Bubbly Nick Reed ‘14 dishes out a slice of his life | 4
SCHU-DADDY A few words from Moe’s resident daddy | 3
GOING LOng Crusaders are all over college football | 4
Crusader the
Celebrating 50 years of publication
THE OFFICIAL STUDENT NEWSPAPER OF ARCHBISHOP MOELLER HIGH SCHOOL 9001 MONTGOMERY RD. CINCINNATI OHIO 45242
GASPING In a hot and sweaty test of determination and endurance, senior Kyle Zimmerman fell to Mr. DiCristoforo on the track. Running a mile in over six minutes, the pair wagered much on the tense battle. Kyle was forced to promote the GCL Cross Country championships through email and the PA system. DRESSING Moeller football belatedly welcomes Peter Sharpshair ‘15 as its new mascot. The junior has traded his band uniform for the pads and armor of the Crusader. CRIPPLING Six, as in S-I-X, seniors on the cross country team were sidelined with injuries this year. That puts the class’s survival rate at fifty-seven percent, out of fourteen students. breaking Moeller football beat St. Xavier, but our student section beat the front row bleachers. Somebody needs to lay off the pizza. DEBATING This issue seniors Andy Strotman and Zac Paz go head-to-head over the issue of structured mentor groups. Should students play basketball on laptops or with other mentor groups? TRAFFICKING The parking lot is packed full of fledgling drivers, and every afternoon around three o’clock it suddenly becomes crammed with slow-moving vehicles piloted by both students and newbie Moeller mothers. Estimated departure time: ten minutes. CLUBBING The Model UN, established by Paul McCreary ‘14, is holding meetings between various countries represented by students. General chaos is expected after the recent American government shutdown. PALING Those tan lines and sunburns are fading into last month as the cold begins to kick in. Don’t worry about arms and legs, seeing as pants and sweaters provide plenty of coverage. Remember that only cripples and basketball
OCTOBER 2013 VOL. 50 NUM. 02 FALL ISSUE WWW. MOELLER.ORG
English chair releases two killer novels Moeller students, faculty flock to Joseph-Beth Booksellers to support Mr. Geoffrey Girard By Dan Miller ‘14 Crusader Staff Writer Moeller English teacher Geoffrey Girard had his latest books released on September 3, 2013, at Joseph-Beth Booksellers. Cain’s Blood is a science fiction/horror story about dozens of boys who get cloned from the DNA of some of the world’s most vicious serial killers by the U.S. Department of Defense in order to create a new brand of bioweapons. These young men are raised in controlled environments until they are released into the world. Shawn Castillo is sent to capture them, teaming up with a boy who has the DNA of Jeffrey Dahmer, the infamous serial killer. He also wrote Project Cain, a spin-off for teenagers. Girard researched these books for approximately a year before he began to write them. Getting the book published took about two years, which is relatively short, according to Girard. It was published by the well-known Simon & Schuster, Inc., a division of CBS Corporation. Girard was inspired by reading other writers’ work. These inspirations included such authors as J. R. R. Tolkien,
Mr. Girard poses at his September 3 book release appearance at Joseph-Beth Booksellers in Rookwood Plaza.
Stephen King, and Michael Crichton. He explained how he got into writing short stories and novellas in the horror genre in college and his late 20’s, leading to his writing today. Mr. Girard was lighthearted and humorous throughout the entire evening, throwing out stuffed animals to anyone who could answer his questions about the history of cloning and DNA transferring. Mr. Girard said, “The sci-fi genre I love because you can do anything with it.” He also hinted that a movie deal
could be in the works for Cain’s Blood. The launch ended with Mr. Girard sitting at a table signing copies of his books for a large group of buyers. Senior Jake Barbara said, “It was great! All the support he had from students shows how much he really means to the students and the whole Moeller family.” “Girard made his book seem so appealing to all the people there and gave out prizes to keep people interested. You could tell he was very proud of his work but was trying to act like it was no big deal,” said senior David Kindel.
From corner pubs to the iTunes store Junior Matt Schneider releases first album to global market By Ben Land ‘14 Crusader Sports Editor Tackling opponents, spiking volleyballs, donating his time for service, and rocking out - Matt Schneider with his long free-flowing hair is quickly becoming one of Moeller’s most impressive young men. Perhaps the next Jason Mraz, Matt’s big-
“I actually recorded it all in one day because I couldn’t afford any more studio time.” gest musical influence, could be among us, yet very few realize it. Matt eats, sleeps, and breathes music, playing for “About an hour and a half a night, but on the weekends probably four to six hours a day.” He says he started playing guitar when he was nine years old. “It seemed like a fun thing to do, and I really got interested when I started listening to older rock
Matt Shneider performing at the House of Blues
music.” Writing his original music has provided Matt with many gigs at local venues. He even played at the Cintas Center on Xavier University’s campus in front of a full house. Most extraordinary of all, Matt just released his first album. The album contains four songs: “Open When,” “Invisible,” “Motivation” and “Come On.”
Matt notes that it was hard and time consuming. “I probably took about a year to write the entire album,” he said, “and I actually recorded it all in one day because I couldn’t afford any more studio time.” Schneider is not the only talented musician to walk the halls. Senior Liam Dorward, also a guitarist, believes Matt is the next big thing. “He’s a great kid and a great musician. He spans many styles and can pull nuances from different styles into his playing which sets him apart from the crowd. He knows his theory which helps him move around the guitar effortlessly,” said Dorward. Schneider’s biggest musical achievement was on Sunday, September 8, 2013, when he was given the chance to play in front of Warner Brothers and Atlantic records. Very few artists get that opportunity so early in their careers. Matt plans on attending the University of Cincinnati’s College-Conservatory of Music for commercial music. Purchase his music on iTunes by searching “Matt Schneider EP.”
