The Wisterian - November 2022 Edition

Vol. LXXX VIII No. 2| November 2022

OUR 2022 LASALLIAN EDUCATOR OF THE YEAR

History teacher Mr Gregory Bielecki ’99 was awarded the Distinguished Lasallian Educator of the Year at La Salle College High School Nominees for the Distinguished Lasallian Educator of the Year must have at least five years of service to the school, find excellence in teaching the Catholic mission, and work with the community to promote gospel values in the lives of faculty, staff, and students “I’m really honored and humbled to win this award When you look at who has won this in the past there’s some fantastic people on that list To be chosen by our administration and my colleagues means a lot; it was pretty emotional for me, ” Bielecki said

Mr Bielecki was a La Salle College High School graduate of the Class of 1999 He was inspired to pursue teaching by his former La Salle educators He named English teacher Ed McCabe, history teacher and his former running coach Pat Devine, and religion teacher and track coach Fran Johnson as inspirational teachers throughout his educational journey

"[These teachers] took great interest in me as a person, wanted to hear what I [had to say] I was inspired by how they treated me as a human being,” Bielecki remarked This speaks to the way he teaches: “I'm convinced all students want to understand the world they

live in, the world they will be an adult in; you can ' t understand the society without understanding the past "

Mr Bielecki is in his 20th year teaching at La Salle He teaches AP US Government and Politics and AP US History Mr Bielecki also coaches the cross country team and indoor and outdoor track at the school the only coach at La Salle to be a head coach all three seasons

“He gets his students to think about how the government has changed and developed into what it is today,” John Connaghan ’23, one of Mr Bielecki’s AP Government and Politics students, said

A former winner of this prestigious award is current chemistry teacher Mr Tom Barna Mr Barna spoke about the award’s honor saying, “For those people who are familiar with the La Salle tradition, La Salle prides itself with the way it [conducts the] teaching and learning pedagogue of St John Baptist de La Salle St La Salle had a lot of opinions on teaching He saw it as a mission to make teaching better The award is given to someone who exemplifies that kind of ideal ” Mr Bielecki exemplifies these ideals everyday as a member of the La Salle College High School community Brendan Olimpo '23

25 YEARS OF CONTINUED

In celebration of 25 years of continuous service as La Salle faculty, Mr Chesnik and Mr Gibbons ’92 were awarded with medals at Thursday night’s honors convocation While surrounded by family and colleagues, they accepted and brandished their medals as representation of their dedication to the school

First awarded was Mr Gibbons, introduced by Mr Cirelli, who emphasized Gibbons’ humorous, friendly nature Described as the quintessential family man, Mr Gibbons embodies the values synonymous with La Salle in all he does As a ’92 graduate, Mr Gibbons is more than familiar with the culture that surrounds this institution, and being an accomplished rower, he is a perfect example of the Lasallian Gentlemen: a man of integrity, accomplishment, and service Operating as the Chief Financial Officer, Mr Gibbons was the driving force behind La Salle’s success and outreach over the course of the Covid 19 pandemic Mr Gibbons’ commitment has endured, fully integrating himself into the stitching of La Salle and solidifying that sense of brotherhood he’s always felt “This is an incredibly strong community

EXCELLENCE

of people, throughout it all, the good the great, and the tragic,” said Mr Gibbons

Following Mr Gibbons, Mr McCabe had the honor of presenting his former teacher Mr Chesnik with this prestigious distinction Mr Chesnik is and has always been the face of Kairos at La Salle, starting with the first retreat, Kairos 37 1 through the most recent Kairos 37 150 Teaching primarily seniors, Mr Chesnik continues to make a lasting impression on those finishing their four year tenure at La Salle With many former students returning as faculty, the sense of community at La Salle that Mr Chesnik advocates for continues to endure

“It feels like a family,” said Mr Chesnik The sense of brotherhood found within the hallways and classrooms of La Salle is broadcast through the accomplished faculty who are the pillars supporting the next generation of prestigious La Salle alumni The La Salle community gave their heartfelt thanks to Mr Gibbons and Mr Chesnik at the 2022 Honors

Convocation

“You don’t realize how impactful this place is until you leave, it’s a special, special place,” said Mr Gibbons Matthew Smith ’23

THE COLLEGE APPLICATION PROCESS HEATS UP

Students participated in a crucial step in the college applications process at College Interview Day, which took place on October 4

