The Pony Express The Wright Beginning....
Volume 36 Number 1
Promises a Great Future
C. Milton Wright High School 1301 N. Fountain Green Road Bel Air, MD 21015
November 20, 2015
Getting to know Mr. Truszkowski by Cassondra Dorsey There are many new additions to CMW this school year. I got the opportunity to sit down with our new Vice Principal, Mr. Truszkowski and ask him some questions. I appreciate the time he gave me to get to know him.
Q. ite
What is your favorpart of CMW so far?
A. “My favorite part of the school so far is just how refreshing it is. Just to see how the people interact with each other. The best thing is seeing how the Q. What do you upperclasshope to bring to man help C. Milton Wright out the this year? underclassA. “I hope m a n . this year that I When can contribute I was at all around the Freshmen school in many Fest, it felt different ways. good seeing I believe CMW all the Senior is going to give me a whole Mentors showing the lot more. This is my thirteenth freshman around the school. I almost year as an administrator and my feel like the new kid and I love how 4th school, so I feel like I will re- people have helped me out so far.” ally learn a lot from being here” Q. What made you Q. What is the best part of your job? want to be a principal? A.
“It’s a people job. Whether I’m interacting with students or with the faculty, it feels good to be a part of the energy. I actually really like being in the classrooms observing the teachers and watching the students get involved.”
A. “Initially I was just thinking of educational leadership, and at the time I didn’t know why. I applied to Baltimore County when I was 27. Now I look at being a principal as an instructional focused position and it’s my job to lead to the achievement of students.”
pictured above: (back) Mr. Thatcher, Lucas Valdez, Kevin Matthews, and Luke Anthony. (front) Joshua Luce, Mikaela Farrugia, Brendan Jones
National Merit Scholars Honored by Madelin Hill Each year millions of students across the nation take the Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test. Only the top 5 percent of these students are recognized and entered into the competition for The National Merit Scholarship Program. We are honored to announce that we have 5 seniors right here at C. Milton Wright who placed in this prestigious 5 percent. These incredible students are Lucas A. Anthony, Mikaela M. Farrugia, Brendan C. Jones, Joshua Luce, and Kevin
C. Matthews. Huge Congratulations to these amazing Mustangs! In addition, one C. Milton Wright student attained Semifinalist status in the 2016 National Merit Scholarship Program. Lucas C. Valdes placed among 16,000 Semifinalist in the 61st annual competition. Based upon his score, Lucas has the opportunity to continue on to the National Merit Scholarship Competition. At the National level, 7,400 National Merit Scholarships will be awarded that will be worth more than $32 million. These final scholarships will be distributed next spring.
Winners of the 2015-2016 Powderpuff FB Game
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November 20, 2015
Opinion/Commentary
Bring Class Pride Back to the Homerooms by Megan Cowan This year, C. Milton Wright has gone against their traditional homerooms and decided to combine all of the sophomores, juniors, and seniors. Only the freshman are guaranteed to be in homeroom with the students in their grade, and their Senior Mentors. This new homeroom policy makes going to homeroom almost dreadful. Going to homeroom now means sitting in silence for at least ten long minutes before being able to start the day. In the past, students were able to be in homeroom with their friends and got to know others in their grade. Now, we all have to sit with people who don’t speak. The most acceptable reason for this change would
be to help our school’s student body come closer together. Instead of just being focused on your class of students it could force you get to know the other students you share a building with everyday. Another reason, which is a suspicion of many students, is to break up places like the “senior spot” which is between the science/business hall and the foreign language wing. By splitting up the homerooms, the school is seeing that all the upperclassmen aren’t all in one place during homerooms which makes it harder for the students to be at the senior spot. Regardless of the reason for the change, it’s not well-liked by the student body. A change of this magnitude should, at the very least, be discussed with the students before implementation.