OPINION
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MOE-PINIONS MG shouldn’t be PE By Andy Strotman ‘14
Students need structure
October 2013
MAKING THE GRADE
A
By Zac Paz ‘14
Ask any Moeller student to describe a unique part of their educational experience and “mentor group” will be one of the most frequent responses. Mentor group is the most essential element of the House system, and an integral part of every student’s schedule. However, there is much debate about how mentor group time should be structured. Some push for structured activities as a group, such as playing basketball in the gym. Most students, however, favor a much more relaxed structure, with the ability to do homework, study, and eat some food. I believe this casual structure should be accepted as the standard form for mentor groups. One of the many advantages of free time in mentor group is that it gives students a chance to keep on track academically. Having 30 minutes on B days to study for tests, do homework, and talk to other students about classes goes a long way in helping students stay ahead of the curve. I cannot count the number of times that I have averted missing a homework assignment by doing it in mentor group, and I believe most students can say the same. It has also been very beneficial for studying for tests, offering an opportunity to study with students who are in the same classes. This is very helpful for last-
When I first transferred to Moeller my sophomore year and learned about the mentor group system, I was pleasantly surprised when I was told that there was a 30 minute break between B1 and B2 dedicated to mentor group. I thought to myself that this would be a perfect time to get some homework done I couldn’t complete the night before, or a time to relax and eat some food. However, as the weeks passed by I discovered just how wrong I was. I learned that mentor group was not a time to be scrambling around trying to do homework, or a time to just sit around, but rather a time to bond and grow closer with your mentor group and mentor teacher through activities and interaction. The only way this can be achieved is through a structured and organized mentor group contrary to a more relaxed setting. I would be a hypocrite to say that I have never done homework or studied for a test in mentor group. However, on the times that my mentor group teacher has proposed a group activity, I have stopped whatever I was doing and participated. There is definitely a greater meaning to mentor group than just a relaxed period of time where one could do some academic work and chat with their friends. If this were the case, mentor groups would simply turn into a study hall. “While mentor group activities With a more relaxed setting in mentor groups, most students would probably tend to do indelook good from an outside perspecpendent work or talk with their same aged friends. tive, they are actually a negative.” Mentor groups consist of all four grade levels for a specific reason, which is to promote bonding minute review of material, and has surely helped between all four grades, and so the freshman can my grades over the course of my time at Moeller. If make friends with older students. If there are no mentor groups were doing structured group activigroup activities, it might make it harder for the ties, students would lose this valuable time, and it whole group to interact together because in a more would hurt them in the classroom. relaxed setting individuals might just associate with Those in favor of structured activities in mentor their same old friends rather than students in their group say that it promotes bonding among the stugroup they don’t know very well. dents. While this may be true, bonding is also easily Those who push for a more relaxed setting say accomplished in a more relaxed setting. Students are that mentor group shouldn’t consist of doing activistill able to interact socially: talking to each other, ties but rather a time to relax and take a break in the working on homework together, studying together, day. However, if you were to look at the issue in and generally being together. In my own mentor a realistic manner, you would see that it would be group, we use this more relaxed structure, and I feel impossible for there to be a mentor group activity that I have bonded very well with my fellow classevery B day. mates of all classes. From commiserating over physWhen hearing the idea of a more structured menics homework with my fellow seniors to messing tor group, one might associate that with doing “boraround on the freshmen laptops to see all the cool ing” activities every B day. But realistically, there is features they have, my mentor group has allowed no way your mentor group would be able to do an me to interact with all grade levels. Organized activity every B day, but rather maybe once a week, activities in mentor group can also breed a negative or on previously scheduled dates. attitude. If students are compelled to participate in It is essential for mentor groups to be structured activities, they will be resentful of being forced to to promote bonding between all four grade levels. participate in the activities, and mentor group will Activities wouldn’t have to be done every B day, become a negative in their school experience. but rather on scheduled days. Moeller is all about While mentor group activities look good from an creating great experiences for all students, which outside perspective, they are actually a negative. A I firmly believe can be contributed to by having a more relaxed structure in mentor group will give structured mentor group. more positive experiences for students.
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Will Mercurio’s pick-6 in union with Coghlin’s two field goals, won the game for Moeller and sent St. X home crying
Fall Raffle Enjoy your ribs and free days , men. Enjoy your $5,000, Sarky. Plus, Mr. Kremer is happy.
Breaking Bad Finale Sunday nights will never be the same
Tennis ball green ‘Beat X’ T-shirts Wait a minute... our colors aren’t neon and grey. It didn’t matter, the student section was still wild
Mr. Ragland’s support for St. X “At St. X, he’ll be #1”
F Crusader
the
Published quarterly, the student newspaper of Archbishop Moeller High School is a public forum, with its student editorial board making all decisions concerning its contents. Unsigned editorials express the views of the majority of the editorial board. Letters to the editor are welcomed and will be published as space allows. Letters must be signed, although the staff may withhold the name on request. The Crusader reserves the right to edit letters for grammar and clarity, and all letters are subject to laws governing obscenity, libel, privacy, and disruption of the school process, as are all contents of the paper. Opinions in letters are not necessarily those of The Crusader staff or its faculty adviser, nor should any opinion expressed in a public forum be construed as the opinion or policy of the administration of Archbishop Moeller High School.
Kyle Zimmerman Editor-in-Chief
Connor Borton Features Editor
Joe Pappalardo Managing Editor
Tyler Schumacher Entertainment Editor
Danny Bruns News Editor
Ben Rigney Art & Photography
Andy Strotman Op/Ed Editor
Mr. Michael Rose Faculty Advisor
Ben Land Sports Editor Eric Maus Asst. Sports Editor
The Crusader Archbishop Moeller High School 9001 Montgomery Rd. Cincinnati, OH 45242 Crusader@moeller.org
EDITORIAL
The Crusader
Trend towards science misguided We want to educate leaders, not train technicians Crusader Staff Editorial As the job market becomes increasingly competitive, schools at all levels are looking for ways to give their students an edge in looking for and sustaining employment. At the high school level, these efforts are often manifested through a shift in the overall focus of the curriculum. Many high schools are consciously attempting to focus more on math and science courses than on humanities courses. The logic behind this shift is that currently most of the nation’s high-paying jobs are technical in nature. Therefore, students will be better prepared for the job market if they are exposed to rigorous technical subjects, while other subjects are pushed aside. This trend has, at its highest degree of application, resulted in the emergence of technical schools designed to directly prepare students for the job market. As it relates to Moeller, the trend is reflected throughout the prevailing opinions of the student body. We now commonly hear students saying that advanced courses in history or English are “wastes of time”. Engineering is currently identified as the highest-paying profession and it is therefore a popular major, so the aforementioned Moeller students consider courses in the math or science departments to be more relevant in preparing them for their futures. The trend of higher focus on math and science and neglect of the humanities is wellintentioned, but misguided. Perhaps the best summary of the shortcoming of technical schools comes from comedian Louis C.K. as he described a technical school as a place “where dreams are narrowed down”. An integral part of our society’s method of raising children is that children are inspired to pursue any dream they may have. The reason schools are structured to have a variety of subjects covered is that children are supposed to explore their own inclinations and
find their unique passions. If children are steered towards a career because their education directs them to emphasize skills sought in the job market, they are less likely to find a subject they love. A math and science oriented curriculum may very well produce more job-ready engineers and mathematicians, but there would be a loss of historians, psychologists, writers, and the like as people who naturally gravitate towards those fields will be guided away from them. Even for engineers or mathematicians, the overall lessons learned in humanities courses are essential to their careers. Opponents of the humanities often argue that the topics studied are too esoteric, that it is unnecessary to read a certain body of literature or know obscure facts about history. We concede that it is not essential in a practical sense to have read The Scarlet Letter or to memorize Civil War battles, but to view English and history courses in that way is to miss the overarching principle. The humanities are, at their core, about synthesis of ideas and self-expression. In any field, even the most technical ones, it is of the utmost importance to connect separate concepts and to meaningfully express oneself. Humanities courses, at the most basic level, are a means to practice those skills. There is an understandable argument in favor of placing a higher emphasis in education on math and science. It seems that a large portion of Moeller’s student body would support the school in an effort to do so, but making that effort on a large scale would be erroneous. There is no reason for students to begin career-specific training at a young age, and there is certainly no reason that a high school should focus its curriculum on a narrow set of skills. Moeller should focus on the whole person and produce well-rounded students as opposed to an uncultured student body with limited interests.
