The Wisterian: February 2023

THE WISTERIAN

A LOVE OF SCIENCE SPARKS A PASSION FOR EDUCATION

Everyone remembers that one special teacher that truly inspired them to learn A teacher’s love for their respective subject encourages their students to enter each class eager to learn For some students at La Salle College High School, this teacher is undoubtedly Principal James Fyke

Principal Fyke did not always aspire to teach, though Originally, he wanted to be a physical therapist He attended Arcadia University to pursue this field of study However, he discovered that physical therapy was not what he wanted to continue studying

Because of this, he had to find a new path

During his junior year, he took elective classes such as ecology and human evolution, which piqued his interest “I wanted to be out in the woods studying animals,” said Principal Fyke

However, an issue arose that altered his plans, and he had to think of a new field to study Principal Fyke remarked, “I started researching ecology jobs and there weren ’ t any at all The only job that you could really get as an ecologist was as a professor Ecology professors don’t regularly go out in the field to do hands-on work; they have their grad students do it, which meant that if I became an ecology professor to do the work I thought was interesting, I wouldn’t be going out in the

field and doing the studies ”

Principal Fyke abandoned the idea of being an ecologist and decided to change his major to environmental studies Arcadia had just started a new environmental studies program, so he chose to pursue a master ' s degree in it Luckily, this field of study allowed him to continue to work with science and be more hands-on Although Principal Fyke had never considered teaching before, he had tutored in NHS in high school and enjoyed it, so he figured he could combine his enjoyment of teaching with his passion for science and turn it into his eventual career

Principal Fyke has been a part of the La Salle community for 25 years as a teacher, Dean of Student Life, and Principal He has a stern-yet-calming voice, is very well-composed, and advocates for people to conduct themselves similarly He always holds eye contact and strives to make everyone in a conversation feel involved Principal Fyke believes that “ultimately, being Lasallian means teaching minds and touching hearts ” He also notes that being Lasallian is much broader than that “It comes down to how you treat and care for other people ”

Principal Fyke taught this way Although his integrated science class was fast-paced, he

As the class of 2023 prepares to graduate and embark on a new chapter in their lives and academic careers, teacher and coach Anthony “Tony” Resch reflects on a very particular milestone: he s been here since they were born

Tony Resch joined the Lasallian brotherhood in 2001, after discovering his love for educating at his alma mater, William Penn Charter High School Resch had never planned to be a teacher; he majored in Political Science and Government at Yale University and dedicated the bulk of his younger years to professional lacrosse coaching

“For me, what’s most motivating is the relationships and the opportunity to really get to know people and for them to get to know me, ” Resch said without an inkling of doubt “I’ve been in education for 30 years now obviously I’m older now than I was but I still get that same excitement when the season comes up ”

Resch’s age hasn’t deterred him from coaching, though Despite getting a start when technology was nowhere near where it is now, Resch has evolved with the times He’s the type to go with the flow; he’ll utilize any tool in his belt that he can, technology being one of the many

“It’s important to be aware of just the all the different parts of what can make a young person best able to accomplish goals, and technology has helped inform this,” Resch said “I try to provide whatever creative environment that will do that, along with other coaches I work with ” But outside of technology, the world has drastically changed culturally since Resch was a high school student-athlete or a young coach In the 80s and 90s, athletes were taught to ignore pain and focus on the work only Now, there’s the perception that recognizing that ache, or that discomfort, is an integral part of getting better

“I grew up when whatever injuries we had, just rub some dirt on it and get back out there,” Resch reflected “That may have been one extreme, but now, I think I’m much more aware and supportive My focus is providing every athlete with what he needs as an individual for success ” Resch is a renowned high school coach who is admired for his determination and compassion for students but that’s the most modest of his accomplishments The reality is that Resch isn’t only renowned by the students and staff of La Salle, he’s renowned throughout the country for his professional lacrosse coaching

From 1994 to 2001, Resch was the head coach of the Philadelphia Wings and led the team to four Championships He was named to the NLL Hall of Fame in 2008 and has been inducted to three other major halls of fame, one of which is the National Lacrosse Hall of Fame; his induction was merely two months ago At Yale University, he was a two-time All American lacrosse player and three-time All-Ivy League athlete His habit for success has been greatly enjoyed by his children, as well

