Freehold Township High School
The Patriot Press
Issue 4
281 Elton-Adelphia Road Freehold, NJ 07728
June 2009
FTHS competes, shows school spirit at Battle of the Champions by Alexa Greenberg
Although FTHS came in last place during the scooter competition, the seniors were able to get their act together for the next event, the egg toss. Cristina Barthel and Steve Talbott ended up getting first, totaling FTHS’ points to 12. Next was the Chicken in the Hen House competition, where students had to walk in a circle while music played only to jump on their partners back when the music stopped. It became a challenge when the music stopped and a person’s partner was on the other side of the circle. Mackenzie Berry and Matt Devine were partnered up as well as Bobby Searby and Christie Cangialosi. Searby and
Cangialosi won the event, defeating Howell High School. The Thinking Event followed. Competitors had to hold one another up to keep as many body parts off the floor as possible. Each body part had a specific amount of points designated for it. The school with the lowest amount of points, or the least amount of body parts on the ground, won. Each school used different techniques, such as headstands and putting competitors on each others shoulders, to have the least amount of body parts on the floor. In the end, Colts Neck High School came in first and all other schools tied for second. The three-legged race came next, and FTHS came in
second after Howell. Kirchmer and Talbott then came out and dominated the boot toss, both coming in first. For the Junkyard Relay, FTHS encountered a few problems and setbacks, thus earning fourth place. The Tug of War came next, where students from different schools tested their strength and perseverance. FTHS boys came in fifth place while the girls placed first. Finally, competitors sang and danced their way through the Lip Sync event. Highlights from FTHS’s lip sync included the senior boys dancing to Beyonce’s “Single Ladies” and appearances from Sponge Bob and Squidward. However, FTHS’ dance skills fell
short of some of the other schools and came in sixth place for the Lip Sync. In the end, Freehold Township lost by a few points to Howell High School. Despite the loss, much fun, laughter, and memories was gained for all who attended. Congratulations to all competitors including: Amy Kirchmer, Christie Cangialosi, Cristina Barthel, Kaitlyn Curran, Kate Feola, Maddie Comfort, Mackenzie Berry, Bobby Searby, Joey Caiola, Kevin Brusotti, Matt Devine, Steve Talbott and Tyler McKinnon. Also, a special thanks to Ms.Galinski for everything that she does for the senior class.
photo courtesy of Ms. Galinski
On April 22, 2009, Battle of the Champions was held at Howell High School, where students from each of the schools in the district competed against one another in a variety of challenging events. For FTHS, the seniors showed their creativity, passion, skill, enthusiasm and most of all, dedication to everything and anything they do. The night consisted of laughs, tears, injuries, chanting, and it all started off with a bang when a tooth was lost by teammate Kate Feola during the Scooter Triathlon. A big thanks to Feola who was able to finish the Scooter race, and to Maddie Comfort for joining the team.
From top, left to right: Joey Caiola, Steve Talbott, Kevin Brusotti, Matt Devine, Kate Feola, Amy Kirchmer, Kate Curran, Mackenzie Berry, Cristina Barthel, Megan Jacobson, Christie Cangialosi, Tyler McKinnon and Bobby Searby
It was a ‘full house’ at FTHS’ senior-senior prom by Valentyna Olynyk
Another annual and very anticipated Peer Leadership event went on without a hitch on Thurs., May 7 as FTHS opened its doors to an event known as the Senior Citizen Prom. With Mr. Dohan overseeing the event, Peer Leadership members and committee heads Dina Russo and Danielle Fafalios put on a casino-themed prom night for senior citizens. Invites in perfect theme went out to seniors who were members of the Senior Center of Freehold. The turnout was large and expectant groups filed into the cafeteria
ready for a night of prom fun. The casino theme was apparent as tables held centerpieces of balloons and large mylare balloons with cars on them and streamers decorated the area with cards and ace of spades. Casino confetti was sprinkled on every surface. Students were asked to wear black, red, or white to add to the atmosphere which was most expertly decorated. In the beginning of the night, seniors were given raffle tickets to place into containers of items that were being raffled off. They
would place tickets with whatever item they wanted most and at the end of the night the winners were given their items to take home. Rachel Gorsky, Danielle Cantalupo, and Vin DiMaria did a great job getting local businesses such as Village Silver jewelry store and Starbucks to donate raffle items. As the night got off to a start, the dance floor filled with people as music from all decades was played, including everything from Elvis to Lady Gaga. Peer Leadership members even got a lesson in line dancing with the se-
niors. Party-goers could sit down to a tasty buffet dinner catered by the Senior Center and wait for the highlight of the night. All were anticipating the crowning of the senior prom king and queen. A student prom king, DiMaria, and queen, Julia Freire, were also chosen. In the end, the event was a huge success. All the senior citizens left happy with all their expectations met. Channel 77 even highlighted the event as did the local newspaper. Committee Head Dina Russo stated, “I really enjoyed
the experience. I loved decorating and putting the events together to make Peer Leadership seniors and the senior citizens happy.” Committee Head Danielle Fafalios agreed on the success of the night saying, “seeing how everything came together and how much all of our work paid off was great! It really brought everyone together and we all had such a good time.” Indeed, it was obvious that everyone worked well together to put on a fun and special night for the community.
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WORLD NEWS
Kyleigh’s Law: Too dramatic? by Brenda Ryan
Over the past few months, there has been much chatter over the new law passed in New Jersey named “Kyleigh’s Law: Bill A4021,” which will go in effect on May 15, 2010. However, it has become evident that no one truly knows what it is or how it will effect us. On Wed., April 15, 2009, our own Governor Corzine (You remember, the same guy who crashed his SUV going 91 miles per hour down the Garden State Parkway without a seatbelt) signed a bill making NJ the first state in the nation to have a decal law for teenagers, or “probationary drivers.” The bill was named in honor of Kyleigh D’Alessio, a student that was killed after being the passenger in a fatal car accident that occurred on Dec. 21, 2006 involving a young provisional driver with multiple passengers. In response to her daughter’s death, Kyleigh’s mother proposed a bill in hopes to prevent similar related deaths on the streets of NJ. This law requires NJ drivers under the age of 21 to display a shiny decal on their vehicle, thus identifying themselves to law enforcement. It also prohibits any driver under the age of 21 from driving with more than one passenger in the vehicle besides immediate family members, and it changes the driving curfew from midnight to 11 P.M. Although this is an amicable proposal that would be ideal if we, as a society, planned on baby-ing our children, it is neither realistic nor, more importantly, constitutional. The decal, as well as making it easy for police officers to identify, also serves as a scarlet letter for young drivers against other people on the roadway. People
who see the decal will be aware that the driver of the vehicle is a young adult without much experience, and so they can easily be taken advantage of, followed, or worse. This knowledge can lead to devastating consequences. We do not ask former convicts or pedophiles to put identifiers on their car because of the possible prejudice and constitutional conflicts, so then why is it allowed to discriminate against young adults and put them in jeopardy? The moment we take the shiny decal off the adhesive and stick it to our plates, we become targets and liabilities of the law. This law is a direct violation of our Fourth and Fifth Amendment Rights. Kyleigh’s Law is a prime example of age discrimination, for it only applies to new drivers under the age of 21. If you are a new driver and receiving your license and you are older than 21, a decal is not required to be on your car. Where is the constitutionality in that? Between 1997 and 2007 there were 3,358 driving fatalities amongst the age group of 15-20. Over the same time, there were 4,327 driving fatalities amongst the age group 65+. It is also known that over half of the age group of 15-20 is unable to vote, and considering that the elderly actively are heard in elections, who becomes the targets these laws? The answer is simple: the young and defenseless. It is a tragedy what occurred to the D’Alessio family, and I do not mean to lessen the loss of Kyleigh, but this radical driving law will not bring her back: we can only learn from her story. We need to leave parenting up to the parents. If you wish for your child’s curfew to be 11 P.M until TURN TO PAGE 4.
