The Crimson Sun - February 2019 Edition

The

C r i mson Sun Vol. 20, No. 2

The Student Newspaper of Morristown-Beard School 70 Whippany Road, Morristown, NJ 07960

February 2019

MBS honors the spirit of MLK

The Step Team performs their jaw-dropping routine at the MLK Assembly on January 18

Trevone Quarrie ‘19 performs a spoken word piece

Toni Allen ‘19 perfroms a dance routine Photos by STEVE PATCHETT

INSIDE THIS ISSUE Diwali at MBS (2) Midterm Elections (4) Social Spaces (4) Q&A: Jim Ruttman (5) Girls’ Basketball (8)

“Students said this was the best MLK assembly in MBS history, which was clearly an honor for us.” ~Tashana Noel ‘20

By REBECCA TONE

On Friday, January 18, students settled into their seats for the yearly MLK all-school meeting. Though the meeting always provides material for reflection, this year students and faculty left feeling unusually moved and impressed by what Lauren Smith ‘19 called “by far the most engaging assembly in all of my seven years here.”

Featuring songs, spoken word performances, solo and ensemble dance, and speeches by students and faculty alike, the show testified to the power of Martin Luther King Jr’s message.

Some students were struck by the way that the assembly balanced modern social justice struggles with the work of King. Lily Yee ‘19 said, “it actually addressed current issues rather than just glorifying and sugarcoating what happened during MLK’s time.”

The faculty were no less enthusiastic about the performance.

Dr. Amanda Gregory said, “the show didn’t just offer easy consolation about progress.” Instead, it inspired the audience to face the problems that still “threaten the nation and world.”

Performers were given freedom to be bold with regards to the medium and content of their messages. Solo dancer Toni Allen ‘19 intended her performance to unify. “We as a new generation have to take what is given to us and make the best out of it.

We’re all American and breathing the same air, so why not come together and fight with each other rather than against each other?”

Allen’s dance complemented the group performance by the school’s new Step Team, which choreographed a piece that confronted social injustice and police brutality head-on.

The piece was aimed to “incorporate the feeling of discomfort” in the audience, explained Step Team member Kaya Moody ‘20. “History is not comfortable.” Despite challenging the audience, the performance also “received a magnificent response,” said Step Team member Tashana Noel ‘20.

Head of Upper School Darren Burns called it “one of the great community events of the year.” Others might go even further in their praise.

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February 2019

C r i mson Sun

COMMENTARY & ARTS

The Crimson Sun 70 Whippany Road

Morristown, New jersey 07960 973-539-3032 Editor-in-Chief Rebecca Tone Editors Anika Buch Julian Levy Ari Bersch Faculty Advisor Dr. Owen Boynton Thanks to: Bruce Adams, Barbara Napholtz, Steve Patchett, Carol Wooldredge, Mark Clar, Darren Burns, Darren Lovelock, Dr. John Mascaro.

We welcome letters to the editor, opinion pieces, stories, cartoons and photographs.To contact the paper regarding submissions, send an e-mail to either rtone@mbs.net or oboynton@mbs.net.

The Crimson Sun corrects its factual errors and accepts corrections.

The Crimson Sun is a 4-16 page newspaper, available in print and online through the mbs.net website. It is written primarily for the approximately 572 students attending MBS and the approximately 100 faculty and staff members, and is distributed free of charge to all members of the school community.

The Crimson Sun provides information and entertainment in addition to various viewpoints on debatable issues. We will not print anything that is deemed libelous, obscene or in poor taste.

We reserve the right to edit or withhold anything submitted and correct spelling, grammar and punctuation when necessary.

Journeys in the arts

By ALI STECKER and TALIA GOLD

Speaking of her move from the performing arts to visual arts program at MBS, Jeanine Erickson describes her career with passion. “Honestly, I wasn’t running away from music, but rather art was coming towards me. I’ve always made things, always. I’m either making something or thinking about making something.”

She started her art career as a potter, taking ceramics throughout college to fulfill her non-music course elective. In addition to teaching classes in metalwork, Erickson devotes her free time to designing and creating objects in metal, glass, and ceramics.

