Iona Prep’s official newspaper. Winter 2016
Quinn for the Win By Mr. Frank Meade, ‘01
At 14 years old, sitting inside of the Tully gymnasium and listening to some stranger talk to you about the Iona brotherhood is not exactly inspiring. It's a tough crowd, so to speak, and at this stage of your life, the message doesn't exactly hit home. So in 1998, like a typical teenager, I ignored the message and mocked and mimicked the “Iona brotherhood” phrase for years. Now, at 32 years old and a member of the faculty at Iona, standing in that same gymnasium, surrounded by familiar faces, I got the chance to listen to one of my best friends talk about this same phrase. That night, the Iona Brotherhood brought together an amazing crowd to support one of my classmates and best friends, Pat Quinn. The crowd was captivated. The gymnasium was packed with people wanting to see a great contest between two excellent teams, Iona and Christ the King. And while this basketball game proved to be just that, the meaning of the night
reached much deeper than the action on the court. At halftime ‐ when fans usually make their way to concession stands and snack machines, and the two teams run to the locker rooms to make adjustments ‐ something very special happened. Both the fans and teams remained in their seats and listened to an important message. Pat told the silent crowd that his fight against ALS has been a tough one, and it is one that requires help, but he knows that he can count on his Iona brothers to be there every step of the way. His courage and determination continue to inspire us all. He has raised millions of dollars for the fight against ALS. He has given speeches to thousands of people around the world. He has won awards and inspired people to keep fighting this terrible disease. But what made that night so special was Pat’s return to a place where a group of 14 year olds began a journey and became part of the Iona brotherhood.
The State of the Fountain You can’t turn on your television, unlock your phone, or open your laptop without being blasted with the latest headlines from the campaign trail. Political ideologies aside, every candidate has ideas that define his or her campaign. Last May when I ran for SFC President, mine was a water fountain. Now, a little more than four months since the fountain’s installation we, as an Iona Prep community have saved more than 4,000 plastic water bottles from local landfills. In four even shorter months I will be graduating, but the fountain shall remain as a literal fixture of the walls of the Prep for years to come.
Interview with Leo Liu, ‘16 by Raul de la Guardia, ‘16
So tell me what you did last summer. Last summer, I went to Yushu, Tibet to help teach English and Math to the poor in the area and to experience Tibetan culture firsthand. Why Tibet?
Now you're mostly likely wondering (assuming you're still reading) why a second‐semester senior would spend a paragraph rambling about his beloved water fountain, comparing it to FDR’s New Deal, Kennedy’s lunar landing or Trump’s proposed wall. Well the answer is simple; they’re all ideas (if properly executed) that define our legacy. While I am content with my fountain, I encourage you to leave your own mark on the Prep. If you have an idea, big or small, don't be afraid to push for its implementation. Better yet, consider joining the SFC where you can be that very agent of change. Like always, if you have any questions, comments or suggestions about anything, please don't hesitate to let me know. God Bless and Go Gaels! August Iorio, ‘16
About 4 years ago, Tibet was rattled by a massive earthquake. I remember doing fundraising work to help support people that lived in the poor area of Yushu. I remember raising basic goods and such to help support as many people as we could. So a couple of years ago, when I sought to make a change for the better and do something impactful, Yushu immediately came back to mind. I had met people that lived in Yushu, and I sought out a volunteer job that would let me help others, but also allow me to be independent. Education is one of the greatest gifts anyone can offer, and I was honored to bring that gift to the youth of Yushu. Tibet gave me this opportunity.
Leo Liu in Tibet (continued)
problem. What sorts of hardships did you face while working there? The first thing that comes to mind is the elevation. Being in the Himalayan mountains, the altitude really gets to you. I remember the day after my arrival I was barely able to walk and teach because of how thin the air was. The other big issue was the lack of clean water. Most of the villagers relied on a river for their water supply, which was of course extremely dirty. But it was useable, and we were forced to carry water from it to and fro in order to wash.