So aRe yOu Safe? by Nick Wilson Do you feel safe when you come to school? Are you more comfortable knowing that an armed officer is on campus during school hours? The SRO program started modestly but has now grown to include uniformed officers who drive marked police vehicles in the majority of schools in America. These law enforcement officials are seen to be responsible for the safety and security of the school property and its students and personnel. Any modern high schooler can tell stories of drug dog searches, squad cars in the parking lot, students getting arrested, and so on. 21st century high schools are beginning to feel more like correctional facilities every year. The original mission of a Student Resource Officer was to
address threats to the psychological and physical safety of the students. There are currently around 20,000 full-time SROs. They are an important component of a safe learning enviornment for many childeren. In 2004, 78% of school based officers stated that they had taken a weapon from a student within the past year. This, undoubtedly, helps students, parents, and staff feel safer. But where does the line get drawn? At what point are schools turned into “pipelines” to the prison system? Zero-tolerance policies impose severe punishment on students for minor offenses such as dress code violations, attendance violations, cell phone use, simple peer arguments; all leading to an increase in juveniles referred to the criminal justice system. It’s time to go back to the basics of protecting instead of busting.
Just Saying “NO” to Electronic Bullying by Karigan Wright When the word “bullying” is heard, most people think about kids being pushed into lockers and having their lunch money stolen. This rarely happens. Most of the time bullying comes in the form of technology and becomes cyber bullying. Around 2/3 of teens have witnessed cyberbullying and 95% of them ignore it if they witness it. In 2014, 55% of teens reported that they have been cyberbullied and 1/3 of the teens experienced threats. Most people see cyberbullying but may not even realize what they are witnessing. Cyber bullying
consists of using social media or technology to threaten or embarrass someone. This could be spreading a picture of someone without their consent, spreading rumors, pretending to be someone else, or insulting someone. The consequences the bully could face include being arrested, fined, suspended, or having colleges reject their application. Cyberbullying could be considered the worst version of bullying because it is hard to attach blame and you cannot see the impact of your words on someone. People can anonymously comment and make it harder to get caught. In some cases the account could be
traced to an address. When bullying happens over a screen, it is impossible to tell how your words effect someone. When the bully is sitting behind a screen laughing, the other person could be hurt and interpret the conversation differently. Females, homosexuals, bisexuals, and people with disabilities are at the highest risk for being cyberbullied.
The Pony Express C. Milton Wright High School Student Publication
The effects of cyberbullying on the victim includes suffering from depression, anxiety, low self-esteem, and some victims commit suicide. A lot of teenagers do not realize how serious cyberbullying is and blow it off with “just ignore it” comments. Cyberbullying can be reduced by reporting abusive tweets or posts and, above all, just being respectful when posting online. The Pony Express contains editorials that express the opinions and viewpoints of individual student writers that are not necessarily shared by all students, staff, or the administration of C. Milton Wright HS.
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November 20, 2015
Opinion/Commentary The Kite Runner: Eye Opening or Over Exposing? WARNING: SPOILER ALERT by Skye Graham What book better opens one’s mind to the hard life in other areas of the world than The Kite Runner? Afghan-American author Khaled Hosseini discusses forgiveness and redemption in this historical fiction novel, introduced with a controversial topic; rape. The setting first takes place in 20th century Kabul, Afghanistan, where we meet young narrarator Amir. The plot revolves around Amir facing the hard decision of either gaining the respect of his father (yet proving his cowardice to himself), or standing up for his lifelong best friend Hassan (but suffering a painful consequence). One of the pros of The Kite Runner is that it discusses the controversy of the Muslim religion, and exposes the true war between Muslims and Muslim extremists; not Muslims and Americans. By stereotyping all Muslims to be Muslim extremists, one is showing the ignorance that this culturally knowledgeable book corrects. The main argument against The Kite Runner is that the content is too mature for students to be required to read for the high school curriculum. The book is accused of exposing those who were not exposed before to the concepts of rape, torture, and suicide. Though this is a fair argument, this novel is not actually read by all high schoolers, only seniors. By senior year, most students already are, or will be turning, eighteen. This is the recognized age
of legal adults who can vote, go to war, and think for themselves. As one steps into the adult world, they obviously will be exposed to adult material. The advantage of reading this book while supervised by a teacher is that students may discuss their reactions to the content and have their questions answered in a mature, factual way. In recent interviews, Hosseini discusses how Hassan’s rape scene is also a symbol of Afghanistan’s stolen rights by the Taliban. In the second setting of the book, roughly thirty years after that gruesome scene, Afghanistan has been under the rule of two separate powers. One is the harsh Soviet military and the other is the cruel Taliban regime. In these interviews, Hosseini explains that Amir’s choice to turn his head when Hassan was being taken advantage of represents America’s decision to turn its head when the Taliban invaded and targeted Afghanistan. Hosseini contends that America did not intervene until personally affected on 9/11. In a way, the author is comparing Amir to America. The Kite Runner is a debatable and disputable novel that exposes as well as educates. Although it presents many controversial topics, one cannot deny that the knowledge this book gives to readers defeats any doubts one may have. The next time you are searching for something to read, put down the magazines and pick up this thrilling novel that is sure to open your eyes to the liberties that we take for granted that others are denied.