The annual College Interview Day brought an opportunity for seniors to put a face to a name for college admissions officers On this day students met with some of their favorite universities for a fifteen minute interview Mrs Palopoli, College Counseling Assistant, laid out the logistics of the day “Every senior fills out a list of their top five schools that are attending” Mrs Palopoli said “Each student is guaranteed an interview with an admissions officer from at least one school on their list ”

Samantha Murray is an admissions officer from the University of South Carolina in Columbia, South Carolina She gave an idea of what type of questions would be asked in an interview

" most of us will start by asking a student to just tell us a little bit about themselves We’ll ask why a student is interested specially in our institution, what programs

specifically have peaked their interest, and what they hope to get out of an education at our particular school,” Mrs Murray said

Admissions officers evaluate students during these interviews When looking for the ideal fit for their institution many admissions officers look for similar traits and characteristics They want to see a student be themselves “I love to see a student’s personality!” Mrs Murray said “Also, it’s important students learn how to conduct themselves in an interview ”

Interviewing and personal skills are extremely important in making a great first impression in not just college interviews, but job interviews as well Mr Cassidy, the career counselor here at La Salle, helps students prepare for interviews with many different businesses around the area

“The do’s of interviews include introducing yourself, maintaining good eye contact, being personable, being confident, and overdressing,” Mr Cassidy said “The do nots include saying like, um, you know, uhh, and be honest It is

also important not to make things up ”

Students focus on mastering these personal skills and their knowledge of each university before the interviews Senior Colin Broderick ’23 practices at home in preparation for an interview with Villanova University

"I am mostly worked on my personal skills doing mock interviews with my parents at home,” Colin said “I am creating questions to ask and making sure I know a lot about Villanova ”

These interviews serve as a crucial part in the admissions process Colleges look for things that make students stand out, and these interviews could be the difference between an acceptance and a rejection at a school

“Some institutions hold interviews in heavier consideration when reviewing an application, and in some cases a strong or weak interview could make or break a student’s chance for admission,” Mrs Murray said

Justin Muttreja ’23

Mr Bielecki 2021 Lasallian Educator of the Year Award

Mr Chesnik and Mr Gibbons after receiving their 25 year medals

FEATURES

MR. PARISI 41 YEARS OF SERVICE

Mr Parisi, a versatile leader at La Salle College High School, is entering his 41st year as an educator and instructor In speaking with him, he explained the positive and negative aspects of being an Athletic Administrator He also described his position as being a lot of behind the scenes work that came to fruition when he got to see a student athlete compete Ultimately, he asserted that the biggest part of the job is being a “problem solver ”

During his tenure, Mr Parisi was often busy with a wide array of problems that required immediate attention in order to satisfy the needs of everyone He explained that it was all worth it when he got to see the teams compete and succeed, as well as see student athletes develop lifelong friendships His transition from Athletic Administrator to working as a teacher in the school was what he described as, “simple in one aspect and difficult in the other ” It was simple in a way because, even during his time as the Athletic Administrator, he was still in the classroom teaching seniors However, he was still adjusting to teaching freshmen, a grade level he hadn’t taught in fifteen years

The experience was a lot different and a bit of a challenge, he said, but he has come to really enjoy his teaching schedule Mr Parisi has a split schedule, in which half of his day is spent teaching seniors and freshman, while the other half is spent in his office preparing and organizing service trips In the beginning of the year, he prepares for Branch Out Day, in which freshmen and their fathers or significant

Out Day experience, I can truly say it was a great time This service day, which all freshmen get to experience, is a great introduction to our school’s motto: Enter to Learn, Leave to Serve This opportunity is only made possible by the hard work of Mr Parisi and others

After this service day is complete, Mr Parisi begins helping with the Kairos retreat trips for seniors and setting up the summer service trips Last year, there were over one hundred young men who traveled to nine locations Mr Parisi hopes to surpass 150 students this summer Appalachia, Montana, St Luca, and Memphis are just some of the summer service locations that Mr Parisi has been to He said that the experience is wonderful, and the students get a lot out of it These trips are life changing and forever remembered by the Lasallian students that attend them

As a Campus Ministry Associate, he also overlooks and supervises all daily service trips such as Triest Hall, tutoring, Homeless Outreach and Human Rights Club

In describing his career, Mr Parisi said, “I feel like I’ve never worked a day in my life I enjoy coming into La Salle every day It’s a very comfortable environment ” When asked how someone can do the same thing for 41 years, he said that it’s not the same thing, it’s different every year “There are different dynamics with different people sitting in front of you and that is what makes it fun to come to work every day ”

Mr Parisi is a hardworking, dedicated man who is a key factor in making La Salle service so special He has helped countless h f

