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The Index Ευταξια Σωζειν Δοκει
November 2018
Volume LXXXIII, No. 3
Haverford, Pennsylvania
EA DAY 2018
www.havindex.com
INTEL CHEN ’19
INTEL CHEN ’19
SEBASTIAN BILASH ’20
(Top) Nate Whitaker ’19 pointing to the stands after a touchdown against EA last year; (Left) Coach Van Such inspires the water Fords in last year’s 16-7 win over EA; (Right) Charlie Baker sinks a putt against EA last year
SEBASTIAN BILASH ’20
Cross-country Fords blaze a trail to EA Day pg. 7
Seniors lead soccer to victory pg. 3
INTEL CHEN ’19
Page 2
The Index - Editorial
November 2018
Letter from the Service Board Can Drive Homelessness, poverty and hunger are so much more signifigant than you think. As we kick off our week of EA Week Activities, we are focusing on competitions and fun both in-house and off campus. We are once again concentrating our efforts on the year-long, school-wide theme of Fighting Hunger, Homelessness, and Poverty to help increase awareness, to further educate our community and support those in our region who suffer from hunger every single day. In conjunction with EA Week, each year we hold our Annual Can Drive, where students from all three divisions donate cans of food to do our part to make sure that people in our region who suffer from hunger are actually fed. Last fall our community was able to raise over $1,000 and collected more than 13,000 cans of food to feed people who are hungry in the Delaware Valley. Also, the Service Board will sell snacks for $1.00 this week at Friday’s Spirit Celebration. Snacks will also be available in Ms. Loos’s office. This weekend at the games we will have donation buckets at the vendor locations for people to drop in change or bills.
with Dr. Golecki’s engineering and robotics students, who will be doing another amazing Canstruction sculpture. Hopefully, seeing it through completion will inspire us all to bring in more cans. Make sure you register your donations with Ms. Loos or the Upper School Office and your advisor so your form and advisory can get credit. PB & J We want to give a shout out to Petey Lemmon and Ryan Astley for running another extremely successful PB & J club
Advisory and Form Competition As in past years, the advisory with the highest number of cans donated will receive a pizza lunch and a dress down day. The runner up will receive a dress-down day. We will coordinate
this past weekend. Students from Haverford, Agnes Irwin, and Episcopal joined together and did over 1,000 bagged lunches, which are being distributed to the homeless through the folks at Project HOME. Future Plans We will culminate our year-long efforts to fight hunger, poverty and homelessness at our Empty Bowls Supper in March. You’ll hear more about that later in the year.
PB&J Club headed by Ryan Astley ’19 and Petey Lemmon ’19 occurs every other Sunday.
INTEL CHEN ‘19
The Index’s 2018-2019 Staff
Nick Chimicles ’19 and Neetish Sharma ’19, Editors-in-Chief Yan Graf ’20, Managing Editor Toby Ma ’20, Features Editor Obaida Elamin ’20, Design Editor Matthew Schwartz ’20, News Editor Vincent Scauzzo ’20, Features Editor Daniel Chow ’20, Features Editor
Nick Chimicles ’19, Head Web Editor Lleyton Winslow ’20, Head Web Editor Noah Rubien ’20, Web Editor Aditya Sardesai ’20, Web Editor
Robert Esgro ’19, Opinions Editor Yeshwin Sankuratri ’20, Asst. Opinions Editor Matt Mignucci ’20, Politics Editor Jon Krouse ’20, Asst. Politics Editor Tyler Zimmer ’21, Arts Editor Augie Aliaga ’21, Arts Editor Ryan LaRocca ’20, Sports Editor
Ms. Alicia Evans, Faculty Advisor Mr. Thomas Stambaugh, Faculty Advisor
The Index is a student-run publication of the Haverford School that does more than bring news: it provides the diverse perspectives of the Haverford student body. It is an outlet for student writers to take stands on issues they deem important. It chronicles the daily struggles and accomplishments of the Haverford community. The Index also provides a forum for discussion of pertinent issues, such as student culture, academic policy, and Haverford’s place in world affairs. The Index presents new ideas and aspires to influence constructive change. All opinions and viewpoints expressed herein do not necessarily reflect those of The Index or the school. The Index is designed and produced digitally. Photographs may be retouched. Submissions and letters to the editors regarding any and all articles are welcomed at index@haverford.org. The Index, a member of the Columbia Scholastic Press Association, is composed on Mac OS X, using Adobe InDesign CS 2018. Its surveys are conducted via SurveyMonkey and are advertised on Facebook to current Haverford students. Graphic designs are created by Index staff via Canva. Southern Dutchess News prints 200-400 copies of each issue, and its editorial staff distributes them in the Upper School on the day of release. The Index serves the needs of a total school population of 1156 community members, consisting of 956 students and 200 faculty and staff members. Contact The Index: 450 Lancaster Ave, Haverford, PA 19041 index@haverford.org Twitter: @Haverford_Index http://www.havindex.com/ (610) 642-3020 x. 1222
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The Index - Sports
November 2018
Golf: the best team in school history MATTHEW SCHWARTZ ’21
Without a course on campus, Haverford students might not be able to attend the golf team’s numerous matches, but, while other teams have had the pleasure of large home-field crowds, Fords golf has been doing well regardless. Dubbed by some as “the greatest team of all time,” the 2018 team has gone undefeated this season, winning all 33 of their matches, as well as capturing a state championship win last week. This sudden success hasn’t come out of the blue though; the team has been planning it since last year. “This team has played together since they were freshmen, and they set a goal last fall to have a zero in the loss column,” said Head Coach Gui Costin ’85. The theme of this year’s team is “finish,” and that six-letter word has carried them further than almost any team ever, but as the players themselves know well, they are far from finished. Last year on EA Day, the Fords’ golf team came up short. This year, they expect a different outcome. “We’re definitely feeling good and are feeling confident about finishing it out next week,” said Sixth Former Peter Garno, one
of the team’s six seniors and five captains. As the team is comprised mostly of Sixth Formers, playing their final EA day means just that much more. “It’d really mean everything, and to bring it [the sweater] back this year would be really awesome, especially our senior year,” said Garno. Another reason why this EA Day might carry more importance for the team than previous years is that Coach Costin is leaving the team at the end of the year. After nine years serving the team, he would love to come out on top. “This is the most mature team I’ve ever coached… they know exactly what they need to do. They’re just a very experienced team,” said Coach Costin. Taking over for Coach Costin for next year will be former Haverford varsity golf member Cole Berman ’14. Berman was coached by Coach Costin, and he has big shoes to fill. Of the nine seasons under Coach Costin, the Haverford Golf team won six league championships and of those six, three teams went undefeated. Fourth Form Eighth Man Jake Maddaloni has shot 36 in three of his past four tourna-
Sixth Former Mac Costin approaching the green against Radnor, September 6.
MR. JIM ROESE
ments. The highest-ranked player in the Inter-Ac right now is averaging 35.8. In preparation for their match, the golf team has been at Gulph Mills Golf Club, where the match will be held, practicing and playing a friendly tournament with themselves that will get the team hyped up
when they face off against EA on Friday. With their match against EA fast approaching, all the players can do is rely on doing what has led them up to this point: to “finish.”
“On November 10th, we get to put all of our cards on the table and see who is going
to be the winner,” Coach Keefe said, “and I think we have the better cards.”
Soccer Fords look to avenge loss to EA RYAN RODACK ’22
Soccer players relax before their match against Germantown Academy on October 12.
