Spectator - Move Up Day Issue - May 29, 2015

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MAY 29, 2015

VOLUME 93 NUMBER 7

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1500 WEST KENNEDY ROAD, LAKE FOREST, IL 60045

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MAY 29, 2015

End of Year Awards SENIOR PRIZES Alexander Award........................................................Romaer Chopra

For the senior boy who best exemplifies the spirit and ideals of LFA.

American Legion Award............................................Alec Mesrobian

For the senior who exemplifies honor, courage, scholarship, leadership, and service.

Butler Award.............................................................Brett Hanebrink

For the senior who has earned academic achievement through persevence.

DAR Award.................................................................Madeleine Pye

For the senior who exemplifies the ideals of service, leadership, patriotism and dependability.

Faculty Award........................................................Karisma Chhabria

For the student who has in thought, word, and deed embodied the ideal of scholarship.

Freeland Award...........................................................Madeleine Pye

For the senior girl who best exemplifies the spirit and ideals of LFA.

Waldie Award..............................................................Wesley Annan For the senior who, by the nature of his or her presence, has substantially impacted LFA.

Hixon Award...............................................................Wesley Annan

For the senior who is outstanding in friendliness and concern for others.

Speidel Award........................................................Karisma Chhabria

For the senior girl who is outstanding in sincerity, courtesy, and thoughtfulness.

Vaile Award................................................................Romaer Chopra For the senior who has most imaginatively discharged administrative responsibilities.

Wetzel Award...............................................................Darlene Ineza For the senior girl who has best exemplified the spirit of Ferry Hall.

DEPARTMENTAL AND UNDERCLASSMEN AWARDS Harvest Hope Award: .................................John Pan, Sophia Platcow, and India Shelley Jonathan Fremd Award: .......................................................................................Dieter Villegas McLaughlin Prize: .........................................................................................................Eli Kuli Jewel J. Jackson Award: ...........................................................................................Ella Ekstrom Media Technology Leadership Award: ................................................................Sydney Brundige E.J. Barry Language Award: ........................................................Grace Ksten and Evan Walters Nelson Award: .......................................................................................................Evan Walters Overdorf History Prize: ....................................................................................Catherine Kvam English Award: .....................................................................................................Vicente Nagel Dana W. Niswender Prize: .................................................................................Carolina Borjas Sophomore Narrative Prize: ........................................................................................Bella Shin English as a Second Language Award: ........................................................................Ailey Fang Ainsworth Award: ........................................................................................................John Pan Mathematics Department Award: ...........................................................Tiger Luo and Tony Fu Louch Award: ...............................Karisma Chhabria, Barrett Medvec, and Marina Lentskevich McCormick Prize in Drama: .................................................................................Gillian Smith McCormick Prize in Music: ...........................................................................................Tony Fu Mc Cormick Prize in Visual Arts: ..........................................................................Sophie Emery Everett E. Grace Music Prize: ................................................................................Stanton Cope Fine Arts Department Award: ..........................................................................Boom Dej-Udom Pridmore Award: ............................................................... Madeleine Pye and Sydney Brundige Taylor Award: ..........................................Natasha Chandel, Liana Shallenberg, and Ayo Odetibi Theater Tech Award: .........................................................................................Giovanni Harold Yearbook Award:.............................................................................Sofya Freyman and John Pan Delaplaine Burnet Prize in Economics: .....................................Vicente Nagel and Luke Corsiglia Playwriting Award:..............................................................Kristen Chivers and Nick Buchanan Spectator Award: ......................................................................Romaer Chopra and Jordan Wolff Kulieke Award for Spanish: .............................................Karisma Chhabria and Barrett Medvec

STUDENT LEADERSHIP 2015-2016

Prefects: Cathrine Kvam, Julia Gilette, Briana Sturkey, Sophia Platcow, Tessy Onwuka, Sneha Pamulapati, Katie Zhou, Alex Wang, Brandt Dudziak, Graham Erbs, Morgan Baylor, and Maggie Meyer Proctors: Morgan Baylor, Mggie Meyer, Jarrett Galigher, William Wan, Young Lee, Jason Chen, River Lund, Thomas Schaffer, Monica Wang, Maria Pereira, and Tori Koontz All-School President: ..............................................................................................Ella Ekstrom Senior Class President: .......................................................................................Jarrett Galigher Representatives: .........................................Perculiar Adimaua, Colin Moody, and Matt Pugliese Junior Class President : .................................................................................................Eli Kuli

Representatives: ...................................Erin Snoddy, Hunter Wolff, and Andrew Hecthman Sophomore Class President: ...................................................................................Tommy Filip

Representatives: .............................................Annie Lee, Edwin Wang, and Dieter Villegas Discipline Committee Chair for 2015-16: ........................................................Catherine Kvam Master Keys: ........................................................................Lilian Chung and Caroline Miller Masters of the Houses: ..........................................................Briana Sturkey and Tessy Onwuka

Illustration courtesy of Mr. William Dolbee

New summer, new plans:

The new Student Union building will feature ample space and amenities for students.

Improved Student Union and other renovations

By Sandra Shaw and Sarah Hershenhorn Staff Writers

Renovations seem to happen every summer at LFA, and this year is no different.

There will be new updates and upgrades throughout campus but none will be more important or visible than a new Student Union building that will be started in June.

Several dormitories, along with the Cressey Center for the Arts, will also benefit from changes occuring over the summer.

The Board of Trustees recently voted to move forward with the construction of a new Student Union, with groundbreaking slated for June 1. According to sources, the fundraising, which comes from generous donors, is almost complete, and is close to the necessary amount of $9 million. This project is expected to take 14 months, opening to the LFA community in August 2016. It is poised to be the biggest project ever completed on campus.

There is a plethora of possibilities designed for the new Student Union. The upper level will feature a dining area, lounging areas, and an outdoor balcony overlooking the Field Hockey field. The lower level will consist of an active student

commons with ping pong and foosball tables, the student store, post office, and extra rooms for club meetings.

“I think it’s going to be a great gathering place on campus,” said William Dolbee, the Associate Head of School.

The Cressey Center for the Arts will also be benefitting from this summer’s improvements. The 2015 Spring Gala has brought in more than $500,000 in donations which will be used to improve the sound and lighting systems, a pressing issue for the 14-year old building.

Some other priorities for this summer include window replacements in Atlass Hall, the installment of new carpeting and flooring for the Marshall Field house, and the fixing of uneven road hazards on the LFA campus.

“In general, the priority that we give to summer projects is to address those items that affect health and safety first,” said Andrew Kerr, the Chief Administrative Officer. “Even the smallest projects are very big to the people affected by them.”