ENDURING TRADITION OF BRANCH OUT DAY CONTINUES WITH FRESHMAN CLASS

A long awaited introduction to the Lasallian mission is coming up for the Class of 2026 Freshmen Branch Out Day, a class wide community service opportunity, is on the schedule for October 11th Approximately 500 students, volunteer fathers, and a select few staff members will be headed totwenty eight different work sitesthroughout Philadelphia and the suburbs

Enter To Learn, Leave To Servehas always been a crucial part of La Salle’s culture while educating young men This will be the first year students’ initial opportunity to spread the Lasallian mission While at nursing homes, food pantries, Catholic elementary schools, war memorials, and many other locations, students will be serving the less fortunate while displaying what it truly means to be a Lasallian Gentleman They will participate in a wide variety of tasks including landscaping, cleaning, painting, or whatever the locations need done

As one of the first opportunities to contribute to the Lasallian mission, there are high expectations for this year ’ s Branch Out Day “Students will be dipping their toes into the service portion of the Mission,” Mr Lang, La Salle’s Math Department chair, said Mr Lang, who has been participating in Branch Out Day for over five years, hopes that students will use this day as opportunity to spend time with hers and new classmates

dents will come into school at the ular time and begin their day with a yer service Fathers and sons will wear clothes that one would not mind ing dirty and are instructed to pack ir own lunches Branch Out Day t ts will be provided on October 7th,

four days prior to the event

Along with helping others, La Salle has another wish for Branch Out Day: that freshmen will step out of their comfort zones to learn new parts of the real world and see that every place is different La Salle also hopes that this tradition encourages new students to participate in other service opportunities such as Street Outreach and Triest Hall, which are available every week

Lowerclassmen are already thinking about future service opportunities “When I am an upperclassman, I want to go to different parts of the country, and if there are any other service projects I could get involved in, I would,” Thomas Ryan ’26 said

The smiles Branch Out Day brings to not only the less fortunate that La Salle help, but to the locations’ employees, founders, and volunteers are invaluable Something great about service at La Salle is that even though it is not mandatory, most students are still active in the service projects La Salle provides

To students who are unsure aboutBranch Out Day, “Come in with an open mind, don’t make any preconceived notions, and draw conclusions afterward,” Mission and Ministry Director Mr Parisi said

After their day of service, students are provided time for small group discussion and reflection Branch Out Day is an opportunity to learn what the Lasallian mission is all about: to create men of Intellect and Accomplishment, Faith and Compassion, Integrity and Respect, and Service and Justice

“I’m excited to gain a new perspective of something I’ve never done before,” Keenan Stahl ’26 said Matt Millevoi ’23

2022 23 YEARBOOK PREVIEW

The latest iteration of La Salle’s Yearbook will soon be available to students the first week of November to be distributed on campus, to continue capturing memories made at La Salle College High School

Designed by students of La Salle, the yearbook “should be in the hands of students in the building by the first week of November,” according to Brother Francis, the moderator of the yearbook committee, with “The class of 2022 receiving theirs at a special program just before Thanksgiving ”

Since the 1930s, La Salle’s yearbook has been produced by members of the yearbook committee over the course of each school year Contributions from student members of the committee, such as Thomas Rosato ‘23, the yearbook committee’s head editor, and faculty members such as Bro Francis, is what makes the yearbook possible While the yearbook is “special for each year ” that it’s created, the end goal remains unchanged: to make something that will be “loved by the entire school,” according to Thomas To do this, every aspect of La Salle s community is considered, so “ every

club, sport, and for everything that happens at La Salle” is given a place in the yearbook to capture each year of La Salle’s history This process involves “mapping out the whole year and all the components that make up La Salle,” says Bro Francis Creating a yearbook is as enjoyable as it is daunting according to the yearbook committee Finding photos, creating captions, and integrating the input of La Salle’s students, particularly the seniors, is a year long process

The “hardest part ” of making a yearbook is “getting the necessary pictures we need for every club, sport, and for everything that happens at La Salle,” says Thomas However, when such steps are completed, the result is a yearbook that serves as the “official memory of the school year, ” according to Bro Francis Overall, La Salle’s yearbook, which Bro Francis says takes “good writing skills with a hint of humor and irony, attention to detail, and lots of hard work” to produce, will continue to be something that allows students to “happily look back at their time at LaSalle,” says Thomas Jacob Crowell Alvarez 25