“Looking back on all that, it doesn’t feel real like, you mean to tell me it’s been over 20 years since I coached the Wings? Resch joked “I m not finished yet, but I m content with knowing that if I were, I’d still be so deeply satisfied and grateful with my career ”

Now, Resch is preparing for the high school lacrosse season to start, of course with great excitement -Ryan Lee '25

always made sure that his students understood the material This shows a level of caring that parents hope their students will experience during their four years at La Salle

“It comes down to the people and the example that the teachers and the Brothers set for you Not only does it help you learn better and get a better learning experience and more well-rounded education, but it also rubs off on you, ” said Principal Fyke He provided a Lasallian education and experience in every single class, which gave him a very reputable name in the community If ever you needed academic assistance, Principal Fyke would be there to offer a helping hand or some wise advice It is this reputation that helped him secure the position of Principal that he currently holds today

Despite his immense capabilities, he is always willing to collaborate with fellow administrators and faculty members to ensure that our school runs smoothly Principal Fyke said, “ as Principal, you rely on others to do the critical work more than you would think There are checks and balances in the administrative team so no one person can control everything ” For Principal Fyke, this means that instead of having a primary role in a few big things at school, he shares

responsibilities with his administrative members in a multitude of areas

Even though he is no longer teaching, Principal Fyke still tries to touch the hearts of everyone in the La Salle community by making sure La Salle is the best learning environment it can be He explained, “I don’t miss being in the classroom that much because I still get the student interactions I like being Principal because I see the big picture of what the school is doing, where the school is heading, and what’s happening as far as teaching and learning goes ” Now, instead of focusing solely on science, Principal Fyke focuses on ways to help the school inspire its students to be curious about all subjects

Principal Fyke’s career may have taken a different path than he initially anticipated, but he is exactly where he wants to be – teaching minds and touching hearts

-Kevin McCann '23

TONY RESCH: A LACROSSE LIFER Class of 2022

FEATURES

AN UNEXPECTED PATH: MR. LEAHY REFLECTS ON A LIFETIME OF EDUCATING

Rushing in and out of meetings and oneon-ones every hour, advising teenage boys, and constantly taking phone calls is not what Bill Leahy was expecting his career to turn into “I grew up in Cockeysville, Maryland, which was the hotbed of youth lacrosse, so I just got lucky my dad said why don’t you go down and see what this is all about,” Leahy said When Bill was five years old, his father took him to the nearby sporting goods store, Bacharach Raisin Sports, to get his first lacrosse stick and quickly picked up the game he would fall in love with From his local public school to the prestigious Calvert Hall High School in Baltimore, Bill always loved playing lacrosse with his hometown and high school friends

After graduating high school, Mr Leahy attended Loyola University in Baltimore, Maryland, where he continued his lacrosse career Staying close to home was ideal, since Bill could stay in touch with family and friends

I didn’t know what I wanted to major in going into college, but I knew I wanted to be majoring in business after my freshman year So, I majored in marketing, and I had a minor in religion,” Leahy remarked

One day Bill went home to do laundry and visit his parents He was not expecting the

conversation he would have that night At the time, the president of La Salle College High School, Brother Rene Sterner, was close friends with Bill’s parents and happened to be in Baltimore visiting While eating dinner, one conversation turned into another and eventually led to Brother asking Bill what his plans were At the time, Bill was working for Kodak Brother Sterner brought up the idea of Leahy teaching and coaching lacrosse at La Salle College High School in Philadelphia Bill explained that he would be graduating later than usual since he was taking an extra half year of courses Brother said that he could wait and that they would be in touch

“I forgot all about it, until eight months later, and my phone rang in my dorm, and it was Brother Rene ” Bill picked up the phone and Brother said, “Are you ready to move to Philadelphia?” Though he was terrified to leave Baltimore since it had been his hometown for twenty-two years, Mr Leahy took Brother up on his unexpected offer and using his minor in religion to his advantage, joined La Salle College High School as a religion teacher and head lacrosse coach in 1992

Living in a new area, Bill wanted to take advantage of opportunities that presented themselves In his first year in Philadelphia,

Mr Leahy decided to try out for the professional lacrosse team, The Philadelphia Wings During his first tryout, Bill played great “I don’t know who took over Bill Leahy’s body, but that guy was good,” Mr Leahy joked Unfortunately, the Wings informed him that he did not make the cut Bill tried out the next two years, and in 1994, he made the team under head coach Tony Resch, who would eventually become a colleague and friend of Bill’s at La Salle For three years, Mr Leahy weaved through defenses, shot the ball as hard as he could, and ran with the best players in the country It was a dream come true

