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Friday, May 20, 2011
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Volume 32 Issue 6
Photos courtesy of the yearbook staff
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Congratulations Class of 2011
Photo by Natalie DiGioia
Performing a grab off the spine is senior Andrew Papineau, who recently started going to the skate park again.
Personal Narrative >> Courtney Sackett Editor in Chief As our teen years skate by, I cannot help but reminisce about my former number one hang-out spot: the skate park. Senior Natalie DiGioia understands. “I was there all day, every day, whether it was snowing, raining or beautiful outside.” DiGioia and fellow senior Alecia Blankenship both said they were happy to be part of the first generation of kids to hang out there. The park was built when we were in Defer, and we were the first kids to start going there on a regular basis. “We were just starting to get to the age where we could do things without our parents,” Blankenship said. “So, we went up there all the time.” Senior Tyler Bunch said it was “pretty cool” being part of the first generation of skaters at the park. “It was built just in time for us and we could go all the time without other people that were too old or too young being there,” DiGioia said. We used to walk there every day, while our other friends skated up there from across town. DiGioia and I would sit in the grass and watch our friends, or boyfriends at the time, skate. “We didn’t have to do anything special,” DiGioia said. “We could just sit and chill without it being awkward.” Senior Andrew Papineau said he went because “you didn’t have to deal with anybody but your friends. Nobody bothered you.” Blankenship laughed as she remembered, “I used to go there to flirt with all the boys!” Papineau, who said he still loves the skate park, added “People come and go, but there was that one group of us that went all the time.” About 10 of us would go up there every day. Blankenship said, “I felt like I connected with everyone up there.” Skateboarding was just one of the activities that went on at the park. “We didn’t have to do anything,” DiGioia said. “We could just sit and watch and talk.” Blankenship said, “I tried going down a ramp on a skateboard once and fell on my butt,”
but her favorite memory “didn’t even involve a skateboard.” Instead, it was a day involving pouring rain, when we went to the park with fellow senior Angela Nunns. The rain made the ramps slippery, so we climbed up them and slid down as if they were slides. We spent almost two hours running around and sliding before the rain stopped and the ramps started to dry. “We used to have some fun up there,” Blankenship added. Bunch told me: “Trying to teach you and Natalie to skate was pretty cool. I’d have to say that was a pretty good memory.” I remember falling down repeatedly, and he just kept laughing at me. Bunch also said landing a kick flip off a ramp for the first time “was like, the best day of my life.” Papineau and DiGioia said they could not think of specific memories as their favorites. Papineau said
“any time someone got hurt” was a good memory. He joked about watching his friends get hurt, then just getting back up and skating like nothing happened. “I have way too many memories to pick a favorite,” DiGioia said. DiGioia, Bunch and I agreed it was the little moments that were the best. I distinctly remember the times our former classmate Nick Price and Bunch would tell DiGioia and me to go to the park. On our way there, we would try to guess who was up there and when we started to get close, I would receive a text from Bunch saying “I see you.” When we would get up there, I would tell him how creepy he was, but we would all laugh and sit around all day. Papineau said he liked going “just to see who was up there that day.” It did not matter what time of day it was, there was always someone at the park. I would go up there as soon as I woke up and would need someone to walk me
home later that night, because I was afraid to walk by myself in the dark. As the years went on, fewer classmates were going to the skate park. “It sucks,” DiGioia said about being one of the people who does not go anymore. “The skate park used to be our spot.” She said she started getting too busy and ended up not having time to go anymore. Bunch said he stopped going as often because he was afraid of hurting himself and risking being able to run cross country and track. Papineau said he thinks the attendance dropped because “people change, start getting into different things.” He said he started “going all the time” a few weeks ago. Although most of our classmates who were “regulars” stopped going for a couple years, Papineau said more are starting to spend their days there again. “It’s just where everybody goes to have a good time,” Papineau said. Bunch said he is going to skate there this summer. Even though some of us are going there again, the park has changed since our days at Defer. When DiGioia and I went to take pictures last week, we were amazed at how small the ramps looked. Everything is still in the same place, but we see it through different eyes now. Every time I think of the skate park, or walk past it on my walks home, I think about the summers I spent there with my best friends. “I lived at the skate park,” DiGioia said. “When I think about everyone leaving next year, it makes me want to spend my last summer at home with my best friends at the skate park, just like we used to.”