Freehold Township High School
P A T S T A T S
The Patriot Press
Brianna Tobey Editor in Chief Jeff Fox Managing Editor Ms. Kimberly Aleski Adviser Mike Interrante Valeriya Kozhynova Cartoonists Jordana Kranz Photographer
Staff
Vera DeFusco Jason Fox Alexa Greenberg Hannah Greenwald Madhura Karajgikar Valeriya Kozhynova Phil Levin Matt Loftus Kiley Monahan Sophie Nguyen Valentyna Olynyk Melissa Raynor Brenda Ryan Ashley Sheridan Ryan Spadola Chelsea Thorsheim
Seniors: There is still time to send your Senior prom and Senior week pictures! Send your pictures to ft.patriotpress@gmail.com!
Four men arrested for thwarted
terrorism attempt in N.Y. by Sophie Nguyen
Four men were arrested Wed., Mar. 20, for involvement in a failed terrorist plot. They had planned to plant bombs inside of cars near two N.Y. synagogues and then use a Stinger surface-toair missile to down military aircraft. However, the bombs, which were supposed to be detonated remotely, were fakes, planted by an F.B.I. informant, and the missile had been tampered with, making it impossible to fire. The men are now being held in a Westchester County jail. This plot, though thwarted, does raise worries about homegrown terrorism. James Cromitie, Laguerre Payen, David Williams and Onta Williams all met in prison, where they converted to Islam. Three of the four were born in the United States; Mr. Payen was born in Haiti and retains his Haitian citizenship. According to police commissioner Raymond W. Kelly, Cromitie, the leader, expressed his anger at conflicts in Pakistan and Afghanistan to the informant, saying that he wanted to “do something to America,” but that the “best target” – the World Trade Center – had already been attacked. The men apparently acted independently, and were
not taking orders from a specific terrorist organization. The four met the F.B.I. informant at a mosque in Newburgh, where they were not considered particularly dutiful members. According to imam Salahuddin Mustafa, the man he believes was the informant appeared two years ago, where he began talking about violent jihad. Other members of the mosque, suspecting him of involvement with the government, generally avoided him. However, Paven, Cromitie, and the two Williams did not. According to officials, the informant had been colluding with the government since 2002, when he plead guilty to a fraud scheme and was given a five-year sentence of probation. In April, Cromitie and the others chose the synagogues and air base that they would attack. On May 6, they went to a Conn. warehouse to transport their weapons to a facility in Newburgh, unaware that the devices were inoperable. On the day of the planned attack, the suspects parked their cars in front of their targets; one, an S.U.V., was driven by the informant. As the conspirators were spotted returning to their cars after planting the explosives, the police converged
on the scene. Officers smashed the S.U.V.’s windows, removed the unresisting men, and arrested them. Personnel from the Joint Terrorist Task Force, the F.B.I., and the N.Y. state police were also present. Since being apprehended, none of the four have answered reporters’ questions. The night before, the police, had told rabbis at the Riverdale Jewish Center and the Riverdale Temple that their synagogues were being threatened; the most recent statement released by the authorities says that the situation was always being controlled. This is the third such threat against these synagogues in 10 years; however, it is also the first major incident of home-grown terrorism in several years, and the first in Barack Obama’s administration. This comes on the heels of the recent controversy over the detainees at Guantanamo Bay. The senior rabbi at Riverdale said that the streets around the synagogue were unusually quiet in the wake of recent events. Whether they have more farreaching consequences, however, remains to be seen.
chelle Grushko says, “It’s scary to think about, that there is no cure or treatment. Precautions need to be taken, even to the extent of quarantining areas where the disease has been.” Millions of other Americans feel share Grushko’s point of view. However, the swine flu is a strain of the flu virus, which kills 36,000 and hospitalizes 200,000 every year. For years doctors have said the best way to prevent contracting the flu virus is to wash your hands in hot, soapy water for at least 30 seconds after sneezing, coughing and before meals. The same precautions apply for the swine flu as well, based on the fact it is a different strain of the regular flu virus. As exemplified by many of the
cases in N.Y. and across the rest of the nation, failure to follow one simple rule, to wash your hands, resulted in the spreading of this harmful virus. With schools closing all over the suburbs of N.Y. due to outbreaks of the disease around them, parents and children are lobbying to close more schools. In those institutions that remain open, students are starting to wear masks over their mouths and noses to prevent the inhalation of any harmful particles. A growing concern is spreading across the country that this new, deadly version of the flu cannot be fought. Scientists around the globe are working as quickly as they can to find a cure, or at least a way to combat the swine flu.
Swine flu sends chills around the world by Jason Fox
There are multiple newscasts throughout the day, and only one story is covered by all of them: the swine flu outbreak in America. Originating in Mexico, this disease was introduced to the United States by students from N.Y. who were brought over the border during Spring Break. With 4,700 new cases, 74 deaths in Mexico and six dead with an increasing number of infected in the U.S., this outbreak of swine flu, also known as the H1N1 virus, is spreading across the world and becoming an epidemic. What is really known about this new disease, though? It has proven to be deadly, and so far there is no known cure. When asked about what she thought of this new strain of the flu, Mi-
The true cause of swine flu? Cartoon by Mike Interrante
School News
Students, musicians rally to ‘Save Darfur’ by Brianna Tobey
On one of the sunniest, brightest days of May – May 21st – students gathered to learn about a subject very bleak and dark: the situation in Darfur. The outdoor “Save Darfur” Concert was planned in order to promote awareness about the deaths occurring in Darfur, located in the Sudan region of Africa. Already, 400,000 lives have been taken, and over 2.5 million people have been displaced. People continue to die each day; over 5,000 people die each month in Darfur. These horrific acts of violence alarmed the students in Ms. Quinn’s senior English classes. Quinn took over as advisor for Amnesty International, so along with seniors Scooter Ibrahim , Anthony Lanzaro, and Anthony Crudo, they planned an outdoor concert to encourage students to mail letters to Senators Menendez and Lautenberg. During lunch periods, the students of FTHS hand wrote over 1,000 letters! The gist of most of the letters was that “we
don’t want the atrocities happening in Darfur to continue,” says Ibrahim. “We were telling them that here at FTHS we’re not turning a blind eye to a big issue.” The concert was held in the parking lot on the auditorium side. Performers included seniors Tyshawn Wright, Frank Falisi, Phill Wallens, Joe Crispino, Christina Steele, Alan Stern, Keith Leming, and Crudo as well as juniors Gina Marie Soffian and Brandon Krompier. Teachers also performed: Quinn sang a lovely rendition of U2’s “One” with Falisi and original lyrics by Wright about the Darfur situation; Mr. Giblin belted many songs as well, including a reprise of his famous “Sweet Child O’ Mine,” originally by Guns & Roses. Math teacher Mr. Drummond also participated. “Ms. Quinn, with her all-knowing wisdom, knew that Mr. Drummond was in two bands. She asked him if he could perform and he said ‘of course,’” Ibrahim proclaims.
