smith Wake Forest University

Vasilios Tziolis University of Connecticut Thomas Upton Providence College Caroline Valerio College of Charleston Sage Verneuil Arrojo Cosmetology School Sarah Wainshal Bates College Taylor Walklet Champlain College Samuel Wallach Rochester Institute of Technology Sammy Warshaw Boston University

Steven Smith Southern Connecticut State University

Mikell Washington Pennsylvania State University

Charlotte Smith Dartmouth College

John Watson Champlain College

Jake Smith Cornell University

Charlotte Weber Connecticut College

Robert Perry University of Michigan

Lily Rosenfield George Washington University

John Solder Yale University

Nell Weber University of Michigan

Caroline Perry Providence College

Heather Rosoff American University

Isabelle Spada Tufts University

Nicolette Weinbaum Villanova University

Annabel Peterson Syracuse University

Blaney Rotanz Gettysburg College

Alexander Stefani Wentworth Institute of Technology

Christina Peterson Miami University

Leigh Rubin Northwestern University

Bradley Peterson Columbia College Chicago

Joshua Russell-Walling Johnson State College

John Petterson Columbia University

Samantha Rutter Muhlenberg College

Andrew Pfefferle Miami University

Livia Ryzinski Merrimack College

Amanda Piccolino Miami University

Sebastian Salgado Working in Florida

Benjamin Platt Tulane University

Helena Stein Working Margot Steinberg Muhlenberg College

Samuel Weiser Tufts University / New England Conservatory Lauren Wessan Bucknell University Eric West Syracuse University

Chelsea Steinberg University of Massachusetts Amherst

Alexandra Wiener Brown University

Victoria Stewart Michigan State University

Sarah Wiles Norwalk Community College

Zachary Sansted Bard College

Audrey Stone George Washington University

Gabrielle Wimer University of Chicago

Emily Platte University of Maryland

Lexie Schachne Harvard University

John Stopper Georgetown University

Helena Wippick Bard College

Alexandra Popkin Johns Hopkins University

Allie Schachter Drexel University

Michele Strage Colby College

Matthew Wisher University of Maryland

Kelly Powers Gap year then The New School

Shelby Schulman University of North Carolina

William Streiter Tulane University

Robert Wolf University of Texas

Daniel Pravder Skidmore College

Marni Schulman University of Delaware

Priyanka Subramanian St. Olaf College

Jon Wormser Chapman University

Coralyn Nagel Southern Connecticut State University

Chiara Pucci Boston University

Karin Schultz University of South Carolina

Avery Suter Washington University in St. Louis

Lucinda Wright Hampshire College

Caroline Nantz University of Southern California

Michelle Purcell Western New England University

Maya Schumer Carnegie Mellon University

Sydney Tagen Indiana University Robert Tash University of Rhode Island

Leal Morehouse University of South Carolina Jonathan Morris Curry College Jackson Moss University of Alabama Courtney Mullen St. Lawrence University Michelle Muller Savannah College of Art and Design Kyle Murray Southern Methodist University

Michelle Mastrianni Carleton College

Ashwini Natarajan University of Michigan

Andrew Railton-Jones Norwalk Community College

Carlie Schwaeber University of New Hampshire

John Mathewson Elon University

Alexandra Neenan Boston University

Chloe Randich University of Michigan

Samantha Schwaeber University of Vermont

Lesley Matson University of Miami

Remy Nolan Boston University

Kathryn Reiner University of Michigan

Andrew Scott Tulane University

Dakota Matthess The Art Institute of Boston

Daniel Nussbaum Amherst College

Sam Reiner Syracuse University

Elizabeth Seaver American University

Colleen McCarthy University of Michigan

Lisa Shirafuji North Carolina State University Sophie Shufro Gap year then Ponoma College

William Meinke Hobart and William Smith Colleges

Brittany Lobdell University of Connecticut

Jason Lustbader Northwestern University

Amanda Pacilio Loyola University Maryland

Stephen Robbins Gap year

Stephan Patterson University of Pittsburgh

Jessica Menachemson Bucknell University

Christiane Lueb University of Michigan

James Onorato Tulane University

William Ritter University of Delaware

Benjamin Root Worcester Polytechnic Institute

Michael Ljungberg University of Massachusetts Amherst

Emerson Lovell Duke University

Jordan Olson Parsons The New School For Design

Heather Sherman Brandeis University

Samantha Oberlander Southern Methodist University

Sarah Ressler Amherst College

Tal Segal Carleton University

Samuel Tavarnesi Gap year Briyana Theodore West Virginia University Stephen Thomson St. Michael’s College Alexander Tonsberg Endicott College

Joseph Yang University of Connecticut Jamie Yarmoff Northwestern University Nicholas Yu University of Southern California Cooper Yurkiw Gap year then Culinary Institute of America Sofia Zenzola Boston College Constance Zhou Harvard University

OPINIONS

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JUNE 19, 2012

Conscientious Abstention Why I Choose to Not Participate in Inklings’ Annual Senior List

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or over a half century, Inklings has compiled and printed a list of its graduating seniors, which indicates where they intend to go to study after high school graduation.

While the mission of the “Senior Lists” at some schools is not explicitly stated, Inklings refers to its own as a “graduation tradition.” I see how this tradition could be used appropriately—as an informational tool for students to know where their classmates are going to college. In theory, it’s harmless and fun.

Unfortunately, it doesn’t work that way in practice.

Because in modernday Westport, the college process brings out the worst in parents and students alike.

Like any suburban town with a sizable cash flow, Westport has its share of problems.

Crazy parents who jockey their kids through youth sports. Students in the school system who cheat to get ahead. Drugs. But all of those problems are dwarfed by the reckless drive to lobby and land Westport students into “prestigious” four-year institutions. And in many cases, I believe that the “Senior List” is employed as something that it is not supposed to be—a tool for students and parents to seek out and judge students who enroll in all types of academic institutions.

Just recently, I was in the library when I observed a group of students pull up last year’s “Senior List” on a cluster of laptops.

Their first objective was to find all of the people from last year’s class who went to local community colleges, and to question their intellectual capabilities.

What?

I am of the belief that going on to any type of higher education should be considered an accomplishment, and therefore I fundamentally disagree with the

concept of making fun of people for going to a place that might just fit their wants, needs, or, given the ludicrous cost of college, their budget.

I know this group of students personally. We’re on good terms. I even consider a few of them to be my friends.

But the corrupt college driven system that they play into, the same system that the “Senior List” nourishes, makes meanspirited fools of them all.

In a manner that was less overt than the jeering of what they perceived to be the “failures” of Westport Public Schools, the students in the library proceeded to marvel at and idealize certain other students on the list.

spected academic institutions have come out to publicly reject the rankings because they know that there is no method to the ranking’s madness. One such institution is Reed College, in Portland, Ore. While some may attempt to dismiss Reed as a bunch of drugged–out Northwestern hippies, this by-all-means small college has produced 31 Rhodes Scholars, two MacArthur “Genius” Grant winners, and one of the highest matriculation rates to graduate school in the country.

In 1995, Reed was also the first college to refuse to send “U.S. News” information that the magazine asked for in the process of compiling its rankings, demonstrating a refusal to sell out its academic principles. In fact, Reed’s President “informed the editors of U.S. News that he didn’t find their project credible, and that the college would not be returning any of their surveys.”

Good riddance.

I have a friend who has a phrase that he uses to refer to something that he deems illogical. That term is “negative sense.” In context, I think it also adequately describes the manner in which the “Senior List” is a product of a fruitless college rat race. But to me, the list is also a symbol.

A symbol of elitism.

A symbol of hysteria.

A symbol of arrogance.

For these reasons, I cannot in good conscience participate in the “Senior List.”

The day I sign that list is the day that the ego of Westport finally takes an extended vacation.

It will also be the same day that the cupcake shops and vendors of organic breakfast cereal shutter their windows, and the same day that this town contains just a couple fewer banks.

Coincidentally, it will also be the same day that a number of the high-end clothing stores that line downtown will be knocked down and converted into something of use to the common upstanding citizen.

Like a bowling alley.

“A symbol of elitism.

A symbol of hysteria.

A symbol of arrogance.”

“Silver Crown Award” for Inklingsnews.com from Columbia Scholastic Press Association 2011 “Crown Newspaper Finalist” Columbia Scholastic Press Association 2011 First Place “All-American” from National Scholastic Press Association 2010-2011

All the opinions, news, and features in this paper are those of Staples High School students. Inklings has a circulation of 1,800. The paper is a member of the Columbia Scholastic Press Association, the Natioanal Schoalstic Press Association and supports the Student Press Law Center. All letters to the editor must be signed before they will be published.

The editorial board reserves the right not to publish letters and to edit all submissions as it sees fit.

These students were the ones that indicated on the Senior List that they would be attending places of learning that rank within the top 20 colleges in the annual “U.S. News and World Report” rankings.

Similarly, I was talking to another student who explained that he was probably going to choose one college that he was accepted to over the other because it was placed higher in the rankings. Personally, I think that’s a lot of credence to give to a magazine.

Truth be told, I have no vested interest in criticizing the “U.S. News” rankings. The college that I will be attending in the fall was ranked very well.

But I think these rankings are completely bogus.

Take the recent incident at Claremont McKenna College, in California—a school official was accused and found guilty of forging the test scores of incoming students. The reason why? He wanted to manipulate the scores in order to artificially boost the college’s ranking.

Who’s to say the ranking manipulation is just coming from Claremont?

Furthermore, several re-

Editors-in-Chief Rachel Guetta Ned Hardy Managing Editors Chloe Baker Ben Reiser Web Managing Editors Cheyenne Haslett Jordan Shenhar News Editors Danny Cooper Hannah Foley Will McDonald Jamie Wheeler-Roberts Opinions Editors Callie Ahlgrim Kate Beispel Katie Cion Erik Sommer

Features Editors Rachel Labarre Deanna Schreiber Julia Sharkey Haley Zeldes Arts & Entertainment Editors Greta Bjornson Sophia Hampton Claudia Landowne Sara Luttinger Sports Editors Molly Barreca Aaron Hendel Simon Stracher Bailey Valente Web News Editors Ryder Chasin Eliza Llewellyn Web Opinions Editors Bailey Ethier Eliza Yass

GRAPHIC BY OLIVIA CROSBY ‘15

Web Features Editors Sophie de Bruijn Chris Ramey Web Arts & Entertainment Editors Claire O’Halloran Caroline Rossi Web Sports Editors Sami Bautista Joe Greenwald Photography Editors Alex Greene Rose Propp Business Managers Ellie Mann Alex Spector Advisers Elizabeth Humphrey Julia McNamee Stephen Rexford

Correspondence and Subscriptions: Inklings 70 North Ave. Staples High School Westport, CT 06880 Phone: (203) 341–1994 Inklingsnews@gmail.com Printed on recycled paper

Opinions Inklings / June 19, 2012 / Inklingsnews.com

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May We Live In Interesting Times Lessons of Political Turbulence During One High School Career

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ay you live in interesting times,” is an old Chinese curse. The idea is that interesting times are filled with disorder and trouble, and that no one would ever want to live in them.

Well, our time in high school was certainly interesting for the world.

In the fall of 2008, we entered high school during a turbulent period. The economy was starting to collapse, our president had a record-low approval rating, and Americans were uncertain about the future.

We didn’t know whether the economy would improve in time for us to get jobs after college. We didn’t know when the economy would recover. We didn’t know if we could ever trust our government again.

The situation in the rest of the world was worse. The War on Terror was falling apart. The War in Iraq had no direction and the War in Afghanistan was ignored.

Corrupt dictatorships ruled most of the Middle East, and elections held little validity. For decades, the people of these countries just watched as greedy leaders trampled upon their human rights.

What could one person do anyway?

Our freshman year was marked by chaos at home and complacency abroad.

But, near the end of the year, something snapped.

In Iran, yet another obviously fraudulent election was the final straw. The people had seen enough.

With Twitter and Facebook as their weapons, Iranian men and women took to the streets to voice their outrage. While this protest ed, it was was ultimately suppressed, a major catalyst. n of things to It was a sign come.

There are few things more powerful than an ovangry populace, and govd ernments across the world had angered their people one too many times.

At home, during our sophomore year, we saw the Tea Party protests.

Americans had seen too much government spending and too many taxes. Instead of sitting on the couch, they took to the streets. They filled town square, streets and even the National Mall to voice their discontent.

They didn’t just protest, either.

They organized. Tea Party chapters sprung up across the country, dedicated to throwing out incumbent politicians, both Democrat and Republican. Ordinary people

who never had an interest in politics were now using their First Amendment rights to exact change in their country.

