May Issue by The Correspondent

The

Vo l u m e 4 5

orrespondent J o h n

H e r s e y

1900 E. Thomas St.,

H i g h

S c h o o l

Arlington Heights, IL 60004

May 17, 2013

Issue 10 @Hersey_Corre @JHHSCorre

Hersey Stats

2,044 students 228 staff members

56 activities 30 sports Average AP Score:

3.7 Graduation rate: 97.3% t"-- 45"54 "$$03%*/( 50 /&848&&, "/% 5)& 8"4)*/(50/ 1045

Page 2 Students run in memory

Page 6-7 Summer brings top activities

Page 10 Hidden ‘Oasis’ enlightens

Students and staff piece together successful puzzle Jessica Lynk

Senior Mary Sobzcak has had a busy couple of weeks. Sobzcak is in five AP classes, but is taking seven AP tests. “I’m paying for school myself, and I am planning on going to law school, so by taking so many I’m getting all my gen eds. out of the way,” Sobzcak said. Students like Sobzcak have not only helped themselves, but the school by earning top rankings. This year this school was ranked as the second most challenging public school in the state by The Washington Post and rated sixth best public school by the U.S. News & World Report. It ranked at the top of all district 214 schools in The Washington Post’s review and fell one place behind Prospect according to U.S. News & World Report. The Washington Post’s review is based solely on Advanced Placement participation, while the U.S. News & World Report ranks schools by college readiness, Advanced Placement performance, and academic performance among minorities. Most students felt the ratings were well deserved. “I definitely think Hersey deserves such an amazing ranking. There is no question that the Hersey administration, division heads, teachers and students work tirelessly year round. This ranking is a great way to show the Hersey community that our hard work pays off, and to serve as motivation for years to come,” senior Lauren Nagle said. Although these ranking show success, they do not show all sides of success. “All of these media based

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school surveys have limitations. deflated the ranking may JESSICA LYNK They only get part of the story. That have been the graduadoes not make them insignificant. tion rate that they have, It simply makes you use them as which is stated as a 91 percent. pieces in a picture, not the entire On The Washington’s Post’s picture.” Principal Gordon Sisson review our graduation rate is 97.3 said. percent. Many who have analyzed The rankings are prestigious the numbers believe that the Career but have many factors that can vary Life Skills program, which allows the results. According to the Direc- students to graduate when they are tor of Research and Evaluation 21, has skewed Newsweek’s review. for District 214, Steve CordoThe difference between this gan, The Washington Post’s reschool and others in this review view is the most ac“It simply makes and others is that it has curate because it is the most growth. you use them the most narrow. It “Hersey is noted as is based off of particithroughout America for pieces in pation, not on scores, student growth, which a picture, so it does not completeis not a part of any of not the entire ly represent a school. these assessment tools. picture.” The U.S. News A student that has an & Report attempts - Principal Gordon Sisson ACT score of 20 and to take in a bunch of started at a 12 is an factors, which can create inacincredible story. This is repeated curate data and skewed results. over and over in this building,” “When you look at Hersey, Sisson said. in terms of participation, it’s outDivision head of English and standing, but if you look at the Fine Arts Charles Venegoni has scores of Hersey, it is even better. spent time analyzing the growth Participation shows you push stu- of this school versus others. When dents, but scores show how well the looking at the national average of school is doing at preparing,” Cor- growth, other schools have a 27 dogan said. percent growth rate, where as this Although flaws in the system school has a 47 percent growth makes the rating seem less cred- rate. ible, this school is consistently “Hersey is a rare school behighly rated. cause students across the board, no “It’s one thing if these stud- matter where they enter, grow at ies have flaws individually, but we the same rate,” Venegoni said. “We seem to rise above them and place put equal attention on everyone, so high in every study,” Cordogan everyone grows equally.” said. The curriculum here was put Newsweek released their Best in place to make sure all students High School list and this school grow from their entry rate. The rewas ranked 322 in the nation. It did views do not take into account this not place in the top 25 of the state. growth rate. Many factors lead to the lower rat“When you just look at the exit ing. score, you miss so much,” VenegoOne of the major factors that ni said. tCONTINUED ON PAGE 5HREE

News

Th e C o r r e s p o n d e n t

NEWS YOU NEED TO KNOW Hostages in Ohio freed after ten years An Ohio resident found a lady yelling for help on May 6. The resident rescued Amanda Berry, who had been missing for a decade and her 6-year-old daughter. “It’s an insane story, how can someone for so long be held captive without anyone knowing?”sophomore William Trossen said. Later, police also found long time missing Georgina DeJesus and Michelle Knight. Authorities later arrested 52-year-old Ariel Castro, 54-year-old Pedro Castro, and 50-year-old Onil Castro. Neighbors claimed they had absolutely no clue that Castro was holding these women captive. t TIM GRIFFIN

State’s legalization of gay marriage signals progress

t GLEN STUBBE/MINNEAPOLIS STAR TRIBUNE/MCT innesota Governor Mark Dayton signed the same sex bill on May 14. It followed many states and became the 12th state to legalized gay marriage. With Minnesota becoming the 12th state to legalize same-sex marriage, following the example set by Delaware, New York, Rhode Island, and Washington, it seems that the oft-championed movement is finally meeting success in its pursuit of equal rights. “I’m really happy to have been born in this generation. With three states allowing samesex marriage in such a short time, the trend is one of progress and positive change, and equality is spreading faster and faster. It’s exciting and inspiring, and I can’t wait for Illinois to be a part of that,” junior Russ Bartlett said. Minnesota followed in Delaware’s footsteps last Tuesday. Their own proposition to legalize same-sex marriage has passed the House and the Senate.