Mr Parisi smiles with a group of students on Kairos

Just an example of the excellent service done on Branch Out Day

FEATURES

College Application november deadline

La Salle’s College Counseling Department is preparing for students to submit their college applications to schools before the November 1st early application deadline

The deadline is less than a week away for the nearly 290 seniors applying to colleges and universities across the nation and worldwide

“Over 85% of our students apply to at least one school by the November 1st deadline,” Mrs Katie Palopoli, college counseling assistant, said Not only are the students preparing to submit their applications, but their counselors are hard at work behind the scenes making sure their applications will

be complete when they are submitted

“Our counselors write letters of recommendation for each student they are assigned, and my job is to send out all the necessary documents to colleges such as transcripts,” Mrs Palopoli said

The College Counseling Department wants the best for every student, so they have one simple objective

“Our primary goal is to get each student into the school that is the best fit for him, both academically and socially We want our students to be happy when they go to college,” Mrs Palopoli said Aidan Maloney ’23

An Interview With Joseph Hartnett '69

During the past week, I had an opportunity to sit down and talk with the current head of the Board of Trustees, Mr Joseph Hartnett ‘69 Mr Hartnett is entering the final year of his term and has some advice that he has learned throughout his career After attending La Salle, he attended Georgetown University where he received a degree in accounting Entering the field of Public Accounting, Mr Hartnett had a long and successful career working for multiple major corporations

The Experience of Urban Immersion

When someone asks a La Salle student between their sophomore and junior years what they are doing that summer, in many cases, the student will reply with an array of activities, including, for many, Urban Immersion A staple of La Salle service opportunities, the trip provides rising Juniors with an opportunity to stay at the Newman Center of Saint Agatha Saint James Church and serve the less fortunate throughout the Philadelphia area

Some of these opportunities include Mercy Neighborhood Ministries, Broad Street Ministries & Sunday Breakfast Rescue Mission, Visitation BVM School, St Joan of Arc, SSJ Welcome Center, Rock Ministries, St Lucy School for the Hearing & Visually Impaired, Holy Innocents Parish, Mother of Sorrows / St Ignatius, the Philadelphia Vietnam Veterans Memorial, the Boys and Girls Club of America, in Frankford, and St Francis de Sales School These opportunities provide students with a first hand look at some aspects of the city that they may not have encountered before In turn, this enables them to obtain an understanding of issues they may not have been privy to prior

These issues are touched on in discussions among the students on the trip, as when they get back to the Newman Center They, along with the moderators, have a small prayer service that includes a reflection on the day and the experiences of the different groups of students In addition to this reflection of the day, the group leaders provide an opportunity to go in depth on the issues plaguing the city, such as gun violence and the opioid epidemic, as well as other important issues This goes back to one of the largest missions of the trip; to help La Salle students gain a greater understanding of Philadelphia

Another important aspect of Urban Immersion is the faith side Urban Immersion is kicked off with a mass at

the historic St Agatha and St James Church in University City They generously host the students on the trip in their newly renovated Newman Center Along with this, every day starts and ends with prayer, which helps cultivate Catholic tradition The third important aspect of Urban Immersion is the personal aspect Students are broken into large groups, which promotes a heightened sense of brotherhood and community This gives them an opportunity to build relationships with new people and strengthen bonds with those they are already friendly with Urban Immersion was one of the highlights of my summer While the work was rewarding and beneficial, what I remember most are the people I spent time with during the trip It helped me form friendships with people who I may never have interacted with if it were not for the trip I also appreciated the time I spent in Philadelphia This trip for any students in the class of 2025 and beyond is undoubtedly worth the time commitment Will Keffer '24

After retiring and talking with one of his lifelong friends, they decided to come back and get involved with LaSalle His reconnection to LaSalle comes from wanting to give back to the community that gave him lifelong friends that he still rows with on the Schuylkill River on a consistent basis He saw this as an opportunity to become reacquainted with the school that set him on the right path in life Even after all his experience in the workforce, Mr Hartnett always goes back to LaSalle to the foundation on which he lives his life and how he still interacts with fellow alumni Since becoming the head of the board of trustees, Mr Hartnett has had multiple responsibilities These include attending four board meetings a year and being responsible for overseeing six committees that help La Salle run smoothly

While he is proud of the responsibilities, he is most proud of the additions he has been able to approve over the past couple years, more specifically the concentration programs and the addition to the David Center Mr Hartnett is most excited about the concentrations program because he believes this program will give students a true hands on, real life experience in new areas of study that they have not been exposed to While all these accomplishments have worked positively for the school, his main message to the student body was to stay connected to your classmates and live out the brotherhood as we have been instructed He said La Salle is the place where he met all the friends he has today and attending LaSalle was one of the best experiences of his life He hopes we cherish the time we have here

