Volume 43, Issue XIV

Farewell from the 2017-18 Editor s Pages 2, 3

Vol. 43, I ssue XI V

End-of-Year Poll Results Page 7

M eek M ill Freed From Pr ison Page 11

Closing Thoughts from Class of '18 Pages 14, 15

The Student Newspaper of St. Joseph's Prep

Sander s '18 Raises Autism Awareness Page 18

M ay 21st, 2018

Cape & Swor d Tur ns Revolutionar y (Photo: Melissa Kelly

Seniors Matt Phillips and Paul Koenig star as John Adams and Ben Franklin in Cape & Sword's spring production of 1776. Check out Ronan Egan's review on Page 5.

Awar d Established to Honor Gillyar d '18 (Photo: St. Joe's Prep)

By Ronan Egan '18 On April 18, 2015 the Prep community tragically lost our classmate and brother, Ryan Gillyard ?18. For many of us, these last three years have been carried out in his memory.

Whether on the field, in the classroom, or on the stage, we all keep him in our hearts day and night.

However, this legacy will be passed down in another way through the presentation of the first ever Gillyard Award at graduation on Sunday June 3.

This student-selected award will be presented to a graduating senior at the Commencement Ceremony on June 3.

The idea for the award began in the fall, as Mr. Petruzzelli assembled a team of seniors to help him develop a tribute to Ryan. The team consisted of

Danny Guinan ?18, Bradley Cobaugh ?18, Aiden Kelly ?18, Brandon Sanders ?18, and Dawson DeIuliis ?18, who met over the span of a few weeks to brainstorm this award.

The Gillyard Award is unique in nature, not only because it was formed by current Prep students but also in the way the winner is selected. As opposed to a typical series of deliberations from the teachers and faculty, this award is voted on by the seniors themselves.

Mr. Petruzzelli is especially proud of the consensus to have the students vote, as opposed to the faculty.

(Continued on Page 4.)

2 | Farewell Letters I must begin by saying -- I am filled with gratitude. But the task of drafting a final letter to the Prep community manages, quite simultaneously, to be both a profound relief and a hugely-intimidating task. Over my four years at the Prep, I have been more immersed in the writing and arts facets of this community than anything else. And I?ve enjoyed every bit of that, don?t get me wrong. Never, though, have I been greeted with the same sense of finality as I face in the composition of this piece. Or to put it in plainer terms: so much of what I have found, achieved, loved at St. Joe?s Prep has been through words, but now, I must offer my final words. So too must I pack my hypothetical bags, print my final issue, and get out of here. A daunting task, indeed.

On Friday of the first week of my freshman year, I stayed after the eighth-period bell had rung in Mr. Vaccaro?s World History class. Bumbling and fumbling my way through what I wanted to say, I told him that I had been involved with the newspaper in middle school, and was hoping to continue that involvement at the Prep. (I had discovered that my history teacher was the Hawkeye moderator only through extensive trolling of the Prep website -- the newspaper?s outreach back then was not exactly what it is now.)

Mr. Vaccaro, ever the steady-encourager of student involvement (seriously, can any teacher claim to do more outside the classroom than this guy?), encouraged me to come to the next meeting that following week. Back then, the staff -- which numbered twenty or thirty guys -- met in the Quinn Library. I was an awkward, timid freshman who was never quite sure what to say, and I was flanked on all sides in that room by upperclassmen. It didn?t help matters that my first article assignment was related to Prep football playing out of state games and, as anyone I?ve ever met has probably inferred, sports -- playing them or analyzing them -- have never been my strong-point. Persevere in that endeavor to write about the football team I did, however, and from then on, I assumed the role of a student journalist at St. Joe?s Prep.

As I interviewed for one of the first section editor positions early in my junior year, I recalled this fact to Jon Erdy -- The Hawkeye was, by all accounts, my first home at the Prep. And as my involvement increased exponentially in my junior year, and as I was subsequently asked to serve as Editor-in-Chief this year, knowledge of that ?first love?has affected me in a number of ways. Among them, I experientially grasped what involvement with this club can do for a person, especially someone still trying to find their wings at St. Joe?s Prep. We -- faculty, staff, and yes, upperclassmen leaders, too -- are tasked with offering each student who walks these halls the full Prep experience, and I believe that, as I prepare to leave this place, The Hawkeye is among the clubs where that happens best.

