The Wessex Wire (March 2017)

The Wessex Wire The Student Newspaper of West Essex Regional High School

Vol. LVII No.4

65 West Greenbrook Road, North Caldwell, N.J.

TheWessexWire.com

March 2017

Junior health class ‘Stayin’ Alive’ with CPR training

By Grace Irwin ’18 and Maddie Galligan ’18

Starting this year, the school is adding CPR training for the junior health curriculum. Within this course, students will actively learn each step of the CPR process using manikin, practice automated external defibrillators (AEDs), epipens and other first aid equipment. P.E. teachers Ms. Plesnitzer and Mr. Linsalato completed American Red Cross training in Fairfield this past winter, becoming certified to teach others CPR. Students will physically demonstrate proficiency by practicing compressions and learning how to use an AED. Regarding first aid, students will have to follow proper protocol and know how to wrap an injured area. PE teachers will conduct written tests to ensure that kids have the basic knowledge of the lifesaving act.

At the end of the course, students will have the option to take the Red Cross CPR certification test for a minimal fee of $30, enabling them to perform CPR in real-life situations. Students will also be trained in the Heimlich.

Junior Daria Wendell said, “I’m

excited to learn CPR. I think it’s something everyone should feel comfortable doing and I would probably not have the chance to take this course if it weren’t for this change in curriculum.”

There are many practical opportunities provided by the course for students to take advantage of.

“Students will benefit by having the opportunity to get certified incase they are interested in being a lifeguard, camp counselor, babysitting, volunteer coach and overall will be prepared for an emergency,” Mr. Linsalato said.

Many occupations require, or prefer CPR certification and training. Medical professionals to office workers can all benefit from learning proper CPR techniques and knowing how to appropriately react in a life-threatening situation.

By utilizing hands-on training and easy to follow instructions, students can become confident in their lifesaving skills.

Ms. Plesnitzer said, “It has been an exciting experience for us so far. We had to train our other colleagues and we are pleased to bring this new initiative to our health and phys. ed. department.

We hope to get as many students

Photo by Alexa dratch

Ms. Plesnitzer and Mr. Linsalato practice CPR chest compression techniques on a manikin.

certified as possible. This way they have the knowledge and education

to feel confident in a situation if an emergency arises. We also hope to

offer this course to outsiders in the community in the future.”

Faculty members honored for dedication to students

By Jordan Flusser ’19 Special education teacher Ms. McDonough and guidance counselor Ms. Longo earned recognition for their talents as educators and positive influence on students.

The faculty members were named 2016-17 High School Governor’s Teacher of the Year and Governor’s Educational Services Professional of the Year during the faculty professional development luncheon on Jan. 16. The Feb. 13 Board of Education meeting also recognized all faculty recipients.

The awards, which the school gives out once a year, honor experts who inspire students of all backgrounds and abilities to learn and someone who actively collaborates with colleagues and students to create a strong culture of respect and success.

“Everyday I work so hard not for

In This Issue:

me, but for my students, so I’m not really thinking about myself when I’m here,” Ms. Longo said. “To have my students and my colleagues turn around and thank me was both rewarding and validating that I am doing the best job I possibly can for the community.

Ms. Longo works countless hours inside and outside the guidance office to ensure her students are making their best decisions during their time in high school in order to reach their full potential.

She helps upperclassmen aiming to get accepted into colleges of their choice and helps younger students find their interests to start them on the right path.

No two days are ever alike for me and each brings a new challenge, so I leave the building knowing that somehow I helped at least one person have a better day.”

Ms. Longo’s contributions go

4-6 Opinion

beyond deciding what colleges students are looking for or what classes are on their schedules.

She communicates with families, students and her colleagues to provide any assistance that may be needed regarding their school life. Interestingly, Ms. Longo won a similar award 10 years ago as a teacher in Morristown. She was recognized for her excellence as a science teacher before becoming a guidance counselor.

“I know I can always go to Ms. Longo if I need help with anything,” junior Liv Ranucci said.

“She is so helpful and makes sure my classes are right for me.”

Ms. Longo’s students appreciate her hard work and are supportive of her winning this award. Ms. McDonough has been teaching for 15 years (10 at West Essex) and describes her job as rewarding and fun. She said she has nothing but

A firsthand account of the Women’s March

8-9

Food gems

Ms. McDonough

Ms. Longo

hope for her students and wishes to see them succeed in all aspects of their education.

“Ms. McDonough is a great teacher and she’s taught me a lot so far. She really cares about all of us and wants us to do well,” sophomore James Faloni said.

Aside from being a special education and reading teacher, Ms. McDonough also co-teaches several biology classes and is the class

of 2018 advisor, allowing her to interact with students in multiple grades. Her goal as a teacher, she says, is the success of her students and knowing she was capable of helping them.

“I was in shock when I received this award because I don’t think of this as a job,” Ms. McDonough said. “I tell them all the time that if you have a job that you really love, you aren’t really working.”

Favorite foods around town

14-16 Sports

Liam Fost earns his 12 varsity letters

March 2017

Page 2

The Wessex Wire: News

Trump’s travel Immigration ban hits home ban cheat sheet

By Ria Shah ’19

President Trump’s “America First” foreign policy aims to preserve American interests and national security through strength. Here is a simple guide to the executive order.

Trump signed an executive order that established a temporary ban on refugees, predominantly from seven Muslim countries, from traveling to the United States for 90 days as a measure meant to protect Americans from terrorist attacks.

Photo courtesy of Gage Skidmore (CC BY-SA 2.0)

A federal judge in Brooklyn issued an “emergency stay,” which prevents the deportation of travelers in the midst of traveling as well as those with valid visas who were held up at U.S. airports.

Homeland security secretary John Kelley released an exception to the ban for those possessing green cards.

Washington state’s attorney general sued the Trump administration over the travel ban, requesting for a temporary nationwide restraining order to block it.

Washington federal judge James Robart granted several states a temporary restraining order against the ban.

The justice department requested the federal appeals court to order an emergency ruling as a means to overturn Robart’s decision. That initial request was denied due to a lack of evidence on both sides.

The government and Washington state argued their points in court and the public hearing was streamed on different cable news outlets.

The United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit denied Trump’s attempt to reinstate the executive order. The same day, Trump tweeted, “SEE YOU IN COURT, THE SECURITY OF OUR NATION IS AT STAKE!” Information obtained from New York Times and CNN

On thewessexwire.com

check out a firsthand look inside skylr the hypnotist’s Feb. 13 show

illustration by Grace Irwin ’18

Kouros Sadeghi-Nejad ’19

EiMan Osman ’18

is attempting to reinstate the order.

With this information in mind, Sadeghi-Nejad said, it’s unclear why people coming from countries like Saudi Arabia, Pakistan, Afghanistan or even the UK and France aren’t screened with as much security as those from countriesincluded in the restriction “Many Americans are so intent on staying politically correct, that they refuse to connect Islam to the terrorist acts committed in its name,” he said. “In fact, the media seems to get more offended by attributing acts to Islam than the acts themselves. Americans protesting in the streets shouting things like ‘Islam is a religion of peace’ and ‘the Hijab is empowerment’ are not helping anybody.”

Osman holds dual citizenship for both the United States and Sudan.

While this has not yet posed an issue for her personally, the order interrupted plans in her family’s lives.

“My aunt was returning home from a vacation in Sudan, and while all this was happening here, she waited at the airport for hours and was eventually sent back to Sudan,” she said. “She’s an American citizen and she had the papers to prove it.

America was just so confused with Trump’s ideas that the country went into a panic.”

“Trump is thinking in the right direction… [but] people need to decide whether they want to protect people’s feelings, or whether they want to protect their nation,” Sadeghi-Nejad added.

He added that America has security problems that the media attempts to sweep under the rug and blame other factors.

“Islamic terrorism is not a figment of imagination,” SadeghiNejad said, “but something that exists and causes a risk to human life in America and many other countries, evident through events such as 9/11 and the recent Orlando shooting.”

Both Osman and Sadeghi-Nejad indicated that Trump had the right idea: Islamic terrorism is a constant issue and security is needed.

However, the question lies in who deserves priority.

“Trump is limiting our countries options,” Osman said. “Terrorism is definitely a groundbreaking issue we’re dealing with, but right now I’m more worried about how me and my family are going to be treated in the future.”

photo courtesy of Gage Skidmore CC BY-SA 2.0) flickr.com/photos/hinkelstone /32526771855/

By Jessica Cunha ’17

When President Trump announced his executive order on Jan. 17 that restricted travel to and from specific Middle Eastern countries, the motion sparked a wide variety of opinions, varying from acceptance to support and to extreme criticism and accusations of racial bias and profiling.

Many West Essex students have similarly divided opinions — but politics and legality aside, two West Essex students have a personal stake in the situation because of their own family backgrounds.

Sophomore Kouros SadeghiNejad and junior Eiman Osman, whose families are from two of the seven countries included in the ban, both said that while they support the overall intentions of the administration’s efforts with the executive order, how the initiative was rolled out created a false impression of a specific group of people that does not account for everyone.

“There were many flaws in how the situation was handled. In my opinion the ban doesn’t include enough countries,” said SadeghiNejad, a son of Iranian immigrants who holds a dual citizenship with the U.S. and Iran.

Iran is a country that fights against terrorist groups like ISIS, he said, unlike some of the surrounding countries who are known to have an ideology that seems to endorse it. Iran is Shiite while the surrounding countries are Sunni, two major divisions of Islam. Not every Muslim is directly responsible for Islamic terrorism, and as a result of the lack of information, racial bias has prominently emerged.

“What people need to understand is that Iranian people are peaceful and pose little to no danger. The government is what I think people should question,” Sadeghi-Nejad said.

The facts revolve around the same ideas: Terrorism is a very real threat to the country, but most of the time, it does not directly stem from the seven countries on Trump’s ban list, consisting of Syria, Iraq, Yemen, Somalia, Libya, Sudan and Iran. While two states did challenge Trump’s executive order and won in court, the government has appealed to the District Court and

The Wessex Wire: News

March 2017

Page 3

Vietnam veteran shares his experiences Brand new elective courses for next year

By Caroline Quinn ’19 Vi e t n a m v e t e r a n Ka r l Danckwerth expressed to West Essex students his experience on war and Tim O’Brien’s novel “The Things They Carried” during a presentation on Feb.10 . Danckwerth, a former U.S. army medic, answered students’ questions and gave his insight on the reality of war and the soldiers who fight.

Danckwerth, who saw first hand the sacrifices of young men and women fighting in Vietnam from 1964 to 1967, shared his experiences with the students through personal photographs from the warfront. The pictures captured the soldier’s emotions and told their own powerful story.

“Everybody see that helmet?”

