Whittier March 2023

Whittier Miscellany The

Three Cheers for the Quakers!

Mitchell Brenner ‘24, Staff Writer

“If it was easy, everybody would do it.” This is what head coach Robert Tattersall said at the end of most practices this season. The Quakers ended the 2022 season with a 13-0 record, bringing home a State Championship trophy for the second time ever, the first being in 1984 with the current coach’s father, Bob Tattersall as the head coach.

The name Tattersall is widely known across Delaware high school sports, specifically high school football. Bob Tattersall started as the head coach of Wilmington Friends’ football program in 1968 and remained the head coach for 54 years, until the 2022 season where his son, Robert Tattersall, succeeded him. Robert Tattersall grew up with Friends football, starting as a team manager in 1st grade and moving up to play JV and Varsity in 8th grade, where he played under his father as a member of the class of 1991. In 2022, Coach Tattersalls’ two sons, Robby Tattersall ‘23 and Ryan Tattersall ‘25, started on the team, with Robby at quarterback and outside linebacker and Ryan at safety.

“No matter how old I was, Friends football has always been something that has been a part of me before I even stepped foot on the field with the blue helmet on,” Robby said. Just like their father, Robby and Ryan both grew up around the Friends football program and understood what it meant to hold the last name Tattersall. “Being coached by my father and grandfather is more difficult because they hold you to such high standards. There is more pressure because I am the coach’s son, so if I start and do not perform then people might think I am only playing because of my last name,” Ryan said. The 2022 State Championship means so much to so many people but it holds the most importance to the Tattersall family, with Rob Tattersall describing it as “emotional beyond explanation”.

After an impressive 10-2 record in the 2021 season, the Friends football team had high expectations heading into the 2022 season. The program embraced said expectations, boasting a 13-0 record and state championship title, though the season wasn’t without its challenges.

This season has been the culmination of the Seniors’ entire football careers, and for a few their entire lives up until this point. Offensive and defensive lineman and team captain, Colin Harron ‘23 had been determined to win a state championship before he even began his upper school career. “Seeing my brother’s dream [of winning a state championship] come crashing down in front of my eyes because of injuries left me feeling empty inside - ever since that game I was determined to finish the job.” “The sense of family in the room was what always brought me to put the pads on everyday, ” said TE and D-Lineman Ish Dobson ‘23. “We knew what we were capable of and we successfully accomplished those goals,” said FB, LB and captain Paul Beardell ‘23. “My favorite part is the practices. Practices are longer and much more frequent then actual games, so it would make sense to say that the majority of time spent with the team is at practice,” said O and D-Lineman Phil Crock ‘23. “The coaches have taught us not just how to be football players but also how to be gentlemen and how to work as a team,” added O-Lineman Matthew Malone ‘23.

“Perseverance is the most important thing I have learned throughout my time at Friends. I remember being called on to start sophomore year. I got knocked around and beaten nearly every play, but I couldn’t just give up and let it happen, since if I did that my teammates might get hurt. This commitment allowed me to improve myself to where I was now knocking people around,” said O and D-Lineman Jack Hebert ‘23. “The most meaningful part of Quaker football is the whole 4 year process. I started as a boy and grew into the man I am today,” said WR and LB Hudson Zawadzkas ‘23. “It really means the world to me that we got to not just win but play for each other these past four years and to see how much the football program has shaped us into the people we are is amazing,” said QB, LB and Captain Robby Tattersall ‘23.

“I had an alumni from the 80s tell me that being in that stadium and watching that game was a top 5 moment in his life,” Robert Tattersall said, recalling what an alumni had said to him the night of the state championship. Tattersall also recalled how he received hundreds of letters, texts and emails from recent graduates, graduates all the way back to the 60s, alumni that lived far away and even from people unaffiliated

with Friends, congratulating the team and saying how proud they were of what was accomplished. There was even a heartfelt letter written directly to the 2022 team by a former friends football player congratulating the team and saying how much this meant for alumni and everyone else involved in the Friends community. Although the 2022 Quaker Football team will never put on the blue jerseys and play all together again, what was accomplished this season will never be forgotten. And even when the whole team has graduated and headed down their own paths of life, they will always be a family united by what was done this year. Future Friends teams won’t just be watching the 84’ highlight tape during preseason - they will be watching the 22’ tape as well. The importance of this year of football for Friends alumni and other people related to the program probably hasn’t set in for most members of the team, and likely won’t for a while too, but that will be achieved in due time. Put best by Bob Tattersall, “That leaves just one thing left to say. Three Cheers for the Quakers!”

March 2023 • Wilmington Friends School’s Community Newspaper • Wilmington, DE

Climate at Friends

Gianna Cottone ‘26, Staff Writer

It’s time for change. Climate change is a huge issue for the friends community and the world. Climate change for WFS is important because of our role. We are leaders to many other schools. America has been combating climate change’s effects since the early 90s. States like California focus on rising temperatures, while states like Delaware deal with less severe effects. States with less of an effect on the national economy need to focus on how they can help others. One of the most common problems when combating climate change is that people refuse to work together to achieve their goal. This is what needs to change.

Wilmington Friends makes many steps to being climate friendly. A great example is the Global learning center. Its lights are straight and are directly powered by the sun. Renewable energy is a very important step that many other countries and states are yet to accomplish. Friends does a fantastic job of finding alternatives for renewable energy. Something else that Friends does well is their use of solar panels. They have solar panels on the roof. These are located at both the lower and upper schools. This is very important because WFS and other schools use a large amount of energy. A couple examples are lights, electronics, and production of food. As a result

of the school’s considerable energy consumption, and the costs that comes with it, Friends decided to switch to renewable energy. Rodrigo Saldana says, “The sun powered lights work very well and are very easy to use.” Another strategy that Friends has done well is their switch to online work. Instead of wasting tons of paper everyday, Friends switched to computers in 2012. It saves many trees! David Gertler taught at Friends in the late 90s, recently returning this year to teach AIM2. When asked about how Friends improved since he first joined the school he said, “The use of technology has increased.” Mr. Gertler also talked about the amount of paper used. This helps prevent a small portion of deforestation. Friends sets a great example to people looking to make an impact and other communities!

Though Friends has done a great job with changing their ways, they can still improve. First, Friend’s waste problem needs to be addressed. The trash bins are always filled up by the end of the day. People often mix the trash and recycling cans together. This completely defeats the purpose of having both bins. A student at Wilmington Friends admits that she doesn’t think before throwing out food. “I just throw my lunch into whatever bin is more empty at the time.” Many other students share this same tendency. The amount of waste in both bins is very disheartening. Someone who sees the amount of waste ev

Sarah Levenson ‘24, Staff Writer

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle are known as one of the most recognizable couples in the world. But since their new documentary series grabbed the attention of people around the world, their lives have changed drastically. Let us start when Harry was a young boy. Harry and his brother William had a very unforgettable childhood. Their Mother, Diana, frequently found ways to enjoy herself. Even though it looked pleasurable, pressure built up underneath the surface. From Harry in the documentary, “Paparazzi used to harass us to the point where we had to be forced into smiling and answering questions to the traveling press pack.” The facade instilled upon Harry from a young age demonstrates that although the children looked like they were enjoying a ski trip or a vacation, it became challenging for them to live normal, comfortable lives.

