www.eastside-online.org
Vol. 54 No. 6
Cherry Hill High School East: 1750 Kresson Road, Cherry Hill, NJ 08003
June 2022
the end of the playlist
Jess Levin (‘22) and Lalitha Viswanathan (‘22) / Eastside Managing Editor and Editor-in-Chief
INSIDE THIS ISSUE
Twins Pgs. 2-4
Superlatives Pgs. 10-11
Athletes of the Year Pg. 20
SENIOR
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EASTSIDE
June 2022
“It’s a Twin Thing”: Senior twins reflect on their experiences Yali and Ziv Amsili
Q: How would you describe your twin? Ziv: I would describe Yali as very kind. He can also cheer me up when I’m down and, like... he’s funny, but he’s very sensitive and he has compassion for other humans. Yali: You’re gonna make me look like a wuss. Ziv is very, very high achieving. She’s somewhat disorganized, but she does the job well. As a sister, she’s compassionate, but it depends on the situation. She’s very family-oriented. Q: How would your twin describe you? Ziv: He would describe me as a person that’s very on top of things and ambitious about my schoolwork. Yali: She would describe me as funny, humorous, you know, the light of the family… anything positive. Q: Why are you the superior twin? Ziv: Are y’all tryna separate families? Yali: I would say we each are gifted in different areas. Q: Who would win in a fight? Ziv: I think that I would win in a verbal argument because I tend to base what I say on facts and off of experiences. Sometimes Yali doesn’t know how to counter them. Yali: I think I’d win because I look at the morality of the situation-Ziv: But you don’t. Yali: Yeah I do-Ziv: But you don’t. Yena Son (‘22)/ Eastside Photo Editor
Alexa and Jake Atlas
Q: How would you describe your twin? Alexa: I would describe Jake as very athletic and social. He is also very caring and friendly. He is known for always having a smile on his face no matter what. Jake: I would describe my sister as nice. She is really caring, but she’s not my favorite sister. Q: Do you have twin telepathy? Alexa and Jake [at the same time]: No. Q: Why are you the superior twin? Alexa: I’m the superior twin because I’m more hardworking. I also get better grades and come to school on time. Jake comes late every single day. Jake: I’m the superior twin because I’m more hard working, more athletic, I’m more social than her, and I’m closer with the family than her. Alexa: I’m playing a D1 sport in college and you’re not. Jake: I’m so much more athletic than you. Alexa: Okay... Q: Who would win in a fight? Jake: Oh, we fought many times, and I take it home every time. Alexa: I’d win because I’m stronger. Jake: Oh yeah. Sure... Yena Son (‘22)/ Eastside Photo Editor
Brian and Michelle Barry
Yena Son (‘22)/ Eastside Photo Editor
Q: How would you describe your twin? Brian: Michelle is very hardworking and takes school work very seriously. No matter what she’s doing, she tries her hardest. Michelle: Brian’s very athletic and very competitive. He puts 110% effort into everything he does. Q: What is the worst and best quality of your twin? Brian: Michelle’s best quality is that she’s very helpful when she wants to be. Her worst quality is that she’s kind of loud sometimes and that can bug me when I’m trying to focus on something. Michelle: Brian’s competitiveness is both good and bad: it’s a good quality because it brings out the best in me, but it also can be his worst because sometimes it’s too much and takes the fun out of things. Q: What is the best part of having a twin? Brian: No matter what I’m doing, I always have someone else who I can talk to and relate to. Michelle: Definitely having someone who is easily relatable. Q: Who is the superior twin? Brian: I’m very competitive, so no matter what she does, I’m always trying to do it as well or better than her. Michelle: I motivate him to do everything that I do better. If I wasn’t trying as hard at something, he wouldn’t try so hard.
Arden and Avery Chayapruks
Q: How would you describe your twin? How would your twin describe you? Arden: Avery is too smart, and she’s very quiet and sometimes she doesn’t like to talk to me..but it’s okay. I feel like she would describe me as way too energetic sometimes. I think, sometimes, she thinks I’m crazy. Avery: I personally think that you’re crazy in a good way, and I don’t think you’re too energetic. You’re actually pretty chill, and you sleep a lot. Arden: OKAvery: I would also say you’re very extroverted in a good way. You always know how to interact with people, and that’s a very good thing, so a lot of people like you. I think you would describe me as disciplined, or too disciplined or uptight. Q: Why are you the superior twin? Arden: I am the superior twin because I feel like being dumb gives you character. I guess I just don’t care as much as Avery does, but sometimes I wish I did. But, I like that I don’t care sometimes because I get less stressed. Avery: I am superior because sometimes, I come off as a teacher’s pet. Wait, actually, that might not be a good thing. But, if someone wants me to do something, I’ll do it. I’ll try to prioritize that, but I guess I care a lot, but sometimes it can be too much. Q: What is the best part of having a twin? Arden: We both have the same classes, and group projects are so easy. That’s just a small part of being the same age. I think that I take it for granted sometimes that most people don’t have someone their age who’s their family member, and I never really had to do anything alone because of my sister. Like, if I was the new person in class, I technically had a friend. Avery: Yeah, basically the same thing. Even moving to a new place, that’s never been that big of a struggle since we always had someone. We still thought it was the end of the world because we were scared. But we wouldn’t realize how lucky we are to know someone.
Yena Son (‘22)/ Eastside Photo Editor
SENIOR
June 2022
EASTSIDE
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“It’s a Twin Thing”: East senior twins reflect on their experiences
Max and Jack Gaffin Q: How would you describe your twin? Max: Jack may be able to run very fast, though he is very slow with everything else that he does. Jack: I would describe Max probably as an attention-seeking slob who is studious. He thinks he is good at school. Max: I think we should cut that because Jack is much more of a slob. Q: What is the worst and best quality of your twin? Jack: I would say helping with homework is Max’s best, and his worst is that he is annoying. Max: I would say that the best quality about Jack is that he knows a lot about sports. Whenever I have a Fantasy Football question, I have secondhand residual sports informative knowledge, which is because of him. His worst quality is that he constantly likes to instigate. Q: What is the best part of having a twin? Max: The best part about having a twin is.. I mean, obviously we’re in the same grade, so it’s kind of like having a built-in person who knows everything about what is going on around you. Jack: The best part is if there is nothing to do, I’ll hang out with him, I guess. I see Marvel movies with him. Q: Who is the superior twin? Max: It’s obvious that I’m superior because I’m older than him. I’m stronger, smarter, wittier. I think I’m just better suited to be on my own than him. Jack: Nah, I disagree. I’m more athletic and taller. Max: Jack, you’re taller by .28 inches… an eighth of an inch! Jack: Bigger, taller, stronger, more athletic. I am smarter than him. Max: What!?
Yena Son (‘22)/ Eastside Photo Editor
Devyn and Jessica Levin
Yena Son (‘22)/ Eastside Photo Editor
Q: How would you describe your twin? Jess: I would describe Devyn as an organized mess. She knows her schedule better than anyone else does. She involves herself in everything. She is super involved and she doesn’t like to say no. Devyn: Jess is very thoughtful, and she likes to get things done in time. That’s one thing about her. She likes to please people, and she also likes to do her own thing. When it’s her time to sleep, it’s her time to sleep. She definitely gets everything done in time and is a rule follower – never cheating, never doing anything against the rules. Q: What is the worst and best quality of your twin? Devyn: Her worst quality is her perfection. Her best quality is her kindness. She’s like a mom to everyone basically. Everyone trusts Jessica. Jess: Devyn’s best quality is her friendliness. You know that if you see Devyn in the hallway, 110%, she’s saying hi to you. You can always count on her to be a friend in need, no matter who you are. Devyn’s worst quality is probably her messiness. We share a bathroom and she’s messy, and I have to clean up after her... way more often than I should. Q: Who would win in a fight? Devyn: Jessica 100%. Without any hesitation, I know from experience that Jessica would win in a physical fight. Jess: With a mental fight, Devyn would win because Devyn just cries and then my parents give her what she wants. Devyn: Hey, I thought we were being nice.