At the time that I write these words, The Hawkeye currently counts 132 Prep students among its number: the second-largest club at St. Joe?s Prep by this figure. Some fifteen percent of the student body has truly felt the presence of this newspaper in the halls, and has responded by raising their hands -- ?yes, sign me up, this thing is important and I want to be a part of it?. I can only imagine how many more people have ?joined?in The Hawkeye by simply being willing to consume it as a medium for information and for entertainment.

To all of those readers, and to the staff especially, I must thank you and must attempt to convince you of my deep gratitude for your involvement. I believe that student journalism is an integral and necessary part of any high school community, especially one that claims -- as the Prep does -- to encourage critical thinking, to treat us like adults.

Students find their niches in sports analyses, investigative reporting, interviews with students and faculty, and opinion pieces about everything from the school?s macro-level path to the number of holes in a straw. In all of that, I believe there is value -- I would not have devoted so much time to The Hawkeye this year if that wasn?t so.

Looking ahead, I believe that the newspaper has a better springboard to succeed going into the 2018-19 year than ever before. I know I speak for Marco, too, when I say that we are so very confident in the group of guys that have been chosen to steer this ship when school reconvenes this fall. My hope for this staff is that they refuse to settle for the quality of Volume 43 of The Hawkeye, but instead push the boundaries even further.

Coupled with that, my hope for the Prep community is that they continue to be open to this newspaper, allow it to function, and recognize its importance at a Jesuit institution.

In practice, that means a number of things. Pick up an issue when you walk by the table in the lobby -- there?s enough to go around -- and get involved, either as a staff member or by writing the team directly with your thoughts and concerns. I hope, too, that as the newspaper?s quality, quantity, and presence continue to increase, the means and encouragement to make that growth happen will also increase. I try not to live in a world where I expect money to rain down from the clouds; nor, however, do I believe there should be a ceiling past which a club cannot grow.

Additionally, the Jesuit institution that is St. Joe?s Prep should strive to transcend oppressive and burdensome restrictions on any student publication, and instead encourage a forum where student opinion can be honestly represented, and all news of the community can be reported, including uncomfortable news. Our formation as Jesuit-educated men requires it. Whenever a decision about what The Hawkeye can and cannot print is made out of fear or discomfort, whenever one such decision places the feelings of donors and the ?community network?at greater import than the desires of the student body -- it in those moments that we miss the mark as a Jesuit institution. I echo the words of my dear friend and brother, Chris Ix, when I say that I hope the Prep?s process of self-reflection will continue in earnest, specifically with regard to its student publications.

In the time of reflection that is May of a person?s senior year, I look -- quite fondly, really -- upon the many late nights that I have spent at my desk, texting Marco, getting that last picture dropped into place, or that last article edited. We did these things -- Marco and I and so many other members of the staff -- because we believe in this newspaper and its power to affect change in the community, to serve as an ongoing monument to the Prep experience. One need only glance at the Chronicle editions in the first-floor link for proof of all that. It is my great hope that The Hawkeye will continue to serve in that capacity -- in an increased capacity, truly -- next year and in the years to come.

In the fall, I am bound for Georgetown University, with hopes of studying English, Creative Writing, and Classics. I?ll be rooming with my dear friend and (now former) Hawkeye Business Manager, David Haddad -- (why did you bankrupt my newspaper, Dav?) -- which is just one small testament to the bonds that are formed at this school, and in this newspaper?s (seriously funny) group chat. I count so many members of the Hawkeye staff among my closest friends in this world, I count Mr. Vaccaro as an invaluable teacher and mentor, and I count this challenge and experience -- ?make a better Hawkeye than ever before?-- as one worth more than I can possibly articulate within the inches of these columns.

I guess all that?s left to say, then, is thank you (again), go Prep, and you better keep hosting these issues online, ?cause I?ll be an avid, voracious reader from my dorm. Expect disproportionately angry texts when you misalign a photo credit, and my radiant, unending praise when you, the staff of Volume 44, inevitably transcend every record and smash every boundary that defined Volume 43, my own dear Hawkeye. Ready -- set -- go.

(Photo: St. Joe's Prep)

Matt Phillips '18

Farewell Letters | 3 I?ll preface this by saying that I never thought I would find myself in this position. I joined The Hawkeye on a whim; I wanted to get involved and try new things. Now, as a departing senior, I am beyond grateful to be able to look back at this incredible journey and feel a sense of pride and accomplishment. This is truly one of the most fulfilling things I?ve ever done, and I wouldn?t trade a second of it for anything in the world.