On October 16th, the Fords Varsity Soccer team traveled to Episcopal Academy to face the Churchmen. Episcopal got on the board first and would not ease off, as the Churchmen would go on to take the game by a final score of 2-1 despite a valiant second-half effort by the Fords. The Fords have an opportunity to get revenge on Saturday, November 12th at 12:30 p.m when the 12-4-1 Fords will take on the Churchmen yet again. Not only will a win give them revenge against Episcopal, but it will establish the Fords as Inter-Ac champions in Head Coach Mr. Daniel Keefe’s first season at the helm. The Fords suffered their only loss of the season at the hands of EA. Coach Keefe and the Fords coaching staff have plans to alter their gameplan and are confident in their team’s ability to win the game and the Inter-Ac. One of the most important things that Coach Keefe and his staff plan to address is limiting Episcopal attacker Sam Wilson, who scored both of the Episcopal goals on October 16th. Wilson, an extremely fast player, had three shots on goal and scored twice in the previous matchup. Coach Keefe did reveal a part of his plan to limit Wilson;
INTEL CHEN ‘19
“We have some ideas for our back four about how to make sure he does not break us down again.” The Fords did have great success in the second half of their previous matchup against Episcopal. The team had a run of about sixteen shots on goal in the second half in a failed attempt to tie the game. Coach Keefe was proud of the Fords’ second-half effort in their last matchup. Home-field advantage should help the Fords claim a win as thousands of fans are expected to show up for the November 10th matchup. In the Fords’ previous game against Springside Chestnut Hill, student fans showed up to support the Fords, which, according to Mr. Keefe, “made a huge difference.” Coach Keefe said, “I felt like the… boys were supportive, funny, and really added a great general atmosphere to our game that I felt helped us. I think if you magnify that with upwards to one thousand or two thousand people watching simultaneously, It’s going to be a really exciting place to play things out.” For Coach Keefe, it is less about getting revenge on Episcopal but more about having the best team win out.
LUKE KANIA ’19 AND SEKOU ROLAND ’21
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The Index - Sports
Water Polo strives towards perfect season
by Jake LaRocca ’20
SEBASTIAN BILASH ’20
Matej Sekulic ’20 bringing some heat in a 16-7 win over EA, November 11, 2017
Regardless of the outcome of the game on EA Day, Fords water polo has had a year to remember. The team currently has a 7-0 Inter-Ac record. Water Polo Head Coach Mr. Kevin Van Such already has brought home his first Inter-Ac title — the first since the 2009 season — a great success in itself. Despite losing talent from last year’s senior class, the Fords have thrived in the
pool. Since the beginning of preseason, the Fords’ schedule entailed grueling week-day and Saturday morning practices. The Fords worked hard, with the 2009 Inter-Ac banner always in their peripheral vision. The players’ dedication has clearly paid off, as demonstrated by the team’s current 20-3 record. The 2018 championship builds
Only two minutes linger on the clock; the scoreboard reads 1-2, and the crowd holds its breath in anticipation. Griffin Wada keeps his cool. With all eyes set on the penalty kick, the crowd bursts into a frenzy as the ball finds the back of the net. With Wada’s goal, the Haverford soccer team holds onto their chance to claim the Inter-Ac title. Sixth Former Wada has been recognized by teammates and opponents alike as a powerhouse on the field this year, playing a prominent role in the team’s rise to the top of the rankings. Wada’s career has come a long way. “I started playing at Rocket Sports, which was the old YSC, when I was about six years old,” said Wada, “but I didn’t start playing club until I was about eight years old. I’m actually on that same team now, which is pretty cool.” Today, Wada is one of the captains for the Haverford soccer team and plays for the premier Lower Merion Soccer Club. Playing for LMSC, Wada won the 2018 Eastern Regional League and went to the Regional Championships over the summer. In 2016, Wada also attended the National Championships with LMSC. Even with his long history of club soccer, Wada’s says his experience playing for the Haverford soccer team is one of kind. “Club soccer will never really compare to high school soccer, especially because these are all my best friends that I go to play with every day, so it’s just awesome,” said Wada. “We’ve had this senior class, and they’ve been on the team for a while. I know all of
the guys, and you kind of look to certain people when you’re in tough games like against SCHA and Penn Charter. Those guys have really come through for us this year.” Wada spends most of his time at center back, a position that “a lot of leadership falls on,” Wada said. In high-level play, the center back is known for being the anchor of the team, a fitting term for Wada. As the last line of defense before the goalkeeper, Wada often controls the field. Playing the position both sophomore and junior year taught Wada a lot about leadership, “especially playing with players like Caleb Clothier ’17 and Josh Ridenhour ’17.” “They kind of just took control of the team, and if you were ever in a tough situation, you looked to them for leadership,” said Wada. “That’s what I tried to embody this year as captain.” Calling out plays and organizing the defense, Wada has done more than just hold the title of captain; his leadership has been essential for the team. “Wada vocalizes a lot on the field, always encouraging players,” said Fourth Former Mitchell Hark. “He enforces Coach Keefe’s theme of positive energy and positive reinforcement, that definitely helps the rest of the team.” Fifth Form goalkeeper William Boyes said, “He always brings a sense of stability to the team and calms us down.” For Wada, soccer has also created many positive experiences off the field. “With my club team, I got to travel
November 2018
momentum for the program in future years, and Coach Van Such hopes to extend his championship streak.
“Although we’ve already clinched the league, we’re not done. A win on EA Day would be a great way to cap off a phenomenal season.” “I’m really excited for the guys. Winning the league was a goal they’ve been working towards since day one. We have a special group of guys that continue to challenge and push each other every day,” said Coach Van Such. “They certainly earned it, and it’s rewarding to think back to those preseason practices, early mornings and long weekends to get to this point. For the program, we hope that this is just the beginning.” Although the Fords have accomplished their goal of winning the Inter Ac, the team will still take their final league contest on EA Day seriously. The Episcopal Academy water polo team has always been a great rival of the Fords, so the team looks to capitalize on a chance to defeat them in front of a huge crowd.
Griffin Wada (second from left) and his teamates after a game against Kiski.
around the world and play against some of the best players in the world, including nowprofessional players in Argentina and Italy,” said Wada. “Playing in Vegas and North Carolina as well as playing in front of hundreds of
Griffin Wada: the story of a foot-baller
Dan Chow ’20
Griffin Wada steps out against EA last year in a 0-0 tie
Coach Van Such and the players have been eyeing a perfect 8-0 league record since the end of last season, so fans should expect a high energy game on November 10th. “We’re always pumped to play on EA Day,” Coach Van Such said, “especially when we play at home. The atmosphere is electric, and the team really feeds off of the support from their fans.” “Although we’ve already clinched the league, we’re not done. A win on EA Day would be a great way to cap off a phenomenal season,” Coach Van Such said. Captains Sixth Former J.R. Leitz, Sixth Former Nicholas Biddle, and Fifth Former Matej Sekulic are also excited going into this game, expecting to finish the season strong. “The team has worked hard through the year and achieved what no Haverford polo team has done before,” said Sekulic. “Going undefeated in the league coming into EA Day is definitely a great boost for our morale as we try to take back the sweater. I am sure we will be one of the key sports helping to recapture the sweater.”