According to Kerr, the improvements will try to achieve LEED (Leadership in Energy & Environmental Design) status and to focus on being energy, water, and environmentally efficient.

THE SPECTATOR

News

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MAY 29, 2015

Current teachers say farewells LFA looks toward hiring a new wave of future faculty

By Will Everett and Austin Clamage Staff Writers Lake Forest Academy will be losing 11

teachers due to new opportunities and retirement this coming school year. Even though LFA is accustomed to having some teachers leave every year, the number this

Photo by Arthur He

LFA English teacher Ms. Kelly passes back old assignments to one of her English students.

year is far greater than the average amount.

“There is going to be a loss,” explained Dean of Faculty Phil Schwartz.

“We value those individuals and we value the relationships they made.”

The faculty members leaving have either been presented new opportunities elsewhere, or have decided to retire. Mr. Jack and Mrs. Mary Stewart Lewis, for example, who have been here for more than a decade, have decided to retire and move to Florida.

The English Department is going to be greatly affected by the amount of teachers leaving. Four English teachers are moving on to opportunities in other parts of the country. For example, Mr. Garret Morrison will be going back to California, where he is from, to be closer to his family and will be working at Stevenson School in Pebble Beach, CA. Dr. Ann Frkovich, who has taught at LFA for eight years, and who recently received her PhD, is moving on to teach at DePaul University while working on publishing her dissertation as well.

Ms. Emily Asher, a class of ’05 graduate from LFA, will leave in order to develop of her own tutoring business. Also, Ms. Lauren Kelly, who has been work-

ing here for three years, will be moving back to her home state of Massachusetts.

Teachers from other departments are pursuing new opportunities, too. Dr. Stefanie Bator, who has taught at LFA for three years in the History Department, has accepted a job at a new montessori school in Evanston, IL which is ran by the former English Department Chair Mr. Jeff Bell.

Dr. Kathy Barton, who has taught for eight years in the Science Department, will be exploring new opportunities next year.

Mr. Justin and Mrs. Kate Jones will be moving on to Hotchkiss School, located on the East Coast, because Mrs. Jones has been appointed Associate Head of School.

As LFA loses some of its faculty, Headmaster Dr. John Strudwick believes the school will be able to attract good candidates to fill the open teaching positions.

He says this is due to the new and better facilities being constructed on campus.

Strudwick wishes the best of luck to the teachers who will leaving in their future endeavours.

“As a final goodbye I want to wish them luck, and may the lessons they’ve learned at Lake Forest Academy serve them well,” said Strudwick.

sity of Michigan, where he hopes to further his studies and continue to pursue leadership reaponsibilities. Romaer will be missed, but he will always remember

his time as All School President at LFA. “It’s been a really rewarding experience, and I am definitely going to miss it, that’s for sure,” he concluded.

Chopra reflects on 2015-2016 year in power as LFA’s All School President

By Hunter Wolff Staff Writer Being the successor to an All School President is no easy task. Romaer Chopra had big shoes to fill following Tommy Clark’s time in office, and now it is time for Chopra to pass on his duties to rising senior Ella Ekstrom. As the year comes to a close, Chopra reflected with The Spectator on his time as LFA’s All School President.

According to Chopra, the role of All School President involves numerous responsibilities to fulfill and many expectations to live up to.

“There’s a lot of meetings with all the leadership outlets in the school and the All School President acts like a glue for Student Council to all of the leaders of the school,” said Chopra. “There are a lot of expectations for an All School President within the school. Anytime that you are a leader, especially when there is only one All School President, people expect you to be a good student in class and I even have to be careful what I say.”

To Chopra, his philosophy on being

a successful President was to make a lot of small differences for the student body in order to make their lives easier.

“I think we do a lot of little things because our goal isn’t to change the school that much,” said Chopra. “Our job on Student Council is to do a lot of little things in the process of making the students lives as easy as possible.”

This year, said Chopra, Student Council has done many of these small events for the students. Whether it’s bringing in puppies to relieve stress, Spirit Days, or having Burger Nights in the dorms, Student Council has successfully made this year fun and easier for all. However, Chopra felt that accomplishing these tasks was not easy.

It requires a lot of time and hard work to bring everyone together to get things done.

“It’s a lot of work, it’s like another class in terms of how much time gets put into it,” said Chopra.

This year has gone by quickly for many, and it is a bittersweet moment to see the All School President step down and pass on the torch to Ella Ekstrom. Next year Chopra will be moving on to the Univer-

Photo by Hunter Wolff

Romaer Chopra and Ella Ekstrom work together in student council.

THE SPECTATOR MAY 29, 2015

News

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Mixing the old with the new:

The history of Move-Up Day

By Catherine Kvam News Editor

The Move-Up Day tradition has long been a part of the Lake Forest Academy graduation ceremonies that are welcomed by students and faculty each year. Starting at Ferry Hall in 1902 and originally called Ivy Day, it has transformed from a small gathering to a massive undertaking involving hundreds of family members, faculty, and students.

LFA has a history of incorporating Ferry Hall traditions into Lake Forest Academy since the two schools merged in 1974, though some aspects have changed.

“When Ferry Hall and the academy merged, traditions that the academy held onto and then the events and the days and the things that we do, came from Ferry Hall, too,” said Dean of Students Chris Tennyson. “It’s great that it continues.”

Ferry Hall girls would engage in what was called “Caesar’s Funeral” in which torches were passed along to the next class, similar to the current tradition of moving up one class to the previous seats of those students whom had moved up or out. Also, Ferry Hall seniors would plant ivy and pass the spade to the rising senior class, which earned the iconic name of Ivy Day.

One change that was probably most welcomed by the community was the dividing of the awards ceremony, which is now during an All School Meeting, which reduced the length of the Move Up Day ceremony..

“Originally all of the academic awards we do at that All School Meeting, those used to all be at Move Up Day,” said Tennyson. “So it was a very, very long event.

It normally was about three to four hours.”

Some aspects have been removed however, such as the seniors singing a song and the juniors responding in kind.

“The class songs evolved so that by the 1980s, students would write more parody songs,” said graduate and current Librarian Rita MacAyeal.

Everyone has their favorite part of Move Up Day, whether it be the precession, the awards, or even the winning Talent Show performance.

For MacAyeal, it is the performance.

“We do the winning act from the Talent Show.” said MacAyeal.

“I think that is really fun to see.”

Tennyson really enjoys watching the initial student procession as people come in.