Tech Heavy Teaching by Jake Litterello As the technological world advances, the American classroom also becomes increasingly tech-friendly. 3-D printers, tablets, laptops, and SMART boards are just a few of the devices in use at most modern high schools. All of these devices can be very resourceful in an education environment. Specifically at CMW, many tenth grade English classes are going completely paperless, using laptops and message boards. This can be effective technology to document student work. However, conventional classrooom environments have worked and are efficient in keep-
ing kids focused. Schools can cut down on paper and money without going exclusively to technology. Students tend to be less engaged in a classroom encompasssed in technology. Tablets and laptops can often be a distraction to the students and the teachers.Too much technology can further complicate simple assignments and can sometimes make directions unclear. Diversity of learning mediums in the classroom is great. But when every assignment has to be submitted electronically, there can be many avoidable complications for both students and teachers. There needs to be a healthy compromise between paperless classrooms and those that rely too heavily on “old school” worksheets.
“Bag” the Paper Bag Lunch by Cidney Gray Everyday the trash cans after lunch are filled with a bountiful amount of paper lunch bags. Paper lunch bags are a waste of natural resources , which are becoming depleted on our planet. Lunch boxes are containers that are made to carry food and drink. These are made also to insulate items and keep them cold. Not only can you reuse them everyday and save money, your food will remain unspoiled. Instead of having to buy paper bags throughout the year, you have one receptacle for your daily lunches. Lunch boxes are insulated which means they provide a cold seal throughout the day. Besides the monetary and health benefits of lunch boxes, there’s also the aesthetic aspect of a permanent lunch box. There
is an entire industry devoted to the design and production of durable, practical, AND adorable lunch boxes. They come in metal, cloth, plastic, and even leather shells in every conceivable color and design. Therefore, permanent lunch boxes are a fun, safe alternative to the classic paper bags. The use of them should be encourage throughout the student body in every school.
Right of Reply If you would like an opportunity to respond to the opinions or viewpoints expressed within these editorial pages, please do not hesitate to submit “Letters to the Editor” in the Pony Express mailbox in the main office. Only signed letters will be accepted and they cannot contain any vulgarity. Publication of your letter is not guaranteed, but will be considered.
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November 20, 2015
Features - Special Features
Teacher of the Issue Ms. Mary Lynn Twentey by Karigan Wright If you have ever attended a home football or basketball game, chances are you have heard the CMW Marching Band or Pep Band. Playing classic and pop hits, they give musical entertainment during halftime and throughout the games. The band is under the direction of Ms. Twentey, who teaches 9th-12th grade music, writes drill and music for marching season, and creates dance moves when the band is in the stands. She arranges field trips to perform in places she knows the students will love and has a personal connection with every student. This year, Ms. Twentey wrote a show called “The Punk Rock All Stars,” which she describes as being “freaking awesome!” With songs all recommended by students, “Welcome to the Black Parade”, a Green Day Medley, “Firestorm”, and “Thnks Fr Th Mmrs”, the show had 21 sets of moves and was a huge hit at the 2015 Band Showcase, which happened to be Twentey’s favorite memory of marching season. That and her “25 pounds of pasta salad that I made for the students.” She sacrifices days of her summer for Band Camp, teaching
students music and drill for the rest of the season. At the 2015 Columbus Day Parade, the Marching Mustangs won $2,000 to go to music, uniforms, and more. Even with the recent budget cuts to the arts, Ms. Twentey keeps doing fundraisers to raise money for band, and offers student fundraisers so students are able to pay for their performing trips. She regularly visits middle schools to talk about high school band and what to expect. She gives private lessons outside of school and helps students with Solo and Ensemble, All County, and All State auditions. In the short period of time the band has been under the direction of Ms. Twentey, she has turned a once small band into the largest and best band in Harford County, with over 200 students. She is incredibly talented, being able to play several instruments, allowing her to help students with their own instrument troubles. Every year she comes up with another unique addition to her marching shows, keeping everyone on the edge of their seats. In addition to being talented in the music field, she has the ability to make everything fun and enjoyable, even when marching rehearsals can be long and exhausting. She arranges spirit competitions every game to get the instrument sections to compete. This allows stu-
dents to get involved in the game while still having a fun time. She gets a lot accomplished in a short period of time but still allows students to have fun with their peers. Many of her students admire her for her hard work, especially because she finds time to bake for the students. Making cupcakes and pasta salad to reward students for their hard work, you could say she’s the best all around.