INTEL CHEN ’19
DR. MIKE NANCE
people at two EA Days has taught me stability and perseverance.” To no surprise, Wada’s talent on the field drew the eyes of prestigious colleges, providing him with the opportunity to attend the University of Chicago next year. Wada doesn’t forget his roots, however. “Looking back, I’m also very grateful for soccer because I have also met all of my best friends playing soccer,” said Wada. Under Wada and the other senior captains, at one point this year the team was ranked number one in the state and fourteen in the nation at one point. Undefeated at first, a small hiccup against EA resulted in the team’s first and only loss this season. The new season brought about large changes, especially for veterans like Wada. The overall momentum and dynamic of the team has changed positively, not only because of the great improvement in the team record, but also with the introduction of Coaches Daniel Keefe and Andrew Poolman. “The season has been great,” said Wada. “We’ve had Coach Keefe and Coach Poolman… and it’s just really fun showing up to practices, and I think the whole team just bought in and came together on this idea that we are going to work hard and grind out wins.” cont. pg. 6
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The Index - Sports
It would be belittling to say Sixth Former Khalil Bland trains hard for his sport. It would be insulting if you said to him, “Good job.” If he underperforms, the first thing he does is criticize himself. Co-captain Bland does so much more than just show up. Bland started his running career through his father’s influence. As a kid, Bland used to play soccer and baseball like everyone else, but he was “skinny and slow.” His father said to him, “When you are doing something for the team like running the bases, every movement you make is slow.” “He saw me hit a ball one time, and it flew — crushed it — and I only made it to first base. My dad was like ‘What? How’d you only get to first base?’ and then he said, ‘That’s it, you’re doing track,’” said Bland. Bland and his older brother, Taj, joined a track program after their father was “tired of them being slow.” Bland’s father still critiques his son to make him a better runner. Though running is the most important part of Bland’s life today, it wasn’t love at first sight. “That first day of track, which was winter track, was awful, but I stuck it out, and here I am today. I don’t know what I would do without it,” said Bland. “Cross country is so much more gut [than track].” In cross country, the training mostly consists of building endurance through running mile after mile, with only a few speedbased workouts during the week. “I feel as though it’s easier to get results
in track than cross country,” said Bland. “You’re making your bodies go as fast as possible, so you race as fast as possible, and I like the hurt.” Speaking of hurt, Bland is one of the team’s most dedicated athletes, running all three athletic seasons and even competing in the summer on his own. By looking up to professionals and applying their methods, he has transformed himself into the most technical runner on the team. Bland is all about form and procedure and is deliberate about every move he makes during a workout or race. “EA Day is always close, so no matter how you prepare as team, you never know what’s going to happen,” Bland said. “It’s always up to how well you give that speech before we run, how well you hype up the guys, how well you train that week or two before. It’s all about being that mentor and being that captain figure and thinking ‘I know I’ll do my best.’ It’s having that motivation that I think will win EA Day.” Bland and his teammates have prepared for the win since June or even the day after last EA Day. When Bland brings his team in for the huddle before the start, he’ll be sure to bring the winning mentality. “I think we can beat them. I don’t go into the race saying ‘no’ or ‘maybe.’ I go into that race with a winning mentality, because, otherwise, I cannot win.”
The final year of Haverford golf ’s powerhouse lineup is filled with six Sixth Formers, each holding the same standard for his last EA Day. Fords golfers have had a historic season, winning every Inter-Ac tournament. But golf ’s loss on EA Day the previous year, “makes it more of a revenge match to show out for the boys,” said Sixth Former David Hurly. The top eight on the varsity squad con-
sists of six Sixth Formers, each contributing invaluable leadership and teamwork. Hurly is one of those leaders, so he could set the tone for the other players on EA Day. This year Hurly has mustered around a 37 scoring average — meaning that he scored about one or two strokes over par in competition — and medaled in an Inter-Ac tournament. Hurly’s humble outlook on the season
November 2018
Bland’s running start
Vince Scauzzo ’20 Khalil Bland ’19 strides ahead of an SCHA runner at a meet at the Belmont Plateau last week.
David Hurly works to perfect game for EA Day buildup
Tyler Zimmer ’21 David Hurley ’19 putting against Radnor on September 6.
MR. JIM ROESE
further proves his ability to “go low,” or his capability and potential to play outstanding golf when it matters. EA Day, arguably the most high-stakes golf competition for Haverford, is one of these times. This year’s golf competition is hosted by Gulph Mills Golf Club, home to many Golf Association of Philadelphia tournaments. When asked about how the course suits David’s game, he bluntly provided the following statement: “It doesn’t.” “The cold, firm greens, and the wind make the course a challenge. It is going to come down to solid putting and figuring out how to make pars on the eighth and ninth holes.” Even though the course does not suit his game, Hurly was still able to put together a solid round of 34 in a previous match. Hurly’s performance come EA Day will be no draw of the cards, as he works to perfect each aspect of his game. Whether or not the team has a scheduled practice or match, Hurly practices every day to maintain a routine. “Last weekend is a good example,” said Hurly. “I arrived at seven, worked out, and hit the range. Right now I’m really working on hitting cuts for better control.” Iron control will be crucial in the match, as pin placements will most likely be tucked in the corner where only the most accurate of shots are acceptable. Tough pin placement creates a higher percentage of missed greens by aggressive players, and missing greens at a difficult course like Gulph Mills can be punishing. The other deciding factors at Gulph Mills are the glass-like greens that, when cold, make it extremely difficult for the players to spin the ball or have control with the putter. Compared to other courses that the team has played where wayward shots could be compensated for, Gulph Mills will create an unforgiving environment. To compensate for this, Hurly does putting drills. “I mainly focuses on distance putting,” Hurly said, “working on not three-putting. Whether it be twenty feet or fifty, I want consistency and speed control.” Fourth Form varsity golfer Jake Maddaloni disagrees about Hurly’s game not being suited for the golf course. Maddaloni said, “David has a really good
MR. JIM ROESE
SAM REISBORD ’20 AND MATTHEW SCHWARTZ ’21
chance to go low. It’s at Gulph Mills, which is a course that he, along with the rest of the team, knows very well. I know David is pumped to try and get the sweater back.” The format of this year’s competition is “better ball.” This means that five teams of two will compete, with each pair playing a hole and recording the lower score between the two. While the team’s score does not solely rest in the hands of any individual, the key to the better ball format is to ensure that each player’s bad holes occur at different times during the round. The same holds true for the player’s good holes, as two birdies by both players on a single hole does not gain any more than one birdie does. Each player has their strengths that they must utilize to make a strong score on each hole. Hurly’s teammate this year is fellow Sixth Former Zak Summy, also a top player in the Inter-Ac. Hurly has confidence in their partnership. “He can do it; he’ll be ready to go. It’s his first year on the top eight and he has shown spurts of solid playing,” said Hurly. In the opinion of Coach Gui Costin ’85, “David has a very powerful game and is always a threat to make a lot of birdies. Playing with his partner Zak Summy, they have the potential to post a very low score on EA Day.”
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The Index - Sports
Griffin Wada continued from page 4... In high-pressure scenarios where everything is on the line, Wada maintains his focus. As an anchor for the team, Wada is known for leading the players by example and keeping his cool. Especially in the game against SCHA, Wada showed grit by hanging on until the last moments of the game. With a penalty kick, Wada brought the match to a draw, a necessary outcome if Haverford wished to remain a contender for the Inter-Ac title. “When we hit the SCHA game and we went down 2-0, we started to think ‘maybe this is the end,’” said Wada. “I’d say the most pressure came on that penalty kick. I wasn’t feeling it at the moment, but now I’m looking back and I’m like, ‘Wow.’ If I had missed
it, it would just be a whole different scenario now.” Wada is prepared to deal with the team’s mounting pressure. “As EA Day gets closer and we get through the state tournament which is coming up, pressure is gonna build a little bit, and it’s going to be on our senior leaders to keep it in check and make sure we play soccer,” he said. With Wada’s penalty goal tying up the match against Springside Chestnut Hill and the team pulling a clean 5-0 win against Germantown Academy, Haverford currently stands at the top of the Inter-Ac. One last game on EA Day will determine who takes the title.
November 2018
SHANE FORDHAM ’19 AND PETEY LEMMON ’19
“Going back the last two years, we’ve really been a middle-of-the-pack team. When it came to EA day, it was all about ‘let’s just win the sweater,’” said Wada. “But this year, this year it’s different. It’s us or them. It’s awesome.” As always, Wada is ready to take on the challenge. “I’m feeling really good about it. We got really unlucky the first time we played EA. I think that we know how to play our home field, which is really going to help us out,” said Wada. Wada recognizes that, in order to win, the team must keep their composure and play as a team. “We just need to stay together,” said Wada.
“I do think there will be some adversity on EA Day, especially because the Inter-Ac is going to come down to this one game. “But I know we’ve shown that we can stick out games, and that if we just stay together and just play soccer, it’ll work out.” Overall, Wada thinks the outlook will be good on EA Day. “I’m pretty confident going in with the team that we have especially because, as long as we don’t ‘do it to ourselves’ or make mistakes, we can really get through it and play well, and we showed that against Germantown Academy,” said Wada. “I think it’s gonna be a great last EA Day for the seniors.”