Where there any sociopolitical issues that you encountered? The relationship between Tibet and China is still extremely tense, and that was made clear on my travels. As Han Chinese, there was certainly a negative aura that seemed to set some villagers off to me. Han Chinese have a reputation of trying to force the Tibetans to modernize, but once they knew why I was there it was no longer a
How would you describe the area you worked in? The most striking thing about traveling to a place like Tibet is the poverty. You see it as soon as you get off the plane. Once I arrived in Yushu, the gravity of the situation became even more clear. In the first world, receiving such basic education at that age would be unheard of. But I would be lying to you if I said these people were not inspired by knowledge. They were immensely grateful for my help, and their powerful message of thanks is something I will always remember. Opportunities to learn are few and far between, and it was clear that these guys cherished what I was offering them. The tears shed as I left nearly broke my heart. Would you go back? Absolutely, I would certainly return, and I am planning on doing so! To see the website of the school where Leo taught, go here: www.dodoschool.net To see Leo’s students singing a song he taught them, click the photo below:
Video of Students singing.m4v
Iona Lax Preview By Greg Spiridigliozzi, ‘16
The 2015 lacrosse season for Iona Prep started off in a manner in which no teams hopes to begin their quest for a state championship: losing three of the first games and one of those games being against Fordham Prep. It was soon after that loss to Fordham that the Iona Prep lacrosse team gathered themselves and turned into one of the hottest teams in the tri‐state area by the finishing the season on a twelve game winning streak on the way to being crowned CHSAA ‘AA State champions.
OBLIGATIONS FOR CATHOLICS DURING LENT: Fasting & Abstinence: Our obligatory duty on Ash Wednesday and Good Friday. Abstinence: Do not eat meat on the Fridays of Lent. Treat it as a day of penance. Confession: Catholics are obligated to fulfill their Easter Duty by receiving Holy Communion at least once during the Easter season (from Easter Sunday to Pentecost), therefore the Sacrament of Penance for any mortal sins is required prior to this, and is strongly recommended as a Lenten penitential practice for any venial sins prior to the Easter feast.
Iona Prep lacrosse looks to continue their winning streak well into 2016. The goal every year is to win a state championship, but this year the program looks to also take down Long Island Powerhouses in Chaminade and St. Anthony’s. Seniors Zach Kryza (Villanova), Christian McHugh (Lehigh), Charlie McAllister (Coast Guard Academy), and Tim Powell (Roanoke) look to lead the Gaels to another successful season.
PoliTalks with Mr. Salerno By Justin Iorio, ‘16
Every four years one class has the privilege of taking Mr. Salerno’s A.P. Government class during an election year; the class of 2016 is thankfully one of those. In what’s shaping up to be the most interesting and character-filled election in recent history, Mr. Salerno’s in depth knowledge and genuine love of politics, honed over several decades of teaching, involvement in local politics, and lunchtime arguments, has proven valuable in the classroom, evident in both loud laughs and experienced analysis. Because not everyone is able to experience this first hand in class, I sat down with Mr. Salerno to talk about some of the major candidates and what the next couple months may have in store for them. Strong on domestic issues and with the most foreign policy experience from her time in the Senate and as Secretary of State, Hillary Clinton “is obviously the most qualified candidate.” But, as a result of her “baggage” (in the form of active FBI investigations and other scandals) “she's not necessarily the best candidate” in
the words of Mr. Salerno. Poor public trust ratings and as Mr. Salerno put it, “a sense of entitlement to the office” have begun to hurt her appeal and chances of victory. Rather recently, Donald Trump’s “neutralization” of Clinton’s major campaign asset, the other Clinton, has also proven that any direct conflict with Trump will not end well for Hillary. Besides the Republican opposition, Hillary must also deal with the massive public momentum and support behind Bernie Sanders, the looming threat of New York billionaire and former mayor of New York City, Michael Bloomberg, throwing his hat into the ring or Vice-President Joe Biden deciding to run at the last minute. “These are real things the Clinton campaign has to worry about, no matter how unlikely they each seem at the moment. Especially if [Hillary] runs into real trouble, Bloomberg or Biden could easily replace [her] as the Democratic Party’s establishment candidate; they’ve already got the money and support for it” explained Salerno. One of the biggest and possibly most surprising questions is what Salerno, who admits to
favoring economically conservative, practical, and socially moderate candidates, thinks of the self-proclaimed Democratic Socialist candidate Bernie Sanders, who sends most of red America (and many economists) into a tizzy at the mere sight of his economic platform. “I don’t think he would be a bad president; a lot of it would come down to how well he could cooperate with (Speaker of the House, Paul) Ryan. But one thing’s for certain, he will never be able to turn the U.S. into a European Socialist country” said Salerno with a grin. “He’s weak in foreign affairs, but his honesty and authenticity are very appealing to voters. He’s straightforward and he comes off as it. That’s not something voters see in Hillary, and it gives him a real chance against her. Right now, going into the New Hampshire, Sanders has momentum and politics is momentum; people believe the last thing they hear.” He was right: later in the day Sanders won New Hampshire, a victory Salerno credits to massive momentum before the primary.
