Volume 120, Issue 22

The Record

Horace Mann’s Weekly Newspaper Since 1903

Former President Trump’s indictment sparks discourse and debate in and out of the classroom

Diya Chawla and Rena Salsberg Staff Writers

Loewy Miller (9) was walking in Times Square with his family on the way to a Broadway show when he saw the news of former President Donald Trump’s indictment on one of the live billboards. “My initial reaction was that it’s wild that there is now a president who was indicted,” he said.

On March 30, 2023, a Manhattan grand jury voted to indict Former President Donald Trump on 34 fel ony charges. The indictment came after months of heavy investigation and has sparked widespread discus sion in the school community, Mill er said.

While not required, Upper Divi sion History Department Chair Dr. Daniel Link’s Global Cold War class had group discus sions about the indictment. Since Link usually devotes the start of class to discussing current events, it only made sense that the indictment was brought up, Malcolm Furman (12) said. The conversation allowed students to share their honest first impressions and reactions to the news, Furman said. “This is a topic that may not be as controversial within the school community as some other political issues that have been in the news, and so I think that makes it easier to have a comfortable discussion, especially in a classroom setting,” he said.

The indictment was also a topic of conversation in Jackson Schreiber’s (11) Voices of Protest class, he said. “We mainly discussed whether the indictment would be considered a politically motivated decision.” Sch-

indictment did not surprise many, Tandon said. “I think some people are still interested in Trump and what he’s doing, whereas other people are bored hearing about him.”

In favor of Trump being indicted, Daniel Pustilnik (11) feels that politically active students do not expect Trump to disappear from the headlines. “He is still the most dominant force in the Republican Party and is a serious contender for the Republican nomination,” he said. “I don’t think it’s a surprise that people are still talking about him,” he said.

said. Instead, as with any topic, the school should encourage general conversation and free discourse, he said.

Since the school does not require teachers to bring up current events in class, teachers have the freedom to decide whether or not to discuss potentially polarizing topics such

classrooms, but it’s difficult to have a conversation without people getting uncomfortable,” he said.

Although some people’s views may not directly align with others’, it is essential to prioritize friendship over politics, Miller said. “Politics have become so polarizing now that sometimes just politics can make

al, he said. “The district attorney choosing to bring the charges to trial makes it seem like this is a case worth bringing to trial about someone who potentially broke the law.”

Asha Tandon (10) also had a discussion in her history class about the indictment and was intrigued by her peers’ thoughts. “There was definitely a mix of responses, where some people were happy and some people not so much,” she said.

As most students are used to hearing about major political events, especially ones about Trump, his

However, Tanfeels that many stutired of constantly hearing about Trump on the news and are not as invested in the in dictment as they normally would be in other topics. Regardless, she personally enjoyed discussing the indictment in her class because it was a conversation where everyone could contribute their views. “Con sidering that most of us paid close attention to Trump’s presidency, we all knew how to deal with these types of political events and have opinions about it,” she said. While the topic of the indictment is important, it is not the school’s responsibility to formally address or take a stance on the topic, he

as Trump’s indictment, Link said. “Students can also determine if they want to discuss the issue by choosing it for their current event.”

While Gabe Jaffe (11) has not discussed the indictment in any of his

you rule out somebody as a friend, even if they are good.” With events like the Trump indictment all over the news, it is vital for students to keep an open mind and not let politics prevent them from forming bonds with new people, he

to have freedom of speech in their

FRC builds, competes, and adapts at Regionals Tournament

Nikita Pande Staff Writer

The FRC Robotics team placed 45th out of 50 teams at the New York City Regionals Tournament for First Robotics at the Fort Washington Armory from last Wednesday to Friday.

Even though the team did not rank as well as they hoped, they improved their robot significantly during the competition, Imran Siddiqui (11) said. “We went in with a robot that didn’t work, and left with a robot that did.”

At the start of January, First Robotics informed teams across the nation of this year’s selected challenge called “Charged Up.” To complete the challenge, teams had to create a robot that completed two motor-based tasks, Sophie Willer-Burchardi (10) said. For the first task, robots needed to pick up an inflatable cube and place it on a stair-like structure and judges

scored them based on the number of cubes a robot could place on a specific stair, she said. Similarly, in the second task, instead of inflatable cubes and stairs, robots utilized traffic cones and poles. The points given out increased as the height of the pole increased, she said.

Following the challenge’s announcement, the team met every day after school in addition to some Saturdays to prepare for the competition, Willer-Burchardi said. The team dedicated the first week of meetings to designing and scheduling.

When preparing for the competition, the team instituted a self-imposed deadline of the first Friday of the season for their theoretical design, Robotics Lab Manager and Team Mentor Fred Levy said. They recognized that this deadline was not set in stone and that they needed to be flexible and prepared for possible changes.

Almost all of the preparation before the tour-

nament was team-led, Levy said. While present at every meeting, Levy only intervened in the team’s process if what they proposed could not be accomplished in time, was unsafe, or might work against them. “I feel strongly that it’s their robot so it should be their design,” he said. “I have never had to step in to reverse a design.”

In addition to their own proposals, team members took inspiration from past years’ designs to produce a digital model of their robot using C.A.D. Fusion 360 software, Willer-Burchardi said. Using the C.A.D. program, the team designed specific robot parts on the computer and sent the design over to the 3-D printer to bring their ideas to life.

In the end, the team decided to build a robot with a pivoting arm that extended five feet in the air, team member Menya Obia (10) said. They also planned on developing an intake system where a piece of the robot rolled out and pulled

items toward its body.

After the team collectively chose their design for the robot, they scheduled future meeting times and delegated responsibilities to different sub-groups of the team, Willer-Burchardi said.

Members of the FRC robotics team can choose to join either of two sub-groups: Design, Build, and Test (DBT) and Pneumatics and Electronics (P&E), Siddiqui said. DBT focuses on constructing the robot and using a variety of tools such as drills, saws, and a 3D printer. On the other hand, P&E works on programming the robot’s electronic pieces with the software Java, he said.

The competition took place over three days, with the first day dedicated to setting up team work stations, Levy said. Performing this action required utilizing a U-Haul truck to transfer tools, such as a portable saw machine and drill see robotics on page 2

“My friends and I feel much more comfortable discussing the indictment at the lunch table rather than at the classroom because there’s no teacher and [it’s] much lower stakes,”

- Gabe Jaffe (11)

Dylan Leftt/Staff Artist

Vivian Coraci/Art Director

press, to their designated pit. By the end, their area was transformed into a functioning robot shop, he said.