“I’ve had it with this sport”
Change in coaches’ attitudes necessary for Moeller athletics
Cross-Country coach Dave Prenger shows his guns before he runs.
By Joe Pappalardo ‘14 Crusader Managing Editor It’s three o’clock on a Monday afternoon as I hobble over to the Gallenstein Center’s battered metal walls, cautiously approaching the stairs as if each step could detonate the boot firmly attached to my left leg. How was I hurt? Everyone pesters me, asking how I could be so stupid as to hurt my leg. How do I explain that I cracked my shin gradually over time by dragging my feet through Montgomery and Blue Ash while Sycamore girls buzzed by me in SUV’s, waving and screaming as I gasped for air on the sidewalk? It’s not my fault that Moeller Cross-Country trains harder than any other team in the GCL, each of its runners putting in hundreds of miles during the summer and fall. Five other injured seniors join me, sitting against the cool brick as almost forty runners – or is it thirty now? – stretch in preparation for inevitable skinburning torture on the mean streets of a suburban Ohio neighborhood.
Meanwhile my coaches are walking out to races in their shirts, their pressed button-down torsoconcealing shirts, expecting us to sweat in tank tops and shorts that reveal so much the spectators have to stand several yards back when the race commences. The baseball team works out next to us, and it’s clear why it dominates competition through fierce leadership and skill, winning state championships each year – baseball coaches wear the uniforms. Does anyone see a cross country coach wearing three-inch shorts, spikes and a little sleeveless track shirt? If coaches expect performance from their players, they must don those tattered numbers and sweat alongside the athletes they condemn and commend. I don’t mean to rant on the running squad either. This is a call to arms for every sport out there, balls or shoes, boards or mats, we all have the same struggles with these ignorant coaches who don’t realize they need to get to the athletes’ level to understand the weight on our shoulders. It starts with football – these players spend hours in the sun in pads and helmets, and where are the coaches? Hanging out in sunglasses and ball caps, watching the boys battle heat exhaustion. Mean-
What happened to strutting the stripes of blue and gold? while soccer and golf coaches have no problem connecting with the players. In the winter, while bowling trainers model pants and polo’s, and hockey skates on, everyone else is in shambles. Basketball coaches refuse to don jerseys reserved for the faculty vs. seniors game, the swimming team can’t convince its leaders to join the Speedo parade, and the wrestling meets look like a business meeting being crashed by a costume party. Seriously, guys? What happened to strutting the stripes of blue and gold? The spring is the only season with a respectable
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Ask Schu-Daddy Senior renaissance man Tyler Schumacher answers Moeller’s most pressing issues.
Q. Bulbasaur, Charmander or Squirtle? - Fritz Josephson ‘14 A. For gaming? It depends which version you’re playing. You’ll want an advantage over the first gym leader. For reasons besides gaming? Charmander. No further explanation needed. Q. What temperature is twice as cold as zero degrees? -Henry Myers ‘14 A. Technically, “cold” isn’t a real thing. It’s a word we use to describe an absence of heat. So your question is invalid, but I see what you’re trying to do so I’ll play along. Zero degrees Fahrenheit can be converted to -17.78 degrees Celsius. Now I’ll double the magnitude of that number, giving me -35.56 degrees Celsius. Converting back to Fahrenheit, I get -32.008 degrees. Q. Describe yourself with three words. - Paul Hanna ‘14 A. Moeller’s resident daddy Q. How do you dance at a mixer? - Joe Pappalardo ‘14 A. I’m generally the guy walking around breaking up inappropriate dancing. Q. Twerk or Bernie? - Fritz Josephson ‘14 A. Both are contributing to moral degradation of society. Probably twerking, though. Q. I’m failing Honors Analysis because I keep falling asleep after my computer goes dead from too much gaming. What can I do to prolong my gaming time in class without decreasing the performance of my games? - Andy Strotman ‘14 A. I can’t officially endorse gaming, but I will say that if I were to game in Brother Lohrey’s class, I’d time it carefully. He’ll fill the whole board and then erase it, so you should game the hardest when he’s at the beginning of the board. Once you see him getting to the end, quickly write down the notes. I’d play a game you can pause. Q. What’s the creepiest thing you’ve ever seen at Moeller? - Jason Roll ‘14 A. Once I went into room 340. Words cannot describe. Q. This curly-headed senior keeps picking on me. I think his name is Quint Wilson. How do I make him stop? - Anonymous A. You can always extend an olive branch. Maybe offer to help with his next perm. Q. What is one quality a woman must have to get the Schu-Daddy? - Nick Reed ’14 A. I usually look for a pulse. Submit your questions via email at schumacher_t14@moeller.org. dress code, as volleyball and tennis join baseball in the act of understanding athletes through attire. Rugby coaches even show their spirit through those striped pullovers they stole from Australia. However, track and field has the same lack of love for the runners, and lacrosse just falls into the same category as football. The adults, who challenge students to push themselves physically, only wear outfits from The Office and Average Joe’s Gym. So please, coaches of all sports, great and small, obscure and imaginary, let your crippled, crying Crusaders know that you understand what they’re going through – shoulder those pads, snap the straps of those singlets, hike up those shorts, and finally step out onto those playing fields not as an overbearing vat of verbal abuse, but as a friend and teammate. See you in the AC tomorrow at three.