Harry and Meghan first crossed paths in July 2016 when Meghan and some friends went to watch Wimbledon. Eventually, a mutual friend used Instagram to connect the two. They unquestionably fell in love after that. The way they spoke about each other in the documentary is evidence of the deepness and passion of their love. Harry is the Duke of Sussex and the youngest son of

The Real Royal Rumble

King Charles III, meaning he is 5th in line to the throne. Meghan knew what she was getting into when she realized their relationship was more than a fling. This is because the British population was providing a lot of attention to her, as she was falling in love with a member of the Royal Family. As for Harry, he had other ideas. “There can be a temptation or an urge to marry someone who would fit the mold as opposed to somebody who you perhaps are destined to be with. The

difference between making decisions with your head or your heart,” from Harry in the documentary, clearly depicts that Meghan did not “fit the mold” evident in the Royal Family’s spousal history. Harry knew Meghan and him were meant for each other and it didn’t matter what anyone else thought. He also stated in

eryday is Lisa. Lisa is one of our lunch ladies. When asked about the amount of food wasted every week, she says, “We have a new system to measure our waste per month. There is still a very large amount that could be saved. Many of our warm foods are thrown out at the end of the day. ” Friends could also focus on increasing its organic food options.

the documentary that his mother, Diana, made decisions with her heart and not her head. Diana’s decision making with her heart is now shown in Harry’s choices including how he protects his children. After Harry and Meghan got married, had children, and completely cut ties with the Royal Family, only to find themselves drowning in toxic and negative media hate. This kind of hate takes a toll on someone’s life no matter your title.

I interviewed Rose Gnade, former chemistry teacher, and current college guidance counselor, to get her perspective on the situation. I asked her: What impact will Harry and Meghan’s departure from royal duties have on their children? Will they build relationships with the rest of their family? She responded: “I think they will probably have as normal a life as they could have with their parents still being famous. I hope they have a relationship with the Royal Family because family is so essential.

I hope the generation they grow up in will be kinder and less stuck on tradition. I am curious to see if the British public would welcome the monarchy in 50 years.” I also asked her: Do you think Harry and Meghan should be respected as part of a royal family with a deep tradition and history in England? She answered: “I think the Royal Family is a machine whether you agree with the machine or not. If you don’t want to be

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part of the machine, that’s fine. Even if you’re not going to inherit the throne, there is still a level of respect the public should give them. The main reason for me, as an outsider and as a mother, is if I had what happened to me with Harry and William with Diana dying because she was hounded by paparazzi, I would be angry and I would also want out. Har- ry is just protect- ing his family. Queen Elizabeth is duty over family but Harry is family over duty.”

Ms. Gnade’s responses provide evidence that Harry’s main goal is to protect his family and he only wants the best for them. Especially after Covid hit and the Queen passed away, a greater emphasis was put on Harry and Meghan’s separation from the rest of the Royal Family. Since his youth, the media and paparazzi were too much for Harry. Meghan knew the baggage of marrying Harry and starting a life with him, but has it become too heavy? Will they break? Ms. Gnade was right, the Royal Family is a machine and even though Harry and Meghan decided to leave, they will feel the effect of toxic media negativity for many years to come.

Wilmington Friends School

GLC lighting & cafeteria trash / recycling bins

Harry and Meghan

Harry and Meghan

Joey Mayer and Molly Lavelle’s LLS Team

“On February 14, 2018, just a few months before her 3rd birthday, Emily was diagnosed with Acute T-cell Lymphoblastic Leukemia. She had been getting sick with new things over the course of a month, all while on antibiotics. Emily stopped breathing in front of her parents and they rushed her to the ER. Thankfully, Emily was able to receive treatment and finished on June 27, 2020. Emily is very thankful for everyday things, such as playing in the sandbox or getting on an animal, which she was not allowed to do during treatment. Her diagnosis has helped her to be good at persevering and adjusting to “big problems”. Emily really likes science and thinks she could learn a lot and help others.”

Molly Lavelle ‘24 and Joey Mayer ‘24 are running for Student Visionaries Of The Year with LLS (Leukemia Lymphoma Society)! Student Visionaries Of The Year is a 7-week philanthropic competition that helps raise money for blood cancer! This year, the team name is “Until A Cure.” The campaign supports all people affected, however, this year the campaign is in honor of Emily Higgins, a young student at Tatnall that was diagnosed with blood cancer at three years old.

A note from the girls:

We are reaching out today to ask for your support in the fight against blood cancer to prevent the youth of America from being affected by this terrible disease. You can join us in support by participating in or supporting one of the following fundraising efforts:

Share our message and fundraising link to help further spread the message of this incredible cause Help us secure a corporate sponsorship

Donate to our fundraising page (available by scanning QR code)

Joining our fundraising team

What the Eco Team’s Up To:

Earlier this school year, Whittier published an article titled: Why WFS Should Audit. As of last November, we can proudly say that we have. In conjunction with Green Buildings United, the Eco-Team went around the school assessing all of our hidden systems - electricity, water, etc. The Eco-Team found itself in our boiler room, surrounded by thick steel plates, hissing pipes, and tonnes and tonnes of water. Ultimately, the audit did exactly what it was imagined to doconnect WFS students with the out-of-sight and out-of-mind systems that work to keep us warm, and potentially hurt our sustainability brand. We found that the school is incredibly sustainable, but there are still steps to take. With a focus on electricity, we’ll be looking to publish our findings and our eventual prescribed solutions to the school. Be on the lookout for what Eco-Team has next!

