February 2015, Issue 3, Vol. 50

2.18.15

Issue 3

Volume 50

www.jcpatriot.com

@JCPatriot

@JCPatriot

Index

News 2

Lifestyles 4

A&E 7

In-Depth 8

The JC Patriot

The JC Patriot

Opinion 11

JCPatriot

JCPatriot

Sports 14

Take control of

stress

It’s no surprise that students experience stress.

The Patriot looks into the best ways to handle it.

Lifestyles 6 Opinion 12

With the inconsistent blocking, The Patriot investigates changes in JC’s perspective on website blockings during school.

What does your favorite song say about you? Discover how different genres have an effect on your mood.

From sushi to rice to shrimp tempura, The Patriot dishes out the best restaurant for your Asian cuisine dining experience.

News 3

In-Depth 8

A&E 10

2

NEWS

February 2015

, why The Patriot looks at Maryland laws and what they mean for students Mitch Hopkins News Editor

Marijuana As of Oct. 1, the law about the possession of marijuana changed.

Instead of carrying criminal charges and a record, the possession of less than 10 grams of marijuana will now only carry a $100 fine, “similar to a speeding ticket,” according to WBAL. Equivalent possession could have led to a $500 fine and or a 90 day prison sentence.

According to Vice Principal of Student Affairs and Technology Brian Powell, “being a private school, we have to protect our school. We can’t let one person

of 55% students know

5

or more people

who smoke

MARIJUANA

outside of what we expect bring person has intent to distribute. down our name for all of the other Powell had another word of adpeople doing the right stuff.” vice. “If you want to bring drugs Penalties are still in place. Not to school and use them, know that only will the fine be enacted, but it will change your life.” the marijuana will be taken. Also, repeated offenses cause higher Driving fines and eventually drug educaYou’re going to have to think tion.

A student who wishes to re- before you drive in Maryland.

To obtain a driver’s license, main anonymous said “I feel that the decriminalization of marijua- one must complete a 30 hour na will expand the market, which driver’s education course, have will expand the market and make six hours worth of driving time it easier to obtain which will re- with a licensed instructor, have 60 hours of driving with a licensed sult in more use.”

In a poll conducted on Feb. 6, adult over 21, obtain a note from the Patriot found that, out of 99 school saying that they have a deresponses, 37 percent of students cent attendance record, and perform a driving test thought that that includes parMaryland’s laws concernWe still have a drug allel parking and a two-point turn. ing marijuana and alcohol policy According to were completely fair. that will be enforced a surveymonkey on Feb. 6, However, and it isn’t 10 grams poll 53 percent of stuthis does not it is zero grams. dents think that change the polthe difficulty level icy that JC has Vice Principal Brian Powell for obtaining a in place. driver’s license “We still have a drug and alcohol policy in Maryland is fair. However, an that will be enforced. It is zero anonymous response stated that grams. If you bring drugs or al- “it is not too hard to obtain the cohol onto the campus then the license, it just takes way too long policy will be in effect,” Powell to get it.” In Maryland, it takes a minimum of nine months to obsaid.

Although the laws about tain the license after receiving the possession of marijuana have permit.

“I would advise everyone to changed, smoking it still carries a heavier penalty, depending on get [their permit] as soon as they amount and whether or not the can. I got my permit late and I re-

“They are enorced as well as they can be enforced by the state.”

For more News , go to jcpatriot. com.

Recent legislation has also increased the penalty on cell phone usage while driving. “Jake’s law” now imposes a much heavier penalty than the laws that were in place, including a $5,000 fine and a maximum one-year jail sentence if there is an injury or death as a result from distracted driving.

Data comes from a survey conducted via Surveymonkey. 99 students responded.

“

”

Patriot Answers Freshman McKenna Rukowicz

gret it because now I have to rely on others for rides,” junior Caroline Angert said.

After the first license test, the restrictions are not over. New drivers may not drive anyone under 21 except for immediate family members until five months after they obtained their provisional license. They also may not drive after 12 a.m. or before 5 a.m. until they are 18, unless they are driving to or from a school event or work.

?

Sophomore Dan Zheng

“I feel like they aren’t enforced well at all because teenagers break the law everyday.”

How well do you think Maryland laws are enforced?

Junior Erin Welsh

Senior Robin Jiang

Faculty Jake Hollin

“I don’t think they are enforced very well because I know a lot of people who don’t get penalized for it.”

“The laws aren’t nearly as strict as they are in China, but I am still impressed.”

“I think our law enforcement does a good job enforcing the laws that are in the books.”

NEWS

February 2015

BLOCKED In-Depth Editor An anonymous student zones out of class as she scrolls through Pinterest. The teacher’s voice is just white noise as she “pins” away. She glances at the clock and realizes that class is over.

In her next class she types the Pinterest URL to find that the website has been blocked. Other fashion and social media websites are blocked too.

About a month ago JC implemented new restrictions that blocked almost every entertainment, sports, and shopping website.

“It is a balancing act of using the network for educational purposes and entertainment purposes, and we can’t let entertainment outweigh education,” Vice Principal of Student Affairs & Technology Brian Powell said.

Additionally, the school has a limited bandwidth and using it for the wrong reasons degrades it. Director of Technology Gregory Russell set the stricter filters which blocked the students’ most commonly used websites.

Unfortunately, a problem occurred for those students who were committing to college for sports. They were

Network performance improves Kathy Deaver Online Chief At the beginning of the school year, multiple wireless networks replaced the single one that had existed previously. Now, there are separate networks for faculty, administration, students, and mobile devices.

“It’s something I’d thought of from time to time, but it required some equipment upgrades we weren’t ready to do at the time,” Director of Technology Gregory Russell said. “A technology audit from an outside group gave us an extra push [to make the switch].”

According to Russell, the multiple networks act like multiple lanes on a highway, lessening the number of people in a single lane.

In addition, the new networks allow Russell to set selective firewalls that allow teachers to access websites unavailable to students. There are also two networks for the Advancement office and dorm students, who now have less restricted Internet access on snow days and holidays.

Although there are multiple networks, there is still only one Internet connection, which makes a bottleneck.

“My next thing to plan is to increase the speed at the Internet level,” Russell said. This step requires paying a higher fee to the Internet provider.

New administrative decisions keep students from accessing popular websites

Blocked Websites:

Sydney Kirwan

unable to go to the college’s websites for information and research. Powell reopened the sports and recreation filter so students could get to the websites, then specifically blocked the main sports websites, like ESPN and NFL.

3

When asked about teachers’ responses to this, Powell reported that no teachers have vocalized any benefits or disadvantages.

“With the age of the people that it’s aimed at and the propensity of the use, I think that it is a good thing. Students have

OFFERED

problems figuring out why they didn’t do well on tests since they were shopping instead of learning. The problem I have is students’ communicating during class time,” science teacher Timothy Perry said.

The teachers now have their own WiFi network, so they will not be affected by the blockings and slow internet speed when too many students are on at once.

“I understand why they blocked a lot of the websites. We just don’t have the bandwidth for it,” religion teacher Thomas Vierheller said.

Student opinions range from understanding to completely disagreeing with the new limitations.

“I don’t agree at all. [JC] is supposed to be a college preparatory school. Most colleges don’t block websites. [Instead] they expect you to be a responsible person, and if you choose to browse the web while your teacher is teaching, that is your problem,” junior Wilfred Ikejiofor said.