Senior, Megan Moore says, “I’m thankful for my family.”
Up, Up, and Away: Fate of the Blimp
by Austin Dolezal
The $235 millon dollar JLENS “blimp” made national headlines October 28th, but for the opposite purpose of its existence. Instead of protecting the US citizens’ safety, many civilians were threatened by the football field-sized helium balloon. F-16 fighter jets had to be scrambled and Pennsylvania State Troopers were deployed to track the blimp when it was no longer visible on radar after mysteriously becoming untethered. Before traveling more than 100 miles and touching down near Morelandtown, PA, guard rails were uprooted and nearly 35,000 power outages occured due to the dragging tether of the JLENS. Recovering this blimp was no easy task for the military and local police. This process took several days with the help of gun shots to deflate the blimp, chainsaws and a helicopter to dislodge it from trees.
The blimp has since been “recovered in its entirety” according to NORAD. The ballon and its mile long tether are headed back to Elizabeth City, NC, where it was manufactured while the radar system returned to Aberdeen Proving Ground. “While I strongly believe the capabilities that JLENS provides for the defense of Maryland and the national capital region against low-trajectory missiles from enemies such as ISIS and other terror groups are critical, civilian safety must come first. I am confident the Army’s investigation will determine how JLENS became untethered and who, if anyone, is to blame. Only then should a decision be made regarding the program’s long-term viability” said U.S. Rep. C.A. Dutch Ruppersberger (D-Baltimore County). Both the runaway JLENS and its sister blimp have since been grounded pending the investigation. It’s possible that we’ll never see them flying above to protect us again.
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November 20, 2015
Features - Our School
A Digital World: Bring Your Own Technology by Ashley Kutcher Bring Your Own Technology is coming into action here at C. Milton Wright High School. With the growing rate of kids in school with technology, this notion has been made possible. Is the new acceptance of technology in school a positive or negative? Schools, such as Edgewood High School, have already embraced BYOT for over a year. Now, on December 3rd, C. Milton Wright is introducing BYOT for the entire school. Every student will be able to use their own devices to help them in class. There are some guidelines to using technology in the classroom. All students must be connected to the school WiFi when using their phone in school. Teachers will be able to see who is connected and who is not. Students may not use their phones for anything other than a school related purpose. Students will continue to be disciplined for using their technology for non-school related activities. For this reason, students must use the school provided internet connection when asked by a teacher to use their device for a school related activity. The provided access will have the same safety barricades that currently exist on all school computers. Anyone found to be using their devices without the proper internet access will face administrative action. There are many benefits to bringing your own technology to school for students. Most of the work done in class and at home
requires the use of another source such as the internet. The internet’s efficient speed is very helpful in the busy lives students lead today. If we need help, instead of waiting for a teacher’s assistance, there is guidance all over the internet. Bringing our own technology will also relieve the excessive use of paper. If everything becomes digital, we will only need our device and a charger rather than multiple folders and binders flooded with papers. With all the packets and handouts students receive each day, it is very easy to become overwhelmed and unorganized. Saving documents digitally is an efficient way to organize, leaving behind the possibility of papers sliding out of place or being lost. The use of technology also doesn’t require one to be in class to receive the work. If a student is absent, they are still able to receive the work that was missed, making it inexcusable to fall behind. Not only does it benefit students, but teachers as well. Grading has always been a tremendous process of marking papers. With the advancements in technology, grading most worksheets can be done with the quick click of a button. It is easier, leaving the teachers with more time to plan daily lessons. When asking whether or not bringing in technology will be beneficial or detrimental to our school, consider the facts of how technology is used today. Students will continue to use technology whether or not it is allowed in schools because it is a huge part of all daily lives. With the advanced society
we have today, schools have adjusted their methods of teaching. While this BYOT movement opens the door to innovative teaching and learning opportunities, it’s important to remember that this is not an invitation to surf the web, play online games, or check your social media status. This initiative is bound to educational possibilities. In early December, teachers and staff will guide students through the initializing process for their devices. This process is highly recommended, but not mandatory. Students and their parents must make the choice.