Danckwerth said, “On that helmet it says war is hell. He would rather be at Seaside Heights or at a swimming pool, but he is at war.”

Danckwerth told students one of the worst parts in his experience was having to watch a 19 year old die knowing that their family was going to get a telegram the next day saying that their child was gone.

Danckwerth also spoke about the lessons to be learned from “The Things They Carried”, Tim O’Brien’s novel about the experiences of the Vietnam War that is part of the English III curriculum.

Although he said the book was mostly fiction, he asked the students to take from it that no war was ever started by a soldier and that his personal beliefs do not factor in.

“It’s totally irrelevant to anybody whether you’re a private or general and if you’re for or against the war; you go because it is your job,” Danckwerth said.

Students overall were pleased

Administration expands learning opportunities in the humanities and arts.

By Michael DiGiacomo ’18

Photos by Daniella Ignacio

Mr. Danckwerth discussed with the juniors about the traumas he had to endure during the Vietnam War.

and responded positively to Danckwerth’s message.

“It was very insightful and I got to hear about what exactly a soldier had to endure throughout the war, which was really interesting,” junior Danielle Kohler said.

Danckwerth ser ved in the Army as an Infantry Medic in Germany and a Helicopter Medic

in Vietnam. His job was to take care of the wounded and bring them to the hospitals as quickly as possible to be treated. His team’s main focus was to make sure they saved lives despite all the risks.

“I hope that others may live and that is what we were all very proud of,” Danckwerth said. Along with his unit, Danckwerth conducted

highly dangerous hoist operations, risking his life and others in his unit to save others.

Danckwerth said that he was proud of his time in the army, but he would not wish the experience of war upon anyone. “I hope not one American ever goes to war again,” Danckwerth said. He wants to visit Vietnam in the future.

senior students who will be strutting down the runway.

“I’m excited for our grade to come together for another senior event, especially one that is to raise money for our school,” senior Nick Cerrigone said.

Lord and Taylor is sponsoring the show with their clothes for the students to model on the runway, and David Chad’s Hair Salon in Caldwell is offering $20 blowouts for the student models as well as a donation to the event.

“This is a new and different event that is student centered and has a beautiful location. It is fun for students to dress up, go out and socialize. It will be fun to have the students involved in a fundraiser event,” World Language and History Supervisor Ms. Drago said.

WEFE will be sending invitations out to all families in West Essex so everyone is included.

The committee has been working endless hours to get sponsors from different companies and people to donate so this is a successful event.

“I think it will be a really fun event for all the seniors to be together and dress up,” senior Ellie Mead said. “Other schools say how much fun and memorable their fashion show is and how it is their school’s biggest event each year.”

This year two specific grants were awarded which include an Apple Mac mini computer to Mr. Hermosilla’s classes for broadcast journalism production and to Mr. Rosa with three Allston standing desks for the special education department. Along with these two grants WEFE contributed to the West Essex Lip Dub, donated money to the math department for WebWork Online homework software program, and helped create a independent reading library

for the world language department. WEFE works hard to make sure West Essex can continue to enhance the quality of education for the students.

“I’m excited to support our community and help out our school,” senior Sam Minion said. “This is going to be a memorable night for parents and students.”

Seniors hit the runway in WEFE fashion show

By Alexandra Codella ’17

Student models will prowl the runway for charity at the West Essex Foundation for Education’s first ever Fashion Show fundraiser at Green Brook Country Club on April 19 from 7 to 10 p.m.

The West Essex Foundation for Education (WEFE) is a parent based committee that raises money to enhance the quality of education for the students at West Essex by providing financial support for programs that enrich student achievement. Each year they fundraise money to give back to the school through teacher grants and technology. Two years ago WEFE gave $25,000 towards technology for the West Essex students and faculty.

The 2017 Fashion Show is only the beginning of student involvement fundraisers. It consists of 50

Logo courtesy of WEFE

English IV Options There will be a large selection of English IV CPA and Honors half year classes for Seniors who will not be taking AP Literature.

E ng l i s h L ite r atu re an d Psychology, English Literary Nonfiction: Memoirs of the Game, delve into western literature. True Crime, Satire and Comedy will examine the literary context.

The honors classes include:Contemporar y Literature, Philosophy and Literature, Shakespeare and Women and Literature. CPA and honors classes have the chance to choose two half year classes Guitar CPA and Music Tech Novice guitarists will learn va rious techniques to hone their skills in the performing arts. Students are encouraged to bring their own guitar, but the school will provide one if necessary. Students will look forward to working with music hardware and software such as audio recording, editing, loop and beat-based sound production.

Digital Photography CPA This elective focuses on teaching the basic operations of a digital camera. “I always liked to take pictures and would like to learn more about the elements of art, composition, and lightning,” sophomore Dominic Trombino said. Students will learn image techniques using Adobe PhotoShop and Lightroom, and the school will provide cameras.

Human Geography AP This college level course will employ landscape analysis ideas to examine the socioeconomic organization and its environmental repercussions. “This class can only be taken by students who received a B+ or better in any of the history honors courses or an A- or better in CPA classes,” guidance counselor Ms.Van Syckle said.

Opinion

March 2017 Issue 4

The Wessex Wire Page 4

Politics need our attention Politics always seem to be an especially prevalent media topic, especially during an election year, but it’s understandable that some people get fed up with hearing about politics, especially in their own student newspaper.

Yes, there has been a large amount of coverage in the Wessex Wire about Trump and politics, but we feel it’s for good reason.

This year has been one of the craziest in recorded political history, with a complete newcomer to politics facing off against an extremely controversial candidate.

As a student newspaper, the Wire’s job is to inform the student body about the issues that matter, and discuss the conversations consistently going on around the school.

The government affects all of us, which is why covering the decisions made within that governing body is so vital.

Within the first month of Trump’s presidency, he has signed 12 executive orders, including his travel ban and attempts to dismantle the Affordable Care Act (aka Obamacare), while also continuing to attack the “corrupt” media.

Whether you’re a Trump fan or Trump critic, this is all 100 percent relevant to us as a student body and as American citizens. This is your country too!

Staying informed on Trump’s presidency is extremely relevant now as his administration is still in the beginning stages. And at the rate news is coming out, sometimes it’s hard to keep up.

Many students have directly admitted they’ve neglected to stay informed about politics, so the Wire feels it’s our responsibility to fill in those gaps and give students the news about what is happening in the world we live in, beyond our own community.

Staff Editorial

The Wessex Wire The Official Student Newspaper of West Essex High School A Columbia Scholastic Press Association Gold Medalist Paper 65 West Greenbrook Road, North Caldwell, New Jersey 07006 (973) 228-1200 ext. 258 2016-2017 STAFF: Managing Editor & Special Projects Editor Daniella Ignacio ’17 News Editors Melanie Montes ‘18 Junior Editor: Grace Irwin ‘18 Features Editors Micaela Weiss ‘17 Junior Editor: Maddie Galligan ‘18 Sports Editors Michael DeFranza ‘17 Dan Laible ’18 Mia Oyama ‘17

Editors-in-Chief Jessica Cunha ’17 Isabel Tabs ’17 Jake Wolf ‘17

Jules Moskowitz ’17

Junior Opinion Editors Michael DiGiacomo ‘18 Heath Kalb ‘18

Photography Editors Alexandra Codella ‘17 Alexa Dratch ‘18

Arts & Culture Editors Grace George ‘17 Olivia Ritter ‘17

Advertising & Social Media Editor Lizzy Cimilluca ’17

Online Editor Megan Boeckel ‘17

Illustrators Grace Irwin ’18 Sharon O’Donnell ‘18

Faculty Adviser Mr. Hermosilla

Art Director

Contributing Staff Michael Bachmann ‘17, Alyssa Cristobal ’18, Jordan Flusser ’19, Shaun Goodman ’19, Dylan Lepre ‘19, Caroline Quinn ’19, Ally Schachtel ’ 19, Ria Shah ’19, Zoe Stern ‘17, Chris Tsakonas ‘18

The Wessex Wire Editorial Policy

The national-award winning Wessex Wire is published with supplemental updates to inform, educate and entertain the approximately 1,200 students of West Essex High School, faculty and community. Unsigned editorials are the consensus opinion of the editorial board and do not always reflect the views of the adviser, staff, administration and/or board of education. Signed editorials reflect the view of the person whose name appears in the byline.

The Wire serves as a forum for the expression of ideas and opinions of students, staff and community members. We urge readers to write letters to the editor on pertinent matters of concern. Letters must be signed; however, anonymity will be granted if necessary upon request. Members of the editorial board reserve the right to edit all letters to the editor for length or libelous content. Students, faculty or members of the community with an interesting experience or strong opinion on any subject are also encouraged to write or contact the Wire at thewessexwire@gmail.com.

Several photos in this issue are used under various Creative Commons licenses. For more info and full licensing details, visit creativecommons.org.

Women protest against Trump’s presidency in Washington D.C. Jan. 21

Photo By GRace George

Women’s March signals new wave of protesting

By Grace George ’17

The day after Donald Trump’s inauguration, millions of men, women and children around the world, myself included, gathered in protests both for women’s rights and against the new president.

With President Trump’s conservative views regarding abortion and his documented harsh language referring to women, the state of women’s rights during his term has brought about high concern, to say the least.

Being one of these women protesting in D.C., I found the Women’s March on Washington to be enlightening and a sign of hope in a time of trepidation following this past election cycle.

Being surrounded by so many like minded people reminded me why I was there in the first place.

Even though the protest appeared angry on the surface, the actual atmosphere in D.C. was light and happy, excited to be a part of of something so vast and important.

Many, however, saw the marches as a waste of time.

The idea that marches and protests are useless is a common feeling that has been around forever.

People said it decades ago when protests spread across the nation for the Vietnam war and they will continue to refute the purpose of political demonstration for years

to come. Those who fail to see the impact that marches and protests have do not recognize why America is such a great country in the first place. The freedom to express your anger or dissatisfaction with the government is a key aspect to why America is self-titled “the land of the free” with pride.

This march, however, was vital for the nation’s current state and larger than itself; it may have been a call to action for unhappy citizens to rise up and use their voice to oppose the new president.

Only a week into his presidency, President Trump signed a controversial executive order banning people from specific Middle Eastern countries from coming into the United States.

This executive order initially included green card holders and Muslims who were already naturalized citizens. In reaction, thousands of people gathered at international airports around the country, vying for the release of refugees that had endured an entire vetting process before coming over, naturalized Muslim citizens and Muslim green card holders held in confinement for hours.

These protests went on throughout the day and night, and the people refused to let down until the Muslims kept in confinement were released and allowed to

go about their lives. As a result of the public outrage and individual state blocks of the travel ban, the states of Washington and Minnesota brought the executive order to the jurisdiction of the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals in the trial “State of Washington & State of Minnesota vs. Trump.”