While Ikejiofor disagrees, fellow junior Rachel DiCamillo agrees with the blockings.

“I agree because it helps people stay more focused in class. The only problem I see is what if there’s a website you need to use for a project or something and it’s blocked,” DiCamillo said.

410-734-7300

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ATTENTION JC STUDENTS

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4

LIFESTYLES

by Billy Jump

healthy YOU Manage your stress with ease “First, I have to submit that college application before the deadline. Then, I have to remember to finish my French homework. Oh, but wait … I also need to come up with a script for Speech and Debate. And shoot! I have a math test tomorrow, and Mr. Appleby told us it was going to be hard.

OH MY GOD! Is it already 10 p.m.? I promised myself I would try to go to bed early tonight!”

A regular high school student most likely has had similar nights to the one I just described. To help out the poor souls staring at their computer at 3 a.m., I have come up with a list of rules to help give you back your sanity.

1. Avoidance A key word to learn: no. It’s important to know your limits.

From choosing which classes to take to resisting taking control of a group project, the word “no” is magic. It lets people know not to mess with you, and take it from me, this is a good thing.

“Should” and “must” are key words too. It is important to know that some things simply can’t get done and that there is nothing wrong with ignoring unnecessary tasks. The most important thing is managing and minimizing any conduits for stress in your life.

2. Adaptability If you can’t avoid stress, then maybe you can change yourself to overcome it.

Looking at the big picture can add a perspective that makes stress easier to manage. For example, studying for a math test can seem pointless because who the heck is ever going to need to know how to find the derivative of an exponential function? But understanding that failing can affect your grade and, therefore, your college transcript can help.

When I am stressed, I liked to take a minute to reflect on the things that I enjoy and that keep me happy. Anything that gives you a sense of happiness is key to overcoming stress, which brings me to my final point.

3. Making time for fun Whether it be playing a videogame or driving to New York, anything that brings you a sense of joy is crucial to relieving stress.

Also remember to keep a sense of humor. It’s important to learn to laugh at yourself and at the prospect of having hours upon hours of work. Just remember to smile and understand that everyone goes through stress. The key is to manage it in an effective and healthy way.

February 2015

the

Lockerlowdown

Taking a look at how students organize and what is hidden behind those metal doors

5%

of students would classify their lockers as a grocery store

12%

of students decorate their lockers with pictures and magnets

46%

of students don’t use locker ladders but know where everything is

30%

of students keep their lockers neat and organized

What’s on the Menu?

“An apple. I think that it might be alive.”

“Three-week-old soup I forgot about.”

“A Pop-Tart from six months ago.”

“A stale bagel that I had forgotten about.” “[An] old bottle of Gatorade from who knows when.”

“ I’ve never even used my locker in my three years at John Carroll.

Student Survey Response

Hidden Treasures

”

“I found a spoon, but I never used a spoon or put one in my locker.”

“Underwear.”

“Dissected rat bones.”

“Rotten banana peel.”

All results and responses presented are from a combination of interviews and 101 JC students who responded to a survery conducted by The Patriot via Surveymonkey.

“Multiple cups of coffee in my locker with mold on top.”

LIFESTYLES

February 2015

Athlete soars to new heights practice as well. However, after a while, Lozinak had a difficult time balancing both spring sports.

After enjoying the teamwork aspect, Lozinak decided to only News and Copy Editors play baseball in the spring.

McDonald’s employee, former As a freshman, Lozinak played tennis player, and current varsity baseball the first week of the seabaseball player junior Matt Lozi- son on JV. Then, after a perfornak rumbles off the ground and mance where he got out only once soars into the air. He expertly ma- in three games, he was pulled up neuvers his small, single engine to varsity as a freshman. plane — a cessna — into the wide During Lozinak’s sophomore blue horizon. year, he suffered an injury that Lozinak was set him back. exposed to flyLozinak isn’t your He was sliding ing with the many average teenager. He’s headfirst into cross-country trips second base a very good baseball and ended up he had to take for player, a good tennis breaking his his brother’s tennis tournaments. This player, and flies planes. little finger. is what began his He’s a great kid. Battling the love for flying, as broken finger Baseball coach Steve Teter throughout the well as his love for tennis. season, he still Lozinak began contributed to learning to fly three years ago the team’s success by starting a with his current flying instructor majority of last year’s games.

Brad Mckemy. Lozinak has comAside from sports, he also pleted 40 hours of flying with his works at McDonald’s which his instructor and only needs to com- dad owns seven of. “Growing plete a few more requirements be- up [having my dad own some fore getting his license.

McDonald’s], I guess it’s kind of In addition to this impressive normal for me,” Lozinak said. “I hobby, Lozinak plays baseball at sometimes work in the kitchen, JC and was a former Maryland but I mostly do our deliveries and state champion in tennis. His love maintenance work.” for swinging bats and running to Lozinak will be saving most bases began from his father own- his money from his job because ing a minor league baseball team, it is likely he’ll be using his own the Altoona Curve. money for renting planes, which During his freshman year at costs around $145.

JC, he was a member of the var“Lozinak isn’t your average sity baseball team as well as the teenager. He’s a very good basevarsity tennis team. He would ball player, a good tennis player, leave baseball practice a few min- and flies planes. He’s a great kid,” utes early to fit in a little tennis Teter said.

Alex Rasmussen, Elizabeth Driver, and Morgan Taylor

“

by Claire Grunewald

challenge Challenge

Photos courtesy Matt Lozinak

(Top) Junior Matt Lozinak sits in the pilot’s seat getting ready for takeoff during one of his practice flights in order to get 40 hours of practice in.

(Bottom) Lozinak poses next to his airplane at the airfield. He began flying three years ago and balances his time between flying and sports.

”

Thank You Notes

5

The Patriot presents little thoughts of gratitude for the school

ing Thank you, obnoxious group r hav e o f , in th in the corner of the cafeteria, k you Than vice begin mod r f for recreating the wild animal e nch s minutes o s us u l e scene from “Mean Girls” and low v nal fi s really al od in fi i filling the already crowded, fo h junk wo. T ho t h w c e to u n o m congested room with the wonossibl as p , pers s m y u a a r o j e y s ev nced drous noises of mating calls Thank system ain a bala nder u r e u s o o m hat h t t gu and hyena shrieks. It warms main chedule t e . I bet inty sticks p e l c e a f h s r u s m a r th my heart that you are having at fo Thank yo possible o minutes of efore t in e e i s d u u, tw let a wonderful time and feel the unnam reat b sweet won’t the day. ed were g d in, and s t s e e a c n h need to let everyone know. f er, for arra alke fresh rest o nging t d it as acher w he desks suc your te at you savore tuck h that t s th he only on I hope when it x id e d d e I in without as my a o much t fo ot rest dearly re, on the bottom oh-so- u go out the is the o o Y d . n r a e ne in front fing ack, of me. M other p y uncomfor buy an r jaw off. table le ou gs salute yo chew y u.

1922 Greenspring Dr Timonium, MD 21093

410-308-2300

ACCEPTED accepted Travel tests bilingual abilities

When in Spain speak Spanish, right? Well, kind of.

I recently traveled with 21 other students to Toledo, Spain, for 18 days and lived with a student, Carlota Flores, and her family.

While there, we went to school with the students, embraced the food and culture, went sight-seeing and tackled the language barrier head on.