This past fall, Erickson opened an exhibition, titled “Journey,” in the gallery of the new Math and Science building.

Much of the work there was completed during her sabbatical year, which saw her traveling around the world for inspiration.

When she learned that MBS would have a new gallery space in the Math and Science building, Erickson saw the opportunity to showcase her art to the community.

Within the gallery, there are glass cases filled with her original artwork she developed in her home studios. “At home I have two studios: a beautiful fine metals and glass studio because they can oc-

cupy the same space, and downstairs in the basement I have a very nice ceramics studio.”

Erickson’s art has a special touch: most of it has meaning, even when it might not be obvious on first glance. “Meaningful jewelry… yeah, it’s very personal that way.” Erickson uses art to convey personal emotion and experiences. She holds up one of her pieces to explain. “This was a cuff my mom had that my father gave her.

She doesn’t understand that the concept of a cuff is that you have to fit it once, so she would put it on and squeeze it. So of course it broke at the edge, so she was going to give it to me to have melted down. I knew she felt bad about it, so I said, ‘what about if I take it apart and make things from it?’ So I took the two hearts on either side, finished them and added stuff and then made a pair of matching earrings from stuff for the heart.”

After working here for many years, Erickson trusts the MorristownBeard community and chose to display her beautiful artwork publicly. “I like people to see in-process stuff, it totally floats my boat to do this type of art. I’ve been teaching for a freakishly long time, and I totally love it. It’s just a really good fit for me to take this next step forward with the design program.”

Seeing the light: why Diwali needs to be celebrated

By ANIKA BUCH

When I was little, my mom and I would make colorful rangolis (Indian floor designs) in front of the house. We would dress up in new clothes, meet family, exchange gifts, go to the mandir (temple), and celebrate the new year with plenty of mithai (sweets) and good wishes. Yet, the occasion I was celebrating went unnoticed by most people. For many, Diwali, the Indian New Year and Festival of Light, was just another day for them. How? How does a holiday equivalent to New Year pass by nearly invisible?

When I first thought of bringing Diwali to MBS, I was hesitant, to say the least. I wasn’t sure Diwali would be met with the same enthusiasm and acceptance as I had hoped. Maybe people would laugh. Maybe people wouldn’t understand. But bringing Diwali to MBS wasn’t about who laughed and who understood. It was about representing a culture which is so often overlooked in our definition of diversity and cultivating cultural awareness. I still couldn’t be sure of the outcome. But I would never know if I never tried.

I drew inspiration from my own experiences. With plenty of help from my art teacher Ms. Hartman, I crafted a project in which Upper School art students made rangolis. Of course, we couldn’t use colored sand as I had as a child, but we could use markers and colored pencils.

And what would the Festival of Lights be without light? Since diwa (traditional oil lamps) would present a fire hazard, I improvised. With my friends’ help, I was able to hang the rangolis right outside the library where there would be plenty of natural light. At the end of the day, about twenty five rangolis hung outside the library. Within a few days, people began to ask me about the rangolis. What were they? Why were they there? And just like that, the world grew a bit smaller.

This is the first time Diwali has been celebrated at MBS. By celebrating a holiday which is observed by many millions around the world, people became more aware of a vital dimension of Indian culture. Every year during the holiday season, Christmas, Hanukkah and Kwanzaa decorations adorn campus. Yet Diwali decorations were always absent. They were never there because very few people knew about Diwali.

By participating in Diwali and experiencing it, even if only in a small and partial manner, the MBS community gained cultural community and came cloer together. Students learned about a new holiday, its traditions, and most importantly, about a part of their fellow classmates.

Exposure to cultures that are foreign and unknown helps us all develop tolerance in place of prejudice. Such tolerance can only stem from an education of other ways of living life, and such an education can be a celebration beyond the classroom.

I consider myself very lucky to have had the opportunity to share Diwali with MBS. I expected a very different response than what I was actually met with. No one laughed. And while people didn’t immediately understand, they were willing to learn, and curious enough to ask.