Aidan McPaul '23

ADVISORS

Mr Matthew del Rio

Mr. Rob Johnson

The purpose of The Wisterian is to inform the student body of news and opinions of relevance to the school community. The views expressed are those of the individual writers and do not necessarily reflect official school policy

Mr. John Young

Ronan

Aidan

Brendan

Jacob Crowell Alvarez ‘24

Jack Kramer 24

Nick Wilson ‘24

Jackson Trymbiski ‘25

Liam Mote '23

A La Salle senior speaking with a college interviewer

Students serving their community on Urban Immersion

Mr Joseph Hartnett '69

The Wisterian

Clubs & Activities

Teams Prepare For The Turkey Bowl

The annual Turkey Bowl, which is an event that allows students to participate in two hand touch football, takes place at Flannery Field on November 7th Turkey Bowl is an event that is set up and run by Mrs Stott with the help of student council

“There is a lot that goes into setting up Turkey Bowl,” Senior Class President Mike Martino ’23 says, “We have to set up dates, fields, referees, and trainers in order for it to run as smoothly as possible ”

The Turkey Bowl allows students from all grade levels to compete and have a fantastic time with their classmates

“My favorite thing about the Turkey Bowl is the competitive spirit of the event, ” Mike Martino said “Nothing compares to the feeling of the cold weather hitting your body as you compete with your best friends to see

who will come out on top ”

This is one of the most anticipated events of the school year and gives new students an opportunity to get involved with the activities going on at La Salle “I signed up for Turkey Bowl because it would be a fun experience,” George Petrellis ’26 said “It allows me to get involved with the many opportunities presented at La Salle ”

Team rosters are due November 1st; the schedule will be released at that time Expectations for the Turkey Bowl are always high, but especially for the seniors who want to go out on top

“My greatest expectations are to win the Turkey Bowl,” Turkey Bowl Captain Matt Wagner ’23 said “I have played freshman and sophomore year and won both years, so I plan to make it a third this year ”

Colin Dunlap ’23

Future Physicians Club

La Salle’s Future Physicians Club was lucky enough to welcome guest speaker Dr Ala Stanford to discuss her experiences in the medical field She spoke about her path, as well as other paths into the field

Dr Stanford is the head and founder of the Black Doctors Contortion in Philadelphia Her research has helped save countless lives, especially during the COVID 19 lockdown Mr Rosa, moderator of the Future Physicians Club, was able to bring in Dr Stanford after meeting with her at La Salle’s own back to school night, which meant a great deal, given her medical achievements

“She wanted to come in person, and we are lucky that it matched up Her schedule is super busy, so we are fortunate to have her come in,” Mr Rosa said

The club hopes to bring inspiration and knowledge to students interested in pursuing a medical career, and Dr Stanford hopes her speech will equip

them with the proper tools Students who want to pursue medical careers usually must begin in high school to get into medical school Mr Rosa did not go through this process; however, he did experience a similar one with science

“It is essential You have to start thinking about it Believe it or not, you should start thinking about it as a freshman [If] You’re thinking about going into medicine, you have to think about it right away, ” Mr Rosa remarked

Ryan Pritchett ’23, who is not a Physicians Club Member but did hear about the speaker, was very intrigued by the idea of clubs opening with guest speakers The Physicians Club could start a new wave of speakers who could talk to students about future careers and studies in any field

“I wish La Salle did more things like this I think it would be cool to have a lot of careers being introduced by someone who went through what we are going through now, ” Pritchett said Tommy Yaegel ’25

Insight On La Salle's Chess Club

Chess club is a well attended club at La Salle College High School There are over 40 students who signed up for the club and many play competitively Mr Keenan ’80, the proctor of the Chess Club and a coach for the La Salle Chess Team, says his objective is to “allow students to be able to play, learn, and have fun while playing ” Mr Keenan also explained how the chess club hopes to do more in house tournaments and another medieval chess game, where students act as the pieces, and two players take high stands to see the whole board He shared how it does not take high intellect to play chess

“You just have to have the desire to want to learn how to play So, we can take anyone who’s a beginner, never played before, to those who are very ed ”

Chase Vitulich, a senior who has been olved with La Salle Chess Club for years and plays competitively, ed his experiences and insights, as as ways to get better and what it s to get there