Although it is a professional sport, lacrosse did not take up too much time This allowed Leahy to continue teaching and coaching at La Salle Over the next ten years, Bill would take classes at La Salle University for counseling and his MBA “Going from La Salle to taking graduate classes it seemed like I was always in school,” Bill said In 2004, he officially became a counselor and never looked back

As he developed into a fantastic counselor, Mr Leahy dominated the coaching sidelines

In his twenty-eight-year coaching career, he led five state champion teams in 2004, 2008, 2009, 2014, and 2019 Mr Leahy misses the game because of its team aspect They would

win together and lose together, but under Coach Leahy, there were not many losses In 2016, Coach Leahy was selected to be an assistant coach for Team USA in the World Games in Vancouver Team USA went on to win a gold medal that year to which Coach Leahy says, “ was a fascinating part in the journey ”

Since his last year coaching in 2019, Mr Leahy has been inducted into the La Salle Hall of Fame for his prestigious coaching efforts while continuing to be an excellent role model for young men He is always available to chat and lend a helping hand From not knowing where his path was leading him to assisting over 290 teenage boys daily, one could say that things panned out perfectly for Bill All it took was one short phone call from Brother Rene and Mr Leahy found what he was passionate about Many people have Mr Leahy to thank while talking about their success He has left a lasting presence in the counseling center and left an imprint on La Salle history

-Matthew Millevoi '23

ROBOTICS PROGRAM’S 2023 SEASON BEGINS WITH HIGH EXPECTATIONS

Championship at Lehigh University in April Such competitions typically host “around 30 teams ” at the district level and “ over 60 teams ” at the regional level, Chris explained In past seasons, La Salle’s robotics program has seen great success, winning awards such as the FIRST® Impact Award, which recognizes robust robotics teams with “outstanding community involvement ”

The robotics team ' s success is not only due to its bot-building capacity, but also its business skills and commitment to education via service

Preparation for the team ’ s competitions, which spans from early March to April this season, is a “multifaceted” endeavor that takes weeks of “building, planning, and programming,” he added Members from every division of the team, “from the Software Team to the Public Relations Team,” dedicate hours of their schedules to perfecting every aspect of the team This commitment, however, is imperative considering the “rigorous” scrutiny the bots are subjected to during the judging process of each competition based on their performance in overcoming various obstacles

This season, within a time “constraint of only 8 weeks,” the team must develop a robot that can fulfill various tasks, from “picking up cones and cubes and placing them on certain nodes” to “balancing on a tilting platform with other robots ” In addition to drivercontrolled tasks bots must face certain challenges autonomously, relying solely on their own equipment and coding Each bot's performance lasts only “2 and a half minutes,” according to Chris, meaning a wasted second could mean the difference between first and second place Upcoming competitions include two district competitions at Hatboro Horsham High School and Springside Chestnut Hill Academy, both of which occur in March of this year If the team ranks highly at these competitions, it will advance to the Mid-Atlantic Regional

Chris added that the robotics team is recognized for its “exemplary commitment to STEM education” by “expanding access to science and technology” within the local community and abroad They have “created 18 robotics teams at local elementary schools and support programs in Kenya, Nicaragua, and Brazil,” recalls Chris, as it is part of the mission of De La Salle to provide “quality educational experiences” to everyone In addition to engaging in extensive service, the team has also secured sponsorships with 15 sponsors who allow us to purchase state of the art equipment and offer our members internships and real-world experience in business, engineering, and programming ” Commitment to service and business skills are “ core components ” of the team that have facilitated its success

Explorer Robotics looks forward to its season for the year of 2023 By “strategizing, building, programming, and practicing” and “providing quality, comprehensive robotics experiences to people from all backgrounds or circumstances,” Chris knows that the robotics program will continue to cultivate minds and contribute to communities worldwide, “distinguishing [itself] from the competition ”

-Jacob Crowell-Alvarez '24

Mr Leahy educates his young men on the field of play

OPPORTUNITIES WEREN'T HANDED TO HIM, HE CREATED THEM

It only took a bit of motivation and inherent intelligence Jason Jiang was determined to create a new life for himself