Bailee Kenney 10th grade- “I am thankful for Netflix and food.”
Senior Rachel Verbus (far left) says “I’m thankful for my dogs” Math teacher, Mr. Gunter (middle) says “I’m thankful for the kids” and senior, Quinn Ursprung (far right) says “I’m thankful for all of my friends”.
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November 20, 2015
Features - CMW Family Norine Luongo
Ellen Zaborowski
Classes: Media Technician Before CMW: Graduated Loyola College in Baltimore, worked at six HCPS schools, Sign Language interpreter at Patterson Mill Middle School, attended CCBC’s Interpretership Program Fun Fact/quote: Fluent is American Sign Language, identical twin
Classes: Algebra 2, Geometry, SAT Prep Before CMW: Taught at Joppatown High School for the past five years Fun Fact/quote: Used to write math textbooks
Kelly Mattingly
Ms. Kathy Sebastiani
Classes: AP Calculus AB/BC, Honors Trigonometry, Geometry Before CMW: Towson University Fun Fact/quote: Coaching JV Field Hockey at CMW, played field hockey at Towson University
Classes: Introduction to Food Prep and Hospitality, Advanced Food Prep and Hospitality Before CMW: Taught at Chesterfield County Public School in Virginia Fun Fact/quote: “It’s not what you knew, it’s where you find the answer.”
Timothy Baldwin
Jennifer Gusso
Classes: English 10&11 Before CMW:Patterson Mill Middle School Fun Fact/quote: Mr. Baldwin wants CMW to know that all the people here are wonderful. That even on days when the school may be freezing the people are warm and friendly.
Classes: English I, SAT Prep Before CMW: Patterson High School 2006-2009, Bladensburg High School 2009-2011, Magnolia Middle School 2012-2015 Fun Fact/quote: Mrs. Gusso has 3 children (12,5,11 mos.) She also used to write theater reviews.
Kelly Jester Marylyn McBain Classes: Fine art prep, Yearbook, 3D 1, Advanced 3D, 3D studio, AP 3D Before CMW: Maryland Institute College of Art NICA Fun Fact/quote: Going to Italy in 2016 with North Harford
Classes: 9th American Government, 11th U.S. History, CP College Prep Before CMW: Franklin High School, Substitute teacher, Stay at home mom Fun Fact/quote: Mom of 3 kids, spend most evenings on rec fields
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November 20, 2015
Features - CMW Family Leslie Ortolani
George Ferenz
Classes: Inclusive helper Before CMW: Southampton Middle School Fun Fact/quote: Really enjoys seeing former students from Southampton
Classes: Orchastra, Music Theory, and Band Before CMW: Attended Shepard University and taught at Bennett Middle School
Kimala Humphreys
Deborah Egerton
Classes: Geometry&Statistics Before CMW: 23 years at Aberdeen High Fun Fact/quote: Ms. Humphreys is married with two dogs, one German Shepard and one Black Lab.
Classes: Foods and Hospitality Management, Functional Foods, Ms. Egerton is long-term substituting for Mrs. Amghar. She subbed for Mrs. Amghar last year as well.