I tried to utilize my Spanish as much as possible, but when surrounded by 21 other Americans in a foreign country filled with American movies and music, it’s hard to completely block out English. I was determined to stay away from all things English, at least for one day.

Carlota was fluent in English, so whenever there was a communication problem, I had my own personal translator handy. One night before we went to bed, I told her the next day to only speak to me in Spanish.

That morning, I woke up and went down to breakfast. I was used to conversing with her parents because they only spoke Spanish with me in the first place.

I kept up fairly well, only because I had practically memorized the morning dialogue. Did you sleep well? Sí. Do you want coffee?

Sí. Do you want toast? Sí. Easy, right?

It just so happened that the day I chose to not utilize my native tongue was the day Carlota and I had to go to her aunt and uncle’s house for comida (a big meal around 3:00 p.m.). When we arrived, Carlota had to leave for a dentist appointment, and I was left alone. At first I was scared, but her uncle was so enthusiac to speak Spanish with me and took it very slowly, so I surprisingly got on very well.

When Carlota returned and comida began, the conversation grew much faster and as the colloquialisms and inside jokes grew more numerous, my comprehension level progressively worsened. Throughout the meal, they’d randomly stop talking and look at me and ask if I understood what they were talking about. I’m pretty sure I looked like a deer in headlights, but I would just nod, and they’d laugh.

At the end of the day, Carlota admitted that she was impressed with how well I had done without her. I had never realized how privileged I had been to have a translator handy until I was handicapped.Overall, I think my Spanish improved while in Spain, but I am nowhere near fluent.

6

LIFESTYLES

101

Public Speaking Tips for Talking “If you feel nervous, some relaxation techniques include stretching, yawning, and breathing.

Speech teacher Alison Amato

”

“

Have a relatable story so people get intrigued, answer the question ‘why does it matter?’ or ‘why should I listen?,’ and be enthusiastic.

History teacher Jacob Hollin

”

“Practice in a mirror

so you can visualize what you’re saying.

Do this multiple times so you can remember as much as you can without looking down.

English teacher Tara Snook

1. Don’t over think it

February 2015

For those who stress over the idea of speaking in class, read on to control your sweaty palms

Speak loudly and clearly

Think about why you are so nervous; the fear of being judged? Making a mistake? Don’t worry about what other people are going to think. No one watching your presentation is sitting there hoping that you’re going to fail.

Use props

Negative thoughts about what could happen can easily get in the way of the presentation of your material. Whatever crazy scenarios you’ve created about terrible things happening to you while presenting your project aren’t going to happen.

Remember, only you can create your nervousness and only you can get rid of it.

2. Make sure you’re prepared Make sure you’re prepared. Study the material often, and make an outline or some note cards with the information on it that you can casually look at during your presentation. If you aren’t allowed to use any notes, make sure you know the information like the back of your hand so there’s no chance you’ll freeze up and forget it.

Good posture

Try practicing in front of a mirror or record yourself and watch it back to know exactly how you sound and what you look like.

”

“When you’re dealing 3. Kick the nerves with a complicated topic, imagine that you’re explaining something to a smart six-year-old child.

Speech and Debate moderator Robert Schick

”

“Humor goes a long

way. Know your audience, and you can grab them.

President Richard O’Hara

”

Know that the people you are presenting to probably can’t even tell you’re nervous. Your legs may feel like they’re not there and your stomach might be full of butterflies, but I guarantee that people don’t even notice. Look confident, smile, stand up straight, and make eye contact with those watching. Even if you don’t feel confident, you will definitely look it, which can help cover up some of the nerves.

At first, it may seem like giving a talk or presenting a speech is the worst thing in the world. But really, no one is going to judge you because everyone is probably as nervous as you are, and everyone is in the same boat. So, next time you’re given the assignment to speak in front of a crowd, just relax. You’re the only one that can calm your nerves, so why get worried?

Tips by Video Editor Nicole Arrison

Dress well

Illustration by Kate Runser

February 2015

BESTof TV The Patriot reviews popular TV shows and polls students on the TV shows they watch most often 15%

chose mystery

The Patriot’s Picks:

Big Bang Theory on CBS Reviewed by: News Editor Mitch Hopkins

46% chose comedy as

24%

chose drama

their favorite TV show genre

Results presented are from 106 JC students who responded to a survey conducted by The Patriot via Surveymonkey.

For the latest, follow

The Patriot online at jcpatriot.com.

@JCPatriot

JCPatriot

The JC Patriot

I love this show. The nerdy humor of this award-winning show and its completely unique characters make it one-of-a-kind. Sheldon Cooper, the brainiac main character, and his quirky attitude always keep the lives of his super-nerd friends and their scientific careers on their toes.I can’t really recommend this show to everyone because the consistency of humor is not great. Still, it is a great thing to look forward to on those Thursday nights that it actually airs.

Eye Candy on MTV

Reviewed by: In-Depth Editor Sydney Kirwan Thrilling and filled with drama, “Eye Candy” focuses on cyber-hacker Lindy, who is stalked by one of her dates from a online dating site.

She teams up with the local police to try to find the suspect who is not only stalking her but killing her other dates she met on the online dating site. Although the show is brand-new I haven’t missed one episode. It captivates your mind and leaves you wanting more after each episode.

A&E

7

by Lauren Glase

iREVIEW

Curiosity increases in velocity Curiosity didn’t just kill the cat. It killed the need for having to go to the library or Google in order to find out how to do something.

Curious, an app available for free in the App Store, is a database filled with more tutorial videos than you ever thought could have existed. The app includes tutorials on anything from crafts to technology, and from recipes to foreign languages.

Upon downloading the app, I found myself curious about things I had never given thought to before: knitting, growing vegetable gardens, and salsa dancing.

For each video you choose to watch, you are able to enroll in that lesson. And enrolling has its perks. For example, if I were to enroll in a lesson, I would be able to pose questions to the teacher of that lesson.

Each tutorial video on Curious is divided into parts. In order to keep the videos interactive, after each part, a multiple choice or true/false question is asked. After answering, you move on to the next section of that video. The questions aren’t there to be tricky.

They just make sure that you understand the points of the video.

Now for the downside: the lessons have a price. Curious’s videos typically run in series. While the first introductory video may be free, the second video, where you begin to really deepen your knowledge, has a cost. The videos can be as cheap as $0.99 or as much as $4.99.

For getting a full understanding of a new concept or skill, Curious may not hold your answer without a price. But if you’re just looking to gain a general understanding of a myriad of skills, you’re in luck, my friend.

The app features a section entitled “Curios.” Each day, the staff of Curious chooses their “Curio” video of the day. With the right settings on, your phone will even send you push notifications of that day’s Curio. This daily featured video is always free and always provides some sort of useful information.

Even if you’re not interested in the subject of the lesson, often times the lessons are given by people with British accents, and that’s just fun to listen to.

music 8

IN-DEPTH

February 2015

Various factors affect people’s musical preferences, which, in turn, can change both people’s moods and their perceptions of reality

By Billy Jump and Sydney Kirwan The uses of music

Junior Eric Wright gets ready to go on stage with the rest of the orchestra. He feels a trace of nervousness in the pit of his stomach, but he quickly focuses his eyes back onto the sheet music in front of him.

He lugs his cello onto the stage and waits for his cue to begin. Before he knows it, he’s on autopilot, lost in the music.