Zan and Zoya Mohsin
Q: How would you describe your twin? Zoya: I would describe Zan as someone who is really funny. He always finds comedy in any given situation, and he also is always willing to help people and give advice. Zan: I would describe Zoya as logical. I would go to her for advice, and she always helps me. She is also smart. Q: What is the worst and best quality of your twin? Zan: Zoya’s best quality is that she always cares and will always help you. Her worst quality is that she is stubborn. Zoya: Zan’s best quality is that even if it comes at his own expense, he will try to help you, even if he does not particularly want to. He’ll give you advice if you ask for it. He’ll help you if you want it. His worst quality is that whenever I’m mad at him, he treats it like I’m joking and it gets me even more mad that he laughs it off. Q: Who is the superior twin? Zoya: I think I’m the superior twin because I always let Zan drive because I don’t like to drive and he does like to drive, so I always let him drive when he wants to. Zan: I think I’m the superior twin because every time we get into an argument, I’m the first one to apologize. That makes me superior. Q: Who would win in a fight? Zoya: I think me. I think I get angry more, so I would use that as a driving force to win. Zan: Yeah. Zoya. I wouldn’t really hit Zoya anyways, but she would win.
Yena Son (‘22)/ Eastside Photo Editor
Andrew and Brandon Naylor
Q: How would you describe your twin?
Andrew: We’re both very unique, but definitely opposite and different. Brandon: He’s the complete opposite of me. Q: What is the worst and best quality of your twin? Andrew: His best quality is that he’s creative. His worst is that he sleeps too much. Brandon: His best is that he’s smart. His worst is probably the way he dresses. Q: What is the best part of having a twin? Andrew: The best part about having a twin is having someone to rely on, and you don’t have to carry the burdens yourself. Brandon: It’s great to have somebody to talk to whenever you aren’t with friends. There’s always someone there. Q: Who is the superior twin? Andrew: I wouldn’t say one of us is superior. We both can help out where the other has weaknesses and help our strengths stand out. Brandon: We both have our ups and downs, and that makes us equal.
Yena Son (‘22)/ Eastside Photo Editor
Note: All twins and triplets were contacted, but some chose not to be included in the issue.
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SENIOR EASTSIDE
June 2022
“It’s a Twin Thing”: Senior twins reflect on their East experiences Rachel and Samantha Singer
Q: How would you describe your twin? Rachel: I would describe Sam as happy, put together, organized, and cares about everything being very neat. Very organized. Samantha: She is a smart, kind person. She always knows what to say. But yeah, she is not as organized as me. Q: Do you guys have twin telepathy? Rachel and Samantha: Oh my God, yes. Samantha: We just did it. We are always walking out in the same outfits. Rachel: Sometimes we finish each other’s sentences. Q: What is the best part of having a twin? Rachel: I think the best quality of Sam is that she’s always there for me. I can always come in her room and pester her. Samantha: She’s also always there for me. I come to Rachel with so many of my issues and things to talk about, and she’s always there to listen. Q: Who is the superior twin? Rachel: I am because I’m taller. And... my hair is a little longer? Oh, and I can do a backflip on the trampoline. Samantha: I’m the superior twin because I was born first. I have those two minutes on her. I got those two minutes, I’m older. Q: Who would win in a fight? Rachel: I think I would. Samantha: Yeah...
Yena Son (‘22)/ Eastside Photo Editor
Youbin and Youjin Park
Yena Son (‘22)/ Eastside Photo Editor
Q: How would you describe your twin? Youjin: He’s a clone of myself I guess...but he’s the dumber version. Youbin: I would strongly disagree with that. In fact, I’m the better, superior twin. Q: Do you guys have twin telepathy? Youjin and Youbin: No. It’s fake. Q: What is the best and worst quality of your twin? Youjin: Best quality of my twin is that he looks like me. The worst is that although he looks like me, he doesn’t look as good as me. Youbin: The best quality is that he listens to me well. Worst quality is that he sometimes does something stupid that I get accounted for. Q: What is the best part of having a twin? Youjin: The best part is you’re able to cheat easily. Interviewer: Really? Youjin: No. But I guess it’s nice to always have a friend. Youjin: When I don’t want to do something, he could do it for me. Q: Who would win in a fight? Youjin: Me. Youbin: I will win. Youjin: Ask Mr. Edwards, he can attest. Youbin: Yeah. He will be giving a good account of this story. Mr. Edwards: Ever since DECA, they have been wrestling each other over night trips, not that they had enough time at home like the whole 18 years of their life to test this out. However, they utilize that space at DECA. It’s tough, it’s like a tie. But I would say Youbin. Wait, I’m getting confused who’s who. But yeah, Youjin. Interviewer: You just said Youbin, though. Mr. Edwards: No, no I didn’t. I confused you.
June 2022
SENIOR EASTSIDE
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SENIOR
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EASTSIDE
June 2022
SPOT THE DIFFERENCE M A X GAFFIN T R A H E I B B GA
MOON EMOJI NINA DOBREV JONATHAN CALDES
JESUS CHRIST NOA PECARSKY LAUREN HUGHES
GAL GADOT
CHIARA AURELIA
Selections compiled by Katherine Li (‘23) and Shayna Oppen (‘24). Student photos courtesy of individual seniors or by Yena Son (‘22).
SENIORS DESCRIBE EAST IN ONE WORD:
June 2022
SENIOR EASTSIDE
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SENIOR
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EASTSIDE
June 2022
Class of 2004 reflects on their experiences ■ By Ziva Davis (‘22), Aiden Rood (‘23), and Abby Yu (‘23)
Eastside Culture Editor, Eastside Features Editor, and Eastside Sports Editor
Eastside interviewed individuals who graduated from the Class of 2004, the year that this year’s senior class was born. These people now have jobs, started families and are far past their time at Cherry Hill High School East. Although they graduated from high school 18 years ago, these alumni still stay in contact with their closest friends from high school and take pleasure in reminiscing about their memories from their senior year. Anand Yegya-Raman starred on the boys’ tennis team and fondly remembers the moments before getting on the bus for matches. He said the team atmosphere gave him an awesome feeling and reflected on the chance to celebrate wins and bounce back from losses as a positive high school experience. “If things went great, then great; if things didn’t, you know you have people you can commiserate with, so that’s always good.” said Yegya-Raman, “You don’t kinda get that same sense of celebration in the real world as much because it’s just kind of different.” Yegya-Raman had a hard time pinpointing a specific favorite memory from his senior year. The senior trip
and Project Graduation both stood out to him. “They’re really awesome experiences because you have the whole class there and you’re in a place where you can really have fun with everyone,” said YegyaRaman. “It’s a unique experience because you don’t necessarily get that just anytime anywhere.” Meanwhile, Matt Sterling vividly remembers practicing and hanging out with the players on his soccer team. He said that everyone had different personalities to bring to the team and they would have big pasta parties before every game during the fall season. “Probably one of the best memories were team dinners with the guys’ and girls’ soccer team before every game and it was very fun. We would do just a lot of fun stuff. You know, you miss those little things when you graduate and go to college,” said Sterling. Steph Mikitish was more inclined towards music in high school. She was involved in the school’s orchestra and marching band, and was also involved in athletics: cross country in the fall and track in the winter and the spring. “Orchestra was definitely a memory that stood out
to me because a lot of my friends were in the orchestra. Even if they weren’t musical, I met most of my friend group in sophomore year and we still get together,” said Mikitish. Mikitish enjoyed being busy during her senior year. Even today, she enjoys the feeling of being busy. “In college I liked being busy, and now that I’m working I like being busy. I got a job at the Library of Congress and wasn’t sure what working for the government would be like,” said Mikitish. Brendan Lowe was heavily involved in East activities. He was the Student Class President and Eastside Editor-in-Chief his senior year. He said that one of his fondest memories from his senior year was playing video games with his closest friends. “It wasn’t really about playing video games, it was about being together. Two of those friends I still text basically every day. I just did the Broad Street Run in Philadelphia with one of those friends. All of those years later we’re still hanging out together over the weekend,” said Lowe. Sterling remembers mostly the positive parts of high school and being sur-
rounded with great friends and teachers. In fact, he still texts his close friends at least twice a day and has been friends with them since eighth grade. “The people you grow up with are just different. They know your family, and they just know a lot more. I’ve stayed close with people from high school more so than after,” said Sterling. As students make their journey through high school and have the opportunity to immerse and dabble into different things, many feel the pressure and are apprehensive about taking their next step. These East alumni have words of advice to not only the graduating class of 2022, but in addition toother graduating classes to come. “It’s okay to not know what you want to do with your life, especially when you’re 17 or 18. I think there’s a lot of value in doing lots of different things and to learn by doing because you don’t really know what something is like until you do it, and I think there is value in that. There is still plenty of time in your thirties and forties to go pick that thing and then be as good as you want to be at it. I would encourage diversity of experiences. Take a gap year or study abroad, do an apprenticeship. Try all of the different things you can
Senior Shoutouts
try if it will make yourself more well-rounded,” said Lowe “Being in the moment and prioritizing balance is what I would’ve told my high school self. I am where I am because I study a lot and work hard, but in retrospect, studying a few extra hours doesn’t really matter or really do anything. But when you look back, the things you remember are the times you spent with friends or the things you did with family. I would tell my younger self to be more balanced and lean towards friends and family,” said Sterling. “I would just tell myself that it gets better. High school was challenging and moving away was kind of scary, but you really have no idea what your life is going to be like five to ten years from now. Your perspective is limited, but as life goes on you get more perspective,” said Mikitish. “You want to live in the moment... I feel like once you have a plan, the hardest thing about getting somewhere is actually figuring out where you want to go… It’s really important to know yourself and know what’s important to you, but at the same time you want to spend those years living in the moment and enjoy being with friends and family,” said Yegya-Raman.