Spirit Week Pride
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November 20, 2015
Features - School Happenings
Cinderella Hits the Stage at C. Milton Wright by Cassie McPhail This fall the drama department is producing Rogers and Hammerstein’s version of Cinderella. Mrs. Bullis elected to put on this particular version because it was the one she knew well and because there are many females in the department and she wanted to give out more female roles. The musical will be showing on Friday, November 20 at 7pm and on Saturday, November 21, there will be two shows. One at 2pm and the other at 7pm. During the afternoon show, any child that comes dressed as a prince or princess will get a crown. A cast of 45 presents some challenges. Everyone in the cast has two costume changes. Everyone, except for the fairy godmother, who has one.
plays the Stepmother. A cool cast choice for the stepsisters, is Rachel (11th grade) and Abby (9th grade) Koncurat, actual sisters. The Fairy Godmother is played by Isabela Bordner (10th grade) You may rememAmanda ber that Bohlen s h e ( 1 1 t h played grade) the lead p l a y s in last Cinderyear ’s ella, Sam s c h o o l Walton (11th production grade) plays of Oklahoma. Prince ChristoAnother important pher. Sarah Lempka (12th grade) and Alex Recher (12 grade) role is the Town Herald played play the Queen and King respec- by Jimmy Hansel (10th grade). tively. Julia Hall (12th grade) The Herald opens the show and “Bibbidi-BobbidiBoo”, well not exactly. There will be magic but it will be created by stage effects. The Fairy Godmother will not, however, be singing that famous song from Disney’s version.
sets the scene of the prince’s ball. Interesting enough to go see? Want to make sure you have a seat prior to show night? There are two ways to get advanced tickets. One way is to buy them before or after school from Mr. Baldwin, Mrs. Gusso, Mrs. Bullis, or Mrs. Malesh, all English teachers. You will receive those tickets on show night and will be seated according to what is available. However,if you want to pick your seat, go to seatyourself. com or follow the link on Edline. Then pick your seat and follow the directions on the site about how to purchase tickets You may also purchase tickets at the door at showtime. The cast has worked very hard for this show and are excited to show CMW the magic of Cinderella. Break a leg!
World Language Weeks = Success by Kara Zito The C. Milton Wright World Language Department is continuing the tradition of enlightening the student body on the language courses offered. The purpose of language week is to encourage people to take a language, e x perience another culture or to travel to new places. Languages offered include German, French, and Spanish. World Language teachers want
students to take new languages out of the class and into the school and offer the opportunity school wide. German Language Week was October 6th through the 11th. German Club hung posters around the school to attract people’s interest in German. The cafeteria served a German meal which consisted of options between bratwurst, noodles with cheese, sauerkraut, pretzels and chocolate cake. Students who took German celebrated Okto-
berfest
in the classroom. Frau Wyman and Herr Brown worked very hard in order to put German Week together. French Week was November 4th through the 11th. D u r i n g French Week, there were flags outside the cafeteria, a French themed “selfie” spot during lunches, French endorsing stickers, bulletin board of celebrities who speak French, face painting and an authentic French meal.
French students also made poppies in honor World War I soldiers. The French meal was served in the cafeteria and consisted of beef or chicken entrees, Ratatouille, rice and bread. Ms. Wise and Ms. Smith are the two French Teachers who worked to put this together. Spanish teachers, Ms. Hoagland, Ms. Kooistra, and Mr. Quinonez, work together to put together a Hispanic month in the beginning of the school year and Cinco de Mayo in May.
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November 20, 2015
Features - Fall Athletes of the Year The Pony Express “Athletes of the Year” were chosen by a panel of journalism students and peer athletes.
Senior, Briana Stabile, has been on Varsity Girls Soccer for 3 years. Briana is the only senior on the team this year. She is a huge offensive threat to other teams with 10 goals this season. Way to go Briana.
Andrew Schatz is a three year varsity player, plays every position, and was captain his senior year. His favorite Teammate is Daikwon Maye. Andrew’s teammates describe him as a hard working player who is always there for the team. Schatz ends his senior year with 1 touchdown, 96 tackles and 2 interceptions.
Senior, Steven Cantor, has enjoyed all four years of his high school career playing on the Varsity Soccer Team. He plays center attacking midfielder. Steven’s teammates describe him as a smart, dynamic player that looks to get the whole team involved and flowing while he attacks; looking to boost the team to win their games. Cantor contributes to the team with 2 goals in the regular season and many assists.