The second day all teams participated in practice rounds,

lecting two other teams to help them in the playoffs.

Despite the competitive nature of the tournament, the teams were friendly towards each other throughout the challenge, Obia said. Competitors often asked each other for pieces of equipment they were missing and collaborated with one another.

Unfortunately, due to time constraints, the team was forced to shorten their building process, Obia said. The robot was functional to the extent that it could push the cubes and cones, but it was not able to pick them up and

Part of the reason why the robot did not reach its full potential is because the team did not realize their design idea had a flaw until late in the process, Siddiqui said. After becoming aware of the mistake, the team was able to redirect their attention to improving their error. The team

fixed the error by repositioning the robot’s arm lower down on its body, he said. One reason this obstacle occurred was because most team members did not have much experience competing since they had lost two years due to the COVID-19 pandemic, he said.

When team members encoun-

What did you do over Spring Break?! HM UD by the numbers:

ter a problem, they look to each other for the person who is most likely to have a solution, Levy said. “At the end of the day, the competition is really all about the people, not about the metal, nuts, and bolts that we call the robot.”

Jiyon Chatterjee (12) interviews Representative

Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez over Spring Break

Anya Mirza Staff Writer

“I think it’s interesting interviewing politicians,” Jiyon Chatterjee (12) said. “You definitely want more time with them to get at the truth and push them a little bit.”

Over spring break, Chatterjee interviewed Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY) of the 14th Congressional District for his independent study on the Bronx labor shortage. Chatterjee conducted the inter-

view while attending a job fair co-hosted by Ocasio-Cortez and Representative Adriano Espaillat (D-NY) of the 13th Congressional District at The Renaissance High School, a public school in the Bronx.

During the event, Ocasio-Cortez hoped to expose young stu dents in the Bronx from working class backgrounds to a diverse range of job and internship opportunities available after high school, Chatterjee said. She is try ing to broaden students’ job options to change the single pipeline job structure many of these children believe they are destined for, he said.

Chatterjee only decided to attend the job fair a few days prior to the event when he found out about it through social media, he said. “The event was a great opportunity to get the perspective of Bronx public officials for my project,” Chatterjee said.

is tied to low wages, however, recent data contradicts her statement, showing a rise in wages in the service sector,” Chatterjee said.

“I think her answer was more based on her political ideology rather than tracking the

While interviewing Ocasio-Cortez was a unique experience for Chatterjee, it was not his first interaction with her. Chatterjee began working for her campaign when she began her political career in 2018 because he admired that, unlike other representatives, she had a strong connection to the Bronx community, he said.

SUCCESFUL CHAT Chatterjee (12), AOC

During his interview with Ocasio-Cortez, Chatterjee was able to learn about her approach to the labor shortage and how it differed from his own opinions on the topic, he said. “She mentioned that the labor shortage

Junior Issue 1 Editorial Board

Head of Design

Sophie Pietrzak

Features

Lucy Peck

Ariella Frommer

A & E

Editor in Chief Sophie Rukin

News

Neeva Patel Samantha Matays

Clara Stevanovic

Kate Beckler

Art Directors

Vivian Coraci

Sophia Liu

Managing Editor

Isabella Ciriello

Opinions Harper Rosenberg Josh Shuster

Lions’ Den Ava Lipsky Jorge Orvañanos

Design Editors Alara

Yilmaz

Karla Moreira

Photo Directors Ben Rafal Aryan Palla

Chatterjee admires that Ocasio-Cortez adheres to her morals without being afraid of backlash from those who disagree with her, he said. Students at the school should be aware of her because her success as the youngest woman ever elected into the House of Representatives – a space historically dominated by elderly white men – is a testament to her determination to have a positive impact on her constituents and the country, he said.

Staff

Staff Writers Erica Jiang, Maeve Goldman, Naomi Yaeger, Sofia Kim, Audrey O’Mary, Blake Bennett, Brody Grossman, Emily Wang, Gillian Ho, Hannah Becker, Jacqueline Shih, James Zaidman, Julia Bouchut, Malachai Abbott, Nikita Pande, Oliver Konopko, Nora Wildman, Rena Salsberg, Diya Chawla, Zach Hornfeld, Julia Lourenco, Lily Sussman, Charles Ampah

Staff Photographers Nicole Au, Trish Tran, Aanya Gupta, Jiwan Kim, Ryan Nikitiadis, James Zaidman, Emily Wang, David Aaron, Evan Contant

Staff Artists Sam Stern, Dylan Leftt, Aydan Ergin, Kristy Xie, Addy Steinberg, Ishaan Iyengar, Sophie Li, Serena Bai, Kayden Hansong, Aashna Hari, Isabelle Kim, Christain Connor, Sam Gordon, Dani Brooks, Aimee Yang, Sarah Aaron

Editorial Policy

About Founded in 1903, The Record is Horace Mann School’s award-winning weekly student newspaper. We publish approximately 30 times during the academic year, offering news, features, opinions, arts, Middle Division and sports coverage relevant to the school community. The Record serves as a public forum to provide the community with information, entertainment, and an outlet for various viewpoints. As a student publication, the contents of The Record are the views and work of the students and do not necessarily represent those of the faculty or administration of the Horace Mann School. Horace Mann School is not responsible for the accuracy and contents of The Record and is not liable for any claims based on the contents or views expressed therein.

Editorials All editorial decisions regarding content, grammar, and layout are made by the senior editorial board. The unsigned editorial represents the opinion of the majority of the board.

Opinions Opinion columns represent the viewpoint of the author and not of The Record or the school. We encourage students, alumni, faculty, staff, and parents to submit opinions by emailing record@horacemann.org.

Letters Letters to the editor often respond to editorials, articles, and opinions pieces, allowing The Record to uphold its commitment to open discourse within the school community. They too represent the opinion of the author and not of The Record or the school. To be considered for publication in the next issue, letters should be submitted by mail (The Record, 231 West 246th Street, Bronx, NY 10471) or email (record@horacemann.org) before 6 p.m. on Wednesday evening. All submissions must be signed.

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Online Editor Emily Grant Faculty Adviser David

Contact For all tips, comments, queries, story suggestions, complaints and corrections, please contact us by email at record@horacemann.org.