Pol i t c i a n s who considsidered their eir seats safe suddenly ddenly saw themselves selves having

freedom. Yet, that is exactly what happened. Using the same tactics the Iranians ans used just three years ago, Middle Easterners rose up E and nd chanted that th they had seen enough.

Theyy had seen enough of thee violence and fear that dictatorsh dictatorships bring.

They had seen enough of en the ignorance of human rights under theocracies. They had seen enough unemployment, depression and hunger.

They had seen enough, and it was time to stop it.

Even when these people were being run over by governb ment vehicles and shot in cold m blood by riot police, they never backed down. They tweeted, shouted and demonstrated with their lives on the line. They made the ultimate sacrifice in order to make a better country for their children to live in.

The best part of this is that it worked. Just weeks ago, Egypt held its first free election ever.

Egyptians get to rule themselves thanks to their courage to speak their mind.

We got to see this same fervor for free speech at home during our senior year. The financial crisis was bound to inspire a movement at some point, and that movement came in the form of Occupy Wall Street. Inspired by the demonstrations on Tah-

A gun can change a life.

A voice can change the world. to fight lengthy primary battles to keep their seats. Americans in solid blue or red states finally got to exercise some choice.

Our junior year was when the world truly got to see what a revolution looked like. When Mohamed Bouazizi, a street vendor in Tunisia, lit himself on fire in protest, he could not have possibly imagined himself inspiring an entire region to demand

rir Square, New Yorkers pitched tents in Zuccotti Park, raising awareness about the awful practices of Wall Street and the severe income inequality in this country.

The movement quickly spread worldwide, as tents started popping up in Chicago, New Haven, Athens and Rome. Middle class citizens were fed up with the current world order and spoke out for change.

This worked, too. Income inequality is now a major theme in the upcoming election and is something Americans care about for the first time since the Great Depression.

We entered high school during turbulent times, but we leave during exciting times. We entered as cynics, but leave as idealists.

In the past four years we have learned that speech is a powerful tool. Bullets and bombs can only oppress people for so long, but words can bring down cruel dictatorships forever and inspire radical change.

A gun can change a life. A voice can change the world.

The Chinese believed that living in “interesting times” was a curse. However, I see it as a blessing. It is out of interesting times that the greatest thinkers, shapers and doers arise. Times of great turbulence and chaos require men and women to speak out and become integral members of society. So, I say to my fellow graduates, may we continue to live in interesting times so that we can become interesting people.

The Expectation of Graduation

Surviving Staples Should Not Be Taken For Granted

Graduating high school is supposed to mean something.

People are supposed to be in awe of it. It is supposed to be an accomplishment.

But at Staples High School, graduation is just another expectation of our community.

Staples High School has a different mentality than any other school. That isn’t a bad thing.

We strive to be better. We don’t just take one AP class; Staples students take six.

We strive to learn; kids hunch over their desk, researching for projects about the African oil crisis.

We strive to create a brighter future; students here push boundaries and use innovative thinking to make new apps and create businesses.

So, sure, the Staples High School mentality has its benefits.

But sometimes that mentality diminishes great accomplishments.

That’s a bad thing.

Just think about the four years of tedious work in high school, three years of miserable anticipation in middle school, and five years of confusion in elementary school. That all adds up to a grand total of 12 years of torture to make it to graduation.

GRAPHIC BY OLIVIA CROSBY ‘15 Throughout all of those years there is a lot to deal with.

At the top of the list are the following: * Passing impossible quizzes you aren’t prepared for. * Completing tests that take 10 times longer than the period is. * Finishing mounds of homework due the next day because some teachers don’t realize that we have more than one class. * Showing leadership and hard work on your sports team (which you have to be on).

In fact, high school is

a journey that not everyone can complete.

But for some reason the Westport community doesn’t recognize that. And that is ridiculous. You want proof? Fine.

Imagine trying to answer the typical “Where are you going to college?” question with, “I’m not graduating.” What do you think will happen? Questioners will turn their snobbish noses up at you with disgust.

If they recognized the adversity high school presents, they wouldn’t dare be so disrespectful.

But that is how our town is.

As Craig Wheat ‘13 stated, “Westport is a really successful community. So, it’s all about success.” And that is too true.

I am a hockey player. And even in a sport like hockey that attitude persists.

If we beat a team that is a formidable opponent, we cheer and celebrate in the lockerroom.

But, if we beat a team we were supposed to beat, nobody really cares because it was expected of us.

Graduating shouldn’t be like beating a team you were meant to beat because high school is a formidable opponent.

Many adults in Westport have some sort of high-paying job. And they expect us to follow suit, meaning we are expected to graduate.

Even seniors like Riley Macdonald’ 12 said, “I feel like in a community like Westport people aren’t accepted if they don’t graduate.”

In our community you aren’t looked up to for graduating high school. You are looked down on for not graduating high school.

That is not okay.

Westport’s many success stories shouldn’t take away from the success of graduating.

Graduation should celebrate the hard work students put into high school. It is the culmination of the dedication seniors have shown over the years. It is a day they should feel accomplished.

I don’t want to rant about how Westport is wrong for not appreciating high school. That isn’t going to do any good.

I am writing this purely for the Staples seniors.

They deserve to be able to walk to the podium and feel proud. They deserve to not have their success diluted. They deserve to be rewarded for their hard work. They deserve much more than what we give.

What I want is for the Staples seniors to know something when they are throwing their caps in the air. That they accomplished something amazing.

That they made it to graduation.

And that it meant something.

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Opinions

Inklings / June 19, 2012 / inklingsnews.com

Moving On: Leaving the High School State of Mind in the Past

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rank Zappa once said, “high school is a state of mind.”

Truer words have never been spoken.

As I’m sitting down at 1 a.m. to write this column the night before my senior prom, I’m nine days into my internship, and in my mind, high school has already been reduced to a past state of existence that barely even makes sense. Part of my internship entailed paying two brief visits to Staples, and walking through those halls again was the weird-

est feeling.

It did not feel like I belonged anymore.

I looked around at all the younger students drudging from class to class, and even though we’re only a year or two apart, it certainly struck me that the issues they are dealing with on a day-to-day basis already feel worlds away from mine.

For every junior, sophomore, or freshman reading this who is currently struggling with any aspect of high school, I promise you that if you persevere, things are going to change. I’ve already experienced it.

And it hit me a couple days ago that I now have choices I haven’t had in a long time. I’m no longer governed by the hallways

of Staples. If I don’t like somebody, I don’t have to see them at all. We’re not going to end up at the same lunch table, we’re not going to see each other on the way to chemistry, and we’re certainly not going to have three classes together next semester. As for my friends? I can still call them up every day if I want.

If this is even a glimpse of how graduating from high school is going to feel, then life is really about to change for us, and I mean that in a good way. Will a majority of us still be going to “school” in some form three months from now? Yes. But that is the only area that these next few years are going to have in common with our high school years. How come? Because our mindsets

have changed. As have those of every other high school graduate around the world.

During my four years at Staples, I’ve watched some of my peers doing things that you can only get away with in high school. Things like kicking people out of lunch tables, poking fun at the way people choose to dress, using high school’s rigid social hierarchy in a mean-spirited way.

And let me be clear, I’m not in any way trying to criticize any of my classmates; I wasn’t perfect either, just ask anyone.

I’m simply stating that all of this is behind us now.

We each walked into Staples freshman year with nothing but a blank white board at-

tached to our names. Over these last four years, our peers, our teachers, our coaches, and our parents have all written on that board.

Graduation is about erasing whatever’s written on your white board and starting completely fresh.

High school is becoming a memory. Just like the first time you rode a bike, or that time in sixth grade when you tripped and fell at recess, it’s all in the rearview mirror. And whether it’s a fond memory, a sour one, or somewhere in between, is totally up to you.

But any way you slice it, we’re moving on.

Congratulations class of 2012!!

Opinions Inklings / June 19, 2012 / Inklingsnews.com

A Dancer’s Path to Finding Self-Fulfillment Outside the Staples Spotlight

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“Success can only be measured by the number of times you feel proud of yourself”

he sweat,, the tight uniforms, uniforms ms, the huno, endless hours of practice, dreds, no, and the potential injuriess that must be feew of the many faced each day:: these are a few ove v rcome. struggles that a dancer must overcome. long sport, which whi h ch I will dare As a yearlong commitment that to call it, dancee has been a commitment or over a decade. dec ecade. Five days a I have made for week, 36 weekss out of thee year; I have spent this much timee at my dance dan nce studio just doing what we do.

If I didn’t absolutely bsolutelyy love love every minute that I spent at the studio then th hen I would’ve stopped. h But thankfully, dance ha hass been my strongpoint, nd my oasis throughout these my security, and hig gh school. In a time when four long years of high u ars, college applications grades, extra curricul curriculars, ng friendships frie i ndships seemed to conand maintaining ance p rovided a euphoric escape sume my life, dance provided d channel cha ann n el my stress and create a in which I could elf-expression. beautiful form of se self-expression. act that I had five of my best And the fact g wi w th me in Senior Company friends dancing with didn’t hurt. ertainly nothing comparable to er There is certainly ie that is built amongst a group the camaraderie ng to achieve the same goal, but of people working eady best friends outside of the when you’re already es all the difference. Dance is studio, it makes n emotion, and it’s the strong ng about channeling vee made at dance that have albonds that we’ve pres ess and understand each othlowed us to express Alth t ough many of my friends er’s emotions. Although therre’ e s an inexplicable quality do not dance, there’s to my friendships ips wi with th the girls in my company that just makes our u relationships differur ent. There’s a mutual respect res esspe p ct for one another and an unspoken appreciation ken apprec cia i tion for the commitment that we’ve each made. m de. Our teachers ma and our peers might not know k ow what goes on kn in our lives when day en the school ol d ay is over, but we know what we do.

Just this past month we performed in our Spring Recital, cital, and within the span of one day we putt on three shows. Imagine a striker playing three soccer games games in one day, or a wide receiverr making maki ma king g it it through three football games in one day. Yes, dance dan ance might appear lovely and non-contact, butt it takes just ass much, much, if not more, stamina to make it through ough those three shows as it would to make it through three sports games.

The rush of adrenaline renaline that we get from each other is what allows llows us to do this.

I have accepted epted the fact that my dance recitals won’t draw raw large crowds from Staples, and I have accepted epted the fact that most people wouldn’t even call dance a sport, but rather an “art.” We never ever got that glory and we never got any medals, s, but winning any sports game seems incomparable arable to the moment of exultation that I get once nce I’ve finished a show.

I am not alone; lone; I share this sense of accomplishment with dozens of students at Staples who don’t need scoreboards reboards or morning announcements to mark their success. In my experience with creating a life outside of Staples, I’ve realized that success can n only be measured by the number of times that you u feel proud of yourself – the recognition by otherss is really just a bonus.

GRAPHIC BY JACKIE KERAMES

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FEATURES June 19, 2012

KATE BEISPEL ’13 & CHEYENNE HASLETT ’13 Opinions Editor & Web Managing Editor

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taples students walk the same halls 185 days a year. They take the same path to the same classes, five days a week. They see the same people, and normally engage in the same conversations, on a daily basis. It takes skill to employ this dialect–one does not simply “talk” about school or sports or blunt kid– this level of conversation takes precision and erudition beyond what a student can learn in the class room. This is language. This is what you would hear in the halls of Staples High School.

#[stuff]staplesstudentsdontsay

#

#[stuff]staplesstudentssay

Schoolwide Trends

GRAPHICS BY RACHEL LABARRE ’14 AND DEANNA SCHREIBER ’13

Classof2012

trashtalk

AP Assassination

StaplesProblems

FCIACs

snowcoming

Amber and Colleen

hellweekproblems

Kony 2012

whentheTVsdontwork

whoHarryStyleskissed

blackberryproblems

Features Inklings / June 19, 2012 / inklingsnews.com

Seniors Reflect On Their Friendships That Have Withstood...

P H OT

OS CO

NTRI

OVER THE YEARS: (above) toddlers Lauren Wessan ’12 and Molly Collins ’12 posing after dance recital and (right) Collins and Wessan at junior prom, many years later.

News Editor rom Barbie dolls to AP Literature, Molly Collins ’12 and Lauren Wessan ’12 have been inseparable since their friendship began at the ripe age of three years old, or as Wessan claims, “since before the dinosaurs.”

“In preschool, I was playing on the monkey bars, and I guess I just always gave her death glares,” Collins said. “One day we just started talking, and we became friends.”

“Molly always decided to glare at me across the playground – quite the friendly one she is,” Wessan said, giving her side of

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the story. “Apparently I confused her looks of utter hatred for ‘let’s be friends,’ and the world has never been the same.”

Collins’ and Wessan’s friendship has lasted from childhood through their years in high school, as displayed by their abundance of photos together.