On Feb. 10, the Ninth Circuit judges unanimously ruled against President Trump, rejecting the government’s emergency request to instate the ban despite legal challenges.

The fact that two large scale protests mounted only a week and a half into President Trump’s first term is a sign that we are currently living in the new era of political demonstration.

If the millions of people who participated in the march and the packed airports in over 30 cities mean anything, it is that a large portion of the United States population is unhappy with Trump already and the new president is in for a bumpy ride.

In a nation whose government is currently controlled by one party but is as polarized as the United States is now, protests and marches are more important than ever before. Those discontented with the outcome of the election must accept that Donald Trump is president, but not without letting their voices be heard.

March 2017

Page 5

The Wessex Wire: Opinion

Wessex sounds off on Trump’s presidency so far

“ “ “ ” ” “ ” “ ”“ “ “ ” “ “ ” ” “ ”“ “ Students have mixed reactions to Trump’s first month in office...

I guess I really don’t know or care because it doesn’t at all feel like it affects me. I know it does and will real soon, but since I’m only 16 I’m still living under my parents, so it’s kinda their issue for now.

—Katelyn Zincone ’19

Although most of the country isn’t necessarily agreeing with his promises, specifically the Muslim ban, he has constantly blocked out the criticism. Trump has shown that he is a very independent person, and I can respect that.

—Liam Golden ’20

He acts questionably but seems to know what he wants to do.

—Frank Lagreca ’18

I think he could have taken a different approach than he did with putting out all of these executive orders, since some of the country is against him.

It just gave people more of a reason to dislike him.

—Justine Gonnella ’17

I believe the wall is a waste of federal funding and will not do anything to solve the immigrant crisis. Also, Trump should have just let the pipeline situation be. He didn’t need to open up a can of worms with that.

—Shaina Barreto ’18

I think that while he’s driven and focused, he’s made way too many drastic decisions way too quickly. Which makes it hard for him to gain the trust of the American people.

—Noah Rombough ’19

Compiled by monica barker ’19, Alyssa cristobal ’18, lauren czachor ’20, Lara del vecchio ’20, Sydney fishman ’20 Shaun Goodman ’19, Emily johnston ’18, Ally Schachtel ’19, danielle schwartz ’20 and zoe stern ’17

“ ” ” “ ” “ ” ”“ ” “ ” ”

Trump and his cabinet lack using facts to explain their views and therefore us as Americans have to deal with his term blindly. Our future is directly affected by his presidency, and I hope there’s change.

—Eman Jaber ’18

I think that he’s a man of his word. As far as what he said, I think as his presidency goes further it’ll be easier for him and he will adjust well, so things will get better.

—Natalie Guerra ’18

He has gone back on so many promises. He has chosen to say that he will improve the relationship between Palestine and Israel but then decided to stay out of the situation.

—Julia Rubenstein ’20

Illustration Courtesy of DonkeyHotey (CC By 2.0)

It’s sad just how childish his tweets have been. Due to his mishandling of social media in an unacceptable way, it has furthered my negative view of the president and his time in office. His actions make me believe sometimes that he is unfit to be president.

—Zach Brosse ’19

I think President Trump is doing a good job at making sure everyone in this country is safe.

—James Faloni ’19

I honestly have no idea.

—Nicole Leone ’17

Trump has already begun following through with many of the reforms he promised during his campaign. I believe he will increase revenue, increase jobs and make this country great again.

—Jack Cerza ’20

He shows his concern for making America a safe, protected and economically stable country. People need to give him a chance before criticizing him. They will benefit us in the long run.

—Abby Rondi ’19

I think he’s a little out of control. He’s passing a lot of executive orders and he doesn’t really seem qualified.

—Josh Kupferberg ’19

I think that President Trump is doing a good job trying to get as much done as possible in a short time frame. The changes he’s been already making are monumental and will definitely benefit America in the long run.

—Elyssa Stabile ’19

There’s just so many mean things that he says about women and people of other races.

—Jordyn White ’20

Trump has been doing a great job so far. He’s negotiated with Mexico about the wall like he said he would in his presidential campaign. Trump has found ways around the criticism and has not let it affect him.

—Brandon Reo ’19

March 2017

Page 6

The Wessex Wire: Opinion

Trump’s war on facts: a danger to journalism Journalists are becoming thretaned by Trump’s false claims against the legitamacy of their coverage.

“

”

Trump declares a “war on media” that attacks the press’s credibility.

In this election it was apparent that America has become polarized more than ever, which also means that the press is becoming more partisan. The press is approaching news regarding Trump as he is an opponent rather than a subject. As a result, people are losing trust in the media.

A recent poll conducted by Gallup stated that only 14 percent of the Republicans trust the media in today’s society while in 1976 trust was at an all time high percentage. This is no shock considering how biased the news is despite their personal opinions about Trump.

However the media does have the right to make accusations against Trump with free speech and freedom of the press.

It is more shocking to me though that our own president can just blattantly misrepresent the facts as he more recently ac-

Illustration by Sharon O’Donnell

cused the media of ignoring terrorism incidents saying the “very dishonest press doesn’t want to report it.”

Excuse me Mr. President, but when did the press ever try to cover up a terrorist attack and what evidence do you have to back this allegation?

As a journalist and American citizen, I recommend that Trump fact check himself before speaking in front of all America. On Feb. 3, there was a terrorist attack on Paris by someone from Egypt (which by the way isn’t one of the seven countries on his travel ban).

Being that it’s Trump, he immediately tweeted, “A new radical Islamic terrorist has just attacked in Louvre Museum in Paris. Tourists were locked down. France on edge again. GET SMART U.S.” Just a couple of things wrong with this tweet: the attack occurred in the Carrousel

du Louvre, no tourists were attacked just soldiers, and France is NOT on the edge.

With all this being said, two things need to happen. First, Trump needs to hold less aggression towards the media and stop calling journalists dishonest untrustworthy people.

Because if we didn’t have the press, Trump, we wouldn’t be able to hear about your new policies (especially your travel ban).

Secondly, journalists themselves need to maintain a sense of credibility because people gain insight and impressions from the media because it’s what they observe, read and listen to.

What is occurring is that Trump, a man with an exuberant amount of power and influence, is portraying the news as a deceptive and implausible outlet to the public. So bring it on Trump… our battle has just begun.

Remember to bring cash! Cards will be declined

By Grace George ’17 Does it bother you that the cafeteria doesn’t take credit or debit cards? There are many students who have the luxury of a debit or credit card, but they cannot use them when it comes to buying a lunch or a snack from the school cafeteria.

This is a serious inconvenience for those of us who like to deposit all of our money and find it easier to just carry around a card everywhere.

Students have not always had cards, but as of recently, it is really common to find that students have credit or debit cards that are either their own or their parents.

The school administration should recognize this and imple-

More DIBY on thewessexwire.com: Read about the iPhone’s bothersome longevity ment machines that allow us to buy food and drinks from the cafeteria with just the swipe of a card.

Not only is the refusal to allow students to use cards also a refusal to develop with the times, but it can be a major inconvenience for the average student.

Students who have jobs either get direct deposits or checks to cash into their bank accounts.

Many students can ask their parents for some extra money, but this is often done by transferring money into their account. This leaves them with no cash and, therefore, no extra money to

splurge on a nice Rice Krispies treat.

Not only is the lack of a card machine frustrating for students, it is nonsensical. This school is extremely technologically advanced with T.V.s i n the halls and cafeteria and the new Chromebooks. It doesn’t make sense for the school to lack in technology where it would provide a real convenience for students.

I realize that complaining about my debit card’s lack of use in school may seem petty, but it is a serious struggle. I have fallen victim to the dollar-less situation many a time.

It is too often that I find myself digging for change in my backpack and begging for money from my friends just to buy a coffee. I always ALWAYS, however, have my card with me. So, come on, West Essex! Let’s go plastic!

Photo by Isabel Tabs

“Republican Elephant & Democratic Donkey - Icons” By DonkeyHotey (https://www.flickr.com/photos/donkeyhotey/6228036406/ ).

honest human beings on earth” at the CIA headquarters on Jan. 21.

Throughout his campaign process and the beginning of his prescience, Trump has continued to delegitimize the value of true journalism. The media’s role is to actively inform the public about surrounding events and topics

By Isabel Tabs ’17 whether in a subjective or objective form.

Our president, Donald Trump By simply ignoring the media has officially declared war: the war and creating a barrier, Trump is on media. I, Anderson Cooper changing the meaning of democand the millions of other journal- racy. His continuous complaints ists who dedicate their lives to the about news coverage range from art are now considered by Trump issues regarding his level of politias enimies of our country. This cal support, his intellectual heft, clash of opinions among Trump and evidently the crowd size at and the media is partially due to the inauguration. our president’s lack of trust in the Now, we see that the press is in media in parallel with news out- direct competition with the White lets having very partisan opinions. House including all its staff memJust minutes after Trump was bers especially with Sean Spicer inaugurated, he along with his and Kellyanne Conway’s “alternapress secretary Sean Spicer at- tive facts.” Alternative facts are tacked the just a fancy way of media regardlying without exing the size of By simply ignoring the plicitly admitting t h e c row d at the falsehoods of the inaugura- media and creating the situations. The tion on Jan. 20. idea of alternative Ac c ord i ng to a barrier, Trump is facts surfaced nathe Washington changing the meaning tional news when Post,Spicer Sean Spicer lied c l a i m e d t h a t of democracy. about the popula“t his was t he tion size at Trump’s largest audience inauguration. to ever witness an inauguration, There is evidently a division period,” however journalists with between Trump and the press the help of crowd scientists esti- and as journalists, it’s our duty to mated 160,000 attended while 1.8 decipher what the media needs million people went to Obama’s to cover. Is it Trump’s rediculous in 2009. claims or is it hard core policy Trump then proceeded to chal- making? But more importantly lenge the truthfulness of journal- journalists need to recall events ists by calling them “the most dis- as they occurred truthfully.

March 2017 Issue 4

Features

The Wessex Wire Page 7

Mr. West Essex, will you accept this rose?

By Micaela Weiss ’17 and Sophia Colitti ’17

The month of March means one thing in the eyes of our community: It’s almost time for the ninth annual Mr. West Essex! This year’s competitors have infinite potential to be the chosen bachelor. As the school anticipates the crowning of Mr. West Essex, we must know why they deserve a rose.

Michael Gonzalez

Q: What would you title the story of your life?

A: “Nah, I’m gonna go ahead and do it.”

Q: What movie makes you cry?

A: “Any Pixar movie where the mother dies. The tissues are everywhere!”