“I made the decision to attend La Salle, knowing that I would not fit in I was just a boy from Kensington who had seen the worst of poverty, gun violence, and drug abuse It is hard going through life constantly hearing a pop, seeing the disheveled and poorly dressed people on the street, and watching people close to you fall into the wrong crowd and fall victim to addiction Making the shift from an underprivileged school to a wealthy, private school was a big decision to make, but I was motivated to get my way out of the city and make a better life for myself ”

Jiang is a current sophomore at La Salle His glasses illuminate his face and make him stick out in a crowd His laugh and smile are contagious, and he can turn anyone ’ s day upside down with his positive mindset Frequently wearing his sport coat, Jason is always welldressed and ready to tackle the day

On the first day of freshman year, Jiang was welcomed by Brother James and Mr Fyke He had received the Buckley scholarship, which covers half the tuition at La Salle for students showing motivation, good grades in middle school, and good character, all of which Jason strongly attains He walked the halls during orientation and further explored the campus, realizing that he made the right choice Hearing the music from the music department and seeing the paintings in the art studio, he knew that he was going to be involved in many clubs and activities

“On the second day of school, I met with Mr Norman and told him of my interest in choir,” remarked Jason “I also told him about my desire to join small ensembles, and he was very welcoming and listened to my interests, placing me in the program fit for me ”

During the first week of classes, he met with his new teachers Mr Quinn, his math teacher, met with Jason after class to introduce himself From that point on Jason looked to him as a role model He inspired him to push himself and try his hardest

“Mr Quinn motivated me like no one else had before He held me accountable for my shortcomings yet congratulated me when I succeeded He is the reason why I developed such a hardworking and dedicated attitude towards school and school activities ”

When Jason went down to the cafeteria for the first time, he met the women who work for CulinArt They introduced themselves and talked to Jason, asking him about the activities he was involved in and how his time at La Salle had been going Jason never forgot their kindness

“I was nervous going to the Glaser Center for the first time The mob of people throughout made me feel like a needle in a haystack, yet the women were kind enough to take time out of their day to make sure I was welcomed ”

Later in the week, he reached out to Mr McCabe, eager to join the speech and debate team Jason describes how he felt approaching Mr McCabe:

“I was shaking, and my teeth were chattering I had never been so nervous in my life to talk to someone about joining the club I thought about everything that could go wrong if I did not make the right impression The sounds of students exiting their fourth period classes made it even more nerve-racking, and the world seemed like it was spinning ”

However, after a long conversation with Mr McCabe, Jason was on the invited to many competitions, including Princeton and Yale Jason was horizons quicker than he could have imagined because of the strong motivat terms of his grades, they were impeccable

“I work many, many more hours than most people on homework, projects, an sit in my room, bound by my four walls, from practically the time I get home go to bed Last year, I poured my heart and soul into my academic work belonged and could do great things I did not want to be viewed as a stereo boy from the city ”

His grades reflect his extremely hard work An A+ in Biology, Religion, Worl and Chorus are only where it starts In the cafeteria, while others were eat watching the television, and checking Snapchat, he intently focused on studyin he would get an A Others would criticize him for studying too much, bu accomplish his goal

“I still remember the time when a teacher came up to me in the cafeteria, tell and enjoy lunch,” said Jason “It let me know that I made the right decision Salle where I could thrive and explore the opportunities that I could carve for m Fast forward to late May of 2022 Jason finished with an astounding 4 2 G P perfect Ranked within the top percentage of the class, he exceeded his expecta He had done it He set his mind to branching out and making opportunitie that he could succeed

“I went into the summer feeling like I was on top of the world,” Jason proudly mentioned “My parents were so proud that I was able to accomplish my goal My parents, who

immigrated from China, believe that I resemble what the American Dream stands for ” Jason has come such a far way from his freshman year He is widely known around the school by nearly everyone and is admired for what he has done Coming from a very poor neighborhood in Kensington, he was not set up for success early in life, and no one would have expected him to come this far It is a true underdog story of resilience and perseverance – one that shows that motivation and hard work will get one where they want to be in life

“La Salle is like a hobby for me because it lets me into a whole new world by learning different subjects, participating in many different clubs, and making relationships with new people There is no other place I would rather be than La Salle It has gifted me the opportunity to make a name for myself and succeed in life, something I have always dreamed of I am proof of being able to do what the La Salle motto says I can do: choose your path ”