Dear Emily: We love you and will miss you! Please bring us treats when you come home! Woof Woof Henry and Smokey Congratulations, Marisa, on your graduation!! We are so proud of you and wishing you all the best at Univ. Of Delaware!! Love Mom, Dad and Hayden Congratulations to Jordon Miller. We are so proud of you. UD, Blue Hens!!! Love the Macaluso Family. Congratulations to Marcus Newman from the Macaluso Family. We are so excited to share in your graduation and see what the future holds for you. Congratulations, Christian! We are so proud of all your hard word and dedication. Love Mom, Dad, and Rachel. What an impressive achievement. So very proud of you, Dylan Pirylis. Best wishes for your next adventure. Love, Nana & Papa Dylan: I’m super proud of you and all your accomplishments. Stay creative and keep dreaming at Lynn U! Love, Aunt Michelle Ryn: We are so proud of you! We look forward to seeing the wonders that your future will hold. Love Mom, Dad & KK Here is a shoutout to our most favorite senior, Lindsay Batzar!! We are so proud of you! Love, Mom, Dad and Matthew Gabbie Hart! So proud of what you’ve accomplished and who you’ve become. East has been amazing! Time to start the next adventure. Love, Mom, Dad, Zach Our little brother Dylan, we are so proud of you. Good luck at Lynn University. We love you and are always there for you. Orel & Sharon Congratulations, Gabe Oppen! We are so proud of you! We can’t wait to see what you’ll accomplish in the next 4! Love, Mom, Dad, & Shayna Shout out to the DF/ Horace Mann Crew! An amazing group of kids…best of luck with graduation and beyond! With Love- The Babroff’s Congrats, Lalitha! We are so proud of you, go kill it at Wisconsin!!! Love, Mom, Dad, Laavanya, and Luna Congrats, Isabella! We are so proud of you. Go blue! Love, Mom, Dad, Joe, and Stella Congratulations, Aidan Muhlins!! I cannot wait to see your success at TCNJ. You have such a bright future ahead. Success follows wherever you go and you have truly left your mark on East. Love, your stepbrother, Trey Boles <3
June 2022
SENIOR EASTSIDE
dream big, baby girl. greet anticipation! thrive! remember your way home. we love you, scoutie xo
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EASTSIDE
June 2022
SUPERLATIVES
Best Morning Person:
Most Approachable:
Biggest Book/Reading Fanatic:
Most Likely to Become U.S. President:
Best Personality:
Best Writer:
Max Gaffin Jessica Levin
Ethan Farber Maddy McNiff
Aidan Dold Shira Weiss
Kyler Pitre Devyn Levin
Ethan Farber Maddy McNiff
Marcus Newman Lalitha Viswanathan
Most Studious:
Class Clown:
Biggest Backpack:
Prettiest Eyes:
Best Vocabulary:
Youbin Park Shira Weiss
Pierce Atkins Mia Ripa
Joe Sasso Jillian MacHenry
Brendan McGovern Nadalie Rosen
Best Hair:
Person Everyone Wants To Be:
Most Likely to Host a Talk Show:
Pierce Atkins Ananya Khedkar
Darren Zhou Julia Coen
Funniest:
June 2022
EASTSIDE
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Biggest Health Fanatic:
Best Snapchat Stories:
Most Positive:
Best to Bring Home to Mom and Dad
Male Look-Alikes:
Best BFF’s:
Pierce Atkins Michelle Lerman
Ethan Farber Maddy McNiff
Daniel Arougheti Maddy McNiff
Alon Eylon Mason Kahn
Julia Coen Emma Phipps
Most Creative:
Bobby Hawkinson Laura Eyre Best Person to Follow on Instagram:
Most Avid Gamer:
Most Athletic:
Most Ambitious:
Best Co-Ed Friends:
Best Couple:
Ethan Farber Lalitha Viswanathan
Marcus Newman Vivian Zhao
Joachim Schwartz Esther Tian
Luke Anthony Hannah Lee
Drew Greene Laura Eyre
Youbin Park Nidhi Busannagari
Michael Epstein Lindsay Batzar
Dov Schwartz Julia Coen
Best Smile:
Wittiest:
Most Politically Savvy:
Best Person to Follow on TikTok:
Biggest Music Fanatic:
Most Likely to Possess Random Knowledge:
Female Look-Alikes:
Best Bromance:
Best Singer:
Simon Becerra Devyn Levin
Cooper Pike Gabbie Hart
Ansh Mehta Juliana Saidel
Tim Ackerman Devyn Levin
Joachim Schwartz Esther Tian
Charlie Bove Paige Noble
Jonathan Caldes Allie Meyers
Carley Bird Lauren Troost
Pierce Atkins Jalen Holmes
Kelvin Parris Esther Tian
Most Likely to Save the World:
Most Tech-Savvy:
Most Involved:
Most Likely to Pull an All-Nighter:
Biggest TV/Movie Fanatic:
Most Likely to Succeed:
Best Laugh:
Most Artistic:
Biggest Sports Fanatic:
Pierce Atkins Marisa Rappaport
Ethan Farber Yena Son
Sam Friedman Ananya Khedkar
Daniel Arougheti Devyn Levin
Eric Nestory Remi Graff
Marcus Newman Mia Ripa
Ethan Farber Yena Son
Max Gaffin Veronica Oreshko
Marcus Newman Vivian Zhao
Dylan Hagan Devyn Levin
Most Inspirational:
Friendlist:
Most Likely to Invent Something Unusual:
Most Likely to Work at East:
Best Dressed:
Most Likely to Take Gym Seriously:
Best Advice-Giver:
Strongest:
Best Actor/Actress:
Best Facial Hair
Layout
Julian Gersh Yena Son
Richie Walker Alexa Atlas
Charlie Bove Grace Pierlott
Robby Fleisher
Lalitha Viswanathan
Superlatives chosen by the senior Class of 2022
Photos
Yena Son Art
Ethan Farber Maddy McNiff
Max Gaffin Maddy McNiff
Biggest Heartthrob:
Unsung Hero:
Most Enthusiastic:
Most Talkative:
Most Well-Rounded:
Most Outgoing:
Most Likely to Oversleep:
Most School Spirited:
Best Musician:
Best Eyebrows
Design
Art
Jake Green Arielle Cosenza
Jonathan Caldes Emma Phipps
Max Gaffin Kayla Park
Mason Kahn Alexa Atlas
Deniz Alpdogan Michelle Barry
Tim Ackerman Devyn Levin
Alek Katsikis Katie Quarry
Daniel Arougheti Devyn Levin
Charlie Bove Rachel Gates
Carly Drumm
Jessica Levin
Marcus Newman
Dylan Butler Marissa Zeuli
Tim Ackerman Emily Whitson
Joachim Schwartz Esther Tian
Gabe Oppen Caroline Perry
Melissa Vital
EDITORIAL
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EASTSIDE
June 2022
Editorials represent the views and opinions of the Eastside Editorial Board.