“It is mostly just playing a lot,” ulich shared “I think the tournament helps with perseverance, time nagement, and long term strategy, le the casual games strengthen my ics, quick thinking, and playing on er time ” e explained that having high intellect

can help while playing

“It definitely helps, but you do not specifically need that To be fair, everyone on the chess team is extremely smart, being at the top in terms of grades and taking a bunch of honors and AP classes However, you can still become really good through simple experience of the game and knowledge of how the game works Advice is very important to inspiring future chess players,” Vitulich said

The advice Vitulich gives to prospective members and players is very specific

“If you want to get good at chess, you ’ re going to have to play a lot You also have to have at least a decent knowledge of every opening However, you ’ re not going to get good at chess if you don’t have fun doing it Also, you need to be good under pressure Time is a finite thing, even if it looks like there's an hour on your clock Finally, play fun games, not just competitive ones If you don’t want to get super good, just playing increases your skill by a lot just from experience ”

The chess club for La Salle is open to anyone who wants to play during community time Email Mr Keenan or Ms Chen to find out more information or stop by room 119 to play a couple of matches

Christian Westawski ’23

Students and faculty pose for the camera during Turkey Bowl 2022

Dr Ala Stanford poses with faculty after speaking to the Future Physicians Club

Let the chess matches begin!

The Wisterian

FALL SPORTS WRAP UP

Pep Rallies Return To LA Salle

After nearly three years, La Salle College High School is hosting a pep rally for students The rally is scheduled to take place on Flannery Field on Tuesday afternoon, weather permitting Students will be able to dress down to show off their La Salle pride Students will finish up their sixth period classes at 1:35 PM, and the pep rally will begin at 1:40 PM once students arrive Following the pep rally, games such as baggo and spike ball will be played, and soft pretzels will be offered The pep rally is a first time experience for the current freshmen, sophomores, and juniors Due to Covid 19, mass events such as pep rallies were canceled and postponed Student Council was determined to bring back the pep rally this year, and they have been successful However, many students still have questions regarding the event due to the hiatus Mrs Stott, Director of Student Activities at La Salle, helped to clarify the uncertainty

“The pep rally is being held for the seven fall sports, including football, soccer, water polo, rugby sevens, golf, crew, and cross country, ” Stott said “The remnants of Hurricane Ian swept through the area in late September when the pep rally was originally scheduled We purposefully picked this week to reschedule the game due to the upcoming homecoming game on Saturday so that students are made aware of all the festivities happening on and off campus that day ”

Since only the seniors know what to expect at the pep rally, Stott clarified the way the pep rally will be held As students head to the field, the players of the various sports teams will be waiting on the field to start the rally

“The pep rally will be run by the four executive officers of Student Council,” Stott remarked “The students will watch from the bleachers as the fall athletes are organized on the field by sport Seating is on a first come, first serve basis, so students should plan to arrive promptly at 1:40 ” Underclassmen at La Salle are particularly hyped for the event Nick Stipa, a sophomore at La Salle, has not yet attended a pep rally and is expecting a very loud and raucous crowd Stipa enjoys supporting the fall sports teams, even though he is not an athlete himself

“I plan to buy my shirt and rally towel during lunch tomorrow, ” Stipa said “The atmosphere will be electric I have been to a few Phillies games over the past few weeks, so I know how loud a crowd can get I am hoping for a good time celebrating the successes of the fall sports teams and hoping for many more rallies to come ”

Paul DiPrinzio, a senior at La Salle, is excited for the event, but also sad that his time at La Salle is coming to an end Since most of the athletes on the field will be seniors, he is thrilled to be able to cheer on his classmates “I will be in the front row with my classmates rallying around our sports teams, ” DiPrinzio mentioned “Hopefully this is not a farewell to pep rallies for the class of 2023 Having missed out on pep rallies since 2019, we [seniors] have experienced the brunt of Covid during our high school years, and I hope that we can make our senior year as normal as possible I am grateful to have experienced so many great sports moments over the years, despite the restrictions However, it will be a bittersweet ending to such a great time I have had here at La Salle ”

Mrs Stott hopes that everyone will have a pleasurable time at the event and hopes for a good turnout since it has taken a lot of time and effort to be able to put this together She believes that La Salle is officially out of the Covid 19 era, and she is excited to plan the next chapter of events at La Salle College High School

“Since no other events are happening during the P M block at the end of the day, I hope to see everyone in their blue and gold,” Stott said “I think it will be a great way for students to show their school spirit and support the fall sports teams, and if this one goes well, I am planning to host pep rallies for the winter and spring sports as well Stay tuned!” Ri hi P ’25