Liam Fost

Q: Who or what is your nemesis?

A: “The sound of a girl knocking over her S’well bottle.”

Q: What color would you be if you were a crayon?

A: “Court ordered urine sample yellow.”

Ralph Marotti

Q: Which Kardashian captures your spirit?

A: “I have the butt of Kim, the attitude of Kourtney and the personality of Khloe.”

Q: What is your favorite song to sing in the shower?

A: “‘The Sweet Escape.’ I really hit those high notes.”

Ryan Diver

Q: If you could have one superpower, what would it be?

A: “The power to speak Braille.”

Q: What is your favorite word?

A: “Moist because everyone else hates it.”

Matt Richardella

Q: What type of fruit would you be?

A: “A watermelon just because of my sheer mass.”

Q: What would you title the story of your life?

A: “Man vs. Food.”

Shane Smith

Q: What is your perfect date?

A: “Go to Medieval Times wearing Jersey Shore jumpsuits and eat chicken wings like barbarians.”

Q: If you could eat one food for the rest of your life, what would it be?

A: “360 protein shakes made by big Ant Sangillo.”

Brian O’Neill

Q: What movie makes you cry?

A: “‘Marley and Me’ gets me everytime.”

Q: What is your favorite song to sing in the shower?

A: “‘Teenage Dream’ by Katy Perry. It lets me fantasize about my skin-tight jeans.”

Michael Contreras

Q: What is your favorite song to sing in the shower?

A: “‘All I Want for Christmas is You’ because it’s always Christmas.”

Q: Why should you be Mr. West Essex?

A: “Because who else can do it?”

Michael Cunha

Q: What is your go-to dance move?

A: “The knee-slap shoe-touch booty pop.”

Q: What is your perfect date?

A: “West Caldwell Shop Rite. Two foam fingers. A lobster tank. We cheer on Larry as he brawls in the tank.”

Noah Struss

Q: What would you title the story of your life?

A: “How to get away with doing nothing in school.”

Q: What would your superpower be?

A: “The power to open automatic doors a few moments sooner than they would typically open.”

Catch West Essex’s most eligible bachelors in action on March 24 @ 7 p.m. in the high school auditorium.

March 2017

Page 8

The Wessex Wire: Food

A tiny taste of West Essex’

Phone eats first: Get

By Jules Moskowitz ’17

Everyone is into posting their delicious looking While trying to find the best angle to take the ph watering. Here are some tips on how to perfect y

Tip 1: Play around with the angles. Usually, a sh

otherwise a close-up shot will do the job as well.

Tip 2: Work with what you have. Use the backg look and feel more alive.

Tip 3: Take a lot of pictures. Don’t settle with ju

you realize it wasn’t satisfactory after you’ve take

Map courtesy of google

Favorite local restaurants vs. hidden gems

By Jules Moskowitz ’17 and Lizzy Cimilluca ’17

California Pizza Kitchen

Located outside of the Willowbrook Mall, California Pizza Kitchen is a raved-about restaurant. The restaurant serves an abundance of different pizzas, but also offers lots of alternatives like salads and pastas.

“Not only does it have such good pizza, it also has a variety of other options. My favorite option is the Chinese chicken salad,” senior Danielle Vacca said.

The Original Pancake House

A great breakfast place to dine at is the Original Pancake House located in West Caldwell. The Pancake House has a delicious variety of pancakes, waffles and other morning treats.

“The Pancake House never fails to provide an authentic American breakfast,” junior Justin Maestoso said.

Cold Stone Creamery

Cold Stone Creamery is a one-of-a-kind ice cream parlor. Having locations in both Montclair and West Orange, Cold Stone has unique, popular flavors. It also has its signature flavors like Birthday Cake Remix, Oreo Overload, Cookie Doughn’t You Want Some and 18 others.

“I go to Cold Stone at least once a week; their ice cream is like no other,” senior Ralph Marotti said.

Sam’s Bagel & Deli

Sam’s has the best bagels with a vast array of choices, making it hard to choose whether you’d like an everything flagel with cream cheese or a taylor ham egg and cheese. You can even get some hashbrowns even though it’s not on the menu!

“Everytime I walk into Sam’s, I am guaranteed to see somebody I know; it has the greatest local bagels,” sophomore Peter Kenny said.

La Pizza

This Roseland pizzeria is quite the catch. My friends and I find ourselves getting a slice almost every week. I don’t think a person can find a higher quality slice of pizza in our area. They have pizza, salads, pastas, paninis and more.

“My family often likes to grab food from La Pizza for a quick bite. The service is always great too,” freshman Tara Smith said.

Honey’s Kitchen

Located in Fairfield, Honey’s is the ideal brunch spot. Honey’s is open from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Though they are not open long, they still provide fresh, quick and delicious meals.

“Usually on half days me and my friends like to eat there. The service is always good there,” junior Julia Russo said.

Mark & Julie’s Homemade Ice Cream

If you’re looking for a good spot after dinner to get some good ice cream, checking out Mark & Julie’s in West Orange is a great idea. Well known for their frozen hot chocolate, they attract many people day in and day out.

“Mark & Julie’s never fails to have the best ice cream with the perfect taste, no matter what flavor you try,” freshman Grace Weiss said.

Bagelwich Bagel Bakery

Bagels are made fresh each day over at Bagelwich.

Often people flock to Sam’s Bagel in West Caldwell, and there’s a 10 minute wait. Bagelwich is located on Bloomfield Avenue, but despite its spot on a busy road, it is still a hidden gem.

“My driving partner and I love stopping there and getting bagels on they way to school,” senior Zack Kearney said.

March 2017

Page 9

The Wessex Wire: Food

’s flavorful food favorites

t quality food pics West Essex will always run on coffee

g foods before they take their first bite. hoto, it’s hard to keep your mouth from your food picture before it goes viral:

hot from above looks nice and clean, but .

ground and utensils to make the picture

ust one because if you think you got it, but en your first bite, there is no going back!

By Zoe Stern ’17

Whenever you watch a movie, TV show or read a book, they always seem to mention visiting coffee shops, but in the real world, there is only two local coffee shops in a 10 mile radius: Rock N Joe and The Fine Grind. When students go out to study or grab a cup of coffee or tea, they normally head to Dunkin’ Donuts or Starbucks, but what ever happened to local coffee shops?

The answer is that they’ve been replaced with other options that, whether through convenience or ease of use, made the local java joint obsolete. There are no fewer than five Starbucks and seven Dunkin’ locations in the West Essex area. Coffee shops are no longer just about getting coffee, they now involve chatting, doing homework and relaxing. Along with chain shops, Keurigs have taken over the coffee world with their convenience. With one quick step, your coffee will be made in minutes. There are no lines, no workers, just the Keurig machine and a K-cup.

“I love going to Starbucks because there’s always one close by, meaning I can always count on my favorite drink being nearby and tasting the same,” senior Julia Miller said. “With coffee shops, the same ones aren’t always going to be near you.”

Starbucks was founded in 1971 in Seattle

by Jerry Baldwin, Zev Siegl and Gordon Bowker after being taught the skills by Alfred Peet, owner of Peet’s Coffee. As of 2016, the store has 24,464 locations worldwide, and the name originates from “Moby Dick,” based on the romance of the high sea and seafaring tradition of early coffee traders, according to the Starbucks website. Their mission is to “inspire and

nurture the human spirit—one person, one cup and one neighborhood at a time.” All Starbucks stores are filled with chairs and tables and play background music providing a comfortable space to relax.

On the other hand, Dunkin’ Donuts is considered to be more casual and while it offers chairs, it is not as cozy as Starbucks and is probably not a place where you would want to study for your AP test. The first store was opened in Canton, Mass. in 1950 by William Rosenberg.

Many students, like senior Nicole Mellilo, said they prefer Dunkin’ because of its convenience. “Dunkin’ is the closest coffee shop to my house so it’s easier in the morning to go there so I’m not late for school,” Melillo said.

Most students at West Essex can say they have gone to Dunkin’ at least once and half the school usually walks in with a cup in the morning, hot or cold.

Nowadays, people have been making coffee at home more often, further pushing out not only local shops, but also chain coffee shops. Keurigs have become the new trend and are much easier and more convenient.

In the end, the price per coffee becomes much cheaper and after buying the machine, the only part that has to continue to be bought are the K-cups, which allow you to make the coffee.

Have people grown attached to their chain coffee stores or have coffee shop owners felt they were no longer needed?

Or, have people gotten so tired of getting in their car, driving to the store and paying five dollars for a drink? Whatever happens, it seems like the local shops will never recover from the creation of Starbucks, Dunkin’ Donuts and Keurigs.

What is your source of coffee?

100 students polled by zoe stern ’17

Keurig Local coffee shops Starbucks Dunkin’ Donuts

Breakfast is NOT the most important

By Micaela Weiss ’17

For decades people have abided by and referenced the well known cliche: “Breakfast is the most important meal of the day.”

That is, until more recent scientific studies proved that there is no actual evidence to support this idea. Many scientists have come to the conclusion that this saying is a myth.

In a 2014 study conducted by the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, it was found that there were no significant differences between breakfast eaters and breakfast skippers. It has been previously said that missing your morning meal would lead to obesity and other health related issues.

This study, with over 300 participants, showed that two groups (one with breakfast and one without) had no weight

loss/gain effects pertaining to their eating habits.

“I used to eat breakfast before school until this year,” senior Madison Silvestri said. “I find that when I don’t eat breakfast I am more alert, and, strangely, I am not as hungry as I would expect to be.”

Her decision to skip breakfast in the morning clearly has no negative effect on her daily life.

Believing that one meal is the foundation of success can actually be detrimental to your goal to live healthily.

In fact, recent research suggests that it’s your choice whether you want to eat three meals, six meals or anywhere in between, and that there is a meal frequency that’s ideal for weight loss.

Of course, many people believe breakfast is the most important meal of the day be-

Do West Essex students eat breakfast in the a.m.?

32% 18%

28%

22%

cause it is a frequently repeated phrase. But where are the studies and evidence to support this common claim?

In reality, there is no concrete meal schedule for everyone. It really just depends on your daily activities.

A common dieting strategy is

115 students polled by zoe stern ’17

to actually fit in more meals of a smaller size to avoid overeating.

It seems the best recommendation for your morning eating routine is as simple as this: if you’re not hungry when you wake up, you can skip breakfast.

But if you are hungry, then don’t skip it!

March 2017

Page 10

The Wessex Wire: Features

Mr. Fabrizio: The man behind the baton

By Michael Bachmann ’17

Down the halls of the 100 wing of West Essex is the newly renovated band room, a sanctuary for students who seek the sounds of music.

Displayed outside of the attendance office are just some trophies from the music department’s past achievements.