I hope anyone who doesn’t see themselves represented recognizes it for the problem it is. By isolating your culture from yourself, you are not only cheating yourself of a chance to make a change, you are cheating others of the chance to learn something new.

In an age where walls are being readily built, we tend to forget about the possibility of bridges. The world needs tolerance. The world needs acceptance. Because the sooner we appreciate each other for who we are, the faster the walls can come crumbling down.

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February 2019

FEATURES

Humans of MBS

By ALI STECKER and SOPHIA MARTINO

Students from the Class of 2020 take part in the walk

By STEVE PATCHETT

MBS makes strides against breast cancer

Have you learned anything new today?

“The thing that I learned today was actually in Bio. I learned when you write a short-answer essay you are supposed to plot it out before you actually start writing, and also that my handwriting is apparently really hard to read. I thought my handwriting was good.” ~Molly Michel ‘20

By ANIKA BUCH and JULIAN LEVY

On October 20, one hundred MBS students participated in the Making Strides Against Breast Cancer walk in Parsippany. Organized by Pam Beniwal ‘19, the event was the first of its kind at MBS. Her motivation to hold the event was primarily her personal experience: her mother is a current survivor fighting the disease for the second time.

“I spent a long time moping around and worrying about her and it was due time that I actually did something about it,” said Beniwal.

Beniwal dedicated ample time and effort toward transforming her idea into reality. The process began on the first day of school when Beniwal consulted her grade dean, Mr. Kevin McDonald, about her idea. Beniwal said, “on the first day of school, I went to Mr. McDonald and I was like ‘here’s my idea; can we do anything about it?’ And so he talked to Mr. Burns, he talked to Ms. Dzama, and then I had several meetings with Ms. Dzama.”

Eventually, Beniwal’s idea began to take form. “I contacted the person who was in charge of the teams from the organization and then I had a couple conversations with her over email and over the phone,” she said. But even with all the planning, there was no predicting the outcome.

Her actions resulted in even her most optimistic goals being far exceeded. Beniwal’s original goal was to raise $1000. By the end of the event, nearly $8000 were raised for the cause.

In addition to donation, the 5K walk provided another outlet for people to unite in the fight against breast cancer. Each student and teacher who went took their place in the sea of pink and walked in solidarity. “To see that many people there decked out in pink not just from our school, just to see so many people there to support this cause was overwhelming,” said Beniwal.

Director of Upper School Athletics Joanne Dzama said, “I am proud of Pam’s courage to share her story with our school community.” She added, “it was so amazing to see our students come out and support the event and also to support their classmate whose mom is battling the disease.”

Others agreed. Health teacher, volleyball, swimming, and lacrosse coach Meredith Locasto said, “there were large groups from all over that came together for this cause,” continuing on to say, “it was really special.” She added that she had a personal connection to the disease: “my mother is a Breast Cancer survivor so I always try to find ways to give back to that specific cause.”

The event showed solidarity towards her situation as well as the many others who have connections to the disease. Many agree that the walk was a success, and should thus be repeated. Matt Aiello ‘21 said, “without a doubt, the walk should happen next year. The walk was an inspiring opportunity to unite us as a community and support a great cause.”

Dzama agreed. “I would definitely look to plan future events that give our student athletes an opportunity to raise funds for a great cause while also participating in a community service team bonding event.”

Overall, the Breast Cancer Walk was a chance for MBS to come together and make strides against breast cancer in support of one of its own.

What do you fear most about growing up?

“Having to go to college and live away from my family.” ~ Emily Freelund ‘22 “Getting a job.”

~ Grace Corteil ‘22

“Having to make my own decisions.”

~ Julia Berman ‘22 “Having to make money to support myself.”

~ Caroline Hepp ‘22

If you were to get a tattoo right now, what would it say and why?