Cross country secures the hubcap

On Saturday, October 22, Head Coach Mr Bielecki ’99 and the cross country program were named PCL Champions for the seventh consecutive year at Belmont Plateau La Salle Cross Country finished a stellar year, sitting atop the PCL once again

The Cross Country team has a successful history here at La Salle Over the past seven years, the program has captured seven PCL titles Captain Ryan McGinley ‘23 attributes the team ’ s success to the hardworking players who run for the team

“There’s a lot of guys who have stepped up this year Lots of juniors and sophomores have really become pivotal guys on our varsity teams, ” said McGinley ’23

However, many in the La Salle community would credit a ton of the success to Head Coach Mr Bielecki Since taking the helm of the program, Mr Bielecki has led the team to several State Championships, various trips across the country, and numerous PCL Championships, having recently

secured the 2022 PCL Plaque

“The key is that this group of guys bought into the idea that our success this fall began in January last year These guys worked really hard during the indoor track season, and that hard work traveled all the way to through to the summer workouts Guys like Drew Brill ’23, who is someone who always races really hard Then you have Anthony Fedoruk ’23, who is a really hard worker and always there for our team Then there is Ryan McGinley ‘23, a guy who rebounded from an intense injury last year to race this year We have a team of really talented, hard workers,” said Bielecki

With the PCL’s done, the Cross Country team looks forward to the upcoming PIAA state run The Explorers won the District 12 Championship on October 28 Now, Ryan McGinley says they are locked in for states

“We’re just taking it one race at a time, controlling what we can control,” McGinley remarked TJ Ballay ’23

Get To Know the Rugby 7's Program

A few months after winning the State Championship, La Salle Rugby is back in full swing this time with a much larger team This fall, the program has grown to a record number of seventy players Of these seventy, sixteen are freshmen, as opposed to one freshman in 2019, and over twenty non freshmen players have little to no experience with the sport

A new addition to the rugby 7s program here at La Salle is Jarrett Keesler ’23 After winning the State Championship in 15s, Jarrett was compelled to join the 7s team However, the change from 15s to 7s has been hard “15s and 7s are completely different games and after the first couple of practices I realized that It is much more physically demanding and requires me to be in better shape, I felt slow at times but good to be out there in a new game I am excited to see how we continue to learn the game and develop as a team as the season progresses, ” Kessler said Yet, Jarrett is just one of seventy kids who are all learning the game When asked about managing this number of players, Coach Derrick ’02 reflected on the challenge

It has certainly been a challenge getting that many new players up to speed The growth that it shows in the game, though, and specifically here at La Salle is extremely promising There are already many new players with a lot of potential who are the future of La Salle Rugby Also, having the experienced players lead the way for the young guys creates that brotherhood that we love to have Ultimately, it is the incredible coaching staff that is necessary to teach, coach, and guide this program of 70 players,” Coach Derrick said

Coach Derrick admits he can ’ t manage everyone by himself Though the adjustment to a growing team can be challenging, the players and coaching staff are ready to learn as they go and help everyone develop into solid rugby players Senior and Co Captain Brian Donahue ’23 discussed his new leadership role

“Being a positive influence on the younger guys is very important to me For the team to be successful, everyone must be shown respect and learn what it takes to be a La Salle Rugby player,” Donahue said Corso

The Cross Country State Team poses with its 2022 PIAA Runner Up Trophy

The Wisterian

WINTER SPORTS PREVIEW

La Salle Swimming's Rigorous Training

La Salle Swimming and Diving is getting ready for another excellent season Senior Alex Sleptsov ’23 and Assistant Coach Jim Tate ’94 took time to speak with me and reflect on how the team trains to be the best

They are not only one of the best swim teams in the state, but one of the best programs in any sport in Pennsylvania They has won over thirty consecutive Philadelphia Catholic League Championships, a national title, and seven state titles in the last ten years Assistant Coach Jim Tate has been there for all of them. He explained how the coaches oversee the conditioning and what he claims to be the most important part of the sport

“Swimming itself is a sport that requires you to be in phenomenal shape to be at your max performance level, and we call this overtraining It is everything for athletes competing for a state title year in and year out, ” Coach Tate said

To show the importance of conditioning, Alex Sleptsov, a state finalist in the 200 IM, discussed his end of the La Salle experience of conditioning He talked about the effect it has on him and his work ethic He trains year round pretty much every day and knows the importance of being a leader and leading by example

