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Hello, my name is Sienna Battifarano and I am a sophomore at Warwick Valley High School. I am very excited to be in Journalism 1 this year. Some of my favorite activities are spending time with my friends, snowboarding, and I also enjoy singing and acting. The subjects I enjoy most in school are English and Chorus. This school year I am in the all girls chorus group, Treble Choir.

my editing skills. I hope to become an expert on publishing and editing stories by the end of the year.

Hi I’m Maya Bieling, and I am a senior this year. This is my third year taking journalism, and I am one of the Co-Editors-in-Chief.

Hi, my name is Charlie Figueroa. I am in eleventh grade and I am taking his class because I am intrigued with writing about current events and what in is happening in today's world and media. I enjoy playing baseball and basketball and fishing on my boat.

Tyler Ellis - I play football and baseball. I also do

lawncare and work in rentals at Mountain Creek in the winter. My hobbies are snowboarding and fishing. I have been in journalism for three years now.

My name is Lydia Bingham, I am a sophomore and I do cheer. I am on Warwick’s varsity cheer team. I enjoy writing and English has always been my favorite subject.

Hello, my name is Jenna Fiore and I am a senior this year. I enjoy playing volleyball for the school and hanging out with my friends. I joined journalism this year because I think that it could be fun and it is different than other classes I have taken in the past couple of years.

Alexa Borner - I'm a junior and I lifeguard and babysit outside of school. I also love hanging out with my friends, family, my dogs, and being on the cheer team. I am excited to take journalism this year and to have Ms. Taylor again!

My name is Robbie Foschini and I'm in eleventh grade. I enjoy playing basketball and baseball. I am taking Journalism 1 this year because it seems like a fun class.

Hi, my name is Gabriel Chermak and I am a senior. I am an editor this year in journalism, and I’d like to improve my writing and editing skills. Over the school year, I run cross country and track and field for the school.

Hey, I’m Patrick Gardiner, I’m a senior and this is my second year of Journalism. I run cross country and indoor and outdoor track. In my free time I like to draw, play sports, and watch TV.

Hi, my name is Julia Cimino. I’m on the varsity cheer team and I have four siblings. I’m in this class because I like to write.

I'm Abigail Gatdula and I am currently a sophomore. My parents are both from the Philippines and I am a first generation Filipino-American. I was born in Anaheim, CA and was raised in San Diego for 9 years of my life. In 2016 I moved to Hastings, NY for half a year before moving to my beloved home in Warwick. I play classical piano and percussion in the Wind Ensemble. I am also the 2021 social chair for sophomores. I love writing because it provides with another creative outlet besides music and I am able to create my own worlds through words.

Hello, my name is Harrison Coard and I am a junior at Warwick Valley High School. I am on the varsity soccer team. I enrolled in Journalism 1 because I heard it was a fun and interesting class. Hello, my name is Kieran Currao, and I am a senior. I play football and lacrosse. This is my second year in journalism, and I am excited for this class. I am taking this class again because I liked it a lot last year. I enjoyed writing and discussing different topics

Nate Constable - I play sports and I like music. Alex Eberlein - My favorite hobbies are watching

and playing most sports along with hanging out with friends. I run cross country and track all year around. I am in journalism because I took it last year and enjoyed it. I like writing essays and I hope to improve

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Hello, my name is Jacob Gibel and I'm a junior. This year I'm in Journalism 2 as an editor. I'm on the varsity football team. Outside of school I enjoy hanging with my friends. I am a senior who works at Greenwood Lake beach during the summer. I play basketball and golf for the school, and I want to study international business so I can travel.

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Hello, my name is Alek Grzegorzewski. I am a junior this year and this is my second year taking journalism. I enjoy going to the gym and work-

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ing out. I just started working at Old Stone House, a new restaurant opening in Warwick. This summer I tried to get out of the house as much as possible, hanging out with friends a lot and going to the gym.

and family, reading, and lastly, creative writing. I play softball and volleyball for travel/club and for school. My favorite season is summer because I love the warm weather, being able to swim, and being able to go on vacations, especially to the beach.

Hi, my name is Luke Hammel. I am in Journalism 2 and I am a senior. I like music and sports, including basketball and football, which I will probably write a lot about this year.

Ellie Ladouceur - I’m a junior this year in journalism 1. I play softball and work at Noble Pies. I have a younger brother and a dog. I like to travel and I love fashion.

Hi, my name is Kaley Haskew. I am junior in Journalism 1. I have one dog and one little brother. I enjoy tennis, skiing, and hanging out with my friends.

Hi, my name is Kiera Larney. I am a junior at Warwick Valley high school. I am really excited to be part of journalism this year. Some of my interests include playing sports such as basketball, soccer, and lacrosse. I am a three sport varsity athlete as well as a player on my travel team Metro Magic.

Hello, I am Trey Hayden and I am a senior this year. I enjoy running and listening to music, and I am very excited to be a part of journalism this year.

Hi, I am Alayna Mead, junior. I live with my mom and my brother, as well as my dog Milo. I enjoy going on vacations every summer with my family, snowboarding, baking, and hanging out with my friends.

Hello, my name is Molly Hewitt and I am a sophomore at Warwick Valley High School. I am very excited to be a part of Journalism 1 this year. My hobbies and likes include playing the guitar, fashion, musical theater, reading, and writing. I am looking forward to seeing what this year has to offer for all of us.

Hello, my name is Jackson Mitchell and I am a Junior. I love playing baseball, working out, listening to music, and spending time with friends. I was interested in Journalism 1 because I like to write and I am in-

Hi, my name is Lena Jodry and I’m in my sophomore year. Since a young age, I have always had a strong interest in writing and political and government systems, and I love to learn new things all the time. In my free time, I do theatre, I sing in a band, and I hang out with my friends.

terested in a possible career in sports journalism.

Hi, my name is Jenna Mosier and I am a junior. I am one of the Co-Editors-in-Chief. I am a dancer, varsity volleyball player, and a singer. In my free time I love to go outside, especially in the summer, I love to paint, and I love to hang out with my friends. I am excited to get to edit and be a bigger part in creating The Survey magazines this year. I am also looking forward to a normal school year this year!

Hello, my name is Laura Kaplan (she/her). I am 17 and embarking on my second year of journalism as a senior! I am returning for Journalism 2 because I enjoy learning about current events from different perspectives.

Becca Kleinman - I have a talent for writing in

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general, but creative writing is my specialty. I decided to take journalism to improve my skills as a writer and try my hand at a different type of writing, one that's a real world job with a steady income. While I do like to stir up controversy with topics I choose, I hope this course will help me work on writing unbiased essays, since those are hard to come by these days. I strive to write about events while providing core information within the first paragraph, and then giving details throughout the rest of the essay.

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My name is Jaidan Koudelka and I am a sophomore taking Journalism 1 this year. My favorite hobbies are playing sports, hanging out with friends

Hello, my name is Connor O'Regan and this is my second year of taking journalism. In my year break I have been dabbling in music production and doing cross country and track and field. This year I am excited to learn more about editing students' articles and using photo shop more. I don't even need to do another English class, I just really liked this class, so yeah, here I am. Hello, my name is Phoebe Paddock and I am a sophomore at Warwick Valley High School. I am thrilled to be taking Journalism 1 this year and am looking forward to what this class will bring. My hobbies include singing, playing piano, reading, writing, and painting.