Teachers’ 2022

Spotify Wrapped

Sra. Knight: Banana Pancakes - Jack Johnson*

Mi Gente - J Balvin Circles - Post Malone

*(Reminds her of the Summer 2022 Spain trip)

Mr. Childers: All of the River - Bruce Springsteen

Walk the Moon (the whole band)

Mr. Brightside - The Killers

7500 OBO - Tim Mcgaw

Mrs. Kenney:

Rubberband Man - Ragland Baxter Glass Animals (the whole band)

Valerie - Amy Winehouse

Mrs. Zug: Hannukah castle - Instrumental music - fiddle music Steely Dan, Michael McDonald (yacht rock)

Mrs. O’Brien:

Tennessee Whisky - Chris Stapleton

Big Girls Don’t Cry - Frankie Valley & The Four Seasons

I just called to say I love you -Stevie Wonder *

*(Her first record ever (a 45) which she “played over and over again on my Fisher Price record player”)

Sarah Stock:

Cat’s in the Cradle - Harry Chapin

What a Wonderful Life - Louis Armstrong

Gaslighter - The Chicks

Mr. Wood: Out of the black - Rural Blood

Santeria - Sublime

Narco - blasterjaxx and Timmy trumpet

Mr. Clothier: Blue Sky - The Allman Brothers

All Things Must Pass - George Harrison

Its Too Late - Derek and the Dominoes

Mrs. McManus:

Take Me to Church - Hozier

Thinking out Loud - Ed Sheehan

The Way You Look Tonight - Frank Sinatra*

*(Her wedding song from married in Vegas)

Mr. Scott:

I Know the End - Phoebe Bridgers

You and Me on the Rock - Brandi Carlile

Mariella - Khruangbin & Leon Bridges

This is art.

Togo and Diablo: The Rulers of the School

Katie Bryan ‘24, Staff Writer

Wilmington Friends School is occupied by students, faculty, and yes- animals. Yes, there are the infamous rats but this article will highlight the welcomed animals. Diablo the bearded dragon and Togo the snake are old souls at the school. Diablo is 18 years old, older than most of the senior class. Togo resides in Caitlin Norton’s bio classroom and spends his days sleeping and facilitating classes while keeping watch over the school during the night hours. These animals are part of the WFS family.

said, “I was scared of him at first but then I pet him and thought he had a cute face.” Norton rarely uses him for classes but pulls him out for her IB HL biology year-2 class when they discuss classification of organisms. It’s more complicated than you think to have a class snake. Every long break Norton brings him to her house where he has a separate cage. She says, “it’s especially difficult to transport him after winter break because he can’t get cold.” During COVID he had to live with her full time at her house. Student’s are always very interested in Togo when he eats. He eats only defrosted rats and mice and he enjoys them very much. The only time Togo has ever hurt anyone was when Norton was feeding him during COVID and he accidentally bit her hand instead of the rat-- both parties did not like the experience. Other fun-facts about Togo are that he enjoys basking in the sunshine during the summer months, and that he lives in the enclosure that the infamous ‘cornflake’ resided in before his passing.

he lived with the Johnson family. Diablo has more of a wide range for his plate than Togo. He eats packaged animal food, dried crickets, and lots of lettuce.

Both of these animals are well loved and have helped student’s get over their fears of reptiles. Next year Catlin Norton is moving into Ellen Johnson’s room after her partial retirement. Who knows if the two animals will get along in the same room? We’ll have to stick around and see.

Togo, the tranquil and therapeutic snake has been with Caitlin Norton,the upper school biology teacher, since 2008 and has lived in many different classrooms, and met many different science students. Norton describes him as, “a really nice snake. He is curious and gentle and has changed many students’ minds about snakes. There have been people who hate snakes who have warmed up to him. He’s never out to hurt anybody.” Norton makes sure that no one in the class is really uncomfortable with snakes before she brings him around for the students to touch with two fingers.

Simran Dattani ‘24

Diablo, the dapper and dazzling bearded dragon lives in Ellen Johnson’s biology room. Years and years ago, before many of you were walking Lisa Darling, Johnson’s boss came into her room and declared, “I would just really love a bio room with living things in it.” Promptly afterwards Diablo showed up and has been with her ever since. Diablo is never used for any experiments or lessons but Johnsons remarked, “some students are calmed by holding him so during class I will let them hold him, but some kids get really freaked out by him.” Diablo was named after Ellen Johnson’s family members who thought that he was evil. Especially her husband who was, “convinced that it would be like the creepy story where the Lizard eats the family in their sleep.” Even though he may not be liked by everyone, many people find him cute and enjoy petting, looking, or holding him during class or breaks. For years he would go home with the Selekman family over the breaks but during COVID

Test Stress Among Freshman

Abigail Thurlow '26, Staff Writer

Tests, students either love or hate them. Well, mostly dislike them, even though they are a big part of a student's education. Tests prove to also lead students to have lots of stress and anxiety. Azani Milbourne ‘26, Layli Katirai ‘26, Leyla Medford ‘26, and Molly Dolan ‘26 were all asked about their stress, and how tests might impact this.

When asked how much a student’s stress levels are throughout the week, the answers varied. Dolan said her level was a four out of ten because she does not have to worry about her class grade being affected by just homework. Medrord said her level of stress was a three, and Katirai said a six. Milbourne talked about how she tries to use school time as much as possible for schoolwork, “I usually have homework for at least 2-3 classes per night, mostly readings for English and a worksheet for various classes… I try to get any work done during the school day, like in class or study hall, to maximize my free time at home.” In weeks when the students know a test or quiz is approaching, their stress levels significantly increase. Katirai, Medford, and Dolan all said their levels rose to an eight or higher. For Milbourne, on the other hand, her stress level only moved to a six. She looks on the bright side of tests and explained, “tests mean I wouldn’t have other homework for that class so I can get other things I need to do.”

Overthinking also plays a major part in the pressure leading up to an exam. Dolan added, “I also always go into a test thinking I’m unprepared, or that I forgot to do something.” Katirai added, “When I’m more stressed I tend to overthink and get things wrong.”

All the students were asked which subject causes them the most stress. Almost all agreed on physics or language classes. Milbourne emphasized, “I worry about French most often because our tests and quizzes are normally on a lot of material we’ve learned and can pile up on top of each other.” She also talked about how important language classes are, “you will always keep using the things you’ve learned in the past units for the future. So if you don’t know it now, you are likely to have problems later.” Dolan added, “I would say physics because it is not my strongest class, so I have to do more to prepare,” Medford and Katirai both agreed. De-stressing is a very important activity that everyone should do leading up to quizzes/tests. An example may be, to take breaks from studying, to give your mind a break. “I try to not think about school and work when I'm home and have completed everything I need to do.” (Milbourne) “To de-stress I probably just take a break from studying…and then in like an hour I would go back to studying.” (Medford) Other students, enjoy more active activities. “I like to do active things like play sports, it really pulls my mind away from everything,”

(Dolan) and Katirai likes to hang out with her friends or go shopping.

When the ominous tests finally come around and it is time to take them, students respond very differently when taking them with stress. Dolan explains, “Without stress, I tend to be more calm when taking the test. But with stress, I check over my work a lot more.” Katirai gave a similar response, “when I’m more stressed I tend to overthink and get things wrong. but then sometimes when I don’t stress enough I don’t review enough before so then I’m a little clueless.” Other students, like Milbourne, are more confident about their studying skills, “I normally don’t stress about tests because I am typically already confident with what I know but when I'm not it causes me to worry.”