The band program here at West Essex has been one of the most successful throughout the years, and the baton’s last handoff was made to band director Anthony Fabrizio, who took over in 2015. You can see him walking through the halls with a Dunkin’ coffee in his hand and a smile on his face every day.

A Verona native, Fabrizio grew up with a passion for the piano. He began taking piano lessons in first grade, and eventually branched out to percussion in middle school.

“I really loved playing percussion, and I had a great experience in high school,” Mr. Fabrizio said.

He held prestigious spots in both the marching band and jazz band as section leader, and when the time came, he was admitted as a Bachelor of Arts major at William Paterson University.

He went on to complete his master’s degree in Percussion Performance at the Cincinnati Conservatory. At Cincinnati, Mr. Fabrizio worked with some of the finest, most hard working musicians in the nation. He said he was constantly pushed by his peers, and there was no getting around the competitiveness.

“If you could feel the rehearsal, you would know without a word being said that everyone in that room with you was performing at their peak,” Mr. Fabrizio said.

After completing his master’s, he went on tour with the Chinese National Youth Symphony as a timpanist in June of 2015.

Everything seemed right, but he soon got a call from West Essex to be the new band director, and

he immediately returned home to audition for the position.

“I always knew that West Essex had a great program,” Mr. Fabrizio said. “And growing up in the area, I felt like the connection between me and the school would be strong.”

In his first two years as director, he has led the Marching Knights to their first victory at the Atlantic Coast Championships and has developed a deep connection with the students.

Freshman T.J. Viola spends most of his lunch periods in the band room working with Mr. Fabrizio.

“Band is an important subject in my life, but without Mr. Fabrizio as my band director, I don’t know if I’d feel the same way,” he said.

Fabrizio’s passion for music resonates with the students of the band and pushes them to work harder.

“Mr. Fabrizio does it all,” freshman Nick Stampone said. “He connects with everybody in a way that no other teacher does.”

Photo courtesy of Michael Gonzalez

Mr. Fabrizio works one-on-one with freshman T.J. Viola after school.

While music is a large part of Mr. Fabrizio’s life, he also has a deep passion for motorcycles and “getting out in the open road.”

West Essex has seen many greats through the years, including Daryl

J. Bott and Tommy Igoe circa 1980.

Mr. Fabrizio’s initial impact on the school has been strong, and if he continues to help his students achieve success, his name could be added to this prestigious group.

From small town teens to big time popstars Roseland natives and EDM group Cash Cash makes it big.

By Melanie Montes ’18

Cash Cash starts their sound check before the show starts. The band has come a long way from roaming the halls of West Essex as students. They’re opening the spring break leg of the MTV tour.

It’s a beautiful chaos; everyone goes wild and cheers them on, chanting “Cash Cash! Cash Cash!”

Sam starts jamming out on the guitar, Alex plays some tunes on the electric keyboard and J.P. is ready to sing his heart out. The crowd is watching the band’s electronic music come alive right before their eyes.

The electronic band Cash Cash began its humble origins in the small town of Roseland. The group members, who graduated from West Essex in 2004, include brothers Jean Paul Makhlouf and Alex Makhlouf, and Samuel Frisch, the son of school nurse Ms. Frisch.

Ms. Frisch recalls the beginnings of her son’s rock band, which started in sixth grade. From there, they branched out and started playing at small venues. “I remember I had to drive Sam an hour away sometimes. They started really young,” Ms. Frisch said.

The band members are from West Essex, showing us that anything is possible. Anyone who has musical aspirations can turn into a rock star if they set their

Samuel Frisch, school nurse Ms. Frisch’s son, plays the guitar for Cash Cash.

Photos courtesy of Cash Cash

Cash Cash joins Big Gigantic, another EDM music group, on stage and pumps up the crowd for a concert.

minds to it.

The artists found their big break in the summer of 2014 with their major hit “Take Me Home” which received over 22 million views and earned platinum for the single in Australia.

The band’s music has influences from the pop and rock genres.

“We focus on making music that is not only fun to play in clubs, but also something you can really sit back, put a pair of headphones on and listen to,” Sam said. “Our label has been very supportive in allowing us freedom in our creative endeavors.”

Their music bases itself on a strong foundation of good song-

writing and upbeat instrumentals, which make it memorable.

Cash Cash had to deal with musical heartbreaks during their initial start. It was like a rollercoaster of emotions for the bandmates.

“At one moment we were getting signed by a major label, and the next, we were dropped,” Sam said.

“We experienced playing sold out tours versus playing to nearly empty rooms.”

Although these experiences were brutal, they are what shaped the Roseland natives into the musicians they are now. “Each hurdle we’ve had to overcome has taught us how to deal with external factors,” Sam said.

Ms. Frisch agrees that breaking into this industry is very difficult.

“This is a very hard industry,” she said. “There’s not many people that go to the extent that they have.”

As DJs, the group has to produce, record, mix and master all their music. They are currently signed with Big Beat Records.

Cash Cash has released four albums and an array of EP’s with bands and singers like Krewella, Capital Cities, Kelly Clarkson, Katy Perry, Bruno Mars, Showtek and Icona Pop. The group is constantly traveling to places like Amsterdam, Nevada and N.Y.C. They also make appearances at clubs like Lavo N.Y.C. and

Glit Nightclub, among others.

According to Cash Cash, having a solid friend group to keep you grounded is everything in the music industry. “Being able to work with and talk to people who have similar goals and are experiencing the same and also different aspects of the industry will help you stay focused,” Sam said.

“Friends are also good for venting frustrations and figuring out how to overcome obstacles,” he said. Those who have gone through the same setbacks are more likely to be able to help steer you in the right direction.

“We’ve been playing music since we were about 11 and haven’t really stopped since,” Sam said. “Instead of going out and partying during weekends in high school and college, we were going out and playing shows, or networking and promoting our music. We are thrilled to be able to do it every day.”

From left “Donald trump=caricature” by honkeytotey (CC BY-SA 2.0) (https://www.flickr.com/photos/donkeyhotey) / “Donald trump” BY Gage skidmore (CC By-Sa 2.0) (https://www.flickr.com/photos/gageskidmore/)

&

Arts Arts

Culture ‘Saturday Night Live’ is Saturday Night Politics March 2017 Issue 4

By Olivia Ritter ’17

Polls have shifted, perspectives have evolved and projections have bounced back and forth during the course of election 2016. But the role “Saturday Night Live” has had in these months of controversy and political mayhem is one that has become unrelenting.

Not one event in the recent election and this administration has been left without some satire or comment by the writers of SNL. From the very first debate to Trump’s first weeks in office, actors Alec Baldwin, Kate McKinnon and Melissa McCarthy have been in the spotlight of a whirlwind of hilarious, biting parody of the new president and his administration.

“Political satire is part of American culture,” AP Government teacher Ms. Vaknin said. “The times warrant it, and he’s an unusual candidate, so that’s why it’s coming out now.”

While some viewers find entertainment in these skits, enjoying the highlights of an otherwise tiring time in the political arena, others are unamused by the show’s heavily biased and critical viewpoint of President Trump and the new Cabinet appointments.

“Saturday Night Live” has essentially become a news hotspot where less politically aware people come to

find their current events regarding the new administration. Rather than sitting down and watching the live debate on CNN, voters waited until the next Saturday night, where they could find a satirical summary of what they missed.

Besides giving a comedic spin on the latest in politics, SNL has given a new image to both the president, his family and his Cabinet appointments. Alec Baldwin has taken on the face of Donald

Trump, with an exaggerated tan, pursed lips and hands gestures, while Melissa McCarthy has made her debut as press secretary, Sean Spicer.

These impersonations have not only influenced public opinion, but they have rubbed our new president the wrong way. Following the final debate sketch in mid-October, thenpresidential nominee Trump tweeted, “Watched Saturday Night Live hit job on me. Time to retire the boring and unfunny show. Alec Baldwin portrayal

The Wessex Wire Page 11

stinks. Media rigging election!”

Despite disapproval by Trump, SNL continued their weekly “hit jobs” on him, his administration and his new policies. In a CNN segment on Feb. 13 addressing the SNL skits, political analyst Dana Bash responded with, “It’s satire, but sometimes satire stings.”

Though, to SNL, the skits are simply a playful, more light-hearted outlook on domestic events, is it right for them to continually take digs at our new government?

“I believe that SNL, although incredibly one-sided and biased, has every r ig ht to incorporate

from left; photos by donkeyhotey (cc by-sa 2.0) and gage skidmore (cc by-sa 2.0)

Recent skits from “Saturday Night Live’ have distorted the image of Donald Trump from fantasy to reality.

their beliefs into their sketches,” senior Alexa DeVito said. “They have the First Amendment right to say what they wish, just as we have the right to choose whether or not to watch and agree with it.”

As controversial as these skits are, “Saturday Night Live” is not going to quit their war on Trump, just like Trump won’t quit his war on the media. The Feb. 10 show, hosted by Alec Baldwin himself, with its four politically-centered skits, had a 7.2 out of 10 overnight rating, its highest since 2011, according to the Los Angeles Times.

This is not the first modern election where SNL has taken hits at presidential candidates. In 2008, while senators John McCain and Barack Obama were going head to head, Tina Fey and Amy Poehler took roles of Sarah Palin, the vice presidential nominee, and Hillary Clinton. In a skit depicting the two women giving a speech, Fey (as Palin) said the infamous words, “I can see Russia from my house.”

As Trump’s first weeks and months in office pass by, Alec Baldwin will wear his red tie and tanned skin and purse his lips, while Melissa McCarthy stands behind a podium, chews wads of gum and angrily screams at the press. It’s pretty hard for the public to not be influenced by that.

Women of ‘Hidden Figures’ are hidden no more Academy Awardnominated blockbuster highlights the strength and importance of African-American women in STEM.

By Emily Johnston ’18 For years, women have been fighting to be heard in STEM professions, and with the release of “Hidden Figures,” the stories of the women behind the first man in space, Katherine G. Johnson, Dorothy Vaughan and Mar y Jackson, are finally being heard.

Johnson (Taraji P. Henson), reviewed the equations ran by computers for the orbital mission of the first man on space, and provided equations for a number of other missions throughout her tenure at NASA (NACA back then) from 1953 to 1986. Vaughan (Octavia Spencer) started in working at NASA in 1943 and retired in 1971. She was the first AfricanAmerican Manager, the head of the West Area Computing Unit.

Jackson (Janelle Monàe) worked from 1951 to 1985 and was NASA’s first African-American engineer.

These women all hold the genius that audiences love to watch, but instead of boasting their intellect like Sherlock Holmes, the film centers more on their fight to be recognized for their work.

Sophomore Cassie Pavlovich, who watched the movie with her mother, said they both loved the message of the film and were inspired by the achievements of these hardworking women.