Mr Matthew del Rio

Mr. Rob Johnson

Mr. John Young

Ronan De Stefano ‘23

Aidan Maloney 23

Liam Mote 23

Brendan Olimpo ‘23

Dan Rovi ‘23

Dan Van Thuyne ‘23

Mike Vesey ‘23

Jacob Crowell-Alvarez ‘24

Jack Kramer ‘24

Nick Wilson ‘24

Jackson Trymbiski 25

Liam Mote '23

James Kramer '25

Ethan Tran '24

-Richie Perry '25

Photo of Jason Jiang '25

The Wisterian Clubs & Activities

The Newest Mock Trial Coach

On February 9th, La Salle’s Mock Trial team was able to achieve their second victory of the season, allowing them to move on to the quarterfinals of the county-level competition hosted by the Montgomery Bar Association In this competition, two teams were tasked with arguing a case for either the plaintiff or defense side of a civil trial, with the winner of the trial being decided by a jury, composed of practicing attorneys

This year in particular was special because this was the first time, since before the pandemic, students were able to argue their case in a courtroom rather than through a computer screen

To any spectator, the excitement of a mock trial can be easily perceived through the heated debates that emerge inside the courtroom However, before the students can even stand before the judge and jury to argue their case, months of tireless planning and practicing are required Normally, it would be absurd to expect high school students to formulate an entire case by themselves, but, luckily, La Salle has a bevy of teachers and lawyer alumni to coach the students

The newest coach of La Salle’s Mock Trial team is Mrs Christine Meko, who is both an English teacher and a former

attorney Even though she is one of the newest teachers at our school, she is already well integrated in the La Salle community, with many of her family members, including her husband and children, being former students

Quite nobly, Mrs Meko decided to become a teacher because she saw writing as a dying art and thusly wanted to revive it through the younger generation In the classroom, she not only teaches students to write better, but also imparts them with reading and analytical skills necessary for future advanced classes and professions

When Mrs Meko became a teacher at La Salle, she immediately decided to join Mr Gerald Evans as a Mock Trial moderator With her experience as a former attorney, she was able to coach Mock Trial members on ways to formulate arguments to win over a jury and how to professionally conduct themselves in a courtroom

Ultimately, Mrs Meko time at La Salle has been a pleasant one In describing her experience teaching students, she said she admired the “attitude of students who are eager to embrace the educational opportunity they have been provided with ”

-Ethan Tran '24

Summer Service Trip Assignments

On January 18th, La Salle Juniors were notified of the locations they will be traveling to for their service trips this upcoming summer The process leading up to this exciting news was quite rigorous They submitted applications that listed their top choices as well as essays, teacher recommendations, and a list of their extracurriculars Mr Parisi, a member of the Mission & Ministry department, discussed the process of assigning the locations to each student “Each student got a grade from zero to ten on their past service Then, I read their essays and gave them a score from zero to ten Finally, I read their teacher recommendations and gave them a score from zero to ten I then added them all together to get a total score I try to give all those with the highest scores their top choices I also must make sure to be equitable, spreading people out to every trip," Mr Parisi said Students are traveling to many different places around the country for these trips, including Montana and California, and internationally to Puerto Rico and Naples Mr Parisi discussed a way that students can prepare for their upcoming trips

“It is important for students to do a little investigating on the places that they are going to, find out what they are like, learn about the area and the culture of

these places, and understand that they will probably get more out of it than they give to the people,” Mr Parisi said Each trip does a unique type of service, providing help to different walks of life, as well as embarking on different excursions Colin Broderick ‘23, who went on the service trip to Coachella, California last summer, touched on the help he was able to provide

"Doing service in Coachella was a fantastic experience,” said Colin “We went to church with the predominantly Hispanic community in Coachella We also did landscape work there and cleaned up a boys and girls club, too One day, we worked at a food bank, packing bags of produce, and then handed them out at a food drive It was really cool helping such kindhearted people”

These service trips are a unique opportunity for students that many other schools do not offer Mr Parisi discussed how special these service trips can be for the Juniors

“It is an opportunity for students to be introduced to service away from home as well as get to know their classmates much better by living with them for a week These trips can serve as a steppingstone for future service ”

-Justin Muttreja '23

Introducing La Salle Super Fans

Mr Robert Forster ‘05, who works in Admissions, teaches physical education to La Salle freshmen, and is preparing to start his fourth year as the Explorers’ head lacrosse coach, is bringing a new club to the school