“Music is something that can be very heightening,” Wright said. “Music is one of the most important parts of my life. It feels right when I’m playing.”

Wright plays the cello in the orchestra and even composes music himself.

The way Wright feels when he plays his cello is not specific to him, though. Many students feel similarly when listening to music.

According to a survey sent out by The Patriot on Feb. 9, 49 percent of students use music as a way to relax. However, people use different genres to get the same emotions effect.

Music is commonly used by students as a way to escape problems and act as a way to relieve stress.

“I use [heavy metal] to relax,” senior Lauren Wenig said. “Heavy metal is really intense and I’m a pretty emotional person, so it really works as a way to compliment my personality. It just helps me to relax and forget a lot of my problems.”

Other students also use music to clear their minds as a way to get ready for things like tests or games.

“Before a game, I use music to help myself relax,” junior David Carrier said.

“About five hours before the game I listen to calming music to help myself get ready.”

According to the survey, 47 percent of students use music to cheer themselves up and 21 percent use it to connect with other people.

Mood however, affects more than just the concavity of our smiles. It also affects

our perception of reality. “Music lets me see something in my life in a different way,” Carrier said.

Music is a conduit for people to express their feelings and escape from the troubles of their lives. “You can elicit feelings out of music that you can’t describe,” Wright said. “You don’t know exactly what it is, but it’s amazing.”

Music in the mind The results music have on one’s mood is affected by various factors. From gender to where one grew up, the same song can elicit different responses from different people.

According to the “Journal of Individual Differences,” openness to experience can affect one’s musical preference. Those rated high in their willingness to experience new things prefer novel music like jazz and classical.

Gender also plays an important role in one’s response to music. According to Tomas Chamorro-Premuzic, author of “Psychology of Aesthetics, Creativity, and the Arts,” women react to music more emotionally than men do and prefer popular music more than men. Additionally, men prefer music with more exaggerated bass.

Age can affect musical preference as well. Music produces a strong sense of nostalgia, according to a study by the American Psychological Association that measured music-evoked nostalgia. People tend to listen to music that elicits more positive feelings of nostalgia.

In a Canadian study conducted for the “Journal of Youth and Adolescence,” adolescents who preferred heavy music demonstrated low self-esteem, family discomfort, and a tendency to feel rejected by their peers. Those who preferred lighter music enjoyed doing the socially acceptable thing and had difficulty balancing independence with dependence.

Furthermore, adolescents with eclectic

music tastes had less difficulty dealing with adolescence and handled stress well.

Learning to play music, however, can greatly increase one’s intelligence.

Classical and baroque music, which usually has 60 beats per minute, stimulates both sides of the brain, maximizing learning and retention of information. The elements of the piece are analyzed by the left side of the brain while the music activates the right side, according to a study by the Department of Biomedical sciences at the University of Chienti.

One’s mood, though, can greatly affect one’s preference to musical genres.

“Heavy metal is so emotional,” Wenig said. “But if I listen to something like Beyonce, I feel like I’m on top of the world.

I go to different genres for totally different things.”

Researchers at the University of Groningen, a research university located in the Netherlands, have even said that music can go as far to change the way one perceives the world. For example, listening to happy, upbeat music regularly can lead to someone growing happier, therefore recognizing happy faces and positive attitudes.

“Music really intensifies whatever I’m feeling at the time,” Wright said. “Every genre is so diverse and each one makes me feel something different every time.”

The University of Groningen also shows that listening to happy or sad music has such a dramatic effect on one’s perception that it can lead people to see happy faces and sad faces where they don’t exist.

While listening to happy and sad music, test subjects were asked to identify happy and sad faces in an experiment done by the university. The results showed music having such an effect on one’s perception of reality that those listening to happy music were much more accurate in identifying happy faces and even thought they

would see them where none existed at all, which was the same for sad music and sad faces.

The results suggest that the brain builds up expectations not just on the basis of experience but also on one’s mood. So, happy music will lead one to seek out positivity and happiness in the world, even if none exists, and sad music will lead to the expectation of negativity and sadness as well.

Not only does music affect mood, but mood also affects music. The mood someone is in can affect the way they hear and respond to music, according to a study by the University of Jyväskylä in Finland.

Music goes beyond just something to listen to, it’s a medium that affects both mood and perception. Music teaches people to be happy and sad, and every other emotion in-between. It expresses that which cannot be said, but which it is impossible to ignore.

on the

IN-DEPTH

February 2015

9

49% 22%

of students use music primarily to relax

of students say that heavy metal is their least favorite

How often do students listen to music while doing homework? all the time

never

4%

sometimes

WHAT GENRE IS JC’S FAVORITE? 1. alternative 2. pop 3. country 4. classic rock 5. hip-hop

27%

47%

22%

frequently The Patriot conducted a survey via Surveymonkey on Feb. 9, 2015. 106 students responded.

10

A&E

February 2015

Chopstix

vs.

The Patriot serves up the verdict on the best of Asian cuisine Reviewed by: A&E Editor Kristen Isoldi

Illustration by Rebecca Williams

Reviewed by: In-Depth Editor Sydney Kirwan

Cost: 4

Service: 4

Cost: 3.5

Service: 5

Going to Chopstix is not as cheap as going to a fast food place, but the slightly higher price is worth it. It was about $60 for dinner for four people. Some of the items can be very pricy because of the fish that is involved in the dish, but if you avoid those, your check will not be a crazy amount.

The place was packed, so the waitress never focused much on one table. She was kind when she took our order and eagerly answered questions about the food items we had, but after our food was delivered she only came back at the very end of our meal to offer us more beverages and the check.

The meal total was roughly $60 for three people which is not bad, but not amazing. The prices on the menu range from as little as $1.95 for a bowl of soup to $27 for a steak and lobster hibachi dinner. Anyone can eat here, from those who want to save a little cash to those who do not mind spending over $20 for one entree.

I would give them more points if I could. My waiter, Jim, was accommodating and made jokes all night.

By the middle of the meal he knew everyone in my family’s names and would check up on us regularly. At the end of dinner you get a warm towelette to clean your hands, added bonus.

Atmosphere: 3 Variety: 5

Atmosphere: 4 Variety: 4.5

Chopstix was packed, and we had to wait 15 minutes to get a table. When we finally got a table it was right in the front of the restaurant next to the waiting area and the pick-up area. You could barely hear yourself talk with the high noise level due to everyone’s talking and the waiters’ shuffling everyone to their tables.

Chopstix had all the dishes you expect to find at a Chinese restaurant.

They had sushi and dumplings. They had chicken dishes and vegetables dishes available for order. Chopstix also had soups for someone who was looking for a warm meal, instead of a cold meal like sushi.

The restaurant was quaint and cozy, not too loud or hectic. It was clean and well-decorated in an Asian-inspired theme. We got there roughly at 6 p.m. and were seated right away. The small restaurant had about 20 tables along with the small sushi bar and normal bar.

The menu was vast, almost too long.

There were dozens of types of sushi and meals which made it difficult to decide. You can visit their website and see how extensive their menu is. You will be able to find something that you want no matter what, it just might take you a while to find it.

Portions: 5

Quality: 5

Portions 4.5

Quality: 5

The sushi could easily fill you up, and one order was just the right amount for one person. One order of sushi came with six pieces, which might look small at first, but you’ll realize it is the perfect amount.