“I’m not really into tattoos, so probably just my initials.” ~Jon Kay ‘20

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February 2019

FEATURES Midterm elections swing the House left

By JULIAN LEVY and MATT LOHMANN

One-party rule in Washington has ended. On November 6th, 2018, Americans went to the polls to vote for their representatives and senators. All 435 seats were up for grabs in the House, while in the Senate 35 out of the 100 total seats were available. The results were clear. In the House, the Democrats claimed victory, taking a total of 235 seats, with a net gain of 38 seats. The Republicans took 198 seats, with 2 seats currently vacant. In the Senate, both sides claimed victory. The Republicans took 53 seats, leaving the Democrats with 47. That is two more than before the election.

Democrats still claimed victory, as they were defending 26 seats to the Republicans’ nine. In New Jersey, the results were similar to those nationally. The Democrats picked up seats across the state, and defended the incumbent Senator, Bob Menendez.

The House of Representatives went through major changes in party disbursement during the Midterms. The Democrats previously had seven representatives in the house to the Republicans’ five. But while the Democrats still held the majority in New Jersey after the recent election, it was by a much wider margin.

The incumbent from the Fourth District, Chris Smith (R), was re-elected. However it is widely considered to be one of the most conservative districts in the state. The Cook Political Report ranked the Second, Seventh, and Eleventh Congressional District among the most important in the country for Democrats to win to regain control of the House.

In the Second District, Frank LoBiondo (R) retired after 24 years in office, which left a key opening for either side to fill. Jeff Van Drew (D) took the District against Seth Grossman (R), who was generally considered a weak candidate compared to the former Representative LoBiondo (R). The Second District was formerly held by Rep. Leonard Lance (R), but is considered a swing district.

In the 2016 Presidential Election, Democratic candidate Hillary Clinton won the Second District by just one percent so the race could have gone either way. However, once again, the Democrats took another state, with Tom Malinowski (D) winning the district by a comfortable five percent margin.

The Eleventh District, which houses Morristown-Beard, was the last key district for Democrats in New Jersey another district that was left vacant after a Republican representative’s retirement. Rep. Rodney Frelinghuysen is a moderate Republican who served in office for 24 years. The Democratic candidate was Mikie Sherrill; she broadened her appeal to Republicans by focusing campaign advertising on her background as a Federal Prosecutor and a Navy Pilot. Her efforts also cemented her position as one of the top fundraisers in the country at a staggering 2.8 million dollars. She defeated Jay Webber (R) in another swing district won by Trump back in 2016 by only 0.9%.

Eleven of the twelve Congressional Districts were won by Democrats, paving the way for the Democrats who retook control of the House with 233 seats. Sherrill’s victory was highly significant for the Democratic Party, as it balances out the Republican controlled Senate, which will provide checks and balances on Republican bills. Some hope it will also inspire more bipartisan legislation.

Additionally, Democrats can, and likely will, investigate and subpoena some of the Trump Administration’s policies and advisors, such as the child separation policy at the US-Mexico border and Secretary of the Interior Ryan Zinke for possible corruption.

The Senate race in New Jersey was one of the most closely followed in the nation. Incumbent senator Bob Menendez (D) attempted to defend his seat from challenger Bob Hugin (R). In a traditional political race, Hugin wouldn’t have had a chance in this blue state, with an unpopular president leading his party. However, Hugin had one major advantage. In 2015, Menendez was indicted on charges of corruption, and fought a long two year battle to clear his name. The corruption in question continued on p. 6

Students in the Class of 2022 enjoy a game of chess in quiet corner of the Student Center after school

By ANIKA BUCH

Social spaces

By ARI BERSCH

The changes made to the MBS schedule in 2017-18 gave students plenty of additional opportunity to explore beyond the classroom. Many students are actively participating in clubs or other activities. Others use their time to socialize or simply catch their breath during the school day.

While every individual has their own habits, the activities of many students during their free time corresponds to what the rest of their class is doing.

The senior class has no second thoughts about where they have chosen to settle this year. They have followed decades of MBS tradition by making their home in the center section of the Student Center. Nicole Borowiec ‘19 typically spends a large amount of free time in the Student Center. She said, “I go the Student Center and I sit in the middle. I love the student center; it’s so comfy.”