Drummond’s first performance was with the Downtowns, featuring senior Leming as the drummer. His next band, the Sydeways, performed a number of great songs as well. While the bands were playing, SGA sponsored a tailgate as part of the Spring Fling festival. Delicious food and refreshments were provided. After the concert, many students proceeded to the football field to watch “Hitch” for just $5. Quinn said she would like to thank all of the people involved in the concert, including the teachers who came to chaperone. “I came to the table outside the cafeteria and saw so many kids writing letters, I actually got choked up. The students of FTHS amaze me sometimes. I was blown away at how many students took a stand against genocide. Empowering new and future voters to use their voice is a wonderful thing.”
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Above: Seniors Sam Pagut, Joe Crispino, and Dan Lardaro, along with Mr. Giblin, accompany junior Gina Marie Soffian as she belts out a tune. Below: Seniors Frank Falisi and Phill Wallens join for a soulful duet.
Left: Seniors Christina Steele, Alan Stern, and Joe Crispino jam during a song. Right: Senior Tyshawn Wright wows the crowd. Photos by Jordana Kranz
Junior prom was da bomb! by Jeffy Fox
Above: Kylie Moore, Christine Sidorski, Hannah Greenwald, Vera DeFusco, Matt Pfeffer, Kiley Monahan, Bridget Joyce, Melissa Montano, and Chelsea Thorsheim Photo by Jeff Fox Below: Alex Verescak, Emily DeLuca Daly, and Paige Edelman Photo courtesy of Emily DeLuca Daly
Junior year, some say, is the workload, and some chatted ea- highly streamlined. Those selectmost challenging of the four years gerly with their classes about the ed for the test were held up for spent in high school. Many stu- night ahead. The energy made for just seconds. dents are beginning the dizzying a surreal atmosphere, emotionEven with the endlessly buildprocess of college applications: ally charging even those who ing enthusiasm, the prom itself there are standardized tests to did not expect to be exceedingly lived up to the enormous expecstudy for, guidance counselors to eager. “Prom’s one of those ritu- tations. The prom organizers, meet with, and websites to scruti- als I wasn’t going to get excited led by Ms. Wagner, applied the nize for bits of information. Ad- over,” said junior Sophie Nguyen. proven theory that delicious food, vanced Placement tests creep loud music, and great people up at the beginning of May, create the best dance with spring sports are in the midtremendous results. Among dle of the season, the actual the night’s highlights was academic portion of school the crowning of the prince is as stressful as it has ever and princess, Ralph McFadbeen. But just as one may den and Justine Janczewski. think that he or she is about However, Ryan Wnoroski’s to drown in the peak of the rendition of “Sweet Caroeleventh grade flood, hope line,” as previously seen at for recovery emerges from Patriot Idol, may be the most the calendar in the form of Juniors Sophie Nguyen and Cara Vu take a break remembered moment: “I Junior Prom. On Fri., April from dancing for a photo op. helped to convince Ryan… Photo by Jeff Fox 24, the class of 2010 gathto give his performance, and ered for their prom at the Ex- “But with all of the preparations I’m quite proud of it,” said junior celsior in Manalapan, hoping to and hype, you really can’t help it. Alex Buffer, a friend of Wnoforget about the pressures of high You get carried away. That’s what roski. “Ryan singing was the best school and have unpolluted fun. makes it fun.” part of my night,” added junior They were successful. After a whirlwind of hair and Sara Weinstein. For prom-goers, all of Friday makeup appointments, flower Ultimately, the evening closed was a rush of pure adrenaline. Al- pickups, giddy parents, and far earlier than many would have though it officially began at seven hundreds of pictures in the final liked. Although there was no in the evening and ended at 11, hours before, the official party shortage of post-prom plans, little the dance stretched much longer, began as a majority of the junior could top the dance itself. In genwith many students overwhelmed class made their way to the Ex- eral, the junior class was overwith excitement from the home- celsior. Despite some skepticism joyed with its experience, one room bell. Teachers, tasting the about the district’s recent random of the few chances in a pressureanticipation, were caught in the breathalizer policy, the entrance filled year to have an authentic, wave as well: many eased their process was well organized and untarnished good time.
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features Reporter on the Street asks: “Angels and Demons” by Dan Brown “Memnoch the Devil” by Ann Rice -Ms. Pearson
Anything by Tom Wolfe or Haruki Marukami -Mr. McCarthy
“The Brief and Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao” by Junot Diaz “The Hours” by MIchael Cunningham -Mrs. Price “Skeletons at the Feast” by Chris Bohjalian “Handle with Care” by Jodi Picoult -Mrs. Titus “The Awakening” by Kate Chopin Anything by Nick Hornby or Chuck Klosterman -Ms. Aleski “Pillars of the Earth” by Ken Follet -Mrs. Blood “Blink: The Power of Thinking Without Thinking” by Malcom Gladwell -Ms. Quinn “War and Peace” by Leo Tolstoy “Gravity’s Rainbow” by Thomas Pynchon -Mr. Hipsley
compiled by Brianna Tobey
‘Fabulousness’ found in N.J. by Brianna Tobey
Welcome to the Garden State. With women as extravagant as the houses that they live in, “The Real Housewives of New Jersey” exploits the lives of five upperclass women living in New Jersey. The rather Mafioso women’s lives revolve around not only their families, but around scandal and gossip as well. The first of the five women is Teresa Giudice, a stage mother has a “juicy and delicious” husband named Joe. Teresa spends Joe’s money on furniture and decorations for their new home, and on supporting her eldest daughter Gia’s acting and modeling career. Teresa has three daughters – Gia, Gabriella and Milania – and the three girls are being trained to be “fabulous.” Jaqueline Laurita, sister-in-law of Laurita-Manzo sisters Caroline and Dina, is arguably the most likeable of the five women. She plays the part of the mediator when it comes to keeping the peace between Danielle and the other ladies, particularly Dina. Jaqueline is the mother of two: a 17-year-old daughter from a previous marriage and a six-year-old son named CJ. Jaqueline is a very sweet woman who has yet to badmouth anyone, and attempts to see all sides of the frequent drama that occurs on the show. Next is Dina Laurita-Manzo. Dina has a husband, a teenage daughter, a hairless cat, and quite the beef with Danielle. While the details of why Dina abhors Danielle are unclear, and after a quasi rekindling with Danielle, Dina wonders “I don’t know if she
wants to be me, or if she wants to skin me and wear me like last year’s Versace.” Dina also temporarily lived with her older sister, Caroline. Caroline Laurita-Manzo is a tough-as-nails woman whose family is “as thick as thieves.” She has three children, one of whom is a law student and another who will be attending a cosmetology school. Another has a burning desire to open a strip club. Caroline believes that family comes first, and is very protective of her sisters, children, nieces and nephews. Last but certainly not least is the blood-and-thunder scandalcausing woman herself: Danielle Staub. Most of the scandal and drama that occurs on the show revolves around Danielle somehow; she has her own problems with Dina, but tends to get on the nerves of others. After her divorce, 45-year-old Danielle began looking for love in seemingly all the wrong places. First it was the nameless man, who she’d been talking to in a rather questionable manner for two years. Then it was onto the 26-year-old man who apparently made her feel “the way she wants to feel,” but an episode later, there was “trouble in paradise.” Danielle is promiscuous, vacuous, and fabulous. If you look at the show in an intelligent way, you’ll realize that it doesn’t portray N.J. in a positive nor in a realistic way. However, it’s a guilty pleasure for many. The few, the proud, the Housewives watchers tune in every Tuesday at 10 P.M. to Bravo.
“What books are you reading this summer that you recommend?”