ROBOTICS FUN Basement Lions take a celebratory team photo

Courtesy of Jiyon Chatterjee

Sophia Liu/Art Director

Vivian Coraci/Art Director

Charles Ampah/Staff Photographer

Vivian Coraci/Art Director

Energy drinks are a Monster mistake

educators alike have consistently advised against adolescent energy drink consumption for fear of major health risks. In fact, the American Academy of Pediatrics recommends against young adults consuming more than 100 mg of caffeine, or the equivalent of one cup of coffee, per day. Energy drinks often surpass this caffeine limit, with just one 12oz can of Celsius or Prime Energy containing 200mg of caffeine.

Whether I have a soccer game or just need a little energy boost during A period, I turn to energy drinks on a weekly basis to keep up with my daily hustle and bustle. Although I try to restrict my energy drink intake, I have many peers who drink them multiple times every day! Just take a look at the Girls Varsity Soccer team’s Instagram, which Celsius practically sponsors (we wish)! Half of the time, the drinks do nothing, but the other 50% of the time, they send me into spits of nausea or make me want to escape the sound of my own beating heart. With all these side effects, and, at times, no tangible benefits, I sometimes wonder why I continue to drink them.

Despite the euphoria produced by cracking open a cold Celsius and listening to its sizzle, scientists and

In addition to caffeine, energy drinks contain myriad other stimulants—drugs that increase activity of the central nervous system—that pose potential health concerns. For example, Celsius contains ingredients such as ginseng, guarana, L-carnitine, and taurine, which have been banned by the National Collegiate Athletics Association (NCAA), the National Olympic committee, and the World Anti-Doping Agency, are said to cause heart palpitations, sleep disturbances, and more.

If these drinks pose so many health risks, why are they so popular among our generation?

One factor is the industry’s use of marketing tactics. Bright packaging and catchy names often grab the attention of young consumers like us, who are, as studies have shown, more likely to make impulsive purchases based on aesthetic appeal. Even when people are not advertising the beverages for energy, they still come up on my TikTok “For You” Page.

Furthermore, energy drink ad-

vertising campaigns draw in young consumers with influencers. One brand heavily reliant on social media marketing is Bang Energy. The brand’s campaign has been super successful, and I am sure you have seen at least one advertisement for the drink – bonus points if it was on TikTok. Bang Energy contracts influencers as long-term brand ambassadors to produce sponsored content over long periods of time, and what can I say? If Jojo Siwa is taking a sip of it and then pulling off some sick dance moves, I just need to have it. When ever I see Bang Ener gy in the real world, I am always tempted to buy a can, even if I just want to see if it lives up to the hype. For many drinks, I think the idea of the beverage and an en ergy boost is more tempting than the actual effects: I have seen Logan Paul and KSI’s Prime advertised everywhere, so I tried it, and I mean, what wrong can Logan Paul do? Even if the drink did not do much, drinking it was exhil arating in itself. Beyond the flashy marketing, the more obvious temptation for

energy drinks is teenagers’ busy schedules. The academic demands of the school often mean that students have to sacrifice sleep to get their work done, which leads to a reliance on caffeine. I often see students walk into school holding cans of Celsius, only to swap it out for a fresh can once it is finished. Even the school itself plays into the hype for energy drinks, with the Mong

drinks at home, it is unnecessary exposure that may drag even more people into this fad that originated with Coke, as it started.

Now, if energy drinks are so bad, what about coffee? Coffee tends to be the better choice, and has been shown to protect your body from diseases and support liver health, in moderation. Though drinks like Celsius are sugar free and low-calorie, this tends to be achieved through the addition of artificial sweeteners, which may interfere with parts of the brain related to energy, metabolism, and taste perception. In any case, students should not view caffeine or supplements as long-term solutions to sleep deprivation. Instead, experts say that you should focus on regular exercise, a balanced diet, and of course, sleeping enough. I do not hope for caffeine to be completely taken off of the racks, but I do think energy drinks that contain countless artificial chemicals should not be so easily accessible to teenagers.

The increasing demands of our fast-paced, 24/7 hustle culture can leave many feeling exhausted and burnt out with endless to-do lists. In this context, energy drinks may be viewed as a quick fix to increase productivity and combat fatigue. However, we must ask ourselves, at what cost?

The importance of promoting gender inclusivity within the gaming world

nately, this is the reality for most female gamers when they realize that their video game avatars lack diversity.

Imagine this: you’re playing one of your favorite video games, and while choosing an avatar, you realize none of the characters look like you, or even have similar characteristics. There is no variation in skin tone, all of the characters are male, and they all have perfectly muscled bodies. This leaves you feeling left out, thinking,“is this game only made for male players?” Unfortu-

It is vital that women be included in the gaming space. 48% of video game players are female, but 9% of all game protagonists are women, a clear indication that female characters in games are severely underrepresented. You may ask, “why is diversity in video games important anyway?” Not only is it crucial to have an inclusive and welcoming gaming community, but increased representation also incentivizes more female players to join the hobby. A study at Drexel University found that when there is an increase in representation in an activity, a more diverse population becomes interested in it.

Are female role models only admirable to women? Role models can exist in any form. I admire many diverse role models, from authors to musicians, and even advocates for social justice; their gender doesn’t make a difference to me. Great role models are individuals that possess

a finely-tuned moral compass; one’s physical appearance should not interfere with their ability to serve as a role model. Additionally, there are a multitude of video game protagonists that do not have a gender, such as robots, animals, and aliens. Most players don’t think twice about playing as these characters. I believe users should feel more comfortable playing as female characters because they are more realistic protagonists than mythical characters. Unfortunately, gaming companies prioritize creating unrealistic protagonists over women, cementing their belief that female characters are subhuman.

Without protagonistic representation, female characters are fetishized and sexualized, because in game developers’ points of view, they are just eye candy for male gamers. Female characters in these games often, in turn, project unrealistic body standards onto women, causing female gamers to see themselves in a negative light and making them feel forced to live up to these unachievable expectations of beau-

ty. Despite the clear problems that can come with less female representation in video games, there is still push back. For instance, in 2014, the video game series Assassin’s Creed stated that female playable characters would not be available in their multiplayer game mode due to production cuts. This excuse was later proved false when Business Insider found that the real reason for the lack of female characters was a result of male players’ belief that a female character would “alienate them from the game,’’ as game director Alex Hutchinson said. His logic was that male protagonists would be more appropriate role models for young boys.