“There is the famous picture of us after a ballet recital where Molly was going through her ‘I do not enjoy smiling phase’—it lasted from age 5 to 18,” Wessan said. “I am smiling enough for the two of us, and that pretty much describes our friendship.”

Jillian Pecoriello ’12 and Callie Hiner ’12, best friends

since they met at a mommy/baby class, also cherish their photos from over the years.

Hiner said that she has multiple pictures of Pecoriello and her dressed up for Halloween from each year of their friendship. “We were even pictured in the Westport News for the Halloween parade. We were both in our respective costumes, and I was stealing her lollipop.”

Similar to Collins and Hiner, Christina Kelly ’12 said that she loves her long-time best friend Jackie Gazerro ’12, whom she met in preschool.

“I don’t remember having a moment when I realized that we

A New Kind Of Friendship ALEXANDRA O’KANE ’13 Social Media Specialist It is the start of second lunch.

The bell rings, and the sandwich line fills with two dozen hungry students. There is a hum of chatter as people meet up with friends and talk about the day.

Necks crane from the back of the line to see how far it is to the front. One girl towards the rear wears a blue and green striped shirt and sports a bright red backpack. She is trying to catch the sandwich maker’s attention.

Colleen, the beloved cook, looks up and sees her. She waves and then bends over to put a sandwich in the Panini press. The girl moves up from the back and waits for her sandwich.

This scenario is not unusual.

Over time, students get to know the people who are affectionately referred to as the “sandwich ladies,” and buying lunch becomes not only about the food, but about the people who are making g the food.

Annika Skjoldborg ’13, started buying sandwiches in the middle of her sopho-

MOLL Y COL

were best friends,” Kelly said. “To me, it’s like asking, ‘Was there a specific moment when you realized that your sister was your sister?’ It doesn’t make sense because the answer is always.

There’s never been a time when she wasn’t my best friend.”

Gazerro feels the same way, finding it impossible to imagine life without Kelly. Gazerro mentioned being affected when a guest speaker at the Grim Reaper Day presentation spoke of crashing a car and killing her best friend, who was in the passenger seat.

“I was sitting next to Christina at the time and I looked over

LINS

’12

at her,” Gazerro said. “Even trying to imagine being in that situation, I realized how I really couldn’t live without her. Moments like that are when I recognize how much she truly means to me.”

With graduation quickly approaching, Collins, Wessan, Kelly, Gazerro, Hiner, and Pecoriello are all confident that they will keep their relationships with their best friends completely intact.

“Jackie’s my best friend.

She’s my sister, my other half,” Kelly said. “You don’t just stop being someone’s sister. No matter how hard you try you can’t just break that bond.”

Over Time, Students Form a Relationship With The People Who Make Their Lunch

Amber very well, after buying a more year. She is now on a firstsandwich every day for lunch. name basis with Amber, one of “She went out of her way to talk the other ladies who is famous to me about my day, make fun for her sandwich making.

“If there’s a day when Am- of me when my favorite sports ber is missing, I always ask her teams lost, she congratulated me where she went and tell her that I when I got into college, baked me missed her,” Skjoldborg said. “No cookies for Christmas, and even one can make my sandwich taste looked the other way when I cut the lines... as good sometimes,” as she Katter said. c a n.”

Cour tSkjoldney Mullen b o r g ’12 has also gets the a same -Annika Skjoldborg ’13 bought sandwich al“truly most every amazing” sandwich every day, she ex- day since her freshman year. At plained. She gets ciabatta bread first, Mullen would get the same with turkey, lettuce, tomatoes, sandwich every day: turkey and American cheese and “lots of ca- cheese on Portuguese bread.

“I’ve definitely branched out jun sauce.”

Since she has been getting a lot over the years. This year I’ve this sandwich for so long, anyone been switching it up a bit, but can go up to Amber and just ask after trying so many different for the “sandwich that Annika sandwiches, I definitely have a gets.” few favorites,” Mullen said.

Skjoldborg explained that Freshman year, Mullen she loves to know the person who started getting a turkey and makes her lunch every day. “Am- c h e e s e ber is really nice, and a an d we sometimes ttalk alk about what we did over the weekend or break,” she said.

Many people feel similarly. David Katter ’12, got to know

“No one can make my sandwich taste as good as she can.”

D BY

sandwich on Portuguese bread.

Since then, she began to also like the chicken pesto with tomato and red peppers as well as wheat bread with turkey, mozzarella, spinach, tomatoes, and red peppers.

Over all the years, Mullen got to know both Colleen and Amber while she waited in line. “I could always count on them to make me the ideal sandwich,” she said.

Elizabeth Coogan ’14, is another one of the regulars. Last year, she began to buy a sandwich every day for lunch, and over time, Amber got to know her.

Since Coogan would get the same lunch each day, Amber began to remember her order. “One day, I walked up to the counter and she just bent down, reached into the fridge, and handed me my usual sandwich (Italian bread, turkey, lettuce, and musmus tard). It was so cool!” Coogan said. “She told me she had made it that morning and ever since then she always had my sandwich pre- made.” Coogan said she enjjoys jo ys not having to wait in line anymore.

Not everyone is lucky enough t become to onee of the o on

“regulars” in the line. But the long lines prove that it is a popular place to be. Even halfway through any of the lunch periods, the lines are still full of students.

“The sandwiches are so good; they are worth the wait,” Mullen said. “Even if I had lab lunch, I always made sure I made it to the sandwich line.”

Students who buy lunch all agree on how nice the lunch ladies are, no matter if they know them well or not. Rachel Paul ’14 said that the ladies “never fail to compliment my outfits. Their nice, friendly efforts are noticed and appreciated.”

One of the things that the seniors on internships miss most are the sandwich ladies and the sandwiches they would buy each day. After three years of having the same, favorite sandwich every day, it is a big change to these students’ daily schedules. “The sandwiches I make at home are never as good as the ones amber made for me so I miss them. But mostly I miss talking to amber,” Katter said.

GRAPHIC BY AMY PERELBERG ’15

HANNAH FOLEY ’14

BUTE

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14 Features

Inklings / June 19, 2012 / inklingsnews.com

BAILEY ETHIER ’15 Web Opinions Editor

“I

feel like you could spend days on days watching those shows and you’d never tire of them,” Sarah Ressler ’12 said. “All the shows followed the same formula of some conflict, great one-liners, and some sappy conflict resolution, and it never got old.”

Even though seniors stopped watching “The Proud Family” and instead watch “Family Guy,” they also still remember their favorite childhood shows.

Ressler, who was a huge “Rocket Power” fan, admits to having all the toys from McDonald’s. “I would wake up early to watch it every morning before school.”

“Rocket Power” first aired on Nickelodeon on Aug. 16, 1999, lasting three seasons, before ending on July 30, 2004.

David Haswell ’12, also a fan, who last watched the show in 2009, said he enjoyed it because “when you’re a little kid it’s very easy to be entertained by callow humor and vibrant colors.”

While “Rocket Power” only lasted three seasons, “Rugrats,” one of the first three Nicktoons, had nine seasons, starting in 1991 and ending in 2004, with 172 episodes.

“The theme song was great.

The opening montage ontage is classic. I love when they go to Paris,” said Ressler. “I remember mber Reptar, Chuckie’s first words - “ Ressler’s favorite episode showed the toddlers exploring ng an ice cream obstacle at a mini ni golf course.

“Rugrats” became ecame so popular that it is thee only series

by Nickelodeon to receive a star on the Hollywood llywood Walk of Fame.

However, in April 2012, “SpongeBob SquarePants” passed “Rugrats,” becoming the lon-

As Seniors Age, Ent

gest running show on Nickelodeon by airing its 173rd episode .

“The Krusty Krab Pizza is the pizza for you and me,” recalls Emerson Lovell ’12.

Lucy DeFlavio ’12 was also a fan of the show. “Patrick was always my favorite character,” DeFlavio said. “It was funny to laugh at his stupidity.”

“SpongeBob SquarePants” is still going strong today, as new episodes continue to be aired.

While Lovell remembers the Krusty Krab Pizza, he also cannnot forget the orange soda from m “Kenan and Kel,” starring Kenan nan Thompson and Kel Mitchell.

“Who loves orange soda?

Kel loves orange soda. Is it true? ue?

Is it true? I do, I do, I do, I do, I do,” Mitchell would say on the popular sitcom.

Lovell recalls how “Kenan n and Kel” got viewers through Kel’s mishaps. “And you would d be like no, but then Kenan would uld right the wrong,” Lovell said.

Thompson and Mitchell were cast members on anotherr popular ’90s cartoon, “All That,” before starring on “Kenan and Kel” which lasted four seasons.

“Nineties television was the greatest era of television ever and will never be surpassed,” Ressler said.

From VHS to iPhones

How Seniors Have Experienced the Improvements in Technology CAROLINE ROSSI ’14 Web A&E Editor In this tthi hiss day da and age, it’s hard to recall the time when our phones didn’t talk to us. tth the he early earl ea rlyy ’90s-2000s, long, long ago. This would bring you back to the childhood ho h ood days d of this year’s seniors, where technology was not nearly as advanced as as it it is today.

Back Ba B a then, “Video Home System” or VHS was a staple of entertainment.

“Gro “G “Growing rowi wing ng up on VCR tapes, watching a movie was a serious commitment because it ttoo took ook k so llon long on to rewind the tape,” said Caroline Howe ’12. then, Back Ba ck tthe hen, n, videos captured the audience of children everywhere. “I watched ‘Willy ‘Wil ‘W illllyy Wonka Won W onka on ka and and the Chocolate Factory’ almost twice a week,” said Howe. “I also watched w atc tche hed the hed tthe Mary Kate and Ashley series…so all of their movies about sleepovers, pool p ool parties, par p arti tieees and boys. I’ve seen it all.”

Today, Toda To dayyy, we are lucky to have On-Demand and Netflix, but renting a movie used us u se to be much more of a process (involving actually having to leave tthe h house. Gasp!) “We’d rent movies at Blockbuster,” remembers math tteacher, Gertrude Denton.

When they weren’t glued to the TV, many kids were lost in computer games. “When I was a wee lad, my babysitter put me on her p ccomputer to distract me when she watched her soaps,” says Johnny O’Kelly ’12.

O JumpStart and Barbie computer games were only some that could occupy a kid for hours, letting them use their imagination and see immeocc oc c diate diat di at results. Howe remembered spending hours on Barbie games. “I was a vet vet one day and a spy the next,” says Howe. “Though ‘Barbie Spy’ scared me so so I could coul co uld d only play it during the day.”

Forr those Fo thos th osee a bit bit more morr advanced, Club Penguin was wildly popular, along with Webkinz mo

Rewind Rewi Re wind nd to to

Features Inklings / June 19, 2012 / inklingsnews.com

ertainment Evolves

SOPHIE DE BRUIJN ’14 Staff Writer

DRAWINGS BY OLIVIA CROSBY ’15

Remember when magic was real, tree houses were time machines, and wizards received letters from Hogwarts on their eleventh birthdays?

Series like “The Magic Tree House” and “Harry Potter” have been able to captivate children of all ages and backgrounds.

There was always the promise that the next book in the series would be even better, even more enticing.

“You reach the last page of one, and there’s this thrill in knowing that there’s more to come,” said Jamie Yarmoff ’12. “There’s such satisfaction when you’re inally able to go to Barnes and Noble, purchase a book, settle in bed by the lamp and a mug of tea, and begin where things left off.”

A passion for reading started with series such as “Amelia Bedelia,” “Junie B. Jones,” and “Captain Underpants.”

“As a kid, not being able to read makes you feel like you have a handicap,” said Kristhy Bartels ’15. “When I inally got to reading these books, I felt like I could ind some answers on my own.”

As these series were outgrown, more advanced series became popular, and readers discovered places like Hogwarts and Alagaesia. Continued adventures with the same characters meant stronger connections and prompted voracious readers to power through the books.

“I was that stereotypical girl who hid under the covers with a lashlight and a Harry Potter book,” said Yarmoff.

Series books spanned years of kids’ lives; as Max Gibson ’12 points out, (the gold and white cat, black lab, and Pegasus were only three of the hundreds of adoptable pets). Though when it comes to computer games, The Sims was an unmatched time sucker—once you got that starter disk, you were hooked. Who wouldn’t love to create their own virtual family in a world where a Sim “hour” was the same as a human minute?

But for some, playing God in a virtual game of life didn’t entertain as much as increasingly popular handheld electronics. Being so portable and easy to carry along, these devices made gaming possible anywhere.

“When I was in kindergarten, everyone used to play games on the Gameboy Color," says Jake Lewis ’12.

The race between Gameboy and Nintendo would then produce Gameboy Advance, Nintendo DS, etc. Today’s Xbox was preceded by Nintendo 64, PlayStation, GameCube, and even Wii. There was a learning curve for parents; science teacher, Joanne Klouda, remembers her son Peter ’12 having these games. “I didn’t like the idea that he could play with strangers from all over the world!” she says.