I wrote my first article as a freshman. It had something to do with the winter concert, and to be brutally honest, I hated every second of it. ?This isn?t for me,? I told myself, and left it alone for a year. Sophomore year, Ms. Cook took a minute before class to announce that The Hawkeye was looking for new writers. She remarked that Joe Egler, who was editor at that time, had been one of her students, and had joined the Hawkeye upon hearing about it through her. And just like that -- a flash of lightning moment, really -- I knew what I wanted. I wanted to be the next Joe. I wanted to be editor. It?s difficult to describe exactly why, but a fire was lit inside me that day. Ms. Cook, I am beyond grateful.

For inspiring me to join The Hawkeye, for teaching me numerous skills, and for always pushing me to be my best.

Back to my little personal history lecture, I started writing seriously as a sophomore, and this time around I found my niche. Under the guidance of Joe Egler and Ryan Naehr, to whom I am eternally grateful for allowing me to find my wings as I started all of this, The Hawkeye went from a hobby to a passion. I didn?t view an article assignment as a chore that had to be done; instead, I loved writing every word, discovering new things about this community and talking to people that I had never met before. I fell in love with journalism, albeit in the limited setting of a school newspaper. I wrote about whatever interested me, from politics to sports. As junior year rolled around, I was lucky enough to be offered a role as section editor under Jon Erdy and Aidan O'Connor. Once more, I am eternally grateful for the work they did that allows me to be writing this right now. They guided me, gave me tips, and always expected the best. I don?t like to throw the term role models out too much, but these guys, Jon, Aidan, Joe, and Ryan, were and still are truly role models in every sense of the term.

And of course, the ultimate role model, Mr. Vaccaro, has inspired so much of what I have done. I challenge you to find someone more involved, caring, and genuinely invested in the success and happiness of us students. We wouldn?t be able to accomplish half of what we have this year without him. How he has time for it all, between Hurtado and the yearbook and history club and, of course, The Hawkeye, I will never truly know. A vacation in his Santa Monica palace is surely a must for him this summer.

Money laundering schemes aside, I truly believe that we have achieved something special this year. Every time we put a new issue out, I can expect every copy to be taken within 24 hours. The pride I take in watching every student pick up a newspaper, read through it, and discuss the contents inside with their classmates: that feeling is insurmountable. To you, the reader of this newspaper, I say thank you. We would not exist without your continued interest in The Hawkeye, and I hope that you will pick up many more copies over the rest of your time here. Please, start a conversation, talk about whatever is written, and be active. Your discussions will help not only student journalism at the Prep, but an open dialogue amongst the student body.

I think that?s what lies at the crux of all of this: ensuring that the students have a voice. The Hawkeye is simply a medium for YOUR thoughts. We strive to have every student, writer or not, play an active role in the talk of the school. I sincerely hope that we allowed for that to happen over this past year. I have full faith that this will continue to grow over the coming years.

The staff for next year is inheriting something special. And what a group of guys we have to build off of this past year. I am so beyond confident in this extremely talented group that have been tasked with upholding such a crucial job; Dave, with a year under his belt already at the top (I don?t think people realize how impressive it is to be editor-in-chief as a junior), Joe, with his effervescent spirit and passion for this newspaper, and Liam, with his tucked in shirt and witty takes. You three will be one of the most dynamic cohorts of editors that have ever taken the reigns of The Hawkeye. For the new guys: learn from this trio, work with them, and fulfill your potential. Everyone involved has the ability to make this paper the strongest it?s ever been.

Of course, The Hawkeye is only able to put out issues as often as it does because of our incredibly talented writers. From head writers who work on nearly every issue, all the way to the freshmen who have just taken their first article, you are the backbone of this club. I can?t put into words how grateful I am for your hard work and interest in what we are doing here. I consider myself very lucky, and I know I speak for Matt here as well, when I see Mr. Vaccaro?s room full of students at a meeting, eager to write for the next issue. You make the club what it is; again, I say thank you.