“I like that they showed how the women fought for everything that they were given, that it wasn’t just handed to them,” said Cassie.

For women in STEM today, issues regarding recognition are still prevalent. According to the National Girls Collaborative project, 7.9 percent of mechanical engineers and 10.7 percent of electrical or computer hardware engineers are women.

At West Essex, Ms. Wall runs the STEM club and described part of the struggle for girls in STEM. When asked whether or not she has been discriminated against in the past, Ms. Wall said, “Oh my god, absolutely. Even as an educa-

tor, but as a science educator I was definitely looked down on for the first 10 years of my career.”

Ms. Wall hopes that “Hidden Figures” will inspire students to join STEM careers, especially African-American students.

“I hope this movie changes their perspective on the world,” Ms. Wall said.

This movie made a mark on women, of all races, everywhere.

It not only empowered women to enter STEM fields, but uncovered an important part of history that most people did not know about.

Before “Hidden Figures,” the stories of these women and the service they made to NASA and the mission of the first man on the moon were hidden themselves.

With the events surrounding women’s rights, this movie highlights the importance of history’s women and the accomplishments they made that had a lasting effect on the world. Keeping the story of Katherine G. Johnson, Dorothy Vaughan and Mary Jackson in mind, women can take on anything with a little strength and willpower.

“Hidden Figures” took the Screen Actors Guild by surprise when the film took the award

Photo obtained from 20th century fox

(From left to right) Janelle Monàe as Mary Jackson, Taraji P. Henson as Katherine G. Johnson and Octavia Spencer as Dorothy Vaughan.

for Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Movie. The film was nominated for three Academy Awards, including Best Picture and Best Adapted Screenplay, as well as

Octavia Spencer’s nomination for Best Supporting Actress.

The movie’s high praise and support only emphasize the validity of the film’s message.

March 2017

The Wessex Wire: Arts & Culture

Page 12

Time to settle the biggest media tiffs Teenagers can be very opinionated at times, especially when it comes to controversies within our favorite movies and TV shows. It’s not rare to hear a lunch table arguing over a beloved show’s latest episode. After polling 107 students, the results for the media’s biggest disputes are in.

By Alyssa Cristobal ’18

‘Friends’: The Break Snape loves Harry? HIMYM Ending? ?

? ???

Finales can make fans feel one of two ways: satisfied with the outcome or slightly annoyed. The end of the hit show “How I Met Your Mother” was one finale that left a huge stir of frustration in its fanbase community.

Here’s how the students of West Essex felt about the final season of HIMYM.

Good

LAME

28%

66%

Yes

37%

Ross

Anyone who has read the “Harry Potter” book series and/ or seen the movies knows Harry’s confusing and turbulent relationship with professor of dark magic Severus Snape. Snape loved Harry’s mother, but hated Harry’s father.

Question is, in the end, did Snape love Harry?

72%

34%

63%

No Bad Rachel Diversity controversy persists in Hollywood blockbusters

By Dylan Lepre ’19

Vicious harassment, 24/7 news coverage, talks of boycotts. Is this some global crisis? No; It’s simply what the new “Ghostbusters” movie went through from the beginning of its production to its eventual release last July. This is just the latest example of how criticism over the racial composition of actors and actresses in the film industry has entered the mainstream.

It seems to cut both ways: films are criticized for all-white casts and whitewashing, the changing of nonwhite fictional characters to white men or women, but they also recieve backlash for a lack of gender representation.

The question still remains: If having all-white casts is really an issue, should films be forced to have diverse casts?

To some at West Essex, it shouldn’t matter. It should be about the talent of the cast.

“I don’t think the fact that the characters in ‘Ghostbusters’ were women had anything to do with the movie being bad,” said sophomore Sam Chuzhin.

West Essex students have commended the production for being very progressive and also sending a

Photo obtained from Sony pictures publicity Initially slammed for “whitewashing” their cast, “Ghostbusters” producers added Leslie Jones to their ensemble.

good message for young girls who may not have many film heroes to look up to.

“I think it’s great,” sophomore Jessica Wiederhorn said. “We need more female role models and more diversity in movies.”

This progressive sentiment has been echoed by many. Yet, should politics be the sole focus of movies?

The movie version of the Stephen King series, “The Dark Tower,” is a widely anticipated film, but there is criticism surrounding its casting.

The film stars African American actor Idris Elba as the main character, Roland Deschain, even though the book portrays him as white.

Many have theorized that this choice for the film rendition of

“The Dark Tower” was to push a politically correct agenda and those involved failed to stay true to the character from the novel.

The diversity issue in Hollywood stretches as far back to the disputes regarding John Wayne’s role as Genghis Khan in the film, “The Conquerors.” People objected to the idea of a white actor playing

a black character. While over 40 years old, “The Conquerors” still resonates as showing Hollywood’s reluctance to cast non-white actors and actresses.

“Directors have to make a choice about how to appeal to a wide audience,” English teacher Mr. Myerson said. “It sounds horrible but it’s what they have to do.”

A recent study done by USC showed that just 3.4 percent of directors were females and only 7 percent of films had a cast with a balance between race and gender. This study suggests that the movie industry itself has a problem with diversity. With the #OscarsSoWhite campaign during last year’s Academy Awards, it seems that many actors and actresses also have a problem with the lack of representation in Hollywood.

In the end, representation in films is important as long as it does not hinder its quality. Casting people for the sake of diversity is as wrong as under-representation.

“People are going to complain about things to be offended by.

Who do you take seriously?” Mr. Myerson said. “Listen to people and think about what works critically.”

From left “dv1170232” by danny harrison (CC BY-SA 2.0) / “alan rickman after the performance of seminar at the john golden theater” BY marie-lan nguyen (CC By-Sa 2.0) / “josh radnor” by vagueonthehow (cc by-sa 2.0)

The beloved show, “Friends,” featured many different couples, but none as famous as “lobsters” Ross and Rachel. When Ross sleeps with another woman after Rachel declared they were on a break, was Rachel right to think it was cheating? West Essex thinks so.

March 2017

The Wessex Wire: Arts & Culture

‘The Little Mermaid’ projected to make a big splash

By Daniella Ignacio ’17

On thewessexwire.com

Masquers of West Essex is thrilled to present Disney’s “The Little Mermaid” on March 9-11. After auditions in November and rehearsals for the past four months, they’re ready to give this classic tale a new life. I sat down with the show’s Ariel, Prince Eric, King Triton and Ursula played by senior Caroline Lanfrank, senior Michael Gaccione, junior Matt Uhlendorf and senior Kira Shabbab, respectively, to get insight on the show.

check out a behind the scenes look at the making of “the little mermaid”

Why are you so excited for this show? What does it mean to you to do a Disney show like this in your senior year?

CAROLINE: I know at least for me this has been one of my favorite movies since I was a little girl. Playing Ariel is like a dream come true...I think it’s going to be awesome.

MICHAEL: I’d have to say it’s kinda cool being a prince, this is like one of those movies that I’ve watched since I was a little kid and I just have really fond memories about watching it so it’s really cool to be part of it.

How has having a leading role made this processdifferent from your previous Masquers shows?

CAROLINE: It’s definitely awesome and it’s something I’ve wanted for a really long time and I worked really hard to get, so it’s rewarding and super challenging. It’s a lot of singing and a lot of memorization and lines and everything, but it’s so fun and it’s

MATT: As a lead, it is a lot of memorization. It takes a lot of character building, especially when you have the character that’s already been established in different iterations of this story before.

MICHAEL: Last year I was technically a supporting lead but this is the first time being like a “lead” lead where the show kind of revolves around us so it’s different.

Why should people come see the Masquers’ production of “The Little Mermaid?”

KIRA: It’s a really fun show and everyone loves the Little Mermaid so everyone should come see it!

What have you enjoyed the most about being a part of the Masquers throughout high school?

CAROLINE: I’ve made so many friends through this program that I would have never been friends with and it’s been such an awesome

Photo by Grace George

creative outlet for me and helped me gain confidence.

MICHAEL: Being part of the Masquers family is pretty cool, because everyone’s really close with each other...I kind of know everyone that’s been around and have good relationships with them, so it’s nice to continue doing that and being part of it.

an experience—it just makes me really sad that so many of these people are going to be leaving that have been here since almost the beginning.

MATT: I’ve been part of the Masquers family since I was in seventh grade and it’s been such

KIRA: It’s been a great loving experience and we all love each other. It’s like a big family, I’ve been doing it since I was a sophomore, since “Legally Blonde,” “The Addams Family” and now “The Little Mermaid,” and it’s just so much fun and I love this family and everyone in it.

fine the trainers of the dog and director” junior Pat Reilly said.

“I am a big supporter of animal rights because they have no way to fight back,” Ms. Fernicola said.

“If they are not going to cancel it they should donate a lot of money to ASPCA or an organization like that to show the public they don’t condone harming animals.”

Despite rumors and clips flying around social media, some do not believe what they see. The producer of the movie defended the movie and himself by claiming the video was edited.

“These two things are absolutely inexcusable and should never have happened, but without excusing myself and others, there is more to this story that I think should be known,” Gavin Polone, producer, said as stated in USA Today on Jan. 25.

The scenes caught on camera here were never meant to leave the

set of the movie. Since they have leaked there has been an outcry from animal lovers. They have begun to advocate for more stringent rules on how animals can be used in movies. PETA is even are looking to remove live animals from movies completely.

This movieappeals to dog lovers of the world, who consider their pups to be their best companions.

“A Dog’s Purpose” is a feel good story about a dog’s journey to find his way back to his owner. This story, however, has manifested into a debate over ethical treatment of animals. The video, being seen by many people, has given them a negative view of the movie.

This one short clip could ruin the millions of dollars put into the movie and will certainly affect the number of people going to see it.

Should you decide to go see this movie, just remember: there could be more to the story.

Being a puppet is not a dog’s purpose

Footage behind the scenes of “A Dog’s Purpose” fuels debate on animal treatment.

By Dan Laible ’18

In January, a video surfaced from the set of the film “A Dog’s Purpose” that set the nation on edge: a German Shepherd being forced into rushing waters when it was obviously resisting its trainer.

Later in the video, the dog goes underwater with trainers diving towards it to prevent the frightened dog from drowning.

“A Dog’s Purpose” has brought many very opinionated people to speak out about the video. There is no clear depiction as to whether the video was true or edited.

Whether it is real or a fraud, it has

still disturbed many people to the point of boycotting theatre attendance at the movie.

The West Essex student body and faculty now has a tough choice to make. Will they believe what they have seen or ignore it, even with the little real information we have?