Senior, Dante Brown is a boys volleyball player he has been on the team for two years after transferring from Bel Air. Dante’s teammates describe him as a player with a lot of heart and loves the game and is ready for any challenge. His teammates also say he is always pushing himself and his team to become better players.
Matt Smith, Senior golfer, has been golfing at C. Milton Wright all four years. This fall was a great season for Smith as he represented our school at States, unfortunately Matt missed the cut by one stroke. Smith’s teammates describe him as a very confident player who has a true love for the game.
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November 20, 2015
Features: Fall Athletes of the Year The Pony Express “Athletes of the Year” were chosen by a panel of journalism students and peer athletes.
Mike Foulks, is a senior , cross country runner. After moving to C. Milton Wright in the middle of 10th grade, Mike decided to join the Cross Country team. He has been a solid runner the past 2 years. Mike is one of the best runners on the team and places top 10 in almost every race. His teammates describe him as a motivater and a great runner and person.
Cierra Johnson is a freshman enjoying her first year of high school on the Varsity Cheer team. Her teammates describe her as a hard working cheerleader and a great flyer. Cierra is going to be a great cheerleader all through high school and has had much experience this year as the team made it to Regionals and States.
Senior, Jill Jachelski, has been on Varsity Field Hockey for three years. As a very strong defensive player, Jill doesn’t get the chance to score many goals but is very good at preventing people from scoring. Jill was also a part of the team that won States two years ago. Way to go Jill!
Senior, Pam Koga, has been a part of the women’s Cross Country team all four years of high school. Her teamates say she is the best runner on their team and places top 5 in almost every race she runs.
Makenna Salsbury, Junior Women’s Volleyball player, has been on Varsity for two years. She plays volleyball for the school and her club team. Her teammates say she is an offensive threat and spikes the ball so hard that the other team has no idea what’s coming for them!
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November 20, 2015
Mustang Sports and Athletics
Boy’s Varsity Soccer Kicks the Season by Brendan Smith The boys Varsity Soccer team once again had a very successful season. After finishing the regular season with a 9-5-1 record, the team has made it to the State Semifinals. A win will put them one step closer to a State Championship. The Mustangs have played in a lot of exciting games this year, particularly the playoff game against Towson High School. The Mustangs were tied after regulation and overtime, but they were
able to pull out the win on penalties. Coaches Brian Tully and Brian Gunter have done an excellent job coaching a team that lost a lot of key players from last year. However, with excellent senior leadership and Ryan Miller in goal, the team had no reason to believe they wouldn’t be successful. After beating Franklin in the regional finals by a score of 30, the Mustangs will square off in the state semi-finals once again. Senior Rob Elliott has sent a message to the entire
school: “The season is not over yet. We need all the support we can get in these next games.” The team will surely have the entire school behind them as they try to capture a state championship.
At the State Championship Game at Loyola College, against Oakville High School, C. Milton Wright came up a little short with a 3-0 loss. What a season.Very proud.
CMW Cross Country Makes Great Strides by Brendan Smith
It’s Football Season Once Again by Brendan Smith The Mustangs football team were much improved this season after having a rough season last year. The team improved from a 3-7 record last year to a 6-4 record this year. New coach Michael Woods did an excellent job of taking over a team that had lost so many key players and making them even better than they were last year! After a couple of losses in the middle of the season, the Mustangs finished strong by beating North Harford and Edgewood. The Mustangs never stopped believing in their abilities, and that belief helped secure them a playoff spot. The Mustangs faced off against Franklin in the first round of the playoffs. The unfortunate score of that game was 42-6 in Franklin’s favor.