In conclusion, students respond differently to tests and it also depends on the subject the test is in. Some students are more confident going into tests than others, and some are more prepared than others. Tests are something all students have to learn to live and adapt to, so don’t worry too much about the next test coming up, and remember to relax!

College Admissions Bribery

Temi Lufadeju ‘24, Staff Writer

Full House is a popular American sitcom that came out in 1987. During the nineties, Full House was the show to watch. Despite the first season of the show not being a success, it was renewed for a total of 8 seasons. She played Rebecca Donaldson Katsopolis on Full House. She won her first award in 1987 at the ‘Young Artist Awards’ in the category of the ‘Michael Landon Award’ for ‘CBS Schoolbreak Special’. Lori Louglin is married to Mossimo Giannulli and together they have 3 children; Olivia, Gianni, and Isabella. At the end of 1995, Full House came to an end. Before the show went off air, Full house was consistently ranked as a Top 25 show. The show Full House rose actress Lori Louglin into fame and popularity.

Moving up the timeline a little bit into the 2000s, the American comedy drama, Desperate Housewives began in 2004. Similar to Full House, Desperate Housewives went on for 8 whole seasons. Like Full House, Desperate Housewives was well recognized as a show. The

Kahramanmaras Earthquake

John Ursomarso ‘24, Staff Writer

On February 6 2023 a massive earthquake hit the border of Turkey and Syria resulting in serious damage to both regions. The quake was caused by a collision of the Anatolian and Arabian plates and resulted in a primary quake of 7.5 magnitudes and numerous subsequent quakes.

Across Turkey, an estimated fifty thousand buildings have been destroyed, including essential infrastructure such as hospitals, electrical grids roads, and power lines. In response to the quake, 34 counties have given financial and material aid to Turkey, including China, the US Great Britain, and Russia. Even with international humanitarian support the victims of the earthquake are struggling to get basic supplies and resources. The WHO has reported

show won multiple Primetime Emmy, Golden Globe and Screen Actors Guild Awards. The show elevated Felicity Huffman as an actress and celebrity. She is married to William Macy who plays Frank Gallager on Shameless. Together they have 2 children; Sophie and Georgia.

Lori Louglin and Felicity Huffman are very notable and popular figures, but what do they have in common other than their famous roles on television? In 2019, there was a scandal that involved a criminal conspiracy to sway the college admissions decisions at the top prestigious schools in America. Most parents want their children to attend good schools, but what makes it ok for them to take away opportunities for other candidates who aren’t as fortunate as these “figures”? The answer is money. Felicity Huffman served 14 days in prison for paying to have her daughter’s SAT scores fixed by a proctor. Huffman was issued a $30,000 fine and 250 hours of community service. Mossimo Giannulli was sentenced to five months in prison, two years of supervised release, $250,000 fine, and 250 hours of community service. Lori Loughlin was sentenced to two months in prison, two years of supervised release, $150,000 fine, and 100 hours of community service. Giannulli and Loughlin, paid to get their daughters into the University of Southern California; Giannulli paid to recruit his

that in Turkey approximately 20 million people are in need of aid and Turkey has reported that one million Turkish citizens are complete without shelter. In response, Turkey has created an official camp zone with 300,000 tents. However, hundreds of thousands of victims are still without government-aided shelter. To cope with the lack of humanitarian resources many victims have created their own campsites in now-abandoned stadiums and sports fields. One resident of these camps claimed, “There’s nothing for us here to eat, there’s no gas, no heating system, no electricity. We don’t have money or any of our cards.”

The havoc caused by the earthquake has caused some to criticize the government and wonder if there was something that could have been done to prevent a disaster on this scale. Corruption has long been theorized to be an issue in the construction sector in Turkey, and this most recent earthquake proved that the vast majority of the country’s buildings were not up to earthquake code.

daughters to USC as “crew athletes”. Even though Huffman and Loghlin are both highly known actresses who were involved with the scandal; they were not the only high profile parents who used their wealth to benefit their children. A well known real estate developer Robert Flaxman, hanged himself on October 20th in his Malibu home three years after paying $325,000 to the Varsity Blues college admissions to get both of his kids into school. Over 33 people were involved in the scandal, a few of them were Gregory Abbott, Marcia Abbott, Gamal Abdelaziz, Todd Blake, Diane Blake, Jeffrey Bizzack, Jane Buckingham, Gordon Caplan, I-Hin “Joey” Chen, Gregory Colburn, and Amy Colburn. Even coaches from top notable Ivy League schools accepted bribes. Rudy Merdeith was the women’s Yale soccer coach who was accused of accepting $400,000 to depict a student as a Yale soccer commit. Meredith had been with Yale since 1995, and after the Scandal broke, Meredith resigned in November of 2018. Gordie Ernst was the head coach of Georgetown’s tennis.

In spite of the fact that these wealthy privileged parents paid their way for their children to attend highly prestigious colleges, they needed to go through a specific person to do so. That person was Rick Singer. Rick Singer set up a decade-long scam helping the most elite families cheat their way into universities; Singer bribed athletic coaches and college admission directors. Singer used “college prep businesses” he ran: Key Worldwide Foundation and The Edge College & Career Network. In a recorded call by the FBI, Singer supposedly said to a client, ““We help the wealthiest families in the U.S. get their kids in school”.

Wilmington Friends School is divided on its response to the earthquake. While some students such as Peter Connelly and Sameer Vidwans have organised a drive in the Upper School to help victims, others are unsure of how they should feel. When asked about he thought about the international response to Turkey and Syria, Ethan Weiner said, “I, honestly, I have no idea.” While people in Turkey and Syria suffer, it is our duty at WFS to wonder what can we do.

Three Disappointments

Tauson Biggs ‘24, Staff Writer

The 2022-2023 sports season in Philadelphia was filled with highs and lows. Unfortunately for fans of the Philadelphia Union, Phillies, and Eagles, it ended in heartbreak as all three teams fell short in their respective championship games.

Starting with the Philadelphia Union, the team had a remarkable season, finishing as rank one in the Eastern Conference and earning a spot in the MLS Cup final. The Union had a difficult path through the playoff bracket, but after a bumpy start against Cincinnati, they got their act together. The Union advanced to the Cup Final match to face off against LAFC, the number one seed from the West, who were also hungry for a win.

Despite the Union’s impressive regular season and admirable playoff performances, they were unable to overcome the LAFC’s expensive foreign talent in players like Gareth Bale who scored LAFC’s 3rd goal of the game. The Union lost the championship game by a score of 3-0 in penalty shootouts in a 3-3 tied game. The team’s defense, which had been a strength all season, struggled to contain LAFC’s attack after the first half of the game, and the Union was unable to convert on their penalty shots to have a chance at winning the title. The loss was

Ronaldo’s Move to Saudi Arabia: Who are the True Fans?