Hi, I’m Andrew Reda, and I like baseball, lifting weights, and animals.

Sienna Thurber - I’m 15 and I'm in tenth grade.

I have two younger sisters and a golden doodle named Ozzy. I was born in Manhattan and moved to Warwick when I was 8. I have two jobs outside of school and I play soccer. I like traveling, snowboarding, and hanging out with my friends.

My name is Sierra Roberts and I am a junior. This will be my first full year in high school. I love reading but lately I’ve preferred reading online. I like any type of music and I love listening to music while I read. I also love cooking and eating.

Hi, My name is Riley Tully. I am a junior and this is my second year in journalism! I love this class because it is the perfect opportunity to be able to talk about what you want and not be judged about how you feel on any topic. Fun facts about me are that I love to spend time with my friends and family, whether it is just hanging out in our rooms or going out to dinner and ice cream. I also love cheerleading. I have made such amazing friends from it and I love every aspect of the sport. I am grateful to be a part of it because it has given me so many opportunities like performing at ESPN in Orlando, Florida at twelve years old. Cheer is something I have done for eleven years now and I hope to do in college.

Hello, my name is Harrison Rogers and I am a senior. My interests include music and film, and I really enjoy writing. This is my second year in journalism, and I am looking forward to all the great articles that will come about this school year. Hi, my name is Brent Secord and I am a junior. I play lacrosse for the school. I work at Legoland in my off time and also enjoy spending time with friends. This is my first year in journalism and I am very excited to begin. My name is Ava Sheils and I’m a sophomore in Journalism 1 this year. I do cheer and I love to hang out with my friends. My favorite season is summer because of the warm weather and beaches. I am very excited to be in this class and to see how it goes.

My name is Ally Turner and I’m excited to be taking Journalism 1. I’m 16 years old and a junior, and this is my first year at Warwick High School. For fun, I enjoy hanging out with my friends, and I am a member of the cheer team here as well. English is my favorite subject, so I look forward to strengthening my writing skills and technique.

Hi, my name is Rocco Silvis and I am in the graduating class of 2022 at Warwick Valley High School. I was born and raised in Warwick, New York. I like to hang out with friends and listen to music. I feel like I needed improvement on my writing skills so I enrolled in Journalism, taking on senior year with the corona virus around us.

My name is Summer Tyler and I am a junior at Warwick Valley High School. I’m on the Warwick swim team. This will be my fifth year on the team. Other than swimming, I like to snowboard in the winter with my friends. I also enjoy reading and writing in my free time. I’ve always loved to write so I am excited to be taking Journalism 1.

Hello, my name is Samantha Sloginski. I am a senior and I’m so excited to be taking journalism this year. One of my favorite things to do is spend time with my best friends, and I also love writing. Even though I am not the strongest writer, I always find inspiration somewhere. I'm looking forward to this class during my last year at Warwick Valley High School.

Latrell Willis - I play football and basketball, my fa-

vorite food is tacos, and my favorite movie is Avatar.

My name is Aidan Steng and I am a senior in Journalism 1. My favorite hobbies are music and sports related. I decided to take journalism because I like writing and it seemed very interesting to me.

Hello, my name is Kayden Zachgo and I am a junior. This is my first time taking this class and so far, it seems great! A little about myself, I play soccer, both varsity and club, and I like to hang out with friends. I have two brothers named Kody and Kailey and I have two dogs, both labs, named Kasper and Miyah.

Hi, my name is Haukken Thompson. I am taking journalism for the English credit, as well as to practice writing. In my free time I work and hang out with friends.

Dennis Wilson - I play sports, I work, and I snowboard.

ICEBREAKERS WITH MR.ARVANITES Written by Abby Gatdula, Staff Writer

Mr. Arvanites is a former Air Force member with a passion for learning the guitar and Brazilian jiu jitsu. He has a bubbly personality and a genuine desire for the best of his students. We welcome him to the school district as our new associate principal. What previous jobs have you had? Prior to this, I was an athletic director, an attendance dean, a discipline dean, and I was also, before that, a marine biology teacher. I was [also] in aviation and...the Air Force. Before that I had my own landscaping company throughout high school. I worked at some gas stations here and there.

What is a way you took a risk in high school? I played football and wrestling. I associated with different friend groups, I kind of went from friend group to friend group. I didn’t stick to one certain clique. I did have a core of friends but I was always friends with everybody, whether it was the kids that were in different clubs, on different sport teams, [those with] different interests...I try to associate with everyone and not just label myself as one narrative.

What made you want to become a vice principal? First, out of the military, I wanted to become a teacher because my girlfriend at the time, who is now my wife, was becoming a teacher, and she always told me how exciting it was to teach kids and be with kids. Then you have some great perks like having your summers off and holidays off. I coached and I was the advisor for a lot of clubs. When I was coaching, a position for athletic director opened up, so then I became the athletic director. Then the weekend thing was out of the question and then it went through the summer, so it took away that. But I was still around kids so that was the main thing. As an assistant principal, I am now by myself in a new, challenging, and exciting role where kids are still [at the] forefront of every decision. I work around the kids a lot...sometimes [in] challenging ways but mostly positive ways.

Tell me about your family. I have a beautiful wife. I have three young kids. I have a five year old, a four year old, and a two year old. The eldest are two girls and I have a young son. My wife is a teacher. She teaches science as well. When I got out of the military, we went to college together and that’s where we met. We don’t have any pets yet. Right now, we’re looking for a house since we just sold our house, so please let us know if you know any good real estate agents! What do you like to do in your free time? I like to exercise. I do Brazilian jiu jitsu. I do that three times a week. I wake up at 4 A.M., I go to the gym three times a week as well. I like to hike. The best thing I like to do, really, is go home and be a dad and husband. I dabble with the guitar. I was taking lessons before the pandemic and I was doing well. My wife said I was sounding good!

What is your first priority when it comes to school? My students. [My] first priority when it comes to school is the students. That’s a very easy question for me... to have them have good experiences and be safe, be challenged, enjoy, have fun, be a part of something bigger than themselves, try new things...

How do you manage stress? I like to stay as busy as possible, especially in an environment where there comes a lot of stress because there are a lot of things that arise, kind of out of nowhere, whether they are things to do, meetings, problems, needing solutions...I like to wake up early, exercise, drive to school while listening to a professional book on tape, and then when I drive home, I listen to something that’s more of a book for myself and not professional as a release from the day. I like to write lists also, because I think that something written down is better than something in your head. Whenever I have a task to do, I make a note of it.

What is the first thing you look for when getting to know your students? First name. First names are very important to a lot of people. It’s the thing given to them that’s very special for them and I think their personality. So I try to find out what they’re interested in and what they look forward to and what they’re passionate about and what their goals are. How do you feel you have adjusted to the culture of Warwick? I’ve been here about a month, month and a half. I’ve adjusted pretty well. I think as an athletic director and a teacher, it’s prepared me very well to interact with people, teachers, students, and deal with issues that arise.

What is one moment that you wish you could go back and relive? The time with my grandfather. We used to spend time watching shows together and making dinner and eating it together. We would talk about life and events that happened in his life.