To no surprise, Gameboy tended to cater more heavily to young boys, and girls opted for such things as the unforgettable Tamagotchi, a digital pet that required constant attention. “I had quite a traumatizing experience with a Tamagotchi,” says Sami Schwaeber ’12, who was deemed a worthy babysitter of her best friend’s Tamagotchi while she was on vacation. “I was ready for this mission, but I ended up leaving it in my locker at school for the whole weekend, and the school was locked. The Tamagotchi died and so did my friendship. Just kidding.”

Fast-forward and technology was more than virtual pets or handheld games—middle-schoolers yearned for cell phones. But it had to be the right kind. Today you’re considered out of the loop if you don’t have an iPhone; then, Razors, enVs, and LG Chocolates were all the rage.

Schwaeber remembers being obsessed with the Razor phone. “First of all, it looked different than any other typical phone. Thin, shiny, and reflected the sun perfectly. Honestly, it was just like the iPhone back then.”

Today’s seniors live in the age of Siri, and turn to their iPhones to play games, take pictures, and listen to music. What they miss are those glory days when it was a special treat to watch a rewindable video. Says Howe, “Nothing beats the 90's and early 2000's. It's a fact.”

they offered a sense of continuation. Waiting for Harry Potter books to come out, he said, it “was almost like this alternate universe was discovering its own history as you waited, like the events were happening parallel to our own world.”

Gibson also enjoyed the sense of escape. “While growing up, having vivid experiences in fantasy worlds through books like that was almost like playing a video game.”

However, for every kid who loved other universes, there was one who preferred delving into real world problems.

Brittany Berlin ’12 is a Harry Potter fanatic, but she also enjoyed reading “Gallagher Girls,” “Beacon Street Girls,” and “American Girls.” Berlin read the Beacon Street Girls series when she was the age of the main character. “I could empathize with whatever struggle they faced,” said Berlin.

And then of course, there was Matt Christopher’s biographies. Kyle Hoberman remembers reading about all the big athletes like LeBron James and Derek Jeter. Since those days, Kyle has continued to love biographies like Lance Armstrong’s “It’s Not About the Bike.”

“They tell you more than what you see on the court or ield,” said Hoberman. “They provide insight on the everyday struggles and adversity.”

Many readers encountered dif iculty once they entered high school. “So many books required by school have killed my love of reading,” laments Yarmoff. In addition, postadolescent readers don’t ind quality series.

Mary Parmelee, a children’s librarian at the Westport Public Library, understands. “There just aren’t as many well-written fantasy novels for adults.”

Berlin keeps checking “New Arrivals” at Barnes & Noble but is often disappointed.

“I’m sick of seeing fantastical, yet poorly-written books trickle into adult iction,” said Berlin.

Despite these woes, the avid readers of the Class of 2012 agree that their early reading deeply affected them.“The series I read were the driving force that made me interested in reading,” said Berlin. “With such skill and brilliance, why wouldn’t I be taken?”

15

16 Features

Inklings / June 19, 2012 / inklingsnews.com

Navigating Staples CALLIE ALGHRIM ’13 Social Media Specialist

I

f there’s one thing avid Temple Runners can agree on, it’s clearly the game’s similarity to Staples High School. Navigating through this school is its own art form: sprinting through the halls in a panic, dodging bullets in the form of students and teachers alike. And if you make the grave mistake of tripping in the hallway between the library and the cafeteria at lunchtime, prepare to be overtaken by the deadly flying monkeys, AKA hungry students. Obstacles are tough to dodge in this dangerous place. But by senior year, Staples students have perfected their own versions of Swipe to Turn, Swipe to Slide.

Invisibility Boost: Late Passes There’s nothing quite like the comforting pink glow that emanates from a late pass.

They’re rare, especially ones with the glorious little box marked “Excused” checked, Patty’s signature freshly inked. This pink glow wraps around you like a shield; suddenly, whilst clutching this small piece of paper, you are free to roam the halls and make all the pit stops you want.

At least until the effects wear off, and your teacher notices the time on the pass was 15 minutes ago.

Mega Coin: Sandwiches After days of sprinting through hallways to make it to class on time, knocking down underclassmen and maneuvering around slow students, you’ll occasionally get that one day where your training pays off.

It’s the day you make it to the front of the sandwich line.

Sometimes it’s because your class has let out early. Sometimes it’s because of some serious bobbing and weaving skills. But every time, Colleen’s smiling face is a reward in itself.

Big Branches: Groups of Friends When it’s a large cluster of upperclassmen, the issue is more problematic. But more often than not, this obstacle is a gaggle of squealing freshmen girls or tryingto-be-cool freshmen boys.

Fortunately for seniors, the jump to clear them isn’t too high.

“I just walk up to them and stand there. I don’t say a word, I don’t do anything. And they just part like the red sea,” Shweta Lawande ’12 said.

Fire and Skulls: Teachers We all know that one teacher who loves to stop us in the halls and have a detailed conversation about last night’s homework that no one did. It’s like they don’t even notice us practically bouncing up and down on the balls of our feet, seconds away from yet another tardy. Get the picture: we’re in a rush.

The best bet is to duck and avoid. Or else you’re toast.

Dan Haroun ’12 adds, “If they don't, then I power through them like a knife slicing through butter.”

Little Branches: Freshmen In Temple Run, avoiding these nuisances is as simple as a small jump, or even just moving to the side. But seniors have created an easier way.

“Just step on them,” Hanna Ahlgrim ’12 said.

Collecting Coins: Pit Stops Everyone’s familiar with the common detours of a Staples student. This includes anything that makes you go out of your way: rushing to get a granola bar before your next class, scrambling to print an essay in the five minutes between Math and English.

GRAPHIC BY SOPHIA HAMPTON ’15

Features

’12

Inklings / June 19, 2012 / inklingsnews.com

Things You Don’t Know About Karyn Morgan ROSE PROPP ’13 Photo Editor

A

17

rows the yn Morgan th ar K E: IC SP Y SPORT varsit y basere senior day fo be d h tc pi t rs fi high heels an owing of f her ball game, sh rk hair. (nat urally) da

ssistant Principal Karyn Morgan has stood alongside of the class of 2012 throughout its entire high school career – from the fall of 2008 to the spring of 2012. Although her job is challenging, Morgan has created a bond with the senior class that is truly special. Beyond her relationship with the students, Morgan, as an assistant principal, is responsible for organizing events, schedules, student discipline, attendance problems, and much more. In honor of Morgan and the work she does it seems natural to take a little time to learn a little more about someone who has given so much to Staples and to the class of 2012.

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9

I have two daughters in their 30s and four stepchildren in their 40s.

I have three grandchildren, all girls: one in college, one in high school and one in elementary school.

I taught special education for 19 years, with an average of 17 in a class with reading levels from pre-primer to sixth grade reading level.

I can run in high heels.

When I'm told someone's name, I turn it into a song.

IB U TE PH OTO CO N TR

I was named Teacher of the Year in Bridgeport in 1996.

I have a fear of heights.

I have a brown thumb, so I only have silk lowers in my house.

When I was 16, I worked at Dunkin’ Donuts and got my inger caught in the jelly machine and was rushed to the hospital.

10 11 12

I don't color my hair.

Believe it or not, I survived a kidnapping – now that's an interesting story!

I love all my seniors!

Show your press pride!

$25

M, L, and XL Contact Stephen Rexford for more information 203-341-1458

D BY STA PL ES

BA SE BA LL

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A&E June 19, 2012

Logos: Class of 2012 Edition HALEY ZELDES ’13

1.

The class of 2012 has done its fair share of exploring everything Westport has to offer and downloaded nearly every game in the App Store. One current fad is the Logos game, in which the goal is to decipher the logos of companies. Below is a sampling of the ones that have surrounded the 2012 graduates’ lives both in and out of school.

Features Editor

1 2

7.

1. 24-7 2. Pancakes and fries

1. Pain in the back 2. Winter gear outfitters

__ __ __

__ __ __ __ __

__ __ __

__ __ __ __

2.

1 2

__ __ __ __ __

1 2

1 2

__ __ __

1 2

__ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __

1 2

11.

1. Slackers ignore it 2. Infamously clickable

1 2 1. The end of BBM 2. Siri at your service

__ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __

__ __ __ __ __

1 2

__ __ __ __

__ __ __ __

1. S-T, S-T-A 2. Wrecker representatives

__ __

1. Aids in bell countdown 2. Invented by MIT student

__ __ __ __ __ __ __

10.

1. End of season blowouts 2. High prices and holey sweaters

6.

1 2 1. Sweat and socialize 2. Spinning

__ __ __ __ __ __ __

5.

__ __ __ __ __

9.

1. End of Wakeman 2. Juniors beware

4.

1 2 1. July 4th fireworks 2. Cannon climbing

__ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __

__ __ __ __ __ __

__ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __

8.

1. Saturday Night Savior 2. Party hopping prohibited

3.

1 2

12.

1 2 1. Staples’ very own Gossip Girl 2. #whoisit

__ __ __ __ __ __ __

__ __ __ __ __ __ __ __

Answers: 1. The North Face 2. Safe Rides 3. Senior Parking 4. LF 5. Blackboard wood Diner 8. Compo Beach 9. The Fitness Edge 10. Superfans 11. Apple

6. iSHS 7. The Sher12. Staples Problems

A&E Inklings / June 19, 2012 / inklingsnews.com

Sarah Ressler Tumblr Superstar ‘ ELLIE MANN ’13 Business Editor ven after her classmates continue to tell her how funny she is, the girl doesn’t see it. Her name is Sarah Ressler ’12, and according to the name of her blog, she is so artsy. Each day Ressler continues to gain a few more followers, but even this has not convinced Ressler that people think she has an amazing sense of humor.

“Oftentimes, when people tell me I’m funny, I’m unsure if I was trying to be,” Ressler said.

“In my mind, it doesn’t count if it’s unintentional.”

It was April of Ressler’s junior year when she decided to start a blog. Ressler knew that this had been and would continue to be the busiest and most stressful time of her high school career. Nonetheless, according to Ressler, these conditions demanded extra procrastination.

“Blogging and tweeting probably negatively affected my schoolwork and grades, but I had more fun doing that than homework,” Ressler said. “And in hindsight, I got into college anyways, so it was definitely worth it.”

Ressler had been feeling as though Tumblr was in “that awk-

E PHOTO BY RYDER CHASIN ’14

#ARTSY: Ressler updates her blog daily with humurous posts.

ward mainstream phase” where everyone was suddenly making his or her own blog. At the time, Ressler was “insecure in my own artsiness,” as she put it, and didn’t feel like she belonged on Tumblr.

A friend of Ressler’s, Zoe Greenblatt ’12, was the person who finally convinced Ressler to create the blog.

She named her blog “Sarahissoartsy” with no intention of posting actual artsy content.

From then on, Ressler continued to post pictures of things that she liked. Ressler’s first post happened to be a picture of ice cream cones because she has a strong appreciation for dessert.

“In general, I tend to post pictures that I find funny. They can be about anything and they’re oftentimes pretty random,” Ressler said. “However, I also reblog a lot of ’90s things because I have major ’90s nostalgia.”

Ressler is happy with the response to her blog and sometimes even receives compliments about her Tumblr in school. While she does have followers who are not from Staples, she believes that her greatest following is amongst Staples students.

However, while Ressler believes that she is “Tumblr fa-

mous,” she doesn’t know why people find her Twitter, called Imstillartsy, to be so funny. Ressler said that she made her Twitter to stalk and talk to celebrities like the Kardashians.

“Oftentimes I will tweet at Khloe Kardashian asking her to adopt me because I want to be a Kardashian,” Ressler said. Despite the fact that Ressler believes that the Kardashians are too famous to ever see her tweets, celebrities have tweeted Ressler back.

Ressler has had 15 retweets from the “MTV Realworld/Challenge Series.” Ressler is also being followed by Pentatonix, the winners of the most recent season of the “Sing Off” on NBC, YouTube sensation Maddie Jane, X-Game gold metalist Jamie Anderson and star from the “Secret Life of the American Teenager,” Daren Kasagoff.

Kim Hynes ’12, a friend of Ressler’s, can see why so many celebs have retweeted or tweeted at Ressler. Hynes thinks that Ressler has a wide sense of humor and basically laughs at everything. “Sarah likes a lot of dumb, funny stuff, but she also likes smart jokes too,” Hynes said.

“She’s just a natural comedian.”

Faces in the Crowd Is Juan Castro the Most Interesting Man at Staples?

SAMI BAUTISTA ’13 Web Sports Editor Usually when someone says, “So tell me something interesting about yourself,” the go-to response is “I have a twin brother” or “I play football.” But Juan Castro ’12 has a legitimate answer.