Guiliana DiPrinzio ‘26, Staff Writer

Cristiano Ronaldo’s career has changed drastically from the Premier League to the Saudi Pro League. During the 2022 World Cup, Manchester United announced that Christiano Ronaldo would be leaving the club. This shocked the world. Many were left with questions such as, where will CR7 go next?

When Professor Saldaña, upper school Spanish teacher at Wilmington Friends, heard about Ronaldo heading to the Saudi Pro League he had many emotions. “I mainly felt disappointment, I think he should still be competing at the highest level in Europe.” Ronaldo did not have enough time to showcase himself in Europe.

The main question for the world was how many of Ronaldo’s fans would continue to support him while he played in Saudi Arabia. The long-awaited Messi vs. Ronaldo game took place when Paris Saint-Germain took on Al Nassar on Thursday, January 19th, 2023. According to StreamCharts this friendly had “over 1.9 Million

a bitter pill to swallow for the Union and their fans, who had high hopes for the team heading into the championship game. Eddie Gallagher, the Assistant Head of School for Academics and self-proclaimed 5 for 5 Philly sports fan, said he was “disappointed about the Union’s loss after they had been so dominant all season.” However, Mr. Gallagher’s opinion on the end of the Phillies season is a little more positive.

Speaking of the Philadelphia Phillies let’s take a closer look at their 2022 season. The team had a strong regular season, finishing third in the NL East and earning a spot in the playoffs. The team’s offense, led by Bryce Harper and Rhys Hoskins, was one of the best in the league, and their pitching staff had improved from the previous season.

The Phillies’ playoff run was fairly straightforward, with the team handily defeating the Braves and Padres by series scores of 3-1 and 4-1 respectively. After that, however, the Phillies found themselves facing down a more formidable opponent in the Houston Astros. The Phillies narrowly managed to clinch the first game with a score of 6-5. In the second game of the series, the Astros answered right back with a win of their own. In the 3rd game, the Phillies blew out the Astros to the tune of 7-0 scoreline and Phillies fans could see victory on the horizon. Unfortunately, the Phillies’ scoring frenzie would end after that 3rd game as they went on to lose the next 3 games and the 2022 World Series.

viewers”. With this huge matchup came many viewers; however, it will be interesting to see the viewer count during Al Nassr’s league games.

One of Ronaldo’s fans, Noah Gibbons ‘25 says “I will most likely not be watching him play in Saudi Arabia, I also have no idea what channels they even play on.” For many of CR7’s fans, watching him perform will be a challenge due to the channels that actually broadcast the Saudi League.

Ronaldo is inarguably one of the greatest soccer players of all time; although, his attitude a mentality are a concern to many. In the 2022 World Cup, Ronaldo was benched in the knockout stage due to making faces about being subbed off the game before.

When asked about the Phillies’ end to the season, Daniel Selekman ‘24 said, “Although we didn’t win the world series, we still made it which was an upset in itself given the fact that we had the worst record going into the playoffs. We really came together at the end of the season and I think we’re looking good for next year.” The loss was a bitter disappointment for the Phillies and their fans, who had hoped to see the team get their first world series win since 2008 and 3rd world series win in the franchise’s history. However, the team’s success during the regular season and the progress they made in 2022 should give them confidence heading into the future. And now let’s talk about the big event, the Philadelphia Eagles. The Eagles entered the 2022-2023 season with high expectations after making the playoffs as a wildcard team the previous year. The team’s offense had improved, with quarterback Jalen Hurts showing promise, and their defense was one of the best in the league. The Eagles got off to a strong start in the regular season, winning their first eight games and establishing themselves as one of the top teams in the league. Their offense, led by Jalen Hurts and a talented group of receivers, was firing on all cylinders and putting up big numbers, and averaging almost 30 points a game. Continuedonpage12

Many believed that this is due to his poor attitude; however, Sara Clothier ‘26 says “ I believe that his mentality is the reason he is so good, he has so much confidence in himself.”

“Ronaldo went to Al Nassr because of the money, I do believe that he could still be playing at a much higher level,” says Clothier ‘26. The money clearly played a huge role in Ronaldo’s moving to the Saudi League. CR7 is making 173 million euros a year, 514 thousand euros a day, and 357 euros a minute; however, his love for the game is more important than all the money in the world.

Many of Christiano Ronaldo’s fans are concerned that this will be the end of CR7. Professor Saldaña says, “I do not believe that Ronaldo should end his career with Al Nassr. I think he should retire on a Portuguese team.” It is unsure if Ronaldo will ever play in a World Cup again, due to his age; however, ending his career on a club team in Portugal would be the perfect ending.

Although the future of Christiano Ronaldo is full of questions and concerns, CR7 will look to make his mark in the Saudi League. He will continue to work hard and prove why he is one of the greatest of all time.

Rewriting the Internet: Gonzalez V. Google

Jack Hebert ‘23, Staff Writer

In November 2015 the city of Paris fell victim to a deadly terrorist attack which saw three groups enact mass shootings and bombings throughout the city. These attacks killed 130 people and injured another 416. Among the dead was Nohemi Gonzalez, a U.S. citizen. The next day, the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant, or ISIL, named ISIS at the time, claimed responsibility for the attack in the form of a written statement and a video posted to YouTube. Gonzalez’s father, Jose Hernandez, filed an action against Google, alleging that Google violated the Anti-Terrorism Act by allowing ISIL videos to be published to Youtube and that Google should be held liable for the content as it was promoted via targeted recommendations on its website. In October 2022, Gonzalez V. Google was presented to the Supreme Court of the United States, and its decision will have massive implications on the internet as a whole.

Gonzalez V. Google is calling Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act of 1996 into question. Section 230 states that “No provider or user of an interactive computer service shall be treated as the publisher or speaker of any information provided by another information content provider.” What this means is that online platforms cannot be held liable for the words and actions of their users. A second clause in Section 230 states that

“No provider or user of an interactive computer service shall be held liable on account of…any action voluntarily taken in good faith to restrict access to or availability of material that the provider or user considers to be obscene, lewd, lascivious, filthy, excessively violent, harassing, or otherwise objectionable, whether or not such material is constitutionally protected.” This clause ensures that online sites can properly moderate the content posted on them with legal protection. While this may make the case seem open and shut in favor of Google, 1996 lawmakers did not count on the creation of algorithms for online recommendations. This case asks if Section 230 protects content when the content is algorithmically recommended to users.

While this case may seem contained within YouTube, the decision of this case will have massive implications on nearly every social media outlet on the internet. Nearly all, if not all, of modern social media outlets use content based algorithm recommendations, from YouTube to Twitter to search engines like Google. So what would happen if the Supreme Court rules in favor of Gonzalez? By ruling in favor of Gonzalez, this now means that Section 230 does not apply to algorithmically recommended content, and that by recommending content via an algorithm, the site is now endorsing the content and is therefore liable for whatever may be contained within that content. This would result in every social media company completely revamping or removing their algorithm

systems in order to avoid impending lawsuits. This would fundamentally change the systems used to moderate content on these platforms. This would also affect the livelihoods of many content creators on these platforms. For example, on YouTube, the vast majority of content creators gained most of their subscribers via algorithmic recommendations. The loss of this system would halt channel growth, or even result in channel regression. This would result in a massive loss of jobs for online content creators with no way of replacing them in YouTube’s ecosystem.