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NEWS
October 2013
Mrs. Schaffer sends cancer to 4th dimension How far we have come
The evolution of Moeller’s laptop program
Physics teacher keeps positive attitude, receives plenty of support from Moeller family Danny Bruns ‘14 Crusader News Editor Like the honey badger, Mrs. Terri Schaffer won’t let anything get in her way, especially breast cancer. Last spring, Quiroga’s lone female mentor teacher was diagnosed with cancer, but she hasn’t allowed that to interfere with her teaching. Her smiling face, sparkling attitude, and dedication to her students truly shows her love for the Moeller community, and her ability to persevere through even the hardest trials in life. Despite a grueling chemotherapy process, Mrs. Shaffer has not faltered in showing genuine care for her students. Last spring, the day before graduation, Mrs. Schaffer learned she had breast cancer, but she hasn’t let it get to her. The treatment she is going through is intense and draining. The first step of her journey toward being cancer-free was a surgery to remove her cancer. Currently, she is going through eight weeks of chemotherapy with treatments every two weeks at Bethesda North Hospital. After she is through that step, she will have one more surgery and then receive radiation treatment. She will have one radiation session a day for five straight weeks to make sure her cancer won’t return. She is on schedule to finish her treatments by Christmas. Mrs. Shaffer admits that the process really wears her down and that the drugs cause a lot of fatigue,
“The Moeller family concept has
become real to me.” - Mrs. Schaffer
but this hasn’t stopped her from teaching. Mrs. Shaffer used to be an engineer, but discovered a love for helping kids learn which drove her to join the Teachers Needed program at the University of Cincinnati. She then came to Moeller where she is currently a physics teacher. Despite having cancer, she continues to teach her students with enthusiasm and dedication. Sam Gordon, senior in Quiroga, has had her as a mentor teacher for two years now and describes her as, “the greatest; a bit like a mom to everyone. She always makes sure we get our work done.” If anything, Sam says she is actually happier this year and has a more
Moe Student Q&A
Circa 1500 BC
2000
2002
Mrs. Schaffer usually wears a Moeller golf hat or Margaritaville hat when she’s in the school building
positive attitude. Mrs. Schaffer points out that she can’t control what happens to her, but she can control her response to it, and keeping that response a positive one is her secret to staying cheerful and optimistic. Even though she has lost most of her hair, she is glad that it takes her twenty-five minutes less to get ready in the morning. She keeps her focus on humor, and on giving prayers of thanks for all the wonderful things she has in life. Prayer is a big part of Mrs. Schaffer’s life, and the thing Moeller can do to help the most is to pray. She never gets tired of people asking how she is and she has been blown away by the support Moeller has given her so far. Throughout this experience, Mrs. Schaffer says, “The Moeller family concept has become real to me.” She is happy the students treat her the same as they always have, but it seems to her as though people expect her to be sicker than she feels. She will be counting down the days until she wins the battle, and Moeller will be praying for her and her family the whole way. The Moeller family can’t hope for a better Christmas present this year than to welcome Mrs. Schaffer back after the holiday break, cancer-free and smiling as always.
Nick Reed ‘14
Q. What Spongebob character do you identify with most? A. Larry the Lobster because he is ripped, like me. Interviewed by Danny Bruns ‘14
Crusader News Editor
2006
2013
shirt and my Wal-Mart special shorts). Then I head on over to the Twist Ice Cream company where I work. There I serve up smiles by making some mean ice cream cones. Q. Which actress is your number one fan? A. You know, I really don’t know any actresses, but I’m pretty sure all the hot ones are just checking their phones every second, waiting for me to text them or something.
2004
Q. When you look in the mirror, what superhero stares back at you? A. Hulk. A lean mean angry green fighting machine!
Is that Bruno Mars singing? No, it’s Nick Reed. This Man of Moeller’s jolly grin lights up the drab hallways of our school. Is he part man, part smile? Or the other way around? Nick Reed, the shining light of Moeller, has a spirit which brings a smile to the people around him. Comedy Central videos are blocked? Just spend a minute with Nick Reed, and his comedic humor will make Key and Peele seem like a flop. Nick took a few questions from The Crusader.
Q. What is your favorite restaurant, and what do you get there? A. Golden Corral, I get everything. If you see one that went out of business it means I’ve been there.
Q. What is your typical Wednesday afternoon like? A. I scadattle out of Moeller, which is hard with all the minivan moms, and head home. When I reach home I change lickidy split into work clothes (T-
Q. What is your favorite type of birthday cake? A. Carrot cake. That way I can get my daily serving of vegetables. It has to be nice and moist though otherwise it’s a bust.
Q. What is the best part about Moeller for you? A. Brotherhood, there isn’t any other school like Moeller. I love everything about it so it’s hard to narrow it down.
Moeller has always been the forefront of high school athletics. But, contrary to popular stereotypes, we Crusaders know that our school is constantly pushing new boundaries academically – and even technologically. Since its inception in the mid-90s, the Moeller laptop system has grown to be an integral part of our academic curricula. This year, our tech-desk has moved on from Lenovo to Fujitsu, and anyone who has been graced with the privilege of playing around on one of the freshman laptops knows how awesome these things really are. “Big things are coming our way,” says wrestling coach and former head of the laptop program Jeff Gaier. “Soon, our laptops won’t even have keyboards. Entire classes will be run on machines alone.” While we still have keyboards, there’s no denying the fact that the laptop program is one of the coolest things about Moeller and something that defines our school and helps us stand out from the rest of the crowd. The timeline above shows the evolution of these high tech machines that the underclassmen have learned to love, and the upperclassmen have learned to hate. - Elijiah Proffitt ‘15
The Crusader
FEATURES
U4U makes great gains in LA gathering Non-profit students attend Fourth Estate Leadership Summit By Tyler Schumacher ‘14 Crusader Entertainment Editor In early August, a group of thirteen Moeller students from the Unified for Uganda non-profit management class and two faculty chaperones traveled to Los Angeles to attend the 2013 Fourth Estate Leadership Summit. Attendees heard speakers, most notably Jason Russell of Kony 2012 fame, speak about issues in Africa. The primary purpose of the summit as a whole was to educate and raise money for the Invisible Children program. “Invisible Children is an organization we look up to,” said Matt Shannon ’14, one of the leaders of Moeller’s Unified for Uganda program. The Moeller students, more specifically, had another goal. They were at the conference looking for ideas on how to more effectively raise funds for the school’s U4U chapter.