The rice dishes were gigantic and could serve two or three people.

Total: 26/30

After eating just one bite of my food I knew I would definitely be coming back for another meal at Chopstix. I ordered the Baltimore Roll, a sushi roll with crab and avocado. It was fresh and tasted delicious when I dipped it in the soy sauce. I also tried the crab rice which was to die for.

The appetizer and meals were huge while the sushi was just an average size. You will be leaving with a full stomach plus boxes of leftovers to take home for the next day.

Winner: Fuji Sushi

The food was well-prepared and came out hot. Everything was seasoned to perfection and presented spectacularly. Everything tasted as if it was made from the freshest products possible.

Total: 26.5/30

OPINION

February 2015

Patriot Debate: Money In Politics

11

The Patriot debates whether money in politics is a corrupting force or a protected freedom of expression

$ Illustration by Joe Kyburz

Donations are protected speech

Donations soil political proccess

Eric Johnson

Will Bolton

Sports Editor The Koch brothers announced that they will donate 890 million dollars to the National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers (NACDL).

Even though the NACDL is not the cause of our problems in this country, people are arguing that nobody should be allowed to donate that much as a political contribution because “it could cause corruption.”

Personally, I wouldn’t put that much money into the NACDL. I’d put it somewhere our country actually needs it. Do you know how many millions of jobs they could create with that money? Or how many roads they could fix.

Even though they aren’t wisely donating money, the Koch brothers still have the freedom to donate money where they’d like because of the first Amendment.

The argument provided by Liberal Americans isn’t that “you should put it into a better cause.” Rather, it’s “you shouldn’t be allowed to donate to similar groups if they are lobbying parties.”

The opposed say that donating this much money is buying elections. My response is that donating large sums is not buying elections because the Koch brothers are donating regardless of the outcome.

You can’t say that someone is buying elections when the money is going to benifit

the country before certain canadites are even elected.

The irony in the situation is that Democrats raise substantially more money than Republicans. Raising money, that’s just called strategy.

Wrongly accusing a person of buying elections is a horrible excuse to prohibit somebody from donating to the betterment of our great nation.

If two people have the means to donate approximately a billion dollars to any foundation, they have the right to, according to one of the greatest documents in human history, the Bill of Rights.

Unlike other countries in the world, our citizens have the freedom to do what they please with their money.

So why are American citizens trying to decide that we should completely abandon the beliefs our country was founded on?

“Life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness” can never become outdated as long as humanity exists.

Liberal Americans want to reform campaign finance and restrict how much money can donate. But if people want to donate more money than most people will ever see in their lifetime to the government, I’m okay with that.

Because according to the first amendment, that’s freedom of speech. It’s an inalienable right granted to American citizens, and it’s their decision. This move has also been affirmed by the Supreme Court.

Patriot Answers Patriot Answer Freshman Rosemary Gillam

“Yes, a little bit because it is like cheating or bribery.”

Sophomore Annie Zickefoose

Opinion Editor Throughout history, philosophers have reflected on the relationship between power and corruption. “Power corrupts, and absolute power corrupts absolutely,” historian John Dalberg Acton said.

Since money is power, it stands to reason that more money is more power and if you believe Acton, more power is more corruption. I wonder how much corruption 900 million dollars buys? Because that is around how much the Koch brothers’ political network plans on spending towards Libertarian and Republican agendas this 2016 election cycle.

Charles and David Koch own Koch Industries, which in turn owns at least 10 corporations working in the chemical, energy, farming, and consumer products fields. Forbes magazine estimated that both brothers are worth around 42.3 billion dollars each. These industries also happen to be the ones which benefit the most from lack of government regulation.

It doesn’t take a genius to figure out that anyone who receives 900 million dollars is indebted to the donor. These men are donating money to politicians so that the politicians will return the favor by giving their industry easier regulations which may not be in the best interest of the country. At the least they are buying the elections of people who they already know are

predisposed to help big businesses.

Unfortunately for anyone trying to correct this, money spent on political campaigns is a form of freedom of speech. In democracies, the people hold the power, which includes the ability to financially supporting any candidate who they feel will do well. It’s a catch-22 of sorts in that in order to preserve integrity, the government has to limit freedom of speech, which is a huge violation of integrity.

There is another option. Make all campaign donations above a certain amount, $3000 as a start, anonymous. Any amount under that, and that number is mildly arbitrary, is small enough to not cause a huge amount of corruption in a national election where billions are spent. People like the Koch brothers still have every right to support any candidate to any extent, but the candidate would not be able to single out the donors for later favors.

This system would not be perfect because of how easily wealthy people could tell the candidates about their donations, but at least it would enable law enforcement and the public to hold dishonest candidates accountable if they were breaking the restriction. It would be similar to the laws which restrict insider trading.

The imperfections are not as bad as limiting people’s rights and certainly not as bad as allowing the wealthy to buy elections with confidence of reparations from the candidates once they are in office.

Do you think companies donating huge amounts of money to politicians cause corruption?

Junior Austin Ross

“Yes, because then the “Yes, because it could make politicians feel like they have you vote for the politicians to listen to the companies’ money instead of beliefs.” beliefs instead of their own.”

Senior Kam Stuckey

“Yes ... For example if a company like Apple backed up a politician it would influence their followers to support that politician.”

Faculty Robert Torres

“Yes, because they basically make politicians do what they want instead of what is right.”

12

OPINION

February 2015

Teachers and students both need to work together in order to reduce stress in the classroom

by Will Bolton

The Patriot Staff

Bolton’s BIAS Honesty in media takes major hit “The reason I don’t worry about society is 19 people knocked down two buildings and killed thousands. Hundreds of people ran into those buildings to save them. I’ll take those odds every [obscenity deleted] day.”

That is a quote which seems to be lacking comedic value, considering it comes from someone who is a famous comedian. A comedian who has spent 17 years being one of the most influential satirists has now announced his retirement.

That’s because Jon Stewart is much more than just a famous comedian. He is an inspiration to a generation of political thinkers and one of the greatest satirists of the modern age.

I realize that every FOX viewer is scoffing at what I have written so far and may have already stopped reading, but think about this: “The Daily Show” does have a bias, but it is not the one you think it is. It is not indoctrination in the liberal agenda. It is an honest representation of his beliefs. If you think he aligns strictly along party lines, you haven’t watched the show.

Even if you disagree with what he is saying, no one can watch the show and not be impressed with the skill of his delivery. His ability to switch from sarcastic disdain to genuine concern is both impressive and representative of a true performer.

I say “performer” because of his ability to entertain, not because his show is a performance.

The true magic in what he does is his honesty, although that observation also comes from my reading his biography and attending his Rally to Restore Sanity in Washington D.C. I have never read or seen anything to indicate he is not genuine on his show.

When he makes a mistake, he fixes it and apologizes. When he makes claims, he sticks to them, despite the backlash.

These reasons are just the beginning of why the recent announcement of his departure, which will take place within the year, is a startling shock. If you have never watched him, start now. If you have already decided you hate him, give “The Daily Show” another shot. He has been a pinnacle of honesty in media for 17 years, and based just on that success, he deserves at least the benefit of the doubt.