While the loss of algorithmic content may completely change the landscape of the internet, this is just a worse case scenario. Frankly, there is no possible way of knowing what will happen if the Supreme Court rules in Gonzalez’s favor . A change of this scale is unprecedented in the history of the internet, so its results cannot be predicted. There is also a decent chance that the Supreme Court will rule in Google’s favor, as both the District Court and Court of Appeals ruled in favor of Google. There is a strong possibility that nothing will change, and Section 230 will continue to protect algorithmic content. There is also precedent for Google’s algorithm being defended in the past, bolstering Google’s case. The verdict will begin deliberation on February 21, and may change the face of the internet forever.

Mona Lisa to Macbook: AI’s Devastating Effects on Art

Jemima Smith ‘24, Staff Writer

Humans have had a fascination with artificial intelligence for hundreds of years. Some of the first pieces of literature to explore the possibilities of AI include Mary Shelley’s famous work Frankenstein (1818) and Samuel Butler’s Erewhon (1872). The 1972 film Metropolis was the first cinematic depiction of artificial intelligence. Today, reality may seem stranger than fiction. If you’ve been anywhere on the internet in the past year, you’ve probably come across the general public’s recent infatuation with Artificial Intelligence and, more specifically, artificially generated art. Recent programs have been made available to pretty much anyone in a widespread fashion previously unheard of. Different AI programs can be used for different purposes, including music, writing, and image generation. Each comes with its own set of complex issues and production processes, but here we’ll get a closer look at image generation, or AI “art”, and its impact on the creative community.

So how exactly does AI art work? Mainstream AI image generators, such as DALL-E 2, Artbreeder,

perfect. Image generators create their work by dredging the internet for information, millions and millions of images to feed their gaping maw of algorithms. This information is absorbed as data and informs the choices--pixel by pixel--that will go into the final image. This process leads to issues of copyright, artists’ intellectual property, and the general issue of manufactured creativity; its value, its accessibility, and its place in the larger world of art. “I wouldn’t categorize AI art as art. Art comes from a place of self-expression… it’s a very human thing. Since AI art is someone typing into a computer and the computer spitting out an image, it doesn’t qualify the same way,” says Esther Adebi ‘24, an art student at WFS. “It’s to the point where you can get artificial intelligence to imitate the work of a specific artist and take it over in a way that disrespects and devalues the work of that artist.”

Recently, in an extremely controversial story, an artificially generated piece won the blue ribbon for the Colorado State fair. Strong opinions raged on both sides of the spectrum- some critics claimed that there was no artistic value to a generated piece, while others proclaimed that the work put into the prompt makes the work human; others asserted that AI art is a whole other breed of art that deserves praise as much as human creations. “I’m kind of hoping it’ll be a fad that will come and go,” says Ms. Robertson. “I mean, it’s fun. I think it’s like a circus trick. You don’t have to actually work; you just throw out your ideas and something else makes it for you. It’s different from sitting down and working on something for weeks on end. It’s hard for me to really appreciate that as a piece of art.”

of artworks that get made in all sorts of different ways. Nature makes them or they’re a group project or they are digitally generated,” Ms. Robertson says. “technology is always coming and changing. Figuring out how to embrace that and use it to do something interesting is also something that can happen.” There’s also the value of the unexpected: every time an AI generates an image, it creates a visual experience that most likely never has and never will be seen again. No matter your stance on the issue, the process really is miraculous.

Midjourney, and Stable Diffusion convert words submitted by any user and spin them, almost magically, into sprawling, intricate images in any medium, style, or subject imaginable. They’re fascinating and mysterious, beautiful and terrible, but the data collection methods these programs use to create these images are less than

So what’s good about it? Many praise AI art and consider it a catapult into the future. Popular arguments include the point that this tech allows everyone to be an artist-- people with no artistic experience or talent are able to carry out their visions with seemingly boundless power. Many also argue that valuing human artwork alone is a small-minded point of view. “When we talk about NFTs and stuff, what is value? There are plenty

As beautiful and rare, though, is human ingenuity. “The process of making, I think, is really important and losing that can be really frightening. Already, I can see the appreciation of the hand-built going away. Coming up with an idea and a solution, that is part of what gets you to art. It’s valuable.” Says Ms. Robertson. There’s a human touch that goes into creating a piece of art that, many argue, is invaluable, not to mention the morally dubious processes for creating these pieces. Since AI generators are pulling from human creations, aren’t they just regurgitating what others have already done? Is there any merit to the work of people putting in the prompts? Aside from the moral quandaries, there’s also the substantial issue of intellectual property. Harvesting data from images that artists have put online to use in creating a new piece is problematic in itself, and getting money for it is even worse. “When it comes to people selling AI images, that’s where things get morally dubious. You’re actually taking money from people that could be going to actual artists,” says Adebi. Purchasing art from real people who’ve made it can be a win-win situation; you’ll get artwork with authentic humanity and you’ll be giving money to artists who’ve worked hard from it.

New technology is always met with apprehension or even downright opposition. Art is so subjective to begin with that trying to figure out its value separate from its connection to humanity makes it even trickier to parse out. There’s a lot to consider, and a lot to be excited about. Keep an open mind, and stay curious!

2023 BasketBall Season Flix

All photo credits go to Joce Nathan ‘23 @Flix_by_joce

A Track Meet to Remember

Cora Lohkamp ‘26, Staff Writer

Sports are much more fun when there is an adventure. Traveling to different places is always a thrill, especially when it is a place far away. On January 7th, the track team went to the Ocean Breeze Invitational Freedom Games in New York, and ran in the Ocean Breeze Complex. The school’s track team hasn’t been there since 2018, meaning this was a great opportunity for these runners.

It was a memorable trip that will always be remembered. This meet took an entire day; for most of it, they were not running. Daniela Cristanetti-Walker 26’ says, “Then there was about a five-six hour lapse where no one on our team was competing.” During this time, the team could have watched other races, done homework, gotten concessions, or gone to the beach next to the complex. Even though it was too cold to swim, it was a great opportunity to get fresh air, walk around, and get out of the complex that was

extremely packed. Cristanetti-Walker says, “I did homework. There was no space for us to sit, either. We were all crammed in one space, sitting on our bags, doing our homework.” Being stuck in a corner is not something many can do for 5-6 hours. Another unique experience was the time of this meet; it literally took the whole day. The bus left Friends at 6 AM and came back at 12:55 AM. They left the Ocean Breeze Complex at 10:30 PM to come home. It was a long and tiring day, however, it was filled with success.