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John Hough holds new service opportunities By Kyle Zimmerman ‘14 Crusader Editor-in-Chief
Will Tardio ‘07, Connor Iuni ‘14, Opiyo Denis, and Mrs. Connie Ring
“As Americans, we think of Africa as something far away and separate from us” - Nick Geraci ‘14 The Moeller representatives, who are officially interns for the non-profit, were directly inspired by the story of Invisible Children. Shannon said that he feels more optimistic about the potential of Unified for Uganda, saying that he is more motivated having learned that Invisible Children came from “the same point of view as U4U” as both programs started off with relatively little funding and support. Several attendees recalled learning, above all else, that activism can have a more tangible effect on the situations of other people than they had ever imagined. Michael Shaffer ’14 said that he was most affected by the stories of activists who saw their goals for the advancement of African welfare come to fruition. Nick Geraci ’14 echoed this sentiment, saying, “As Americans, we think of Africa as something far away and separate from us, but meeting people who have made a difference there motivated us to take more action.” It was perhaps a stroke of luck that Moeller’s
opportunity to send students to a conference dealing with solutions to strife in Africa coincided with the year in which the interdisciplinary theme deals with African child soldiers. Invisible Children directly opposes Joseph Kony’s militia of kidnapped children, the Lord’s Resistance Army, so meeting people from the organization gave the summit attendees a unique perspective on the school-wide theme. The topics the U4U management students learned about are not, however, applicable only to Africa. As a matter of fact, to emphasize that point, the group intends to steer the school’s dialogue away injustice outside of Africa. “One of our duties was to plan the movie nights,” said Michael Shaffer ’14, “and our one rule was ‘No More Africa’. Africa’s problems are very real, but we need to work for peace everywhere in the world.” Shaffer went on to say that, more than anything, the theme was one of “common respect” for all people of the world. Looking toward the future, the thirteen students who attended the leadership summit hope to bring the unique experience back to the Moeller community and find ways to apply their lessons to the running of a more efficient and effective Unified for Uganda chapter. They were unanimous in their resolution. They hope to improve the program and ask that Moeller students be open to opportunities to become involved.
“Special Service Opportunity” e-mails from Mr. Brian Gilronan haven’t been popping up in inboxes this year. After six years as director of community service, Mr. Gilronan has taken on a new role as a guidance counselor for Pillar House. Mr. John Hough was hired this summer to fill Gilronan’s position as Director of Community Service. Among the newest members of the faculty, Mr. Hough brings a unique background to Pastoral Ministry. Before coming to Moeller, he spent four years studying at a Jesuit seminary exploring the possibility of priesthood. After that, Hough served three years as a parish youth minister. His vast background in service and experience in working with young people make him a great asset for students involved in service. When his wife, a Cincinnati native, was expecting their first child, the couple decided that it was time to move back to Cincinnati from Massachusetts, where he lived with his wife as she completed her master’s degree. Their daughter, Miriam, is due on November 14th. Mr. Hough, originally from Oklahoma, now lives in Finneytown. He jokes that growing up in Oklahoma is about as fun as it sounds. He is a parishioner at St. Charles Borromeo Church, also known as San Carlos, in Carthage. It is one of the city’s largest Hispanic parishes. Hough was a fluent Spanish speaker at one point in his career. He says he is “a little rusty, but the knowledge is there.” He participated in a six week intensive Spanish language immersion program in Latin America in addition to working and living at a soup kitchen in Tijuana, Mexico for four months. Hough later met his wife in Bolivia. Mr. Hough joked that it was his “coolness” that separated him from the rest of the applicants for Mr. Gilronan’s vacated position. His coolness will certainly help him adapt into the all-boys high school setting—something that is very different from the average parish environment. His goal for Pastoral Ministry this year is a simple one: Not to take a step back. “I know that doesn’t sound like a very ambitious goal, but it actually is. I really want to keep all of the great momentum created by Mr. Gilronan and students going forward into this year.”
House football’s M-block formation seeks new playbook
Players understand football league is serious business and should not be taken lightly By Gus Vogel ‘15 Crusader Staff Reporter Warriors lace up their Nike Air Balances, put on Fast Is Faster shirts, SnapChat their lady friends pics of them flexing while looking anything but manly, and prepare to go into combat. House Football has returned to Moeller, and student athletes are ready to risk their health, or worse, their perfect flow, for house points. Popularity of this game has grown tremendously over the years but one question always resurfaces. How can a sport that takes such a toll on the human body be so popular with the players? Unlike regular football, House Football players do not wear pads or helmets, which makes it even more dangerous than normal football. The use of an athletic supporter and cup became obsolete after the first year when the crotch shot block became illegal. Two of the biggest concerns that are hovering above the heads of House Football Officials are allowing players to be paid so they can buy Vineyard Vines clothing, and injuries like groin pull, stubbed toe, turf toe, and the occasional sunburn. House Football is a great opportunity for the armchair student athlete to display his lack of talent in front of empty bleachers and make new friends while having fun and gaining house points. Of course it is not all peaches and cream. As many of those who follow the NFL know (or pretend to),
there are risks to pushing one’s limits of average speed, average strength, and under-average endurance. Also, as those who follow college football know, there is a major outcry for the NCAA to pay student athletes. Well little did they know, those two issues face the H.F.L. (House Football League). Mrs. Matuszek, commissioner of the H.F.L, commented on the dangers of playing house football, saying, ‘’ Every game is monitored by a Dean or a Mentor Teacher, and Moeller football players are solicited to act as House Football refs since they know the game and can help assure safe play.” She obviously knows the dangers and has taken great precautions to make sure every student athlete is safe. The H.F.L. collects tens of dollars from these players risking their life, limb, and their money maker, their gaming finger. So how can H.F.L. just stand by and not reward these brave young men? Sure house points are something to celebrate but not enough to put one’s life in danger or worse, be laughed at by peers which surely will happen after this article is published. These student athletes should be paid. Former player Noah Flynn, even when knowing about the risks of House Football, still played the game and didn’t believe, as a student athlete, that he should have been paid for his actions. He said, “What risks? It’s House Football? And what are you
Ryland Voss ‘17 received no financial compensation for his injury
talking about, paid players? We’re in high school? You honestly believe that we should be paid? Really?” None the less, House Football players deserve to be paid. The H.F.L. has done a good job of protecting its players none the less. Many say get with the times, pull up those cargo shorts, stop making unfunny “We Got Jesus” jokes and support fellow student athletes.