“I love being able to watch the students walk in,” said Tennyson. “I think everyone under that tent is really excited to be there.”

Photo courtesy of Rita Macayeal

Pictured here, Ferry Hall girls of 1969 wear the traditional blazer and skirt to their MoveUp Day ceremony.

Photo courestey of Angela Kwon

Seniors Richiard Melville and Wesley Annan plan on standing on the corner of East Drive until the street sign arrives. Signs arrived on Wednesday, May 13.

Senior gift is a good ‘sign’ of improvement

By Andrew Hechtman and Peter Corsiglia Staff Writers The Senior Class Gift has been selected, purchased, and will be installed shortly.

Seniors will leave behind a street sign on East Drive, the road leading from Reid Hall to Crown Fitness Center. The sign will be one of several installed on campus during the end of the 2014-2015 school year.

“It’s not the most exciting gift,” said Senior Class President Richard Melville. “But it’s definitely needed.”

Deliveries and taxi pickups have become a serious problem for boarders in recent years. Senior Class Advisor Dr. Ruth Smith is confident that these signs will help parents and deliverymen navigate the complexcampus. Many who are unfamiliar with the campus struggle to find their way to dorms and other buildings.

The signs will serve as a guide around campus making it much easier for deliveries to be made and people to find their way around campus. Street signs will especially help people find the girls’ dorms.

“It’s hard to find the girls’ dorms,” said Smith. “When you’re a parent arriving on campus, if you don’t have a map in front of you, it’s hard

to know where the girls’ dorms are.”

Student Council had little problem raising enough money for the gift.

“People were donating the whole way. Fundraising was a piece of cake,” said Melville.

The seniors donated more than their $1,500 goal, with incredible participation from the class. According to Melville, almost 75% of the Senior Class helped contribute to the gift.

All School President Romaer Chopra commented that the speed of the donations showed the senior’s determination and their love for LFA. Past Senior gifts have included a sign for Sonia’s Snack Bar (Class of ’14), furniture for the Science Center (’13), and the large metal sculpture of a frog in the Crown Fitness Center (’09). Recent gifts have been similar in cost, usually between $1000-$1600.

Several ideas had been suggested for the gift including trees, furniture, and a soft-serve ice cream machine.

The soft serve machine was a popular idea, but ultimately cost too much.

According to Chopra, the Senior Class was excited for this opportunity to benefit the entire LFA community “It’s an amazing chance for us to leave our legacy,” said Chopra. “But more importantly, it’s something the school really needed.”

THE SPECTATOR 4

News

Goodbye Caxys Ahern, Jonathan

Akere, Ayodeji

Akogu, Miriam

Amoroso, Brandon Annan, Wesley

Bailes, Megan

Bishop, Calum

Boles, Cecilia Bournakis, Alexander

Bozorgi, Amanda Braggs, Lander

Brissett, Dejon

Brundige, Sydney Buchanan, Nicholas Bunning, Daniel

Chaka, Malcolm

Challenger, Hope Chandel, Natasha Chen, Spencer

Chhabria, Karisma Chivers, Kristin

Chopra, Romaer Clamage, Ryan

Cope, Stanton

Corsiglia, Luke

Dej-Udom, Warunyou

Doerge, Sydney

Dwyer, John Ekkaewnumchai, Chaiwat Ekstrom, Grant

Emery, Sophie

Felitto, Justine

Foley, Quinn Foust, Isaiah Freyman, Sofya

Friske, Samantha Frystak, Nicholas Ge, Hanting Gila, Nomonde

Hanebrink, Brett Hanson, Sophia

Harold, Giovanni Hechtman, Allison Hu, Jingyi Ineza, Darlene

Ismail, Emma

Jeong, Min Kyu

Johnson, Nathen

Johnson, Paul

Kakavas, William Kasten, Grace

Kennedy, Edward Kerestes, Vincent Khodorkovskaya, Victoria Kim, Andrew Kim, Katie Kinney, Lili Mae Kirby, Claudia

Langston, Chelsea Lavezzorio, William Le, Han

Lee, Soo Haeng

Kenyon College University of Wisconsin, Madison University of Missouri, Colombia DePauw University Stanford University Louisiana State University Lehigh University Santa Clara University Miami University, Oxford Middlebury College Bradley University University of Richmond Ball State University Miami University, Oxford Northwestern University Cornell University Vassar College Savannah College of Art and Design Southern Methodist University Brown University Elmira College University of Michigan University of Rochester Tufts University Northwestern University University of Illinois Bowdoin College University of Southern California Worcester Polytechnic Institute University of Richmond University of Vermont Hobart and William Smith Colleges University of Notre Dame The Catholic University of America Johns Hopkins University Northwestern University United States Coast Guard Academy University of Washington Furman University Ohio University New York University Purdue University University of Pennsylvania Brandeis University Bowdoin College Elon University University of Illinois The George Washington University The University of Arizona Elon University Stanford University Hobart and William Smith Colleges Cornell University Babson College University of Illinois Boston College Loyola University, New Orleans The University of Tampa University of Illinois Junior Hockey Franklin & Marshall College School of Visual Arts

MAY 29, 2015

LFA’s Class of 2015 College List

Lee, Yeso Lentskevich, Marina Lin, Angela Lu, Kaiwen Ma, Runchu Medvec, Barrett Melville, Richard Mesrobian, Alec Nagel, Vicente Nguyen, Minh Nielsen, Katrina Odebiyi, Ayotola Oh, Jung Tae (John) Olivieri, Madison Pan, Junhao Payne, Stephen Phillips, Michael Postadan, Joshua Pye, Madeleine Quinn, Diago Rhee, Rebecca Romanchek, Dean Rooth, Jacob Rowley, Dominic Ryder, Madeleine Sainsi, Sajjad Sawyer, Jasmine Seibert, Sarah Senese, Mario Shadek, Kathryn Shallenberg, Liana Shannahan, Kyle Silver, Michael Sklarov, Hannah Smith, Currie Smith, Gillian Snyder, Eleanor Soh, Jun Young Stevens, Jacob Strudwick, Andrew Tarr, Elizabeth Tchamitchian, Christian Thomas, Carly Thongkham, Khunanon Tomlinson, John Van Tine, Kristen Visconti, Joseph Wallace, Peter Walters, Evan Wang, Kexin Warnes, Natalie Widjaja, Caroline Wolff, Jordan Wolters, Alexandra Wu, Jiaming Xia, Yiyin Xue, Jeffrey Yaqub, Aban Yerger, Julia Zaucedo, Michael Zengeler, Kristine Zhao, Zichen

List provided by the College Counseling Department Note: This list is not final and is subject to change