What is one piece of advice you would give to your high school self? Participate in everything. Participate in things, some things that you might not be interested in, but put yourself out there to take different risks and challenges. Try out different sports that you’re interested in. Take hard classes. Take risks and do hard work.

If you could have any other job in the world, what would it be? Helicopter pilot.

Mr. Arvanites is a responsible person with an outgoing personality - the perfect pair for our school district. He is very friendly and approachable. He is someone with genuine care for his students and is a fun person overall.

Latrell Willis, Staff Writer A lot of student athletes, and even pros, talk to athletic trainers without really knowing what their daily responsibilities are. Warwick Valley High School athletic trainer Sue Able answered some questions about her job and described what she does on a typical day. Q:What do you do on a daily basis? A: Come in and do lots of paperwork, injury reports, rehab exercises, etc. Game prep with water and ice for teams, evaluate and treat injuries, rehabilitate injuries, also provide practice and game coverage for sport medicine injuries, and prevent injuries by ensuring courts and equipments are good, and provide nutrition to players. Q:How many kids do you regularly treat? A: Between 15 and 20 [per day]. Q:What sport do you have to treat for injuries the most per year? A: Between soccer and football. Q:What are the three most common injuries you see and how do you treat them? A: Ankle sprain: ice, elevation, compression wrap, then medication at home; muscle strains: ice, stretching, and strengthening exercises; thumb sprains: ice, immobilization, preventing tape. Q:Who makes the final decision when a player can return after an injury? A: I do have the ability to say “too soon,” and then if I get resistance from the student, I call the school physician and he can agree or [reject] my decision. Q:Do you have meetings with coaches to specifically talk about how to avoid injuries? A: I have to certify them every two years in CPR and first aid, and we discuss additional policies and procedures to keep kids safe.

Sienna Thurber, Staff Writer

great atmosphere for growing new friendships. Homecoming spreads school spirit in a fun way through themed dress up days and other events that everyone can participate in, like making floats, for example. It gives students a chance to stop worrying about school, sports, and work, and enables people to and relax and have fun. The experiences you have now will only happen once, so don’t let them pass by. Hopefully, you will have participated in homecoming in a way that makes you feel proud and confident.

What does homecoming mean to you? For some it’s an American tradition that many high school students look forward to. For others, it’s just an awesome Kanye West song. For me it means the return of the crisp chill of the oncoming autumn and winter, and the nostalgia of school starting again each year. But of all things, it is a great night filled with unforgettable memories and opportunities. As you get older there are fewer opportunities to dress up than you’d think, and homecoming and all the other dances give you that chance. The homecoming dance is an awesome way to try all sorts of new things. It is a way to go out of your comfort zone. You can be creative with your outfit, hairstyle, or makeup. The best part of homecoming isn’t the dancing or the fancy clothes, however. It is the memories that stay with you forever. Homecoming gives you an opportunity to meet other students and faculty and provides students with a

Kayden Zachgo, Staff Writer have a great shot at being section champs and will cause a ruckus in States.” The team has 23 people and everyone seems to be quite talented. Danielle Vogt had an opinion to express saying, “Captains Joe Holder and Luke Harrison will be essential for the tough games including Cornwall and Monroe.” Coach O’Connor knows great drills and fitness exercises to get the team ready for every single game, including that section final!” Warwick will continue to train and get better as the season goes on and they’re ready for every challenge that comes their way.

Some know them as the “Wildcats”. Others know them as “The Best Team in the 845.” As of 9/28/21 the team is 7-1-1 and the Warwick Valley varsity boys soccer team continues to strive under Coach O’Connor and captains Luke Harrison and Joe Holder. Tough loss against Cornwall as the Warwick team is suffering multiple injuries, including captain Joe, but there is no room for excuses. Starting winger, Harry Coard says, “We need to train harder, focus up before games, and make up for many losses due to injury. If we can do this, we will be playoff bound and we’ll

Jacob Gibel, Editor

There are all types of students at Warwick Valley High School and Ramon Irizarry is one of the star players for our varsity soccer team. Ramon is a junior and he is one of the best defenders on the team. This is what he had to say about himself and our soccer team. Q: Why do you play soccer? A: I enjoy playing the sport and I was inspired by Leonel Messi. Q: What are the varsity practices like? A: They start with a dynamic warmup, two laps, and some stretching. Then the team eam goes into some drills and they scrimmage at the end of practice. Usually they have hard d practices pr that involve lots of conditioning. Q: How do you and the team prepare for games? A: The day before we go over free kicks and set pieces and we see how we would defend high press. We practice attacking the back line and we pass through gaps to see if our forwards can get through in game- like situations. Q: How has the team performed in games? A: The team currently has a record of 8-1-1. They beat Delaware Valley 7-0, Goshen 3-2, and Valley Central 1-0. Their only loss was to Cornwall and the score was 1-0. Q:What type of coach is O’Connor? A: He’s a good coach because he organizes practice well and makes sure we are fit and ready for the teams we play. Q: What player has the biggest impact on the games? A: Joe Holder. He scores a lot and he can outpace every defender, so he can get behind the defensive line and have a one-on-one with the keeper and score.

Edited by Riley Tully, Co-Editor-in-Chief

The NFL Deserves a Penalty Written by Alexander Eberline, Editor Edited by Tyler Ellis, Editor

lutely nothing. Nobody cares. That personality is FUN” (Twitter. 2021 Sept 19. https://pic. twitter.com/HQlBJBMrkE). So why the new rule? Do the players have hurt feelings? Are the coaches concerned for their players’ mental health? Are the fans offended? I doubt it. My take on this is that the NFL is becoming a softer, “no fun” league. Taunting, showboating, and trash talking have always been accepted as part of the game and a 15 yard penalty is the appropriate punishment for these actions, but this season’s strict definition of taunting is a bit extreme. In week two, Seahawks corner D.J. Reed flexed after a pass deflection and was flagged for taunting. The NFL is definitely more strict on the calls this year, so we could see more flags fly for players talking a little smack to one another. Some people get a little arrogant when they accomplish something big; especially in sports. Why not let professional football players show off a little bit to hype up their crowd? It brings energy to the fans, the players, and the game. After all, players get an adrenaline rush from running the ball or catching a pass. As long as it’s not hurting anyone, why should anyone be penalized? The NFL needs to allow players to express their feelings and be who they are to continue growing the game.