Congratulations Class of 2011
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1. After being crowned queen and king, Kristin Monahan and David Tackett share a dance. 2. John Lewis and Juran Hill show off their moves in the middle of a circle. 3. Getting together after the crowning are the court and the junior prince and princess. 4. Capturing a moment as they enter The Bertram are Deon Oliver, Lucki Swoope and Unique Bell. 5. Senior couple Kyle Willa and Peyton Flanders share a dance together. 6. While at the front of the crowd, Rob Fruscella does the “Cha Cha Slide.” 7. Jordan Genovese and Da’Nae Redding take a quick break from dancing to capture the moment. 8. Jeff Dowdall watches the prom senior slideshow, which was put together by classmate Angie DiAlesandro. Photos courtesy of the yearbook staff
Senior Slideshow
Alyse Golak & Taylor Dantimo
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Congratulations Class of 2011
- “Young Forever” by Jay-Z, class song
United States Armed Forces U.S. Marine Corps >> Anthony Puleo
U.S. Air Force >> Kenny Bish >> Dan Corlett >> Randy George
Bryman School of Arizona Phoenix, AZ >> Matt Fronek
U.S. Navy >> Mark Treadway
Harding University Searcy, AR >> Jacob Hatfield
Kentucky Christian University Grayson, KY >> Ray Nevels
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Congratulations Class of 2011
University of Akron Akron, OH >> Alecia Blankenship >> Tim Burkhart >> Brandi Dailey >> Matt Reneau >> John Sulik >> Cody White Cleveland State University Cleveland, OH >> Kristen Belcher >> Lawrence Gray Cuyahoga Community College Cleveland, OH >> Natalie DiGioia >> Frank Gant >> Kayla Howard >> Kayleigh Louis >> Frank Sims Pittsburgh Technical Institute Indiana University Oakdale, PA of Pennsylvania >> Steven Balkovec Indiana, PA >> Carter Lawson >> Kristin Monahan >> Shyanne Mortimer
Bowling Green State University Bowling Green, OH >> Briana Cooper >> Bryant Helton Heidelberg University Tiffin, OH >> Rob Fruscella
Hiram University Hiram, OH >> Devonique Henderson Kent State University Kent, OH >> Reggie Bates >> Unique Bell >> Nicole Blom >> Dianne Brna >> Cody Cade >> Amber Churn >> Bobbie Charron >> Sam Cheatham >> Amanda Cobourn >> Sean Corron >> Taylor Dantimo >> Andrew DeLambo >> Cindy Deng >> Angie DiAlesandro >> Tim Fredd >> Alyse Golak >> Marissa Goodman >> Lauren Hawkins >> Craig Hoover >> Brittany Johnson >> Matt Knight >> Cody Krumlauf >> Alex Lesak >> Melanie Long >> Keith Martin >> Taylor Matusik >> Colton McCallum
>> Kaitlyn McGinnis >> Mike Melice >> Cory Miller >> Chelsea Moore >> Bridget Mullally >> Angela Nunns >> Marissa Pavlick >> Hunter Petrie >> Joey Pettit (Geauga Campus) >> Wendy Powell >> Hannah Ragle >> Da’Nae Redding >> Katie Robinette >> Ivan Rodriguez >> Ryan Sedar >> CaLee Skulina >> Shawnee Spinks >> Paisley Stovall >> Vinny Valenti (Geauga Campus) >> Tyler Verma >> Emily Verner >> Tralynne White >> Niko Withers
Miami University Oxford, OH >> Taylor Banks
Lake Erie College Cleveland, OH >> Nate Mountain >> Chris Williams
University of Rio Grande Rio Grande, OH >> Cory Ferrari
Malone University Canton, OH >> Chris Bennett
Ohio State University Columbus, OH >> Jordan Genovese >> Emma Mesojedec >> Courtney Sackett >> David Tackett
College of Mount St. Joseph Cincinnati, OH >> Anthony Skulina Muskingum University New Concord, OH >> Jaclynn Hess >> Brandon Violi Ohio University Athens, OH >> Larissa Bradford >> Tyler Bunch >> Heather Davidson >> Lacy Dean >> Ryan MacMillan Paul Mitchell Twinsburg, OH >> Lauren Freeman >> Amanda Selby
Stark State College North Canton, OH >> Joey Folan >> Leah Puskar Ohio Technical College Cleveland, OH >> Michael Domzalski Tiffin University Tiffin, OH >> Drew Kluchurosky University of Toledo Toledo, OH >> Briana Borden >> Quiana Borden >> Jamari Heard >> Tinea Johnson >> Stevie Magic >> Rameika Polk >> Lucki Swoope College of Wooster Wooster, OH >> Josh Foerst Wright State University Dayton, OH >> Amanda Groff
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Page 7
Congratulations Class of 2011
Seniors share advice with underclassmen General
Academics
“Stay out of trouble. Just do your homework, and don’t lose it. Be responsible, organized and life will be easier. Trust me, this is Juran, I know these mistakes.”
“Keep your grades up and have fun, because high school is all about having fun.” Niko Withers
Juran Hill
“Don’t waste your time. Due dates come faster than you think. I usually turn all of my stuff in on time.”
“I advise those who are academically advanced to participate in the PSEOP [post secondary] program, because you get to make a lot of new friends and experience college life before you even get there.”
Joey Pettit
Melanie Long
“I want them to know, I’ll miss them, seeing them in classes. Just try to work hard on their math, because they’ll get smarter at it. And I want to wish them good luck.”
“Academics are important. I screwed up my freshman year. It hurt my GPA. So, the advice I’d give is to not slack off.”