tMELANIE COHODES

M a y 17, 2 013

Students remember in Sunday events Isabella Murray

did,” junior Morgan Harris said. The run also The second annual 5k helps support run/walk will be held in people battling dehonor of former student pression. “Talk, Gina Giancola by the Gina walk, run, you are Giancola SAFE foundanot alone. Get the tion will be held this Sunstigma out behind day. the word suicide. It Starting at Thomas is a sensitive topic Middle School at 8 a.m., which needs to be the registration for the discussed openly race closes tonight at 11:59 by everyone. There p.m. with a registration fee is always someone of $25. That same Sunday there to help and the second annual flower talk to,” Gierman sale will be held here from said. 1 to 4 p.m. in honor of t COURTESY OF GINA GIANCOLA The flower former student and Corsale is organized respondent member Shea he annual Gina Giancola SAFE Foundation run will take place by The CorresponAnderluh. on May 19. Students, adults, and the community will come dent, specifically The SAFE Founda- together to shed light on former student Gina Giancola junior Jessica Lynk tion stands for Suicide helping coordinate and obtaining and adviser JaAwareness For Everyone. The purpose of the foundation is to sponsors for the back of the t-shirts net Levin. The proceeds go to the support children, educate people, to help defray the costs of them. I Shea Anderluh convention fund, a help break the stigma around sui- also help coordinating volunteers fund that supports the convention cide and depression and encourage for the day of the race and help get trips taken by journalism students. the word out about the Gina run to “We decided to set up a convention children to seek help. The Giancola family came up not only Hersey, but also the com- fund because that was one of Shea’s fondest memories, and we thought with the name and foundation. The munity,” Gierman said. This race means a lot for many she would like to give people the foundation awards a scholarship in Gina’s memory to deserving ap- of Giancola’s friends and family. “I opportunity to experience it year plicants, supported LOSS (Loving hope this race will convince people to year,” Lynk said. Not only can people buy flowOutreach to Survivors of Suicide) to want to choose life, that suicide in 2012 and this year, in addition, is not the answer. Someone stopped ers to take home, they can donate they will support Erika’s Light- one day to say, ‘Because of what flowers to plant at Hersey “Ms. Levin and I decided to do house, an organization that focuses happened to Gina I recognized my friend was in trouble and I called the sale last year because we wanted on depression awareness. The SAFE foundation is not and got them help,” sister Domeni- to think of a way to raise money for a good friend, Shea, but also better the only contributor to the race. ca Giancola, Class of 2010, said. “I encourage people to run the the community because Shea was The Giancola family, the Gierman family, English teacher Jim Miks, race because it’s a great way to keep not an “all about her” kind of perOfficer Hamrick, St. Viator parent Gina, who was a great friend to ev- son. We figured a plant sale would Tony Petrillo, and families from eryone, in our thoughts. Also, the be a grand idea because we could Stevenson also helped in planning money raised is put toward helping spread the beauty of Shea with the it, as well as juniors Megan Brant other troubled people and can help flowers, better the school, and raise prevent others from experiencing money,” Lynk said. and Lauren Gierman. “My role in the Gina race is the tragedy that our community

Sophomore snags silver at state for writing Brian Loomis to do what he Sophomore Brian Boyle placed second at the state journalism contest at Eastern Illinois University on April 26. Boyle’s success capped off a series of awards and recognition for this year’s Correspondent staff. “I knew I could be a contender, but I still didn’t really expect my name to be called during the awards ceremony,” Boyle said. Boyle had qualified for state following his second place finish at sectionals. “I knew state would be much more difficult to do well in,” Boyle added. As for the source of Boyle’s inspiration to write reviews he credits the professional press, in conjunction with the Correspondent staff, even though he had no intention of being a review writer when he joined the newspaper. “I’ve been reading professional reviews by Roger Ebert, or Richard Roeper, and the Herald’s Dan Gire for as long as I can remember, but it wasn’t until I started writing reviews that I realized this is what I love. They are the people who inspired me,” Boyle said. And although his readers benefit from his reviews, he sees his writing as an outlet and an excuse

loves. “I love movies, and I love talking about movies, and I love reading about movies, and I love writing about movies,” Boyle added. Yet his reviewing abilities have not he Correspondent staff poses with their first place secbeen limited tional plaque. This was the first time the staff has ever at just movies, won sectionals. contests such conference at the College of Duas state may have students reviewing art, music, Page on April 12. The staff also placed third or comedy (this year’s prompt). As overall in the Illinois Journalism for next year’s competition, Boyle Education Association’s Division hopes to further pursue excellence three for best overall newspaper. in his quest to claim the top spot, The Correspondent had three and he is certainly on the right first place finishes in this contest: track. Jack Hargett in information graph“Ranking second only adds to ic, as a staff for the newspaper’s my inner OCD, now that I know where I place, next year I’m going website, and first for multimedia to try to take it to the next step and package. “We work really hard, and it is get that state title,” Boyle said. nice to be recognized for the hours Boyle hasn’t been the only that we put into producing each issuccess on The Correspondent sue,” junior Jessica Lynk said. however, the newspaper won their The Correspondent is looking sectional, and also won received a to further pursue awards this comsilver certificate at the Northern Iling year with the new staff. linois Scholastic Press Association

News Teachers leave behind legacy Students comment on ratings Janu, Davis, Dassonville depart Th e C o r r e s p o n d e n t

M a y 17, 2 013

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The ranking can be seen two ways for some. “I think that the school has high standards that some students may not be able to meet. It could make students give up quicker, or lose motivation, but it [the rating] also could go the other way, it could give motivation and look good for colleges,” sophomore Kali Tansor said. On the other hand, many students feel that only benefits can result from these high rankings. “It sets a prestige for the school and its graduates, saying that you go to or graduated from Hersey would leave a better impression on a person’s mind, such as saying that you are a Harvard grad. Colleges would take Hersey’s rank into account,” senior Valmik Patel said. Patel added that many factors do support that this school is one of the elite. “Hersey does an excellent job in preparing students for college, ranging from the ACT to the ideals and policies set out in AP classes. What makes this possible is that the teaching staff is overly qualified, dedicated, and actually passionate about their roles. I haven’t met a teacher yet that teaches only for money or only a stable job,” Patel said.

Others like this preparation but find it to be challenging at times. “The classes really challenge you, and the teachers encourage you to push yourself. In some ways, I like it because it will help us in the future, but I also don’t like it because it takes a lot of effort to keep my GPA where I want it,” junior Kelsey Macke said. “I think it’s good that they try to push us so we can do our best, but sometimes I think the stress i s too much,” freshman Morgan Buckley said. Others do not see this school as so challenging. “I think its pretty easy to succeed at Hersey. The only way to fail a class is to actually try and fail like by not turning in everything and turning in blank tests,” junior Aije Matthew said. Sisson believes that students do not even feel the challenging part of this school. “Some kids love AP classes. To some kids, it is their variety basketball, their water polo. They love it.” The award shows how much students can achieve here. “If students want to be the best they can be, they have that opportunity here,” Sisson said.