Marco Rubio, first term Senator from Florida, is Salerno’s favorite candidate. “He could beat Hillary, hands down.” The key to Rubio’s success will be in winning the electoral powerhouses of Florida, Texas and even the normally Democratic California. “You have to look at what’s changed and what makes him different” says Salerno. “California is now 51% Latino; Rubio’s name and moderate and pragmatic stance on immigration could give him California and that would really shake things up.” Now that Rubio has achieved numerous endorsements from many well respected political figures and with Jeb Bush’s recent campaign suspension, things are looking good for Rubio’s chances. Regardless, this election season is like no other so it will be interesting to see how this all actually plays out and in many ways it’s anyone’s guess.
Oscars Preview and Predictions By Billy Gerken and Raul de la Guardia, ‘16 On Sunday, February 28, Chris Rock will be hosting the 88th Academy Awards. This year features a lot of talented nominees and groundbreaking films and this highly anticipated event creates career‐ defining moments for those in the film industry. Here are the award predictions from some of the writing staff… Raul de la Guardia’s take: Best Picture: The Revenant ‐ As much as the academy likes to reward films that deal with social issues, it
has not given an award to a film regarding such a controversial topic in years. However, I also do not think that academy would want to give Alejandro Inarritu back to back Oscars for best picture, despite The
Revenant being the best picture of the year. Expect The Revenant to still win here, but the race for best picture is wide open with Lenny Abraham’s Room or George Miller’s Mad Max: Fury Road both likely to pull off the upset. Best Actor: Leonardo DiCaprio (The Revenant)‐ While Leo’s turn as Hugh Glass is not the best performance in this film (that designation instead belongs to Tom Hardy), the Academy has thrown him a softball to finally pick up his first Oscar. The only other performance among his nominees that can somewhat hold up is Brian Cranston in Trumbo. Long overdue, expect Leo to finally take one home. Best Actress: Saoirse Ronan (Brooklyn)‐ With Best Actress, the Academy has a very difficult choice: Brie Larson or Saoirse Ronan.
In my opinion, Ronan shined in a film I was shocked to find myself enjoying. Brooklyn is a
great, grounded yet fun drama. I definitely think she deserves the Oscar here. But Brie Larson did win the Golden Globe for her role in Room, and deservedly so. It’s a coin flip, but one that I think that Saoirse deserves to win. Best Supporting Actor: Tom Hardy (The Revenant)‐ Much like Best Actress, this is a two horse race. Many think Sylvester Stallone will take this for his turn as Rocky in Creed, giving it to him as a lifetime achievement type award. But as anyone that has seen The Revenant knows, Hardy was flawless as John Fitzgerald, and frankly overshadows Leonardo DiCaprio. While many are praising DiCaprio’s performance, it is clear that Hardy completely engrosses himself into the role, practically becoming Fitzgerald. Hardy is a rising star in Hollywood, and between this and his stellar work in Mad Max: Fury Road, the Academy would do right to honor him with this award.
Best Supporting Actress: Alicia Vikander (The Danish Girl)‐ As much as I disliked The Danish Girl (one of the biggest examples of Oscar bait in recent memory), I cannot help but and praise the performances of Eddie Redmayne and Vikander. The two saved the movie for me, and both serve as upsets to Best Actor and Supporting Actress. Vikander also blew me away with her work in Ex Machina, a film that was horribly snubbed by the Academy (that’s what you get when you release your film in April). And while Winslet is the clear favorite, she did not stand out as much as Vikander. Best Director: George Miller (Mad Max: Fury Road) Until I had seen The Revenant, Fury Road was easily my favorite film of the year. But while not held up by insane performances, George
Miller’s masterpiece allows for his true knowledge of action cinema to shine. Where other action films have been too worried about getting cute with complex story elements or far too elaborate set pieces, Fury Road shines in its simplicity. And George Miller shines through the perfect blend of visual storytelling, excellent cinematography and brilliant practical events. Miller certainly deserves the award here. Inarritu does have a chance to take this, but it would be downright criminal to give best director to anyone else.
cannot help but praise George Miller’s Fury Road. But the real sleeper between these two giants is Lenny Abrahamson’s Room. The Revenant and Fury Road are still the two favorites to clean house at the Oscars, but do not be shocked if Room pulls off some upsets.