“I keep it in my pocket for a rainy day,” said Castro.

When Castro was about 4, he was a proud owner of both an ocelot (a medium-sized wild cat) and a monkey. Despite the ocelot’s normally carnivorous diet, Castro’s mother strove to weed him off of meat to vegetables. As one can guess, the ocelot did not exactly welcome this change.

“The ocelot clearly assumed the monkey was a better meal than the bowl of veggies, and the monkey knew he couldn’t get hurt while he was inside the cage. So he made faces at the ocelot and kept teasing it. Then suddenly the monkey, seeing how the ocelot was just sitting there, stuck his face out of the cage and mocked the ocelot,” said Castro. “However, the ocelot, seeing the situation for what it was, sliced the monkey’s head clean off as soon as it was out.”

Castro says that he was sad but too young to have had a strong attachment to his pets.

He likes to use this story for not sympathy but an icebreaker when he meets new people who might only know him as the winner of the 2012 senior class superlative, “Dressed for Success.”

Castro is famous for substituting the casual school attire for his fancy ensemble. He started

to wear suits as a “passing thing” when he was as young as fourth grade but truly began to commit to the apparel last year.

“I wear suits to school because they honestly make me look good,” said Castro. “I look the best when I wear suits. They fit me, slim me down, and accentuate my best features. It helps to change my attitude on the world.”

According to Castro, he has five full suits, two blazers, one suit jacket, and a couple of suit pants. He admits that some cost a lot of money but that he is able to find good deals at sales and spends only about $60 for a full suit. His favorite suit is a dark green Kenneth Cole Reaction One that he believes looks good with anything.

“I’ve gotten a lot of compliments,” said Castro.

“People seem to react to me a lot better when I’m in a suit. When I’m wearing a suit I’m more approachable and I’m usually smiling.

A guy in a suit stands out more amongst a crowd of nonsuit wearing people.”

However, there’s more to Castro than simply being the “Best Dressed” of Staples High School. During his free time, Castro enjoys participating in WWPT, Kool 2 Be Kind, fencing, training as an MMA fighter at LA Boxing, meditating and painting.

His most exciting e x -

DRESSED TO IMPRESS: Castro poses in his famous suit.

PHOTO BY ALEX GREENE ’12.

perience during an extracurricular activity, though, was when his friends forced him to try out for a Staples Players production this year.

“My friends told me they needed more guys to try out and I tried to worm my way out of it,” said Castro. “I told them I couldn’t act to save my life, but of course Maddie Kimble ’12, my best friend of nine years, couldn’t let me get away with it.”

Kimble disagrees with Castro’s self-assessment. “Castro has always been a good actor, even when he is not trying to act. He is able to perfectly mimic a comedian he heard the night before, like on the ‘Colbert Report’, or get so into his character that you have no choice but to actually believe he is that person,” said Kimble.

“He makes me laugh with his voices and actions, and can tell a story in a voice that makes me cry, so it was no surprise that people wanted him in Players.”

Castro ended up receiving 10 callbacks after his audition, and landed one of the main parts as the husband of Susan, another main character in “The Cooking King.” Castro’s surprise was mixed with excitement. “It was an awesome experience.

I have never had to change my personality and adapt to so many different characters in the span of two days, so it was truly memorable”

19

’ Hynes thinks Ressler is so funny in part because people don’t expect her to be funny. “People expect her to be shy,” Hynes said.

However, this is clearly not the case because Ressler has Hynes laughing “24/7” at golf.

Erica Stein ’13, another friend of Ressler’s, thinks Ressler is hilarious because she is funny in an unconventional way. While Ressler may seem quiet on the outside, Stein said that she is able to “make a very good joke whenever she pleases.”

Stein said that she is going to be very sad when Ressler heads off to college in the fall.

“We made the best of bad situations through our use of humor,” Stein said. “For that reason, I am going to miss her immeasurable amounts.”

Greenblatt, on the other hand, isn’t too worried about losing communication with Ressler. “We are going to talk every day,” Greenblatt said.

“She is the queen of social networking.”

The fi nal piece of advice for the entire Staples community, Ressler said, “If you are going to waste your life away, do it on social media.”

said Castro.

His career in Players was short-lived, however, since he only chose to audition for one play. Once the play was over, rather than spend time at rehearsal, Castro opted to plan a couple of block parties in parking lots. The parties began as a joke after Castro’s friend hacked onto his Facebook and invited his entire friend list to a parking lot party.

David Kalb ’12, one of Castro’s friends commented on Castro’s first parking lot party.

“Soon into the first party, people freaked out over cops that didn’t actually exist, and everybody hilariously ran for the hills,” said Kalb. “However, since then, he and his friend have been throwing rave-like parties fairly frequently, simply to keep themselves occupied.”

Although the first one had begun to what he called a “rocky start,” Castro decided to throw some more.

“The best one we had, I think about a hundred people showed up. We had lights jumping around everywhere and music blasting out of huge speakers,” said Castro. “To be honest, I think that one was successful because my friend put it on Craigslist. But I don’t recommend it. I didn’t know anyone there. Some of them seemed like creepers.”

There is no doubt that Castro is a unique being who brings something new to the table. His best friend Kimble can vouch for that. “In all seriousness I think he has always been someone to be a little extraordinary,” Kimble said.

20 A&E Off the Beaten Path Some Seniors Choose to Attend Non-Traditional Colleges Inklings / June 19, 2012 / inklingsnews.com

BAILEY VALENTE ’13 Sports Editor sk 6-year olds what they want to be when they grow up, and you’ll get a different answer every day.

Ask typical high school graduates what they plan to do, and you’ll often get a far-fetched possibility accompanied by an eye roll.

However, there are some who have it all figured out.

Sage Verneuil ’12 has an interest in raves and electronic music that has focused her postsecondary plans on attending Dubspot, a school in New York City that specializes in the production and disk jockeying of electronic music.

“I decided to attend this school because it is f lexible and allows me to go to class only once a week for seven hours,” Verneuil said. “There’s no application process so I knew instantly this was the school I wanted to go to since there aren’t many schools like this nearby.”

At Dubspot, Verneuil plans on focusing on both the DJ-ing and production aspect. Students can choose their own curriculum by deciding whether they would like to create their own music or DJ using the four programs Dubspot offers instruction in.

“The program I picked is Ableton Live, and I will be trained in all uses for this program, such as sound design, mixing and rendering, DJing

A

GRAPHIC BY CLAUDIA LANDOWNE ’15 A BALANCING ACT: For some seniors going to non-liberal arts colleges and exploring alternate career paths is enticing. were optional, and only an esand production, and how to use said Hartog.

At the Culinary Institute of say along with two recommenturntables and controllers like the Akai Professional APC20,” America, learning takes place dations from people in the cumostly in the kitchens, but oth- linary business were required.

Verneuil said.

“I applied in August, and The unrestricted course er general education courses are decisions came out in late Auload makes it easy for Verneuil offered as well.

“I’m most excited for the gust or early September. If I to pursue other interests on the fact that my school is academi- wasn’t accepted, I would have side.

Senior Danielle Hartog’s cally driven, but more of a fo- time to apply to another school, love for cooking and food leads cused subject,” said Hartog. but I didn’t have to,” said Harher down a planned path after “It’ll be a change from what I’m tog.

On the contrary, there are graduation to the world’s pre- used to in high school and is some students who don’t have miere culinary college, the Cu- seen in liberal arts schools.” linary Institute of America in Unlike most seniors, the immediate plans at all.

Sophie Shufro ’12 decided New York. application process for Hartog “I knew I wanted to go into did not require years of resume to take a gap year in order to the restaurant industry, and building, months of stress, and take a break from the demandthis school is the best for that,” weeks of anticipation. SAT’s ing world of academia.

“I’ve worked ridiculously hard over the last four years, and a year off will help me recover some lost enthusiasm for learning,” said Shufro.

Not only will a gap year be refreshing, but it will also allow her to accomplish interesting goals and wishes in a convenient time period. Although her plans aren’t set in stone, Shufro hopes to spend the fall semester volunteering in a Spanishspeaking country and then travel during the spring, possibly on a program such as a Semester at Sea. Shufro’s decision to take a gap year did not come stressfree. Her high school years consisted of studying for exams, writing papers, and preparing for the required standardized tests-all of which contributed to the need for a break from education.

“I went through the exact same application process as most of the other seniors before I made my decision. I still need to write a request for deferral to the college I’ll be attending after my gap year,” said Shufro.

Once the year has passed, Shufro will begin the 2013-2014 school year as a freshman at Ponoma College in Claremont, Calif.

No matter where students end up, the experiences within the school and Westport community have made an impact on every individual. It is with this knowledge that the students of Staples will become successful.

Drawing Something with Connie Zhou HALEY RANDICH ’14 Staff Writer Connie Zhou ’12 can hardly even recall when she first began creating art.

“When I could pick up a crayon, I was drawing,” she said.

Zhou described her first drawing as a depiction of her parents, which consisted of a scribble and some lines.

Since then, she’s come a long way.

Zhou’s art has been featured consistently in art shows, according to her art teacher at Staples, Camille Eskell. Zhou has also won awards for her work, including the Silver Key award for drawing in the nationwide Scholastic Art Competition.

Eskell, who personally bestowed upon Zhou the Staples art department’s Excellence in Art Award, praised her effort in the subject.

“I thought she’d focus on her skills in science and math, and not be in the art department very often. Thank God, I was wrong,” Eskell said.

As a freshman, Zhou took Intro to Drawing. As a sophomore, she took Advanced Drawing, and for the past two years she has taken Honors Studio Art. In addition to the help she has received at Staples, Zhou has reached out to the community outside of school to improve her art and grow as an artist.

From eighth grade until senior year, Zhou has been enrolled in Roe Halper’s after -school pro-

gram for “artistically gifted” high school age students.

“She gives me advice and inspiration,” Zhou said.

Halper is a local artist who practices a wide range of techniques with a wide variety of materials, many of which Zhou has tried in an attempt to branch out from realistic pencil drawings.

Zhou creates works using ink,

Making art that touches people paint, oil pastels, and sculptures.

“She has explored different media and techniques, from realistic to abstract,” Halper said.

“She has the ability to do it all.”

In particular, Halper mentioned a recent project of Zhou’s, which she described as an attempt on Zhou’s part to “express herself in creative abstract expression,” a first for any student of hers.

The piece was inspired by the work of Joan Mitchell, a second-generation abstract expressionist. It was created on four five-foot high panels that Zhou’s father fastened together for her to

ART BY CONNIE ZHOU ’12, BORDER FROM DRAW SOMETHING APP ONE YEAR AGO: Zhou drew this portrait during an independent study with Ms. Eskell her junior year. paint, and detached once she was done, so that the finished product would be displayed as four separate pieces of a whole painting.

Halper considers Zhou to be one of the top individuals she has taught throughout her 33 years of running the art program.

“She is extremely creative and has immense talent,” Halper said. “She also has the ability to concentrate. It’s an amazing combination; she is wonderfully gifted.”

Despite the broad range of styles Zhou has explored, Eskell

thinks that tremendous detail can be found in all of Zhou’s works.

“The level of meticulous detail she is able to achieve would definitely be her hallmark,” Eskell said.

Though it is difficult for her to pick a favorite style of art amongst the many she experiments with, Zhou takes particular enjoyment in portraying people.

“You can really capture personality,” Zhou said. “Your art touches people more than an object or landscape would, because of the human connection.”

While Zhou is looking to pursue a career in business, she will continue exploring art and expressing herself artistically.

She plans to become involved in art clubs at Harvard University, where she will enroll this September. She also thinks she will be able to incorporate her artistic abilities into certain areas of business, like marketing.

“She will always return to it and use it in some way,” Halper said. “My father used to say ‘if you are born with a talent, you have to use it.’ Connie has. She is truly a marvel.”

Editor’s note: You can see more of Zhou’s work on page 1.

A&E Inklings / June 19, 2012 / inklingsnews.com

21

Shot By Shot: A Senior’s Movie Experience SAMMY WARSHAW ’12 Staff Writer or my whole life leading up to it, I was convinced that high school was like “Mean G Girls.”

O n my m first day of d freshm a n year, I y would b e thrown i n t o l o c k ers, entranced by the looks of a beautiful blonde senior girl whose favorite movie is “Varsity Blues.”

The truth is, I wanted to believe that movies were like real life, unless of course we are talking “March of the Penguins.” All I wanted to believe was that if I skipped school one day, I could be singing in the Chicago parade and pretending to be Abe Froman, the sausage king of Chicago. For all clueless ones out

F

there, that’s a “Ferris Bueller’s Day Off” reference.