“I do feel a little bit guilty whenever I skip, even for schoolwork If I do not try hard in practice, I worry that the younger people who look up to me will not try hard during practice either I know a lot of them have not done these types of intense practices, so I need to push them and encourage them,” Sleptsov said

Sleptsov is always conscious and aware of his work ethic and the work ethic of the people around him Coach Tate expressed the same concern and awareness for the entire team and their work ethic throughout the season

“Teenage boys are not always able to focus on everything in the long term without help; that is where coaching comes in So, there is a rhythm to the season that the coaches often recognize that the swimmers may not recognize,” Coach Tate believes

Most La Salle swimmers have intense training year round No matter how much they train, it is agreed among most coaches and swimmers of La Salle that there is time to have rest in and out of season This prevents the risk of overuse injury and mental health problems

“I believe that swimmers can be burned out by overtraining, they can be burned out physically, they can be burned out mentally,” Coach Tate mentioned

Mr Tate’s philosophies have helped keep La Salle swimming in state title contention for over a decade He is an integral part of the program

“To be in excellent shape you cannot fake it Just being talented does not do it The kids who are on that level are talented, [but] the ones who work the hardest in preparation rise above,” Coach Tate remarked

La Salle Hockey: A senior Perspective

For the La Salle Varsity Hockey Team, hopes are high and goals are attainable as the men lace up their skates for the 2022 2023 campaign Especially excited are the returning seniors for their last year as Explorers Reminiscing about watching the legendary 2019 State Championship run as freshmen, the seniors are envisioning shades of that run for this upcoming season

With potential to be strong on both sides of the ice this year, the hype from the seniors is more than just bark Finishing 9 9 1 last year and 2 5 in conference play, the returning guys will be hungry for blood, especially against PCL rivals The new faces will be inundated with the electricity that is AAA Varsity La Salle Hockey, but they’ll get accustomed to it quickly

“We were brought up by seniors and we’ll do the same, ” said Senior goalie Aries Carangi '23, speaking on how the call ups will be conducted Aries is especially excited about the state of the defense this year Holding himself and his teammates to a high standard, that will only be raised with the aspirations of the upcoming year, Aries sees the defense not only being sturdy but also adding a

deeper layer to the offense With consistent, skilled playmakers, expect some electricity from La Salle’s defense this season

“Like Stalin, the iron curtain,” remarked Aries when asked to describe the defense this year

On the other side of the ice, Senior forward Max Monzo '23 has similar expectations for La Salle’s offense this upcoming season With the loss of key goal scorers from last year, the La Salle offense will turn to the abundance of skill guys to fill spots and make plays However, it will take a brotherhood type bond for this offense to reach its true potential, a chemistry only the men of La Salle can create

“Keep the lows from getting too low, and make the highs explosively high,” said Max when describing the chemistry needed for success

A long, 2019 esque season is what the seniors are chasing

“We may lose a few here and there in during season play but expect a state championship this year, ” Max Monzo stated confidently when asked on what his classmates should expect this year Matthew Smith ’23

La Salle Wrestling Takes The Mat

After training all offseason, La Salle Wrestling is ready to battle for another District Championship They are also looking for new people interested in wrestling for the first time

“The guys have been working their tails off this offseason at practice and at offseason tournaments They are ready for this season based on the work they are putting in now, ” Head Coach Benjamin Courtney said Courtney is very pleased with the dedication of his wrestlers, and the wrestlers themselves feel good about the work they have been putting in this offseason

“The team is always prepared for any opponent in the district because of how hard we work and the environment during practice We all push each other and make sure anyone slacking is motivated and picked up by others We all stay committed by the amazing coaching staff and our great captains I am fully confident that we are going to be prepared for the district

championship and the work ethic and dedication will show in time as we make our way there,” Dominic Parenti ’25, a Varsity Sophomore, said

For the student athletes new to the sport, the program ’ s fantastic culture is already apparent

“I’ve only been to a few practices but have already learned a lot and had a lot of fun From the first time I went, I’ve felt welcomed and encouraged to learn and get better Many of the guys on the team have helped me to learn better technique, and they do it in a great way After only a few practices I’m already hooked on wrestling and cannot wait to face a real opponent, ” Cole Cowan ’25, a new wrestler, said

The team gets every JV level wrestler 30 35 matches a year, so the new recruits will not have no problem at all getting mat time

“We all have put in the work,” said Parenti, “and we are ready to bring that district title back home to La Salle!”

Jackson Hersh’25

La Salle Swimming & Diving is ready

La Salle Hockey is looking to carve their way to another State Championship!