Many records were set during this trip, both personal and school-wide. There were 13 personal records set and 5 school records broken all in one meet. This track was also banked. This means on the curve of the track there is a slight uphill and back down. This is supposed to make players’ strides longer and in doing so, make them faster. Our team hasn’t run on this before, but, with all the personal records, it most likely made a difference. With the many schools there, it would have been extremely difficult to get a

New Upper School Swim Team Coach

Emma Lavelle ‘26, Staff Writer

On February 5th, 2022, the Quaker swim teams traveled to St. Andrew’s School to compete in the DISC Championships. After an undefeated season, the boy’s swim team won the DISC Championship for the first time in school history and ranked third in the state. The girl’s team also had an incredible season with a 6-4 record. Both teams then traveled to states and finished the season feeling victorious. Then suddenly, without warning, the swim coach, Robin Lebauer, retired after coaching the swim team for over a decade. Mr. Lebauer went through many ups and downs with the swim team. Many students were highly disappointed because they loved having him as their swim coach, and many of the 8th graders were disappointed they would never get to have him as their swim coach. The search was long and hard to replace the beloved coach, and WFS welcomes 3 new coaches. This year the Wilmington Friends swim team is coached by Jack Coons and Blair Atkins, and Tara Agne assists them.

The two swim coaches are WFS alumni, and Atkins swam on the swim team all four years of her High School experience. During her time on the swim team, she also coached for the Elks swim club, right around the corner from Friends. After high school, she swam at Franklin and Marshall College and continued coaching summer swimming.

Continuedonpage12

high place. There were about 147 teams there! Teams from New York, New Jersey, Maryland, and Connecticut to name a few. In some races, over 200 kids were competing so it was extremely difficult to get a high score. That being said, Isaiah Turman 24’ scored 6th out of 54 people in the boy’s triple jump. Also, Cereniti Johnson 26’ scored 10th out of 159 runners in the 55-meter dash. This shows how talented they are in comparison to many schools around this area. Overall, this track meet shows how Friends can compete outside the small conference and how sports are supposed to be fun. Our runners did super well when faced with a place they had never been before. All the eyes on them could have been stressful but they didn’t let it get to them as seen with all the personal records. They also made many memories with their teammates. This was an experience many will remember. Having fun, taking the stress away, being active, and being with your friends is what sports are all about.

Hot Takes

Everyone has opinions. Some of them are popular, some of them are not. Here on the Whittier, we decided to ask some people around the WFS community what their “hot takes”—unpopular opinions—are:

“I love sleeping with socks on” (Angie Cochran ‘24)

“Keith bars are the best candy and sheets are not necessary” (Simran Dattani ‘24)

“Jet lag is not a real thing, it’s only a mentality” (Grace Terrell ‘24)

“American football shouldn’t be called football because, aside from the kicker, the ball never touches anyone’s feet” (Dr. Blake)

“Bread doesn’t belong in the freezer” (Zae Turman ‘24)

“Pickleball isn’t a real sport” (Max Rosenthal ‘23)

“Thanksgiving food is terrible” (Lily Rashkind ‘23)

“Sometimes pineapple does work on pizza” (Greta pinter ‘24)

“Ranch on pizza slaps” (Ellie Criscimanga ‘23)

Pelé - The Legend

Ethan Weiner ‘24, Staff Writer

As a little boy from Três Corações, Brazil, Pelé would play soccer in his impoverished neighborhood with a grapefruit and a sock stuffed with paper. At the age of 6, he was gifted a soccer ball and was given the nickname Péle; by the age 16 he was playing professionally for the club Santos. The following year, at only 17 years old, he played for Brazil in the 1958 World Cup. As the youngest player to ever play in the World Cup, he picked up a hat trick in the semi-final against France and two goals in the championship game against the tournament host, Sweden. Not only was Pelé extremely intelligent and skilled, but he was also faster and stronger than his opponents. In the entirety of his career, he scored a mind-boggling 1000 goals, setting a Guinness World Record. After retiring from his club, Santos, in 1974, Pelé scored 643 goals in 659 games, and in 2012 FIFA named Pelé the “greatest of all time”. Pelé was soccer’s first global icon. If you asked me, I would argue that Pelé is the greatest soccer of all time but I know that is a statement that could spark a lot of controversies. The soccer GOAT debate is one that has only gotten more intense over time so I wanted to ask students around Friends what their stance on the topic was.

Off the field, Pelé had just as big of an impact. He was extremely vocal about issues facing his home country, Brazil, specifically surrounding childhood education. When being interviewed, he would often take the time to raise awareness of the education disparity problem in Brazil. Péle stood as a symbol of overcoming the hardships of being Black, especially in Brazil. The social hierarchy in Brazil suppresses black people and makes poverty nearly inescapable, but Pelé’s ability to do so gave many in Brazil hope. His efforts in charity to help empower people and in particular, children in need made people around the world look up to him. The struggles he faced as a young man represented stories of all backgrounds, which is why so many felt a connection to Pelé. For people of all ages across the world, Pelé became a hero and an inspira- tion. Pelé was much more than a soccer player. His dedication to humanitari- an work had a significant impact on his home country and the world.

In late November, the soccer legend was admitted to the hospital to receive treatment for a respiratory infection. After numerous reports online of pelé being in critical condition and “fighting for his life,” he took to Instagram on December 3rd to clarify that he was feeling “strong” and the treatment hadn’t changed. While dealing with the respiratory infection Pelé had also been battling colon cancer since 2021. His death was announced to the media on December 29th, 2022, and was followed by countless tributes to him from current soccer players. “ Before Pelé, ‘10’ was just a number,” wrote Brazillian soccer star Neymar. “The king of football has left us but his legacy will never be forgotten. RIP KING.” wrote French player Kylian Mbappé.

The Evolution of Tennis - What’s to come?

Anya Agarwal ‘25, Staff Writer

No Roger Federer and no Serena Williams at this year’s 2023 Australian Open. The famous quartet, including Roger Federer, Serena Williams, Novak Djokovic, and Rafael Nadal, is very well known and also greatly treasured by tennis enthusiasts. It will be hard to let go of these legendary players, but the time is coming, if not already here.

For two decades, the golden era of tennis has prevailed, resulting in a feeling of comfort and security in the tennis community. Multiple players with distinctive styles and personalities helped define the game in the 21st century. Silas Montana, 25’ said, “I think that I speak for many people inside the tennis community when I say that we have been blessed with an era containing players like Rafael Nadal, Roger Federer, Novak Djokovic, and Serena Williams. All four of these players, each with more than twenty grand slam titles, have proven themselves to be the greatest of all time” But when the coronavirus hit, everything changed. The days of the game relying on the show-stopping power of its rockstar quartet to entice fans and add excitement are over.