The NFL has enforced a new rule in which players who are excessively celebrating or “taunting” will be penalized. They decided that, based on the referee’s judgment,will determine the penalty and fine. Under the league’s new plan, spiking or spinning the ball, pointing the ball or a finger, verbal taunting, or standing or stepping over an opponent for too long or in a way that provokes them are all unsportsmanlike gestures. If a player receives an unsportsmanlike/taunting penalty once, they receive a 15 yard penalty and warning. Their second flag for unsportsmanlike conduct gets them ejected from the contest. These taunting penalties can change the game completely. The taunting rule was further approved by the NFL competition committee which led to the final decision of enforcing it. This committee is made up of two owners, two team presidents, two general managers, and three head coaches. With that being said, “the competition committee isn’t made up of fans, it’s made up of older guys who spent their majority of their lives in the NFL” (John Mara, Giants coach, Si.com). They have seen it all and are more harsh on taunting calls because they are old school players. Giants owner John Mara has been sick and tired of on-the-field taunting that goes on in almost every game. Mara feels “nobody wants to see a player taunting another player. I know I certainly don’t. I think the rest of the members of the competition committee feel the same way too”. The NFL competition committee is high on sportsmanship and does not want to promote taunting any further. They have had it. Many feel that the change was unwarranted and overboard, however. For example, Twitter user @geoffschwartz said, “PLEASE NFL. THESE TAUNTING PENALTIES ARE RUINING THE GAME. NOT A SINGLE FAN OR PLAYER WANTED THIS CHANGE. IT HAS TO STOP. PLEASE” (Twitter. 2021 September 19. https://pic.twitter.com/HQlBJBMrkE). Another example is from @TaylorRooks: “This taunting rule is outrageous. Not allowing players to react when they make big plays does abso-

Should the use of Spider Tack be allowed in the MLB? Major League Baseball is now policing the use of sticky substances by pitchers. These substances such as pine tar, rosin, and vaseline have been banned in order to prevent pitchers from applying foreign substances to the ball. The new generation of sticky substances is Spider Tack. Spider Tack is a super sticky paste used by bodybuilders and powerlifters to improve grip on Atlas Stones. It is used by pitchers because it is clear and more effective than other substances.

In an interview from CBS Sports, Glasnow stated “...you just told me I can’t use anything. I have to change everything. I truly believe 100 percent that’s why I got hurt. I’m frustrated the MLB doesn’t understand.” Hitters, such as Josh Donaldson, have been calling out pitchers for years regarding the use of illegal substances. Donaldson singled out Cole in regards to the use of Spider Tack. As a result of such criticism, new rules by chairman of the league, Rob Manfred, require all pitchers to be checked for substances. The first pitcher to be caught using substances during a game was Hector Santiago. Santiago was slapped with a 10 day suspension and a hefty fine. The crack-down on illegal substances has drastically changed the approaches of pitchers. Some have even lost confidence in the pitches they throw. However, many see this as a necessary step for creating a level playing field and a game free of cheating.

For one to understand the importance of such rules, one has to have an understanding of the physics of pitching. When a pitcher uses substances such as Spider Tack and Pine Tar he greatly increases his spin rate (the rotations per minute of a ball after it is released). The higher the spin rate of the ball is, the less the ball drops during its path to the plate. This gives the hitter the perception that the ball is rising and causes the hitter to swing and miss below the ball. As a result, spin rate is as important as velocity for a major league pitcher. This gives motive for many MLB pitchers to use these substances. In fact, following the ban on sticky substances, the spin rates of pitchers such as Gerrit Cole dropped dramatically. When asked in an interview if he used Spider Tack, Gerrit Cole responded “Umm, I don’t… I don’t know if… I don’t quite know how to answer that.” Cole also went on to speak about the use of illegal substances by previous generations of players, saying, “there are customs and practices that have been passed down from older generations to this generation of players, and I think there are things out of bounds… if the MLB wants to legislate this, that’s a conversation we’ll have.” These quotes may suggest that Cole used spider tack, and if so, he is not the only one. Videos have surfaced showing Trevor Bauer applying and using such substances. Bauer also showed his ability to manipulate the ball using Spider Tack by sticking the ball to his hand. The decision to ban sticky substances in the MLB was controversial. The Rays’ pitcher, Tyler Glasnow, recently tore his ulnar collateral ligament.

Gerrit Cole Photo by Jim McIsaac

Former MLB pitcher Brandon Webb’s Spider Tack demo Sportsnet.ca

By Jackson Mitchell, Staff Writer

Edited By Jenna Mosier, Co-Editor-in-Chief

Written by Brent Secord, Staff Writer Edited by Jenna Mosier, Co-Editor-in-Chief

LEGOLAND New York Resort, a park announced in October 2017, received a rude awakening once construction began. The infamous Covid-19 Pandemic pushed all construction to a screeching halt. Millions of dollars from investors and company profits were put on pause as the quarantine pushed to its full extent. The $420 million dollar project received the full blow of the pandemic, causing all workers to stop construction, and causing an increase in the hefty project price to $500 million dollars. Merlin Entertainments, the overseer of LEGOLAND resorts worldwide, was forced to delay the opening of LEGOLAND for over a year, as it was originally scheduled to open in July 2020.

vital to LEGOLAND’s success in the coming year. Alongside the park, the LEGOLAND Hotel also opened for half capacity in August. Not only did this drive the sales up, it also gave another reason to visit the park. With four different themed rooms to choose from, there was a little something for everyone. With recent policies allowing for full capacity at the park, LEGOLAND New York is expected to exceed its expectations, even before Covid-19 was a factor. In the end, Merlin’s ninth LEGOLAND Installment is looking toward the upside.

Despite all the delays and increasing price tags, LEGOLAND NY has been extremely economically successful. It has a 4.5/5 star review rate with over 2000 reviews and is selling out tickets daily, but how? How is it possible, despite having to follow multiple strict Covid-safe restrictions and having the project almost cancelled by the local town of Goshen? There are multiple factors that have contributed to the huge success of the park. This is New York’s first attraction of this kind in four DECADES. Forty years without the introduction of an amusement park of LEGOLAND’s magnitude caused New Yorkers to be hungry for something new for their kids. Also, some guests had the chance to explore two of LEGOLAND’s well-known “lands” as “first-to-play” pass-holders before the official opening. This caused a build up of excitement for the grand opening, similar to watching a movie trailer for a highly anticipated movie. These positives would prove

Game Breakers Written By Rocco Silvis, Staff Writer Edited by Tyler Ellis

China’s new game breaking policy places a new limit on those who are under the age of 18 because of the concern that gaming is affecting the physical and mental health of children. Now, children can play video games for no more than three hours a week. Video games are one of the most popular pastimes in the world, and according to findings in 2018, 66% percent of the United States population has played at least once (Statista.com). Likewise, gaming is very big in China with over 720 million gamers, and about 110 million of them are under the age of 18 (Fortune.com). However, these new rules restrict online gaming to one hour a day on Fridays, weekends, and public holidays. “The new rules, pub

lished on Monday, are part of a major shift by Beijing to strengthen control over its society and key sectors of its economy, including tech, education and property, after years of runaway growth” (Rueters.com). The current rules require minors to use their real names as well as their national identification numbers when signing in to play. Parent Li Tong agrees with the new policy: “My daughter is glued to her phone after dinner every day for one to two hours and it’s difficult for me or her mother to stop her.We told her it’s bad for her eyes and it’s a waste of her time, but she won’t listen,” (Learningenglish. voanews.com). This isnt the first time China has restricted gaming. In 2019, the first government imposed

their first wave of restriction, which limited minors to one hour and a half of gaming time a day and three hours on weekends. China had also previously limited microtransactions in 2019. The maximum amount for microtransactions are $28 to $57, but this also depends on the person’s age. Though people may disagree over benefits and drawbacks, the gaming companies face a major loss of revenue. The nation’s largest technology companies such as Tencent’s stock price closed down to 0.6%. The company’s “market capitalization of $573 billion is down more than $300 billion” (Usatoday.com). China’s ban on gaming is possibly the harshest restriction so far on the gaming industry.