Page 6
SPORTS
October 2013
Cooper Hodge is shaving legs and taking names
Sophomore standout swimmer seeks Olympic Trials and successful GCL showing By Joe Pappalardo ‘14 Crusader Managing Editor
terfly, backstroke, breaststroke, and freestyle) and the 200 meter breaststroke. The aquanaut has been thrust into the spotlight as Moeller’s swimming savior and plans to uphold the title this winter as the Moeller swim team begins practicing in the early September mornings. Hodge began swimming when he was four years old. “I tried the sport because it was just something to do during the summer,” he said. Besides swimming for Moeller, he also competed at the Cincinnati
“I tried the sport because it was just something to do during the summer” - Cooper Hodge
Cooper Hodge plunges into the pool during one of the team’s morning swim practices
The title of “Fastest in the country” isn’t just a dream for swimmers headed to the Olympic Trials. Meet Cooper Hodge, a sophomore who topped the nation in both the 200 meter individual medley (but-
Aquatic Club, and last year swam with the Nashville Aquatic Club, preventing him from winning a state championship for Ohio. He hasn’t received college offers yet, due to age restrictions, but Hodge is a well-known name out west, where the schools hammer him with letters. People may wonder how a talented swimmer slipped into Moeller’s pond. Due to other schools’ rules prohibiting athletes from simultaneously swimming for club teams, Hodge chose Moeller because its program was more flexible. The Moeller team still has a strong influence on the young swimmer. He has clearly found his niche in Moeller swimming, despite the GCL’s stereotypes.
Mr. Bohne’s secret weapon: Ben Sattler
Junior Ben Sattler helps golf team complete tremendous season By Adam Garbacik Crusader Staff Reporter He stands at 6’0” and weighs 170 pounds. He has played in many prestigious national golf tournaments, and is currently leading the Crusader golf team. Ben Sattler ‘15 had a phenomenal summer of golf. He was one of only four players from the state of Ohio to qualify for the Callaway Junior World Golf Championships in La Jolla, California, a very
“[Sattler] really pushes people to get better and make them leave it all out on the course.” highly ranked national tournament that includes some of the best young golfers from all around the world. Sattler qualified by shooting an outstanding 73 at NCR in Kettering, Ohio, one of the most difficult courses in the state. “I had some good rounds, one round under par, 71, at a qualifier in Indiana,” said Sattler. “I played in two opens, just some rounds in the mid-seventies, some average stuff, and never really got into contention.” Sattler was looked at to be a varsity player since the first day of tryouts freshman year when he posted a 73 which was incredibly impressive for all 27 trying out because nobody was anywhere near that score. He has excelled at Moeller with some of the lowest scoring averages each year. Sattler has some momentum from his outstanding summer coming into the high school season. He has been leading the team with a 74.8 scoring average, which would hold up among the top five averages in the history of Moeller golf if the trend of scores stays the same. Sattler also fired a very impressive 72 at the Hoban invitational which was hosted at Firestone country club in Akron. His score was the second lowest for the Crusaders that day and held up for the team to win the tournament by one shot. “It’s been a good season,” said Sattler. “I’ve seen some good stuff, scores have been going, putts have been falling, the team is doing well this year, and I’ve been able to feed off that, keep getting pushed
and playing good.” Sattler doesn’t only shine with his own personal scores; he is also an amazing team leader. “He really pushes people to get better and make them leave it all out on the course.” said varsity starter Nick Gruber. A fair amount of Moeller’s success can be attributed to Sattler. Not only his scores are helping, but his leadership has helped to attain three victories and four team runners-up. He may be considered the next Andrew Dorn by some, but we will have to wait and see how the remainder of the season ends up for one of Moeller golf’s key assets. Ben helped the Moeller on its quest for a state championship on October 18-19 at Ohio State University. With the rainy, cold weather conditions causing an increaein the team’s score, the golf team finished fifth at the state golf tournament. After the team had a disappointing Friday round leaving them in eighth place, the golfing Crusaders rallied with the second lowest score of the day to finish fifth overall. This is the seventh time in 12 years that the team has finished in the top five in the state of Ohio.
Cooper Hodge (left) joined Kevin George ‘15 (middle) and Greg Nymberg ‘14 as All-Americans last season
Hodge is quite humble, saying, “I don’t consider myself near the best,” he said. He looks up to Sean Schwab ’14 and Aidan Murray ’14, seniors now in their fourth years with the program. Last year he made a serious effort to support the team, though he wasn’t able to participate. Despite the fact that his family had moved to Tennessee, Hodge came and cheered on the Crusaders during the Southwest Ohio Classic. This year he’s back in Ohio and ready to dominate. “He will be a positive addition to the team,” said senior swimmer Tory Worobetz. The underclassman looks to be swimming at his college of choice in three years and hopes to place in the top eight at the Olympic trials. Expect great things in the future for Moeller’s not-so-secret weapon, the Hodge harpoon.