Gettysburg College Johns Hopkins University Babson College University of Illinois University of Michigan Stanford University DePauw University American University Yale University Brigham Young University University of Wisconsin, Madison Colgate University University of Illinois at Chicago University of Vermont University of Illinois University of California Los Angeles University of Notre Dame Johns Hopkins University The George Washington University Monmouth University Syracuse University University of Illinois Creighton University Kenyon College Purdue University University of Illinois University of Missouri, Colombia University of Missouri, Colombia Hamline University St. Olaf College Haverford College Johns Hopkins University The George Washington University Texas Christian University St. Lawrence University Oberlin College Hobart and William Smith Colleges Indiana University, Bloomington Junior Hockey Dickinson College Middlebury College Claremont McKenna College Colby College Michigan State University Junior Hockey Northwestern University Junior Hockey Wake Forest University Bowdoin College University of Southern California University of Colorado at Boulder University of California Los Angeles University of Michigan New York University Northwestern University University of Southern California Knox College University of Illinois Washington and Lee University University of Illinois Bates College Boston College

THE SPECTATOR MAY 29, 2015

Editorial

Opinion and Editorial T h e L a k e A c a d e m y

The LFA graduation dresscode is much more interesting than the iconic caps and gowns The Spectator staff agrees that Lake Forest Academy’s long standing tradition of senior girls and boys attending graduation in white dresses and sport coats, respectively, is far more practical and interesting than the classic high school custom of wearing caps and gowns.

The graduating seniors receiving their diploma garbed in a cap and a heavy, black or blue gown is an iconic image, but is far less enjoyable than one might expect.

The fabric is generally thick and dark. This is not a significant problem if, as is the case in many public high schools, you are graduating in an air conditioned gymnasium or auditorium, but it

could be extremely uncomfortable at an outdoor graduation, replete with strong sunshine or humidity, such as our own. No one wants to cross a sun-soaked stage drenched in sweat, unless it is borne of anxiety and excitement.

Additionally, caps and gowns can be as expensive as $50, a price that is not necessarily feasible for every family. Although dresses and sport coats along with ties, khaki pants, and button-down shirts can be equally expensive, they can be worn again at any number of events, and are thus a better investment. Caps and gowns will only be worn once.

LFA girls must attend in modest, white dresses or pant suits if they are so inclined. Their shoes must either be white, or a neutral shade such as beige or nude. This tradition allows girls to express their individual styles while still remaining uniform with their fellow graduates.

The same can be said for boys, who are required to wear kakis, white or light colored button downs, sport coats, and ties of any color or pattern. They look sharp and relatively similar, but are able to express their individual preferences.

Kudos to LFA tradition, and congratulations to our graduates!

By Joseph Kim Op-ed Editor

For the last few years, students at Lake Forest Academy were given iPads for their academic use.

With the addition of iPads, LFA has truly incorporated technology into its unique class structure that provides maximum learning opportunities for its students. Many different apps and features on the iPads have vastly increased the level of enjoyment in many classes. However many of the students at LFA, myself included, have objections to the use of iPads as our basic academic tool and would instead prefer laptops.

Although iPads do possess great features within them, there just are simply better devices out

there. Students often have difficulty with opening files on iPads that other devices, such as laptops, have no difficulty opening.

This requires students to carry an extra laptop to classes in addition to the iPads they are assigned.

In addition to opening files, iPads can often create a hassle making files. They have the basic applications required to form Word documents or Power Point presentations, but they lack many of the features the applications on laptops have. Limited options in formatting Pages documents or Keynotes have tormented me numerous times when finishing research papers or projects.

However, after changing over to a laptop with many more features, finishing up my final proj-

ects was simply more convenient.

Many often argue that iPads are significantly lighter, and are a lot more convenient, but this isn’t entirely true. While it is true that iPads have gotten incredibly light over the years at 1 pound per device, laptops have also gone on a diet. Many laptops recently have also decreased greatly in their mass, some weighing as little as 3.2 pounds.

Students at LFA have also suggested that our school should distribute the money spent on iPads into different places. Spending the money on iPads, especially when a great proportion of the students don’t use them, wouldn’t be as valuable as using the money on refurbishing old dorms, or fixing the school’s Wi-Fi system.

F o r e s t

S P E C TAT O R

STAFF LIST Editors-in-Chief Managing Editors

News Editors

Senior Features Editors Op-Ed Editors Senior A&E Editor A&E Editor Senior Sports Editor Sports Editor Staff Writer

Caxy Rant

Laptops versus iPads

5

Faculty Adviser

Romaer Chopra Jordan Wolff Amanda Bozorgi Allison Hechtman Michael Phillips Kristen Van Tine Tori Koontz Catherine Kvam Jason Lee Julia Mills Sophie Hanson Aban Yaqub Arthur He Joseph Kim Madison Olivieri India Shelley Ned Kennedy Ryan Wong Brandon Amoroso Obaid Ansari Jacob Chagoya Austin Clamage Peter Corsiglia William Everett Andrew Hechtman Sarah Hershenhorn Lucas Jacob Hong Joo Kwon Nithin Reddy Andrew Ryder Sandra Shaw Hunter Wolff William Murphy

PUBLICATION

The Spectator is published eight times per year by the students of Lake Forest Academy and is a forum for student expression. The views and reporting herein are the sole product of The Spectator’s student reporters and in no way reflect the official views of Lake Forest Academy faculty, staff, administration or Board of Trustees.

EDITORIALS Opinions of the staff are presented in the form of unsigned editorials. Personal views are bylined or presented as formal dissents.

LETTERS TO THE EDITORS The Spectator welcomes responses to its articles in the form of Letters to the Editors in addition to letters on subjects of the author’s choosing. Please e-mail Letters to the Editors to Mr. Murphy at wmurphy@lfanet.org.

AWARDS The Spectator has been awarded several prestigious journalism awards in recent years. It has consistently taken first place in competitions against schools of similar size held by the American Scholastic Press Association and the Kettle Moraine Press Association.

QUOTE OF THE MONTH

Juniors Lilian Chung and Katie Zhou have different go-tos for taking notes in class.

Photo by Joseph Kim

“In the English language, it all comes down to this: Twenty-six letters, when combined correctly, can create magic. Twenty-six letters form the foundation of a free, informed society.”

-John Grogan

THE SPECTATOR 6

Centerfold

MAY 29, 2015

Senior Spectator Staff s

By Hunter Wolff, Austin Clamage, and Andrew Hechtman Staff Writers

The LFA Journalism Program would like to thank the departing senior members an award-winning newspaper on a monthly basis. They have worked on their respe centerfold captures their individual accomplishments and bids them farewell as the the following questions: Q1: What is your favorite memory with The Spectator?