The answer may seem simple; just add more female characters. However, games that try to incorporate female characters face immense backlash from their fanbases. A possible solution is increasing the advertising of games with female protagonists. Becky Chambers, a science fiction author, finds that games with female protagonists are less likely to sell than games with

male protagonists. It is unprofitable to have female protagonists, because it leaves many male players dissuaded from playing the games. With more advertising, games that promote diversity in their characters would see an increase in their fanbase and revenue, pushing other gaming companies to do the same. Harvestella, a game series aiming to spread character diversity, has been widely recognized for such efforts. Players choose their own gender (male, female, non-binary), because game producer Daisuke Taka believes this format includes a more diverse profile of characters. This effort not only paves the way for female protagonists in gaming, but also for producers to include LGBTQ+ representation.

Diverse video games ensure that everyone has the ability to engage positively in the activities they love. They foster positive mindsets among women, break down outdated stereotypes, and pave the way for greater inclusivity in gaming communities.

Erica Jiang

Sarina Shah

Sophia Liu/Art Director

@HMseniordecision wants you to follow you: Accept or Reject?

Gillian Ho and James Zaidman Staff Writers

Posting congratulations for friends upon their commitment to college has both pros and cons, Coco Trentalancia (12) said. “On one hand, [college is] a whole new chapter for all the seniors, but on the other, there’s a lot of students who haven’t committed and there’s some form of pressure that could make an unsafe environment.”

Although both Fieldston (@fieldston23niors_) and Riverdale (@riv23seniors) each have public Instagram decision accounts for their senior classes, the school does not. Nonetheless, many students use their personal social media accounts to post congratulatory stories and other messages for their classmates.

In the fall, a college decision account was created for the school on Instagram. The next day the administration instructed the senior class to remove the account. In a December 14 email to Class of 2023, Dean Chidi Asolu ka explained, “While I understand the genu ine excitement to acknowledge each other’s accomplishments, doing so publicly may have the unintended consequence of causing harm. Out of respect to our core value of balancing individual achievement and a caring commu nity, this account must be permanently de leted and no other account of its kind can be created.”

The account was taken down because a student whose acceptance was posted was un comfortable being showcased on the account and reported it to the administration, Dean of Students Michael Dalo said. “In general, [the administration] discourages and actively asks students not to create any sort of social media account where they’re just accumulating col lege decisions.”

In addition to harming seniors, the account could also hurt underclassmen, Dalo said. It may further stress out students who already spend much of their high school careers fixat ing on college, he said. If there is nothing be sides a student’s future college listed on each Instagram post, as was the case, it causes stu dents to equate a senior’s entire identity to the college to which they are accepted, Dalo said. Furthermore, Dalo finds the account un necessary as The Record annually publishes college results of conscenting seniors in the class day issue, he said. “There is a moment … when all of this information is shared and celebrated.”

A further concern around the college de cisions account is that it could potentially el evate the competitive culture around college decisions, Community Council Chair Jake Ziman (12) said. The misconception that col lege decisions are an indicator of someone’s academic potential fuels judgment of seniors by their peers and younger students, Ziman said. This could be exacerbated by the public nature of an Instagram account.

A college decision Instagram account is not the cause of students’ disappointment; rather, the disappointment is a symptom of students constantly fixating on getting accepted to the most prestigious school possible, Nitika Subramanian (12) said. “This comes from attending a prep school where a lot of people can

feel that the purpose of a high school education is to go to college.”

Despite the potential harms, Riya Daga (12) is in support of a college decision account if it is created during the springtime. The account should be created once seniors have received their Early Decision (ED) results and submitted their Regular Decision (RD) applications, she said. This would give seniors’ ample time to process their ED results.

Dalo, however, thinks that an account would not be acceptable, no matter the time of year it is created, he said. The account takes the agency of reporting college decisions out of the hands of the 182 seniors and puts it into the hands of an anonymous account administrator, he said.

The removal of the account was confusing, as the school had allowed similar accounts in the past, Clio Rao (12) said. However, Rao too believes it would be more appropriate for the account to exist now with RD results having come out, as opposed to in the fall, when ED

nior class, 62% of 45 total respondents reported posting for their friends after they committed to a college, with 93% of respondents posting their congratulations on Instagram, mainly via stories.

Rao enjoys posting for her friends because it gives her a chance to reflect on their memories together, she said. She particularly loves going through her camera roll and choosing pictures for photo collages to put on her story.

Posting for friends can allow seniors to find joy and happiness amidst the stressful college process, Rao said. “The college process is filled with emotions running high, so I think the celebratory aspect is something that we want to respect as much as possible,” she said. While it can be difficult to see other students getting into schools that one applied to, at the end of the day, the posts are made for fun without any malicious intent, Rao said.

While Spencer does not post for friends, she is not explicitly against it, she said. She just prefers to congratulate her friends in person, she said. “[Posting] is just not my thing, but

class anyways, she said. Accordingly, Rao always understands if a friend does not want their acceptance to be shared publicly or even shared at all, she said.

Head of the Upper Division (UD) Dr. Jessica Levenstein encourages and applauds students who make the decision to keep their college process confidential, she said. “I wouldn’t call that secrecy,” she said. “I would call it privacy.”

Posts can be damaging or stressful to those waiting to hear back from colleges, Levenstein said. “If you’re still waiting on a decision or if you’re waiting on your waitlist school and you’re scrolling through your feed and seeing tons of these posts, I’m sure that can bring you down.”

The removal of the Instagram account fits with a larger school culture of keeping the college process secret, Trentalancia said. For instance, students are discouraged from wearing college merch.

Chang does not see an issue with occasionally sporting college merch. “Sometimes I’ll just put on college merch because it’s at the top of my drawer,” she said. While she acknowledges that college merch can potentially cause stress, wearing it once in a while is not inherently a problem, she said.

Similarly, Trentalancia does not see an issue with underclassmen wearing merch during the college season as there is no malicious intent behind it, she said. In addition, since many underclassmen are not even thinking about the college process when wearing the college merchandise, seniors should not take offense, she said.

Levenstein appreciates that seniors tend to hold off on wearing their college merch until the spring, she said. “For some people, [the college process] is done in December, and for others, it’s done in mid or late May.”

she said. At the end of the day, the college you go to should not have to be a secret, she said.

“If anything, I think the point of decision accounts is to celebrate the seniors regardless of which school they go to.”

Despite the removal of the Instagram account, students continue to post congratulations on their personal social media accounts. In an anonymous Record poll sent to the se-

flashy,” she said.