J.R. Leitz emerges as leader in the pool BY RYAN LAROCCA ’20
JONNY SONNENFELD ’20 AND CONOR WOOD ’20
Four years ago, he possessed a vague understanding of the sport of water polo. Today, Sixth Former J.R. Leitz serves as captain of the 2018 Inter-Ac championship water polo team. Now he is always the water polo star, leading the team in both the locker room and on the field. Four years ago, he attended Drexel Hill Middle School, in Delaware County. As a middle schooler, swimming and baseball caught Leitz’s interest. “I’ve always loved swimming and baseball because I love the technique and mental aspects of them,” said Leitz. In eighth grade, Leitz decided to visit Haverford. “I was friends with Joe O’Brien, who was two years older than [I was]. He recommended that I look into applying, and get in
contact with the swim coach, Sean Hansen,” said Leitz. Coach Hansen immediately expressed interest and met with Leitz. Upon Leitz’s acceptance, Coach Hansen urged him to try water polo, a sport that many swimmers play in the fall to prepare for swim season. “J.R. is an all-around athlete and competitor, which made him a very valuable asset to the team. J.R.’s swimming background and baseball experience was a perfect combination for water polo,” said Coach Hansen. “I’ve always been a good swimmer. I liked baseball, and I pitched. Sean asked me to play,” said Leitz. Little did the both of them know that Leitz would play a critical role in bringing Haverford Water Polo its first league championship since 2009. During his Third Form year, Leitz began to get a feel for the game. Although he played for the J.V. team, Leitz experienced drastic improvements throughout the year. As a left-handed player — which is advantageous in water polo — and a pitcher, it became evident he would play a critical role in the team’s future. “With kids playing a new sport like water polo, there is an adjustment period. But, with the way J.R. worked and stayed focused, it was obvious he would develop into a great player and natural leader,” Coach Hansen said. As a result of his improvements, Leitz became a swing player during his Fourth Form year. Over the course of the season, his game once again improved tremendously. For those who played alongside Leitz that year, it was amazing to see how much better he became as the year progressed. This improvement transitioned into his Fifth Form season, when he was an upperclassmen leader for some of the younger players.
After two years of varsity under his belt, Leitz approached his Sixth Form year with confidence. Due to his likable personality and work ethic, he naturally became a senior leader and a captain. During his time as captain, the team was more united than in years past. “Last year, we weren’t a tightly-knit team,” said Lietz. “This year, the juniors and seniors really stepped up. We led the team together, rather than simply the captains.” Leitz attributed his leadership to the players whom he led. “I’m lucky because the younger guys made it easy. We were all close from years’ past. I tried to make everyone comfortable. It really means a lot because everyone works together, and I hope I helped this.”
All of the players would agree that Leitz’s leadership will be sorely missed once he graduates. “He might not have scored all of the goals, but his presence as a friend and a leader on the team is unmatched,” said Fifth Former David Gobora. “He will be missed next year.” “J.R.’s leadership has been a key factor over the last year,” said Fourth Former Jack Deppen. “He is the definition of a teamfirst individual, and he is always looking out for me; playing with him over the last two years has been a great experience.” “He’s a positive influence,” said Third Former Bram Schork. “He’s always the one trying to keep everyone together and positive.”
J.R. Leitz shooting at the Beast of the East Tournement on September 28.
MR. JIM ROESE
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The Index - Sports
November 2018
Football Fords regroup, eyeing churchmen
Ryan Gaffney ’21 INTEL CHEN’19
Nate Whitaker’19 speeds past EA lineman last EA day.
Coming off of a disappointing 1-9 season last year, the Fords football players looked to redeem themselves in the 2018 season. Off to a strong start as they earned a win for their first game, the Fords then lost to LaSalle College High School. The first half went well, as they went into the second quarter up 14-7, and into halftime down 14-17. Then things went downhill. The final was 28-58, the Fords’ first disappointing loss of the season. The number of yards Haverford’s defense gave up was not lost on the crowd. The Explorers ran for more than 250 yards, and a seasonlong struggle started for the Fords’ run defense. The struggles continued in the next home game against Chester High School. This game exposed weaknesses in the secondary defenders’ pass cov-
erage. The Fords held Chester to a total of only 93 rushing yards, but the Chester Clippers threw for an impressive 360 yards. Many people think that the biggest challenge is defense: in particular, their run defense. The junior defensive end and offensive tackle Kwaku Adubofour thinks differently. “I think when our offense is able to stay on the field and drive, our run defense is there,” Adubofour said, “but sometimes the defense is on the field three quarters of a football game. We just can’t keep up our defense for that long.” The offense also was plagued by a limited time of possession as a result of turnovers. Many players agree that the defense is not to blame, including Fifth Form offensive and defensive lineman Mike Barr. “We need to generate
more of a pass rush in our defense but other than that we are pretty good at stopping the run,” Barr said. “Our biggest weakness is probably passing the ball on offense, which has been a big struggle all season.” As the season went on, the team was met with mixed results. Maybe it wasn’t about offense or defense. “I would say that at times we’ve been inconsistent in our ability to produce a big play on both sides of the ball,” Coach Michael Murphy said. “When we have needed a big offensive play, in some games when we have done well we have made those plays, but in other times when we have needed them, we haven’t produced them, and I would say the same is true on the defensive side of the ball. That’s why we’ve given up too
Cross country’s casual culture
many big plays at crucial times in the game and then just kind of adding in with that, we’ve hurt ourselves a lot this season with penalties.” Adubofour said, “We leave a lot of plays on the field. Not everyone is doing their best on every single play, but if everyone is able to get it together on every single play we could be very powerful.” Even though the players and coaches have not yet started preparing physically for the Episcopal Academy game, they have all been thinking about it. “Everybody is always hyped up on EA Day when playing in front of a big crowd, playing your rival,” Coach Murphy said. “That will always be there, and I think of the years where we have been successful, and really even last year. We lost the game, but I felt that our team did a good job of understanding that it is about execution after the initial emotion of walking out there wears off. You have to play a full four quarters of football to win that game and do the things that we believe in, which is stopping the run and get off on third down. We have to control the football and make big plays when we get a chance to do those things. At the end of the day it’s kind of the same formula that you employ, it’s just on a bigger stage.” After coming off a disappointing loss to EA last year, the football team look to win back not only the respect of their fans but also the Sweater. This year’s game is on Sabol Field’s new turf, and that means the first win on the new field. The emotions will be running high throughout, not only the game but also through the week. Barr said, “Having the biggest student section there, especially now this year that it’s a home game, it’s definitely going to change the atmosphere a lot, and allow us to play better because we have our fans behind us, and just kind of the hype behind it all really makes it a game that everyone wants to be a part of.”
SAWYER HOYT ’20 AND XIAOLONG HUANG ’20
YAN GRAF ’20
Nick Chimicles’19 running at a meet against Springside Chestnut Hill.
MR. JIM ROESE
When people from other schools think of Haverford, they typically do not think about cross country. But, the sport’s unique mentality has helped cross-country program become one of the preeminent running programs in the area. The sport consistently draws a large crowd of runners year after year. One contributing factor to the sport’s popularity could be the tight-knit nature of the team. Many runners laud the sense of cohesiveness they experience. Fifth Former Sebastian Bilash, who joined the team this season, said, “There’s definitely a great sense of camaraderie present. The coaches have done an impressive job of turning a pretty individual sport into one involving the entire team.” One thing many on the team note as being especially helpful in maintaining a strong team ethos is the “No Man Runs Alone” rule. Fifth Former Maxim Kreider said, “The number-one rule on cross-country is that ‘no man runs alone.’ Ever. This rule sums up what makes cross country great. No matter what, even if you don’t want to, you have to be there for your teammate and to get them through.” Sebastian Bilash adds, saying, “‘No man runs alone’ speaks really well to how a main focus of the coaches is getting us to work together and improve as a team.” Additionally, the team places a heavy focus on
picking each other up, especially after some of the low points of the season. Sixth Former Kenneth Pham said, “One of the lows of the season was losing to EA, but one of the heights was coming back... and dominating our next meet.” This year, “[the cross country team] has definitely been more supportive of each other after being down in the dumps,” Pham said. Fifth Form co-captain Vincent Scauzzo agrees that the team is supportive when things don’t go as planned. “We all have to push each other during the workouts and races,” Scauzzo said. “You can’t hide when you’re running. That’s why, when we see someone lagging behind, guys ask if he’s alright and then encourage him to keep going.” The team is also deeply rooted in traditions. Kreider says that some of the traditions include “beginning of season introductions, where we introduce ourselves by name, grade, and favorite ice cream flavor. The daily jokes told when we circle up before our workout” and others bind the team together. This season has provided a transition for the team, because as Coach Timothy Lengel ’07 puts it, “Last year, we lost a bunch of distance-running legends.”
cont. pg. 11
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November 2018
Mr. Grossman ’96 reflects on EA Days past JEFFREY YANG ’22
Mr. Grossman’s 1994 soccer portrait.