Actor in a Supporting Role: Tom Hardy (The Revenant)
Final thoughts: While this year was an interesting one for cinema, there are clearly favorites to rise above the rest here. Alejandro Inarritu’s The Revenant is one of the most impressive films I have ever seen, while I
Billy Gerken’s take: Best Picture: Spotlight Actor in a Leading Role: Leonardo DiCaprio (The Revenant) Actress in a Leading Role: Jennifer Lawrence ( Joy)
Actress in a Supporting Role: Rooney Mara (Carol) Directing: George Miller (Mad Max: Fury Road)
Writing College Supplemental Questions By Billy Gerken, ‘16 The thought of applying to college can be daunting for most, especially when reaching the latter part of junior year. One aspect of applying to college that is arguably the hardest and deserves careful attention is writing supplemental questions. Supplements are specific questions asked by colleges that help the person reviewing your application learn more about you. These questions focus on a variety of topics and usually change every year, depending on the college or university. In an attempt to offer some advice to Iona students on what colleges are looking for in these supplements, we have included actual questions from some of the world’s most prestigious colleges and answers from the 2016 senior class.
“Tell us about your attitudes and interactions with multicultural and diverse groups.” –Columbia University “For as long as I can remember, multiculturalism has been a part of my DNA. A diverse family and environment, as well as two distinct cultures and traditions have shaped my identity. My mother was born in Chile and my father is Irish-American. I have extended family in Chile and South Africa. I have been raised fully bilingual and bicultural. I feel fortunate to be able to draw from two worlds, languages, and cultures. Values and traditions that are rooted in my Latin heritage are an integral part of who I am today. I have travelled with my family to numerous countries including Argentina, Brazil, Chile, South Africa, Egypt, and Mexico. During my most recent visit to Chile, I immersed myself in the local social life and culture. I interacted with people my age and noticed a few differences between our cultures. Chileans are more expressive and openly affectionate towards each other. I have grown up in New Rochelle, New York, surrounded by people from diverse cultures and perspectives. Two of my best friends from my childhood are African American and Cuban. I grew up learning about their cultures, beliefs, and experiences. This has given me a broader perspective, I believe, than my peers. My continuous exposure to diversity has made me more open-minded and has inspired me to explore paths that many of my peers may not have travelled. I learned Spanish, attended unforgettable learning experiences, and met people with unique perspectives. At times I take growing up as a part of the new multicultural generation that is fueling the United States for granted. I would like to continue to be a part of a global community that sees the tremendous value of diversity because I believe that having multicultural students like me will only make the university stronger.”
“If you were given funding for a small engineering project that would make your everyday life better, what would you do?” –University of Virginia “Since the age of two I have relied on my Cochlear Implant to help me hear. The device has undergone significant modifications over the past fifteen years and it has changed my life dramatically, but there is still room for improvements. With the implant, I am able to hear close to seventy-five percent of what people say when it is absolutely quiet. However, in a typical noisy environment, I am able to hear very little. A Cochlear Implant’s batteries need to be charged on a daily basis and the device should not be worn when sleeping or taking a shower. I dream of having a Cochlear Implant that is much smaller and fully implantable. I believe that this would have a positive effect when someone meets me for the first time. If I were given funding for an engineering project, I would research to find a solution to at least one of the above-mentioned issues. Cochlear Americas already has a team of engineers working to improve the device. I would focus my efforts on areas such as battery life and size, which would not only benefit me, but also the lives of the more than 300,000 current Cochlear Implant recipients as well as those who will receive the device in the future. Another benefit of developing a smaller and stronger battery is that this technology could be utilized in other fields, improving the lives of millions of additional people in the world.” “Everyone belongs to many different communities and/or groups defined by shared geography, religion, ethnicity, income, cuisine, interest, race, ideology, or intellectual heritage. Choose one of the communities to which you belong, and describe that community and your place within it.” –University of Michigan “One community that stands out to me is my school community at Iona Preparatory. When I became an Iona Prep Gael, I saw that the students and faculty had a special connection, and I was inspired to become involved. Being a member of the Iona Preparatory community has taught me many valuable lessons. Our school crest reads "Estote Firmi" or "Be Firm," and throughout my time at Iona I have learned to embody this motto by becoming a leader. For example, I applied to be a Peer Counselor in my junior year. This program offers an opportunity for upperclassmen to work with new students and guide them in their transition into high school. I enjoy giving helpful tips and advice to a group of eight freshmen at our weekly meetings. Looking back on my experiences as a freshman in high school, I recognize how important it is to have an upperclassman to talk to and look up to. I love having the opportunity to be a leader for the students in my group, and I believe that these experiences have helped me tremendously in my growth as a leader and role model. I am confident that the lessons I have learned while attending Iona Preparatory will stick with me as I enter this next chapter of my life. In attending the University of Michigan I will strive not only to form relationships with my classmates and professors, but also to take an active leadership role in the Michigan community.” Supplement answers came from multiple sources.