Eastside names Mr. Jonathan Blum “Person of the Year”
At Cherry Hill High one account, Blum replied School East, the four valto his student at 1 a.m. with ues promoted through the a lengthy reply in hopes of school are “Empathy, Accountability, Self-awareness, and Trustworthiness.” As students progress through four formative years of high school walking the halls of East, these values and ideas are instilled for the rest of their lives. For English teacher Mr. Jonathan Blum, his high school years were spent in the same halls where he now teaches. Usually standing outside of the classroom with his blazer, ready to greet all of his students by name, Blum makes East students feel welcome in his classroom. His increasing dedication to East students throughout his career Yena Son (‘22)/ Eastside Photo Editor contributes to the Eastside Blum is named Eastside‘s Editorial Board naming Person of the Year. Mr. Jonathan Blum as Eastside’s 2021-2022 Perassisting his student on a son of the Year. thesis statement. This stuOne thing Blum prides dent recalls his answering himself on is his ability to within five minutes, and help his students. Blum Blum was extremely helpgoes above and beyond to ful in clarifying the assignmake sure that his stument. dents are excelling in his To say that Blum is enclass. On the first day of thusiastic about his classes each school year, Blum tells is an understatement. He his students that “no time surpasses his expectations is too early and no time is for his students to ensure too late.” No matter what that they have a compretime of day, it is almost hensive lesson. For exguaranteed that Blum will ample, in his 4AP English respond within 15 minutes class, he assigned the book of receiving an email. On Invisible Man by Ralph El-
lison. This book discusses topics of racism and feeling isolated in society. As a supplement to the lesson, he explained how he interviewed people in New York City, Philadelphia and the Cherry Hill Mall for hours to culminate responses to supplement his lesson about the book. His dedication to his students having a complete understanding of the lessons of his assigned books is admirable. Additionally, Blum continues to understand the environment at East and how it can impact his students. Whenever he assigns a book dealing with uncomfortable situations, such as rape, racism or extreme violence, he offers an alternative assignment in case students do not want to analyze these scenes since students feel uneasy addressing such topics. Blum has cultural sensitivity when approaching topics within books. He makes sure that he does not misrepresent cultures, and he respects different ethnic backgrounds, always eager to learn more about his students. Blum wants students to annotate the books, rather than having a test, in order to check in with his students and try to understand their thought process. Although Blum’s instructions for reading books
Eastside’s Person of the Year is a multi-stage process, which involves members of Eastside’s Editorial Board discussing and voting at each stage.
are more unique at East, it corresponds to his overall goal for his students. As many of Blum’s students will say, he is an extremely fair teacher, especially when it comes to grading. If a student is ever upset with their grade, Blum makes himself available to explain how they can improve. So many of Blum’s contributions to East go beyond the classroom, too. This 2021-22 school year, Blum volunteered at a majority of East’s events. Whether it was for Hoco-Ween, Senior Ice Skating Night, Multicultural Day, Parents Night, Junior Prom, Senior Prom or the basketball games, Blum was alongside East students. Even though he is not obligated to volunteer at these student events, he continues to be present for his students outside of his classroom. He is spirited about East and always encourages his students to make the most out of their high school experience. Blum positively impacts East through his teaching style, unique personality and the everyday antics that make him Mr. Blum. Even if you have never had him as a teacher, he is always saying “hello” to students walking by, becoming a friendly face to all East students. Eastside congratulates Blum on this award.
The award was created by Mr. Gagliardi and the editorial board in 2003 in order to recognize members of the school who have made a great impact on the East environment inside the classroom, outside of it or both. Recipients receive a personal plaque in addition to being listed on a plaque next to the Hall of Fame bulletin board. Past Recipients: 2003: Mr. Matthew Carr 2004: Ms. Elizabeth McLeester 2005: Mr. Tony Mancini 2006: Ms. Marilyn DiCiurcio 2007: Mrs. Linda Heath 2008: Mr. Jonathan Strout 2009: Mr. Charles Musumeci 2010: Mr. Rick Friedman 2011: Mr. Gregory Rouen 2012: Mr. Pete Gambino 2013: Mr. Karl Moehlmann 2014: Mrs. Gina Oh 2015: Mr. Tim Locke 2016: Mr. Joseph Dilks 2017: Mr. Bill Kovnat 2018: Mr. William Semus 2019: Mr. Tom Weaver 2020: Mrs. Katie Radbill 2021: African American Culture Club
Eastside 2021-2022 Editorial Board
Managing Editor: Jessica Levin Editors-in-Chief: Jacy Dickstein, Max Gaffin, Lalitha Viswanathan Online Editors-in-Chief: Alexa Atlas, Nicole Vital, Angelina Witting Adviser: Mr. Greg Gagliardi News Editors Tharunika Govindasamy Jiwoo Lee Bella Levin
Community Editors Jillian Koenig Lily Lazarus Ellie Noh
Features Editors Gia Gupta Aiden Rood Alena Zhang
Culture Editors Jamie Bookbinder Ziva Davis Katherine Li
Opinions Editors Ziv Amsili Emily Boyle
Sports Editors Amanda Merovitz Scout Pullano Abby Yu
Global Commentary Editors Batul El Barouki Lauren Winslow Art Directors Marcus Newman Melissa Vital
Photo Editors Heidi Kwak Yena Son
Online News Editor Vivian Rong Online Features Editor Julia Boehning Online Opinions Editor Brielle Lampf Online Global Commentary Editor Asher Boiskin
Business Managers Spencer DeAbreu Alex Levine
Online Community Editor Julia Rosten Online Culture Editor Inesa Linker Online Sports Editor Shayna Oppen Online STEM Editor Sophia Liu Media Editors Natalie Finkelstein Karina Gupta
Administrative Assistant Lauren Greenberg
Editorial Assistants Ella Goodstadt Izzy Sobel
Introducing Eastside’s 2022-2023 Editorial Board...
Managing Editor: Abby Yu; Editors-in-Chief: Brielle Lampf, Aiden Rood, Alena Zhang; Online Editors-in-Chief: Vivian Rong, Lauren Winslow; News Editors: Jillian Koenig, Izzy Sobel; Features Editors: Emily Boyle, Sophia Liu; Sports Editors: Shayna Oppen, Julia Sitnick; Opinions Editors: Isabelle Berger, Manar Hadi; Global Commentary Editors: Batul El Barouki, Matthew Rentezelas; Community Editors: Gia Gupta, Ellie Noh; Culture Editors: Michelle Bookbinder, Julia Rosten; Online Features Editor: Ava Crawley; Online News Editor: Ella Hampton; Online Sports Editor: Adam Borenstein; Online Community Editor: Taylor Goodman; Online Culture Editor: Ella Goodstadt; Online Opinions Editor: Asher Boiskin; Online Global Commentary Editor: Enis Ercan; Online STEM Editor: Rachna Mohan; Photo Editors: Jiwoo Lee, Lucas Tang; Art Directors: Katherine Li, Melissa Vital; Media Directors: Natalie Finkelstein, Karina Gupta; Business Managers: Lauren Greenberg, Molly Grossman; Social Media Manager: Ava Richman
Editor
EASTSIDE
Photo
A headline about the person above me is...
ner
June 2022
SENIOR Senior Culture Corner Senior Culture Corner
A song that describes the person below me...