Written by Laura Kaplan, Editor Edited by Maya Bieling, Co-Editor-in-Chief With cameras small enough to fit in our pockets and streamlined enough to allow us to capture an instantaneous photo of what we are doing, seeing, eating, or wearing, the growing affinity among the younger generation toward capturing life through photos on film is a curious phenomenon. Carrying around a clunky point and shoot, disposable, or instant camera may seem antithetical in a time when high definition cameras are more accessible than ever, but there are still plenty of reasons why this art form has continued to enthrall twenty-first century photographers—or mere photography hobbyists—to this day. For some, photographing on film has come to represent a return to the tangibility of the past. Similar to how we find comfort in turning the pages of a book, listening to old vinyl records, or wearing vintage clothing, being able to capture an image and have a physical result is a reminder of how gratifying it is to patiently cultivate a finished product that you can admire with more than one of your senses—a feeling that we associate with bygone days. The value of patience and the tangibility of analog photography is a sentiment that rings true for Ms.Blauner, who teaches black and white photography in our school. “Because it’s not instant, people take more time when they’re shooting because they cannot see what they are going to get. I think they put more thought into their compositions, and more thought into why they’re taking the picture they’re taking,” she shared. In addition, with around 35 students enrolled in this course for the first semester, she noted a definite interest in black and white photography, especially this year. “I think it always kind of circles back because film is completely different. It’s not instantaneous, and I think it’s fascinating if there is a resurgence that kids are looking for something that is not instantly gratifying,” Ms.Blauner expressed. Along the same lines, a growing interest in film photography may be due to the feelings of nostalgia evoked by the graininess, exquisite depth, and candid nature of these images. As stated by writers from The Garage staff in the 2019 article titled, “The analog revival: Why photographers are returning to film,” “Along with the creative possibilities—and constraints—that come with film, its low-fi, real-world aesthetic also appeals to photographers. There’s sure-

ly something romantic about that dreamy vintage veneer you often associate with family photo albums and hand-scrawled captions”. In short, it is the mystical means of bringing the richness of light, warmth, and emotion to the forefront of the image that fosters such feelings of comfort in spite of the cold rigidity of the digital age. Furthermore, social media being so embedded in our reality has conditioned us to not think twice about the posed and fabricated images we see online. The way in which we shoot on disposable or instant cameras, in stark contrast, is with the intent of honesty—conveying the sentimentalism behind raw moments. Senior, Drew Powers, was first captivated by film photography after seeing her mom’s old film photos from college and has taken on the hobby since. This semester, she is enrolled in black and white photography to dive deeper into the art form. Drew shared that for her, “because it’s so hands-on, you get more connection to the pictures.” She expressed that capturing photos on film ensures that, “it’s an actual moment that happened in real time,” whereas with digital photography, “you can keep taking and retaking the picture, which is taking away from its authenticity.” For others, film photography may simply be a trend. Gen Z, like each coming-of-age generation, is notorious for their fleeting interests, after all. One can find disposable and instant cameras being sold at stores like Urban Outfitters and social media profiles scattered with snapshots of Polaroid frames and freshly developed disposable photos. With apps like Huji Cam or Dispo that add classic film features like light leaks and time stamps to regular iPhone photos, or free filters on Instagram that allow users to adjust lighting or add grain, the aesthetic of film is able to be replicated quite well. Whether people have taken on film photography as an artistic outlet, an act of rebellion against the idealized images that we see on social media, to claim a moment of respite from the blinding blue light of twenty-first century technology, or because it is another trend to add to the zeitgeist of the 2020s, the resurgence of film photography has ultimately served to remind us of the significance of photography as a technical and tangible practice. Also instilling that its value lies in its ability to candidly archive life’s precious moments.

Written by Jenna Mosier, Co-Editor-in-Chief Edited by Maya Bieling, Co-Editor-in-Chief In the winter of 2020, I wrote about the shutdown of Broadway in Spring 2020 for The Survey. The article included the dangers for the economy, and the dangers for the theatre folk. People who either work in the business or just get a sense of imagination and happiness from theatre were lost from NYC for an entire year! However, I am not here to dwell on the past, my goal is to brighten your day with the news: Broadway is back, and this time it is for real. Though, I am going to tell you the good news, I also have to address the concerns that some producers have about the return of people after the deadly year. Let’s start with the good news...Broadway is back! I know that thousands of people, including myself, have been waiting for this moment. The moment where we can have preshow jitters, feel the excitement of being taken to a whole new world for a few hours, and being inspired to step out of your comfort zone and fall in love with the arts all over again! According to theatre critic Peter Marks, “Just two months ago, only one Broadway show had plans to open in the new 2021-2022 season. Now there are 43.” Some of these shows reopening include: Chicago on September 14th, Dear Evan Hanson on September 24th, Aladdin on September 28th, The Phantom of the Opera on October 22nd, and many others! More good news is that with the revival of Broadway, “it supports 100,000 workers” says Peter. All this being said, let’s get ready and go buy some tickets!

While I wish I could ignore the other side of the story and tell you that everything is going to be perfect, I have to be realistic. Many people who love theatre as much as I do still have understandable doubts. NYC is coming back to life, but according to Peter Marks, the hotel occupancy is only at 60 percent. Also, it is known that Broadway producers need about 90 percent of all seats to be sold to make money! This makes sense when you think about the need of paying the actors, designing sets, making playbills, running a beautiful and historic theatre, getting props, and so much more which goes into a production with “Broadway” attached to its name! Broadway shows have to be of the highest caliber and exceed expectations. The doubtful people that I mentioned do not think that the seats can be filled because the city is emptier than normal, and people are choosing to be more cautious. Part of the reasoning for the doubts, a confided producer says, “international tourists, who make up about one-third of the Broadway audience, are not expected back soon.” We just have to hope that things continue to look up and the audiences of Broadway can be filled at least 90 percent if not all the way! While there are timid expectations about filling the seats, a lot of joy is coming out of the revival of Broadway. One thing is for sure, I am going to go buy my tickets right now, and I hope that you will join me! 13

The Changing of An Iconic Character To Fit Current Times is Causing Controversy Among People Written by Lena Jordy, Staff Writer Edited by Maya Bieling, Co-Editor-in-Chief

Imagine this: you’re sitting on your couch watching television when all of a sudden an ad for a new adaptation of Cinderella comes on. Well, if you have been watching any commercials lately, you know that this is not just in your imagination— it’s real. You might be thinking, “Again? It hasn’t even been six years since the live-action remake of Cinderella came out.” I know, the retelling of the same story can become tiresome after some time. However, by adding new elements and replacing old ones, the story can become new again and fit the time in which it is being made. That is exactly what has happened to the classic Brother Grimm fairytale Cinderella, which has been made many times for its silver screen adaptations.

In the original Cinderella, the Fairy Godmother is portrayed as a woman, but in this new adaptation the Fairy Godmother is being portrayed by actor Billy Porter. He spoke in an interview with CBS News and stated, “Magic has no gender.” He doesn’t believe that this classic character should be gender-specific and only played by people of that gender. So, he hopes to change this previous notion of this beloved character, and show a whole new generation that people can be anything they want to be. Conversely, some people sure weren’t happy with that. One Twitter user by the name of Terry Mills wrote,“So glad I don’t have toddlers anymore to watch such nonsense. ‘Genderless’ fairy godMOTHER?”