The Mustangs cross country team will end another very successful season on November 14th after qualifying for the state meet yet again. And what a season it has been. The girls team was once again one of the best in the county. Led by Pam Koga and Jessie Rogers, who both earned the title of All-Region, the team earned a second place finish at the MPSSAA 3A North Region Championships. Koga ran an outstanding time of 19:49, while Rogers was not far behind with a time of 20:05. No matter what happens at states, the girls team should be proud of all they have accomplished. The boys team also ended the season on a high note. They finished third at the region meet and qualified for states as well. Seniors Lucas Valdes and Mike Foulks, who both earned All-Re-
gions honors, helped secure the spot at the state meet by running times of 16:30 (Valdes) and 16:42 (Foulks). The team is very excited about getting the opportunity to run at states, as well as getting to wear the special state uniforms. This hasn’t been the greatest season in the history of the CMW cross country team, but coaches Donnie Mickey and Mike Griffith are very proud of what has been accomplished this year. And for the seniors, it will be hard to walk away from this team once the season is over. Mike Foulks said “People think cross country is an individual sport , but the truth is we push and strive to be better for each other. When this team runs for each other and not for personal reasons, we are unstoppable.” If both teams can use that mentality on Novemebr 14th, they have a chance to earn a state championship to cap a truly memorable season.
The Pony Express
Page 12
November 20, 2015
Mustang Sports and Athletics
Golf
Girls Soccer
by Danielle DeAgostino
by Brendan Smith The golf team was once again one of the best in the county. They finished second behind Fallston with a 9-11 record. Senior captain Matt Smith had another great season; he made 1st Team AllCounty and qualified for states. The team will be losing five key seniors after this year: captains Matt Smith and Shawn Wierzbowski, Carter Paulson, Mike Penaherrera, and Zack Aljets. Although losing these guys will be tough, coach Cathy Sostak is confident the team will be successful next year. The CMW family wishes the seniors the best of luck in the future and is ready for another great season from the team next year.
Pictured Above: Matt Smith on the number 9 tee at Winter’s Run Golf Course. Pictured Below: Several Varsity Cheerleaders before a home football game.
The Girl’s soccer teamlooked outstanding this season. The team was very young this year, but that didn’t slow them down. There was only one senior, three freshmen and the rest were sophomores and juniors The season started slow. They lost a few games at the beginning and were trying to come together as a solid team. Briana Stable a senior said, “Throughout the season we improved and by the mid- end of the season, we hit our peak, finishing with multiple wins.” The girls won their first playoff game against Edgewood 9-2 and played their hearts out during the last game of the season against Bel Air, losing 3-1. These girls played a heck of a season.
Girls Volleyball by Danielle DeAgostino
We Believe That We Will Win! by Danielle DeAgostino Throughout this cheer season, the team was faced with many obstacles; losing teammates mostly due to injuries or other weighing factors that took others away from this amazing team. Even with these obstacles came resilience. The team gave hours on end of dedication and hard work to reach the main goal. Although this fall season was rough,
and not exactly what the girls were hoping for, they pushed through the obstacles, succeeded and made it all the way to the state championships. Captain Hannah Folderauer says, “A dream doesn’t become reality through magic; it takes sweat, dedication and hard work to make it happen”. See the ladies in black at the State championship on Wednesday at HCC arena and watch them take home the gold!
This season for the lady mustangs volleyball team, the team looked as strong as ever. Junior, Robin Landis said, “Being with the team during the season is so much fun. We are all friends and enjoy being together, which makes playing that much more enjoyable.” They all wish the record could have been a little better but they had fun and enjoyed the company of their teammates and the love of the game together. Landis said, “ It was a good experience and I wouldn’t change it for the world”. The underclassmen can’t wait to come back next season.
Field Hockey by Danielle DeAgostino This was a good season for Field Hockey. Two new coaches were added this year and the girls were excited for the season. The summer workout packets were intimidating, but nothing stopped the girls. They all worked hard and trained diligently. Because the team won States in 2013, the team received the hardest schedule in the county. There were only two returning starters to this 2015 season, but they kept moving forward. The team grew stronger after the first couple of losses and eventually started winning! Jill Jachelski said, “Even though we didn’t win many games this season, we were a strong amazing team. I wouldn’t have traded this season for anything and I was so glad to be part of this family.”
Boys Volleyball by Danielle DeAgostino The boys volleyball team finished with a strong 10- 4 record. The goal this season was to win it all and the boys came very close to it. It was a very strong, dynamic season and an amazing team. Senior, Mike Avena said, “This season made us more than a team. We had a goal, to win it all, and through it we became one family of brothers.” Records show that this 2015 men’s volleyball team has been the strongest and best CMW has had in years.