Q2: How has working on The Spectator prepared you for life after high school?

Jordan Wolff Jordan’s first role for the newspaper was in the Sports section as a junior. This year he progressed to be Editor-in-Chief alongside Romaer Chopra. During his senior year Jordan has written in several sections, especially features. Next year Jordan will move on to the University of Michigan.

-Q1: My junior year was the most fun because everyone on the staff had a really dynamic personality and we worked really well together to produce two 20-page papers in a row, which was a first for the newspaper. It was really rewarding being a part of that team.

-Q2: It’s taught me how to work with a lot of different personalities and create a team-oriented environment within the group, which I believe will be helpful when working on future endeavors.

Romaer Chopra Romaer has spent three years in the Journalism Program and two years on The Spectator staff. He was a News Editor during his junior year and has been one of the Editors-in-Chief this year. For college, he plans to attend the University of Michigan.

-Q1: We were close to missing the deadline for The Spectator recently, so we all went to school on a Sunday to finish it, and Mr. Murphy brought in his St. Bernards that were 400 pounds of fluffy love put together.

-Q2: The Spectator has taught me that I need to be responsible, and that I can’t miss deadlines. It also taught me to be accountable or else I would have faced the wrath of Mr. Murphy.

The seniors of The Spectator meet in the formal gardens to celebrate their time on the newspaper staff.

Kristen Van Tine Kristen transferred to LFA as a junior with journalism experience already under her belt. She started as a News Editor last year and has moved on to be a Managing Editor of the online edition for her senior year, which she founded with Editor-in-Chief Jordan Wolff.

Next year she will attend Northwestern University to potentially study international human rights or neuropsychiatry. Kristen also hopes to be a writer for Northwestern’s online edition newspaper.

-Q1: One time Mr. Sands brought in an assortment of pumpkin flavored foods and drinks for an article and we got to taste them.

-Q2: Responsibility, writing skills, timeliness, perspective, and making contacts and connections.

Amanda Bozorgi Amanda spent her junior and senior years on The Spectator staff. She began her career as A&E Editor and Staff Photographer.

After being named Managing Editor before her Senior year, she focused on graphics and photography, but she also produced the monthly Date Night page that became very popular with the paper’s readers. Next year she will attend Middlebury College.

-Q1: My favorite moment as a member of The Spectator is walking into Hutch every month on the day that the paper comes out and seeing every table filled with kids reading our paper.

-Q2: The Spectator has prepared me for life after high school by forcing me to develop organizational skills and time managing techniques that will help me keep up with my classes in college.

Ned Kennedy Ned, a four-year student at LFA, has been on The Spectator staff for two years serving as a Sports Editor and then the Senior Sports Editor this year. He will be going to college at Hobart and William Smith Colleges.

-Q1: My favorite moment was when I was writing my first story which was a basketball game.

-Q2: It has taught me to be responsible and to make sure to get assignments in on time.

THE SPECTATOR

Centerfold

MAY 29, 2015

says one final goodbye

7

of The Spectator staff. They have spent the last two years working hard to produce ective sections and brought their unique talents and perspectives to the paper. This ey move onto their future endeavors in college. Each graduating senior was asked

Maddie Olivieri Michael Phillips Michael has been a member of The Spectator for the last two years. He has served as the News Editor, and was promoted to Managing Editor as a senior.

As Managing Editor, he remained active in the news section. Next year he will attend the University of Notre Dame.

-Q1: My favorite moment on The Spectator staff was at the end of my junior year when we were having a going away party for last year senior class. It was the ceremonial passing of the torch from them to us. So it was humbling, but also fun.

-Q2. The Spectator has made me really aware of deadlines and knowing that when something is due, something is due, and cannot be late.

This is Maddie Olivieri’s second year on the newspaper. As a senior, she was appointed as the Senior A&E Editor and has contributed as a writer and as a page designer. Next year Maddie will move on to the University of Vermont where she is thinking about writing on the newspaper.

-Q1: I really liked the article about the senior lock- in. It was fun going to the event and then coming in to school and writing about. It was the most timely article I have ever done, and I was impressed how it came together.

-Q2: I am more punctual, I am better with deadlines, and I am able to work better with others. It’s helped me to prioritize and organize my schedule.

Photo courtesy of Cathy Morrison

. There are 11 seniors on this year’s staff. Next year they will scatter across the nation to go to college.

Aban Yaqub Sophie Hanson

Allison Hechtman Allison has spent two years on The Spectator. She served as an Op-Ed editor as a junior, and as a senior was named Managing Editor with her main focus on production, planning, and scheduling. Next year she will attend the University of Pennsylvania.

-Q1: My favorite journalism moments were every month when Amanda and I were tasked with finding a fun and creative date activity for our Date Night page.

-Q2: The Spectator has taught me the importance of being on time, both in person and with deadlines.

Sophie is a four-year senior who has spent the last two years working on The Spectator. During her career, she focused on the Features section and served as the Senior Features Editor this past year.

A talented writer who took on assignments in many parts of the paper, she will be moving on to New York University.

-Q1: I don’t have a specific favorite moment, but I love it each month when we get the fresh copies of The Spectator straight off the printing presses and distribute them around school.

-Q2: Journalism has helped me explore the more factual side of writing and tell real stories. I think it has also given me a lot of people skills.

Aban has been with The Spectator for two years. During her time on staff, she has found a passion for writing in the Features section. In her Senior year she became the Senior Features Editor. Aban has made significant contributions to the paper with her section called “Swipe.” Swipe was introduced this year and includes articles about new or useful apps on IOS devices. Aban will be going to the University of Illinois next year and hopes that she will have an opportunity to work on the newspaper there.

-Q1: Interviewing is one of my favorite parts of journalism, you get a personal connection and you learn things about people you didn’t know before.

-Q2: Work ethic and having to get your work in on time, thinking creatively, and social skills.

THE SPECTATOR

Features

Senior Remarks 8

MAY 29, 2015

As graduation approaches, what advice do you have to leave for remaining students?

Page by Arthur He and Madison Olivieri Staff Writers

For The Spectator’s MoveUp Day newspaper, we interviewed a number of seniors in order to find what worked best for them during their time at LFA. Whether they’ve spent all of high school at LFA or they joined the LFA community this academic year, all seniors have experienced their fair share of ups and downs at LFA. Before graduating, we thought getting their insight and advice would be valuable to other members of the community. Here are some of the last bits of wisdom they would like to impart upon the rest of the LFA community.