Despite the center area of the Student Center being reserved for seniors during school hours, students from other grades occupy the side areas of the Student Center. SGA President James Cunningham ‘19 commented on the students who go to the Student Center: “the Student Center is a nice mix of seniors in the middle area with freshman and juniors on the side, which I feel like is a nice mix for the center of campus.”

Not yet granted full control of the Student Center, the Class of 2020 has laid claim to much of the Math and Science Center. Patrick Merrigan ‘20 said, “I typically go to the top of the Math and Science Center during free time we have. We just hang out and converse.” Merrigan further described the behaviors of the junior class, elaborating that while many people go to the Math and Science Center, other juniors go to the Anderson Library or the Student Center.

The sophomores mainly make their home in the Anderson Library.

To comply with library rules, students may socialize in the library during lunch periods, but only if they speak at a reasonable volume and are seated at all times. During collaborative period, however, the library may only be used for academic work and collaboration on group projects.

Avery Garland ‘21, Sophomore Class Secretary, summarized the situation: “I see most of our grade in the library, but I know some of them go to Wilkie as well. When they are there I think they socialize.” However, despite being alloted the Board Room area adjacent to the cafeteria for overflow from the library, she said that the board room has not been a place of congregation for the sophomores as it is not large enough for a significant portion of the grade to meet. continued on p. 7

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February 2019

PROFILES Writing coach

By ANIKA BUCH

Ari Bersch interviews Jim Ruttman

By MATT LOHMANN

Offstage with Jim Ruttman

By ARI BERSCH

On his first involvement in theater...

“I used to watch a show called Wonderama, which they’ve actually rebooted recently, and they had a dance competition on that TV show on Saturday or Sunday mornings. I would get up in front of the TV set at like 8 or 9 years old and dance with them, and my mom would always say ‘you’re better than all them.’ Then an audition came up in 1971 for a play called Ray, an original musical with the Long Beach Recreation Department, and I said I wanted to audition. My mom said ‘great!’ and my grandma said ‘take him to audition; he’ll never get in,’ and I got cast and the rest is history.”

On his involvement in Cats...

“The way that I got Cats was I was doing Summer Stock in Sacramento.

That is you do ten shows in ten weeks. You perform every single night during the week and during the day you’re rehearsing another show, and then you teach it and it’s really grueling. So it was at the end of the season, and the tour of Cats came through Sacramento and they were going to play at a different theater so a bunch of us went to the audition. I got all the way down the end, then the casting director took my polaroid, and told me that I would be the next Macavity in Cats on tour. And so, about three months later I was in Singapore and I got a call in the middle of the night wanting me to come out to Cats on tour. So, I flew out of there on January 1st, and because of the time change, on January 1st, I was in Raleigh, NC, and I started rehearsal. I did three and a half years of Cats on tour.”

In November 2018, MBS girls’ soccer Coach Mairead Forrest won her first state championship. That same month, Forrest took over teaching English 11 Honors and Writing Center Theory classes, as well as overseeing the Writing Center as a maternity replacement for Mrs. Allison Williamson.

Her experience on the field has been a help in the classroom. Coaching and teaching share the same philosophy, and have undeniable overlap. Forrest said, “a big point is getting the best out of students and players. When both groups feel like you care about them as people, they take your disappointment or your motivation more seriously and they’re more inclined to really respond to that.” And when either group is “challenged to do better,” Forrest said, “they will really surprise you and rise to the challenge.”

But Forrest recognizes that soccer is not played in the classroom. There are differences between teaching and coaching, with the main one lying in how students are motivated. In soccer, said Forrest, “it’s a team goal. Everyone needs to be doing their part for the greater good to succeed. Teaching is much more individualized.”

While she has been coaching for longer, Forrest has adjusted to teaching without any trouble. She found that the most surprising aspect of teaching was that she still got to be herself and help students. “I am surprised by how much I still get to be goofy and funny and eccentric because that is my personality and yet that doesn’t detract from students’ understanding that there’s still expectations that they have to meet. I get to be both,” she said.

Forrest loves teaching. “I’ve always loved learning,” she said. “I’ve always been one to learn and I think even maybe it’s not subject material, but every day in the classroom you’re learning from other students.”

