The Wessex Wire
Senior Edition
The Student Newspaper of West Essex Regional High School
West Essex High School, 65 West Greenbrook Rd., North Caldwell, N.J.
Senior Edition 2015
Saving the bests for the last year By Ben Lowenthal, Editor-in-Chief
After numerous attempts of trying to write this reflection, I have realized that I cannot sum up my entire high school experience in one article. I probably couldn’t even do it in 10 articles. This came as a surprise to me, because I never considered myself to be overly involved in, well, anything. My senior year marked a lot of firsts for me–events that most people cross off their high school bucket lists within freshman and sophomore year. My first football game. My first color day where I actually tried. My first threesport year. All things that I desperately wish I had done much earlier in my high school career. But until one of you, probably Akash, builds a time machine, I’m not going to be able to go back and re-do high school. I think I’m okay with that though. Sure, not every year was
the best year of my life, and I definitely did not live every day like it was my last, but I think what I accomplished in high school proves something. It proves that it’s never too late. It’s never too late to try something new, meet different types of people and step out of your comfort zone. As the freshman who flinched when he made eye contact with seniors, it has been tough leaving my comfort zone, but look how far I’ve come. Now I only flinch a little bit. Don’t take this as a message telling you to put everything off until the end. If you’re lucky enough to find yourself with great opportunities, take them. They might not always be there. But as the year winds down and I look back on high school, I think about what I’ve accomplished (and what I haven’t). I met a lot of new people, tried a lot of new things and made a lot of memories. That’s all that you can really take from the high school experience.
The finish line is near By Bryan Gallion, Editor-in-Chief
My first vivid memory from high school took place on a blistering August morning in 2011. It was my first day of cross country practice as a freshman and I had no idea what I was getting myself into. We ran a timed 5K and I finished within the top seven male runners, which gave me a shot of having a varsity spot – a huge honor for a freshman. It was in this moment that I realized that running would have a huge impact on my high school career and the person that I would become over the next four years. This first season of cross country was when I fell in love with running, and I decided to join the winter and spring track teams later that year. While the 1600 meter run became my specialty, the track became my home. My high school experience can be compared to the 1600 meter run; there are four laps of the 1600 and four years of high school. The first lap, freshman year, was where I was just getting used to the pace. High
school teachers were stricter than the ones that taught me in middle school, and I admired my older, more experienced teammates on the track. I tried to hold my pace during my sophomore lap, but school became more difficult with the addition of more Honors and Advanced Placement courses. The third lap, junior year, was unarguably the hardest to handle and felt like the longest, slowest lap. School and standardized tests consumed all of my time, while the thought of college began to cross my mind. Despite the stress induced by school, noticing that my younger teammates began to look up to me showed me that I was no longer playing follow the leader – I was now the leader. I pushed through this crucial third lap to make it to the fourth lap: senior year. The final lap always feels like it ends in the blink of an eye. The stress and anxiety brought on by all of my responsibilities – applying to college, maintaining high grades, serving as editor-in-chief of the Wessex Wire, being a three-season athletic captain, holding the position of National
Honor Society President – felt unbearable at times, but I knew that I had to fight through the pain. The finish line was near. As I sprint down the homestretch of this four-year race that I just endured, I look back on my high school experience and appreciate all of the friendships and memories that I have created. Yes, the going got tough more often than I could have anticipated, but I would not change a thing. Each difficult event only made me stronger. Going out on a whim and joining the cross country team my freshman year changed me for the better because being a runner is so central to who I am today. It made me physically stronger, but more importantly it pushed me to become mentally tough. I do not know what the future may hold for me, but I am excited to embark on a new journey in my life and am ready to tackle whatever challenges life throws at me next. These 1600 meters of high school have greatly prepared me for the next four-lap race that I will run: college.