Mili Pandya With the end of each school year, the faculty, staff, and students are forced to say goodbye. Goodbye to the hallways for the summer, goodbye to the graduating seniors, and also goodbye to the teachers who will not be returning the following year. The teachers leaving at the end of this year include social science teacher Bruce Janu, who will now be teaching at Elk Grove High School. “I am someone who thrives on change. I love it here at Hersey--love the people here and the students. I’ve been here for 14 years and, as I move into the last third of my teaching career, thought a change would be good for me. I see it as a challenge; going out of my comfort zone,” Janu said. Of the many things he does, Janu is most known around school for the countless forums he facilitates throughout the year. Incorporating his love for movie making, Janu’s forums have kept students entertained and engaged. “I think his forums are great because he makes it interesting and does things you wouldn’t expect; he’s really creative,” sophomore Ashley Johnstone said. “I love the forums and the opportunity that I have had to interact with students all over the building, not just in my classes,” Janu said.

Other teachers leaving include math teacher Terry Davis, who will be retiring after 32 years of teaching here. “This is a profession that is about people, and I will definitely miss the people. I will miss the energy that comes with working with young and optimistic students,” Davis said. “Mrs. Davis helped me understand math a lot better and was overall just a really great teacher,” sophomore Emily McCluskey said. English teacher Dale Dassonville will also be retiring after 11 years of teaching here. Prior to that he taught at Buffalo Grove High School. When walking by his room during passing periods, students may often hear live music streaming out from his guitar. “Whenever he plays his guitar during class, it brightens my day and makes me happy,” sophomore Sean Prior said. “I’ve enjoyed every aspect of the experience, from collaborating with my colleagues to teaching so many wonderful kids,” Dassonville said. “I’ve enjoyed every aspect of the experience, but I will miss most the friendliness and dedication of the administration, staff, and students. I hope you all realize what a rare gem Hersey is,” Dassonville said.

Opinions

M a y 17, 2 013

Staff Hersey’s a treasure S peaks by any measure

With the news spreading of the Washington Post’s extremely high ranking of this little beige school, the true benefits of this school are becoming apparent. Students have the opportunity to attend a school that’s both great and affordable- and they need to take advantage of that fact. So when the next Swap-O day comes around, try taking that AP class. When students hear about anew club, give it a try. Taking these classes in high school, and then passing the AP test for credit, takes away burden in college and can save hundreds or even thousands of dollars off tuition. AP classes are a renowned perk of this school system, and the main basis for the high ranking by the Washington Post. With choices like AP Economics (Macro and Micro), AP Human Geography, and AP Calculus, there’s an AP course for everyone. The incredible teaching staff, the wide range of extra-curricular activities, the many AP classes, and the dedication of the school ensures that every student has the ability to take advantage of these chances and that students are well prepared for college and benefit from these great opportunities. This school also offers an incredible range of extra curricular activities. Our teams, both athletic and academic, have competed at both state and national levels.

t s Ju Fads could be pretty bad ISABELLA MURRAY I feel like every few weeks a new trendy viewpoint emerges, either from the internet community or mutual feelings of students. The trends usually fade and are mostly mocked, like the ‘hipster’ or ‘emo’ trends, but some trends, like the current wave of feminism and human rights, are more of a heavy topic. Throughout the past months, equality and human rights have been a frequent subject of blogs and websites, and I’m noticing the gap between people who actually care about the issues and people who regard them as a passing trend. It really doesn’t matter if students care about the topic or not. It’s good that students are interested about important matters, but it would be more helpful if they became informed about the issues instead of just throwing out the fact that they care about them to seem up to date. Just sayin’.

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Hersey: Class of Opportunity

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While some students may complain of the recent hikes in the ‘pay-to-play’ system, there is a waiver if students truly aren’t able to cover the costs. The costs may seem steep, but the experience gained from joining an activity or the teamwork from playing a varsity sport are invaluable and will stay with students for lifetimes. Join a sport. Give speech a try. Audition for choir. Take advantage of all this school has to offer.

’ n i y a S Student advises on sun safety COLETTE TANGNEY As the weather warms up and the sun comes out, many girls take every opportunity they get to go outside. Students should take into consideration that every time they cover themselves in oil and lay out in the blazing sun, they are at risk from UV radiation. Many students forget that skin cancer is the most common cancer in the world. Students also need to remember that the more tanning they do, the more wrinkles they will get as they age. I’m not saying that students should not be tanning. I just suggest students should choose tanning products with protection and to shorten the time they spend tanning. Also, it is important that students check if they have any body abnormalities shown on the skin. Just sayin’.

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City offers unique opportunities I’ve written about the cures to summer boredom before, and I still stand by the idea that there is always something in which to engage and opportunities to be taken advantage of by the youths of this generation. While the suburbs are great and there’s a multitude of ways to have a fun filled summer there, it can’t be ignored that there is a den of endless possibility not all that far away from the school community. The city of Chicago is the ultimate center for culture, excitement, and endless entertainment. Students should count themselves blessed to live where they can get to the Windy City in a mere 40 minutes or less. With a beautiful lake and a number of beaches at which to relax and play, countless theaters with top notch live acting performances, and all the different arrays of foods and cuisines on which to dine or snack, the city seems more like a dream rather than a real place. It is often said that the city is pointless for those under the age of 21, and all I can say to that is poppycock! While young adults seem to be the ones who gather and flourish in urban metropolises, I’ve already laid out a few of the plentiful things for high school students to do. Millennium Park is a beautiful location for sight seeing and leisurely strolls, as well as for watching street performers and listening to great music. Museums like the Field Museum and the Shedd Aquarium can provide wonder and awe for those who relish what the natural world has to offer. Not to mention, Lollapalooza in August is one of the greatest music festivals the world knows. I’m sure most people don’t need me to tell them what to do in the city, but the point is that if action heights is becoming a little redundant for some, Chi-city has its arms wide open for the young thrill seeker. Hey students, be blown away by the windy cities infinite possibilities.