It is called La Salle Super Fans, and it will be available to the student body beginning in April La Salle Super Fans is “ a club designed to support not just athletics, but clubs, activities, the play, choral concerts, and to show overall support to the La Salle activities that aren ’ t as well attended as certain events, ” said Mr Forster

He mentioned that Super Fans will be a great way to support all La Salle activities and to give everyone the support they need from our student body The club will consist of students who are able and willing to travel to different La Salle events to show support Members of the Super Fans club will act as ambassadors to La Salle and represent the school This club will increase school spirit and allow every activity at La Salle to be seen

If you are interested in joining Super Fans, email ForsterR@lschs org for further information

-Jackson Trymbiski '25

Students building houses in West Virginia last summer

The Mock Trial team feeling confident in the Montgomery County Courtroom

The Wisterian WINTER SPORTS WRAP-UP

The Comeback

“I saw a guy coming to hit me, so I lowered my shoulder into him to hit him back,” Matt Giordano, a senior at La Salle College High School, said “At first, it felt like a normal hit but then I realized something was wrong I went to the hospital and X-rays showed I had broken my collarbone ”

Giordano sustained this injury playing for his club hockey team The ice was particularly choppy that day and Matt said he had a challenging time skating on it “Gio,” as his friends refer to him, claims he still remembers hearing the bone pop out of his shoulder He is a longtime hockey player who enjoys all facets of the sport

“I have always enjoyed playing hockey I have loved being out on the ice with my teammates competing to win,” Giordano remarked “I have been playing since I was five Hockey has always been around my family since I can remember ”

Giordano excels in school, as well as on the ice He is applying to some of the most prestigious universities in the country, including Georgia Tech and Stanford Matt was named a National Merit Scholar, a recognition given to those who finish in the top one percent of their state, after receiving stellar SAT scores Schoolwork has always been his main priority in his life with hockey coming right behind it However, his collarbone injury has greatly affected his ability to complete his schoolwork

“School was a challenge, as I could only type with one hand and could barely write because of my sling,” said Giordano “I had to be in a particular position to be able to get any of my work done, it was something to adjust to for sure ”

Matt is just now beginning to recover from the injury and get back into game shape so he can eventually play again for La Salle He has been staying active, running almost every day, and is just waiting for the bone to heal Matt drinks a glass of milk daily as the calcium helps his collarbone heal faster

“There is not much you can do for a broken collarbone as physical therapy is not offered,” admitted Giordano “All I can do is stay positive and keep myself in shape, so that when I do come back, I am ready to go ”

There is definitely some nervousness in Matt’s return to the ice as he is worried about the injury occurring again Last week, he was able to do some non-contact practices, but he knows that is completely different than being ready to go into a full-contact game Giordano is hoping to return shortly to give an extra boost to his team

“I am sure during my first game back I will be way more timid than I usually am, ” Giordano mentioned “My main concern is getting my legs back under me so I may have to take some shorter shifts when I first come back ”

Last season, the hockey team suffered a heartbreaking loss in overtime to Saint Joe’s Prep, which ended their season short of the ultimate goal: a state championship The tears streaming down the senior's eyes have motivated Matt and his teammates to win it all this season Matt wants to be back on the ice as fast as possible to help his team reach their desired destination

“I have a few games circled for sure on my schedule The Malvern and Saint Joe’s Prep games are two games we really want to win this year, ” Matt said with determination in his voice

Matt’s work ethic is something that will help him excel in his comeback from a major injury He has been working all offseason for a state championship ring and will not let this kill his season or his mood for the year

“I am just ready to get back to work and be focused on the team, ” Giordano declared “I am ready to win a state championship ”

Even some of Matt’s teammates have noticed the work ethic he has displayed over time with his injury

“He really is the hardest worker on our team, ” Ryan Desmond ‘23 said “He’s a great leader on our team and we all feed off of his positive energy ”

-Colin Dunlap '23

Basketball Team Focused on Progress

Whether you play them or not, sports are undoubtedly a highlight for many high school students That is certainly the case for the students at La Salle College High School

One of the biggest athletic programs at La Salle is the varsity basketball team Sadly, the team has been struggling lately, going on a 5-game losing streak and an upsetting 9-11 record Regardless, the players will not let that affect their mentality