Rao is also careful when posting for friends. She always makes sure that the friend that she is posting for consents to their acceptance being shared, she said.

Although Rao respects students who try to keep aspects of their college process private, gossip spreads quickly so college decisions are often discovered by other members of the

Sophia Liu/Art Director

Puzzle craze sweeps through the school community

Blake Bennett and Audrey o’mary Staff Writers

“We all get distracted by different things,” World Languages Department Chair María del Pilar Valencia said. “A fly, a friend, a funny moment, a memory, a text message, can break our attention for a bit,” To some students, games serve as a distraction during class time, prompting teachers to enforce restrictions on technology.

“Brain games” of all sorts, have taken over the campus, Aydan Ergin (10) said. Students can be found discussing Wordle strategy in Olshan Lobby or huddled around the puzzle table in Katz Library playing “brain games,” he said. Students enjoy both long and shortform games, Ergin said. In addition to more time-consum ing video games such as Fortnite, Ergin likes playing puzzle games such as 2048 in his free time. Ergin particularly enjoys games that al low him to work with his friends such as crosswords, he said.

There are many different “brain games’’ that are popular right now, Max Feng (11) said. “I like playing Wordle, the NYT Mini, Contexto, and Rankdle usually at school or at home whenever I have free time,” he said.

This year, though not quite as popular as last year, Wordle remains a favorite pastime among

students at the school, Ergin said. Games have become so popular on campus that there is now a dedicated game table in the Katz Library which allows students with free time to play games, Upper Division (UD) Library Department Chair Melissa Kazan said. The game table, which started out with just a jigsaw puzzle, now also features crafts, coloring books, and posters, she said. The extra-large coloring posters are particularly popular among students in between classes, she said. “Working on a puzzle or a coloring activity is a terrific way for students to decompress, either by Ergin likes to play games to fill short periods of time, he said. “If I’m just sitting down and I want to pass a couple seconds, I’ll fill it with some sort of shorter game… maybe 2048 or Wordle.”

Students often play games before class, English teacher Dr. Andrew Fippinger said. “If I see them doing a crossword, playing Wordle, or something like that before class begins, I’m all for it, as I love a good word game myself.”

However, Middle Division (MD) science teacher Beth Ann Marian-Johnson sometimes notices students playing games during class time, she said. “Sometimes students will try and say that they’re doing it as part of an assignment they have,” she said. One of the games she has noticed students playing most is chess, she said. Another game is Little Alchemy, in which players strategically combine resources to form new items, she said. Marian gives students one warning to get

back on task before she takes their device away, she said. “Nine times out of ten, they go back to [their work].”

Accordingly, some teachers have imposed restrictions on technology use during class time. “All that [my students] have out on the desk is the book we’re reading and a notebook,” Fippinger said. “Cellphones and computers are in their bags.”

History teacher Dr. Ellen Bales has also imposed restrictions on technology in order to prevent game-playing during class. Bales prohibits the use of computers, and she encourages her students to work on paper, she said. While Bales does occasionally notice students drawing in class, she believes that for some students, unlike games, doodling can be a useful method for increasing concentration, she said. “It’s challenging to stay focused all day in school, especially when you are sitting so much of the day.”

Valencia does not appreciate when students play games during class, she said. “Games in the classroom are a deliberate act, a choice of getting distracted,” she said. “That is not in the spirit of what we do here at school, nor in the spirit of how we should behave with people around us.”

Marian is more sympathetic to students playing educational games than those playing non-educational games. “If I see someone playing chess, I’m kind of like, ‘oh, that’s a great game to be playing, but now is not the time,’” she said. “If [the game] has a bit of an educational focus, I probably am a little more lenient.” But regardless of the games students are playing, Marian reminds them to go back to their work, she said.

Games provide both mental stimulation and a break from stressful classwork, Feng said. “I play games to destress and to get my mind off of work,” he said. “For Valorant [(a first-person shooter game)] in particular, I enjoy seeing myself progress in skill level and ‘climb the ranks’ but it’s also

an outlet for me to socialize with people, including friends at school, because we’re usually on a call on Discord.”

Games can serve as either a distraction or as entertainment, depending on the time, Feng said. “Games can be distracting when I’m getting work done,” he said. “But I personally find them to be better alternatives to YouTube or TikTok because I tend to play ‘daily’ games where there’s a puzzle and they’re one and done when I’ve completed it.”

Games can also be a much-needed break from social media, Victoria Sassower (11) said. “Games are different from social media because you aren’t looking at what others are doing and posting—you are just interacting against a computer or phone or sometimes friends.”

WORDLE W Migdon (11) solves daily challenge

Courtesy of Sophie Pietrzak

Courtesy of Karla Moreira

Memories from Broadway: Upper Division music teachers in the spotlight

Clara Medeiros Staff Writer

“[Music and the french horn has] made such an impact on me and such an impact on audiences,” french horn teacher and freelance musician Sarah Boxmeyer said. “I love trying to share that with others and with my students.” Boxmeyer is currently performing full-time in the Orchestra of Broadway production Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street, a revival of the original 1979 musical.

“Since there are no formal auditions [for orchestra players] it can be harder to break into Broadway,” Boxmeyer said. It is important to always take full advantage of every opportunity that comes your way, she said. “When I was first offered the horn chair at Sweeney Todd, I was thrilled, honored, and very grateful.”

Before Sweeney Todd, Boxmeyer played in the orchestra for King Kong and was a substitute for the shows Phantom of the Opera, Aladdin, and Funny Girl. Even though it was really fun getting to play in a variety of shows as a substitute, the ever-changing schedule was challenging, Boxmeyer said. “Once, a colleague forgot they were supposed to be at Phantom, so I got a call at showtime from one of the regular horn players saying ‘we have a no show, are you available?’” Boxmeyer had a cab, arriving there in the middle of a song,

Working on Sweeney Todd has a wonderful experience, Boxmeyer said. With the more stable work schedule, Boxmeyer is grateful to have the power to help portray the Sweeney Todd story to the audience as a member of the orchestra, she said.

“We’re telling stories to other humans and I’m a small part of that,” she said. “No matter how small or large the part, we’re all in it for this collective same purpose.”

Julia Bouchut Staff Writer

“Opening night on Broadway is like theater-Christmas,” music teacher Carmen Keels said. “It's the same as every other day, because you're singing and you're warming up, and you're doing all the things, but there's flowers everywhere.”