Nick Diaz Th e C o r r e s p o n d e n t is published 10 times a year by the journalism students of John Hersey High School, 1900 East Thomas Street, Arlington Heights, Illinois 60004. Subscription rate is $15 a year. Call for advertising rates. Phone (847) 718-4945. The Correspondent welcomes a free exchange of ideas. Letters to the editor may be sent to correspondent@d214.org. Because school officials do not engage in prior review, and the content of The Correspondent is determined by, and reflects only the views of the student staff and not school officials or the school itself, its student editorial board and responsible student staff members assume complete legal and financial liability for the content of the publication. The Correspondent will not publish any material determined by student editors or the student editorial board to be unprotected, that is, material that is libelous, obscene, materially disruptive to the educational process, and unwarranted invasion of privacy, a violation of copyright or a promotion of products or services unlawful (illegal) as to minors as defined by state or federal law. All unsigned editorial area the opinion of The Correspondent staff. Materials in this newspaper are the property of The Correspondent 2012-2013. The Correspondent is a member of numerous press associations. Some material courtesy of American Society of Newspaper Editors/KRT Campus High School Newspaper Service. Two thousand copies are made each issue to be distributed to students during their second hour classes. Two hundred are printed and mailed to subscribing parents. Editors-in-Chief Brian Loomis Jessica Lynk

Tim Griffin Matt Stadnicki

News Editors

Opinion Editors

Managing Editor

In-Depth Editors

Feature Editors

Entertainment Editors

Francesca Hernandez

Jackson Hargett

Editorial Board

Brian Boyle Nicole Cecala Miranda Fanella Mackenzie Francis Isabella Murray Mili Pandya

Copy Editor

Melanie Cohodes

Kenzie Killam Caitlin Strozewski

Ross Campbell Dino Ljubijankic

Julia Kedzior Ariel Ramirez

Photographer

Rose Katz Colette Tangney

Adviser

Sports Editors Scott Bakal Michael Miller

Janet Barker Levin MJE

Th e C o r r e s p o n d e n t

In-‐Depth

M a y 17, 2 013

STUDENTS PSYCHED FOR SUMMER Students ‘check out’ online stores Miranda Fanella chase accessories or apparel unique With summer approaching and the weather changing, summer clothes shopping is on the minds of many students. On the other hand, transportation to Woodfield or other shopping centers can be problematic for students without drivers licences or whose parents aren’t willing to drive them. Students may also feel pressure to purchase an item after traveling out to the store. Fortunately, online stores are just as sustainable, if not more so, and are twice as accessible as stores themselves. As seen in the poll, American Eagle and Urban Outfitters are considered the most popular online stores among students. “Both [American Eagle and Urban Outfitters] have unique styles of clothing, and they always have the latest trends,” sophomore Myca Bautista said. Not only are online stores easily accessible, they also often offer online exclusives and special deals only available online. American Eagle online in particular has a whole section devoted to web exclusives. This allows students to pur-

from that of other students who are shopping in-stores. “It’s easier to find products online because it’s hard to find certain clothing pieces in big stores, but online you can see each individual piece and what it looks like,” freshman Annie McGrath said. American Eagle is a hot outlet currently for students, often making its stores overcrowded. The outfits modeled on often disproportional mannequins can cause misconceptions on how an outfit will fit, creating huge lines in fitting rooms. Online shopping websites allow shoppers to eliminate the overwhelming and rushed feeling of crowds seen in stores. “[Online stores are] better because they’re more organized and you’re less pressured to buy because you’re not with friends,” sophomore Ashley Johnstone said. American Eagle is one of few online stores with others including Urban Outfitters, ModCloth, ASOS, Etsy, Shopbop, and Dimepiece. The American Eagle and Urban Outfitters websites are easy to navigate by students and can cut down on that summer shopping time crunch and pressure.

t$OUTESY OF $HICAGO BEACHES n a recent poll of students, the beach was rated the favorite day trip. Beaches like Ohio street Beach, Wilmette Beach, and Illinois Beach State Park.

Beaches beat out boring daytrips Tim Griffin popular destination. Ohio Street The beach is always a viable selection for a day trip. Refreshing water, scorching sand, and a beautiful sun to bathe in has teenagers scrambling to the nearest beach in the Chicagoland area. Illinois may not be near an ocean, but still has waterfronts just as magnificent as California beaches. Northwest Illinois contains plenty of beaches that are excellent for families and friends. Ohio Street Beach in Chicago is a very

not only gives people the option of laying and catching some sun, but also exploring the stores and shops of Chicago only a few blocks away. Another attractive beach is Illinois Beach State Park. Although its in Zion, the beach creates a relaxing peaceful environment and is also well-known for its beautiful sunset. Wilmette beach is also a popular hot-spot for high school students. Opening May 25, Wilmette is well-managed by officials and always creates a suitable and safe environment for students and families.

The Correspondent took a survey of 200 students asking them their top summer activities, read which topics won. Check on CorrespondentLive to read more about summer activities.

Comedy books provide summer laughs (and other reactions) Isabella Murray

One of the most appealing parts of summer is the break from schoolwork. While the summer reading list is still existent, students sometimes don’t want to read on their own time. Comedy books don’t quite fit under the monotonous category though. “It is one of my favorite genres because no matter how bad your day is, a good laugh will always cheer you up,” sophomore Cait Nagle said. While it’s expected to want a break from anything school related, some genres of books, like comedy, are easy reads for summer. Books like Mindy Kaling’s “Is Everyone Hanging Out Without Me? (And Other Concerns),” Kelly Oxford’s “Everything Is Perfect When You’re a Liar,” Tina Fey’s “Bossypants,” and countless other Chelsea Handler novels serve as only a small percentage of the books in t h e comedy genre. In the past month or so, Nagle has read “Bossy pants,” “Drinking and Tweeting,” and “My InapproLife.” “My all time favorite was ‘Bossy Pants.’ I laughed until I was in tears. I recommend it to almost anyone. I could not put it down,” Nagle said. Most of the books are memoir about the comedian’s life, whose views and thoughts are easily comprehendible and amusing to read. “Comedy books are simply funny. So many books are intellectually interesting but emotionally draining. Comedy allows you to just enjoy the story and really make you feel happy and good,” sophomore Ellie Richardson said. Elements of comedy are ap-

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recent Hersey survey ranked comedy books as the most read summer genre amongst students. pealing to students because the voice of the books are similar to the media versions of comedians’ work. “My favorite aspect of comedy literature is the authors ability to laugh at themselves, life’s to short not to,” Nagle said. Comedy books are easy reads for the summer, when reading is student’s only homework. “Reading in the summer is great. You don’t have to worry about school, you can choose your own schedule, and if you want you can read a whole book in a day. It’s very relaxing and allows you to stimulate your mind even when school is not in session. Plus you can read outside and enjoy the beautiful weather,” Richardson said.

In-‐Depth

M a y 17, 2 013

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Lots at Lolla Students attend popular concert +FTTJDB -ZOL 160,000 people will gather in Grant Park this summer for the musical festival, Lollapalooza. Sophomores Jamie Chamerlain and Kayla Knauss will be some among the crowd. “Their line up has a lot of good bands, and it’s nice to hear a couple songs from a ton of groups than a ton of songs from a couple of groups,” Knauss said. Many students take summer as an opportunity to go to enjoy concerts, but Lollapalooza seems to stand out among the rest. “Lolla is better than other music festivals because it really appeals to not only my musical taste, but to a wide variety of musical genres, plus it is one of the biggest in the area,” Chamberlain said. T h e festival includes multiple genres like c o u nt r y, alternative r o c k , and punk rock.