“The Unbearable Lightness of Being” by Milan Kundera “Love in the TIme of Cholera” by Gabriel Garcia Marquez -Ms. Keegan Anything by Charlotte Bronte or Ray Bradbury -Mrs. Lanza “The Other Boleyn Girl” by Philippa Gregory “The Time Traveler’s Wife” by Audrey Niffenengger -Mrs. Manzar “Lincoln on Race and Slavery” by Henry Gates -Mr. Giblin “Lovely Bones” by Alice Sebold “The Butterfly Virus” by Victor Grippi -Mrs. O’Neill “The Ruins” by Scott Smith “Slaughterhouse-Five” by Kurt Vonnegut -Mr. McEvoy “Waiting to Die” by Richard M. Rossi -Mrs. McCoy
Bamboozle Festival 2009 rocked by Hannah Greenwald
“You all look absolutely terrible. You lot look wet, and cold, and just… just terrible.” Those were the first words Enter Shikari’s lead singer said after taking the stage on Sunday afternoon at The Bamboozle Festival. But the comment, which at any other time and place would have warranted a slap across the face, was instead met with a cacophony of cheers and screams. Yes, we looked terrible – and we were proud of it. My entire Bamboozle experience this year was like that: full of unabashed overexuberance and a total disregard for the things I normally worry about - things like my makeup, personal space, blood loss… I’m kidding about that last part. There isn’t anything too dangerous about Bamboozle, as long as you stay away from wherever Gwar is playing. I was there both days with my friend Christine, and although we could barely walk Sunday night, we never got tired of being there. With nine stages, several carnival rides and unlimited free candy, there was something for everyone. Despite its sometimes “scene”-y overtones, the Bamboozle Festival has truly achieved an anythinggoes atmosphere; over the course of the weekend I witnessed everything from an impromptu human pyramid to a tent selling hilariously irreverent shirts about the swine flu. In my opinion, the festival’s greatest accomplishment this year was the variety in the lineup. The 32 bands Christine and I saw included everything from generic pop-punk to electro to hardcore. That being said, I’d like to take this opportunity to promote some of the bands who really stood out
to me. All four are on Myspace. For The Foxes – This band nearly killed me with their cuteness. Clad in a shirt and tie, the charmingly sincere vocalist sang about love, karma, and pizza over piano-pop melodies. Their lyrics are adorable – listen to “More Than A Crush” for proof. www. myspace.com/forthefoxes Locklsey, to me, felt very classic: they managed to be fun and upbeat without descending into inane antics and gimmickry. Their first CD, “Don’t Make Me Wait,” is full of spunky pop songs that don’t all sound alike, and sometimes I can’t help drawing comparisons to the Beach Boys or even the Beatles. www.myspace. com/locksley Sexy Heroes In Transit – Remember what I said before about inane gimmickry? Well, if one band knows how to do it the right way, it’s Sexy Heroes. Let me paint you a word picture: imagine four guys dressed in matching purple shirts and neon green firefighter pants playing hilarious odes to pirates and Robert Downey, Jr. They’re outrageous, and they have the talent to back it up. www.myspace.com/sexyheroes When we first looked at the lineup, Christine and I were a little disappointed at the lack of ska acts after having seen three of them in ’08. So we were happy to discover Edna’s Goldfish sort of randomly a few days before Bamboozle. Their set was, in the vein of most ska shows, ridiculously lighthearted and fun – and their last song, a cover of Reel Big Fish’s “Veronica Sawyer,” made them one of my favorite bands of the weekend. www.myspace. com/ednasgoldfish
Kyleigh’s Law... pg 2 then enforce that. But don’t push your own beliefs on others. Kyleigh’s Law poses, “If 12 fully loaded jumbo jets crashed every year there would be public outcry. Something would be done about it. But every year, nearly 6,000 teens die in car crashes. It’s time for change.” I agree, for a change is needed. However, instead of drastically passing a law that prohibits young drivers learning to drive, enforce the laws already in play. I understand that young drivers are more likely to be an automobile accident, but whether the age is 17 or 21, you still will be a driver with little driving experience. Young drivers will still be young drivers. Upon researching more information on the recently passed bill, I came across an interesting concept. Consider this statement from Division of Highway Traffic Safety Director Pam Fischer: “Every nine minutes a teen crashes in New Jersey.” But if you do the math, you would discover that New Jersey suffers from 58,400 teen deaths per year, far from the actual 6,000 deaths that occur. Now, let’s take a step back and put this law into reality. You are a junior in college and coming home from school, and you still have your GDL. The first time you are able to drive past 11 P.M or with more than one passenger beside a family member is your 21st birthday. This is the same day you will first be allowed to legally drink. Not only will this mark your first experience of vodka burning down your throat, but it may quite possibly mark your first experience of driving past 2 A.M with all of your friends. Was Kyleigh’s Law smart for our state to pass? That’s debatable. But that’s Jersey for you.
Movies
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Valeriya Kozhynova examines the heavenly and hellish aspects of ‘Angels and Demons’ If “The DaVinci Code” blew your mind, you’ll really be stunned after “Angels and Demons.” Both of these films were taken from two books of the same names by author Dan Brown. Many who have read both books will say that “The DaVinci Code” is the better book of the two. But many who have gone to see both movies say that “Angels and Demons” is the better movie. However, I disagree. Maybe it is the action thrill of “Angels and Demons” that draws people to it, but it still can’t beat the puzzling riddles of “The DaVinci Code.” Just like both books were written by Dan Brown, both movies were directed by Ron Howard. But, “Angels and Demons” was written first by Dan Brown, and only after its success, did Brown go on to write “The DaVinci Code.” Ron Howard, though, makes “Angels and Demons” the sequel of “The DaVinci Code.” The plot of this new movie follows a yet another mystery, only this time, it is the long debated conflict between religion versus science. In the movie, a much credited scientist, Leonardo Vetra, uses the Hadron Collider to make antimatter; a very powerful and destructive substance. The antimatter is
quickly stolen, and Vetra is killed. But Vetra has been branded with
the day. The antimatter has been placed by the Illuminati inside the
ferred Pope candidates, were kidnapped and were said to be put to
In this cartoon by Valeriya Kozhynova, the title “Angels & Demons” is an ambigram. Ambigrams read the same upside down and right side up. the ancient Illuminati ambigram. That is when Harvard symbologist Robert Langton (Tom Hanks) is called in once more to save
Vatican City, where the Conclave, due to the pope’s recent and mysterious death, was beginning. To top it all off, four preferitti, pre-
Cool off with summer movies!
death each hour, starting at 8:00 pm. Robert Langton and Vetra’s daughter, Vittoria (Ayelet Zurer), uncover a long forgotten Illumi-
nati path to Illumination laid out throughout Rome and its ancient cathedrals, churches and statues. With no help from the Vatican Swiss guard, Robert and Vittoria have to beat the race against the Illuminati and against time. For those of you who haven’t read the book or seen the movie, the ending will truly shock you. Although the Vatican City would not let the movie be filmed on the grounds of the Vatican, much of the movie was filmed in Rome. Most of the crew filmed the movie in Cali., having to entirely rebuild the St. Peter’s Basilica in Cali. Director Ron Howard plans on completing the trilogy by following Dan Brown’s third book in the series, which is yet unpublished. Although I don’t know how much more controversy the readers and the viewers can handle. In the unreleased book, a descendant from the bloodline of Jesus Christ and Mary Magdalene walks among us, and the ancient Illuminati try to show the true face of the Vatican. The one thing that is left for Dan Brown and Ron Howard to do is to try and discover the meaning of life.