MOE Tweets
Michael Hayes @Guns_a_Hayezen “Skipped leg day again #YOLO #Gymprobz” Rick Bohne @RickyBee “The ole TV only went out 9 times today! #improvement ” John Ward @New_Guidance_Counselor123 “Tryna cop me them new Jordans! #KOTD #SneakerHead #JsOnMyFeet” D-Wills @dwillsclass2013 “#Dwillsjuniors finish Lord of the Flies for Tuesday. Big test next Monday” Dan Dever @DoubleD “Just found an awesome inspirational video! #Turndownforwhat #ropeoflife” Jason Schlotman @Captainschlotty “What does the fox say?” Russ Pinkerton @PinkDawg “Thinking about going all Walter White and screwing around with meth. idk” Freshmen Moms @MoellerMoms “Dont forget to park in a line by All Saints everyday this year! #safety #efficiency”
Sattler dusts off his 7-iron for a 130 yard tee shot
John Hough @Hough_Daddy “This goatee makes me infinitely cooler than all of you. #SWAG #sorrynotsorry” Sam Hubbard @SamHubbard24 “Urban Meyer is my second dad”
The Crusader
Moeller alumni reach their football dreams Recent graduates make an impact on the gridiron this season By Eric Maus ‘14 Crusader Assistant Sports Editor This college football season, quite a few Moeller alumni have accomplished their dream of playing Division 1 football, and they have been representing their new schools on Saturdays this fall. Many young boys dream of one day putting on their favorite college football team’s jersey and playing in front of thousands of screaming fans. For most, the older they get, the more they realize their dream will not become a reality. For Moeller class of 2013 graduates Shane Jones, Alex Gall, Keith Watkins, Kaleb Nypaver and Keith Rucker, their dreams have been accomplished as they have begun practicing with new teams. For others with some college
“Moeller football prepared me pretty well for what to expect in college” - Alex Gall ‘13 experience like Marcus Rush, Monty Madaris, John Tanner, Jesse Hayes, Andrew Hendrix, and Charlie Fiessinger, they will be hoping to make an impact on the field this season. Shane Jones ‘13 is expected to see significant time for the Michigan State Spartans this season as an outside linebacker. Shane was a focal point of the Crusader defense in 2012 and was ranked inside the ESPN 300 as a 4-star linebacker. Shane will join Moeller alumni Monty Madaris and Marcus Rush on the Spartans roster. Alex Gall, a teammate of Jones’s at Moeller and rated as 3-star recruit by ESPN, will play his college football at the University of Miami in Florida. Gall will play on the Hurricanes offensive line, but is expected to redshirt this season. On the transition from high school football to college football, Gall said, “Moeller football prepared me pretty well for what to expect in college, but the biggest difference has been adjusting to the speed of the game.” Keith Watkins, running back on last year’s state
Page 7
SPORTS
Photo Courtesy of Joseph Fuqua
Fall Sports by the Numbers 38-17-1
Moeller’s al time record against St. X
36.8
Number of points Moeller’s offense averages per game
18.3
Number of points Moeller’s defense allows per game
Shane Jones ‘13 and Keith Watkins ‘13 celebrating Moeller’s state championship victory last season.
championship team, is attending Northwestern this season. Keith has made a position change to cornerback for the Wildcats and, like Gall, he is being redshirted this season. Watkins’s high school teammate, Kaleb Nypaver is attending Air Force where he will be playing linebacker and Keith Rucker will be playing tight end at Georgia State. Players with experience at the college level include Marcus Rush ‘10, a redshirted junior defensive end for Michigan State who was named to the Nagurski preseason award watch list, which is awarded to the best defensive player in college football. Marcus’ teammate Monty Madaris ‘12 is a redshirt freshman this season and he is competing for playing time at receiver. John Tanner ‘12 is playing tight end for the Ohio University Bobcats. His former teammate Jesse Hayes ’11 is playing football at the University of Wisconsin where he is listed as an outside linebacker. Andrew Hendrix ’10 and Charlie Fiessinger ‘11 are at Notre Dame where they are backups to quarterback Tommy Rees. All of these Moeller alumni will look to make their colleges proud in the near future, if not this year, and hopefully achieve the ultimate goal of one day playing in the NFL.
12
Games dating back to last season that Moeller has won in a row
14
Moeller’s national rank according to maxpreps.com
29
Sam Hubbard’s state rank according to www.rivals.com
6
number of offers Junior Elijah Taylor has according to recruiting.scout.com
71.4
Sophomore Matthew Couglins field goal percentage
3
Numer of interceptions Will Merchurio has this season, tied for first in the GCL
Moeller Alumni by College Michigan State University Marcus Rush ‘10 Monty Madaris ‘12 Shane Jones ‘13
University of Notre Dame Andrew Hendrix ‘10 Charlie Fiessinger ‘11
University of Miami Alex Gall ‘13
Northwestern University Keith Watkins ‘13
Ohio University John Tanner ‘12
University of Wisconson Jesse Hayes ‘11
U.S. Air Force Academy Kaleb Nypaver ‘13
Georgia State University Keith Rucker ’13
Locations of colleges where Moeller alumni are currently playing.
Gall brothers transition to new levels of football
Alex and Jacob Gall are looking to help their new teams this season By Eric Maus ‘14 Crusader Assistant Sports Editor Very few high school underclassmen are given the opportunity to play for Moeller’s varsity football team. This season, Moeller has a freshman on the roster for the second year in a row. Jacob Gall ’17 is one of only nine underclassmen on the roster of 84 players. and only the second freshman in two years to play varsity football at Moeller along with Jake Hausmann ’16, who played last year. Jacob Gall is playing on the offensive line this season. He is looking to take full advantage of the fact that he will be playing four years of varsity football compared to most kids who only play two.
“It’s a big opportunity for me to get good experience and become better as player,” said Jacob, who will be looking to follow in the footsteps of his brother. Alex Gall ’13, Jacobs’s older brother, is also working on transitioning to a new game. He is a member of the University of Miami (FL) football team where he plays on the offensive line. “I am now competing with the best of the best from every school across the country,” said Alex, “and these guys are also a lot more mature physically.” He also went on to say, “The biggest thing I need to work on is my strength so I will be able to compete.” When jumping to a new level of football, transitioning is necessary. “Going from playing 14-year old kids to 18-year old men has been a big strength
Jacob Gall ‘17 (left)
Alex Gall ‘13 (right)
and skill adjustment,” said Jacob. When he needs advice for football, het urns to Alex. Jacob said the most important thing his brother told him was, “Play hard and play through the whistle.” Jacob will look to live up to his brother’s success and possibly surpass it. “I’ll continue working on my technique and strength, and I’ll keep getting advice from Alex.” The Gall brothers are both expected to do big things in the near future.