After building up her resumé through regional performances around the country, Keels moved to New York City in 2004, she said. A year later Keels appeared on Broadway in the show In My Life, which ran from October until mid-December 2005.

Opening night on Broadway was exciting, between the red-carpet afterparty, and all the gifts, Keels said. “'It’s not like anything else that I've ever experienced.” At the same time, it was extremely nerve-wracking. “This show was kind of terrible,” Keels said. “Lots of talent, but a really strange quirky plot.”

Keels remembers a stage manag - er who enjoyed the absurdi - ty of the musical, she said. The stage manager would bring her dog to work and have it make ap -

Brody Grossman Staff

“It is a great feeling to be part of a large group working together to create something,” violin teacher Sarah Zun said about her time on Broadway.

Zun has been in many Broadway productions, both full-time and as a substitute, such as Beetlejuice, Hello Dolly, The Lion King, Les Miserables, sia, and Frozen. Current ly, she is in the play Camelot.

Although Broadway productions take years of work, Zun only gets to see the final results a week or so before the previews, she said.

pearances on stage. “When we had an ensemble crossover street scene, sometimes Buster the dog would also be in the show,” Keels said.

There were many other funny moments, Keels said. For example, an old woman brought all the cast members candy in personalized boxes with pictures from the show and cut up programs, she said. “It sounds sweet at first, but now I’m thinking that it was kind of weird.”

Following her time on Broadway, Keels still pursues both her passions: teaching and music. She has been teaching music, directing musicals, and helping with the choirs at the school since 2012.

Her experiences in musical theater have taught her valuable lessons, and while she only does music gigs on the side these days, her acting and musical skills will always stay with her, Keels said. “It's not something that you lose or forget how to do.”

“Throughout the preview pe riod, adjust ments are made to the music and occasionally an extra rehearsal will be called.” After a few days of intense rehearsals, the musicians are ready to perform together, she said. An intimidating aspect of being a musician can be performing in front of others, but it is important to remember that mistakes are part of a live performance, Zun said. “My first violin teacher told me to consider each public performance to be a gift that I can share with others.”

Making it to Broadway took lots of hard work, Zun said. She has been playing violin since she was four years old, and it has been a passion of hers for most of her life. “I started because my parents decided that I should,” she said. “Luckily, it worked out for me.”

In the future, Zun hopes to continue growing as a musician and taking the opportunities that are presented to her, she said. “I definitely am enjoying playing Broadway shows and I hope that continues,” she said. Zun holds herself to a very high professional standard and continues to evolve her craft. “Stagnation is my nemesis,” she said. “I try to do the best job that I can in any setting, because you never know what opportunities are around the corner.”

Students form lasting bonds through HM band ensembles

Jacqueline Shih Staff Writer

“Band isn’t just a class, it really is more like a community or family to me,” Ellen Wang (10), flutist for the Wind Ensemble, said.

The school offers students the opportunity to be a part of many bands, including a Wind Ensemble, Chamber Winds, and two jazz bands, Wang said. The bands differ in style and number of members. The Wind Ensemble is the largest with about 21

members, whereas Chamber Winds relies on a smaller group of five performers. In addition, there are two jazz bands which have more creative freedom than the other band classes, Wang said.

While they specialize in making jazz music, the jazz groups accept students who play a wide variety of instruments at different levels. While anyone is welcome to audition, most players have played for several years, flutist for the wind ensemble, Catherine Mong (10) said.

The band’s diverse range of music including swing, casanova, samba, and hard bop, make it fun and interesting, Harry Cotrell (12) said. His favorite piece is Blue Bossa by Dexter Gordon. The vibrant and layered, yet relaxing piece is what one might expect to hear at really any bar off of a lobby in New York City.

One benefit of the wide range of music is that it helps the students in Jazz Combo learn about different cultures, eras, and genres of music, Wang said. Bulgaria Lemontonia was Wang’s favorite piece, because it allowed the musicians to experiment with their instruments and personal styles, while diving deeper into other cultures, she said. In fact, the flutes took off headjoint of their instruments to play a different sound. “It sounded exotic and unique,” she said. “I loved the piece.”

Due to the complex nature of the music, each member of the Wind Ensemble has an important role in the

group. For example, performers like Cotrell focus specifically the bass part whereas Wang focuses on the melody, Wang said. Everyone contributes something unique to the tone and overall sound of their performance, she said.

Students often join bands for the thrill of being on stage, and an opportunity to express themselves musically, guitarist for jazz band Rain Li (10) said. “Every concert is a highlight for me,” he said. “Seeing the audience enjoying our music makes me satisfied.”

Being in a band is a great opportunity to work on teamwork and make friends, Li said. The group has slowly grown and improved together throughout the year. “We are becoming better as a group by listening to each other more carefully and adjusting our own playing to everyone else,” he said.

Many experiences from the band stay close to students’ hearts, Mong

said. “Donut days right after the concert are definitely my favorite memory,” she said. Mong also enjoys when, after performances, Upper Division music teacher Michael Bomwell treats the band to tasty treats from down the hill. This gives the band members a fun time to hang out with bandmates and Mr. Bomwell, she said. “I think overall it’s also really nice to have a group of people that you know for all four years.”

Similarly, being in band has had a huge impact on Cotrell’s school life and has led to him making many of his closest friends, Cotrell said. Band is a great way to meet and bond with classmates, he said.

Despite losing time due to the pandemic, the bands are still close-knit. Now, the groups spend every other day during class, certain performance nights, and even band bonding days to really get to know each other, Wang said.

Sarah Boxmeyer Carmen Keels Sarah Zun

Students celebrate Spring Holidays: Q and A

Oliker Konopko Staff Writer

Passover (Rose Korff (10)):

Q: How are you celebrating/observing the holiday and with whom?

A: “[On] Wednesday and Thursday night, my immediate family, grandparents, and cousins had seders at my grandparents’ house. The seder starts after sundown and it’s usually pretty long. We took turns reading the Hebrew and the story of Passover, and we had a big meal. There are also some fun songs we sing after. Then, until [next] Thursday night, we’re not eating any food that’s not kosher for Passover, which is eating any food that rises and is the hardest part of Passover. Sometimes you’ll be walking around the city and smell something good and you just can’t eat it. ”

Q: What is the meaning of this holiday to you?

A: “This holiday is important because of the history that it represents for the Jewish people. The story of being enslaved in Egypt - it’s important to remember that story. It’s also just a time when I’m all together with my family, because even though they all live in the city, we don’t get together that much … During Passover, we share the story of our shared ancestry and pass our culture to the next generations.”