Most recently, the newest adaptation of Cinderella (2021) was released on Amazon Prime Videos, starring Camila Cabello as the title character and Billy Porter as the Fairy Godmother. Many people, regardless of the quality of the film, are not fans of remakes of classic movies that perhaps they grew up watching. Why is that you may wonder? Well, some people believe that the original movie or story was perfect the way it was, and it doesn’t need to be retold; whether it be through making the story more diverse, changing characters around, or in the case of the new Cinderella (2021) changing the gender of one of the main characters.

While some people are not fans of Porter’s take on the Fairy Godmother, it has others jumping for joy. Some fans are excited for this new take on the story, and feel that magic is not subjective to one gender. Writer Tony Bravo from Datebook called Billy Porter’s performance as the Fairy Godmother “inclusive.” While everyone is entitled to his or her own opinion on the casting choices made for Cinderella (2021), Billy Porter is proud of the work he has done in this movie and hopes it inspires people around the world.

Why We Dress Up By: Alexandria Turner Edited By: Tyler Ellis

“The Super Bowl of Fashion,” more widely known as the Met Gala, is the biggest annual fundraiser where the most prestigious designers, models, and Hollywood stars come together in order to raise money for the Metropolitan Museum of Art’s costume institute. This event is marked on all of the most popular stars’ calendars annually. Every year has a new theme, and it is left up to the celebrities attending and their designers to put together a unique look to match the theme. This year, although it was postponed due to Covid-19, the Met Gala was held on September 13th, with the theme of “All Things American Fashion.” This theme was more on the general side, leaving plenty of room for those attending to parade their own takes on American fashion, and how it has evolved over time. Iconic model and actress, Iman, brought her own interpretation of the theme to the Gala. Showing up in an extravagant corset-like top, pantsuit bottoms with a layered tiered skirt, and a beautiful embellished golden headdress. The look was completed with her blonde hair and even her gold foil painted manicure. This jaw-dropping garb left reporters speechless. At an interview with Vogue, Iman and her designer, Harris Reed, described the vision for this look and the motivation behind it. According to Reed, “America is a country where anything is possible, so to be yourself, the most heightened, most radiant, most over-the-top version of that is truly what I aim for within my design work.” This goes to show the mindset of a celeb and a designer when planning an exclusive look. Aside from the Met Gala, there are so many opportunities and moments in the world where people all dress up with specific

costumes or with a theme in order to symbolize something, whether it be a holiday, event, or a specific culture. For example, on Halloween, people of all ages dress up in all types of costumes. This started during ancient Celtic times in celebration of the festival of Samhain, where people would light bonfires and dress in costumes to ward off ghosts. Latin-American culture takes this type of celebration in a different way when they celebrate Day of the Dead, or Dia de los Muertos. For this celebration, people dress up and do their makeup to look like skeletons, with hopes of connecting to the dead because to many, death is a part of life. This day is also a time to commemorate their loved ones who have passed away. Lastly, on the Jewish holiday of Purim, people dress up in order to reference the miracle of the story of Purim. As stated in “Why Do We Dress Up on Purim?” “The custom of wearing costumes on Purim is an allusion to the nature of the Purim miracle, where the details of the story are really miracles hidden within natural events” (Chabad.org). The purpose of dressing up is to symbolize that miracles are not always able to be seen to the blind eye, but more often they are within. With the costumes, social status and wealth is indistinguishable, and those in need are able to collect charity. With many different celebrations around the world, costumes can be used to symbolize many different things within different cultures, beliefs, and events. In America, the Met Gala is a huge event, whereas Purim is a larger celebration among Jewish people globally. With costumes and extravagant looks, creativity is encouraged, and people are able to express themselves and who they are.

Nate Constable & Gavin Glynn, Staff Writers Luke Hammel, Editor As the one hundred and twenty-sixth season of Wildcat footing Washingtonville 28-14 with aid from quarterback Nick DiMarco’s (12) ball was preparing to kick off, both players and staff were excited to play three touchdowns and a Tyler Ellis’s (8) touchdown off of a forced fumble. in front of fans in the bleachers for the first time in nearly two years. The When asked about how the student section this year is compared to previWildcats bested Valley Central in week zero with ous years, Durie stated, “The student section has approximately three-thousand fans alongside been rowdy. We got some dogs up there getting them in attendance. In week one the Wildcats loud and getting us hyped on the field and it’s retook home the Spirit Trophy for the first time in ally helping.” four years, the crowd erupting as wide receiver As previously stated, students and Skyler Rodriguez (2) lifted the prize to the near fans are just now being welcomed back, and four thousand fans in the stands. We interviewed when asked about post-Covid sporting events, students, players, and Athletic Director Greg Sirstudent Kvon Bowman replied with, “It’s cool. It’s ico and asked them about Wildcat culture and the fun around football season; everyone is hyped in team energy. school, and being able to go out and see our team When asked about the Wildcat culture play really makes the school a fun place to be.” as a whole, Sirico stated, “It’s really based on traThe entire Warwick Valley High School seems to dition. We’ve been playing football here at Warbe extremely excited about the season, especially wick for one hundred and twenty-six years, and since the Wildcats football team has seemingwe believe in following that great line of Wildcats Photo courtesy of ly surpassed the expectations of most fans. The in the past and holding up our end.” We then Warwick Valley Central School District Wildcats have made huge strides in gaining the asked Jake Durie (44) how he felt about the team hope and trust of the student body in all three of as a whole, and he said, “The team is great; we put in a lot of effort and went their gritty, yet impressive wins. Now they will move forward to further 2-0 and we hope to keep the momentum going to beat Washingtonville capture the hope and excitement of their fans as the season continues. this week.” The Wildcats did, in fact, keep the momentum going, crush-

College Athletes Finally Getting Paid Under New NCAA Policy Robbie Foschini & Harrison Coard, Staff Writers Luke Hammel, Editor

College athletes are finally able to get paid. On April 29th, 2020 the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) passed a new rule allowing college athletes to profit off of their name, image, and likeness (NIL). The announcement had been anticipated for a while and went fully into effect on July 1, 2021. This new rule allows athletes to make money by signing endorsement contracts, signing memorabilia, and running camps among other things. Certain NCAA athletes have already started to take advantage of the new rule change. One of these athletes is the son of famous rapper Master P’s, Hercy Miller. Miller is a 6’3” point guard who plays basketball at Tennessee State. Miller is signing a deal with Web Apps America for 2 million dollars and will be an ambassador for the brand. WebApps America is a technology company that specializes in web, mobile, and software solutions. Another NCAA athlete that has taken advantage of the new NIL deal is Florida Gators