Will Ryan ‘23, a guard on the Varsity team, stated, “the mentality has to be next play The past is in the past; we just need to keep our heads up and execute the next play The goal was to make the PCL playoffs going into the season ”

Tim Jennings ‘23, a center on the Varsity team, said “I know everyone wants to win every game, and we know that it takes all of us to realize that goal So, while at times we might get down after we lose a game, it’s encouraging that we are sticking together and

working our asses off to finish the season strong ”

With only two games left, the team must fight an uphill battle to make the PCL playoffs Despite a difficult season, the players are doing their best to keep pushing forward and improving each day No matter how the team finishes, the La Salle brotherhood has their backs and will continue to support them

The upcoming games are against tough opponents and the players need to be on their A-game if they want to come out on top The team will need to come together, and each put in 110% effort Will Ryan said, “We’ve got Archbishop Carroll and Archbishop Ryan to finish the season Those teams are respectable and tough With that being said, we understand that every game is going to be tough I think if we can put together a complete game, win or lose, it’s progress for us ”

-Michael Capperella '23

Championship Grind on the Mat

The La Salle Explorers Varsity Wrestling team matched up against Conwell-Egan High School for the PCL Championship for the second consecutive season The match was held on January 30th at 6:00 PM EST at Conwell-Egan High School

Conwell-Egan is known as a wrestling powerhouse in the state of Pennsylvania and the Explorers knew facing off against the defending PCL Champions would be a great challenge

“A lot of [Conwell-Egan's players] have been wrestling their whole lives It is tough to overcome that experience I give a lot of credit to our guys for showing up and working as hard as they do given the fact that most of them never stepped foot on a wrestling mat before high school,” Head Coach Mr Benjamin Courtney ‘07 said Conwell-Egan managed to gain advantages over La Salle and the Explorers fell to the Eagles 40-30 in a hard-fought match

“A pivotal point in the match was when

Egan forfeited against our best wrestler Cormac Morrissey ‘24 They put their kid up against the weight class above Cormac This gave them the opportunity to avoid [Morrissey] and get a pin,” Captain Andrew Brennan ’24 said La Salle is nothing short of a successful program themselves Over the past five years, Coach Courtney has managed to build a small program into one of the biggest in the state He and his captains, Morrissey, Matt Wiley ’23, and Andrew Brennan ‘24, plan to continue their 2022-23 campaign on Thursday February 2nd in the District 12 AAA Championship at Northeast High School A win would launch a state playoff birth in Hershey, PA

“[I am so proud of] how hard they work,” remarked Courtney “Lots of guys around this school work hard, I get it, but wrestling is a grind Our guys show up every day and work their tails off, overcoming a lot of adversity along the way ”

-James Bartchak '23

APAC HOCKEY CHAMPIONSHIP BRACKET

Wrestling Team Wins District 12 AAA team Championship

The Wisterian

SPRING SPORTS/EVENTS PREVIEW

A League of Their Own

Committing to an Ivy League school sounds unimaginable to most high school student-athletes, but La Salle College High School Lacrosse has successfully undertaken the challenge Last month, four players from the Class of 2024 committed to Ivies to receive a world-class education while competing at a Division-One level

Midfielder Paul van Bastelaar, face-off/midfielder Stephen “Stevie” Davis, and defender Matt Wills intend to join the University of Pennsylvania’s Class of 2028, while defender Andrew van Stone is headed to Boston to attend Harvard University

“Since 8th grade, my goal has been to play for a high-level academic school with a good lacrosse team, ” van Stone, who chose La Salle for these exact reasons, remarked “La Salle’s nationally ranked just by playing for the school, you get a ton of exposure to college coaches I have good grades, you know, you have to but I definitely wouldn’t be in this position if not for La Salle Lacrosse ”

Interestingly enough, van Stone also credits Pennsylvania for his Harvard commitment

“I was born in Oklahoma, where there’s barely any lacrosse,” van Stone said, whose father grew up outside Philadelphia “It’s so popular up here, so I tried it out and slowly began to like it more and more I don’t know exactly when I realized I wanted to play at a higher level but having a wide range of teams available helped spark my love for it ”

Van Stone’s classmate and teammate, Matt Wills, boasts a family connection to the sport

“My mom played lacrosse in college and introduced me to the sport she gave me the choice whether to play,” Wills, who experimented with baseball before discovering his passion for lacrosse, explained “I had fun with it for a while, but when I joined a club team in fifth grade, my love for it really started to develop ”