At heart, whether it’s winning a state championship or discussing the academic relevance of Kendrick Lamar, Forrest said, “I realized that I really needed to do something where I felt fulfilled everyday, that I’d given back that I’d helped even one person in a small way.” And just by being herself, by getting to do both, she has.

On his favorite parts of working at MBS… “I like the classes; I like working with young people. I like watching them succeed, and watching them learn things. With dancing for instance, they see something and say, ‘oh I could never do that,’ and then a couple months later they’re doing it. And I like to see the pride of working hard for a goal and achieving it. I see that happen both in class and in rehearsal, and on the stage. And that’s my favorite part.”

On his overall philosophy...

“I’ve already done it. I’ve had my time in the sun. I want to share all the joy I got out of that with the students and so I get my joy from students’ success.”

Ruttman has been a member of the MBS Performing Arts Faculty since 2007.

He teaches classes in tap dance, theater dance, and stagecraft. He also designs the sets for and choreographs MBS productions.

Ms. Forrest works with a student in the Center for Academic Writing

By CRIMSON STAFF

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C r i mson Sun

February 2019

FEATURES Midterms (continued) involved Menendez accepting gifts from a wealthy friend, Salomon Melgen, in exchange for political favors. In 2017, the jury was unable to convict him, with one member believing Menendez innocent, causing a mistrial. However, Melgen was convicted, and corruption charges still hang over the Senator.

Despite these charges, Menendez was still able to pull through, defeating Hugin by ten percent. Both sides ruthlessly pushed attack ads. Hugin’s ads reminded voters of Menendez’s trial, while Menendez’s ads pushed the fact that Hugin was a pharmaceutical representative in a time when drug prices have been rapidly increasing and the opioid crisis is in full effect.

Even though Hugin was a moderate, pushing many of the same policies as Menendez, he couldn’t overcome the connection between the Republican Party and Donald Trump that also flipped four seats in the House races in New Jersey.

With the Democrats now in control of the House and Republicans holding on to the Senate, many Democrats are thrilled to see a check on Republican power in Congress. Since the Republicans won back the Senate in 2014, Republicans have had full control of Congress. Many speculate the Democrats will look to subpoena Trump and his administration, and will even look to impeach the President. However, a conviction would be nearly impossible considering the Republican controlled Senate. It remains to be seen what the Democrats can accomplish with control of only the House, but it does allow them to halt many of the Republican sponsored bills. In a break from previous form, President Trump does not seem concerned about the results of November’s federal elections.

Despite widespread Democratic celebration, Trump took to Twitter the following morning to declare a “Big Victory.”

Polls and Graphics by ARI BERSCH, JULIAN LEVY, and MATT LOHMANN

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Social spaces

February 2019

C r i mson Sun

FEATURES

(continued)

Hannah Blake ‘21 commented on the situation as a whole. She said, “most sophomores hang out in the library, but some go to Founders.” Furthermore, she raised an important point that affects every grade: “a lot of people have early dismissals for sports so sometimes half the grade isn’t even there during collab.”

The Upper School’s newest and youngest members, the Class of 2022, has spread out around campus. Eshaan Popat ‘22 explained, “some kids hang out in the Student Center and some hang out in the Math and Science center.” Connor Downey ‘22 agreed with Popat, saying, “I usually go to the left side of the student center or I go to the MSC. … My friends usually do the same stuff I do.”

The Intersection, located on the ground floor of Grant Hall, is also a common gathering place for students. Quiya Harris ‘19 said, “the Intersection is a space dedicated to social justice work, as well as equality and equity.”

While the Intersection is mostly dedicated to club use and classes, Harris said that “a lot of social justice-oriented people hang out and discuss issues there.”

Many students use the less-structured times in the MBS schedule to collaborate with other students. The School’s goal of allowing students to pursue their interests or simply relax during the school day has been met. A large part of that success owes to the variety of social spaces available to students.