Quarterback Anthony Richardson. Richardson started his own clothing brand, “AR15 by Anthony Richardson.” Richardson also signed a deal with Dreamfield. Dreamfield is a company that makes it easy for you to book college athletes for events and marketing campaigns. A third athlete profiting is Oklahoma Sooners QB Spencer Rattler has an endorsement deal with Fowler Automotive that gave him a 2021 Dodge Ram TRX and 2021 Dodge Charger Scat Pack as a part of their deal with him. Rattler also started his own clothing brand. In addition to profiting off of his NIL, Rattler is giving back too. Rattler stated, “We as players must use our platform and this new NIL opportunity to do good in the world,” he wrote. “I will donate a part of my earnings I receive to help underserved people and underserved communities. The time is now.” Other athletes are holding out on making deals. Florida Gators Wide Receiver Jacob Copeland tweeted, “I want to thank all my Ga-

tor fans for the tremendous support with NIL. I will be dropping merchandise but would like to hold out, for now, to do things the right way for the fans and not rush the process.” In the past, because college athletes were not able to make money off their names, image, and likeness, many players missed out on a payday. One of those players is Florida Gators’ Tim Tebow, who is one of the greatest college football players of all time. Tebow could have made millions of dollars if NIL deals were around when he was in college from 20062009. Based on his being a Florida native and his nationwide popularity over his four years in Gainesville, Tebow could have earned upwards of $10,000,000. So, current collegiate athletes like Richardson, Miller, Ewers, Rattler and many others are likely helping future collegiate athletes pave the way to profiting off of their NIL deals. The future is bright for college athletes now that the NCAA has taken a big step forward in paying college athletes.

Coffee vs. Red Bull Written by Tyler Ellis, Editor Edited by Laura Kaplan, Editor

Everyone is tired in the morning. No matter how much you sleep or try to prevent it, that alarm makes you roll over and reconsider why you’re waking up early. It often helps to get something in you to help give you that extra kick to get you rolling in the morning. Many try different types of wake-up juice to find what gives them the slap in the face they need, but which form of caffeine is really the best? Coffee is something that people have drunk since the early 15th century, so it’s clearly got some history. This drink has always been regarded as a way to wake up, and the people of Mecca and Medina made it widely known for that job. Caffeine, a stimulant in the drink, gives your brain the sense that you are more awake then you actually are, and there is an average of 95 mg in a cup of coffee. You see places that sell it all around the world, with Starbucks and Dunkin Donuts being the two most popular places across the US. With an abundance of different flavors and options, it’s easy for someone to find a combination they like. It’s something that rarely has to be promoted as well, as a study conducted by the NCA shows that 64% of American adults drink coffee every day. It is also the second most important exported item behind gasoline, so I would say it’s pretty popular. Another ‘energy booster’, which would go on to become one of the most controversial drinks to ever hit the US consumer market, is energy drinks. In Chicago in 1949, a businessman by the name of William Mark Swartz was urged by his coworkers to find a soda substitute with fewer empty calories and more vitamins. With this motive, he developed a drink made up of vitamin

B, caffeine, and sugar. We all know that the industry’s giants, Red Bull and Monster, are two companies that you can see virtually everywhere due to their wildly successful marketing. They sponsor every action sport, host NASCAR’s top division, and are even in video games. If you ask someone, “What gives you wings?”, more than likely, they will respond with, “Red Bull.” The teenager- twenties age bracket is the target audience for these drinks, and you can see them all over college campuses and around places aimed at teenagers. A study conducted by Statsta showed that around 40% of people from the ages 16-29 drink energy drinks regularly. Although these drinks are questionable health-wise, a good amount of our nation’s youth seems to consume them regularly. As someone who is a part of the energy drink demographic, I see them being promoted constantly. Working at Mountain Creek, a Redbull sponsored mountain, I have had a decent number of the drinks myself. It definitely wakes you up and gives you energy to continue your day. There have been many times where I’ve gone to work feeling like a zombie after a long night, and Red Bull or Monster turned into my best friend. Though with that being said, I am also a big fan of coffee. Hot or cold, black or sweetened, it also does its job. What I prefer honestly depends on the time and situation. In the mornings, I like a cup of coffee. It wakes you up almost immediately because it is so hot and gives you the caffeine that keeps you awake. But let’s say it’s the afternoon and I’m feeling sluggish - an energy drink is what will float my boat. Both drinks do their job, but it’s all about personal preference.

A Closer Look at the World of Professional Wrestling Patrick Gardiner, Editor When you hear about professional sports, the average American thinks of the main three examples, football, basketball, and baseball. Little is talked about professional wrestling. Whether it is because of the flashy characters, the high intensity stunts, or the belief it’s “fake,” everybody recognizes some aspect of the sport. Just look at how the internet still widely jokes about John Cena, a former superstar turned actor, being invisible because of his coined phrase, “You can’t see me!” It’s very easy for the public to cast off wrestling to the side because of the questionable authenticity of the sport, but the truth is, this televised battle of brutes actually has an illustrious history of betrayal, rivalry, showmanship, and a tycoon that would stop at nothing to destroy his competition. This is a story about America. This is the story of professional wrestling.

Vince McMahon:The Tale of a Modern Media Pioneer

Vince McMahon Jesse Dittmar for the NY Times The American Dream is thought to be strictly for stories of moguls from the early twentieth century, such as Rockefeller and Carnegie. However, what if we told you that one of the greatest American Dream stories is about how a scrappy kid from North Carolina overtook a wrestling empire and managed to monopolize an industry? Vincent Kennedy McMahon was born to Victoria Askew and Vince J. McMahon on August 24, 1945. McMahon, Sr., the main promoter and executive of the northeast wrestling territory, the WWWF, left when his son was a baby. This left McMahon to be raised in a trailer park with his abusive step-father and mother in North Carolina, and he wouldn’t officially meet his father until he was 12 years old. McMahon has stated the abuse that he endured as a child eventually would shape his mindset and worldview. He grew from his trauma into a survivor, believing himself to be ‘winning’ by being alive every day. McMahon would get into trouble frequently in his youth, from beating up marines, to running moonshine; it's safe to say he was not exactly a model citizen. McMahon, Sr. would enter young Vince’s life through this, when he made the decision to fund his schooling at a military institute, one which McMahon claims to have been court martialed to attend for feeding his commander’s dog laxatives. Nonetheless, this would begin the McMahons' relationship as Vince idolized his father’s luxurious playboy lifestyle. Having grown up around the industry, McMahon adored stars such as the villain Dr. Jerry Graham, whose persona would influence McMahon’s own caricature of himself as the evil CEO