by Sophie Nguyen
While it’s great to get outside during the summer, remember this: in the movie theater it is air-conditioned, and the summer movie season can be particularly inviting. Here we have for you a sampler of the good, the bad, the ugly, and the pretty (but virtually talentless). “The Hangover,” making its entrance on June 5, promises to be the kind of “what happens in Vegas” story that doesn’t include weepy, irritated females (e.g., Katy Perry, Cameron Diaz) – unless you count the bride-tobe. Following the adventures and misadventures of men at a bachelor party – and featuring Mike Tyson – our token summer comedy includes, among other things, a tiger and a mysteriously-appeared baby. It has to be at least a little bit interesting – if Vegas teaches us nothing else, it’s that spectacle sells. “Transformers: Revenge of
the Fallen,” which will be released on June 26, and it looks to be crammed with even more thrills than the first. The plot seems a little hazy – apparently Sam (Shia LaBeouf) is having visions in the middle of class – but there are more falling buildings than ever – and this time, they ain’t playing small. No, they’re going for the Seven Wonders. If that doesn’t appeal, there’s always Megan Fox pretending to act while actually just writhing on top of a motorcycle. Undoubtedly Transformers will be one of the guilty-“I feel like I’m ten again but I don’t care”-pleasures of the summer run. “Public Enemies,” opening July 1, is just the right movie for our difficult times. In the age of Madoff, who doesn’t want to see the rich villains run for their lives (and their livelihoods)? It helps that Johnny Depp is the one wielding the gun, playing oppo-
site Christian Bale, with the lovely Marion Cotillard on his arm. If seeing the big bad banks get their due isn’t interesting enough – seeing whether this flick can be an actual contender for the Oscars might be. “Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince,” coming out on July 17, is – for those of you not rabidly keeping count – the sixth in the series, and luckily, the stars aren’t moving into nursing homes yet. Daniel Radcliffe, Rupert Grint, and Emma Watson return in the sixth installment, with newly-raging hormones. Meanwhile, the series is taking a darker turn, and behind all of the typical teenage drama are themes of terrorism, death, morality, fun things like that. “(500) Days of Summer,” jockeying for audiences in little indie theaters everywhere, will be the prerequisite romantic comedy. Zooey Deschanel, do-
ing what she does best – playing doe-eyed unique!girls – and Joseph Gordon-Levitt, playing a sad-eyed lonely!boy star in this movie about a 500 day relationship, where scenes are taken out of chronological order. It may not have A-listers, but this movie does have heart and earnestness. “Taking Woodstock,” coming out August 14, is Ang Lee’s official return from the land of dramas to the world of comedy – he says that this was the movie that he has had the most fun directing. A light-hearted movie about the workings of the iconic Woodstock festival, it promises to have laughs in addition to the usual drugs, sex, and rock and roll – as well as Demetri Martin looking rather dazed and/or pained as people trample over his lawn. “District 9,” also released August 14, will be a hotbed of geek activity. The makers were originally slated to do a movie version
of the game Halo, but when that fell apart, they instead teamed up to create this documentary-style film. Involving disappointingly few high-tech guns, it’s about – of all things – alien segregation, specifically, alien segregation in South Africa, with its messy racial and political history. Probably the most atypical of the summer flicks, District 9’s plot begins with the landing and leads us to a concentration camp, exploring the strangeness of these inter-species interactions. Regardless of whether they enjoy explosions or fireworks of the more romantic kind, audiences will undoubtedly find something for them in the theatres this movie season. Unless they choose to stay glued to the screen indefinitely, which may not be so bad of an idea.
“Ghosts of Girlfriends Past? Hmm… does this title sound vaguely familiar to anyone out there? In case a little light bulb hasn’t begun to flicker on in your head yet, allow me to set those gears of yours in motion. Every family has its holiday traditions and with every holiday comes hours and hours of never-ending marathons of movie after movie on the T.V. And perhaps on one of those countless hours of T.V., a little movie known as “A Christmas Carol” popped up on the screen. In this classic movie, the main character, Ebenezer Scrooge, is a stingy old man who
has an attitude comparable to the Grinch. Scrooge hates everything about Christmas and is a lonely, old soul who is neither loved or simply just liked by anyone in his life. One fateful Christmas, Scrooge is visited by the three Ghosts of Christmas—the Ghost of Christmas Past, the Ghost of Christmas Present, and the Ghost of Christmas future—who show him how his behavior has turned him into a cold-hearted man who is destined to be alone forever unless he changes his ways. So why a Christmas movie in May? Well, “Ghost of Girlfriends Past” actually has nothing
to do with Christmas. In fact, the character Scrooge is nowhere to be found in this movie—except, of course, if you look at Connor Mead. In short, Ghost of “Girlfriends Past” is a modern-day twist on “A Christmas Carol.” What exactly is the difference between the two? Here’s the story: The main character, Connor Mead (McConaughey) - the Scrooge of this movie - is a rather explicit celebrity photographer. To him and all of the men around him, it seems like he has it all. He has women, he has money, he has plenty of freedom and is idolized by nearly every person
who doesn’t actually real know the true Connor. The real story starts when Connor comes back home after years to come to his little brother, Paul’s wedding. This causes a big stir, since Connor is against the whole “holy matrimony” thing and has also been involved with every one of the bridesmaids, with the exception of one very desperate blonde. In the process of nearly causing the bride to have a nervous breakdown and also hitting on her mother, Connor is visited by—you guessed it—three ghosts to come and help teach him that there is true love out there, with
his first true love, Jenny - one of the bridesmaids. The movie itself lacks a lot of substance. But really what can you expect with Matthew McConaughey playing the lead? If you’re looking for a movie with lots of depth and artistic direction to it, this definitely isn’t the movie for you. But it you’re looking for a movie to give you a few little laughs and to just have a good time with after a long week, then I say go for it. “Ghost of Girlfriends Past” is one of those movies that’s just either a hit or a miss.
‘Ghosts of Girlfriends Past’ is predictable, yet playful by Ashley Sheridan
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SCHOOL NEWS
Mary Higgins Clark visits FRHSD students Game of Life creator speaks to AMC math competitors by Brianna Tobey
Mary Higgins Clark, a New York Times best-selling author, can now add “keynote speaker” to her repertoire. On May 13, 20 students from FTHS joined students from throughout the FRHSD to meet Higgins Clark for the Enthusiastic Readers Luncheon. Each student received a copy of her novel “Just Take My Heart,” which she co-wrote with her daughter, Carol Higgins Clark. Higgins Clark talked about her upbringing, how she became interested in writing, and life as an author. She went into details about the difficulties of getting a novel published, and told the enthusiastic readers about how she developed her characters, her
by Jeffy Fox
writing schedule, and creating ideas for her suspense novels. After the esteemed author spoke, the students broke for lunch. The enthusiastic readers were thrilled to see the dessert selection, as were many of the chaperones. After the commencement of lunch, students lined up to get their novels signed by the renowned Higgins Clark, who did so gladly. “It was great! It was a very nice treat,” says junior attendee Jordana Kranz. To recognize students for their love of literature is a thoughtful and much appreciated thing, and a good time was most certainly had by those who attended.