Fall play photo essay

By ANIKA BUCH

You Can’t Take It With You from a back-stage perspective

Fireworks explode in Act II

A back-stage view of the set

Molly Michel ‘20 helps Kailyn Williams ‘21 with her costume

The lights dim on the final scene of the show

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February 2019

SPORTS Crimson Basketball: familiar faces, new team, and high hopes

By CHRISTIAN BRAUN

On December 14th, when the Morristown-Beard Girls’ Basketball team walked into Walsh Gymnasium to face the Pequannock Golden Panthers, many familiar faces took the court. With four starters and five key players returning from last year’s 16-10 squad, the excitement and expectations for the team intensified on campus and around Morris County.

Despite the high expectations that have been placed on this team, Coach Mike Sturgeon started the season undeterred: “I have never had a season where we don't expect to win everything we play for,” he said. However, he also recognized the special talent and potential for this year’s squad; never before has he had this combination of experience and depth in the same lineup. Ten returning players with varsity experience, including three year All-County player Bridget Monaghan ‘19, and All-Conference players Gianna Rella ‘19, Erin Martin ‘21 and Addison Ibraham ‘20, make for an experienced and well-rounded team, the likes of which never before assembled in Coach Sturgeon’s tenure.

The roles have reversed for the Lady Crimson for the 2018-19 season, as they are accustomed to always being the hunters, not the hunted. Transitioning to a team with a target on their back is something

both coaches and players are keenly aware of as a possible challenge.

With every opponent walking into the gym trying to knock them off, the team will need to bring all of their energy night in and night out.

“We started off slow some games last year, and that can’t happen now,” said Monaghan.

Undaunted by looming expectations, the players have been excited and ready for the challenges ahead: “We had a taste of success last year and are ready to run with it this year,” said Christina DeMattheis ‘19. Aware of how special this year can be, the squad believes they could have a key factor for success this season: the support from students and fans around campus. With a notable spike in school spirit and attendance at events around campus this year, the Lady Crimson expect to ride the positive effects this peer support brings to the table. “The change was definitely noticeable. It got us hyped up and ready to play,” said one of the members when asked about the effect student attendance had on the team’s play.

So far, the team has not disappointed. As of January 31, they are 14-1 with their lone defeat to Morris Catholic 66-52 on January 15. The team will compete in the Morris County Tournament in February.

Sports injuries

By WHITNEY MCDONNELL

Throughout the halls of MBS, you can hear the click of crutches and the ding of an elevator, which can mean only one thing: sports injuries. A significant number have been injured this year, from broken bones and concussions to pulled muscles and shin splints. High school student athletes often suffer from overuse injuries, which can recur throughout their four years and beyond. However, is it possible to limit such common ailments?

Every fall sport has three weeks of preseason in the summer to allow athletes to get ready for the season ahead. Is it too much? “In terms of the tennis season, it’s important to have three weeks of preseason because of challenge matches. Almost every player has to play each other in order to determine the rankings of the team, which is time consuming,” said Molly Michel ‘20.

In contact sports, where the risk for injury is much higher, it is up to the coach to shape practice in a safe way that still remains gamelike. Athletic Director Joanne Dzama explained the safety precautions she requires all teams to take: “all student athletes are required to attend and participate in 6 practices prior to competing in a scrimmage or game,” she said. “We ask that our coaches incorporate cardiovascular, strength and flexibility training particularly during preseason.”

Our nation is facing changes in terms of sports safety. The NFL released a new concussion protocol over the summer in response to serious (in some cases deadly) effects of the injury. High schools around the country have made changes to their programs, and MBS has not fallen behind. “All of our coaches are required to take an NFHS certification course in concussion management each year. We take the return to play and learn protocol[s] very seriously,” said Dzama. It isn’t just on the trainer and player, either: since concussions affect school life, others are responsible for ensuring a student’s safety. “Teachers, administrators, deans, our trainer, and nurse are all part of the team to get students back to school and play as quickly and safely as possible,” Dzama added.

Caution is most important when dealing with sports injuries. In order to get back on the field, court, or ice, students might have to stay off of it for a while.

Sabrina Fagan ‘20 remains on crutches, and in By CRIMSON STAFF high spirits, after injuring herself during the first week of the school year while playing soccer.