character. McMahon, who was already a former offensive and defensive tackle, eventually would get involved in weight lifting and bodybuilding through his relationship with these stars. His father, who was originally hesitant about Vince joining the business, eventually sold the WWWF to Vince, who transformed it into the WWF. Vince was hellbent on disrupting the status quo and controlling all of American professional wrestling. Promoters hated him, and some even wanted him dead.The old school promoters were used to the feudal system of territories, where instead of one major promotion, there were multiple, broken up based on location. Each territory had their own permanent stars on contracts who could draw in that area. McMahon ended this by evolving with the times as his competitors remained stagnant in the ‘old ways.’ McMahon harnessed the powers of cable television to gain national notoriety and attention, essentially stealing away viewers from the territories and competing on a national level. With a 4.2 million dollar deal with USA network in 1983, McMahon was putting the WWF in every home instead of having the spectators attend live events. This attracted stars to the bigger market exposure and the higher pay. In 2002, the WWF rebranded itself into the WWE, leading McMahon to finally achieve his dream of being the dictator of the American wrestling industry monopoly. Glory Days: The Professional Wrestling Boom of the 1980s With the introduction of the 1980s, Vince Jr. had to make a major adjustment to stand out of the crowd in the flashy era that would ensue. Commonly referred to as the “Rock N’ Wrestling” period, the 1980s introduced a whole new world of lavish characters that would transcend the professional wrestling business and become pop culture phenomenons. Purchasing his father’s company in 1982, Vince Jr. took the reins of the brewing empire, built by his predecessors. As the regional wrestling establishments faded into obscurity, Vince took full advantage of the opportunities coming his way; one such opportunity was the chance to sign AWA (American Wrestling Association) star Hulk Hogan. With the spurring talent that was suddenly up for grabs, the WWF would continue to develop their personality driven programming and larger-than-life characters. Due to his more publicized image, appearing in Rocky III and already developing a good reputation in his previous promotions, Hulk Hogan essentially became the new face of the company. In the summer of 1984, the WWF would again begin to transcend the wrestling world, as Lou Albano, a WWF manager, introduced Cyndi Lauper to the business. Albano and Lauper had worked together on the music video for Lauper’s 1983 hit “Girls Just Wanna Have Fun,” and there appeared to be an opportunity to merge the world

Cyndi Lauper & Hulk Hogan WWE

of professional wrestling and

of professional wrestling and the world of mainstream music. The pair would make appearances on WWF programming and eventually air a wrestling segment on MTV. Up until this point, the WWF was making headway with their Pay-Per-View events and syndication, particularly in the Northeastern region; however, something huge was in the making. In March of 1985, the first Wrestlemania was broadcast nationwide, as attendees packed into New York’s Madison Square Garden. The event was highly publicized, including celebrity appearances from both Lauper and Mr. T. This brought the WWF into the livingroom of countless wrestling fans, and caught the attention of even the most ignorant to the subject. Not surprisingly, the idea of Wrestlemania was a huge success, and opened even more doors for the federation to walk through. On September 14, 1985, Hulk Hogan’s Rock ‘n’ Wrestling aired on CBS. This animated program, consisting of cartoon versions of a number of current WWF superstars, further developed and expanded the younger wrestling audience. On many occasions, Vince put it all on the line to achieve his vision, and he largely succeeded. He had finally reached a point in his career where he could afford to live the regal lifestyle he dreamed of. Unfortunately for Mr. McMahon, such an achievement would come at a price, as now he’d have to live up to a level of expectation, and responsibility that could only lead to controversy.

h i m h o n h i s seemchal-

or loathe him, McMahas managed to keep institution afloat amid ingly unconquerable lenges. While his self-destructive coun-

terparts r a n their federations into irrelevan-John Cena & Chris Jericho c y ,Wwe.com McMahon has proven himself to be the mastermind behind an almighty regime that may look ridiculous from a far, but was established on a foundation of blood, sweat and tears. From his humble beginnings through his meteoric rise to fame, Vince Jr. and the establishment he helpedJohn Cena thrive, will go down in the historyWwe.com books of both professional sports and In the the words of the man himself, “The and entertainment. higher, to satisfy entertainment needs of thebiggest fans. thrill in the world is entertaining the public; there is no bigger thrill Tables, ladders, chairs, steel cages and barbed wire have than that.” And entertain he has, and will continue to, as long as the all been introduced into the squared circle at one point slew of onlookers are there to consume it.

When The Crowds Are Gone: The Physical Toll of Professional Wrestling Professional wrestling has been the source of plenty of physical and The mental harm, resulting in a The number of incidents conWhen Crowds Are Gone: Physical Toll and of Protroversies that forced the WWF and later the WWE to make major fessional Wrestling changes to their regulations and programming. It’s pretty much common knowledge that pro wrestling is predetermined, or even “fake’” Professional wrestling has been the that source plenty of as some might put it, but the repercussions theseofprofessionals suffer is undeniable. Whatharm, it comes down toin is, awhere is theof line bephysical and mental resulting number incitween real and what isthat fake? The over-the-top and the the dentswhat and iscontroversies forced the WWFtheatrics and later melodramatic storylines are not any more real than a broadway play WWE to make major changes to their regulations and proor a comic book; however, the element of risk is anything but “fake.” gramming. pretty much common knowledge that pro This begs the It’s question, where do you draw the line between fantasy wrestling is predetermined, or even “fake’” as some might and reality? put it, but Thethe authenticity of professional wrestling has long come unrepercussions that these professionals suffer der scrutiny, and for gooditreason. is itto possible for these athletes is undeniable. What comesHow down is, where is the line to put theirwhat bodiesison theand line,what night is after night,The for over-the-top years on end? between real fake? Well, that’s a complicated question with a lot of different answers. theatrics andthese the showmen melodramatic storylines not any more Traditionally, are trained to avoid are injuring one anothreal than a broadway play or a comic book; however, the eler; however, when the sport made the transition into what has become known “sports entertainment,” the emphasis leaned the ement as of risk is anything but “fake.” This begs the toward question, spectacle rather the the technicality. where do youthan draw line between fantasy and reality? Through the years, the stakes have been raised higher and higher, to satisfy the entertainment needs of the fans. Tables, ladders, chairs, The cages authenticity ofwire professional wrestling come steel and barbed have all been introducedhas intolong the squared under scrutiny, and for good reason. How is it possible for circle at one point or another. Thus, it’s no surprise that these performers can get injured a regular basis.on Combined the use of these athletes to putontheir bodies the line,with night after both prescription drugs to the constant pain night, for yearsand onnonprescription end? Well, that’s a ease complicated quessome these in, it’s ananswers. incredibly Traditionally, slippery slope with life tion of with a people lot ofare different these threatening consequences. When your only source of income comes showmen are to avoid onetoanother; from jumping offtrained the top rope, you’llinjuring do anything climb yourhowway ever, when the sport made the transition into what has back up there, no matter the damage it’s inflicting. becomeNevertheless, love him or hate respect known as whether “sports you entertainment,” thehim, emphasis

or another. Thus, it’s no surprise that these performers can get injured on a regular basis. Combined with the use of both prescription and nonprescription drugs to ease the constant pain some of these people are in, it’s an incredibly slippery slope with life threatening consequences. When your only source of income comes from jumping off the top rope, you’ll do anything to climb your way back up there, no matter the damage it’s inflicting. Nevertheless, whether you love him or hate him, respect him or loathe him, McMahon has managed to keep his institution afloat amid seemingly unconquerable challenges. While his self-destructive counterparts ran their federations into irrelevancy, McMahon has proven himself to be the mastermind behind an almighty regime that may look ridiculous from a far, but was established on a foundation of blood, sweat and tears. From his humble beginnings through his meteoric rise to fame, Vince Jr. and the establishment he helped thrive, will go down in the history books of both professional sports and entertainment. In the words of the man himself, “The biggest thrill in the world is entertaining the public; there is no bigger thrill than that.” And entertain he has, and will continue to, as long as the slew of onlookers are there to consume it.

leaned toward the spectacle rather than the technicality. Through the years, the stakes have been raised higher

Harrison Rogers, Editor

The content of this paper reflects students’ writing efforts and views which do not necessarily represent WVCSD or the Survey staff.