On May 21, the best math students in the FRHSD gathered at the Freehold Radisson’s Crystal Ballroom for an event that would make Kevin Gnapoor (you know, the math team captain and rhyme master from “Mean Girls”) proud. 20 of FTHS’ top scorers in the American Mathematics Competition joined with their counterparts from the rest of the district to celebrate the hidden beauty behind math and logic. The American Mathematics Competition exam, administered earlier this year, is a nationwide event that has challenged students for over 60 years. The 2009 contest was broken down into two levels: the AMC-10 for freshman and sophomores, and the AMC12 for juniors and seniors. Sophomore James Dinapoli had the top score on the AMC-10 exam, while senior Dean Douvikas achieved
the same on the AMC-12. Additionally, Douvikas’s grade was enough to qualify for the AIME, a second exam available only to the best scorers from the AMC tests. He was the only individual from FTHS to be invited to attempt the AIME. To open the ceremony, the students were treated to a speech by Princeton professor Dr. John H. Conway. Conway, a British native and graduate from Cambridge, is most famous for his work involving geometry and games. Among his best-known creations are the Game of Life, a simple experiment in evolution, and Conway’s Soldiers, a single-player alternative to peg solitaire. The mathematician kept everyone in the audience, both student and staff, enthralled as he shared the basic concepts of his theories of games. Yet he did not just speak of his
expertise: in only a very minor application of his knowledge, Dr. Conway handily defeated a team of the most ambitious students in several games of Dots and Boxes. Although he left everyone speechless, Conway decided to share his strategy to those who were interested afterwards. After the professor’s speech, the awards presentation began with a brief introduction from each of the recipients, followed by speeches by the AMC-12 winners about why both they and their peers loved math. For the highest scores, an additional reward was in place: the two best scores on each test from each school received a copy of Dr. Conway’s book, The Book of Numbers. Ultimately, the AMC banquet was a fulfilling experience for math lovers across the FRHSD.
It started out as a regular day for most teachers, but when they came to school they were greeted by the Peer Leaders of FTHS. The Peer Leaders did their best to make all of the teachers in the school feel appreciated for their hard work and dedication to the school and its students. According to Mrs. Kurczeski, the best part of Teacher Appreciation Week was when one of the Peer Leaders offered her an umbrella and walked her into the school when she got out of her car on a
rainy day. Thus, the peer leaders not only show their efforts inside of the school, but also on the outside. Many teachers commended the students for their work. Peer Leaders not only assist the students, but also make the teachers feel great too. The Peer Leaders showed their appreciation for the teachers by decorating the faculty bathrooms, applauding the teachers when they walked into the main office, and going around with a cart of treats. Some Peer Leaders even thanked
teachers for their commitment to the students and the school when they passed by in the hallways. Ms. Latza states, “It was very nice to know that the teachers’ efforts are paid attention to. It’s good to know that students would go out of their way to make the teachers feel respected and valued.” The Peer Leaders did a fine job during Teacher Appreciation Week, and they recognized the fact that there would be no school without the remarkable teachers at FTHS.
Teachers treated like royalty at FTHS by Madhura Karajgikar
photo courtesy of Brianna Tobey
From left: senior Katie Melendez, senior Brianna Tobey, junior Jordana Kranz, senior Vin DiMaria, and author Mary Higgins Clark.
FTHS students give more than just time by Valentyna Olynyk
FTHS has always been known as a school filled with students who go above and beyond. On Fri., May 15, FTHS students gave more than just their time by donating blood to Central Jersey Blood Bank. This year, students collected 113 units of blood, beating last year’s collected amount by six units. 128 students went through the process of donating blood which included going through a questionnaire. Unfortunately there were 15 deferrals, but deferrals are common when things like traveling out of the country, illness and being underweight must be taken into consideration. The blood drive was held in the small gym with representatives from the Central Jersey Blood Bank and was organized by Peer Leadership. Our own Nurse Roake was a huge help in the event as were co-chairs se-
niors Britany Schram and Tyler McKinnon. 113 units of blood were successfully collected and each unit saves three lives. Blood banks are necessary to supply blood to hospitals in the area. The blood goes to victims of anything from accidents, blood disorders, trauma, and surgery. Senior Kady Stockman decided to give blood for personal reasons, explaining “it was my way of giving back and helping save lives.” Peer Leadership also provided snacks and refreshments for students after they gave blood so that they would not feel faint. Senior Joe Szesko who took part in the event stated, “I am glad I was able to donate blood. I know it will go to someone in need. They also did a great job of providing food and refreshments. Without them I would not have made it through
the rest of the day.” FTHS can definitely take pride in its students whose generosity and goodwill was apparent every time an arm wrapped in gauze was spotted in the hallway. Between the students and the Peer Leaders who worked on the event, we can work to save lives and work for the community successfully. A special thanks to all those who donated and to the peer leaders who worked this charitable event: Jon Bosa, Nicole Bottalico, Danielle Fafalios, Alexis Fedorchak, Chris Gheraldi, Kyle Kasten, Jeff Kurczeski, Sarah Hazell, Nicole Mularz, Hani Nasr, Alexis Stenftennagel, Anna Kibrick, Cristina Barthel, Laura Arboleda, Kevin Weber, and CoChairs Britany Schram and Tyler McKinnon.
Matt Loftus voices opinion on sexism at FTHS Among the countless rules, regulations and school policies that are strictly enforced at FTHS, one of them is clearly being overlooked. If you’re a male who finds joy in using some type of draw-string bag in school, too bad! These bags are “too big” and could be “concealing a weapon.” Pick any girl at random in FTHS however, and they will almost always be carrying a purse that is so big that it could probably fit three draw-string bags inside of
it! Though FTHS principal, Mrs. Higley, says that girls and boys are not allowed to carry books in bags, this rule seems less enforced for females. Women constantly preach about equal rights in society, but they appear to receive special treatment when it comes to issues like this. What makes it alright for them to hold their books in an oversized bag, when guys have to carry them around without any bags? This type of sexism is
something that happens every day of school, in hundreds of different cases, but nothing is done to stop it. To sum it up, FTHS, enforce your rules fairly. The FTHS website directly claims, “The Freehold Regional High School District does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, disability in its programs or activities.” Maybe this disclaimer should be revised.
Students starve for hunger by Vera DeFusco
Each day, over 26,000 children under the age of five die from preventable diseases, most associated with malnutrition. In the last 50 years, 400 million people worldwide have died from hunger and poor sanitation. That’s three times the number of people killed in all wars fought in the entire 20th century (World Bank World Development Report, 2008). In May, 46 students decided to do something about it. Joining the Church of the Master’s youth group in Howell, they participated in the 30-Hour Famine, run by World Vision, a Christian humanitarian organization dedicated to aiding children, families, and their communities worldwide to reach their full potential by tackling the causes of poverty and injustice. World Vision serves all people, regardless of religion, race, ethnicity, or gender. The famine is a worldwide hunger awareness program to help feed the world’s poorest children. 20 students from FTHS committed to going without food for 30 hours so that others could live. Through family, friends and fundraisers, participants made a difference while getting a true taste of hunger. With so many poverty-stricken countries and malnutrition-related diseases, how could one group make a difference? World Vision’s projects help families gain access to critical necessities like clean water, sustainable food sources, health care, education, and economic opportunities.