As I look back on the early years of my life, I think about the movies that have defined me and dominated my visions of the future. In a way, we all do this, and we don’t even realize it. And I have to say, these movies that define our lives aren’t always the most critically acclaimed.

As I ref lect on the movies that define my own life, I try to timeline it by around five years.

First five years of my movie watching life? Easy one, “Beauty and the Beast.” Yes, it may not be the manliest Disney movie of all time, but it was all I knew. It is actually sad thinking of the amount of times I would cry as my mom would eagerly throw in the cassette of the “instrumental side” of the soundtrack. I swear if I see one more talking candle I’m going to lose it.

Next comes the inevitable “Space Jam” phase. All joking aside, I truly still believe that this film is an absolute cinematic masterpiece.

Bugs, Daffy, and even Newman (yes, the guy from Sein-

feld is in it) were regulars on my 20-inch Quasar television, stopping by at least three times a week to say hello.

T h o s e Mon st a r s still haunt my nightmares.

L e t ’s ride this cinematic timeline another five years.

What’s the next stop? All aboard the “Ace Ventura: Pet Detective” train. The facial expressions of a young Jim Carrey still haunt me to this day. I can never think of a field-goal kick the same way for the rest of my life.

Laces out, Finkle.

Some of the best memories of my childhood include staying up past 10:00 p.m., eating sour Skittles, drinking f lat Diet Coke, and watching Jim Carrey brilliantly perform his famous “talking butt” scene.

On a side note, one of my personal heroes, critic Owen Gleiberman of Entertainment Weekly, had this to say about my childhood gem. “[Jim] Carrey suggests an escaped mental patient impersonating a

game-show host.” He finishes the sparkling review by giving the film an “F” grade, a rarity among film critics.

Finally, here we are on the final stop of my cinematic journey so far. It wasn’t really until I became a teenager that I fully grasped the magic behind the film world. I was always intrigued by the silver screen, especially with how they could get Michael Jordan and Bugs Bunny in the same shot.

I can still remember exactly when I discovered that I wanted to spend the rest of my life involved in cinema. It was a rainy Saturday afternoon my freshman year and I was just about to pop in my coveted “Scary Movie 3” DVD for about the third time that week. Suddenly, my Father dashed into the room, wielding a now dated Blockbuster DVD in his hand. “ To d a y , you’re watching something different.

This movie is called ‘Good Will Hunting’ and it’s a hell of a lot better than ‘Scary Movie 3,’ my dad said.

I don’t h a v e to explain t h e feeling I had when I was watchi n g ‘Good Will Hunting’ for the first time.

It was unexplainable. Finally, I realized that there was a world that I understood. I could be laughing one minute and crying the next. It is a phenomenon that comes with the magic of a movie that really hits you.

My eyes were now open.

For too long, I’ve failed to recognize that sometimes, it isn’t all about what the critics say and the letters they give each movie.

My love for film criticism has blurred the lines between fact and opinion, and for too long have I confused the two. The essence of criticism is strictly opinion and experience based, and it took a little self-ref lection in order to discover that.

22

A&E Inklings / June 19, 2012 / inklingsnews.com

STAND TOGETHER STAND ALONE CELEBRATE SAVOUR LOVE LISTEN LEARN LIVE SPEAK OUT BE QUIET BE KIND BE PATIENT BE BOLD BE BRAVE TRY TRY AGAIN REACH OUT SEARCH WITHIN STAY TRUE Congratulations Class of 2012 We Love You F&B

23

SPORTS June 19, 2012

Inklings’ Athletes of the Year Ryder Chasin ’14

I

An All Around Athlete

Web News Editor

n the jungle of clichés surrounding opportunity and motivation, run-of-themill athletes can become numb to the opportunities that present themselves.

Luckily for Staples football, wrestling, and rugby, Mikell Washington ’12 is not any run-of-the-mill athlete.

“What’s most impressive to me is he got an opportunity, and he took advantage of the opportunity,” Head Football Coach Marce Petroccio said.

Washington has emerged as one of the hardest workers on all fronts.

“My goal going into all of my seasons was to do better than the year before,” Washington said. “I wanted to leave my mark.”

In football, Washington was a core part of what became known as “The Brotherhood” for the Staples defensive line. Washington averaged 5.8 tackles per game—with nearly a sack per contest to boot, good enough for second ond in the state behind teammate Pieter Hoets oets ’13—and ac-quired 70 total tackles on the he season However, Washington holds modestlyy to his efforts.

“In football it felt great reat to win an FCIAC title, but that was ass a team rather rath ther than individually,” Washington gton said.

But football was not the only sportt where Washington independently ndently contributed. Washington was also named captain of the Staples wrestling squad, ad, on which he had possibly his most successful essful season of all.

“After being named a wrestling captain my goal was to be thee best and give 100 percent,” Washington said. “It was a huge honor for me.”

His hard work certainly nly showed. To accompany his individual 39-5 record, Washington won the Ludlowe owe Holiday Tournament and took third rd place in FCIACs, the Nutmeg States, s, and the state opens. Additionally, Washington racked up impressivee selections to the Academic All-State -State and All-American teams, Conn.

All-Region second team, Norwalk Hour All-Area first team, am, and an FCIAC honorable mention.

“He became the mostt prominent wrestler on our team, m, and the hardest worker,” teammate te Jake Santo ’14 said. While Santo asserts erts that Washington led by example for the rest of the team, Washington says he only did what he thought was right to do. “Ass they say, I left it all on the mat,” he said.

After the wrestling season ason came to a close, Washington transitioned tioned quickly into his spring sport: rugby. y. Outside of the Staples season, Washington on helped the Conn. All-Star 17-U team win the championship title. While the Staples les rugby squad hasn’t been quite as successful, sful, Head Rugby Coach Joseph Barahona na still relishes every minute he gets to have ave Washington on the team.

“Mike is definitely in the he top five players I’ve coached,” Barahona na said. “He is a phenomenal athlete, a smart decisionmaker in games, and a role model as a team leader.”

But Barahona also contends that there is much more to Washington than seen on the field.

“Mikey is a quiet, humble and respectful young man who always uses please, thank you, yes sir, no sir,” Barahona said.

According to Barahona, it’s this humbly debonair persona that makes him all the more comfortable with Washington filling the role of the team’s captain. His position will serve as good experience, according to Washington, when he goes to Penn State next year to play rugby for the collegiate team.

While Washington may have trouble saying goodbye to his four years at Staples, he still has fond memories.

“It’s been an honor and a blessing to finish my high school career as I did,” Washington said. “Sports for me is a lifestyle, but I always alw way a s enjoy en njoy it.” it.

And, d to Petroccio, P trocci Pe c o, Washington will l forr have no o trouble troubl ble enjoying it to years and d years ye o come. com me.

“I wish h him all the Petrocluck in the world,” wo P trocPe cio said. “But,, to be honest, he doesn’tt need n ed luck.” ne

PHOTO CONTRIBUTED BY APRIL BOOK

PHOTO CONTRIBUTED BY APRIL BOOK

The Playmaker

O

ver the past four years, the name Maeve Flaherty ’12 and Staples’ girls’ lacrosse have become interchangeable. Flaherty is the face of the franchise, amassing accolades and press coverage in truckloads—and not undeservedly However, Flaherty was not the team’s leading scorer this year. No, the team’s leader in that department racked up 55 goals and 35 assists in the regular season, good enough to contend with some of the FCIAC leaders in the category. This “offensive playmaker,” as head coach Cathy Dancz describes her, is Jessie Ambrose ’12.

“This is her second season running the offense, and she’s able to score and assist almost equally well,” Dancz said.

“She is an incrediblyy dynamic player.” y p y While Ambrose’s stats have impressed, this unsung hero maintains that individual numbers are only some of what leads to success.

“I’ve “II ’v ’ve been trying to guide our team in the right direction and lead by example,” Ambrose said.

“I made sure that everyone on our team was on the same s me sa m page and wanted want n ed to do d

anything we needed to in order to win: put everything out there and to have no regrets at the end of the season.”

And, according to Dancz, the senior not only helped lead, but also performed well as a team player.

“In addition to her abilities around the cage, Jessie has lead-in draw controls—which are integral to success in lacrosse,” Dancz said. “Some of Jessie’s draw controls were game changers for us.”

This skillset garnered attention from Columbia University, where Ambrose will play lacrosse next year.

Still, lacrosse was not the only sport in which Ambrose excelled this scholastic year. Ambrose also captained the girls’ soccer team as their starting goalkeeper and led them to a Cinderella season.

Cin “We had a lot of obstacles to get past at the beginning of the season and we did,” Ambrose said. “We went on a run that no one else thought was possible.” sibl Ambrose helped the team to an impressive bid at winning the state title, pres making it all the way to the semi-finals mak only to lose to Glastonbury—the team that th a ended up winning the entire tournament—on penalty kicks. nam However, while a bright future waits wai ahead, Ambrose still focuses on her he Staples career at hand.

Ambrose points to the team’s Nov. 12 win against Shelton as her season’s highlight, and head coach Nikki Ross is in agreement.

After a scoreless game through m regulation time and double overtime, regu Staples pulled out the victory on five Stap rounds of penalty kicks to advance to rou the quarterfinals in the state tournament. men “The way Jessie kept her cool and confidence was impressive. You could con feel a sense of ease from the team knowing that we had Jessie in the kno goal,” goa Ross said.

To Ross, a stellar performance from Ambrose was nothing out of the ordinary. ord “I don’t even know where to begin with how much Jessie helped us this season,” Ross said. “I could always count cou on Jessie whether it is at practice or at a a game, and I know the girls felt the same way.”

Ross still focuses on Ambrose being a leading cog in their unprecedented success, keying in on Ambrose’s unique ability to both play goal and uniq score scor goals.

“Jessie is the type of athlete that you wish you could duplicate,” Ross said. said “She always shows up to practice ready read to give 100 percent and not only motivates and pushes herself, but her mot teammates as well. team

PHOTO BY ROSE PROPP ’13

PHOTO COURTESY OF GREENWICH TIME

PHOTO COURTESY OF WESTPORT NEWS

24 Senior Supplement Thank You Staples Teachers...

Inklings / June 19, 2012 / inklingsnews.com

ADMINISTRATION John Dodig Principal Southern Conn. State Univ., B.A. Fairfield Univ., M.A. Southern Conn. State Univ., 6th Year James Farnen Assistant Principal Dept. Chair, Physical Education Dept. Chair, Media Central Conn. State Univ., B.A. Sacred Heart Univ., M.A. Southern Conn. State Univ., 6th Year

Maria Zachery Dept. Chair, World Language Fairfield Univ., B.A. Columbia Univ., Teachers’ College, M.A. ATHLETICS Gaetana Deiso Springfield College, B.S.

Barbara Robbins Fairfield Univ., B.A. Western Conn. State Univ., M.S, Sacred Heart Univ., 6th Year Meghan Scheck Colby College, B.A. Middlebury College, M.A.

Corey Iamonico Sacred Heart Univ., B.S.

Beth Semaya Ithaca College, B.A. Columbia Univ., M.A.

ENGLISH Jesse Bauks Univ. of Conn., B.A. Fairfield Univ., M.A.

Delbert Shortliff Univ. of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, B.A. Colgate Univ., M.T.

Heather Colletti-Houde Fairfield Univ., B.A. Western Conn. State Unive., M.S.

Holly Sulzycki Indiana Univ., B.S. Southern Conn. State Univ., M.S.

Martin Lisevick Athletic Director Central Conn. State Univ., B..S. Univ. of New England, M.S. Southern Conn. State Univ., 6th Year

Anne Fernandez Brown Univ., B.A. Boston College, M.A.

Brian Tippy Yale Univ., B.A. Middlebury College, M.A.

Mary Elizabeth Fulco Univ. of Mary Washington, B.A.

Elizabeth Triggs Yale Univ., B.A.

Patrick Micinilio Assistant Principal Dept.. Chair, Family Consumer Science, Tech. Ed. Univ. of Conn., B.A. Univ. of Bridgeport, M.A. Southern Conn. State Univ., 6th Year

Michael Fulton Univ. of Wisconsin, B.A. New York Univ., M.A.

Kristin Veenema Fairfield Univ., B.A. Columbia Univ., M.A.

Daniel Geraghty Hofstra Univ., B.A. Sacred Heart Univ., M.A.T. Univ. of Conn., M.A.

Gus Young Bard College, B.A. Univ. of Maine, M.A.T.