I wish I had (Eastside Editor’s)...
I wish __ was my coeditor this year.
Page 13
My Eastside confession is...
Jacy Dickstein
Greg Gagliardi recites the AP style book in his sleep
“Just Dance” by Lady Gaga
Spencer’s enthusiasm
Tomer
I secretely hate Psych.
Max Gaffin
Jacy uses Procreate skills to color her hair three shades darker
“The Next Messiah” by Jenny Lewis
Bella’s Door Dash password
Asher
I send everyone to Lalitha for InDesign help.
Ziv Amsili
Max Gaffin uses his laugh to make others laugh
“Dancing Queen” by ABBA
Nicole’s charisma
Alena
I disqualified myself in Mafia.
Ziva Davis
Saxby’s poster child
“Happy” by Pharrell Williams (because she always has a smile on her face)
Tharunkia’s Brandy Melville shirt
Abby
I still need help when doing layout.
Julia Boehning
BREAKING NEWS: Ziva Davis is actually the nicest person ever
“Don’t Worry Be Happy” by Bobby McFerrin
Yena’s photography skills
Brielle
I still use Grammarly while editing.
Jamie Bookbinder
Julia Boehning fuels Eastside dynamic with her Features stories
“Slow Summer” by Zachary Knowles
Ziva’s Spotify
Tharunika
The majority of my stories were written the night before.
Nicole Vital
Jamie jams out to Taylor Swift
“Here Comes the Sun” by The Beatles
Scout’s hair
Tharunika
I put together most of the packages I post between 12 a.m. and 1 a.m.
Yena Son
Breaking news: Nicole was not called Melissa today
“Dazed and Confused” by Led Zeppelin
Sophia’s tallness
Karina
I was behind on photos for every issue.
Tharunika Govindasamy
Always keeping it “reel”
“Material Girl” by Madonna
Ziva’s laugh
Ellie
I truly could never layout without Bella chaperoning me.
Lalitha Viswanathan
Girl runs a marathon in her Nike blazers: her two favorite things!
“Last Friday Night” by Katy Perry
Ziva’s laugh
Bella
I still don’t know how to text wrap bylines, pictures, or text boxes.
Amanda Merovitz
BFB is the one for me
“Cheerleader” by Omi
Max’s enthusiasm
Nico
I only write for my own section
Alexa Atlas
Good things come in small packages
“Moment 4 Life” by Nicki Minaj
Jacy’s creativity
Max
I wanted to be a print editor my sophomore year
Lily Lazarus
Alexa Atlas breaks the world record for most amount of words spoken per-second
“Hooked on a Feeling” by Blue Swede
Yena’s photo taking skills
Jess
I always stole Jessica’s Pop-Tarts in the business drawer.
Marcus Newman
Lily Laz gives entire East student body a lifetime supply of Flex Seal merch
“Hungry Like the Wolf” by Duran Duran
Jacy’s artistic abilities
Bella
I’ve never done a comic for print or online.
Isabella Levin
East senior paints art mural with burrito in hand
“Party Rock Anthem” by LMFAO
Jacy’s daily enthusiasm
Lalitha
I still struggle with using InDesign.
Alex Levine
Cooking with Izzy returns
“Happy” by Pharrell Williams
Alexa’s work ethic
Max
I have yet to write a print story this year.
Scout Pullano
Alex Levine wins cutest dog “#thatPOWER” by award will.i.am
Alena’s composure (always has her thoughts together)
Ziva
I was never good at coming up with art and photo ideas.
Angelina Witting
Pullano wins award for friendlist person ever
“Supergirl” by Hannah Montana
Abby’s positive attitude
Ziv
I still don’t know how to send my Bitmoji in WhatsApp.
Jessica Levin
Double trouble: Aine and Angelina spotted in F087 editing culture pages
“Sweet Home Alabama” Abby’s AP Calc grade by Lynyrd Skynyrd
Lauren G.
I’ve never laid out a page by myself.
Spencer DeAbreu
One of CHE’s finest students
“Happy” by Pharrell Williams
Lauren’s height
Alexa
I don’t like distribution days.
Mr. Gagliardi
DeAbreu opens cafe; pulls door handle
“No Phone” by Cake
Alexa’s strength
Nico
I sent Asher to Israel.
SENIOR
Page 14
EASTSIDE
Hocoween
Spirit Week
10/ 22
Senior Dan
ce 11/19
Countrymen at L
enape Game 3/7
Art by Melissa Vital (‘23)/ Eastside Art Director
Mr. East
4/29
Powder Puff
11/14
Senior Sunrise
9/23
June 2022
4/9
Coffee House
r Day 2/25
Girls’Basketball Senio
Senior Prom
6/2
Photos by Yena Son (‘22) and Lucas Tang (‘23)/ Eastside Photo Editor and Eastside Staff
June 2022
SENIOR EASTSIDE
Page 15
EICs and Managing Editor say goodbye to Eastside Managing Editor: Jessica Levin
To be Managing Editor for one year is an incredible accomplishment. You get to lead Eastside and know that your voice is what matters. I am beyond lucky to say that I have had the opportunity to keep this position for the past two. Never would I believe that I would be able to take on a huge leadership role after one year on board in the business manager position; however, there I was. I am a firm believer that there is a place for everyone at East. Whether you are an athlete, into drawing, video games, or even chess, there is a home for everyone. F087 is truly a place that I can call home. It has never really been the room that is home, but the people that are contained within these walls. These past three years on board have been a place where I spend my class time, my lunch time, my after school time, and even my Saturdays for layout days. It has been the people and the bonds that we share that have made this whole experi-
ence worth it. To my “co-editors” (I think we have reached a point where I can call you guys that), I want to thank you for being by my side and always willing to help me with layout and editing. The countless times we have all stayed after to work on the small things always turned into tons of laughs and memories and award-winning work. Jacy, Max and Lalitha, you are all destined to do great things, and I can’t wait to see all of the things that you will accomplish. This is not the end of our time together, and I can’t wait to catch up in F087 in the future. I would also like to thank the board for making my job so easy. Well, at least for the most part. Whether it was responding with an emoji to my essays of a WhatsApp message so I know you read the whole thing or staying patient while I figured out pages, you all made me feel welcomed while standing in front of you every day. To my future managing editor, Abby Yu, the future of Eastside is in amazing hands. This position is nothing to be afraid of, and I know that you will lead and organize Eastside to another year of greatness. I am always a call away, you know that! I can’t wait to see the success you and the whole board will bring.
Editor-in-Chief: Lalitha Viswanathan
I truly do not know how to start off my reflection. I remember reading the reflections of all past EICs and managing editors, and now here I am. Let’s just start it off by saying, I love Eastside. For our readers, it is merely just a newspaper. For me, I see bonding between editors, collaborating with our peers, and making the most amazing memories I never could have imagined. From the very first day, Eastside has been an experience. A literal rollercoaster. From writing my first print story, to becoming closer with my editors (you know who), to going completely remote and laying out on our home computers, to finally leading the classroom. I have grown and learned something new with each editorial board, and I want to thank them all separately. Each of them were so unique, but I loved each one as if we were a big family. To the 2019-2020 Eastside Editorial Board: Thank you for making me the person I am today. As a sophomore in a room with the most opinionated people I have ever met, to say I was scared is an understatement. Thank you for the memories and all of the fun we had. The relationships I created with you guys hold a special place in my heart. To the 2020-2021 Eastside Editorial Board: I wish we could have all been in F087 as a full group. During a time when most people were so unmotivated, you all blew my mind and always were enthusiastic about journalism. Thank you for being so eager to learn and participate. You all are amazing! To the 2021-2022 Eastside Editorial Board: Thank you so so much for letting me be your leader. This year has been rocky to say the least, and I am sorry if my voice got a little loud (in many cases). Your passion and drive inspire me. Watching everyone grow as journalists and people has been a highlight of my high school experience. I am going to miss you all next year. Finally, to Mr. Gagliardi: Thank you for everything. From writing numerous letters of recommendation, to listening to my gossip about anyone, you have been so supportive and kind all throughout high school. Thank you for allowing me to grow on my own. You’re literally the coolest and best teacher ever. High school would not have been the same without your influence and guidance. Thank you. My high school experience can be described in one word: inconsistent. I was in and out of different clubs, trying to find a place I could call home. Of course, the pandemic screwed everything up and erased my junior year. As I reflect on my high school life, Eastside was the one constant. Eastside has and always will be my home.