The line-up for this year includes Lana Del Ray, The Lumineers, Matt and Kim, Ellie Goulding, Eric Church, The Killers, and Mumford & Sons. “I’m excited to see Mumford and Sons, but I’m really excited to see The Lumineers and Lana Del Rey, I’ve wanted to see both of them in concert for the longest time, along with Azealia Banks who is a guilty pleasure of mine,” Chamberlain said. Lollapalooza gives students an opportunity to enjoy music with friends and strangers. “I’m excited about seeing all these performers and also the atmosphere at Lolla will be like a giant party, so it should be fun,” Knauss said.

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‘Froyo’ offers a sweet treat $BJUMJO 4USP[FXTLJ

Over the summer, students enjoy going to a variety of places with their friends. Of all the summer attractions, getting food is one of the most popular. A recent survey ranked frozen yogurt or ‘froyo’ shops as the number one food places for high school students during the summer. Froyo allows students to have the ability to mix and match a variety of frozen yogurts, toppings, and sauces. This can be refreshing for those who are bored with the limited options of traditional ice cream places. The variety of toppings can satisfy everyone--from chocolate lovers to fruit fanatics. “I love the variety of toppings. There’s something for everyone,” sophomore Shannon Cunnigham said. Froyo offers students a way to cool off and escape from the summer heat. Many froyo shops are in the area. At Randhurst, students can stop by

Menchies after a busy day of shopping or a movie. It offers both indoor and outdoor seating, and is in a convenient location for those who live in or near Mount Prospect. “I like Menchies better than Yogurtland because it is closer to my house, but I think Menchies is more expensive,” sophomore Cassie Zouras said. Another location is Yogurtland in Arlington Heights. Like Menchies, Yogurtland is conveniently located near other stores in downtown Arlington Heights. “Yogurtland is delicious. It’s my favorite, and it is located right in downtown Arlington,” Cunningham said. No matter where students go to get their froyo, most end up satisfied. With the freedom of controlling every aspect of their yogurt and the excitement of trying daring flavor combinations, this trend has become the go-to place for those students with a sweet tooth.

Th e C o r r e s p o n d e n t

Boyle-ing it D O W with N BRian Boyle

‘Iron Man 3’ brings action to the big-screen

He may not be a god like Thor, he doesn’t have cool retractable claws like Wolverine, and he isn’t as youthful as Spider-man, but the one thing that sets Iron Man apart is that inside the suit, Tony Stark is the coolest alter-ego of any on-screen superhero. “Iron Man 3” marks Marvel’s first movie since the incrediblysuccessful and über-entertaining team-up flick, “The Avengers,” and conquers the tricky task of fitting into the larger Marvel continuity, while also offering a satisfying stand-alone story. This time around, Stark is threatened by a mysterious and menacing bin Laden-esque terrorist called the Mandarin, personified by a chilling Ben Kingsley, and a business rival Aldrich Killian (played by a suave Guy Pearce). Gwyneth Paltrow returns, giving a fun performance as Stark’s long-suffering girlfriend Pepper Potts. Don Cheadle also reprises his role as best friend colonel James Rhodes, this time sporting a star-spangled Iron Man suit, re-branded from War Machine to Iron Patriot. The supporting cast is strong, but nobody matches up with Robert Downey Jr.. After the events of “The Avengers,” the self-proclaimed “genius, billionaire, playboy, philanthropist” begins to experience crippling anxiety attacks. Downey’s still at the top of his game with one-line zingers and sarcastic quips, but he now adds some much appreciated vulnerability to the already spectacularly human Stark. “Iron Man 3” is written and directed by action-comedy king Shane Black, of “Lethal Weapon” and “Kiss Kiss Bang Bang” fame, whose script is full of quirky selfaware jokes and effective physical humor. Black’s buddy-cop credentials also bleed into the writing, with witty banter between Stark and Rhodes, and with a surprisingly tolerable small town kid befriended by Iron Man. The action scenes are dazzling and memorable, with Black adding flashy direction reminiscent of pulp action films of the 80’s and 90’s. Particularly awesome was the Mandarin’s destructive assault on Stark’s cliffside Malibu mansion, with excellent special effects ripping apart the familiar setting. Minor issues aside, “Iron Man 3” provides a fresh, funny, and bold take on the now familiar comic book sub-genre.

Reviews

m a y 17, 2 013

Take it

School tweets take over Twitter

With a large portion of students signed up for a twitter account, many follow twitter accounts related to this school. These accounts include sport update accounts for the school, an account tweeting odd conversations heard in this building’s halls, and Orange Crush accounts rallying up fans for the student sections. No matter what account a student follows, a

common similarity is that these accounts promote school spirit and school love. If students do obtain a twitter account, they should consider following accounts such as @HerseyHuskies for official school updates, @HerseyHallways for hilarious, overheard conversations, and accounts such as @HerseyFamily to promote school love. t COLETTE TANGNEY

Facebook drops in popularity At age 12, Facebook was a marvelous configuration. A website that enables any individual to stalk some random person’s pictures? How thrilling is that! However, by now Facebook has hit rock bottom. The only time I find myself looking at Facebook is to get rid of the obnoxious little red number above the Facebook app. I hate that thing. Facebook has gone from re-connecting with lost friends to pictures of LeBron regarding his slowly receding hairline. Other Facebook posts consist of “each

like on this picture donates a dollar to Africa.” Now a social network has made all of its users into philanthropists. How spectacular. I’m leaving it on Facebook. Figure it out, Zuckerberg. t TIM GRIFFIN