I plan out specific times for Getting involved in student Make sure to get all of your apwhen I start doing my home- leadership and government helped plications done early. You will be work so I don’t get distracted. a lot of students to succeed. thankful for that later in the year.

-Vicente Nagel, ’15 -Victoria Khodorkovskaya, ’15 -Cece Boles, ’15

When I am stressed I love going Starting Film Society has gotten me Meet with your teachers. for runs. I also like to eat lots of food to talk to a lot of kids that like mov- Show them that you’re interestand sleep, like everybody else does. ies. It’s a great way to get involved. ed and that you want to learn.

-Richard Melville, ’15 -Elizabeth Tarr, ’15 -Kyle Shannahan, ’15

What do the Head Prefects have to say about their time at LFA? As Head Prefects The Spectator looked to seniors Madeleine Pye and Alec Mesrobian for insight on their experiences in becoming involved at LFA.

M: Madeleine Pye A: Alec Mesrobian Q: How do you get involved at LFA? M: I really loved getting involved in student council, I think that’s the main way I became involved initially.

A: The Club Fair at the beginning of the year draws a lot of students.

Q: Do you have any advice for rising seniors?

M: Take advantage of every opportunity that the school offers you.

A: Cherish your last year here, after spring break it goes like a heart beat. Try to do all the things you wanted to do.

Q: Do you have any advice for new students?

M: Reach out to people, become friends with your teachers, talk to

people. There are so many ways that by just talking to people you can get connected to others.

A: If you put yourself out there, you are going to be welcomed no matter what activities you do slash who you are and your beliefs.

Q: How do you create a good relationship with your teachers?

M: Participate in athletics, your classes, and the dorms.

A:Show them you want to be there, show them you want to learn.

Q: How do you manage your coursework?

M: Use your student planner.

That is like a gift from God. I would forget everything if I didn’t have it.

A: Utilize your free periods, but don’t over-utilize them. Have fun, enjoy your time, just know when to work.

THE SPECTATOR

Features

MAY 29, 2015

9

Cressey to receive a generous donation for stage equipment

By Kristen Van Tine Managing Editor The LFA Parents Association raised $548,925 for the improvements of Cressey’s lighting, sound, and projection systems at this year’s

Spring Gala held earlier this month.

The fundraiser attracted 240 guests.

Called “The Heartbeat of LFA”, the Gala consisted of dinner, student performanc-

es, and a Dutch auction with the focus

Photo courtesy of LFA Flikr

Parents, alumni, and teachers enjoying refreshments in Cressey lobby.

of raising money to improve Cressey.

In January, the Board of Trustees decided that Cressey could benefit the most from donations. Then, the Parents’ Association developed and organized the Gala theme and event. The committee chose to center the attention around Cressey because it is symbolic of the “Heartbeat of LFA,” as it is where LFA congregates as a community for many events such as morning and all school meetings. Plus, the theater is used for a variety of other events, including fine arts-related material.

“Cressey is the only place at LFA where the community comes together in its entirety,” said Spring Gala Co-Chair Vanessa Clarke.

The fundraiser included several student musical performances. The event began with Dutch bidding, an auction in which donation amounts are called out from high to low, and bidders raise their paddles to indicate how much they want to contribute when a specific amount is called. After the Dutch auction, Boom Dej-Udom and Young Lee performed a piano duet and Vox, an LFA singing group, sang a mash-up that included Michael Jackson’s “I Want You Back.” Alumnus Mike Leonard ’66, a former contributor to the Today Show and who now hosts PBS’s In Common served as the events spokesperson.

“It is amazing how generous our community is for projects that support our students,” said Director of Parent Relations, Sheila Moller.

After being approached by Headmaster Dr. John Strudwick last year, the Fine Arts Department put together a plan to change Cressey’s systems. The new system will include better sound quality throughout the theater, brighter and clearer projections, and a modern, digitally-controlled lighting system.

“The space will be exceptional,” said Mr. Jason Koenig, the Production Manager of the Arts Department.

Students in stage crew are also anticipating the new improvements in Cressey.

“The renovations will allow us to provide movement in shows and create more interactive scenes,” said Junior Stage Manager Maggie Meyer.

“The new speakers will be awesome. If you’re sitting in Cressey’s top row now, it’s difficult to hear. But the new speakers project throughout the theater and will allow everyone to hear better,” said Junior Assistant Stage Manager Monica Wang.

For a more detailed description regarding Cressey’s renovations, as well as video footage of this year’s Gala performances, please visit the Caxy News website.

to put out a monthly paper,” said LFA sophomore Peter Corsiglia, who plans on writing for the News section next year.

“I’m looking forward to putting my work out there and having everyone read it. I’m also looking forward to grow myself as a writer,” added LFA sophomore Austin Clamage, who will also write for the News section next year.

While the incoming Spectator staff is very excited to begin working and collaborating

on story and layout ideas every member of the staff will miss the graduating journalists of the Class of 2015. The new writers plan on working hard and staying focused to help maintain the work ethic of the current staff.

“The newspaper staff this year was very dedicated and did a great job producing the paper, and next year I hope to continue the work that they’ve put in to this paper and make it as good as it has been this year,” Tori Koontz.

New Spectator staff looks to produce yet another successful year of newspapers

By Julia Mills News Editor

The end of the year at Lake Forest Academy means many transformations and alterations to the student body and community. Specifically, the staff of the Spectator will undergo changes. With the Class of 2015 graduating the Spectator will bid farewell to its seniors and hello to a new team of journalists. A team of 14 rising juniors from Journalism I, along with current Journalism II students, will make up the group of students who will be in charge of producing the monthly newspaper this coming school year.

“I am looking forward to working with such a dynamic group of individuals next year. I believe that we will be able to continue the great reputation that our newspaper has at LFA,” said staff member India Shelley, who will be one of three Editors-In-Chief next year.

Not only will the staff consist of new writers, but also new leadership positions for current rising seniors. The new Editor-in-Chiefs will be rising seniors Tori Koontz, India Shelley and Catherine Kvam.

The Managing Editor for Photography will be Arthur He and the Managing Editors for News will be Julia Mills. Joseph Kim, Ryan Wong and Jason Lee will manage the online edition of the paper. Overall everyone is very eager to begin contributing to the paper and is excited about the new staff.

“I am really looking foreword to having some of my stories published in the spectator. It’s going to be a really cool experience working together with the staff

Photo by Angela Kwon

Sophomores (left to right) Lucas Jacob, Andrew Hechtman, Peter Corsiglia, Obaid Ansari, and Jacob Chagoya discuss potential story ideas.