June 2015
The Class of 2015 by the numbers
110
students going to college in New Jersey
6
colleges that aren’t on the East Coast
90 17 5
different schools
different states
students serving our country
2
Ivy League universitites
15
students with athletic scholarships
254
graduating students out of 254
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Senior Edition
Jakub Adamowicz University of Miami Jonathan Agolia Montclair State University Kristen Ajmo Cornell University Taylor Albanese Ocean County College Alexis Alexander Marist College Alexa Alhout Lehigh University Jacqueline Alvine Suffolk University Niyati Amin Boston University Matthew Arrowood Bloomsburg University Pabemazar Atienza Workforce Scott Barker Rutgers University Christopher Barrella County College of Morris Timothy Barth Purdue University Nicholas Bellomo Monmouth University Emily Ben Nathan University of Pennsylvania Nidia Bernal Syracuse University Shannon Bertscha Cornell University Kyle Betley Temple University Farukh Bhatti The College of New Jersey Militza Bodesinsky Montclair State University Erika Bonapace University of Delaware Matthew Bott University of Delaware Alexandra Boyd Northeastern University Matthew Boyd Vassar College Caitlin Brady Syracuse University Rachel Bramhall American University Amber Bramucci George Washington University Jennifer Brisco Vassar College Madeline Butler University of Southern California Matthew Campanella The Catholic University of America Mia Cana Roger Williams University Kristina Cangialosi Seton Hall University Jenna Cecere University of Delaware Michael Cesare Dickinson College Colleen Cestari William Paterson University Dave Chen Ramapo College Joseph Chris County College of Morris
Kristen Ciarmoli University of Delaware Anthoy Cifelli New Jersey Institute of Technology Nicholas Clark Rutgers University Christopher Costa Coastal Carolina University Katherine Coulter Lasell College Megan Cox Bloomsburg University Jospeh Cuozzo East Stroudsburg University Ashlee Curving Artistic Academy Graziana D’Alia Montclair State University Katelin D’Allegro Parisian Beauty Academy Ariana Daly Carnegie Mellon University Nicholas D’Antonio Farleigh Dickinson University Isabelle De Brabanter Cornell University Haley De Frank Montclair State University Michael De Grazio Workforce Francel DeJesus Essex County College Francesca Del Mauro Monmouth University Alyssa DePasquale West Chester University Daniel Dingwell University of Vermont Michael Dominguez Pennsylvania State University Victoria Dominguez Northeastern University Sotirios Doolen University of Delaware Nicole Doud Montclair State University Niko Douranakis William Paterson University Noah Eagle Syracuse University Jospeh Egan Rowan University Kareem Elsayed Essex County College Mitchell Epstein The Boston Conservatory Deanna Esposito Rutgers University Michael Farina Indiana University Caleigh Flanagan LIM College Dylan Flanagan County College of Morris Kelly Foley University of Vermont John Frangione Farleigh Dickinson University Kevin Freda Kean University Caroline Galligan Boston College Bryan Gallion University of Maryland
Akash Gami University of Maryland Blake Gaudy United States Marines Vanessa Gemma Rutgers University Michael Gencarelli Stockton University Nicholas Gerardo Montclair State University Brian Gieger Rutgers University Jacob Gilbert Susquehanna University Daniel Gingerelli The College of New Jersey Gabriella Girardi Monmouth University Joseph Gonnella Old Dominion University Nicholas Gonnella Essex County College Kenneth Gonzalez University of Delaware Lisa Hagel Montclair State University Andrew Hanna Rowan University Kurt Helmstetter East Stroudsburg University Jake Hempel Rutgers University Sofia Hernandez University of Delaware Devin Hinchcliffe Montclair State University Jake Hrinuk United States Navy Cole Israel University of Vermont Sidney Iwaniszyn Emerson College Ashley Jacoff Ramapo College Meredith James Bryant University Victoria Jenison Virginia Tech Kelsey Jezewski Ramapo College Megan Johnston Rutgers University Jacob Kalb Rowan University Arion Kalici County College of Morris Ali Karacay The College of New Jersey Erin Keegan Rowan University Thomas Kikianis The College of New Jersey Jack Kimmel Ithaca College Jesse Klein New Jersey Institute of Technology Jennifer Kuscin The College of New Jersey Matthew Lachenauer University of Delaware Arber Lajci Rutgers University Samantha LaPare Saint Joseph’s University