Leave it

Student eats up new series ‘Hannibal’ Dino Ljubijankic

is like seasoning meat: too little and the impact can’t be tasted, too much and the entire dish is thrown Normally, I off. “Hannibal” uses the character don’t approve of of Lecter in the perfect amount. people whose diet Another play on Lecter that of choice includes makes the show great are those other people. uneasy instances when someone Cannibals also eats meat that Lecter has prepared, don’t make words like ‘interestmaking the viewer question everying’, ‘crafty’, or ‘entertaining’ come thing. Where did he get the recipe? to mind. But the new NBC series Who made those recipes he got? Is “Hannibal” manages to spice up there a cannibalism fan club that the typical world of psychos. the characters aren’t Tell me that aware of? Hannibal Lecter is The writers clevsomehow involved, erly play off the existand I’ll pick up the ing knowledge of Lectremote. Tell me Mads er to tease the viewers Mikkelsen plays Lectwith what-ifs and er, and I’ll find NBC might-bes. I love being on my guide. Tell challenged by Lecter’s me that Lecter/Mads dark ways. twists and turns the Also, I enjoy the FBI (and basically evlittle non-Hannibal eryone he meets) into side plots that come his game of death, and into play, a sentence I’ll hit the button to I never uttered when change the channel. watching “Silence of Besides the greatt COURTESY OF NBC the Lambs.” Can Jack ness that is Mads MikCrawford get his life kelsen, the show can BC’s Hannibal series captures students with its dark, susat home together? Can stand for itself. The penseful plot and graphic use of cannibalism. the doctors Graham show is about a man works with be any named Will Graham more useless? Can Lecter teach (played by Hugh Dancy). Graham characters. The perfect part? The show Graham how to make his famous is able to empathize with people; get inside their heads in a “Crimi- doesn’t revolve around Lecter. All human-based dishes? This show isn’t for the easilynal Minds”-esque fashion. The the side characters are involved. In “Silence of the Lambs,” sickened, but for people who enjoy FBI uses this ‘gift’ to its advantage, having Graham track down killers AKA the best thing that involves a show about the mysteries and Hannibal Lecter, he’s not even the deceptions one man can create. with specific patterns. Along with Will and Hanni- main character: Jodie Foster and “Hannibal” is the show that they bal, there is a little bunch of other Buffalo Bill are the main charac- need to watch. I can’t wait to see characters. Jack Crawford (played ters. Lecter is just the psychopath what turn this series is going to by Laurence Fishburne) is de- in the back, watching and wait- take. Unless it turns into one of manding of Will to resolve all the ing for the perfect time to put his cases, as well as being a victim to stamp on the adventure. He was on those killer-of-the-week shows. some of Hannibal’s cruelest tricks. the screen for less then 20 minutes Then I will feel betrayed by Mads. Also involved: a “crime lab” group in the movie, but it feels like he was Now that I think of it, maybe this show could’ve been better if it was of medical experts who seem like on it for 40. Using Lecter as a character on HBO instead of NBC. they don’t contribute anything. To

any case. Ever. Minor characters include all the killers that Graham and Crawford run into, the daughter of a killer who makes a secret agreement with Hannibal, and the most irritating of the bunch: a tabloid blogger who seems to always enter the story at the worst possible moments. She’s infuriating to the point where the viewer isn’t even wondering who’s going to mess up what’s going on between all the

Entertainment

m a y 17, 2 013

Th e C o r r e s p o n d e n t

Percussionists rock the stage

Night of Percussion offers comedy and beats Melanie Cohodes Night of Percussion is an annual, studentrun exhibition of the musical and comedic skills of the band’s percussion section. It’s a chance to let the students who usually stand in the back of the band to come to the front of the stage for a night. “What I like about this performance is being able to entertain people while doing something that I’m passionate about,” sophomore Carly Benson said. Instead of relying on adult direction, the players get most of the work done themselves, starting from the base of the show. “We started by making a facebook page to shout out some ideas,” junior Rino Nozawa said. “We throw around ideas together and get the okay from Mr. C (Casagrande, band director).” The show alternates between performances -either solos done by seniors or group performances- and comedic skits that fall in line with the theme of the show. The solos can include anything from impressive snare solos to marimba pieces performed with two mallets in each hand, and allow percussionists to show off their various talents. “I’m most looking forward to playing in general, but also the comedy side of it. The skits in between musical performances are hilarious,” Benson said. Previous themes have included a ‘bro competition’ between the multiple sets of brothers in band, and some memorable skits have been a

t h g i N Of n io s s u Perc

May 24

performance by ‘Taylor Swift’ and a rendition of “Call Me Maybe.” While it is strictly percussionist-performed, sometimes students from other musical groups come to help, like the show choir duo who previously emceed in matching colored suits. Regardless of the theme, Night of Percussion has been a student-run, student-performed act for as long as any percussionist can recall. “Night of Percussion has been going on for a really long time,” junior Liam Burke said. “I

don’t even know when it began.” No matter how old it is, Night of Percussion is a fresh show every year, and remains one of the most popular student-run events. “Mr. C will supervise,” Nozawa said, “but the scripts, costumes, all that is done by students.” The graduating percussionists run the show, so to speak, choosing skits and deciding on the theme. The underclassmen have some input, but the entire event is orchestrated by the seniors. “As a freshman it’s really hard to submit a skit because people aren’t willing to let freshmen do a lot of stuff,” freshman Andrea Kim said, “but I actually submitted a skit and the seniors are considering it which is a huge honor.” The schedule usually runs with a skit between every two or three performances, which makes for a good distribution of musical and comedic prowess. Night of Percussion is so popular that occasionally percussionists who have already graduated will return to emcee, which is what will happen this year. “Ty (Ty Nocita, class of 2012) is coming back to help,” Nozawa said. Tickets can be purchased from any percussionist for $5.

Th e C o r r e s p o n d e n t

Features

M a y 17, 2 013

Bible study club offers

for students

Students meet weekly to discuss stress-free religious topics Michael Miller

At 6:45 on a quiet Tuesday morning, the hallways may seem like a desert: empty and barren, and giving little encouragement to students hoping to survive another long day at school. But this time is precisely when an oasis forms in the tiled sands of this desert, giving students relief. This fairly new group is the Bible study club, named “Oasis.” “We named the club Oasis because it’s a place where everyone can gather,” senior Tony Kmilek said. “God called on us to begin this group to be able to grow in our faith and to be comforted,” senior Anto Sagayaraj said. Former students Stephanie Kinsell and Erin Safarski founded the club last year after a nationwide school prayer event showed how many students were interested in having such a group. “The event is called ‘See you at the pole’, where students pray around the flagpole in front of the school at the beginning of the year. We had enough people there that we wanted to form a club at school,” senior Grace Mironas said. Since then, it has grown modestly to include 10 or so active participants and 34 members on the group’s Facebook page. “I heard some friends talking about it, and I became interested in joining,” junior Brandon Zuercher said. As a Bible study club, a typical meeting does not stray far from what its name advertises. “First we listen to music and then focus on a particular book of the Bible. This year it was the Book of Matthew,” Kmilek said.

tJESSICA LYNK

tudents gather to discuss their religious views. Oasis meets every Tuesday moring at 6:45 a.m. “We sing songs, play games, encourage each other, and just overall have an amazing time,” sophomore Hope Mironas said. “We all sit around a table and discuss the particular passage we just read,” Zuercher said. Although the club meets just to discuss amongst themselves, they hope to spread their faith. “Our goal is to spread the word and be a light in our school,” Zuercher said. Because of the group’s religious nature, it does have some difficulties in making itself known around school. According to the Equal Access Act, all students are aloud to start any club they would like, as long as it is student initiated and student run. “Promoting Oasis is dif-

Students dance to grant wishes

agnosed with a life threatening disease every 38 minutes. The organization believes the wish experience can be a Students got a unique opportunity through the dance program. “You know you are doing it to help someone in need. It made it fun basing the dance off of specific people who are apart of Make-AWish,” sophomore Allison Van Staalduinen said.