Editor-in-Chief: Max Gaffin
I remember my first interaction with Eastside. It was my eighth-grade orientation at Cherry Hill East and the school newspaper had a stand in the library, looking to recruit future staff members that would help take the award-winning publication into a prosperous future. And then, when I was given my course selection sheet, later that year, I immediately circled Journalism 1, a class that at the time, I did not know would change my life for the better. From that desk in the library, scattered with newspapers and information sheets, to now, my school safe-place, my school community, my home and family, Eastside has allowed me to truly become myself, all that I strived to be as a young, ambitious student in a competitive school environment. And since then, I have gained hundreds of valuable lessons, intense skills and vivid memories, all of which surround the common theme of working together on something larger than ourselves, towards a common cause. With every interaction from Eastside, I have walked away a greater individual, more sociable, confident and better able to communicate with and lead alongside others. Eastside has allowed me, along with countless others spanning generations, to in-depth analyze our high school. I have developed packages and feature stories, broke news and interviewed so many others, to truly understand the grassroots and makeup of our building, and familiarize myself with everyone around me. Because of Eastside, I am able to greet administrators, teachers I’ve never had, athletes, leaders and students alike. So to everyone who has helped make Eastside my home – the 2019-2020 Editorial Board, 2020-2021 Board, especially the 2021-2022 Editorial Board, all of my co-editors, staff members, Jess, Jacy, Lalitha, my mentors and Gagz - I thank you for giving me this incredible opportunity, one that I will forever cherish and take pride in. And for everyone else, please find your niche at East. I fully stand by the fact that the only way to get everything out of high school is to get involved and make your experience truly yours. If you are looking for a cultural enterprise, immerse yourself in MCD. A business fascination? DECA. Service? Interact, FOP, you name it. But if you’re looking for strength, stability, an opportunity to truly make a difference, understand your school, the ability to fascinate others with your work and bring East together around any topic you decide, then please, follow in my footsteps and take your skills to Eastside. There is something for everyone and I promise you, you will not regret it.
Editor-in-Chief: Jacy Dickstein
My journey with Eastside began my freshman year of high school. Stepping into the corridor of the East building, I wasn’t sure where this path would lead me. All I knew was that I signed up for Journalism 1 Honors in classroom F087. I walked aimlessly around the school trying to locate F-wing with my enormous backpack, twelve #2 pencils, and little understanding of how this course would change the next four years of my high school career. Peering at the syllabus, I immediately knew this class would pique my interest. As all freshmen are encouraged to do at orientation, I threw myself into sports and clubs in hopes of growing close with my graduating class. Over the years I discovered my love for creative pursuits–graphic design, creative writing, and storytelling. Journalism 1H allowed me to explore all of my interests. When I began creating content for Eastside, I opened a door of possibilities to let my creative side shine through. Generating story ideas, determining that story’s angle, and chasing the lead to create entertaining content excited me. I signed up for Journalism 2 fully engrossed by the act of story writing. I wanted to actively partake in my school’s newspaper and became one of the features editors for Eastside in 2019. I learned numerous life skills such as delegating work, taking on a role of leadership and managing my time. In addition to writing stories myself, my role in this position was to edit stories sent in by writers, lay stories out in an engaging newspaper style, and assist in writing the board’s monthly editorial. As an eager sophomore ready to absorb all of the knowledge I could, I grew stronger as a result of my experienced classmates. I mimicked their actions until I mastered these tasks that prove critical in the field of journalism, which fueled my love for Eastside even stronger. The following year I became one of Eastside’s community editors. Without the presence of many upperclassmen, I wanted to take the lead for more projects. I began working on podcasts, multimedia packages, and engaging more in class discussions. If I had to pick my favorite piece of content from junior year, it would be the Advent Calender multimedia package. I came up with this idea to play off a typical holiday advent calendar, but instead of chocolate, readers get the gift of a new journalistic take on the holiday season each day of December. Finding a team of people excited to partake in this interactive collection of stories, art, videos, trivia, and podcasts was so exhilarating. A total of twenty people helped to perfect this multimedia package, which landed in the number one spot for most engaged content on Eastside Online. Watching the package come together and hearing a spur of positive feedback from past alum was truly such a rewarding feeling. This package jumpstarted my desire to take on a leadership role in the year to come. My senior year I became an editor-in-chief for Eastside. I began to think more logically about how we could get more eyes onto our social media platforms, how the board could better bond with one another, and how we could spark school-wide conversations. This opportunity transformed my senior year. Eastside was no longer just an outlet for me, it became a priority for me. My co-editors-in-chief and I worked tirelessly to copy edit full issues, fill the inevitable gaps of the school newspaper and write editorials. I’ve grown into this position and, more importantly, grown to love working with each and every board member in Eastside. I am forever grateful for my four years with Eastside. Jacy Dickstein—officially signing out of F087, I can’t wait to come back to visit! For perspectives by Online Editors-in-Chief Alexa Atlas and Nicole Vital, visit eastside-online.org It feels just like yesterday when I wrote my first story for Eastside, an album review for the online culture section. Then less than a year later, I was standing in front of the 2019-2020 board with my co-editors, presenting a slideshow where I am dressed in the most ridiculous outfit ever. Thankfully, the mild embarrassment paid off and my co editors and I took first place in the bonding competition. Through all four years, online school and 14 issues, Eastside has helped give meaning to my years at East. I have enjoyed the many meaningful discussions we have had, the layout days and the laughs. From being a staff writer, to culture editor, to editor-in-chief and then online editor-in-chief, I have been able to experience Eastside from many perspectives. My time as culture editor was one of my favorites. Being free to experiment with different layouts and colors and formulating story ideas was a great way for me to develop a new skill set within journalism. Making the switch to editor-in-chief was not easy, but it gave me more confidence in my copy and page editing abilities. I was excited to be given the opportunity to lead the board I was so proud to be part of the previous year. The hours of editing and assisting editors were very rewarding, and I felt like I was able to make a difference in the board and help us succeed. When I was given the opportunity to be an online EIC, I was excited. We had discussed developing a newsletter the previous year, and I was beyond happy to be the one to make it a reality. After a few hiccups, I sent out the first ever Eastside Newsletter in November. Eastside gave me many memories, including the Journalism Convention in D.C., playing Mafia, and our yearly White Elephant game. I am so grateful to have had the opportunity to be a member of this incredible group for three years and I am beyond excited to see what next year’s board accomplishes.