Paul Laurora Purdue University Julian Lavin Rowan University Erica Lee University of Maryland Stephanie Lee George Washington University Nicole Lehr University of Hartford Dylan Lentz Workforce Sara Li Vecchi University of Rhode Island Victoria Limongelli Montclair State University Alyssa Linfante Workforce Almina Ljesnjanin Essex County College Roberto Lo Cascio Villanova University Gary Lombardi Pennsylvania State University Gabriel Lombardo Essex County College Adam Lor University of Maryland Mary Loughlin West Chester University Benjamin Lowenthal Temple University Dominic Magliaro Rowan University Luke Magliaro Rowan University Alexia Mairagas University of Rhode Island Jean Marano University of Tampa Angelo Margiolas Stevens Institute of Technology Danielle Markus Marist College Alexis Marootian Stockton University Athena Marousis University of South Carolina Thomas Martine Montclair State University Elizabeth Matos Montclair State University Matthew Matturo Caldwell University Danielle Maxwell Monmouth University Marc McDonald Monmouth University Brandon McEwen United States Navy Robert McGuire George Mason University Allison McKenna James Madison University Henry Mead East Stroudsburg University Mariella Meglio The New School Leonard Mendola Rutgers University Alyssa Menendez Montclair State University Brian Mercurio Farleigh Dickinson University
June 2015
Leana Mercurio The College of New Jersey Rosa Michalaki Hofstra University Michelle Miller Sacred Heart University Emon Mirghahari New Jersey Institute of Technology Kevin Mirsik William Paterson University Alec Miskulin Montclair State University Kristin Moro West Virginia University Daniel Morrello James Madison University Jordan Moskowitz Syracuse University Danielle Mouta Monmouth University Sarah Munn County College of Morris Theresa Murray Ramapo College Niko Nasisi Seton Hall University Lydia Nathans University of New Hampshire Michael Nemeth County College of Morris Rebecca Neugold University of Delaware Daniel Newman Ohio Technical College Yuliya Nikolin University of Rhode Island Monica Onorata The College of New Jersey Connor Osborne University of Delaware Julia Pagano Pace University Francesca Palatella Syracuse University Gabriella Palmiere Montclair State University Jaxon Panico Quinnipiac University Michael Panzarino Kutztown University Louise Pasciuto Loyola University Maryland Rima Patel Seton Hall University Jose Peralta Seton Hall University Max Perelman Workforce Janelle Perillo Parisian Beauty Academy Christopher Pezzuti County College of Morris Rose Pezzuti County College of Morris Brigette Pheloung Saint Joseph’s University Danielle Pheloung Saint Joseph’s University Kevin Pierce Fairfield University Jennifer Piserchia The College of New Jersey Jaclyn Pizzano Bloomsburg University
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Senior Edition
Peter Pollio Towson University Jared Ponzio Ocean County College Haraval Qureshi Baruch College Vincent Radice Essex County College Anisha Ramakrishnan The Ohio State University Jordan Ramirez West Virginia University Adam Rodgers James Madison University DejaMarie Rodriguez Montclair State University Matthew Rubino Essex County College Daniella Russo University of Delaware Demi Russo Montclair State University Desiree Russo Parisian Beauty Academy Alexandra Sabato Quinnipiac University Andrew Saccente Pennsylvania State University Sabrina Saccente University of Miami Lily Sadeghi-Nejad New York University Gabriella Salerno East Stroudsburg University Gianna Salerno Parisian Beauty Academy John Salvato Essex County College Nicholas Salvo University of Scranton Daniel Sanchez New York University Lindsay Sanderson University of Maryland Amanda Sanger County College of Morris Anthony Sanzari Parisian Beauty Academy Gabriella Sanzari Villanova University Sergio Sanzari LIM College Tayler Schauer Monmouth University Kelly Scheper The College of New Jersey Julian Schmidt East Stroudsburg University Jacob Schwartz Vassar College Richard Sessa Full Sail University Christian Servidio Bergen Community College Kimberly Shaw Susquehanna University David Silverblatt Bentley University Erin Smith Kean University Kelly Smith U. S. Merchant Marine Academy Elizabeth Sohn New York University