Amid the rush of academics, athletics, and various activities, students may forget to hear the stories of our faculty. The surge of excitement over the fall season’s ultimate matches presents an opportunity to learn about EA Week through the eyes of an alumnus and get a sense of the spirit twenty-two years ago. Students who have attended Haverford since Form II remember Middle School science teacher Mr. Andrew Grossman. He graduated 1996, after playing for Haverford’s soccer, ice hockey, lacrosse, and, in his senior year, ultimate frisbee teams. One of Mr. Grossman’s most vivid memories of EA Week was of a pep rally in Centennial Hall where many Upper School athletes dressed up, some as EA players, and the headmaster was involved with the pre-game celebrations. The pep rallies were slightly different from the ones we have now. In that time, the rally featured more theatrics, where students would dress up with props and perform parodies of some of the EA players to make them look ridiculous. “It probably sounds more negative than it actually was — and in hindsight, maybe it was a little bit negative — but it would be interesting to see us go back to doing a theatrical pep rally,” said Mr. Grossman Another difference is that in years past, the Middle School would have all their games with EA on the Thursday prior to Friday’s EA Day. Mr. Grossman first experienced the pre-game pep rally as a middle schooler. “[A]fter our game, we would come back to campus and there was always a ‘nightbefore’ pep rally that also seemed to always feature a band and was in the center of campus,” said Mr. Grossman. “We kind of felt like we were getting something extra, being
middle-schoolers, going to the Upper School pep rally.” The change from the Friday EA Day to the primarily Saturday event allows it to feel more of a festival, according to Mr. Grossman. “The change allows it to be that much bigger of an event,” said Mr. Grossman. “It used to be mostly students, and some others members of the community; you didn’t get the alumni thing where kids who graduated before and after me can attend.” “It used to just feel like, ‘okay we’re going to a game,’ while now it’s more like, ‘we’re going to a game, and there’s food, it’s more spread out, and there’s so many people there.’” However, one thing that has not changed is having a live band during the rally. “In my junior and senior year, I actually got to be a part of the student-led band that played,” said Mr. Grossman. “That was also a memory. There was always a live band.” When asked if there was the same amount of excitement and school spirit years ago when EA Day arrived, Mr. Grossman was quick to respond, “absolutely.” But he also mentioned that there may even be more “hype” now with the addition of golf and water polo, meaning more athletes can be involved, and all the spirit events that happen currently build excitement throughout the week until the culminating in EA Day. He also added that over years, there have been twenty-two more classes that have graduated and will come back to watch. “There’s twenty-two more years of alumni who are excited and potentially going to come back,” said Mr. Grossman. “And now with social media, we can talk to each other
Mr. Grossman in the 1996 Haligoluk.
JEFFREY YANG ’22
COURTESY OF MR. ANDREW GROSSMAN
through ‘The Facebook.’” During the game in which Mr. Grossman played, he remembers having the crowd right up against the field, cheering. “There’s kind of that intimacy, and all the supportive things people say, and not unsupportive things people say, definitely make it to your ears. Being a soccer athlete, just having people that close, is pretty amazing. I always thought that was the most fun.” When Mr. Grossman played soccer on EA Day during his senior year, the team lost with a score of 0-1. Haverford controlled the ball for most of the game, but lost to a “flukey” goal near the end of the game. The star striker of the team, a sophomore, was knocked out cold by EA’s goalie. In addition, the loss tarnished the team’s perfect record, ending the season 21-1. “I wouldn’t say [the game] spoiled our near-perfect season, but it was kind of a drag,” said Mr. Grossman That day, the cross country team also lost. Without the existence of water polo, and golf being a spring sport at the time, the football team was “just playing for pride at
that point.” The 1995 football team, however, crushed EA. “[The victory] was cool because one of my best friends was the running back, and I was good friends with the wide receivers,” said Mr. Grossman. “To lose EA Day at EA stinks, but to beat them in football and for my buddies, who from seventh to twelfth grade had never beaten EA before, made it that much more exciting.” Even though Mr. Grossman said he did not play much that day, he vividly remembers the enjoyment he had during the whole experience of just being there. Like usual, that EA Day was also distinctly cold. “There’s a picture of us in special black tshirts that said “EA Day 1995.” I remember not having a black undershirt, so I decided to just wear the t-shirt and suffer through the cold because being there, even on the bench, was enough to keep you warm.” Mr. Grossman’s most treasured memory is the first time he brought his older daughter to EA Day. “A couple years ago, when I lived in Paoli, my daughter and I took the train from Paoli. It was super cold, we got off the train, she and I did EA Day together, we got back on the train and then went home,” said Mr. Grossman. “It was like this full, full day where it was just her and I. Doing EA Day as a parent with my kid was pretty special.” Looking into this year’s EA Day, he is excited to be taking his daughter again, except now they live close and are “able to just ride [their] bikes down.” Mr. Grossman’s parents are lifelong Haverford fans and attend EA Days with him. “So to be here with three generations of Grossmans, even though I was the only one who actually attended, has made [EA Day] more into a family thing,” said Mr. Grossman. In addition, Mr. Grossman is hopeful to see how the soccer athletes he has taught and coached have grown. “I noticed this the other day at a game,” said Mr. Grossman. “There were eleven players on the field, and I had both taught and coached nine of them. So over years, just seeing how the kids have gone through our program is a pretty neat thing. Seeing those kids whom I had taught before and are now like these grown giant athletes out there is one thing I’m looking forward to.”
Mr. Grossman with his old team jacket
JEFFREY YANG ’22
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November 2018
Dr. Nagl wants his sweater back VINCENT SCAUZZO ’20
Headmaster Dr. John Nagl is cold. Like most people on campus, he had never experienced the loss of EA Day until last year. Now, without his sweater, he is chilly, but determined. Dr. Nagl, having been part of one of the great rivalries in sports, the Army-Navy rivalry, understands competition and loves it. Last year, before EA Day, some questioned whether the Episcopal Academy was truly Haverford’s rival, saying Malvern was a more fitting competitor because they tested our skills and are also an all-boys school. Clearly, they were wrong. “You have to lose every once in a while for it to be a rivalry,” Nagl said. “But I really don’t like losing,” he added. “There are people who like to win and there are people who hate to lose, and I hate losing. I’m counting on getting my sweater back, and I will be deeply saddened if we go two years in a row with no sweater. “Then I’ll get colder and grumpier, and no one likes a grumpy headmaster.” Dr. Nagl and EA headmaster Dr. T.J. Locke each entered their positions at the same time, and for the first four years of their jobs, Haverford won EA Day every year. COURTESY OF DR. NAGL
Dr. Nagl faces off against EA Headmaster Dr. T.J. Locke.