Richard A. Franzis Assistant Principal Dept. Chair, Library and Computer Science Southern Conn. State Univ., B.S.; M.S., 6th Year

Karyn Morgan Assistant Principal Dept. Chair, Fine Arts, Performing Arts, Academic Support Southern Conn. State Univ., B.S.; 6th Year Fairfield Univ., M.A. DEPARTMENT CHAIRS Lisabeth Comm 6-12 Coordinator, English Miami Univ. of Ohio, B.A. Indiana Univ., M.A. Frank Corbo K-12 Coordinator, Mathematics Fairfield Univ., A.B., M.A. Southern Conn. State Univ., 6th Year James D’Amico 6-12 Coordinator, Social Studies Univ. of Conn., B.A.; M.A. Univ. of Conn., 6th Year Lorraine DiNapoli Dept. Chair, Special Education Central Conn. State Univ., B.S. Univ. of Central Florida, M.A. Southern Conn. State Univ., M.S.; C.A.S. A.J. Scheetz 6-12 Coordinator, Science Lake Superior State Univ., B.S. Univ. of Colorado, M.S.; Ph.D. Elaine Schwartz Dept. Chair, Guidance Syracuse Univ., B.A. Teachers College, Columbia Univ., M.A.; Ed.M. David Winer K-12 Supervisor of Music New England Conservatory of Music, B.A. Univ. of Conn., M.A. Univ. of Hartford, 6th Year

Elizabeth Humphrey Fairfield Univ., B.A.; M.A. Werner Liepolt Union College, A.B. Univ. of Pennsylvania, M.A. Columbia Univ., M.Ed.

E.S.O.L. Adriana Woldring William Smith College, B.A. State Univ. of New York at Albany, M.S. Fairfield Univ., 6th Year

Julia Roberts State Univ. of New York, New Paltz, B.A. Western Conn. State Univ., M.S. Southern Conn. State Univ., M.L.S. Robin Stiles Grove City College, B.A. Southern Conn. State Univ., M.L.S. Michael Zito Southern Conn. State Univ., B.A. Fairfield Univ., M.A. MATHEMATICS Stacey Delmhorst Southern Conn. State Univ., B.S. Gertrude Denton Univ. of South Florida, B.A. New York Univ., M.B.A. Ann Didelot St. Joseph’s Univ., B.S. Univ. of Bridgeport, M.S. Jennifer Giudice Univ. of Nebraska at Omaha, B.S.; M.S. Southern Conn. State Univ., 6th Year Margaret Gomez Union College, B.S. Fairfield Univ., M.S.

Dana Levy Southern Conn. State Univ., B.S.; M.S.

Stephen Rexford Skidmore College, B.A. Fairfield Univ., M.A. Middlebury College, M.A. Southern Conn. State Univ., 6th Year Christina W. Richardson Northwestern Univ., B.S. Western Conn. State Univ., M.A.

Jaclyn Jeselnik Quinnipiac Univ., B.S. College of New Rochelle, M.A. Jonathan Nast Gettysburg College, B.A. Angela Mata Simpson Skidmore College, B.S. Southern Conn. State Univ., M.S. Tracy Wright Ohio State Univ., B.S.; M.Ed LIBRARY/ MEDIA James P. Honeycutt Fairfield Univ., B.A.; M.A.; C.A.S.

Gregg Winters Western Conn. State Univ., B.S.; M.S.

Colin DeVine Southern Conn. State Univ., B.S.

Alison Milwe–Grace Univ. of Mass.at Amherst, B.S. Intern. School for Culinary Ed. Cert.

Janet Garstka Carnegie Mellon Univ., B.F.A. Illinois Institute of Technology, M.S.

Adele Cutrali Valovich Western Conn. State Univ., B.M.E. Eastman School of Music, M.M. Southern Conn. State Univ., 6th Year

Cari Christenson Central Conn. State Univ., B.S.

Susan O’Hara Tufts Univ., B.A. Rutgers Univ., M.A. Columbia Univ., Teachers’ College Ed.M.

Christine Radler State Univ. of New York at Oneonta, B.A. State Univ. of New York at Binghamton, M.A. Southern Conn. State Univ., 6th Year Sacred Heart Univ., M.A.L.

Justin Miller Chapman Univ., B.M.

Theron Kissinger Univ. of New Mexico, B.S. Univ. of Bridgeport, M.Ed. Leonard Klein Univ. of Conn., B.S. Sacred Heart Univ., M.A.

Camille Eskell Queens College/CUNY B.F.A.; M.F.A.

Carrie Mascaro Ithaca College School of Music B.M., M.M. Southern Conn. State Univ. 6th Year

Michael Caetano Southern Conn. State Univ., B.S.; M.S.

Linda McClary SUNY at Cortland, B.A. Fordham Univ., M.S.W.

Kimberly Palca Bucknell Univ., B.A. Univ. of Conn., M.A.

Nicholas G. Mariconda Univ. of Bridgeport, B.S.; M.S.

Alan Jolley Rutgers Univ., B.A. Wesleyan Univ., M.A.T.; 6th Year

Alex Miller Southern Conn. State Univ., B.S. Fordham, M.A.; M.Phil.

FINE ARTS Carla Eichler Univ. of Conn., B.F.A.

MUSIC Candi Innaco Univ. of Dayton, B.M.E. Kansas State Univ., M.M.

Caroline James Fairfield Univ., B.S. Univ. of Bridgeport, M.S.

Julia McNamee Williams College, B.A. Univ. of Massachusetts, M.A.

Laura Wendt Pine Manor College, B.A.

William Wilkes Southern Conn. State Univ., B.S. Western Conn. State Univ., M.A.

PHYSICAL AND HEALTH EDUCATION Bruce Betts Southern Conn. State Univ., B.S.; M.S.

FAMILY AND CONSUMER SCIENCES Cecily Gans Johnson & Wales Univ., B.S.; M.A.T.

Elizabeth Olbrych Conn. College, B.A. Univ. of New Hampshire, M.S.T. Fairfield Univ., C.A.S.

Sarah White Univ. of Virginia, B.A.; M.T. Sacred Heart Univ., 6th Year

Kerrigan Murphy Springfield College, B.S. Univ. of New Haven, M.A. Nicole Pendolphi Fairfield Univ., B.S.; M.A. Robin Sacilotto Univ. of Conn., B.S.; M.A. Sacred Heart Univ., 6th Year Jeffrey Schare Western New England College, B.A. Sacred Heart Univ., M.A.T. Rebecca Stern Boston College, B.A. Columbia Univ.

Teacher’s College, M.A. Karen Thomas Mount Holyoke College, B.S. Univ. of New Hampshire, M.S.T Southern Conn. State Univ., 6th Year William Walsh Univ. of Conn., B.A. Fairfield Univ., M.Ed. John Wetzel Dickinson College, B.S. Sacred Heart Univ., M.A.; M.S.; 6th Year

Kelly Garrity Southern Conn. State Univ. B.A.; M.S. John R. Lawrence Southern Arkansas Univ., B.S.E. Fairfield Univ., M.A. Marcellino Petroccio Southern Conn. State Univ., B.S. Nicole Ross Ithaca College, B.S. Christopher Shamas Univ. of Maryland, College Park, B.S. Fairfield Univ., M.A. Janet Zamary Springfield College, B.S., M.S. Melissa Zigmont Central Conn. State Univ., B.S. Sacred Heart Univ., M.S. PUPIL SERVICES Victoria Capozzi Southern Conn. State Univ., B.S.; M.S. Jennifer Currie Univ. of Delaware, B.A. Central Conn. State Univ., M.S.

25 We Could Not Have Done It Without You! Senior Supplement

Inklings / June 19, 2012 / inklingsnews.com

Christine Gray Univ. of Conn., B.A. Univ. of Hartford, M.Ed. Denise Honeycutt Southern Conn. State Univ., B.A.; M.S. Fairfield Univ., C.A.S. Edward Huydic Southern Conn. State Univ., B.S. Columbia Teachers College, M.A.; 6th Year Wesleyan Univ., C.A.S. Micah Lawrence Dickinson College, B.A. Fairfield Univ., M.A. William Plunkett Colgate Univ., B.A. Harvard Univ., Ed.M., C.A.S. Deborah Slocum Wesleyan Univ., B.A. London School of Economics, M.S.C. Fairfield Univ., M.A. Christine M. Talerico Univ. of Conn., B.S. Central Conn. State Univ., M.S. P.J. Washenko Univ. of Massachusetts, B.A. Southern Conn. State Univ., M.S. ACADEMIC SUPPORT Francine Sinay Eastern Connecticut State Univ., B.A. Univ. of Bridgeport, M.S. SCIENCE Michael Aitkenhead State Univ. of New York, Syracuse, B.S. Pennsylvania State Univ., M.A. Robert Andrew Cornell Univ. B.A., M.A., Ph.D. Antonio Coccoli Sacred Heart Univ., B.S.; M.A.T. Nathaniel Dewey Grove City College B.S. Fairfield Univ., M.A.T. Cecilia Duffy Providence College, B.A. Wesleyan Univ., M.A. Southern Conn. State Univ., 6th Year Matthew Filip Univ. of Notre Dame, B.S. DePaul Univ., M.Ed. Richard Fisler Stevens Institute of Technology, B.E. New Jersey Institute of Technology, M.S. Kevin Glass Loyola College in Maryland, B.S. Southern Conn. State Univ., M.S. Christine Hirth University of New Hampshire, B.S.; M.A.T. William Jones Union College, B.S.; M.S.

Joel Kabak Queens College, City Univ. of New York, B.A. Yale Univ. School of Medicine, M.D. Joanne Klouda Polytechnic Institute of New York Univ., B.S. M.I.T., M.S. Alexandra Krubski Univ. of Conn., B.A. Sacred Heart Univ., M.A.T. Michael J. Vieira Lazaroff San Francisco State Univ., B.A. Nicholas Morgan Villanova Univ., B.S. M.I.T., Ph.D. Heather Morley Univ. of Vermont B.S.; M.Ed. Michele Morse Fairfield Univ., B.S. Fordham Univ., Ph.D. David Rollison Maine Maritime Academy, B.S. Kristin Scott Univ. of Conn. B.S., M.A. David M. Scrofani Fairfield Univ., B.S. M.A. Andrew Strauss New England College, B.S. Wesleyan Univ., M.A.L.S. Flavio Tinoco Maharishi Univ. of Management, B.S.; M.S. Univ. of Iowa, Ph.D. Serena Tirado Emory Univ., B.S. Fairfield Univ., M.A. Carrie Veigas Conn. College, B.A. Boston College, M.Ed Trema Voytek Southern Conn. State Univ., B.A.; M.S. Sacred Heart Univ., 6th year SOCIAL STUDIES Carol Avery Indiana Univ., B.A. Southern Conn. State Univ., M.S.; M.A. Catherine Dancz Johns Hopkins Univ., B.A. Teachers College, Columbia Univ., M.A. Ashley Gayanilo Univ. of Virginia, B.A. Sacred Heart Univ., M.A. Dana Gilland Univ. of Vermont, B.A. Western New England College School of Law, J.D. Univ. of Bridgeport, 6th Year Katherine Goulian Cornell Univ., B.A. Columbia Univ., M.A. Daniel Heaphy Univ. of Conn., M.A. Catherine Hernandez Univ. of Conn., B.A.; M.S.

Sheila Hirai Kenyon College, B.S. Boston College, M.S. Suzanne Kammerman Union College, B.A. Universiteit van Amsterdam, M.A. Chi–Ann Lin Univ. of Conn., B.A.; M.A. John Miller Ohio Wesleyan Univ., B.A. Univ. of Cincinnati College of Law, J.D. Sacred Heart Univ., M.A.T. Eric Mongirdas Penn State Univ., B.A. Simmons College., M.A. Harvard Univ., M.A. Rob Rogers Sonoma State Univ., B.A. Northern Arizona Univ., M.A. Kathy Sharp Stanford Univ., B.A.; M.B.A.; J.D. Jonathan Shepro Boston Univ., B.S. Univ. of Bridgeport, M.A. Sacred Heart Univ., M.A.L. Jeanne Stevens Marquette Univ., B.A. Northern Illinois Univ., M.Ed. Meghan Ward Southern Conn. State Univ., B.S. Sacred Heart Univ., M.A.T. Tobias Watson Univ., of Maine, B.A. Univ. of Bridgeport, M.A. Fairfield Univ., 6th yr.

David Willick Michigan State Univ., B.A. SPECIAL EDUCATION Rebecca Anderson-Furlong Syracuse Univ., B.S. Fairfield Univ., M.A. Rita Appel City Univ. of N.Y. Brooklyn College, B.A.; M.S. Carmen J. Arciola, III Assumption College, B.A. Fairfield Univ., M.A. Brooke Barrington Syracuse Univ., B.A. Fairfield Univ., M.A. Andrea Beebe Univ. of California, Los Angeles, B.A. Fairfield Univ., M.A. Sandra Berman Queens College of the City Univ. of New York, B.A. Fordham Univ., M.S.W. Mary Bernhardt Univ. of Rhode Island, B.A. Univ. of Bridgeport, M.S.; C.A.S. Karen DeFelice-During Providence College, B.A. Fairfield Univ., M.A.; M.F.T. Diann Drenosky Univ. of Conn., B.A. Southern Conn. State Univ., M.S.