Danielle Wadkins
Peyton Flanders
“Attendance is important, because if you’re not at school, your grades will drop, a lot. I think throughout my entire four years, I’ve missed a hundred days and it noticeably dropped my grades.” Ashlee Pitts
Involvement
“Each year counts for college. I don’t want [the underclassmen] to find out the hard way. Even if you get one ‘C’ it can bring your entire GPA down.” Hannah Ragle
Sports
“Make friends with teachers. It’s nice to have someone to talk to who isn’t your peer, someone with good advice. Start thinking of a senior prank now. If you’re a guy looking for a lady friend, [school] clubs are where it’s at.”
“Get involved in whatever you can, whether it’s a club or a sport, because it helps you with college. I didn’t do it. I regret it now, because colleges really love that.” Lucki Swoope
Josh Foerst “Just do it. Be friendly to everybody. Make sure you’re on everyone’s good side and pursue your goals. I was nice to everyone and was voted class president.” Cody White
“Always keep your hopes up, never quit fighting, and always keep your head high. I worked hard in the off season and I tried to not let my team down.”
“Push hard in workouts, because it’ll pay off in the game. Nothing feels better than having more endurance than the other team. We played four long, tough games and won, because we were in shape.” Jordan Genovese
Frank Gant
“Always work hard and never give up and always keep a full heart in what you do. I always practiced hard and I always had a full heart when I stepped out on the field.” Anthony Wheeler
“When you become a leader, you find a lot about yourself. Being president of student council helped me find who I am.” Emma Mesojedec
Compiled by Taylor White and Cindy Deng Photos courtesy of the yearbook staff
“Try your hardest in the preseason, because once you get to regular season, you don’t have as many practices, and you don’t have as much time to get in shape. You need to be in shape, because once you get to games they’re long and hard.” Shyanne Mortimer
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Congratulations Class of 2011
Photo by Lacy Dean
Chris Williams
Photo by Angie DiAlesandro
Jaclynn Hess
Photo by Lacy Dean
Nate Mountain
Photo by Natalie Pinkerman
Brandon Violi
Photo by Taylor Walls
Ray Nevels
Five seniors advancing in athletics >> Lacy Dean Staff Writer Five seniors so far -- Chris Williams, Nate Mountain, Ray Nevels, Jaclynn Hess and Brandon Violi -- have concrete plans to continue their academic and athletic career at local colleges. As both Williams and Mountain signed national letters of intent to play football at Lake Erie College in Painesville, the two will not only share the same college but dorm room too. “I’m glad I will not be rooming with a complete stranger,” Williams said. “It’s nice to know Nate and I will have good chemistry on and off the field…We’ve played together throughout high school and for the two of us to get to play together and dorm together our freshman year of college is just unbelievable.” Another member of the football team, senior Ray Nevels, will also be continuing his football career at the college level in the fall. Nevels will head south to attend Kentucky Christian University in Grayson, Kentucky, on a partial ride to play safety and major in business.
“I’ve already began doing my summer workouts,” Nevels said. “The workouts are tough and the conditioning tests are challenging.” Nevels said the conditioning test consists of 18 110-yard sprints with 35-second breaks in between. “I’m trying to prepare myself mentally and physically for the challenge ahead. The game is going to be more intense with better competition. I’ve got to get myself ready.” Four-sport letterman Jaclynn Hess is attending Muskingum University in New Concord, OH to play softball and catch for the Fighting Muskies. Undecided on her major, Hess said she will miss her team the most as she heads to MU. “I’ve played with some of the girls on the team from the very beginning… I’m sad this was my last year on the field with them,” Hess said. While Hess is excited to start the “next chapter of her life,” she said meeting the new girls, getting to know them and learning how to play together as a team will be the biggest challenge next season, but she is ready for it.
Senior Brandon Violi will also be attending Muskingum University to continue his career on the baseball field. Senior athletes will always have high school memories to take with them wherever they go, whether or not they are taking their games to the next level. Basketball player Leon Hedgepeth said his favorite sports memory was going to regionals in basketball in 2009 and winning the PTC title this year. Hedgepeth is considering attending Columbus State College or Allegany College of Maryland to continue his basketball career. “Winning a PTC title as a freshman and a sophomore was very fulfilling, but winning a PTC title my senior year was even better,” Hedgepeth said. “I was a bigger contribution to the team than I was in previous seasons, and that right there capped off my senior year.” Two-sport letterman Jordan Genovese said her favorite high school sports memory happened in volleyball. “The success of our volleyball team
is hands-down the most important sports memory I’m going to be taking with me to college,” Genovese said. “The times us volleyball girls had, and the relationships we built through our program and our success, cannot be built elsewhere. I’m going to remember the volleyball team forever.” The seniors have won the PTC title all four years for volleyball. Williams and Nevels both said their favorite senior-year football memory was beating undefeated Woodridge 29 - 23, when the Bulldogs were predicted to go to the playoffs and win the league title. Cross country and track runner Heather Davidson said her favorite memory is from her senior cross country season. “Getting voted captain by the other girls on the team was my favorite memory. Knowing that I’m a good role model was a great feeling,” Davidson said. Although the seasons have come to an end for most of these athletes, they agree the years spent participating in each of these sports will never be forgotten.