“Don’t leave anything on the never been on their new campus. must decide how risky your shot should be,” Put it all out there on the fields. Play fair, play Dr. Nagl served in the Army in the Mid- Dr. Nagl said. as hard as you possibly can.” bench. Put it all out there on the “Water polo has strategy,” Dr. Nagl said, “I once ran a race against a brigadier fields. Play fair, play as hard as dle East as an expert on fighting insurgency warfare, or unconventional warfare — the “but it’s also very much a force-on-force general who was remarkably fast, and I really you possibly can.” “He became very frustrated because we have appreciably more boys than he does,” Nagl said. “He said, ‘Everything has to fall exactly our way for us to win the sweater,’ and there’s some truth to that.” “If you recall, last year, our golf team won the Inter-Ac on a perfect day, but on EA Day, bad conditions favored the weaker team and the weaker team won. But even with golf losing, we still had a chance [to win EA Day].” When EA did win, the school did not have a place to put the sweater — it had
kind where the enemy does not “play by the rules,” as he put it. I asked him how playing EA compares to fighting terrorists in the Middle East. “Different sports resemble different kinds of military conflict,” said Dr. Nagl. “In cross country, you can compete as an insurgent — you can draft off a runner until the final hundred meters and then kick to the end. Strategy plays a big role in this sport.” “Golf is much more a conventional combat situation. It’s one of those sports that you’re playing against yourself and the course as much as you are any opponent. But you have to size up your opponent and
I’m home
Mitav Nayak ’22 Mitav Nayak left EA and became a Ford this year.
As a student of the Episcopal Academy for eight years, I know a quite a bit about the battle for the prestigious sweater that takes place every fall. This year, I have joined The Haverford School, so I will have a new perspective on the event. I am sure many students know about this competition’s long and colorful history as well as what the event means at Haverford. But what is the experience like at EA? And what does it feel like to swap the blue and white for maroon and gold on EA Day?
INDEX STAFF
sport — it’s wrestling in the water: much more conventional. Sheer muscle matters, as it does in football — they are much the same.” “Soccer is more of an insurgent kind of sport. I believe even if soccer continues to frustrate me because it’s too hard to score, there are ways to use an insurgent strategy and play a very defensive game to wear down the opponent,” Dr. Nagl said. According to Dr. Ngl, Dr. Locke has “harassed” him, making this upcoming date with destiny “very personal.” This is a message to all athletes from Dr. Nagl: “Don’t leave anything on the bench.
wanted to beat him, but in the last stretch he pulled ahead, and as I crossed the line, I was throwing up. He said, ‘That’s better than beating me, Nagl,’ because I literally gave it all I had,” Dr. Nagl said. “That’s what I want from you guys,” Dr. Nagl continued. “I want a bunch of guys throwing up across the finish line. Give it everything you got, and as long as you do that — take care of your team, take care of your buddies — then it doesn’t matter if you win or lose.”
well. During this week, students dress down each day. Lower school students make banners, posters, and decorations to support the competing teams and athletes. On the Friday before, the whole school gathers for a pep rally, where a “hype video” is shown, the students recite various fight songs, and the athletes have a final send-off. As a student sitting on the floor of that blue and white EA gym, I watched the pep rally every year. I felt a sense of awe as I realized how long the tradition had been a part of the two schools. I was amazed by the rivalry which had grown between EA and Haverford in time. Although I rooted for EA, I always had
respect for the Haverford athletes, and I admired their athletic achievements. I am looking forward to experiencing the event from the Haverford side. While I was at EA, Haverford won the sweater every year. For this reason, I thought of EA Haverford Day as a chance to finally conquer the undefeatable Fords. When EA managed to snatch the sweater from Haverford, I was no longer a student at the school, so I did not experience the victory. Now, as a part of Haverford, I am looking forward to the event with excitement and anticipation. I see the competition as a chance to bring the sweater back to Haverford, where it belongs.
“Although I rooted for EA, I always had respect for the Haverford athletes, and I admired their athletic achievements.” At EA, the week leading up to “EA Haverford Day” is referred to as “spirit week” as
The Haverford fan section cheering for football last year. Haverford’s community attracted Nayak to our school.
INTEL CHEN ’19
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November 2018
The unsung heroes of gameday crew TOBY MA ’20
This Saturday, the Haverford community will be focused on the contests in water polo, soccer, and football. Blood and sweat will be shed as both schools face off in an ultimate test of athletic excellence, all to answer one question: who will get the sweater? With such a high-profile event, many spectators might overlook a small group of students working on the sidelines. This group, known as the “gameday crew,” will be working behind the scenes to ensure that the games will run smoothly, as it has tirelessly done all season. The roles of the gameday crew are simple: setting up and tidying up before and after the game as well as providing assistance to referees and players during the game. The students involved with the fall season’s gameday crew play key supporting roles in water polo, soccer, and football games for varsity, junior varsity, and even middle school athletes. Athletics Director Mr. Michael Murphy, who wanted to give students a chance to get involved with school sports without participating as a player, first conceived of gameday crew. “I saw a bunch of guys who liked athletics, wanted to be involved with athletics, but participating on the team wasn’t something they were overly thrilled about,” Mr. Murphy said. “[Gameday crew was] a way to work and support our athletic teams… and [meet] the directives of why we have a two-sports activity requirement, which is to make sure that all of our boys are involved in the life of our school and involved in something that is larger than themselves.” “I saw it as a win-win: it was really good for our teams, really good for our program, and also a good way to have guys involved with athletics but not actually be on the team,” Mr. Murphy said. Gameday crew had a “rough start”: it initially struggled to find its place in Haverford athletics. “[W]e weren’t quite sure what were the most effective ways to do it,” said Mr. Murphy. “[C]ertain days it was great, certain days it was like, ‘What should we be doing?’” This changed with Spanish teacher Ms. Brooke Kenna and later, Assistant Athletic Director Mr. Brendan Dawson. Ms. Kenna, who has a background in professional sports, was in her element managing and directing students to the games they would cover. “Coach Dawson has also been integral in helping mold the group this year,” said Ms. Kenna, “He has an extensive background in operations and sports management (in addition to his impressive coaching resume), so that’s been great as well.” Although many members of the team state that one of their primary reasons for participating in gameday crew is for the sports credit or the need for “an alternate way of activity,” according to Fourth Former Nachikethan Srinivasan, they have grown to appreciate the experience gameday crew has
given them. “I can watch sports events [that] I have never heard of,” says Third Former Huaidian Hou, who usually does the statistics book and shot clock for water polo games. “In this way, my knowledge about American sports expands.” Fourth Former Ethan Pollack, who helps out soccer and football, said that participation in gameday crew allowed him to watch “sports [he doesn’t] usually watch, like water polo and soccer.” Hou also finds gameday crew as a learning experience and a social activity. “I knew nothing about water polo before, but since I began doing this, I know much more about this sport and [have met] a lot of new friends,” said Hou. Srinivasan said that gameday crew “allows me to feel like I’m part of something bigger even if my interests aren’t shared entirely with the larger population of students who enjoy these games.” “I enjoy the flexibility and shortness of the schedule. It gives me more time for afterschool activities,” said Third Former Josiah Somani, who needed another sports credit in addition to robotics. Somani helps set up and break down the soccer games and does ball retrieval or scoreboard duties during the game. Gameday crew has been met with positive reception from both coaches and players alike. “I — along with others — have received feedback in abundance from coaches and faculty and some do consider us a good asset,” said Srinivasan. “Coaches really appreciate when you do a good job setting up and helping,” said Pollack. In light of gameday crew’s growing positive feedback, Ms. Kenna, Mr. Dawson, and Mr. Murphy aim to expand its role. “We are always trying to come up with ways to expand gameday crew and help make coaches’ and players’ lives easier,” said Ms. Kenna, “I would love to see gameday turn into something that is student run, where guys plan out the schedule and self-manage.” Coach Dawson expressed hopes of training a professional and skillful team that is more vigilant in games. “I think gameday crew should strive to provide a ‘collegiate’ or ‘professional’ experience for our coaches and studentathletes,” Coach Dawson said. “Gameday crew should allow players and coaches on game day to focus on what’s important — the game. We want to make sure they’re not bogged down with setting up/breaking their own fields, worrying about the clock, etc. “[A]s we gain more experience as a group, we can take more of those things off the coach’s plate, and maybe even add in some stats-keeping, filming, etc. in certain sports.” “Our goal as gameday crew should be to be ‘invisible,’ like a ninja even,” said Mr. Dawson. “If everything is running smoothly
Friday, November 16 7:30 p.m. Saturday, November 17 7:30 p.m. Sunday, November 18 2:00 p.m.