Ramadan(Mikail Akbar (12)):

Q: How are you celebrating/observing the holiday and with whom?

A: “Ramadan is a very important month for me, my family, and Muslims across the world. Muslims not only abstain from food and drink, but we also try to improve our consciousness of God through increased prayer, reading the Quran, giving charity, and in general doing good deeds. One way that I really like celebrating Ramadan is by going to the mosque. Every day we break our fast together, and we have a free meal that’s sponsored by someone in the mosque. I’m able to see a lot of people who I don’t usually see during the year, and it’s great to build community with my fellow Muslims.”

Q: What is the meaning of this holiday to you?

A: “ Ramadan is a month of getting closer to God. All of the things that we do, such as increased worship, increased charity, and abstinence from food and drink, are all ways of getting closer to the religion. During most of the year, we don’t have the same level of connection with God.”

Easter(Jacob Meltzer(10)):

Q: How are you celebrating/observing the holiday, and with whom?

A: “I celebrated the holiday with my family and some of my extended family by going to my grandma’s house in Rhode Island the night before and then waking up and going to church. My grandma also makes us a really good breakfast in the morning..”

Q: What is the meaning of this holiday to you?

A: “I am Christian but not super religious. I think, to me, this holiday is a nice chance to get together with family and make memories with some of my cousins and my grandparents … My cousins live in Rhode Island, so I don’t see them very often, really only for the holidays like Christmas, Easter, and Thanksgiving. It’s one of the chances each year I get to see them, and it’s always really nice”

Q: What is your favorite tradition?

A: “There’s always the afikomen, but that’s not particular to one family. Everybody does it, but everybody has different traditions regarding it. So, usually, we have the parents hide it, and then the kids find it, but then sometimes the little kids hide it, and we [the teenagers] find it … Another almost-unspoken tradition in my family is all of the kids trying to read the section about the wise son and then laughing at the person who reads about the evil son. ”

Q: What is your favorite food for this holiday and why?

A: “There’s so many good foods, so I love my grandma’s brisket and then matzah ball soup. My aunt makes a homemade matzah ball soup, not from a mix, and she puts [in] all the vegetables, and it takes hours. It’s super, super delicious. I also eat matzah pizza for breakfast, lunch, and dinner–lots of pizza. I eat it year-round too.”

Q: What is your favorite tradition?

A: “Every day during Ramadan, we have what’s called iftar, where everyone in the mosque breaks their fast together. So, my siblings and I like to come early to the mosque and help with volunteering. My fellow youth volunteers and I have fun organizing the dining hall, distributing the food, and cleaning up afterwards.”

Q: What is your favorite food for this holiday and why?

A: “One great thing about Islam, in general, is that it’s a global religion because there are adherents from all around the world. So, almost every day in the mosque, when someone sponsors Iftar, we eat foods from different cuisines. One day I may have Bengali food, or American food like burgers and fries. Arab, African, and Eastern European food is also very common. Many Muslims and I would agree that the best food to eat during Ramadan are dates. The tradition of eating dates goes all the way back to Prophet Muhammad because he always broke his fast with dates.”

Q: What is your favorite tradition?

A: “Growing up, I used to love the egg hunt I would do with my family, and when my sister was younger, we’d do it together with my other cousins my age … And now, as I’m older, I like getting to paint the eggs and hide them, and then watching my younger cousins have a really good time with it.”

Q: What is your favorite food for this holiday and why?

A: “I have a lot of Italian family from my mom’s side, like my grandmother. She makes a lot of Italian, breakfast-style foods. She’ll make this toasted bread and put ricotta cheese on it and honey, which, when I first tried it a few years ago, I thought it would be really disgusting, but it’s really good.”

The Mong Cafe’s brew is worth the queue; student reviews cafe’s new menu

Malachai Abbott Staff Writer

As you walk into the lobby of Lutnick Hall, you may hear the shrieking sounds of students chatting away in their swiveling chairs, or maybe catch a glimpse of the inside of a science class, or, lately, you may see the freshly revamped Mong Family Café. This past February, the Mong Family Café, dubbed “Roaring and Pouring,” reopened after being closed for three years due to COVID-19.

Since its opening, the café has quickly become one of the most popular destinations on campus. Students can stop to grab a snack, or, with the new addition of naturally sourced caffeine “focus shots,” stop by for a quick caffeine boost. While students flock to the little nook that encloses the Mong Family Café, FLIK staff work diligently to prepare students’ orders

from the large menu.

On Tuesday, I visited this bustling corner of Lutnick Hall for the first time in weeks. While the lines and hordes of students awaiting their drinks and treats had previously deterred me, I decided it was time to give Roaring and Pouring another shot.

After an uncharacteristically short wait, I decided to try a mango smoothie and a chocolate chip muffin. The transaction process was quick: a simple swipe of my school ID card. At first glance, the smoothie was a deep marigold color, but the muffin looked no different than what you would find in the cafeteria during breakfast hours or at the end of the day. The smoothie was chilled, thick, and tangy, which I enjoyed; it was everything and more than you would expect from a mango smoothie. This is an item I would definitely recom-

mend to any café goer.

My muffin, however, was not the fluffy snack I had hoped it would be. Instead, it was dry and crumbly, which meant, before I left the Mong Café, I spent the better part of a minute simply wiping the crumbs off the table into my hand. This was strange, given that the muffin I tried in the cafeteria later that day was soft and fresh.

For the short time I had to wait, the ease with which I ordered and received my food, and the refreshing flavor of the smoothie, I had an enjoyable experience at the Mong Family Café. However, I did not leave with the best impression of the quality and flavor of the muffin, on which I spent $2.50.

The Mong Family Café is an exciting readdition to the school, allowing students to relax with their friends and enjoy a nice treat or drink during

the school day. With to-go snacks and more drink options, The Mong Family Cafe has widely expanded the food choices at the school. However, I believe the Mong Café could great-

ly benefit from the added efficiency of having another cashier, and an improvement in the quality of their muffins so that they stand out from the cafeteria offerings.

Lions’ Den Record Sports

Ultimate Frisbee flies into a great season Boys Varsity Golf on par for victory

Avery Vukhac Staff Writer

The high winds of Van Cortlandt Park did not stop the Varsity Ultimate Frisbee Team from starting their season off strong. On Monday, the team had a nail-biting win against the Solomon Schechter School.