Online Editor-in-Chief: Angelina Witting
1. Abby Vickers, 2. Aidan Donahue, 3. Aidan Landis, 4. Alexa Atlas, 5. Alex Perry, 6. Alexis Kovach, 7. Aliza Durrani, 8. Allie Meyers, 9. Amanda Merovitz, 10. Ansh Mehta, 11. Anthony Ferraro, 12. Ariana Santiago Ramos, 13. Bella Levin, 14. Brendan McGovern, 15. Anna Cammisa, 16. Brett Schuster, 17. Briana Viscount, 18. Carly Drumm, 19. Christian Wright, 20. Christopher Wallace, 21. Dov Schwartz, 22. Drew Greene, 23. Dylan Pirylis, 24. Eddie Eizner, 25. Elisa Goodman, 26. Emely Gelman, 27. Emily Altman, 28. Emily Ringold
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EASTSIDE
SENIOR
June 2022
32. Jillian MacHenry, 33. Julia Wolfson, 34. Steven Brown, 35. Max Missler, 36. Emily Whitson, 37. Jake Sipera, 38. Liz Armstrong, 39. Jenna Babroff, 40. Jacy Dickstein, 41. Faith Jastrow, 42. Eva Woods, 43. Max Gaffin, 44. Gabe Oppen, 45. Josh Janove, 46. Ziva Davis, 47. Lily Lazarus, 48. Sapjah Zapotitla, 49. Harry Styles, 50. Giorgia De Marco, 51.Marissa Zeuli, 52. Jessica Levin, 53. Jake Stein, 54. Ryan Curran, 55. Sam Gellert, 56. Lalitha Viswanathan, 57. Spencer DeAbreau, 58. Paris Wiesner, 59. William Chernets, 60. Madison Glauser, 61. Juliana Saidel, 62. Joey Farley, 63. Hannah Leibowitz
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June 2022
EASTSIDE
SENIOR
Page 17
Page 18
SENIOR EASTSIDE
June 2022
Ziv Amsili (‘22) and Sophia Liu (‘24)/ Eastside Opinions Editor and Eastside Online STEM Editor
SENIOR
June 2022
EASTSIDE
Page 19
Class of 2022 College Decisions
Adelphi University Angela Bruno
George Washington University Jamie Bookbinder Max Gaffin Thaurnika Govindasamy
New York University Rafael De Moura Mia DeVera Izzy Ortiz
Alvernia University Christian Wright
Georgetown University Nick Pezzella
New York University - Shanghai Ansen Liu
Arcadia University Sophie Raducanu
Georgia I️nstitute of Technology Deniz Alpdogan
Northeastern University Zoya Mohsin
Immaculata University Isabella Masino Mary Philips
Northwestern University Bernard Chen Yena Son
Indiana University Emily Altman Jonathan Caldes Emma Greenberg Eric Nestory Noah Raskas Zachary Stein
Nova Southeastern University Alon Eylon
Albright University Kelvin Parris Caroline Perry
Bates College Sarah Teng Belmont University Charlie Bove Boston College Ansh Mehta Kiley Walsh Boston University Sophie Angulo Avery Chayapruks Sara Rathore Brandeis University Ziv Amsili Brown University Hope Xu Bryn Mawr College Emily Chau Bucknell University Yahel Amsili Cabrini University Jacob Green Camden County Community College Andrei Bathan Isabella Delgado Sean Mahaney Mia Ripa Catholic University Jenny Eattock Clemson University Hanna Orengo College of Charleston Nadelie Rosen Colorado State University Nava Silver Columbia University- JTS Jacob Resnick Cornell University Tomer Goldfinger Kelvin Yuan Drew University Laura Eyre Drexel University Nati Bahar Dylan Butler Gabriel Cohen Alisha Fazal Isaac Kriesman Devin Leung Brianna Phan Anish Roy Tre Spier Ayden Streahle
Ithaca College Angela Merch James Madison University Frankie Benedetto Carley Bird Keira Federline Jake Goldfarb Emma Phipps Emily Volin Kean University Chris Wallace Kent State University Gabrielle Kennedy Keystone College Damian Frasier Richard Walker Kutztown University Skye Jones Angela Rossetti Lafayette College Jacob Nickel Lebanon Valley College Gavin O’Conner Lehigh University Alex Dela Torre Jessica Levin Lousiana State University Gabby Bobb Loyola UniversityMaryland Franklin Kish Allie Meyers Lily Parker Lynn University Dylan Pirylis Gavin Poulshock Maritime College Ryan Curran Marymount University Jalen Holmes
Elon University Robby Fleisher Emily Ringold
Mercyhurst University Amanda Rittenhouse
Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University William Yang
Messiah University Danielle Kerr
Fairleigh Dickinson University Carly Drumm Gabbie Hart Florida Atlantic University Paige Noble Franklin and Marshall College Michael Epstein
Montclair State University Kevin Borrelli Anthony Ferraro Muhlenberg College Lindsay Batzar Drew Greene Olivia Pollack Neumann University Jaclyn Burmood
Pace University Grace Pierlott Pennsylvania State University Max Becker Julia Coen Elisa Goodman Juliana Guida Mitchell Krupnick Kaylin Maher Revathi Nair Kyler Pitre Scout Pullano Princeton University Kelly Chin Adeeba Hasin Purdue University Andrew Devlin Cooper Pike Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute Rachel Gates Rider University Sarah Adams Louise Asif Noah Kriesman Benjamin Raden Rochester Institute of Technology Ethan Stern-Taubman Aidan Donahue Joe Sasso Rosemont College Sophia Truran Rowan University Emad Alawi William Alexander Qays Ali Elif Batir Sean Boyle Ali Canturk David Chehet Will Chernets Jaron Chen Jacob Foley Bobby Hawkinson Jason Jaczko Andrew McHugh Hir Patel Malik Sample Samantha Singer Owen Speas Hannah Udell Abigail Vickers Emily Whitson Brynn Wilson Bert Wright Sapjah Zapotitla Rowan University at Burlington County Kolbi Rogers Theodore Sachs Evalina Slattery Rutgers UniversityCamden Pierce Atkins Simon Becerra Antonio Carrero Christine Do Kien Le Mihali Pantelous
Rutgers UniversityNew Brunswick Abby Alexander Jaffer Alikhan Ivan Anthony Amistoso Reuben Billian Nidhi Busannagari Jackson Davis Ziva Davis Thuyen Doan Edie Doobinin Grace Ehret Emely Gelman Samuel Jang James Kwak Hannah Lee Mark McClintock Brendan McGovern Xandria McKinley Matthew Necsutu Evan Rentezelas Carolina Sanchez Aastha Soni Stefano Sul Justin Szeto Esther Tian Elvin Vo Tyler Wegrzyn Paris Wiesner Eva Woods Vivian Zhao Saint Joseph’s University Diego Andino Anna Cammisa Danielle Janicki Saint Leo University Maryanna Siuta San Diego State University Arden Chayapruks Skidmore College Julia Wolfson Stockton University Spencer Campbell Jackie Cangiano Alannah Cohen Hannah Greenspun Faith Jastrow Ava Klinger Michelle Lerman Alexandra Perry Leah Sanchez Elena Suarez Syracuse University Luke Anthony Daniel Arougheti Julia Boehning Giavanna Rebstock
Temple University Luke Ambrosino Jacob Balmer Aliza Durrani Jack Gaffin Alec Hayden Levi Jarslow Grace Laird Rania Masood Chloe Reid Ariana Santiago-Ramos Faizan Shariff Woyhibul Tahsin The College of New Jersey Rania Besser Alex Dreyer Lauren Hughes Andrew Naylor Madeline Reynolds Amanda Rosen Rachel Rosin Brett Schuster Nicole Vital Shira Weiss The Ohio State University Olujoba Akeh Lily Lazarus Devyn Levin Alex Levine Zach Schreiber Ilana Stofman Thomas Jefferson University Olivia Reganata
Towson University Alexis Kovach Salena Silver Tufts University Ananya Khedkar Amanda Yan Tulane University Aarya Lade Jillian MacHenry Alexa Mailman University of Alabama Timothy Ackerman Spencer DeAbreu Alek Katsikis
University at Buffalo Hannah Pollack University of California San Diego Connor Jeffery
University of Pittsburgh Samuel Gellert Nikolas Short Caleb Unterlack
University of Rhode Island Aidan Landis University of Richmond Remi Graff University of the Sciences Joshua Gray Isabel John University of Scranton EJ Matthews-Spratley
University of Central Florida Elliana Tonghini
University of South Carolina Hailee Connors Haley Krassan Gabriel Oppen Noa Pecarsky
University of Colorado - Boulder Ethan Bierig Zachary Kleinman Jakob Mutschler Marcus Newman
University of South Florida Arielle Cosenza Snezhana DiMauro Marco Veneziano Brianna Viscount
University of Connecticut Alexander Barkhamer Ayushi Chakravarty Dominique Liautuad
University of Southern California Jessica Wang Darren Zhou
University of Delaware Jake Atlas Brian Barry Christina Cherfane Giorgia De Marco Joey Farley Dylan Hagan Kelsie Johnson Hannah Leibowitz Alyssa McNulty Amanda Merovitz Jordon Miller Julia Nisenzon Marisa Rappaport Jake Sipera Ryan Tishey Lauren Troost Megan Wheeler Catherine Williams Nathan Wolf Nicole Zelen University of Hartford Madison Glauser