2016 Varsity Baseball Preview By Billy Gerken Coach Mahoney’s thoughts: Last Season in Review: We had a great 2015 regular season; we were 15‐3 in the league and lost in the CHSAA semifinals to Archbishop Molloy 6‐5. We had great leadership from our seniors, and we began to really utilize the Doty Fitness Center and improve our strength and conditioning over the off‐ season. Expectations for Spring, 2016: We had a great fall season and have really gotten after it in the weight room all off‐season. The team looks like they are ready to get started on March 5th and everyone is excited for the season. We lost a number of quality players and hopefully everyone on the team is ready to step up for the 2016 season. Every person has a role on the team and if they all buy in, we think it can be a great year for the Varsity. Key Returners and Newcomers for the Gaels: We have a deep pitching rotation returning: Joe LaSorsa and Anthony Piccolino are both D1 LHP who will look to lead the way on the mound. Alex Dimovski
and Marty Durkin are two big RHP who look to help in their senior year. Juniors Rob DeBenedictis and Dylan Sabia are fighting for a starting spot in the rotation, and they will both see quality innings. Chris Dutra(committed to Duke U.) looks to lead the way offensively and behind the plate as the starting catcher. There are spots to win in the infield and Seniors Andrew Militie and Tim Riordan look to anchor the corner spots. Juniors Mike Gorman, Andrew D'Autilio and Joe Iengo are looking to help coming off a successful lower level career. In the outfield, senior Sam Roque and junior Anthony Piccolino saw innings last year and in the playoffs and look to take control of the outfield. Both have above average range and arm strength, and we expect them to have high OBP's and be stolen base threats all season. Spring Training in Ft. Pierce, Florida: We travel to Ft. Pierce on March 18th for our annual Spring Training trip. It is a great tradition where the team not only gets on beautiful baseball fields but also spends time becoming a team on and off the field. We have a quality schedule versus some powerhouse prep schools, and we hope to improve in every aspect of the game and come home ready to start our regular season vs. All Hallows on April 1st.
The Gift of Life August Iorio, ‘16 There are few acts as selfless as donating blood. On January 8th the Iona Prep community once again embodied the selfless spirit of Christ and hosted its Annual Blood Drive in the Heffernan Gymnasium. Over three dozen students, faculty and friends of the Prep, donated 34 units of lifesaving blood to the blood bank of New York. Coming from a family that gives blood regularly, I anxiously awaited my first opportunity to start my progress to the Gallon Club . With excitement pulsing through my veins I drank lots of water and had a big breakfast in anticipation for the day ahead of me. After filling out a brief survey, assuring the nice nurse that I've never injected drugs with a contaminated needle nor have I gotten a sketchy tattoo from a back-alley artist, I was ready to go. The nurses were very competent and there was a strong feeling of fraternity among friends in the beds next to mine. The process was painless and although rumors circulated on Snapchat that I had passed out (which for the record I did not) it was nonetheless a very rewarding and enjoyable experience that I look forward to doing again soon. Due to the success of the event, the Student Faculty Council has teamed up with Boomer Esiason’s Cystic Fibrosis Foundation, Team Boomer, and will be hosting a second blood drive on April 13th in honor of Pole Vault Coach Jerry Cahill’s 60th year of life as part of his 60 for 60 campaign. The goal for this blood drive is to collect 60 units of blood. All students 16 and older may participate with consent from a parent or guardian. Please contact Mr. D’Alfonso with any questions.
‐Dance at Ursuline, Friday, February 26th 7:30‐10:30 pm ‐“March Madness” Basketball Tournament Date & Time TBD ‐Blood Drive for Coach Cahill April ‐Freshman/Sophomore Dance at Iona April ‐Backyard Sports Tournament April ‐SFC Talent Show
Gaelforce Editor: William Gerken, `16 Contributors: August Iorio, `16 Justin Iorio, `16 Greg Spiridigliozzi, `16 Raul de la Guardia, ‘16 Damian Garcia, `17 Mr. Meade, ‘01 To be a part of Gaelforce, contact Mr. Kavanah or Billy Gerken.