Looking at the bottom right corner of the laptop and realizing it’s 1:30 a.m. depresses you, yet you’re unable to lay your head upon that heavenly pillow. You know it is late when Jimmy Fallon has been off for an hour, but you have to finish your essay. Is this the lifestyle high school students should have?

Often times, teachers blame students’ being stressed on their lack of concentration and time management. In turn, students blame the teachers without consideration to their efforts. But rather than spreading out blame, a better understanding and coordination between students and teachers needs to be established in order to ease the burden placed on students.

School is the equivalent to a job, and just as some teachers do not like to take their work home with them, neither do students.

Plus, on top of that, some students stay after school for clubs or sports, or even go to an actual job. There simply isn’t time for two hours worth of work per class each night.

According to the American Psychological Association, school is the number one source of stress for teenagers who tend to commonly experience both emotional and physical symptoms of stress.

We are currently in the middle

of the school year, right in the thick of things. Teachers want to get through as much material as possible, but purposely piling on work is not an efficient way to teach. This only serves to stress out students who have the just as much work coming at them from as many as seven different directions, not including extracurriculars, work, and family.

For one, teachers should not overlap major projects or assignments within the same time frame. If they happen to overlap, but one is spread out over a much longer period of time that is fine.

If the teacher wishes for the student to do an above decent job on both, they need to be reasonable.

Expecting a student to read 100 pages a week while also working on a term paper, along with work from other classes is a little much.

We realize that asking teachers to space out assignments seems only like a way to cover less material. This is not the case. If in order to cover enough material and remain competitive among other schools teachers must overlap assignments, they should then relieve the pressure on students and not assign as much. While grades are significant, they are not the final determinant of success and comprehension of material, and students can learn just as much without going through the stress of doing graded work for each topic.

Teachers also need to be real-

istic and realize that, to students, their class may not come first.

Each students has either six or seven teachers who are all expecting full dedication. To be fully dedicated to seven classes at one time is asking students to spread themselves too thin, especially if they wish to be involved in other activities.

While most teachers have made a point to always be available for extra help, all teachers should dedicate a time before or after school when students can come for help if they are worried about a lesson or an upcoming quiz or test.

Some teachers do a good job of being there for assistance and extra help for their students, but they are under a good deal of stress themselves. For example, many teachers have five sections and teaches over 100 students.

Grading all of those assignments and planning all of those lessons can’t be a walk in the park.

Though it may seem like a lot to ask for, if a class is doesn’t have many students or has only one or two sections, the teacher should consult with the students about deadlines before assigning them. That way, since the students know their schedules better and know when time would be most available, the deadline would be less of a surprise and less of a scary, overwhelming day in the back of students’ minds.

Stress is in everyone’s life, but

coping with it is different for every person. Everyone’s response is to time manage or to not procrastinate or put off things and let them pile up.

Different ways of coping according to the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) include keeping a planner with upcoming events organized, exercises to relieve stress and get rid of that energy, and seeking extra help from specialists who assist in stress management and relief.

Stress can stem from all sorts of things, but the simple fact of being at a college preparatory school and having the workload from several AP classes and added extra curricular activities can really wear you down.

Every once in a while you are going to have two tests on one day, but it is excessive and adds an unnecessary amount of anxiety to have this happen on a regular basis. Adding into the equation a sports or theater practice, having to worry about studying for two tests after getting home from extracurriculars is just too much.

All students and teachers go through some sort of stress.

Teachers want to get in all the material at a certain time and they want to be able to enjoy their weekends. Students want to do well in school, but don’t want to stay up past midnight the majority of the week. There is never a perfect balance, but a happy medium is really what is needed.

Rawli’s World: When the love runs out Cartoon by Rawlison Zhang

When they are talking

I like you I do too

Yes, I will be your girlfriend

Once they are dating

lets get food you’re paying

February 2015

Inter-county games spark school pride Kishan Patel

Imagine a sold out gymnasium with clapping, stomping, and hundreds of high school students chanting for their beloved school as loudly as their vocal cords let them. The electric energy of the building overwhelms you as you struggle to find room to stand on the bleachers that feel as if they are about to collapse at any moment.

That was the scene at local high school C. Milton Wright on Jan. 22 when the varsity men’s basketball team squeaked by 4644 to remain the kings of HarCo basketball, an arrogant title we Patriots proclaimed ourselves to be.

Students stood on their feet chanting for the duration of the game. This all happened on a school night, with an indoor track meet that kept many fans from the stand. Just imagine the same atmosphere on a Friday night.

Facing an inter-county rival is a unique experience for both the players and the fans. Usually at in-conference games most students don’t care as much who they are cheering against because we are the only private school in Harford County, but facing a county rival provides a new dynamic.

MIAA In inter-county games, students can holler at the top of their lungs to their neighbors and best friends growing up. The personal relationships create a better, more competitive experience for everyone involved.

The administration is always trying to raise school spirit and bring the community together.

What is a better example of this than having our entire student section filled and united chanting “We have Jesus” at an away game against a county rival?

In a single night, C. Milton sold out a gymnasium that holds over 200 people for $5 per ticket, excluding the profit from snacks. If JC hosted an inter-county game,

Report Card Broken clocks continue to confuse students

Inter-county ticket sales could go towards funding to help the Athletic Department.

Twitter exploded after the close, two-point game with tweets about the game and the teams’ rivalry. The Patriot’s Twitter account received over 80 retweets of the final score. The event bolstered school pride, uniting students in defending our school.

It is understandable that scheduling games with Harford County opponents is difficult because of the limited amount of games teams may play, but we should still try. The students love facing off and starting another chapter in the constant feud between public and private schools. I would like

Illustration by Kelly Foulk

to thank the athletic department for setting up this memorable game, and I hope they continue the rivalry.

Inter-county games shouldn’t end with basketball. Having at least one match up against intercounty rivals for every season in as many sports as possible would boost school spirit tremendously and create a game that everyone in the county would mark as a must-see game.

Just imagine a Friday night game during Homecoming week against Bel Air High School or C. MIlton Wright on the new turf fields. That sounds like an amazing dream come true and music to my ears.

The Patriot turns the tables by grading the school on today’s issues

Stories by: Eric Johnson, Sports Editor

Student parking lot leads down a dangerous road

Guidance Hallway provides excellent help to students

Besides the fact that the clock by the first stairwell on the third floor hasn’t read correctly all year, a few of the classroom clocks aren’t synchronized with the correct time for bells. Bells are off two to three minutes from when the mod actually changes.

My biggest problem was when we didn’t have bells and have to rely on different clocks for switching classes. Since almost none of the bells are synchronized, students were late to almost every class through no fault of their own. Also, because most teachers won’t dismiss students on time, students become tardy for their next class and subjected to detention, depending on the mercy of their teachers.

I don’t mind spending 74 minutes in a classroom, but let me at least be able to see what the real time is while I’m there.

Possibly the most dangerous place on the entire campus, the student parking lot represents a myriad of problems, and that’s without ice all over the asphalt. The only rule that is semi-enforced in the parking lot is that you can’t park in somebody else’s spot.

The real problems lie in the red octagonal signs that every other driver simply ignores.

Stop means stop. I have no idea how people get their licenses without knowing that.

Another commonly overlooked sign is the “One-Way Traffic Only” square. Besides the fact that there’s a large white arrow painted on the road, you’re only supposed to drive in front of the business office/dorms if you’re going into the student parking lot.

I understand it’s easier to go the other way and park in those spots, but just obey the rules.