When taking food and basic care into consideration, that’s about $30 per child per month, or just $1 per day. Every little bit that was raised made a difference. This year, the group raised over $4800. This amount is matched five times by government and private grants to World Vision. Top fundraisers from FTHS were Christine Sidorski and Scooter Ibrahim. The famine is not just about raising money. Participants spent the weekend at the Church of the Master participating in activities that, while fun, taught about the focus countries of this year’s famine and how hunger and poverty affects them. Students were split into “tribes” competing for their survival. Participants included juniors Dan Kropa and Kiley Monahan and senior Sam Pagut (team Brazil); juniors Jeff Fox and Kylie Moore (team Ecuador); juniors Mike Rogers, Hannah Greenwald, Jon Zucker and Vera DeFusco and senior Ibrahim (team Chile); juniors Chelsea Thorsheim and Matt Pfeffer (team Peru); juniors Jimmy Decker and Sidorski and sophomores Alexa Long and Melissa Montano (team Bolivia); and juniors Jordana Kranz and Christine Dimino, senior Kady Stockman, and freshman Adam Rogers (team Columbia). The participants were able to come together and appreciate all that we have in our lives from day to day. They worked to offer more than a chance to survive, but to give hope for a better future.
sports Girl’s track has successful run by Chelsea Thorsheim
The girls track and field team began the spring season strong, coming off the high of a winter season filled victories. With the A-North Championship in mind, the girls started off the season with a victory against Marlboro, Manalapan, Middletown North, and Howell. The District Championship was within reach and the girls all ran their hearts out, and FTHS barely defeated rival Colts Neck. In the 100 meter dash, Gabby Galanti took 3rd. In the 200 meter dash, Kelly Pereira and Sarah Morrison placed second and third respectively. In the 400 meter dash, Christina Camassa, Rhianna Zalewski, and Jenna Eldridge took second, fourth, and sixth. Heather Spadola and Bridget Joyce placed fifth and sixth in the 800 meter run, contributing to the point total of the Lady Pats. In the 3,200 meter run, Chelsea Thorsheim placed third. The 4x4 relay of Kelly and Emily Pereira, Kelly Berg, and Rhianna Zlewski took first. In the 100 meter hurdles, Emily Pereira, Desiree Reese, and Kelly Berg placed second, third, and fourth, respectively. Kelly Pereira, Berg, and Emily Pereira placed first, third, and fifth, respectively, in the 400 meter hurdles. Ali Moody placed 6th in high jump. Reese and Gabby Galanti took and third in the long jump, and fourth and sixth in the triple jump. Alison Dixon placed 2nd in shot put. J’nel Billups and Cassie Ellerman took 2nd and 5th in discus. After they beat Colts Neck in districts, the girls were hoping to repeat the victory for the title of A-North Champs. However, the team fell two points short of Colts Neck. At the Monmouth County Championships, Kelly and Emily Pereira took fourth and sixth in the 400 meter hurdles, and Emily Pereira and Reese took third and sixth in the 100 meter hurdles. In the 3,200 meter run, Chelsea Thorsheim took sixth. The 4x4 of Christina Camassa,
Berg, and the Pereira sisters took second, and Reese, Galanti, and Collete Johnson took first, second, and fifth, respectively. Reese also placed fourth in triple jump, and the team finished fourth in Monmouth County. At the Shore Conference Championships was the next weekend, Reese finished third in triple jump, and the 4x4 team of Zalewski, Berg, and the Pereira sisters took 4th and set a new school record, shattering the old one by almost 10 seconds. The State Sectionals in Hillsborough had great competition and pushed the girls to run, jump, and throw some great times, heights, and distances. In the 400 hurdles, Kelly Pereira, Emily Pereira, and Berg finished seventh, ninth, and sixteenth respectively. Sarah Morrison placed 21st in the 100, and Zalewski finished eleventh in the 400. First place in the long jump was awarded to Galanti, and Reese also placed fourth. Johnson finished eleventh in long jump. In the shot put, Allison Dixon placed 23rd, and in high jump, Ali Moody placed fifth. Emily Pereira placed seventh in the 100 hurdles, with Camassa, Morrison, and Eldridge running the 200 and taking twelfth, fourteenth, and 28th. In the 3,200 meter run, Thorsheim finished 15th, and Amanda Rosenberg followed close behind in 20th. Reese took eighth in triple jump, with Johnson following close behind at eleventh. The 4x4 teamtook second and qualified for the next round of states, along with Galanti and Reese. The team finished tenth in the state. In the State Championship, Reese finished seventh in long jump and Galanti placed eleventh. The 4x4 team took 4th and qualified for the Meet of Champions, where they took 14th. The entire team had a successful season, and everyone is hoping to win A-North title next spring. Great season girls!
FTHS golf team bumps and runs to a good season by Jeffy Fox
The FTHS golf team rode out a roller-coaster season to one of their better records, finishing with a record near .500. With the leadership of seniors Joey Caiola, Jake Levine and Coach Blanco, the golfers conquered a difficult schedule, including wins against perennial champions Colts Neck and CBA, and developed bonds that are unheard of among teams with so many more people. An average day with the team may remind one of a scene from “Caddyshack” without as many dancing gophers. Without a doubt, there are few groups at FTHS that have as much fun as the golfers, thanks in large part to Mr. Blanco’s love of creative nicknames. Yet the team was able to easily
balance fun and work: throughout the season, players consistently set the bar high, with the captains leading the team with their best scores, and senior starter Amy Palmer rarely shooting above the mid 40s. Several underclassman, the future of Patriots golf, also heightened their game as needed. Junior powerhouse Matt Carbone shot scores as low as the captains, while a pair of newcomers, sophomore lefty Dan Waters and freshman Alex Kowalczyk met the requirements for varsity. Looking ahead to next season the team will surely miss its graduates. However, with so much depth already in place, FTHS golf will doubtlessly make a splash.
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Led by twin brothers, boys’ varsity tennis thrives during 2009 season by Phil Levin
Following a very impressive 2007-2008 season, the Freehold Township Boys Varsity Tennis Team, coached by Mr. Pender, continued its streak of winning seasons with a notable 10-7 record in the 2008-2009 season. Despite the loss of three starting seniors, the team was again a top contender for the prized A-North title. Success for the Patriots all started at the top of the roster with Francis Jedlinsky, a naturally gifted tennis player who led the team at first singles. Only a sophomore and already one of the top players in the county, Jedlinsky suffered only two defeats during the regular season. Following Francis was his twin brother, Carl Jedlinsky, who filled the Patriot’s second singles spot. Arriving at tryouts with another year of experience under his belt, Carl was one of the Patriots most consistent players. “Carl rose to the challenge this year by stringing together another impressive season, and in the
process [he became]one of the top second singles players in the area,” explains senior co-captain Matt Selick. Simply etching his accomplishments into stone, Carl defeated opponents from powerhouse tennis programs such as Holmdel and Rumson/Fairhaven to win the Monmouth County Tournament in the second singles division. Following the Jedlinsky brothers at the third singles spot, and starting for his fourth year, was senior co-captain Phil Levin. A first doubles player for three consecutive years, Levin was able to successfully transition from the teamwork oriented doubles play to the mentally demanding singles play. Court four always provided an exciting match with the first doubles team of Matt Selick, a senior co-captain, and Matt Pheffer, a returning junior. Selick, who went from “non-starter” to first doubles in only one year, awed opponents with his fiery serve and stylish one-handed backhand. Pheffer,
a talented player with a dangerous forehand, combined his game with Selick’s to produce a first doubles team which epitomized the teamwork and communication needed to produce a successful doubles pair. At second doubles, the Patriots produced the pair of junior Gabriel La and freshman Brandon Pheffer, both rising stars on the team. The team’s self proclaimed “eighth man” was Christopher Chi, a nonchalant sophomore whose attempts to rile up the Patriots with unorthodox cheering methods were met with adoration by his teammates. Other players supporting the patriots behind the fence included junior Kelvin Jan, sophomore Brennan Cornell, and sophomore Mike Jacobowitz. One thing is certainly clear about the future of the Freehold Township Boys Tennis Program; the Patriots are going to be a force to be reckoned with for many years to come.