Wills credits La Salle Lacrosse’s coaching staff as a major factor that has driven him to success, especially Coach Resch Resch has been inducted into four halls of fames because of his prowess as a professional coach he notably coached the Philadelphia Wings from 1994 to 2001, winning four championships

“Coach Resch is without a doubt one of the best coaches I’ve ever had,” Wills said “I know I would not be where I am now if not for him ”

La Salle Lacrosse’s coaching staff is led by Head Coach Robert Forster ’05, who played lacrosse at La Salle and later Pennsylvania State University Forster returned to La Salle in 2015, ironically after a coaching stint at the University of Pennsylvania, and has served as an admissions officer and the head coach of lacrosse since

“The last time we had an Ivy commit was 2018, and I don’t think we ’ ve ever had four in one class,” Coach Forster said “When they got here as freshmen, I knew they would be special not only on the field, but in the classroom and in the community They devote incredible time to their craft, and the effort they put in on their off time is what separates them from the rest ”

Although the season is still a few weeks away, the Class of 2024 has their eyes on the prize: to win the state championship Given their dedication and synergy on the field and the team ’ s unrivaled coaching staff, it should be an easy feat compared to gaining admission from an Ivy League school -Ryan Lee '25

Back at Their Own Dock

This past fall season, La Salle College High School Crew had their dock dredged In other words, there was construction being done on their dock, so it was removed Because of this, they could not use their boat house and were forced to move to different locations, spending some time at Temple University’s dock and Malta Boat Club’s dock

"It was a challenge for us, we had to get used to the new location and conditions," said Mr Owen Schugsta, who is a La Salle faculty member and crew moderator

Ryan Meyer ‘23, the varsity coxswain, mentioned that they "had to take time out of practice to move our boats from one place to another, hindering our training ”

Even with the obstacles the team faced, they held up in the fall ranks Varsity placed 13 th overall, but 6 th out of the scholastic teams in

Philadelphia’s Schuylkill Regatta and 2 nd in the Frostbite Regatta on Mercer Lake in New Jersey

Luckily, the dock is back in place for the start of the spring season Mr Shugsta is relieved by the news “The boys can get back to normal operations and really prepare for the upcoming intense spring season with competition ranging from Virginia to Massachusetts,” Shugsta remarked “All the boats are next to each other and start at the same time ” Ryan touched on the ways in which the team is preparing, saying that they “ are training extra hard to prepare for the spring; we lift, run, use the erg, and practice 6 days a week We practiced almost every day over Christmas break, only taking a little time off for the holiday ”

Come out to watch and support the Lasalle Crew Team take on other schools when the spring season begins

Lights, Curtains, Action!

The spring musical is quickly approaching, with opening night taking place on Thursday, March 23rd This year ’ s play is a rendition of Steven Spielberg’s West Side Story, which tells the story of the Jets and Sharks, two rival gangs and their angst with one another The process for casting West Side Story began in December, when initial auditions took place Some students who auditioned were experienced vets, while others were trying something completely new

One of the newcomers, Ronan DeStefano ’23, spoke on his transition into the play “It was surprisingly easy, ” admitted DeStefano “The teachers are incredible ”

One of those teachers is assistant producer Mr Mark Norman, who spoke on the overall process of creating the plays

“The great thing about the program is that you see kids bloom,” said Mr Norman “They start out as 14-or-15year-old freshmen and now they are the leads of the play ” There are over one hundred students involved in the West Side Story

production, with fifty of those members being in the cast However, it isn’t just La Salle students involved This year, there are twenty-five students representing Gwynedd Mercy Academy, Mount Saint Joseph Academy, and St Hubert’s High School With members coming from different places, it makes for a great time “I’m meeting lots of great people from freshmen to seniors and some not even from La Salle It’s just a really fun experience,” said DeStefano

These students have given up months in order to dedicate their time to a goal bigger than themselves Their dedication will continue for a couple more weeks, but their commitment will not waver because in the eyes of Ronan, “People put their heart and souls into it ”

Make sure to free your calendars from March 23rd to March 26th because you wouldn’t want to miss such a great experience Mr Norman said, “It’s one thing to go to a movie or a sporting event, but theater is something that changes every night and is really special ”

-Michael Vesey '23

La Salle's Crew team rows to victory