Staff in the guidance hallway can become your best friends, especially when you realize that there are fewer than 50 school days until graduation and you only have 10 hours towards your Senior Project completed.

Other than trying to motivate you to do work, these folks help keep you sane and on task. I can’t tell you how much time I spend discussing college plans and Senior Project with College Counselors Carrie Siemsen and Carol Heflin because otherwise, I’d probably end up crying on my couch at home.

The counselors do a phenomenal job helping students handle stress and just about anything else you can imagine.

I’d like to personally give them all a big high-five for everything they do and a huge thank you for keeping us sane.

The Patriot

News Editors Mitch Hopkins Alex Rasmussen

Opinion Editors Will Bolton Justin Hawkins

Kate Runser Rebecca Williams

The John Carroll School 703 Churchville Road Bel Air, MD 21014

Media Chief Lauren Glase

Lifestyles Editors Claire Grunewald Eleanor Werneke

Sports Editors Eric Johnson Kishan Patel

Contributors Rachel Amrhein

A&E Editors Kristen Isoldi Nick Miller

Copy Editors Elizabeth Driver Morgan Taylor

The Patriot is a publication of The John Carroll School.

The views and opinions expressed in The Patriot are not necessarily the views of the Board of Trustees or the Administration of The John Carroll School.

In-Depth Editors Billy Jump Sydney Kirwan

Artists Kelly Foulk Rawlison Zhang Joe Kyburz

Print Chief Hanna LeBuhn Online Chief Kathy Deaver Stories Chief Angela DeCarlo

13

by Rachel Amrhein

Sports Editor

Volume 50, Issue 3, February 2015

OPINION

Multimedia Editors Nicole Arrison Erica Kelble Mike Moxley Tona Rimpel Moderators Mark Ionescu Nick Attanasio

A copy of each print issue is distributed to each of the 688 students and 110 faculty and staff members. Some of the remainder are sent out to exchanging schools with a return address. The

remaining copies are shared in the Main Office, Library, Admissions Office, Office of Institutional Advancement, given out when needed, or archived. For more information, please visit jcpatriot.com/about.

The editorial staff invites and greatly appreciates comments from readers on any issue.

Please email comments or letters to editor@jcpatriot. comor submit them through our website: www.jcpatriot. com.

Rachel’s RANTS Don’t accept harassment as normal BEEEEEEEEEP. I gasp and jump a mile. “Hey baby, come over here,” a voice screams.

“You’re looking hot!” Maniacal laughter follows as the man revs his engine and drives away. I sigh inwardly … yet another run interrupted.

The experience that I just wrote about boils down to one thing — sexual harassment. According to Dictionary.com, sexual harassment is defined as “the persistent [and] unwelcome directing of sexual remarks and looks, and unnecessary physical contact at a person, usually a woman, esp. in the workplace.”

Sexual harassment happens more often than people realize.

Sexual harassment may come from a stranger or someone that you know. It can happen to anyone. It often involves honking, leering, whistling, vulgar gestures, sexually explicit comments, kissing noises, and so on, and it can happen.

According to a national survey conducted by StopStreetHarassment.org, in which 2,000 people were questioned, 65 percent of women in the United States reported being victims of street harassment.

I personally know some girls at JC that get harassed about once a week from a specific group of boys that thinks it is funny to yell profane comments at them. This type of behavior is unacceptable.

Men may believe that rudely telling random women that they are hot is a compliment, but it is not. It is creepy and disgusting.

It’s not an okay thing to do and it shouldn’t be a societal norm.

More severe instances of sexual harassment, that go beyond some of the previous examples, can have long term effects. According to an article from Livescience.com about a study conducted by a sister site, My Health News Daily, sexual harassment can cause depression, posttraumatic stress disorder, higher blood pressure, sleep problems, neck pain, and suicidal tendencies.

There’s a simple way to end the problem of sexual harassment — people should keep their opinions about random other people’s bodies to themselves, unless they have a personal relationship with them or the person asks about it.

There is absolutely no reason to blurt out unwanted comments about someone else’s body, ever.

14

SPORTS

by Eric Johnson

February 2015

Wrestlers take down competition Eric Johnson Sports Editor

SPORTS reports Play some defense. Please.

March Madness is just around the corner, and there’s nothing worse than having your bracket destroyed because you didn’t pay attention to any players during the season and you based your predictions off of seeding with the occasional 10 seed upsetting a 7.

But between the lack of entertainment and defense, if you’re watching anything besides Olympic, high school, or collegiate basketball, you’re not actually watching real basketball.

I don’t even have a joke to make for the clown that says “But the NBA” — but nothing.

There’s nothing enjoyable about watching five grown men jog up and down the court, pretending to give their best while they’re making millions of dollars.

It’s a real shame to see all of the collegiate talent be wasted in the NBA. Players like Charlotte Hornets guard Kemba Walker, former University of Northern Iowa star Ali Farokmanesh (more commonly known as “The kid who broke everybody’s bracket in 2010”), and Indiana Pacers forward Tyler Hansbrough, who peaked in college are now simply forgotten.

Besides players like Michael Jordan who are a once-in-forever kind of player who succeeded in both college and the NBA, virtually no players achieve greatness in both leagues. There’s a reason Jordan is a legend (not for shoes).

Because of the way the NBA has become today, almost every game ends up 120+ to 100+ and it’s absolutely ridiculous. Sure, some games are entertaining enough to watch as somebody hits a buzzer beater, but I’d rather watch our basketball team play a game because they understand the concept of putting everything out on the court to play some defense.

The NBA stalent pool is still incredible, but it focuses less on all-around players and more on how many shots a person can make.

This is essential, don’t get me wrong, but if you score 30 points and the guy you’re covering puts up 28, how much are you actually contributing to the team?

My advice to you is to watch Maryland or any other Big 10 Conference team play, because that’s where all the excitement is. College basketball is the most exciting atmosphere in sports, so enjoy March Madness.

The varsity wrestling team currently holds a 28-3 record after defeating Mount St. Joe’s on Feb. 4 for Senior Night. It was the last home match of the season and coach Keith Watson’s last home match of his career.

“The season went great. We went undefeated in Maryland, and we have more ranked wrestlers now than [in] the past three years I’ve been here,” senior captain CJ Skokowski said.

Skokowski is ranked third in the state for his weight class and is having a successful season along with his fellow captain, senior Hunter Ritter.

During the match against Mount St. Joe’s, Ritter wrestled his way into JC history, passing the 205 win record of Mat Miller, class of ’12, and recording his 206th win as the Patriots defeated the Gaels 33-27.

Ritter is currently ranked seventh in the nation for his weight class and will wrestle for the University of Wisconsin Badgers next year. Along with Ritter, senior Chris Almony will also wrestle in college next year at Millersville University of Pennsylvania.

“Right now, the team is better

Photo by Eric Johnson

Dragging his opponent back into the middle of the mat, senior Hunter Ritter wrestles his way into Patriot history.

Ritter won his 206th match, surpassing Matt Miller’s, class of ‘12, record for the most wins in four years. Ritter increased his total to 207 wins on Feb. 6 against McDonogh. than it’s ever been, and I’m excited for our next match,” Ritter said.

On Feb. 6, the team competed in the state championship against McDonogh and was only eight points away from winning their third consecutive state championship. Despite losing state champi-

onships, Ritter was able to win his 207th match as a Patriot.