Athletes gain training through summer camps While many students will wake up at home during June, July, and August, some students will use their almost endless amount of free time in a different way by attending summer camps. “The more exposure you have to your desired sport helps you to learn more about it as well as train for the actual season. Practice makes perfect,” senior Ryan Kearns said. Many colleges offer summer camps and courses to students in high school to give a feel for what college is really like and maybe even earn some college credit. Locally, the school offers summer

tJESSICA LYNK eniors Katie Nowak, Lauren Ovsey, and sophomore Valerie Pajerski posed at their performance in the “Dance to Make-A-Wish” concert. They helped create a piece entitled “Superhero”, which was dedicated to a boy named Matthew who loves superheroes. The dance classes hosted a concert for Make-A-Wish on May 2. The event included Dynamic Dancers, Dance Fusion, and dance classes. The event raised $500 for the Make-A-Wish foundation. “With dance, I wanted them to grow as people, not just in dance. This event did both,” dance teacher Jennifer Foss said. Make-A-Wish is an organization that was created to grant wishes to children with a life threatening diseases. According to their website, on average a child is di-

ficult because we don’t have official school sponsorship. The club t-shirts we made are a big part of our promotion,” Zuercher said. The complications deal with the fact that this is a religious club. “The subject matter is really the only difference from other clubs,” Zuercher said. Despite this complication, those students who are already a part of Oasis find in it many benefits. “Oasis helped me meet other like-minded kids at school and gave me a place to talk with them. We’re all really close friends because of what we do,” Kmilek said. “We just make good connections studying the Bible with friends at school,” Zuercher said. Oasis is open to Christians and non-Christians alike, and its members encourage everyone to join. “It’s a place to feel encouraged, no matter what faith you are. Students sometimes feel nervous about joining because it’s something different, but we’re very open and accepting,” Mironas said. “We would love to have more people. If you need a group of friends or just somewhere to go, check out our Facebook group or talk to one of us,” Zuercher said. Even in the roughest of times, the club allows the members to de-stress every Tuesday morning. “After a stressful week this a place to come and feel comforted and encouraged,” Mironas said.

tJESSICA LYNK

athletic camps to those who want to perfect their sport and get in shape for the upcoming fall, winter, and spring seasons. By picking a camp, whether it’s local or in another state or college, students ensure that their upcoming summer is spent in a more fun and productive way. “You get to spend time away from home to do things on your own, and [summer camp] helps to show your independence from parents and technology,” junior Jacob Komenda said. tMATT STADNICKI

Sports

M a y 17 2 013

Th e C o r r e s p o n d e n t

Track team strides for success SP R S Mili Pandya As the season dwindles down to only the sectional and state meets, the boys track team hopes to finish their season on a high note. With a sixth place showing at the MSL conference meet, they competed at sectionals this Thursday with hopes to send as many athletes as possible to compete at the state meet at Eastern Illinois University. “At the state meet it is all about finishing in the top nine to bring home an all state medal. We have a great shot at having a few athletes finish the year as all-state,” distance coach Jay Renaud said. Conference medalists for throws included senior Eddie Beyer, conference champion for discus, and senior Tyler Vainisi, third place in discus. Senior Robert Somary placed second in the 800 meter, the 4 x 800 relay team of seniors Ryan Kearns and Robert Somary, junior Kevin Kovach, and sophomore David Rodriguez placed second, and junior Jack O’Neil placed third in the 1600 meter. Leading up to the conference meet, the team won the Glenbrook South Invitational on May 3, mentally setting themselves up for success at conference the following week. “Winning the meet gave the team a lot of momentum moving forward. We all had a bit more confidence and knew we could all place well in the MSL,” sophomore Grant von der Lippe said. Although the weather hasn’t been on the teams’ side this season, they have been able to overcome these inconveniences as best as they can. “This has been the worst spring weather I can remember. It has affected many of the times this year but can’t be used as an excuse since every team has to run in the same weather. We have run well regardless of the conditions,” Renaud said. “It makes getting all the work done hard, but every team in the area has to go through the

same thing so it’s fair,” Von der Lippe said. With a 4-2 record overall and a second place finish in the MSL East, the team has a lot to look forward to in the next two weeks. We’re looking to qualify in 4-6 events and take down a large number of athletes to represent Hersey at state,” head coach Ken Blazek said.

Gymnast vaults to second At the past gymnastics state conference, junior Matthew Swanson placed second in state on vault. “This accomplishment means a ton to me! I never would’ve imagined getting second place in state, and I couldn’t be happier with this achievement,” Swanson said. Vault is one of many events seen at the state competition, allowing for different goals for the upcoming year for gymnasts. “My goal for next year is to make it to the finals in state again. It would be awesome to place first in state, but I know that will be a challenge,” Swanson said. Swanson has done gymnastics for three years and achieved a huge accomplishment through his hard work these past seasons. Coach Mason Vernon worked hard with him and believed in him, helping him achieve a consistent landing in time for conference. tMIRANDA FANELLA

Sisters head to state

tFRANCESCA HERNANDEZ

unior Tyndale Danweih soars over a hurdle during track practice. Dahnweih and other teammates have trained all season with hopes to qualify for state.

