S t u d e n t n e w s Senior Sampler: Meet some athletes from the class of 2 0 1 0

Following the theme o f this issue, we now meet six o f MKA’s most talented senior athletes, a group o f students who are equally accomplished scholars and class leaders, with interests that go beyond the fields and courts o f their athletic endeavors.

L a u r a P la c e n tr a

A three-sport athlete, Laura has gained accolades in soccer, pole vaulting (she is the NJ Indoor Pole Vault Champion and holds the MKA indoor pole vault record with a vault of 10’ 7”) and softball. She co-captained the Girls’ Soccer team to their recent State Championship and has been a pivotal member of MKA’s State Championship Softball team.

Hometown: Montclair

Has attended MKA since: Pre-Kindergarten

House: Walden (She is a House Captain.)

How she first became involved in sports: My dad always had catches with us when we were really, really young, but my first organized athletic experience was Bitty Baseball and Bitty Basketball at the Primary school with Coach P. I enjoy the opportunity to compete and the constant hunger to improve as a player and person.

Favorite subject at school: Art - because it’s a chance to create and nothing else.

Favorite food: My mom’s spaghetti and meatballs

Proudest athletic moment: Winning my 5th State Championship this fall meant I had won a State Championship in each of my three sports. Winning the Prep State Soccer title with my girls on the soccer team against Newark Academy in a 1-0 hard-fought victory was unforgettable.

Dreams fo r the future: International business based in Italy (preferably next to the water in Sardinia) while continuing to play sports for as long as I can.

K e v in C la r k

Captain of the Boys’ Basketball team, Kevin also finds time to play AAU basketball, to be a volunteer tutor, be active in Shades of Color and Habitat for Humanity and still work at a high enough level to have been named a finalist in the National Achievement Scholar Program, receive the highest distinction in his junior history thesis and be nominated to attend a summer Leadership Education and Development Program at Dartmouth.

Hometown: West Orange

Has attended MKA since: Tenth Grade House: Monjo

How he first became involved in sports: I started playing sports in second grade. I really enjoy the competitive aspect of it and the fact that I’m always pushing myself to be better.

Favorite subject at school: History and Math

Favorite food: A tie between pizza and apple pie

Proudest athletic moment: During my sophomore year when we won the Prep-B Basketball Championship.

Dreams fo r the future: I hope to have a career in finance and maybe become an investment banker.

review spring 2010

Starting out as an accomplished soccer player, Joe switched to football in his freshman year and discovered he loved not only the challenges of being the team kicker, but also the camaraderie of the team itself. In his senior year, he co-captains both the football and golf teams, is a Peer Leader, a Mastersinger and a member of the Veritas Club.

Hometown: West Orange

Has attended MKA since: Fourth Grade

House: Bradley

How he first came involved in sports: At the age of three when I joined the Mountain Top Soccer League. What I like most is the chance to compete against other people and the chance to possibly do something incredible on the field.

Favorite subject at school: Tie between Economics and Physics Favorite food: A Fluffernutter sandwich (peanut butter and Fluff!)

Proudest athletic moment: Kicking a 55-yard field goal at a college showcase

Dreams fo r the future: If I could, it would be to make it into the NFL as a kicker. In golf, I hope to shoot par, hopefully in the near future, like in one of our big tournaments. As a career, I hope to maybe own a business one day.

A nationally ranked fencer and co-captain of the girls’ varsity fencing team, Chrissy came to the sport late, only starting to fence foil in her sophomore year. Her dedication (practicing 20 hours a week) and progress in such a relatively short time have been remarkable. Chrissy is also a member of the Mastersingers and of Alliance Française.

Hometown: Clifton

Has attended MKA since: Pre-Kindergarten

House: Bradley

Favorite subject at school: I love science, especially biology and chemistry. Favorite movie: Almost Famous

Proudest athletic moment: My proudest moments have been when I’ve achieved milestones in fencing. Last season, I was a member of the MKA Foil Squad which finished 3rd at the Squad State Championships. I finished 4th in the State Individual Championships. At the 2009 National Championships in July, I finished 7th in Division 1A and won the Division 3 National Championship. In October, I fenced in an Under 20 World Cup in Montreal, Canada, earning enough points to be in the top 100 of the junior world rankings. In November, I fenced in a North American Cup in Kansas City, finishing in the top 16 and earning enough points to be in the top 35 of the USA junior team ranking.

Dreams fo r the future: I plan to continue to practice with my club coach (Mikhail Petin) at Fencers Club and to compete on the college, national and international levels and hopefully to represent the USA at a World Championship or Olympic Games.

review spring 2010

stu d e n t news

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stu d e n t news

A principal player on both the varsity football and baseball teams, Pat has been a starter for both since freshman year. His coaches credit his work ethic and leadership by example as motivating forces behind the team’s accomplishments, including the baseball team’s Prep-B, Colonial Hills Conference and NJSIAA Non- Public North B State Championships last year. Pat is also vice president of the Breast Cancer Awareness Club.

Hometown: Livingston

Has attended MKA since: Seventh Grade

House: Walden

Favorite subject at school: Art. I take Studio Art Projects as a senior just for fun and I enjoy being able to show my creativity. It’s a chance for me to take a step back from classes like Calculus and World Literature and just express my creativity in a relaxing, fun way. Mr. Schutsky is an awesome teacher who lets me create projects that have deeper meanings behind the physical project itself. Favorite movie: 300. I can’t watch the movie with anyone anymore, because I say every line before the actor gets a chance to say it The action and storyline of the movie are insane. I love it.

Proudest athletic moment: My proudest athletic moment is reaching the Baseball Non-Public B State Finals last season. The team we had was one that never gave up and gave lOO^every game of the year. We were the Prep-B State Champions, Colonial Hills Conference Champions, and North Non-Public State Champions. We were a close-knit team that started working out in January and continued our run into June. Coach Pacifico is a coach who has always pushed us to be the best players we can be on the baseball field and during that year, we were great.

Dreams for the future: I am looking to play either football or baseball at the college level and to follow that with a good education. I hope to go into the creative advertisement industry or be involved with public relations.

One of MKA’s fastest runners, Erin smashed the school record for the 400-meter dash as a freshman. As a junior she broke that record. A tour de force on the team that she has captained since her sophomore year, her incessant training and commitment to her craft have paid off creating an impressive athletic resume. A Peer Leader, Erin is deeply involved in community service projects, received an Outstanding Leader Award from the summer Leadership Education and Development Program in Business at Illinois University, and is a VP of her Girl Scout troop.

Hometown: Montclair

Has attended MKA since: Kindergarten

House: Monjo How she first came involved in sports: At the age of three, I started horseback riding and rode competitively until I was 13-years-old. At Brookside, I participated in Bitty Baseball and Basketball, and summer baseball camp with Coach Pacifico. Throughout Middle School, I played on the tennis team, basketball team and ran track. It was when I attended the Upper School that I focused my attention on indoor and outdoor track and field. I enjoy the competition and the challenges of sports.

Favorite subject at school: Math

Favorite movie: Good Burger

Proudest athletic moment: I have two: breaking the 4- year Upper School 400 meter record my freshman year and breaking my own record again as a junior while getting second place in the New Jersey Non-Public B State Championships.

Dreams for the future: I want to travel the world and lead a peaceful and happy life.

review spring 2010