THE SPECTATOR 10

Arts and Entertainment

MAY 29, 2015

The Caxstreet Boys hit high note

LFA’s first a cappella group takes the stage with exciting performances

By Tori Koontz News Editor Vox’s experimentation with a cappella songs earlier this year has had a rather unexpected, but welcomed, outcome: the creation of an a cappella group, the Caxstreet Boys. The brainchild of sophomore Nick Lin is an all-boys singing group consisting of 10 members, who have been practicing since its formation in October.

“I remember I wanted to do the song 12 Days of Christmas with a bunch of guys I respected vocally, so I went and talked to Mrs. Plambeck and decided to form a group to perform it,” said Lin. Though Lin and the rest of the boys originally planned on it lasting no further than that performance, the Caxstreet Boys took off and became a legitimate group, due to the high amount of interest within the 10 original members. From there, Lin headed the group with intent to continually perform a cappella songs at school concerts.

One problem that arose, however, was when to schedule practices. Due to the unexpected nature of the group continuing, no specific schedule existed. Meeting periods are often random and occur irregularly, due to some members’ other commitments.

“There’s really not a lot of practice time, and I know it gets to be a problem for a lot of members,” commented freshman Jamie Reid-Ander-

son, an original member of the group.

This slight bump in the road hasn’t held the Caxstreet boys back, however. Even with limited rehearsal time, they have still managed to learn complex songs with many different vocal aspects and impress the community. One of their recent performances that left the entirety of the audience wowed was their parody of N*sync’s I Want It That Way, entitled I Want It Hutch Way. The song was written by Mr. Sam Wold for Sodexo Appreciation Week, and the

lyrics included numerous food references.

“When choosing a song, I like to consider the entertainment factor and if it will be appealing to the audience,” said Lin. Mrs. Peg Plambeck, who organizes Vox and helped to set up the group, noted how very impressed she is with the entire group’s talent this year.

“It’s different than any group we’ve ever had at LFA before. The a cappella that the Caxstreet Boys do is really clean, and I think it has the potential to be what a traditional a

cappella group should be,” said Plambeck.

Although the future of the group is uncertain, many members have expressed their willingness and vehement desire to continue with the Caxtreet Boys next school year. Plambeck also stated her belief that she has no doubt that the group will stick around longer than one year, due to its success within the LFA community.

This unique singing group will hopefully be something to look forward to in next year’s arts concerts and performances.

photo courtsey of LFA Smugmug

Members of the Caxstreet Boys performed at the Vox concert this April. They sung an arrangement of songs including “Down to the River to Pray” and “Help me Rhonda” by the Beach Boys.

2015 Fall Play auditions held in the late spring to allow for more rehearsal time

By India Shelley Arts and Entertainment Editor

Continuing a procedure that began last year, the Fine Arts faculty has already

chosen next year’s Fall Play and auditions were held this month. LFA students will perform the American classic Arsenic and Old Lace by Joseph Kesselring next fall. The play has been a standard in pro-

Photo courtesy of www.imdb.com

The movie version of the comedy was released in 1944 and featured Cary Grant and was directed by Frank Capra.

fessional and community theaters for decades, and director Frank Capra turned it into a cinematic icon in black and white after its successful run on Broadway.

This show is about two elderly women who murder sad old men with no family left, because they feel that it is the right thing to do. Their nephew, a noted drama critic, finds out about the murders, and thinks that his insane brother is committing them. It is a comedy written in the 1930s, and has been revived on Broadway many times.

There was also a movie version created in 1944, and was directed by Frank Capra.

Mr. Mark Dryfoos, the Director of Performing Arts, believes that by casting the show now, it gives the students more time to prepare their lines for rehearsals beginning in the fall.

“It is easier for me to cast it now, because we have a very short rehearsal schedule, so we need as much time as possible,” said Dryfoos.

This seems to have worked for students

who participated in last year’s Fall Play.

“I think that having the auditions in the spring is an awesome way for everyone to learn their lines over the summer with no stress and come back ready to jump into the rehearsal process,” said senior Stanton Cope, who played Manolo in last year’s Fall Play, The Odd Couple.

The only downside to this is that freshmen are unable to audition. Dryfoos has remedied this problem, however, by sending out audition notices to incoming students who have already had theater experience.

There are about 20 characters in total, 11 of them with a major amount of lines.

This gives the opportunity for many students to audition whether or not they have a large amount of experience with theater.

“Spring auditions really allow the cast to become acquainted and get to know the show before the busy hustle and bustle of fall activities,” said junior Sophia Platcow, who has been heavily involved in the LFA theater department.

THE SPECTATOR

Sports

MAY 29, 2015

11

Top moments of the 2014-2015 sports seasons

By Ned Kennedy, Andrew Ryder, and Nithin Reddy Staff Writers

In the 2014-2015 school year Lake Forest Academy varsity sports had successful seasons achieving many of the goals they set out for. In each season there was one or

Fall Season

two signature moments that helped show what the team was made up of. Whether it was defeating a rival or winning a tournament. These moments required character,

leadership, and perseverance to capture success. There were moments that shocked us all, records were broken and underdogs became victors.

Boys Soccer: The boys varsity soccer team defeated Lake Forest High School by a score of 5-3 in front of one of the biggest crowds of the year. The Caxys held were able to hold the Scouts off thanks to a hat trick from senior, Stephen Payne and goals from sophomores Nat Shattock and Luis Arreola.

Varsity Field Hockey: Girls field hockey defeated Oak Park River Forest to achieve the title of 3rd in state this past fall. Sophomore Maggie Stoll tied it up at 1-1 in the dying seconds to force a shoot out where the Caxys came out victorious.

Golf: This year’s Coed Varsity golf team had a very successful season finishing the year with a 7-3 record. The highlight of this year’s boy’s golf team was their triumphant victory over the much larger Lake Forest High School varsity squad.

Football: The varsity football team went down to De La Salle High School and spoiled their homecoming by bouncing back from a significant halftime deficit. The final score was 43-37.

Girls Volleyball: The girls volleyball team upset USM (University School of Milwaukee) in a two games to one match. The surprise victory was made even sweeter by happening on senior night.

Photo courtesy of LFA SmugMug

Sophomore Maggie Stoll scores a goal in a victory over Oak Park River Forest.

Winter Season

Prep Hockey: The prep hockey team this season played the top-ranked team in their division, Stansted, and beat them by a score of 5-2. This year’s Stansted hockey team was considered a powerhouse, rostering two players on the NHL Central scouting page.