ENTERTAINMENT
Page 8
October 2013
Mr. Girard pens ingeniously high concept novel Gut-punching page-turner keeps student and adult readers vigilant By Quincy Williams ‘14 Crusader Staff Reporter Cain’s Blood, the fifth publication from Geoffrey Girard, is a gut-punching page turner that keeps readers constantly vigilant for the next plot twist. The cloning of America’s most contemptible serial killers as teenagers in a near future setting makes for an enthralling and macabre read. Shawn Castillo is an endearing, if slightly deranged, former special-operations soldier who is called out of retirement for an assignment that makes the labors of Hercules seem like a round of Words with Friends. Castillo’s moral struggles throughout the novel lead to him questioning dabbling in genetic science, especially with the DNA of deceased, and in one case alive, serial killers. Girard succeeds in crafting an ingeniously high concept novel; however, the fresh concepts are smothered by the same hackneyed character tropes that plague modern science fiction. Dynamic Solutions Technology Institute (DSTI), or rather its main contributor, Dr. Gregory Jacobson, functions as the Victor Frankenstein of Cain’s Blood. Jacobson leads a crusade to find out if our ancestors are a barometer of our own destinies, or in other words, if people are based on some predetermined genetic code. He seeks to obtain this information by taking DNA of the most infamous serial killers in American history and recreating them as children. Jacobson creates a veritable murderers’ row: Jeffrey Dahmer, Ted Bundy, John Wayne Gacy, and David Berkowitz as well as many more. He chooses not only the most prolific serial killers, but also the most sadistic. One of Jacobson’s pet projects is a Jeffrey Dahmer clone who he, himself, raises in his home. These children are placed in “nature” or “nurture” homes, and are either subjected to abuse by violent, disparaging parents or are nurtured by supportive parents. This is the chaotic, confounding situation that Shawn Castillo is unceremoniously tossed into. Seven of the former charges of DSTO, and its subsidiary school for boys, The Massey Institute, have gone on a murderous rampage inside the complex and escaped the grounds. Also having strangely disappeared is Jacobson, the architect of the whole fiasco. Castillo’s task, as assigned to him by Colonel Stanforth and Doctor Erdman (wink wink), is to kill, or at the very least obtain these murderous adolescents before the American populace learns the truth. However, this incredibly twisted plot becomes even more twisted when Dr. Jacobson provides the boys with a list of other similarly inclined murderous psychopaths placed all throughout America by DSTI. But wait, the plot thickens when it is revealed that Dr. Jacobson has given his progeny a chemical that makes anyone exposed to it a raving zombie. Castillo starts searching where any logical investigator would: the house and inner sanctums of Dr. Jacobson. While tossing the house Castillo discovers Jacobson’s adopted son, Jeffrey Jacobson, who has the biological make up of Jeffrey Dahmer.
They join together in order to find Dr. Jacobson and the rest of his motley crew. What ensues is a frenetic cross-country chase that involves Castillo and Jeffrey pursuing the roving band of lunatics’ killing spree. Scene after sickening scene is described in gruesome detail as the clones become increasingly violent and sadistic. A particularly hair-raising scene occurs when Jeffrey Williford, another Jeffrey Dahmer clone who has been raised in an abusive home, meets Jeffrey Jacobson, who has been raised in a nurturing environment. A showdown between Castillo, Dr. Jacobson, and Dr. Jacobson’s creations eventually occurs in a remote location called Winter Quarters in Utah. Just when it seems that Castillo will avenge the deaths that Jacobson and the clones have inflicted upon society, a shadowy “super soldier” appears, seemingly out of thin air and kills Dr. Jacobson. This super soldier and other similar incarnations are sent by Colonel Stanforth and Dr. Erdman to destroy the clones, and when Castillo ceases to be essential, Castillo. The shadowy super soldiers destroy all of the clones except for Jeffrey Jacobson. There is a contrived meeting with the masterminds behind this disaster (Erdman and Stanforth), in which Castillo uses the toxin that Dr. Jacobson created to kill everyone in the room. Castillo, Kristin Romano and Jeffrey Jacobson are living happily in a doomsday prepper’s compound when the novel draws to a close.
ROTTEN TOMATOES Staff reporter Quincy Williams watches awful movies so you don’t have to.
The Lone Ranger
The Blindside
Sons of Anarchy
Cain’s Blood by Geoffrey Girard Touchstone 352 pages, $17.58
Girard does an incredible job of applying modern science to Cain’s Blood. The explanations that he uses are very plausible, and it is clear that he undertook a great deal of research before writing this novel. However, the reader’s willful suspension of disbelief is tested unnecessarily by the omnipotent shadowy force that is revealed in the book’s second half. This shadowy force basically annihilates anything in its path. and unexpected intervention of some new event, character, ability, or object. Castillo is mainly a caricature that anyone conscious of science fiction in the past 20 to 30 years will recognize. There is also the obligatory romantic story line that feels tedious and unnecessary. Kristin Romano is Castillo’s former psychiatrist who had romantic involvements with him that never panned out. Romano is primarily used as a didactic tool to share facts with the reader about sociopaths and psychopaths. This relationship once again hearkens back to other examples in literature and film, yet this relationship feels flimsy and immaterial in the novel. The areas where Girard succeeds are in framing a narrative that is indubitably gripping, however, painting a picture inside that frame with dynamic and inventive characters is where his story is lacking.
MOE Culture
The Kite Runner
Man of Steel
Doppelgangers *
Fritz Josephson ‘14
Beau Wiles ‘17
Jimmy Parchman ‘17
Tyler Schumacher ‘14
Quincy Williams ‘14
James Harper ‘15
Ryan Frank ‘15 Don’t know
Worst place you’ve woken up?
The Tube in London
In home-ec with my face in spaghetti
My hot tub
Georgia
Morrow’s basement
One word for your time at Moeller?
Senor Benedetti’s classroom
jazzy
fun
amazing
fast
penumbra
boom
Hottest classroom at Moeller?
Mr. Tull’s room
Mrs. Ring’s room
322 with Mr. Bohne
Mr. Ward’s room
Worst laptop feature?
Touch screen
Automatic screen saver
Favorite bathroom at Moeller?
Second floor, new wing
First floor across from the gym
Mr. Delgado’s room
Touch screen Second floor, new wing
Shuts off randomly Google is blocked Second floor, new wing
Visitor’s locker room
Mr. Kindt’s room Forced screensaver Second floor
Luke Bowles ‘17 My own bathroom floor
fun
exciting
330 with Mr. Campbell
Mr. Girard’s room
Windows 7 lock
Having to sign in all the time
First floor across from athletic office
First floor by gym
*Doppelganger: (noun) a person or thing that looks like or closely resembles another