During the game, the team accomplished several impressive stunts, including a Callahan— when the opposing team threw a disc that got intercepted in the end zone—giving the Lions the point. The game ended in a close win for the Lions, scoring 8-7.

In addition to the stiff competition, the windy weather during the match challenged the team, making throws less predictable and more chal-

lenging to catch, team member Robbie Keirstead (12) said.

Beyond just practicing their throws and catches, the team has effectively created a community that not only fosters competition, but also values support. Some of the nicest moments during the games are cheering each other on rather than the end result, Beckett Najjar (10) said.

Part of the team’s success came from working hard during the Spring Training Trip in Florida, Brady Bu (10) said. The team participated in a week of team bonding, conditioning, and long practices. In addition to routine drills, the team used pools in Florida to improve their technique and physical strength, he said.

Despite winning the first game of the season, there are still areas in which they hope to improve, Bu said. This game gave the team a sense of what they can work on throughout the rest of the season, such as playmaking, he said.

While the team is in great shape, they could improve even further by recognizing each player’s role on the field and utilizing that mental strength during the game, Keirstead said. “When the team actually comes together and plays a game, I feel like all the stuff that we work on in practice really starts clicking,” he said.

Varsity Ultimate Frisbee Coach Chris Nelson is optimistic about the progress the team will make throughout the season. “It’s wonderful to see them playing together, and I don’t think we have reached our potential as a team or as individuals yet,” he said.

Hannah Becker Staff Writer

The Boys Varsity Golf (BVG) team launched their season last Tuesday with a close match against Collegiate, falling two strokes short of victory. The match took place at Sun ningdale Country Club in Greenville, New York where the team’s top five players finished with a total score of 195 to Collegiate’s 194.

The team was expecting a chal lenging match as Colle giate is one of the best in the league, BVG Matteo Monti (11) we wanted to win, we weren’t too disappointed considering we had a great score and they put up a strong competition,” he said.

While the whole team did a great job, Oliver Meyer (11) and Jack Beard (9) were both standout players during the match, BVG team mem ber Andrew Mark (10) said. “They both shot 35s, which is one below par, making it a very good score,” he said.

Each player can only focus on improving their personal skills, Beard said. “We are a solid team, and I have a lot of confidence going into our future games, knowing we can all put up good performanc es,” he said.

Moving forward, Beard aims to practice his putts and chips—two

strokes that are crucial to the game. “During our match, multiple members on both teams ‘three putted,’ which can heavily increase the score,” he said. “If we practice making our putting more consistent, lots of shots can be shaved off.”

Despite it only being the Lions’ first match of the season, the team was adequately prepared due to their Spring Training trip, where they played eight to nine hours of golf each day, bonded as a team, and enjoyed lively team dinners, Monti said. “Our training in Florida helped whip us into shape and get us into a groove again.”

Although golf is an individual sport, the team members still have an unbreakable bond, BVG Head Coach Tim Sullivan said. “[The bond] is obvious through the way the boys support and root for each other, and if someone is having a bad day, the rest of the team always tries to pick them up and make them feel good,” he said. “I love being part of the team, and I think all of the players do as well,” Sullivan

Spring sports kick-off as Lions roar into new season

Varsity Softball load the bases

Madeleine Offit Staff Writer

The Girls Varsity Softball Team (GVS) started their season off strong with a 15-14 victory over Fieldston last Tuesday. This victory reflects the team’s hard work during preseason, and marks the beginning of what will likely be a successful sea son for the Lions, GVS Coach Ray Barile said.

The game’s score went back and forth. The Lions started with an 8-0 lead, before Fieldston made an eight run comeback. With Fieldston batting last, the Li ons tried their best to not let up any runs toward the end of the game, GVS team member Sammie Pru (11) said. “We all really the win, and we to secure it,” she

The Spring helped prepare grow together and explore the new team dynamic, Pruzan said. Along with playing scrimmages, they bonded by going to team dinners and Universal

Boys Varsity Tennis wins first match

Studios.

Memories from the Spring Training trip for Eden Riebling (10) include going to Universal for six hours one day and throwing Barile a surprise birthday party (complete with a crown that said “birthday princess”). “One night we all got a giant birthday cake, brought it back to our rooms, and ate it together,” she said. “It was

The trip is important, not only for practice, but in terms of team bonding and team dynamics, Barile

“Obviously we got to play a lot of softball, but really the girls coming together and being on the same page always helps us throughout the season,” he said. Many girls on the team have unique skill sets in throwing, catching, or hitting, but ensuring the team is cohesive is one of the most essential steps to winning games, Barile said.

One of the team’s goals this season is to make the NYSAIS tournament and finish at the top in Ivy League rankings. The Lions anticipate a difficult game against Poly Prep, one of the top teams in the Ivy League, but remain optimistic and confident going into future games.

Jerry Zhou Contributing Writer

Boys Varsity Tennis (BVT) started their season off strong, winning the season’s first match 5-0 against Fieldston last Tuesday. The win reflects the hard work the team has put in during preseason, team member Gray Gordon (9) said.

The Lions came into the season motivated and prepared after a successful Spring Break Training Trip to California, Gordon said. “Our two daily practices and exhibition matches against Portola and Woodbridge High School adequately prepared the team for our first match.”

BVT team member Malcolm Furman (12) enjoyed preseason and thought it benefitted the team, he said. “The trip was a great way to build the team community and prepare us for competitive matches,” he said. “This was especially true for our doubles players since we worked heavily on doubles strategy during the trip.”

Using skills acquired during the preseason, Gordon was able to make a significant comeback in the match against Fieldston, he said. While playing, Gordon ended up winning with a score of 7-5 in the second set after being down 4-1, he said.

The team hopes to continue their strong per-

formance for the rest of the season, BVT team member Max Meyer (12) said. The team lost several skilled seniors last year, but they hope to remain strong competitors within the Ivy Preparatory League, he said.

The team members are close with one another, and have learned to approach intimidating matches with a relaxed mindset, Gordon said. The Lions are looking forward to competing against other teams in the league, such as Collegiate and Riverdale, he said.

Coming off of a win the team is excited to continue improving even more, Josh Winiarsky (12) said. At this rate, the team is optimistic they will have a strong season, he said.

WHAT A THROW! Wong (12) warms up.

Aryan Palla/Photo Director

Aryan Palla/Photo Director

Courtesy of Barry Mason

Courtesy of Jorge Orvananos