Boys Varsity Basketball: Boys varsity basketball travelled to Canada this past winter where they won the Ridley Tournament. The Caxys defeated Ridley College 64-50 in the finals to go undefeated throughout the entire tournament.

Girls Varsity Hockey: The girls varsity hockey team defeated Glenbrook 4-1 to become Founders Cup Champions. They dominated throughout the tournament, beating Naper Valley 4-0 in the semifinals.

Photo courtesy of LFA SmugMug

Senior Joey Visconti skates down the ice during their victory against Stansted.

Spring Season

Track: The track team achieved new heights this year. A series of personal bests and school records were set which highlight track’s top moments of the year. Senior Dejon Brissett broke the school’s triple jump record with a 46-foot, 2-inch jump as well as the high jump record with an impressive 6-foot, 2-inch jump. Junior Theresa Onwuka also broke the school record in the long jump with a jump of 16 feet 1.25 inches and in the 200-meter dash with a time of 26.99 seconds.

Girls Soccer: The girls soccer team defeated a tough opponent in Willows. In the past few years, the team has been blown out, but this year, they won 3-0 despite poor conditions. The goals, scored by freshman Nicole Rust, senior Megan Bailes, and sophomore Natalie Nunez in a six-minute period made the victory decisive.

Boys Varsity Volleyball: The top moment for the boys varsity volleyball team occurred at home when Antioch High School travelled to Glore Gymnasium. The Caxys prevailed over the much bigger public school, winning the first two sets to secure a 2-0 win.

Boys Lacrosse: The Lake Forest Academy boys lacrosse team had their signature moment when they defeated Northside College Prep. The Caxys had a sluggish game where they were only slightly ahead at the half. The Caxys turned into a new gear where they had an explosive second half in which the Caxys routed Northside College Prep 15-3.

Girls Basketball: The LFA girls basketball team played in the Vernon Hills Cougar Classic where the Caxys went 3-1. The Caxys defeated Woodstock, Maine East, and Glenbrook North, while their only loss came to Vernon Hills high school which is considered one of the best programs in the state. This tournament helped define the Caxy’s season as they went 20-2.

2014-2015 Athletes of the Year Freshman Boy: Freshman Girl: Sophomore Boy: Sophomore Girl: Junior Boy: Junior Girl: Senior Boy: Senior Girl:

Andrej Hromic Alondra Arreola Jake Upshall Aleeya Sawyer Jarrett Galigher Theresa Onwuka Dejon Brissett Kristen Chivers

12

Sports

MAY 29, 2015

The 2014-2015 LFA Boys Lacrosse produces best Varsity record in the history of the program

By Lucas Jacob Staff Writer The 2015 lacrosse season has been full of surprises for the team and Head Coach Bill Murphy. With numerous players joining the team with no prior experience, and multiple team captains leaving due to graduation or injury, the casual observer would think this would be a rebuilding year for the Caxys. But after 12 games this season,the Caxys have put together an impressive 8-4 performance that does not look like a rebuilding season. The team is on pace to produce the best Varsity record in the short history of lacrosse at LFA, with two games remaining in the season.

“Our offense has greatly improved this year,” said Murphy.

The Caxy’s high-powered offense has been so successful due to the highly skilled attackmen Thomas Pinel and Ford Johnstone. Johnstone leads the team with 20 assists and Pinel leads in goals with 49. The dynamic duo of Pinel and Johnstone have proven themselves to be unstoppable with both of them often scoring hat tricks in the same contests. With Pinel’s strong ability to score and Johnstone’s impressive ability to share the ball, the team is averaging 15 goals per game.

“Well, not going to lie, I have pretty good field vision, and I’m able to create space and spread the ball,” Johnstone said.

As far as new players go, it hasn’t seemed to be a problem for the team.

“Some of the new players are great athletes in other sports. All the new players are starting to adapt new lacrosse skills, and because of this we not only have more depth, but our team has improved overall,” Murphy said.

Many players, who have never played the sport before, are starting to succeed. Morgan Baylor and Joey Visconti, two players that have never played before, have a combined 11 goals. Johnny Tomlinson has become a solid defender, learning how to use the 6-foot pole well.

Not only does the team have a strong offense, but the Caxys also have the benefit of having two goalies. Senior goalies Liam Kakavas and Spencer Chen have been splitting time in the cage this season with a goals-against average of only six per game, and three games with one or fewer goals allowed.

“One goalie is better on turf and the other is better on grass. Both goalies have also improved their clearing skills,” said Murphy.

Photo courtesy of LFA SmugMug

Senior midfielder Peter Wallace runs past the opposing teams’ defensemen on the way to the goal.

Track team celebrates record-breaking year

By Obaid Ansari and Jacob Chagoya Staff Writers

Photo by Jacob Chagoya

Senior Dejon Brissett flies through the air on his way to another school record.

The Caxy Track team has been celebrating a record-breaking season this Spring, as the team members have broken six school records and set dozens of personal best times, heights, and distances. Led by exceptional performances from senior Dejon Brissett, senior Nick Frystak, and junior Theresa Onwuka, the team has thrived under the coaching staff.

“Some of these athletes, their best performances are close to the records,” said Track Coach Joe Ward.

Brissett broke two school records that he already held. The High Jump record was 6’-1” and now it is 6’-2”. The other record Brissett re-broke was the Triple Jump, when he topped his 45’-10” with a jump of 46’-3”.

“I’m hoping my records stay for a long time so I can come back after many years and my record is still there,” said Brissett.

The 400 Meter Dash record stood for 16 years before Frystak broke it with a time of 50.02 seconds. This placed him fourth in the Lake County Boys Track Invitational

meet.

Onwuka also broke three records, the first was in the Long Jump where she bested her previous school record by 3/4 of an inch with a jump of 16’-2”. Another record she broke was the 200m Dash, previously set in 2003. Onwuka set the new record by running it in 26.99 seconds. In the last race of the year Onwuka broke the Triple Jump record with a jump of 34’-7”.

In this record-shattering year the coaches have put these athletes in position to improve upon their events. In Ward’s third year as head coach he feels the athletes are beginning to understand how the program works.

“I think they’re just getting used to how it is with me in charge,” said Ward.

The coaches also helped by implementing new techniques to help the athletes succeed. Brissett, for example, credits Assistant Coach Adam Gerber for his improvement in his jumping. With the aid of the coaches the athletes are setting new records and personal bests.

“It’s cool to hold the record and I encourage everyone to aim for that,” said Brissett.

“You just feel good about yourself.”