Remember when Naomi Osaka won her first grand slam in the 2018 U.S. Open and everyone thought she was supposed to be the next big thing? Currently, her most recent major win was the Australian Open last winter, which was about a year ago but feels like over a century ago. She left last year’s French Open due to anxiety and depression. She then skipped Wimbledon and lost early in the U.S. Open and the Tokyo Olympics. Gabriella Feldman (WFS Girls Tennis Coach) said, “Osaka pulled out of a tournament and really has not done much over the past couple of years. Also, Ashleigh Barty retired at 25 because she wanted to live a ‘normal life’.” Remember the legendary match in last summer’s U.S. Open between the two teenage finalists, Emma Raducanu and Leylah Fernandez? The match that got everyone thinking that they would be future champions? Neither of the two has accomplished much since then. In the 2023 Australian Open, Fernandez lost in the first round, and Raducanu in the second. Despite this instability, these new players are on a whole different level of fitness, agility, and power. For example, watching Carlos Alacraz sprint, strech, and slide to keep a point alive before hitting the game-winning shot, or watching Aryna Sabalenka crush her opponent with 17 aces in the recent Australian Open.

This uncertainty causes lots of controversy within the tennis community. Gabriella Feldman said, “When I think about the “new era” of tennis, I have mixed emotions. On one hand, it is exciting to see this new crop of young, talented power hitters getting so far in the major tournaments and making it harder for the older players to sail to the finals. On the other hand, the players are getting younger and younger when they turn professional, and I don’t think they have the maturity and mental mindset to handle the pressures that go along with a professional career. The next generation of players are big power hitters and big servers and seem to be a bit more inconsistent when compared to the older players like Nadal, Federer, and Serena…. The days of finesse and strategy are gone, and power is the name of the game.”

Many young stars are now interacting with the crowd more, but not in a good way. During the close match between Nick Krygios and Danill Medvedev, the typically rowdy Australian crowd used Cristiano Ronaldo’s famed “Siuuu!” celebration shout during matches. That has angered several players, Medvedev included, who thought the chants were boos during his victory over Nick Kyrgios. During the on-court interview after the match, Medvedev grew impatient with the crowd and scolded them for the chant. In a later interview with Eurosport, Medvedev said the Ronaldo impersonators “probably have a low IQ.” Serena or Federer have never had an experience like this with their fans.

It is difficult to say goodbye to a generation. A new era has begun. We can only accept it, wait patiently, and hope for the best.

Climate at Friends

by Gianna Cottone

Philly Teams

Continued from Page 2

Processed food also has a large impact on our climate. The levels of waste that people create everyday need to go down in order to become more climate friendly.

Climate change is a very complicated topic. It has many causes and effects. WFS does a great job of finding solutions. They make it clear that they prioritize renewable energy and cutting back on waste like paper. Friends also tried to work on reducing waste from trash and recycling, but it was not as successful due to the lack of interest from students. Waste of food and resources should absolutely be cut down. Friends spent many years improving their impact on the environment yet they still have a long way to go! They have made an impact through renewable energy and switching to electronics. In this bigger picture, we are making a difference.

Upper School Swimming

by Emma Lavelle

Continued from Page 7

by Tauson Biggs

Despite a few bumps in the road along the way, the Eagles finished the regular season with a record of 12-4 and secured the top seed in the NFC playoffs. In the postseason, the team continued to roll, defeating the New York Giants and the San Francisco 49ers on their way to the Superbowl. In the championship game, the Eagles faced a tough opponent in the Kansas City Chiefs. The game was closely contested throughout, with both teams trading blows and the lead changing hands several times. In the end, the Chiefs were able to pull out a narrow victory, winning the game by a score of 38-35. The loss was a disappointment for the Eagles, who had hoped to bring a championship back to Philadelphia. Eagles fans were heartbroken by the defeat, but they’re a resilient bunch. When asked about Philly sports fans, Simran Dattani said, “I think the fans are die-hard and they will die for their city, I mean Philadelphia is the city of brotherly love. The city is filled with love and that love is shown for the sports teams.” When the 2023-24 season rolls around, rest assured, Philly fans will be back on their feet cheering their team toward the Superbowl once more.

Continued from Page 10

While coaching at WFS, she plans on earning her master’s. Coons has been an assistant coach at Shellcrest Swim Club for six years and as their head coach, most recently in the summer of 2021. Now he’s the head coach of the WFS swim team. “We will have numerous swimmers compete at the state championship meet and will hopefully have a few swimmers win individual state championships. Outside of winning, the team is a blast, as we have grown incredibly close while remaining loose, have a lot of fun, are inclusive, and have established a culture of working hard,” Jack said when asked about the current swim team’s success.

Both coaches seem incredibly proud of the swimmers’ hard work, and this new coach is not a fresh face to all swimmers at WFS. Evie Rademaker ‘25 and Layli Katirai ‘26 mentioned that they knew Blair before the swim team because she also coaches girls’ lacrosse at WFS. The spirit on the team is always high, and all the students show great enthusiasm at their meets and practices. “They are great coaches! Jack gets pretty excited about anything, and that’s great for the spirit.” Layli Katirai ‘26 said when asked about the coaches. Both teams have done tremendously well so far and currently have a record of 7-1 each, and should finish the year off at 9-1 each, according to Coons. The weekend of February 3rd, they had a DISCS meet, which was huge for both teams. As states approaches for the team, the WFS community wishes them the best of luck!

Continued from Page 11

All in all, the 2022-2023 season in Philadelphia was filled with excitement and disappointment. While the Union, Phillies, and Eagles all fell short in their championship games, each team showed promise and progress throughout the season. With a strong foundation in place and talented players on their rosters, the future looks bright for Philly’s sports scene, and fans can look forward to even more exciting moments in the years to come.

Hot Takes

Everyone has opinions. Some of them are popular, some of them are not. Here on the Whittier, we decided to ask some people around the WFS community what their “hot takes”—unpopular opinions—are:

“Morning showers are not effective” (Ava Steinberger ‘23)

“I don’t like pizza” (Kat Pitts ‘25)

“Country music is awful” (Adelaide Nourie ‘23)

“Burger King is the best fast food restaurant” (Tyler Wilmore ‘24)

Pelé, the Legend

by Ethan Weiner

Pelé’s legacy will never be forgotten. His presence will also be deeply missed in the soccer community. As a three-time world cup winner and a distinguished philanthropist, his impact on and off the field will last for generations to come.

“Spam is actually good” (Mary Robertson)

“Mac and cheese is overrated” (Blake Gemmill ‘23)

“You’re not the only one who’s tired” (Mr. Clothier)

“The Eagles have a cupcake schedule” (Jackson Strauss ‘23)

“Donuts are not good” (Josephine Wellons ‘23)