University of Tampa Mason Kahn Nia Slaton University of Tennesse Juliana Saidel University of Wisconsin - Madison Chloe Diamond Lalitha Viswanathan Ursinus College Belle Wilson Villanova University Ashton Ahn Vinnie Lin Marissa Zeuli Virgina Tech University Madison McNiff
University of Florida Nathan Belitsky Morgan Clemens
Washington University in St. Louis Aryan Pradhan Dov Schwartz
University of Illinois Laurel Decker
Washington and Lee University Aidan Dold
Univeristy of Maryland Alexa Atlas Michelle Barry Jacy Dickstein Ava Ingersoll Kelvin Le
West Chester University Monique Godofsky Olivia Greco
University of Miami Steven Brown Roan Mada University of Michigan Ethan Lam Isabella Levin Zan Mohsin
West Virginia University Jenna Babroff Widener University Giuliana Braunstein Katie Quarry Kaitlyn Thompson College of William & Mary Brillian Fu
University of New Haven Victoria Radzinska
William Patterson University Marshall Brown
University of Pennsylvania Ethan Farber Anushka Gandhi Youbin Park Youjin Park Kevin Zhou
York College Ryan Landis
SENIOR
Eastside’s Athletes of the Year: Female Lexi
June 2022
Honorable Mentions: Paige Watson (‘23) Lacrosse Maya Hemo (‘23) Wrestling Maddy McNiff (‘22) Cross Country/ Track & Field Kiley Walsh (‘22) Cross Country/ Track & Field Michelle Barry (‘22) Cross Country/ Track & Field Ajuni Oberoi (‘24) Golf Sophia Liu (‘24) Tennis Elliana Tonghini (‘22) Tennis/Track & Field Laura Eyre (‘22) Soccer
Marisa Rappaport (‘22) Field Hockey/Basketball Emma Dimter (‘23) Swimming
Male Honorable Mentions: Josh Janove (‘22) Baseball
Noah Kreisman (‘22) Track & Field Jack Gaffin (‘22) Cross Country and Track Robby Fleisher (‘22) Soccer and Track Ryan Landis (‘22) Lacrosse Nick Short (‘22) Swimming Ryan Cortes (‘23) Swimming Drew Greene (‘22) Basketball Jake Green (‘22) Basketball EJ Matthews-Spratley (‘22) Basketball Brian Cotter (‘24) Football/ Basketball/ Golf Aidan Landis (‘22) Bowling
EASTSIDE
Lexi Tepper and Dillon Page Scout Pullano (‘22): What does winning Athlete of the Year mean to you? Lexi Tepper (‘23): Winning Athlete of the Year, honestly, is super awesome and is kind of crazy because of all the different athletes we have and knowing how well some of our teams did this year like basketball, swimming and tennis. It is an amazing honor SP: Why do you enjoy running so much? LT: I love running because my parents introduced it to me after I was playing soccer for a few years in middle school because they ran themselves. As time went on I realized that working hard translates to how you end up running and what you can achieve, so I always thought that running would be a great way to showcase my hard work. SP: Describe your mindset going into each meet. LT: I try to be as confident as I can, but I always get very nervous. As long as I keep in mind that my training and everything I have done prior to the meet is going to show in the race, then that’s really all I need to be confident. SP: How do you think you possess leadership qualities and abilities on the team? Abby Yu (‘23): How does it feel to get the title of Athlete of the Year? Dillon Page (‘22): It’s a bit surprising, honestly. When you reached out to me about it, I was like ‘Really?’ I was a bit in shock, but I’ve been working hard these past couple of weeks, so I am very honored and happy to have received this title. AY: Why do you love track, and what makes high jump so special to you? DP: That’s a tough question. I just think that if you’re good at something, when you’re passionate about something and when you do well in it, it’s very rewarding. Just something about jumping over a bar, I just love it so much and I don’t know why. It’s just fun and the adrenaline you get from doing an event like high jump, like a vertical event, is just a rush and a lot of fun. I just enjoy every aspect of it. AY: What is your mentality before competing at any meet? DP: Definitely nerve racking just because I pressure myself, telling myself that I have to do well. I want to do well, and high jump is such a technical event. So much can go wrong in such a short amount of time. It’s such a mental event. I hope to do well and I plan to do well, but you never know what’s going to happen. So I would say it’s overall nerve racking, but competing is the whole point in doing this. Overall, competing is very enjoyable. AY: As a senior, how do you display leadership to the rest
LT: I always try to lead by example, whether it’s doing the actual warmup rather than skipping it, or trying hard in all of the workouts, giving my 100 percent best. I especially try to be a leader by cheering on my teammates as much as I can and making sure I talk to the whole team rather than just a few people. SP: Since you are a junior, how do you still look to improve next season? LT: Obviously I want to improve on my times, and start where I left off at that 18:59 range. I know it takes adjusting from spring track to cross country, but I definitely want to improve my time. Other than that, I want to be more vocal. This year, the seniors are the ones saying “okay, girls, let’s do this,” but I want to be that person that brings everyone together. SP: What was your favorite moment from this year and why? LT: There are so many good memories, like Senior Day, but also just every day is so much fun. You get to see everyone try their best, especially at meets; you see everyone grow. But breaking 19 minutes at the 5k during this past cross country season was definitel y the best memory for me when I reflect back on this season. of your team? DP: I’ve just been really dedicated over these past four years. I’ve had to miss family events many times to compete. I only miss a track meet if I have to, and I never really do. I come to practice Monday to Friday and Saturdays and just really give 110 percent. Also I step up whenever I’m needed. At some dual meets, I do hurdles even though it’s not my favorite. But, I have to get points for us, so I step up to the plate and I do whatever I’m needed in. Overall, I’ve stuck with it and have put a lot of time into track. AY: Do you have a memory that stands out to your track season this year? DP: I would just say this year has kind of been up and down. Your entire senior season is a lot of fun. It’s sad because it’s my last year. I’ll never do high school track again, but I’m definitely happy with all that I’ve accomplished these past couple years. But, I would say last winter was the most fun with winning the sectional meet. I just stayed consistent last season, which was good. I had never won sectionals before in the winter because we did not really have a winter season my junior year since we were not able to have any big meets. It definitely felt good to win that and to just get to experience all the big meets finally for the first time.
Eastside’s Athlete of the Year honors were determined by a committee led by Abby Yu (‘23), Amanda Merovitz (‘22) and Scout Pullano (‘22). All coaches were consulted to give feedback.
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Tepper (‘23)
First Team All Conference (Cross Country) Qualified for state championship and Meet of Champs (Cross Country and Track) Won Group 4 Sectionals and named All South Jersey Won Camden County Championship in the 800 meter event (Spring Track) Ranked 25th in the state for indoor 800 meter event and 39th in the state for the 3200 meter event Broke the outdoor and indoor 800 meter event record for Cherry Hill East 3-year Varsity runner for Cross Country and Track Photo by Yena Son (‘22)/ Eastside Photo Editor
Dillon Page (‘22) First boy in East history to win the NJSIAA Meet of Champions 4th Best High Jump Clearance in East history 2021 County Champion Olympic Conference Champion South Group 4 Champion and Group 4 Champion Went completely undefeated during the 2021 outdoor season 4-year Varsity Award for Winter Track 4-year Varsity Award for Spring Track Committed Division I Athlete: Rutgers-New Brunswick
Photo by Yena Son (‘22)/ Eastside Photo Editor