Per The Guardian, activist group, People for Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA), claimed that the video is indisputable proof of animal abuse on set and show s how movies like this treat animals. The organization has called for doglovers to boycott the movie.

Ac c ord i n g t o Fox Ne w s , Universal Pictures cancelled the premiere of “A Dog’s Purpose” due to the release of this video. It certainly has gained a lot of controversy, and people of West Essex are starting to take notice.

“I don’t think they should cancel the movie, least they could do is

SHOWS TO CATCH UP ON IN 2017 Watching old TV shows is ‘Shameless’

more than anything I could have hoped for.

MATT: “The Little Mermaid” has always been such a beloved Disney film, and I feel like seeing this being recreated in live action is just gonna be such an amazing experience!

Page 13

Showtime’s “Shameless” has created a buzz all over social media ever since its six seasons were put onto Netflix last summer. The show recently capped off its seventh season, but fans are already going crazy waiting for the eighth season, scheduled to air in December 2017.

The show focuses on the Gallaghers, a poor, dysfunctional family living in the south side of Chicago with little parental supervision. The father, Frank, is a raging alcoholic and drug addict, while their mother Monica is not in the picture.

“Shameless,” however, is about more than sex, alcohol and drugs. It’s about how a family’s bond can overcome adversity.

Bingewatching this show will not be a waste of your time. It will force you to pay attention to some of the most prominent social issues while the Gallagher children grow and mature.

—Isabel Tabs ’17

‘This is Us’ tells a new story of family One of the newest, most popular shows from NBC, “This Is Us” centers around a unique family and their lives, from beginning to end.

In the ’80s, Jack and Rebecca Pearson are a young couple who are surprised with triplets on the way. When the final triplet comes out stillborn, the new parents are told they would be going home with only two babies, not three.

At the ninth hour, they are met with Randall, an abandoned, African American newborn and decide that they would be returning home with the “big three” that they planned for.

The show follows the “big three” as adults, living on different sides of the country, while showing parallel flashback scenes from their childhood, growing up in Pittsburgh.

“This Is Us” is a different story, showing a little bit of the ugly as well as the beauty in family.

—Olivia Ritter ’17

On thewessexwire.com make sure to check out more reviews of “The vampire diaries” and “La la land”

The Wessex Wire: Sports

The Madness is coming Sports Commentary

By Jake Wolf ’17

Winner: New Orleans Pelicans

Photo courtesy of Maurice Ross (CC by-sa 2.0)

Kris Jenkins hits the game-winning buzzer beater to win the National Championship last year.

team has never beaten a No. 1 seeded team, there has been no team to win the championship s eeded lower than the No. 8 Villanova in 1985 and nobody has been able to fill out a perfect bracket; the chances of this happening are a one in 9,223,372,036,854,775,808 (that’s quintillion).

All the excitement and attention is now being put onto this

year’s dance.

People all over the country will eventually fill out their brackets once the comittee determines the seeding, families and friends competing with each other to see who will have the most accurate bracket in their group.

That is what makes March Madness so endearing; everything for each team is on the line and up for chance.

Athletes’ choice to skip White House is an example of U.S. protest rights

By Heath Kalb ’18

With the recent election in which Donald Trump became president, the century old tradition of sports teams meeting the president at the White House following a championship has come under controversy.

After the last MLB season, the World Series champion Chicago Cubs hurried to meet with President Obama just four days before he left office. In a normal year, the Cubs would have waited months, typically until the next season to meet the president.

This is presumably because over the past election season and Trump’s brief political career his stances on social issues have garnered much dislike and has contributed to him having historically low approval ratings. Due to this, many athletes have joined the chorus of Americans speaking out over his policies.

And this isn’t limited to baseball; the first major team to win a championship since the inauguration was

Winners and losers of the NBA trade deadline Teams looks to make a splash at the trade deadline, with some striking it rich.

By Shaun Goodman ’19 In just a little more than a week, the best NCAA college basketball teams will compete in the annual, thrilling tournament that dates back to 1939. Starting at 68 teams, 67 teams get eliminated until there’s only one, the championship team.

It’s an understatement to say people aren’t already getting excited to see rim-breaking dunks, clutch buzzer beaters and amazing underdog stories.

Last year, the craziness of March Madness was off the charts. Some of the best moments we witnessed included No. 12 seeded Yale’s Makai Mason, who displayed his sheer talent of scoring with 31 points in their upset of the No. 5 seeded Baylor, making the game Yale’s first tournament victory in school history.

No one could forget Villanova’s Kris Jenkins’s game-winning three-pointer to beat North Carolina in the championship game, winning the NCAA title for the Wildcats for the first time in 31 years.

Some reasons to get even more pumped for March Madness 2017 is the possibility of the unthinkable happening.

To this day, a No. 16 seeded

Page 14

Sports Commentary the New England Patriots. Even as the team is still making plans to visit the White House, at least six players have already came out to boycott the typically joyous and prideful day.

Thus far, tight end Martellus Bennett, safety Devin McCourty, running back LeGarrette Blount, defensive end Chris Long, linebacker Dont’a Hightower and defensive tackle Alan Branch have all already publicly said they won’t attend.

Personally I feel as though these players are doing the right thing.

This is their right to protest and they are setting a good example for the youth of this nation to stand up for what you believe in.

I also assume with great certainty that there are other players on the Patriots 53 man roster that have strong opinions about the

President and I wouldn’t doubt it if more players joined the boycott.

Whether you agree with Trump’s policies or not, please don’t lose respect or your fandom for these athletes. They have worked tirelessly to get to the positions that they are in and have earned the freedom to make this decision.

For the players, coaches and other staff on the Patriots who do side with Trump or aren’t against him enough to protest meeting with him then good for them.

They get to partake in a once in a lifetime opportunity.

Hopefully the players, coaches and ownership of the Patriots who have no problem associating with the president don’t hurt their relationships with the one’s protesting.

This goes for the fans as well. I know patriots and sports fans in general from all walks of life and disagreements have already begun. Sports is something that is supposed to unite us, not divide us even more in an already divided nation.

DeMarcus Cousins is one of the most controversial stars in the NBA, with 17 technical fouls already this season, the fastest player to reach 17 in NBA history. He is known as a poor locker room presence. Why does this make the Pelicans a winner?

Coach Alvin Gentry knows how to manage locker room personalities as a veteran coach. On the court, Cousins’ dominance combined with Anthony Davis is already instilling fear into NBA frontcourts all over. Cousins and Davis can both stretch the floor while feasting in the paint.

Winner: Oklahoma City Thunder

This season, a typical Thunder game consists of Russell Westbrook singlehandedly willing his team to victory. With inexperienced and ineffective players at both forward spots, it was a burden on Westbrook’s shoulders to score.

With the addition of Taj Gibson, rookie forward Domantas Sabonis is pushed to a reserve role, and the shooter that the team desperately needs has arrived in the form of Doug McDermott.

McDermott has yet to reach his potential in the NBA, but will see plenty of open shots after Westbrook passes him the ball. The main cost of the trade was young prospect Cameron Payne, a guard with high potential, but he would never be afforded a chance to break out while backing up Westbrook.

The fact that GM Sam Presti was able to hang onto defensive stopper Andre Roberson in the trade is a huge win for the Thunder.

Loser : Philadelphia Loser: Indiana Pacers Hours before the deadline, a 76ers It is getting increasingly difficult to “Trust the Process” when every good player drafted gets traded.

It is even harder when a player of Nerlens Noel’s talent is traded for cap space and picks, which is what this trade amounts to. The 76ers received Justin Anderson, Andrew Bogut’s contract, and a first round pick for Noel. While it seems good on the surface, the pick is protected and will likely end up being conveyed as two second round picks.

This was an underwhelming package for Noel, and a necessary insurance policy for star Joel Embiid. Even worse, this means that Jahlil Okafor is stuck in Philadelphia for the rest of the year.

report emerged that Paul George is preparing to leave the team in free agency after next season if they aren’t contending for a championship. This gave the team two options: either trade George for a bounty of picks and prospects, rebuilding their franchise and allowing them to avoid the risk of losing George for nothing, or trade for help, allowing George to see their commitment to winning.

However, their inactivity was the worst option possible. According to ESPN, the Nuggets made a “monster” offer for George, and the Celtics were willing to part with their first round picks acquired from the Nets.

The Pacers discussed trades for players such as Okafor, but ultimately stood with their current team.

Wise Words:

Coach Jozefczyk “Life is more manageable when you let go of the things you can’t control and focus on what you can change: your attitude and your effort.”

TOP Left: “Villanova vs North Carolina NCAA Championship” by Maurice ross(CC by-sa 2.0) (https://www.flickr.com/photos/116299816@N05/26314669825)

March 2017

March 2017

The Wessex Wire: Sports

Lacrosse alumna returns to coach JV team

By Ally Schachtel ’19 West Essex alum Kayleigh Thies is returning to West Essex this spring to coach JV girls lacrosse. She is coming back to WE for the first time since she graduated in 2011.

Thies played both field hockey and lacrosse in high school and college. She was a captain and went All American for both sports in high school.

“I am thrilled about Kayleigh’s return,” said Coach Cosse, her former coach and soon-to-be coworker. “I am always very excited to have alumni come back because they make up a bulk of the memories and traditions that make up the program.”

Thies has been the assistant field hockey coach at Montclair State University. In the past she has coached for New Heights, a travel field hockey club co-owned

by Cosse and many summer E&A Lacrosse Club clinics. Her years of experience playing at West Essex gave her the edge for the position.

Her sister Jordyn is a senior and one of four of this years varsity captains. She is ecstatic with her sister’s return.

“I am so excited that Kayleigh is coming back to West Essex to coach,” Jordyn said. “She has always wanted to coach, specifi-

cally at West Essex and I am so excited to have her, especially for my last season.”

“Everything I have learned from all of my coaches, specifically Coach Cosse and Coach Capello, will help to ensure that I will be the best coach I can be,” Thies said.

“It is extremely helpful that I went through the program myself as a player, so I know the traditions, the expectations, and how to have the team succeed.”

Thies is known for her positive and constructive criticism, while coaching. She has coached many West Essex students who play on the U-16 New Heights team.

“She really knows how to make playing enjoyable while also teaching us to get better,” freshman Cameron Kinsella said.

“I think the fact that we are getting a new coach, especially someone who played and went through the program before us is what is most exciting about this upcoming season,” sophomore Jonalyn Tulanowski said.

Thies is a coach who focuses not only on her players’ lacrosse skills, but all aspects of her players. Her goal is for them to become strong, good-willed women by the time they graduate from West Essex.

“I believe that a coach’s role is to teach lessons about leadership, commitment, dedication and team-

By Michael DeFranza ’17 For athletes, it is always important to stay in good shape and feel energized throughout all activities. What many student-athletes overlook is that this can’t be done unless you have a good nutrition that gives you an edge on and off the field.