Kristina Soriano Pennsylvania State University Alexander Sotomayor County College of Morris Stephanie Spero De Sales University Gina Stagnitto Essex County College Taylor Steinberg Indiana University Carissa Stelter Villanova University Joseph Tavares Arizona State University Matthew Tiritilli Edinboro Univeristy Kayla Torter Marist College Melanie Uceda Farleigh Dickinson University Nicholas Valentin University of Scranton Emily Valerian Caldwell University Ryan Van Arsdale Montclair State University Allison Van Schaik Rutgers University Matthew Vassallo Virginia Tech Alisha Veliu Make Up Designary Komal Vij LIM College Casey Waldron County College of Morris Christina Wan Stockton University Michael Wang Hamilton College Divarro Wathika West Chester University Julia Wefferling Montclair State University Thomas Westbrook Kean University Stephanie Wolfer The College of New Jersey Brittany Wolverton Rutgers University Deborah Wong Boston University Nicole Zapparrata James Madison University Elizabeth Zarr New York University Erick Zienkiewicz University of Rhode Island Joanna Zotti Rutgers University Samir Zuberi Essex County College Melissa Zyla Florida State University
Congratulations Wessex Wire Senior Staff Bryan Gallion Monica Onorata Caroline Galligan Lexie Sabato Dom Magliaro Sara LiVecchi Lindsay Sanderson
Ben Lowenthal Noah Eagle Rose Pezzuti Sabrina Saccente Luke Magliaro Maddie Butler Kelly Scheper
June 2015
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Senior Edition
Take a minute to observe By Noah Eagle, Sports Editor
I’ve always been a big fan of movies. Comedies, actions, thrillers, if you give me a movie to watch, the chance of me sending it back unhappy is very small. Because of this, I like to live my life as if it were a movie, imagining each chapter as another plot point in my overall story. I also like to take what I admire about certain characters I might see and mimic his or her actions. One person I find this to be perfect for is Ferris Buhler, portrayed by Matthew Broderick in the film “Ferris Buhler’s Day Off.” His free and easy going outlook on life is definitely one I like to incorporate in my own, but there is one line in particular from the movie that has always resonated with me. Buhler says, “life moves pretty fast. If you don’t stop and look around once in a while, you could miss it.” To me, this epitomizes high school, and I encourage everybody
to carry this idea with them throughout their own lives, because using it has allowed me to take everything in as a student, and not miss out on any opportunities. Honestly, I came into West Essex with only one goal: to go to a great college. I didn’t aspire to be in any clubs and really only knew that I liked to play sports, but had no idea what it would truly take to be a varsity athlete at our school. Had I not taken Buhler’s advice, I probably would have been so focused on my ultimate goal, I would have missed some of the greatest aspects of the high school experience. Being a member of the student council and doing things like the morning announcements allowed for me to see the school in a completely different light than I would have otherwise, also providing me a great opportunity to establish relationships with a variety of people. However, had I not had the presence of mind to stop and really take a good look at what was
happening around me, being a part of a club or trying different sports may not have even crossed my mind. So for all of the seniors moving on to the next chapter of your life, remember to take that extra risk, and you don’t have to be overly focused on one thing. Open yourself up and go outside your comfort zone, because before you know it, it will all be over. The same goes to all the soon-to-be seniors and underclassmen; cherish your moments, because in a blink of an eye, it will be done. I’m sure you all hear that often, but seriously, it goes by quicker than you think. If you asked me as a 4’11” freshman with a Justin Bieber haircut walking into the building for the first time if I could picture myself getting my diploma, I probably would have looked at you as if you had five heads. So just remember to look around every now and again when living life, because Ferris Buhler didn’t lie, you will absolutely miss out on something.
The top eight schools of the Class of 2015