and no one notices we are there, it means we’re doing our job well. Clocks should run perfectly without referees or coaches having to ask us questions or point things out. We’re not there yet, but are moving in that direction.” Mr. Murphy described gameday crew as “an expanding and evolving process.” He explained that gameday crew has the potential to expand to cover more components, including social media and video. “I’d really like them to get involved more with the social media component, where we’re doing some reporting in games and tweeting,” Mr. Murphy said. “The other one is that we have a lot of film needs; maybe somebody has a background in film.” “We’re using a drone right now at football practice, so we’re looking for a couple of guys that could use it in other sports to help with videoing the games, announcing the games, those types of things. There’s a lot of areas we could expand and improve,” Mr. Dawson said. For now, the fall season of gameday crew will wrap up with EA Day. The winter season of gameday crew will see students helping out the basketball games, but Ms. Kenna hopes to expand to other sports such as wrestling and hockey. She strongly
encourages any student to participate. “I would recommend that students get involved in gameday crew for a number of reasons,” said Ms. Kenna. “It is a relatively painless way to earn a sports/activity credit. “But more importantly, having worked in sports before, I can say that having a knowledge of the inner workings of a team and the behind-the-scenes things that allow you to actually be able to play is a tremendous asset if you are looking for a career in sports management,” Ms. Kenna said. In addition, Mr. Murphy reiterated that the role of gameday crew should not be taken lightly. He said, “The challenge that I want them to understand is that when they’re involved in those things, it’s a serious commitment.” “This is fulfilling a sport/activity requirement, so I want to make sure that the level of commitment is commensurate with someone who’s playing a varsity sport or someone who’s getting that credit for being in the play or the other activities…I don’t want it to be something where people just go ‘Oh, I can do that because it’s easy and it only takes me ten minutes a day, and I get my requirement. We’re upping the game in that regard.”
SPEAK UP!
The Speak Up! team, composed of Haverford, Baldwin and Agnes Irwin students, posing for a picture
Third Former reflects on his first Speak Up! event QUINN LUONG ’22
Over the last month, about 40 students from Haverford and Agnes Irwin have been working with Speak Up!, a youth-driven, interactive program that brings young people, educators, and parents together for dialogue. This year focused on five main topics of high school life: drugs and alcohol, expectations, sex and relationships, mental health, and identity. The student leadership team took charge and picked the topics of breakout sessions. Throughout the three student-leadership meetings, participants got to interact and express their thoughts of each individual topic. Although some situations were awkward, it helped students get used to leading the conversation which benefited them in later breakout sessions. The event on October 24th started with an introductory gathering with an amusing Family Feud-type of game show about our topics. Helpful and important suggestions for discussions were mentioned; avoid distractions, be calm, honor privacy, create a safe environment, suspend judgment, and share your experiences rather than give advice. It was followed by 75-minute small breakout sessions facilitated by student leaders and working professionals. I picked the topic of expectations. I wanted to learn more about the connection
between parental and student expectations, social life, and racial expectations. Entering the breakout session for my first time, I hardly knew what to expect. Tanya, our professional facilitator, paved and sparked questions about the interesting and vast topic. This new atmosphere filled with parents and students I did not know was awkward and scary. I was fearful of sharing my own personal experiences and thoughts because I did not know if this was an accepting or understanding environment. After we got to know everybody, I started off the conversation with the subtopic of school expectations and how it influences us. Surprisingly, many of the adults shared their own experiences and opinions. It felt welcoming, to have someone understand and empathize with your thoughts. The diverse opinions enhanced the conversation and made us think. Although siblings are not in the same breakout session, I was coincidentally with my best friend. I was hesitant to say things in fear that it could affect our relationship. These conversations on social life, specifically the expectations of your friends, made us communicate our thoughts when we would usually never have these discussions.
Page 11 Physical fitness is part of a well-balanced life. Yet, for the student athlete who wants to specialize in sports, the questions remains as to whether a skilled player should focus on one sport or spread their time to multiple sports. Many young children play season sports: soccer in the fall, hockey in the winter, baseball in the spring. By the time they reach high school, a lot of students can only manage one or two sports due to reasons such as schedule constraints, school workload, and the desire to be “really good” at one sport. Some athletes in high school hope to continue to play on a college team after graduation, which leads to more motivation to specialize in one sport. As athletes narrow their field of play, it becomes harder to train across different sports and be as well-rounded. To reach a college level of play, there must be a combination of talent, skill, and dedication. The question of how best to get there is up for debate. Coaches look for a sportsman that can handle different challenges. Playing different sports allows for a player to experience different situations, different coaches, and allows for a more diverse mentality and performance from an athlete. The other idea is that playing in different sports does not lend itself to becoming “really good” like specialization does. Each sport requires its own set of skills. For example, one could emphasize speed, another strength, and another knowledge of how a
The Index - Features
play might progress and affect the rest of the game. The work put into one sport may only partially, or not at all, affect another. Athletic Director Michael Murphy supports the idea of the multi-sport athlete. “I am, and I think the school’s philosophy is against the player specializing in one sport year round,” said Mr. Murphy. Mr. Murphy points out that when you are a college athlete doing the one specific sport, it is your job, while in high school you are able to enjoy the freedom of different sports, and different opportunities of play. “With that said, probably, if you want to go on and play a sport in college,” said Mr. Murphy, “you need to focus a little bit more on one of those sports.” Mr. Murphy thinks that specializing is not the best option. Overuse injury and burnout are common when focusing on a single sport. Having an athlete who is injured from strenuous, repetitive use of the same muscles or has lost their motivation should be avoided. What Mr. Murphy does believe in is the third category of athlete, the multi-sport athlete with an emphasized sport. Athletes are capable of pulling off being a multisport athlete and reaching a college or even professional level. “A lot of professional players, guys playing at the highest level, will tell you that many of them were multi-sport athletes,” said Mr. Murphy.
November 2018
Athletes shifting to one sport?
James Wang ’21 Christian Ray ’18, a one-sport basketball player, in a game against Penn Charter last year
EA Day(s)?
Obaida Elamin ’20 Cross Country will run this year on Friday instead of Saturday.
Before the dawn of time, or at least before golf was introduced in 2011, EA Day has been celebrated or mourned over the course of one day. Then the schools decided to introduce golf — after five ties in just seven years. Watching all the games on one day
MR. JIM ROESE
is difficult, and finding the facilities for all the sports to compete in one day before sundown proved to be a challenge. The golf match was relegated to Friday, the day before the main Saturday EA Day. Thus, “Did golf win yesterday?” is familiar question. The Cross-Country course for this year’s
EA Day was up in the air for a while because Haverford College was reluctant to tape off a section of its campus for even an hour — a surprise since they allowed it for the past couple of years. There was a lot of fear that the course would be a runner’s nightmare, laps around the school. A few weeks ago the administration finally received word that we could run on the course, but only on the condition that the race be held on Friday, a similar to the golf team. The cross-country team worried about the implications of moving another sport to Friday. The race would be at 11:30 that morning, high 40s with a 55% chance of precipitation as of the latest forecast, in other words, history teacher Mr. Timothy Lengel’s idea of “running weather.” In a survey of 145 students out of the roughly 450 or so students in the Upper School student body, 72% of them knew of the change as of November 3rd, and 58% of them like the change. This change opens the door to many possibilities as to how EA Day could pan out. Most likely, there will be few EA fans to watch the race on a cold Friday morning.
MR. JIM ROESE
Courtesy of Mr. Fifer, the whole student body will watch the race Friday morning. Having your peers and loved ones there to watch you pour your heart out for 20 or so minutes and hearing the crowd coming onto the track is what makes you go. According to the same survey, 85% of participants believe in home-field advantage. Roughly 45% of people were indifferent as to whether one or two days was preferable across all three possible outcomes of day one’s competitions. Still, 62% of people would rather the competitions take place on one day. This most likely reflects the mindset of a spectator — the rush and excitement of watching one sport after another, sprinting from one field to another to get a seat, the chants of the student body on the bleachers. When cheering on a team with a loss fresh in mind, a fan is filled with feelings of retribution, which is very different from trying to cheer on a team after sleeping on a loss you witnessed yesterday. Yet, every student wants to relive the EA Day of 2016, storming the football field after the last couple of seconds with the scoreboard and the game-ending siren sounds.