Lady Patriots do their best in 2009 season by Kiley Monahan
The Lady Patriots softball team ended with a winning season of 11 wins and 10 losses. However, Coach English knows that this record does not reflect how good the team really is. The girls played with heart, and it showed off. They played some of
the top teams in the state, including Middletown North and Toms River East, and the girls held their own. Other teams may have won more games, but they definitely did not have as much fun as the Patriots. Senior Arianna Barres says that every girl brought a dif-
ferent component to the team. Whether was Brooke Witcher’s pitching or Natalie Roberts’ contagious laugh, each girl brought something special to the team. The Lady Patriots are more than just softball, they’re family.
The boys’ varsity baseball team celebrates after their Monmouth County Tournament championship victory. For more baseball news, turn to page 8. Photo courtesy of Ms. Quinn
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Sports
photo courtesy of Ms. Quinn
FTHS Baseball team wins championship game, honors former captain by Melissa Raynor
The FTHS baseball team got sweet revenge against CBA on Sat. May 29. After two regular season losses to the Colts, the Patriots pulled of a 7-3 victory in the championship game of the Monmouth County Tournament. The win is a first for the Patriots. The game took place at First Energy Park in Lakewood, less than 24 hours after the FTHS senior prom. According to senior captain Chris Gheraldi, having the
game on prom weekend “turned out to be excellent… with the prom on Friday night, the win on Saturday, and after prom fun and celebration to follow.” It was a perfect night to finish off a winning season for the 2009 Patriots’ (16-10) season. The road to the MCT Championship was emotionally draining. Looking closely at the members of the team on May 29, you would see a “DB” painted on their
faces in black, in memory of Dan Buckiewicz, a former captain of the FTHS Patriots baseball team and FTHS graduate who died in a car accident a few weeks ago. In the semi-final win against St. Rose, the team had a moment to honor the life of Dan Buckiweicz and to promote the cause of organ awareness, as requested by the Buckieweicz family. One of the most exciting moments of the game happened in
The Freehold Township girls’ lacrosse team proved once again in 2009 that it is the dominant team from the FRHSD: even more, they are the team with the targets on their backs in the A North division of the Shore Conference. Going 10-1 in the regular season, the Patriots were led by a number of great seniors, most notably record-holder Maddie Comfort. Comfort and the rest of the senior players were greatly assisted by juniors Alex Marino and Jennamarie Colicchia. One of the most notable individual highlights of 2009 in any sport, Maddie Comfort scored her 171st goal in her senior season, breaking the long-standing record that had been set by Mrs. Scott, the current coach of the freshman girls’ team. As Comfort told the News Transcript, “It feels kind of cool… Scott is a legend at the school and to break her record is cool.” Comfort was not focused
on the record, however. Always a team player, she was fully committed to the team’s success even before the race for the record was behind her. Marino and Colicchia seem to be the hope for the future of the lacrosse dynasty after the class of 2009 leaves FTHS. Marino has developed into a great goal scorer, surpassing the 100-goal mark this season, the third player, after Scott and Comfort, to accomplish this. “My teammates were crazy when it happened,” she remembers. “They started chanting my name and jumping off the bench, which made it that more special.” Marino also has several assists, making her a formidable offensive force. Colicchia, also, scored over 30 goals in the past season, and supplemented this number with more than 20 assists. The team hopes that the pair of juniors, as well as other rising seniors like Jessica Blitzer and Tiffany Mur-
phy, will be able to fill the void that graduation will cause. Although hope of a perfect season was lost after a heart wrenching loss to Ocean Township, there were no other blemishes on the team’s record this season. That loss may have even been beneficial, providing the spark that the team needed to stay above their competition. “We were breezing though A North,” said Comfort. “We had to get that intensity and fire back.” Luckily, the team did just that, playing aggressively and passionately for the rest of their great season. Ultimately, the team will miss its graduates next year. “It’s going to be weird to never play with any of them again, since our connection on the field is awesome,” says Marino. “I love those girls. They’re like my older sisters.” But such a legacy of excellence will doubtlessly continue as new stars emerge on the lacrosse field.
mination of all of the players’ individual successes. The team was heavily recognized for these successes. The Patriots filled six positions on the All Division 1st Team (defensemen Nick Herring and Zara, midfielders Andrew Berkowitz and Carrol, and attackers John Talamo and Mike Mango) and two on the 2nd Team (attacker Andrew Miller and goalie
Mike Luongo). The Patriots this year lose Zara and Schoch, as well as Matt Potter, Rob Tagle, John Bennet, Corey Rutenberg, Kevin Weber, and Ryan Geregely. While the team will certainly miss it’s most experienced players, hopefully the underclassman will be able to continue the triumph that has come to be expected from their team.
the fifth inning, in the form of a double to left-center by Gheraldi bringing in two runs (Matt Gelchion and Hector Henriquez). The Pats were able to expand their lead 7-3 in the sixth. Matt Cadigan pitched a great game, keeping the Colts score low. Cadigan was replaced by Mike Surick, who finished off the job at the mound. After the win, senior secondbaseman Henriquez said “the feel-
ing after the game was incredible, with us being the underdog and defeating CBA.” Another senior on the team, Austin Henderson, said “the feeling was overwhelming, overcoming the obstacle of not winning like that in so long.” Senior Steve Talbott was honored with the award that is presented to the player with the highest batting average in the tournament, and Cadigan was named the tournament MVP.
Girls lacrosse continues to impress FTHS boys’ track team by Jeffy Fox didn’t run out of luck
FTHS boys’ lacrosse has a stellar season by Jeffy Fox
The 2009 season for the boys’ lacrosse team is barely describable within the confines of a news article. Following the examples of the three captains, seniors Dan Zara and Charlie Schoch and junior Bryce Carrol, the Patriots were 12-4 overall and 10-2 in the division. The team was the A-North Public School champion, a cul-
by Brianna Tobey
The FTHS boys’ track and field team doesn’t just seem to be unbeatable; the FTHS boys’ track and field team is unbeatable. In the 2009 season, Coach Briggs’ team had eighteen straight meets – and reigned as champions at every one. This is the third consecutive season that the team has been undefeated, and they are the only team to have conquered CBA two years in a row in duel meets. The team’s eight captains, seniors Andrew Posen, Bobby Searby, Ryan Spadola, Abe Hamami, Tyler McKinnon, Jeff Kole, Matt Loftus and Gerard Castronova, competed fiercely in each of the meets. “Seeing as though it was my last season and year at FTHS, I’m glad I got to spend it with the guys on the track team. We had amazing talent on the team this year, which was the reason for the most successful team in our school’s history. This success was also due in large part to Coach Briggs and his dedication to the team,” says captain Loftus, whose personal best in the Pole Vault was a 10-6. “This year has been like no other,” adds Posen, another captain. “Our team is made up of great
individuals, but it was a tremendous team effort that helped bring us all of our championships.” Captain Spadola agrees that this was an unforgettable season. “Through all the training and drive we had from our coaches, it allowed us to accomplish our goals, making this a memorable season - one that I will remember for the rest of my life.” The team is revered as the Monmouth County champs and as the CJ Group IV State Champs. Searby and Kole came in first and second place, respectively, in the 400-meter hurdles, and Searby and Spadola came in first and third, correspondingly, in the 400-meter dash at the at the Sectional Championships. At the Group Championships, Searby came in fourth place for the 400-meter hurdles, and Spadola placed sixth in the dash, giving them a place of fifteenth overall. “We are a great team, working together. The coaching staff is the key to our success, and the seniors are the heart of the team,” says junior team member Dan Kropa. “It’ll be hard to fill the void left by these graduating seniors.”
Congratulations to all of FTHS’ senior athletes. You will be missed!