“I definitely think it was a great achievement for myself and for the program. I feel incredibly blessed that all of my hard work has paid off,” Ritter said.

The Patriots’ season will end after MIAA individual competi-

Coach Spotlight

tions on Feb. 14 and 15. The team will lose six seniors next year.

“I really don’t know what to expect next year with some of the best wrestlers in the state leaving,” junior and varsity wrestler Devin Darrington said. “[I’m] looking forward to the future and leading the team next year.”

Hayley Howe “She is always giving me feedback, whether it’s positive or negative, and it has helped me get better and better at the sport.

Freshman Molly Lynch

”

“ It’s such a breath of Photo by Eric Johnson

During practice at Maryland Sports Arena, indoor soccer coach Hayley Howe instructs her players on how to effectively pass through defenses. The team fell short with a score of 0-1 at championships on Feb. 7.

Sport:

Years coached at JC:

Accomplishments:

Women’s soccer (indoor and outdoor)

Two years

-Coached at Catoctin High School -Two winning seasons at JC

Howe’s opinion of JC: “It’s such a breath of fresh air to be at JC and have [both] girls who are athletes and girls who just play soccer,” Howe said. According to her, this is because JC pulls from a “bigger talent area.”

fresh air to be at JC and have [both] girls who are athletes and girls who just play soccer.

Head coach Hayley Howe

”

For more on Howe’s accomplishments, go to jcpatriot.com.

SPORTS

February 2015

15

Athletes come to JC for improvement in sports

Photo by Kishan Patel

Students trade in their old helmets from other schools like Calvert Hall and come to JC for more opportunities in athletics. Over 45 percent of the male transfers have or will participate in a sport at JC this year.

Eric Johnson Sports Editor Over 50 of the new student faces at the beginning of the school year were transfers, according to Director of Enrollment Edward Maynard.

“Many students transfer in from Calvert Hall, Loyola, or Archbishop Curley, but others do transfer in occasionally from public schools in the area. The reasons for transferring vary,

but sports is one of the biggest,” Maynard said.

Students like junior Jimmy Schall transferred from Calvert Hall along with his younger brother Danny a sophomore.

“I came to JC because Calvert Hall was a long drive and I felt that the teams were chosen unfairly and that I didn’t get a good look from the coaches for lacrosse and football at tryouts,” Jimmy Schall said.

“We’ve been targeting studentathletes that have contacted us,

Athlete Spotlight

but we’re not building a team off of transfers,” varsity lacrosse head coach Brian King said. “We build our team off of coaches’ clinics in the community. We build our team off of working every day and on Saturdays and Sundays.”

Four-year varsity lacrosse player Cody Saunders has been practicing alongside his teammates and the newcomers for lacrosse this winter to get ready for the season. “[The transfers] have the same

Steven Kutcher Sport: “Steve is easy to work Track and field Events: Pole vaulter and sprinter

Accomplishments: -MIAA JV champion 2014 -MIAA 6th overall pole vaulter

Other sports: Baseball and volleyball

Photo courtesy Sue Kutcher

Preparing to run in a relay, sophomore Steven Kutcher is poised to sprint.

Kutcher is usually the only sophomore sprinter on the relay team.

For the latest, keep up with

The Patriot online at jcpatriot.com.

@JCPatriot

JCPatriot

The JC Patriot

impact as any other player,” Saunders said. “Everybody has to earn it and work hard to earn their spot, especially since we have a great new coaching staff.”

According to King, transferring athletes must also meet standard academic requirements.

“We have nine prospects coming in next year that scored above the 90th percentile on the entrance test,” King said. “They have to perform in the classroom to perform on the field.”

Because of all the transfers coming in, a great deal of preparation and hard work was needed in order for everything to run smoothly, according to Maynard.

He and Enrollment Office Manager Jennifer Falcone assist in the transfer process, among their other duties.

Transfers coming to JC face different things but fitting in can be made easier by participating in extracurricular activities. Jimmy Schall reacts positively to his new school and home.

“I love JC. I actually like coming to school now,” Schall said.

“Transferring from one school to another is a challenge, but at JC the warm welcome from students and faculty is why JC makes a good home for any student from any school,” Maynard said.

“Sports is a big way students can connect and become a part of the JC family.”

For more on Kutcher’ s accomplishments, go to jcpatriot.com.

with. He always does anything you tell him, and even helps the girl vaulters too.

Head track coach Robert Torres

”

“ Pole vaulting is just really natural, and I just treat it like anything else and strive to do my best.

Sophomore Steven Kutcher

”

Indoor soccer falls short of championship Kathy Deaver Online Chief Despite high hopes and an 8-2 season record, women’s indoor soccer fell to second against Garrison Forest in the championship.

The final score of the Feb. 7 game was 1-0, an unusually low-scoring game for both teams.

“The game was disappointing because they scored early, but we worked hard the rest of the game and just couldn’t get a goal,” sophomore midfielder Gabby Centi said.

According to head coach Hayley Howe, the team, both varsity and JV outdoor soccer players, overcame the lack of scoring that plagued the outdoor season.

In all of the regular season wins, the indoor team scored four or more goals. Top scorers included sophomore forwards Caroline Barwick and Abby Hormes.

“Indoor does wonders for our morale and our play,” Howe said.

Although the team only has one junior, Howe does not see this as a weakness.

“They’re like sponges and want to try new things,” Howe said.

“I look forward to next year because we will have mostly the same team and we know how each other play,” Centi said. “The team always has a good attitude which is important.”

Lacrosse competes internationally Eric Johnson Sports Editor Since the addition of new men’s varsity lacrosse head coach Brian King, men’s lacrosse has been preparing to compete against some of the highest-caliber teams in high school lacrosse.

“The most important thing for us is being prepared and being in shape, which we’ve been working on for four months,” varsity lacrosse attacker senior Carson Walton said.

JC will face off against Boy’s Latin, the number one team in America and defending national champions, Landon Academy, ranked sixteenth in the U.S., and Hill Academy, ranked in the top 10 in North America.

“I don’t expect to blow these teams away. They’re ranked top in the nation for a reason,” King said. “There’s going to be lots of learning curves, and then we’ll go from there.”

The Patriots will still square off against in-conference rivals.

“We know there will be tough games, but we need to go into the games with the mindset to play our butts off,” Walton said.

16

SPORTS

February 2015

Getting to know:

The Hunter Sisters

The Patriot explores the lives of varsity basketball sisters Ashley and Nikki Hunter, discovering their relationship on and off the court. The sisters are on the same team for the first and last time.

1. Ashley started playing at age 8, and

Nikki started playing at age 6, but this is the first time they’ve been on the same team.

2. Ashley and Nikki both tore

their ACLs. Ashley tore her ACL last season and Nikki did this season, limiting her basketball game. “I never realized I wanted to play with her until she tore her ACL and I couldn’t,” Ashley said.

3. Ashley has committed to play for the Naval Academy next year.

4. “Ashley brings

an energy to the room when she plays. When things are really intense she knows how to handle it,” Nikki said.

5. “I admire how

much my sister [Nikki] loves basketball and I get tired of it sometimes, but she never does,” Ashley said.

Senior varsity center Ashley Hunter

Freshman varsity small forward Nikki Hunter Photo and story by Hanna LeBuhn and Kathy Deaver