Cross country’s casual culture continued from pg. 7... The cross-country team, as the coaches put it, is young. Prominent runners like Will Merhige have graduated, and the team has been looking for a new generation of runners to take their place. This has presented some challenges, as co-captain and Sixth Former Khalil Bland said, “[We’re] making sure that the new guys know what cross-country is all about, which is hard to deal with. But we have made improvements.” But a wealth of new talent presents a multitude of opportunities as well. Developing these young runners into future team leaders has been a goal for the season, and, if Coach Lengel is right, they have succeeded. “We have a lot of prominent young runners stepping up to be the new face of the team, while maintaining some of the team traditions and forging their own path,”
said Coach Lengel. “Lots of new leadership.” While there is still work to do — such as working on increasing the work done during the summer — Coach Brian Long is happy with the team right now, saying, “The relative depth of our squad is just unprecedented.” For now, the focus is on EA Day. This year, the team will be running for the first time in recent history on the Friday before EA Day. When asked about the chances of Haverford taking the win, Coach Lengel said “We have a path to victory, it is very narrow, and it’s going to take a lot of work.” “It is unbelievably close,” Scauzzo said. “All that matters is that everyone on the team gives a hundred percent because that’s the only way we win this.” Whatever the result on Friday, no man will run alone. Jack Ballenger ‘20 running at EA day last year.
INTEL CHEN ’19
Page 12
The Index - Arts
November 2018
Artists touch on primal roots, support athletes TYLER ZIMMER ’21
Sixth Form EA Day banner from 2016.
MS. DAWN BLAKE
While Haverford and Episcopal compete in the pinnacle event of fall sports, Art Department Mr. Chris Fox and students compete to produce banners; the best ones are hung on the secondfloor windows above the soccer field and along the sides of the football field during the sporting events. Through the years, the tradition has grown in terms of the number of participants and the complexity of the art. The format of the banner making is simple. Each form can put forth two banners and the faculty can submit one. Students collaborate to create humorous artwork, and while the banners cannot use “outright violence or personal attacks,” they “can gently poke fun at our competition.” Mr. Fox supervises the process and creates an environment suited for all students, not just those in art class. In terms of the competition aspect, some paint the banners for fun or relaxation, but others, such as art teacher Ms. Zoë Blatt, feel more competitive. When asked about the competition and if the faculty would win this year, she stated that “faculty rarely wins but always should. Of course we’re gonna win this year! This is our year.” Starting about a month before EA Day kicks or tees off, Mr. Fox takes down the artwork on his wall, providing open space for the artists to work freely. As many may know from passing by the art studio or exchanging words with Mr. Fox, he always searches for the deeper connection. While on the surface, the ritual of banner painting seems minor, Mr. Fox approaches it in a more thoughtprovoking manner. “EA week pep rallies have their primal origin in a tribal setting where some members of the tribe would go out hunting, facing the dangers for the rest of the tribe,” Mr. Fox said. “There was often
a ceremony beforehand that would help those hunters feel the support of the other tribal members and to imbue them with a sense of power to face those dangers. In a sense, to charge them up.” This charged-up feeling is exactly what EA Week provides to Haverford’s varsity athletes. After the week of excitement and preparation, “we come forward together as a tribe to face the competition,” Mr. Fox said. Just like the tribal ceremonies, Mr. Fox thinks banner painting also relates to the early cave paintings our ancestors did almost 40,000 years ago. Those cave paintings were another primal way humans illustrated facing challenges. Banners provide us a visual means to show our support for our athletes, for the tradition of the competition and for our school. While the banner painting ritual has existed for more than a decade, in recent years changes made the artwork better suited for EA Day. Originally the paintings were made on brown paper in only an hour’s time. Each advisory created a piece of artwork, resulting in a large number of poorly made banners. Now the banners are painted on canvas designed to be displayed outside and to last four years. The participants use a finer canvas of a larger scale. A reason for the upgrade in the banners is because they do have an effect on the athletes. Mr. Fox said that they “help to provide a communal sense of pride. A ‘we-are-all-in-thistogether feeling.” “For some guys who aren’t competing athletes,” Mr. Fox said, “the banners can make everybody feel included in the team effort, that they are more than just fans.”
Ben Hokenson prepares for solo national anthem DANIEL CHOW ’20 Maybe you have heard of him, or maybe you have actually heard him. In recent years, Fifth Former Ben Hokenson and his remarkable singing talent have grown well known within the Haverford community. Since the winter of fifth grade, Hokenson has been practicing his vocals with the school. “I started because my mom made me join the choir in Lower school,” he said. “I didn’t want to at first, but she kind of forced me. But it turned out [well] for me.” Today, whether it be at football games or basketball games, one can almost always spot Hokenson, now a Notable, winning the crowd over with his rendition of “The Star-Spangled Banner.” Although singing on a stage in front of hundreds might faze anyone else, Hokenson is not one to shy away from the attention. “I like having the spotlight and all the attention you get up on the stage,” Hokenson said. On the upcoming EA Day, Hokenson will find his large audience to impress, as he is set to perform the national anthem in front of hundreds. No stranger to large crowds though, Hokenson says, “I know I’ll be fine. I’m feeling
confident.” Hokenson’s history of singing the national anthem dates back to last year’s basketball season. “The first game I sang the national anthem for was against Malvern, which was one of the biggest games of the year,” Hokenson said. “And that time I had butterflies in my stomach, I’m not gonna to lie. I was a little nervous, but I did it pretty well.” Since then, Hokenson has shaken off the butterflies. “I’ve kind of gotten into a groove now. Singing the national anthem is just like any other performance for me now. It’s nothing special. I don’t really get nervous.” Besides doing a couple run throughs to warm up, Hokenson’s preparation for singing the national anthem is simple. “All the practice I used to do was figuring out how exactly I wanted to sing it,” he said. “But now that I’ve figured it out and know what I’m doing, I just go out there and do it.” Hokenson’s experience with the national anthem reaches beyond just football and basketball. “I’ve sang at the Union stadium for the soccer game against Shipley, I’ve been hired to sing it at a golf tournament, and I am hoping to do
more,” said Hokenson. Beyond the national anthem, Hokenson exercises his vocals with the Notables and their many venues. Recently, the group sang for Hokenson’s own charity event. “I organized a charity concert to support natural disaster relief, and we donated the money to an organization that I’ve worked with since seventh grade,” said Hokenson. “The organization is called TECHO. They help repair infrastructure that’s been damaged by natural disasters.” Hokenson has been working with TECHO for many years now. “In middle school, I went on a building trip to Costa Rica,” says Hokenson. “Sophomore year, I volunteered at their Gala, raising thousands of dollars for them.” “I figured I wanted to create something that would last forever, and I realized that a natural disaster concert would be perfect,” said Hokenson. “Natural disasters are something we will have to continuously deal with, so we can keep working with the same organization every year and have a lasting impact.” This year’s concert was a success, with Haverford’s Notables collaborating with Merion Mercy,
Ben Hokenson ’20 performing at the opening day assembly this year.
Baldwin and Agnes Irwin. “Next year we will try to get more schools,” Hokenson said. “We’re going to keep going every year from now on.” Hokenson’s singing career has done much for him as a person. “Everyone at Haverford has their thing, like some people are really good at sports and some people are really good at academics, and I really feel like I’ve found my ‘thing’ with singing,” Hokenson said. “I’m known for doing the national anthem. It’s really cool because it’s something that makes me stick out,” he said. In addition, Hokenson has been offered job opportunities and was able to travel to Denmark because of his singing ability. “I’m planning on doing the national anthem and bigger venues in April,” he said. “I hope to maybe perform in the Well Fargo Center and keep going bigger and bigger.” All in all, Hokenson is more than happy he picked up singing in fifth grade. Hokenson says, “My mother forcing me to join the choir... I think that’s the best decision she’s ever made for me.”
MS. LINDA WALTERS