It cannot be stressed enough on how important it is to prepare nutritionally prior to an athletic event. Eating a well balanced meal and drinking plenty of water or other sports drinks can help give you an edge. Having the wrong diet before playing can put your body at risk for not performing at the highest capable level.

At West Essex, due to the variety of different sports there are many sport-specific diets. You may find that a wrestler needs to stay strong but at the same time he must maintain a strict calorie level to keep weight under control. “I eat grilled chicken, a lot of vegetables, I have to limit the

calories so I can maintain my weight for my weight class,” senior R.J. Bell said.

A football player, on the other hand, might have an eat-at free diet and look to eat calorie dense foods to gain weight while doing a strength workout. The hardest part of this is to stay true to your own diet, but it is well worth it because the result tends to be positive most of the time.

Track runners look to stay hydrated at all times while eating well-balanced meals throughout the season.

“I drink a lot of water, eat chicken, throw in some salads, roast beef sandwichs and some fruits and veggies,” senior Michael Keller said.

Poor nutrition can’t force an injury but it certainly can increase the risk of getting injured. Fatigue is probably the most common result of poor nutrition because students don’t hydrate well prior to activities.

Ac c ord i ng to NC A A . org , “Nutritional causes of fatigue in athletes include inadequate total energy intake, glycogen depletion, dehydration and poor iron status”.

The amount of sleeping can also be vital to the recovery of their muscles. During the day, muscles are consistently being

Ruggiero marks 100 wrestling wins

By Quinn Delehanty ’19

Photo Courtesy of Jordyn Thies

New lacrosse coach Kayleigh Thies hopes to bring energy to the team and develop their younger players.

work,” Thies said. “Yes, of course, all of the lacrosse skills are important, especially for those looking to take lacrosse to the next level. But, the lessons that can be learned in sport are far more valuable.”

Thies plans to work on the development and conditioning of her players. She aspires for the girls to want to come to practice every day to work hard and get better. She plans to work the

girls hard with a lot of conditioning during practice, because a lack of fitness makes lacrosse nearly impossible.

“My goal for the JV squad is to build a community where the girls love each other and enjoy coming to practice every single day,” Thies said. “I also want to have a winning season and with hard work and dedication, this will be achievable.”

Diet change is the boost athletes need

Nutritional plans for student athletes can make a difference in their play.

Page 15

Tip #1: Eat carbs before a game to help your body replenish needed energy quickly.

Tip #2: Drink fluids before a game to help keep you hydrated while playing.

Tip #3: Don’t eat a lot of fatty foods before a game to keep your energy high.

Tip #4: Eat protein before and after games to build your muscle and strength.

used especially at a faster rate during activity. The right amount of sleep will properly take care of the recovery of the muscles being used. Coach Cavallo stresses to her players on why sleep can help them on the field.

“I think many players underestimate the role sleep and nutrition play in their performance on the athletic field. Sleep is necessary for both the body and mind to recovery. Lack of sleep can put an athlete at a greater risk for injury, reduce reaction times, and reduce

time to fatigue,” she said.

The biggest issue people have with their diet is staying committed to themselves.

A week passes by and people get tired of the food that their eating and go back to their bad eating habits.

These tasks may seem hard to follow but they can certainly help if you stay true to yourself.

Hydrating, eating and sleeping well can go a long way for the best performance an athlete is capable of.

One hundred wins was quite the achievement for varsity wrestling head coach, Mr. Ruggiero, but that’s not why he coaches the sport.

Ruggiero is humbled by the success of his wrestlers, but does not measure the success by the amount of wins they have acquired.

“It is a nice milestone but I don’t really think about how many wins I have,” Ruggiero said. No matter how many wins his wrestlers end up with, he knows that does not define how good he or his boys are.

Ruggiero wrestled up until 2002, all the way through college. He was a key component to his team being incredibly skilled himself. In 2001, during his college career he began to coach wrestling. Ruggerio’s love for the sport has enabled him to coach every year since his first coaching job.

“It’s only you on the mat, you and no one else to blame,” Ruggiero said. He appreciates the sport for the fact that the success an athlete has weighs on their determination.

During the matches it’s one on one the whole time.

Ruggiero has been the head coach at West Essex for quite some time now and has produced some of the best wrestlers the school has ever seen.

“He makes me appreciate the sport more and and apply it to my life,” senior captain Noah Struss said.

Ruggiero works hard to do what he loves day in and day out. He will continue to make the West Essex wrestling program better every year.

Boys basketball has a successful season

By Chris Tsakonas ’18 The Knights boys basketball team concluded its last game on Feb. 23 against Wayne Valley in a 72-58 loss.

This leaves the Knights finishing with an 11-11 record this season(6-6 conference).

Leading the charge for the Knights this year is senior Oliver Ortman, who averaged 15.2 points per game during the regular season.

“I thought we did some really good things,” CoachHumes said.

“We moved up a division so were playing tougher competition, but I thought we competed mostly well for most of the season.”

The performance of the team has given them the 12 seed going into the 2017 Section 1, Group 3 Tournament, where they will go up against a good team in the No. 5 seed Wayne Hills Patriots.

Over the rest of the season, they hope to finish strong.

March 2017 Issue 4

The Wessex Wire Page 16

Top varsity athletes of the senior class

Torter and Steets gain 11 varsity Twelve letters, five sports: letters in their time at West Essex Fost leaves a lasting legacy

By Mia Oyama ’17

By Jordan Flusser ’19

Joe Torter, who says he became a four A leader on and off the field, Anthony Steets is sport athlete out of newfound interests, one of few athletes to make varsity for 11 seasons. made varsity 11 out of 12 of his high He has received varsity letters for each of these school seasons. He received four letters seasons, four being from winter track, four from from soccer, four from Tennis, two for spring track, two from cross country and one hockey and one for winter track. from soccer.

His junior year, Torter decided to switch No matter the season, Steets is constantly runfrom hockey to winter track, showing his ning and training to improve his speed. athletic abilities.

Earning the title of captain of the winter track “I never really focused on one sport,” team, Steets plays an important leadership role Torter said. “I just played everything. I on the team. He is looked up to by would get bored of playing a sport for his teammates and sets a positive more than a couple of months straight. example for them to follow.

I was lucky enough to be able to com“Being a varsity runner for pete at the varsity level with 10 seasons, I can say that runnot as much preparation ning is a very grueling sport as other people.” when taken seriously. It is not Torter was on path to easy to succeed in a receive all 12 varsity letsport like track, but ters, but a back injury when you do, it is his senior winter very rewarding,” track season Steets said. meant that Steets says he was t he varsit y sidelined winter and for his spring track final seate ams are son, and like a famhe was ily and havunable to ing the supreceive port of the his 12th team makes letter. it much In any easier to be Photo By Alexandra Codella successful. sport that he plays, Torter and Steets both earn 11 varsity letters in their respective sports.

“In an enTorter has v ironment as a huge presence and makes an impact in like that, it makes you want to work hard, and nearly every play. with that, results will show,” he said.

He takes control of the field, rink, track Throughout the years his teammates have beor court to dominate his opponent. And come his best friends and they constantly support his athletic integrity goes beyond the four each other. sports he’s lettered in; he even plays golf Steets’ motivation and drive have helped him and paddleball outside of school for fun excel in his athletics. with his friends.

He says the support of his teammates is motivatHis teammates gave him praise for his ing and pushes everyone to work harder. work ethic.

Steets is an outstanding athlete and has had a “He motivates the team to work hard- huge impact on the track team. er and his effort makes the team betHe was a Group 2 Champion in the 4x200 and ter,” senior and soccer teammate Adam 4x400 his junior year. For the 4x400, their relay Scheckman said. team placed third overall in the emerging elite He always gives 100 percent in any sport division at nationals. They won the sectional title that he plays, whether he is competing by for indoor in both his junior and senior year, and himself of with a team. outdoor his sophomore and junior year. His junior “There is way more pressure in team year the winter track team won the Group 2 State sports because you feel as though if you Championship for the first time in history. don’t perform, you let yourself and the rest “We’re looking to win again in the spring” he of the team down,” Torter said. “I was ner- said. “I’ve seen some ups and downs with my track vous for like the first couple try out days, teams and would not exchange the memories I but once I made the team everyone kind of made with them for anything in the world. Being accepted me.” a part of a varsity team is very rewarding, and I While watching a game or an athletic know that when I get older, I will look back and event that Torter is participating in, it is smile at the memories I made on each of these hard to not notice him right away. varsity teams.”

By Mia Oyama ’17 Liam Fost’s tenacity and dedication to his sports showed in his time at West Essex to make varsity all 12 of his high school seasons and obtain 12 varsity letters. Throughout the course of high school he played five different sports.

He received three letters from soccer, one from cross country, one for hockey, three for winter track and four for spring track. Fost’s athletic abilities allowed him to switch a few sports during his career and still surpass people’s expectations.

Spring track became one of Fost’s favorites,which led to him run for all three seasons his senior year. His senior year he switched from soccer to cross country in order to help him prepare for successful winter and spring seasons.

“Knowing how much of an impact I could make made me want to go all in for track,” Fost said. “ The success we had during last year’s spring season was almost unprecedented.”

Fost never let his age hold him back from being a key asset to the team. Since his freshman year, Fost was a standout player. As each season went by, he matured as an athlete and was able to gain respect from his teammates and coaches.

“I don’t think making varsity as a freshman was a confidence booster, but instead got me acclimated to the varsity environment sooner, which helped me develop as an athlete earlier,” Fost said. “My first race under the lights as a freshman. I was terrified.

I came in last. The next year I came back and it all felt very familiar, which then I guess was a confident boost; to step on the same track and do it again, knowing what it would be like. I wasn’t terrified anymore.”

His continuous hard work and dedication led him to hold a new school record in the 400, be a Group II State Champ in the 4x400 and place in third in the 4x400 at the New Balance Nationals.

Fost’s determination and skills influence his teammates to want to grow into outstanding athletes.

“He is excellent teammate and character that every team Photo by Jules Moskowitz should have. He always Fost leads the senior class in varsity letters with 12 in all gives 100 percent and is the sports he has played. determined to be the best he can be,” Cooper Steinberg said. “You can always count on him to do his job on the field.”

He secured roles as captain of winter track and spring track because of his leadership skills and motivating work ethic. He brings his love for the sport to practice everyday and influences people to work to the best of their ability.

“You can tell that he is a hardworking athlete. He is a stand out player and really helps the team,” senior Allie Weinstein said.

Fost is able to prove that hard work and dedication can create a successful and accomplished athletic career. His passion to succeed led him to be the only senior to earn all 12 letters.