Strong individual play excites for next season

Isabella Murray defense well the first quarter of the game, but

This season has been one of firsts for the boys water polo team. It is the first year that three players were nominated to the all conference team, they had the most wins in team history (winning 14 games and losing 16), and they won the MSL East title. “There isn’t a lot of water polo rich history at Hersey, and I’m really happy we could successfully bring a title to the school,” head coach and resource assistant Dick Mortensen said. Although sectionals against Schaumburg on May 9 didn’t go as well as expected with a 9-7 loss, the team wasn’t upset with the season. “We battled adversity all season with starters out at different parts of the year, but we ended up functioning really well as a team.” Mortensen said. They also lost the MSL championship game against Conant on May 2 with a score of 14-3, which was expected. “They were definitely faster than us. We played with determination and fought the hardest game we have played all season,” junior and all conference player Connor Reynolds said. “Conant is the eighth ranked team in the state. We knew they were better going into it, and we tried to be competitive,” Mortensen said. “The game was a good experience, and the whole atmosphere was exhilarating. It’s one of those big games every team wants to play in,” junior George Vladimirov said. They battled the entire time even though they didn’t score in penalty situations and lost the ball more than they wanted to. “We played

moving the ball on offense and scoring was our weakness,” Vladimirov said. Leading up to the MSL championship game was winning the MSL East title against Prospect 7-5. “The MSL East title game was a really exciting game. We were tied 4-4 at halftime, and we started to play with determination and pulled away to win,” Reynolds said. Even though the season is now over, there is more to expect from the team. Five of seven starters are returning, including Reynolds,Vladimirov, and junior Jack Carroll, all three being all conference players. “It’s a huge honor to get all conference because I feel rewarded for all the work I put into water polo, in and out of the pool,” Reynolds said. “Its an honor, you get to be remembered among the other Hersey greats on the wall and it gives you a good feeling to know you are one of the best in the conference,” Vladimirov said. Three all conference players is the most the school has ever had. “It really shows the respect we’ve gotten from coaches of the east,” Mortensen said. The team is young and talented and there are high expectations for next season. “For next season we expect to improve on wins, repeat as MSL east champions, and win a sectional game or two” Mortensen said. “This was a successful season, and a lot of good things happened. We had players who had never played before step up when starters got injured and we saw some good competition, which will only make us better for next year,” Vladimirov said.

tFRANCESCA HERNANDEZ

enior Erika Hill and sophomore Kelly Hill train for state.

Despite facing some weather conditions that have been less than perfect, the girls track team has overcome both weather and injuries to finish off its season strong. With a 7th place finish in the MSL conference under its belt, the team headed to sectionals and had two girls qualify for the state meet at Eastern Illinois University. Sisters senior Erica Hill and sophomore Kelly Hill earned their spots at state in long jump and pole vault, respectively. K. Hill has broken her own school record of 10’3’ repeatedly throughout the season, vaulting 10’9” at the sectional meet, and was also conference champion. “I’m excited that I qualified again this year, but it’s even better that my sister will be there competing with me,” K. Hill said. E. Hill shared in her sister’s success, winning both the indoor conference meet with a jump of 17’2” and the sectional meet with a jump of 16’10 1/2”, advancing her to state. “It’s bittersweet for me because I’m so excited to be going to state, especially with Kelly, but it’s also sad knowing that this will be my last track meet ever,” E. Hill said. tMILI PANDYA

Sports

Th e C o r r e s p o n d e n t

M a y 17, 2 013

enior Michael Sauer hurls the ball towards home plate in the baseball’s home game against Fremd on Monday, as senior Brendan Starr moves into position anticipating a play on the ball.

he Huskies have had many ups and downs this year, as they attempt to rebuild from last year’s MSL conference championship team.

he team plays McHenry tomorrow, and faces Highland Park in their regional match-up on Monday.

tFRANCESCA HERNANDEZ

Soccer recovers with established youth Brian Loomis

The soccer season ended last year with the loss of five seniors who had all played a role in defining the team over the past four years. However, that didn’t mean the end of success for the team. Seniors Kaitlyn Smetana, Casey Weyrich, and Amy Kappleman all returned along with juniors Lauren Gierman, Morgan Harris, Renee Poulos, and sophomores Sara Magnuson and Kayla Knauss. The girls were also aided by junior Megan Brant who recovered from a torn ACL that sidelined her for the 2012 season. “My return has been good so far, I’ve had a few scares here and there with my knee, but overall it’s been great. I’m really proud of myself for overcoming this injury and just happy to be back playing again,” Brant said. To replace the 2012 seniors, coach Brad Abel looked to the sophomore class and found a well of talent in Emma Slosar, Abby Wendell, Emma Cooke, Annie Korff, and Danielle Papa. Abel also added senior Sarah Mulroe and junior Claire Schwaba to round out the team’s roster.

Although the team tied its MSL crossover game on May 7 to Conant 1-1, the team grabbed a large helping of success throughout the Spring season, including a long string of victories. “So far I think the highlight of our season was beating Barrington. Last year they beat us in the conference championship, so it was great getting revenge,” Harris said. More recently, however, the team defeated Elk Grove 1-0 on May 1, battled its way to another tie with Conant on April 29, and came together for three overpowering shutouts against Carmel (3-0), Rolling Meadows (5-0), and Palatine (2-0) respectively. These victories reveal that goalkeeper Harris’ 14 shutouts last season were no fluke. While the team has triumphed, certain teams have shown the Huskies how it feels to be on the other side of the spectrum. Plainfield North served the Huskies two defeats, and the team lost to MSL East champion Buffalo Grove 5-0 on March 21. The team members saw these early season losses as a chance to become comfortable with one another on the field.

TIMEOUT! ith

is ot

a st

When did you start playing volleyball, and how have you improved?

Were you aware that you were breaking the dig record when you did so, and how did that push you?

How has the volleyball team improved this year, and what are your goals for the postseason?

“Our start to the season was rough because it was a new team, and we didn’t know how each player played. But we overcame the bumps, and we ended up being 11-4-5,” Brant said. Coach Abel has been a witness to the teams development through the season, and points out their success in April, the month that the team was not defeated. “They came together as a team following a slow start, and found their role individually, and as a group,” Abel said. What struggles the team did have allowed the team’s players to get to know each other off the pitch. “We are all good friends outside of soccer and get along really well, so I think the friendships and ability to work together and communicate really transfers over into games and helps us get the results we want,” Harris added. While 2013 marks the first year that the team didn’t make it to the MSL Conference game in six years, the team is still playing in the Hersey hosted regionals this week.

Weekend in sports Girls track today at State “My expectations are to get a personal best. I’ve been working hard in both practice and weights class to get ready,” senior Erica Hill said.

I started playing three years ago; I think I’m getting better by setting goals each season and working on them.

I was aware that I was close to breaking the dig record, so that pushed me to go for every ball, but I was most focused on winning the game.

When we are energetic, we can beat any team out there. For the postseason, our goal is to go to state and win it all. We have to take one game at a time.

Baseball May 18 vs. McHenry “Every game is important especially late in the season. We have to focus and get better each game. Saturday will be no different,” junior Joe Silva said.