Johanna Driscoll Lesley College, B.S. Sharon Halstead Conn. State College, B.A. Southern Conn. State Univ., M.S. Fairfield Univ., 6th Year Sarah Hawkins Hamilton College, B.A. Teachers College, Ed.M.

Natalie Clay Univ. of Montpellier, France, B.A; M.A. Claudia Cuevas de Taranto Sacred Heart Univ., B.A. Southern Conn. State Univ., M.A. Louisa D’Amore Univ. of Delaware, B.A. Ana Catalina DeLuca Fairfield Univ., M.A.

Julia Horowitz Bowdoin College, B.A. Univ. of Michigan, M.H.S. Columbia Univ., M.S.W.

Joseph Barahona Southern Conn. State Univ., B.A.

Heidi Howden Southern Conn. State Univ., B.A.; M.A

Fengyan Hou Ji’an Teachers College Nanjing Normal Univ., B.A.

Marylou Huisking Ladycliff College, B.A. Fairfield Univ., M.A. Southern Conn. State Univ., 6th yr.

Christopher Fray Conn. College, B.A. Sacred Heart Univ., M.A.T.

Sally Joyce Southern Conn. State Univ., B.A., M.S.

Eamon Griffin Middlebury College, B.A.; M.A. Jennifer Huettner Denison Univ. B.A. Univ. of Virginia M.Ed.

Aimee Lorenti Southern Conn. State Univ., B.S.; 6th Year Sacred Heart Univ., M.S.

Donna Kenny Univ. of Iowa, B.A. Univ. of New Haven, M.B.A.

Karla Masiello Univ. of Conn., B.S.; M.A.

Carol Kochefko Fairfield Univ., B.A.; M.A.

Tom Owen Ohio Univ., B.S.

Enia Noonan Univ. of Conn.. B.A. Universidad de Sevilla, Espana Fairfield Univ., M.A.

Marjory Palmer Calif. State Univ., Chico, B.S. Fairfield Univ., M.A.; C.A.S. Sara Prior Wheelock College, B.A. Southern Conn. State Univ., M.A. Jennifer Sorge Univ. of Richmond, B.A. Columbia Univ., M.A. Jennifer White Fairfield Univ., B.A., M.A. Carol D. Taney College of New Rochelle, B.A.; M.S.; 6th yr.

TECHNOLOGY EDUCATION Michael Sansur Univ. of Maryland, College Park, B.S. Univ. of Bridgeport, M.S. Southern Conn. State Univ., 6th Year, 7th Year THEATER David Roth The Theatre School at Depaul Univ., B.F.A. Southern Oregon Univ., M.A. Southern Conn. State Univ., 6th Year WORLD LANGUAGE Horacio Ballesteros Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, B.A. Fairfield Univ., M.A. Olivier Blanchardon Central Conn. State Univ., B.A. Fairfield Univ., M.A., 6th Year

Susan Pels Tufts Univ., B.A. Univ. of Texas (Austin), M.B.A.; M.A. Lillian Revel Fordham Univ., Ph.D. Renee Torres Sacred Heart Univ. B.A. Univ. of Conn., M.A. Priscilla Wentworth Fairfield Univ., B.A. NURSES Suzanne Bookbinder Brooklyn College, B.S. New York Univ., M.A. Alicia V. Casucci Emory Univ., B.S.N. The Univ. of Pennsylvania, M.S.N. Susie Miller Cal State Univ. Fresno, B.S. Mount Saint Mary’s College, R.N. Elizabeth Russ Univ. of New Hampshire, B.S.N. SUBSTITUTES Cyndianne Gates Pennsylvania State Univ., B.A. James Goodrich Ohio Wesleyan Univ., B.A. David Sands Sociology SUNY Purchase, B.A. Univ. of New Haven, M.A.

26 Sports

Inklings / June 19, 2012 / inklingsnews.com

These Are the Champions

Five Staples Teams Scoop Up Titles in 2012 Simon Stracher ’14 Sports Editor

this year’s tournament, Staples was ranked as the fourth seed in a field of eight.

The Wreckers were certainly the underdog. Against Norwalk, Wilton, and Darien in the regular season, the three respective seeds ahead of the Wreckers, Staples had a 0-4 record, with a -6 goal differential. Captain and center-midfielder Emily Ashken ’12 said, “We won FCIACs because we wanted it more than any other team.”

While the field hockey team’s win shocked opponents and fans, it was no surprise that the boys’ indoor track team won its FCIAC championship. Led

by Henry Wynne ’13, Jon Heil ’12, and Max Hoberman ’12, the

team not only won the FCIAC championship, but also the state championship, and the State Open, which Staples had not won since 1991.

They fi nished the State championship with a total of 80.5 points. The next-best team fi nished with 55. Henry Wynne, a star runner, was not surprised.

“As the season went on, everyone started getting better, and

by FCIACs I knew we could win,” said Wynne.

The track team’s great run continued into the spring season, fi nishing with a total of 147.5 points. The next-best team, Danbury, fi nished with 82.5 points. The boys fi nished off the season by winning State champi-

onships. “Our boys indoor track team defi nitely peaked at the right time at FCIACs, States, and the Open,” said Lisevick. “They followed it up with a great performance on May 22nd – winning the outdoor track FCIAC’s.”

Another team that demolished the competition throughout the season was the girls’ ski team. “Winning States as a senior made the four years of long bus rides and coming home late twice a week all worth it,” said captain Misha Strage ’12.

While this year had its share of shocks, it is to the surprise of no one that the Wreckers dominated the sports landscape across the board during the 2011-2012 season.

ING ES RUNN OF STAPL PHOTO CONTRIBUTED BY STAPLES FOOTBALL D E T U IB R ON T PH OTO C TAKING IT HOME: The indo indoor track team and ϔield hockey team celebrating their state and FCIAC championships. Center tri-captain Jack Gibson ‘12 celebtrating FCIAC Championship victory against rival Greenwich.

PHOTO CONTRIBU

TED BY RON HINE R

They say ‘You can’t win ‘em all,’ but five Staples sports teams disagree.

The elite five teams, competing in FCIACs, won their respective titles. Winners include the boys’ indoor track team, the football team, the girls’ ski team, the boys’ outdoor track team and the field hockey team.

According to Athletic Director Marty Lisevick, several of these teams played better than expected. “I thought our football team overachieved with a young team this fall - leaving us with a lot coming back for 2012,” said Lisevick.

With a sophomore quarterback and few returning starters, the football team was viewed as a “next-year team.” However, behind the strong arm of quarterback Jack Massie ’14 and the fearsome trio of running backs in Jon Heil ’12, Joey Zelkowitz ’13, and Nick Kelly ’13, the Wreckers steamrolled the competition. They continued their winning ways until the State championship, where they fell to Xavier 42-7.

Another surprising champion was the field hockey team which generally, players say, has not been a juggernaut. The last time the team had won the FCIAC championship was 1994, and before that 1978. Entering

Sports Inklings / June 19, 2012 / inklingsnews.com

27

The Top 10 Sports Moments Since Seniors Were Freshmen Joe Greenwald ’13 and Alex Spector ’13 Web Sports Editor and Business Manager

Boys Soccer 2009-2011 FCIAC 3PEAT and More

Brendan Rankowitz 2009 Game-winning Touchdown

To win three FCIAC championships consecutively is a remarkable feat But to achieve a #6 national ranking, a state championship, multiple players with All New-England recognition, and one player with All-American status is mind-boggling.

On top of that, Brendan Lesch (the All-American) went viral with his 250,000-viewed, physically the inexplicable bicycle kick video. Breaking records for most lopsided state finals victory in its 61-year history and most wins in a season (22) says it all.

PHOTO CONTRIBUTED BY STAPLES SOCCER

The fat lady hadn’t sung yet as Brendan Rankowitz defied odds with the FCIAC championshipclinching, 66-yard, game-winning touchdown.

Rankowitz had dropped a potential touchdown pass earlier in the game but made up for it immeasurably. Clutch is too weak a word. “The Play” as it has come to be known, has become Wrecker History.

PHOTO BY CHRISTIAN ABRAHAM FROM CTPOST

Boys Volleyball Garners 100 Consecutive Wins Winning eight out of their previous nine FCIAC titles with four consecutive state titles, going 100 games without suffering defeat (dating back to 2006) and receiving national acclaim, the Staples Wreckers were untouchable. Bruce Betts led Staples Volleyball to true perfection during the latter part of his long tenure and made Uconn’s Geno Auriemma seem ordinary.

PHOTO CONTRIBUTED BY SUZANNE KALB

Rob Gau Blocks Kick in Thanksgiving Game 2009 The freshly-crowned FCIAC champion Wreckers were playing their annual Thanksgiving Day game against (yes, them again) the Cardinals. The Cardinals had a 33-yard field goal for the win set-up.

As the ball was snapped, placed, and kicked, Rob Gau, a.k.a. “Staples Football,” shot his extended arm up over the offensive line and got his finger tips on the ball to block the kick, clinching the win for the Wreckers. Simply another classic added to the storied rivalry between Staples and Greenwich.

PHOTO BY DAN GELMAN

Girls Soccer Cinderella Run in 2011 State Tournament The 2011 Staples girls soccer team surprised everyone when they reached the Class LL semi-finals, ranked 20th in the state, surpassing expectations. In the first round of playoffs, the 13th-seeded New Milford Green Wave was outplayed. Even more surprisingly, the Westhill Vikings, seeded 5th, fell to the hungrier, more aggressive Lady Wreckers in an astonishing 2-1 upset. The Cinderella Run ended cruelly in PK’s in the semifinals against top-seeded Glastonbury, but that doesn’t tarnish the incredible run by the girls soccer team, which hadn’t even qualified for FCIACs. PHOTO CONTRIBUTED BY STAPLES GIRLS SOCCER

Staples Baseball Wins Three FCIAC Titles in Four Years Winning the 2011 FCIAC title in a gutsy 5-3 victory against Danbury, its third FCIAC title in a fouryear span, demonstrated clear composure and consistency. The Staples baseball program is thriving, and this win brought the Wreckers to the lead of most FCIAC titles, with seven. One of the program’s most established areas of expertise is the pitching mound, where since 2009 pitchers like David Speer, Rob Gau, and Jimmy Kopack have shined in the spotlight and led their respective teams to winning seasons and deep playoff runs.

PHOTO CONTRIBUTED BY THE STAMFORD ADVOCATE

Massie to Bonenfant in 2011 FCIAC Championship On the biggest stage of his athletic career, senior football tri-captain Peter Bonenfant came through with the biggest play of his life as the undefeated Wreckers faced off against the archrival Cardinals.

With 1:21 left in the game, Wreckers trailing the Cardinals, Bonenfant grabbed a 16-yard touchdown pass from Massie to take the lead and seal the victory. How fitting for a senior captain to score.

PHOTO CONTRIBUTED BY STAPLES FOOTBALL

2011 Girls Field Hockey FCIAC Championship Run What a year. The Field Hockey team won its first FCIAC championship in 17 years, beating Wilton in the finals, but it was truly the journey to get there that made it special. Senior Misha Strage scored the game-winning goal with 3:50 left in the quarterfinals against Stamford, leading to a 2-1 victory.

The next night Strage scored the game-winning goal as the Wreckers shocked the Darien Blue Wave 1-0 and snapped their remarkable 93-game winning streak. Finally, and who else, Strage scored the gamewinning goal to beat Wilton 2-1. The Wreckers were FCIAC champs, and it was the clutch play of their senior captain in three straight games.

PHOTO CONTRIBUTED BY THE STAMFORD ADVOCATE

2012 Staples Boys Track Team Breaks Record Led by track athlete of the year Henry Wynne, the Staples Boys’ 1600m track relay team, with Zach Mitchell, Max Hoberman, and Jon Heil as well, shattered the Connecticut record by 1.08 seconds. Nationally, it ranked 6th fastest in times recorded this year. All the more impressive is that this team had never run this race. It was a fresh, authentic, blindingly-quick run, and that record will hold for years.

PHOTO CONTRIBUTED BY STAPLES RUNNING

Staples Girls Hockey Records Important Win On February 19th, 2011, the Staples Girls’ Hockey Team made history with its 6-3 win over StamfordWesthill. After three years of existence, three years of varsity status, and a previous season with losses nearly every game of 8+ goals, the victory was fittingly achieved on senior night. Fired up by its seven seniors, and led by new coach Peter Alfano, the win for this small team showed Staples Girls’ Hockey as a program that deserves respect.

PHOTO CONTRIBUTED BY WESTPORT PATCH

FINAL THOUGHTS