All of these different components -- Mr. Vaccaro?s guidance and helpful advice, the editors?ability and work ethic, the staff writers?desire to write -- make The Hawkeye a great student newspaper. But Matt Phillips, my fellow editor-in-chief and good friend, makes all of this truly special. He is, quite simply, the brains behind every single issue that you pick up. I?ve lost count of how many times he has impressed me: he writes like a scholar, plans out the paper with ease, and never fails to crack me up in the editors?group chat (cleanser is indeed poisonous). He is truly a genius, the kind of person that leaves you in awe of his intelligence. Whatever I write here, no matter how many times I edit and polish, I can guarantee that Matt will have conjured up something miles better on his first try. He?s brilliant, and he makes The Hawkeye tick. I?m incredibly thankful for all that he?s done, including making this paper the best it?s ever been.

So, as it seems that I?ve said all my thank you?s, I suppose that all I can do is get a little misty-eyed as I write my final piece. I?ve covered sports events, interviewed countless teachers, and even talked to successful Prep graduates, some of whom continue to make waves in their respective fields. I?ve let my opinion be known on more than one occasion, and sometimes I caught heat for that. I?ve come in early to sell donuts after we went bankrupt (thanks Dav). I?ve stayed up way past my bedtime to work on editing and formatting. I?ve held countless discussions with Matt, working out whatever it is we need to do. I?ve had an amazing journey.

Yes, there have been moments that one could describe as less than stellar. Scrambling to finish up an issue almost every week probably gifted me with some gray hairs.

Working on our financial situation towards the end of the year certainly caused some frustration. Getting told what we could or could not print stirred up some rebellious attitudes inside of me. In general, everything the Prep has gave rise to - the stress, the workload, the feelings of resentment that I held and still hold towards the school itself made myself and the newspaper better. I used those feelings to fuel a fire inside me, a fire that wanted to make the paper better than it ever had been.

But for all of the struggles associated with this job, the rewards clearly outweigh any obstacles. I couldn't have asked for a more fulfilling experience. Every issue, every article, every word has made this journey so worth it.

So, these are my last words that I will ever compose for my beloved newspaper. It?s incredibly bittersweet to walk away. I?m heading to Clemson next year, far, far away from this school and this club. However, I know that the spirit of The Hawkeye will be with me wherever I am, whether that be in South Carolina, Philadelphia, or somewhere halfway across the globe. One last time, I wish to say thank you. Now, to everyone reading this, go, ensure The Hawkeye is the best it?s ever been, and make me proud.

Marco Sammartino '18

4 | News

Exit I nter view: President Chr is I x '18

By Matt Phillips '18 I chatted with Student Council President Chris Ix ?18 to reflect on his term as President, his larger time at the Prep, and his varied thoughts on this school and its mission. To be sure, Chris had some fascinating comments to offer on the ways that the Prep succeeds and the ways that the school can be improved.

Define the ?Prep ethos.?

What is St. Joe?s Prep? Why is this school different than other high schools in the area, country, etc.?

The Prep provides a melting pot scenario where students convene across state and socioeconomic boundaries in an intellectual pursuit of developing their minds, bodies, and souls.

Looking back over your term, what has been your greatest accomplishment?

Why were these the paths which you chose to devote your time and effort?

The acquisition of Ignacio Jose has been the large accomplishment of a goal I set back in July. While precedent exists in thousands of schools across the country, I am honored to provide the Prep with our first canine. The mental health of the student body is of great importance to me, and I believe that Iggy will provide a loving character to aid in this regard. However, I am worried that this treatment to the symptoms of mental health will overshadow conversations discussing the root of these issues within the school.

What advice can the 2018-19 Student Council Executive Board serve to learn from this, and what

advice do you have for those guys in general?

As a member of Student Council, you will hear ?no? many times, but it is your duty to understand when that ?no? can be turned into a ?yes?.

While the first presentation of an idea may not be successful, you have to be willing to compromise and think outside the box to accomplish your agenda.

Discuss a faculty role model.

Mr. Conners has been an extremely influential character in many students lives with his philosophy of helping students engage on a deeper level with the material and providing an environment to learn for the love of learning.

What about this institution has most notably affected you?

As my time comes to a close at the corner of 1733 West Girard Avenue, I am confident in my reflection that I have changed as a man for the better.

The Prep offered me an environment to converse with a community of incredible individuals, and study under a wide breadth of disciplines.

Thus, my overall worldview has been modified to include many different viewpoints as I look to go into the world striving for the magis.

Where can the Prep serve to be improved, in your opinion?

In my four years, I have found that changes need to be made with regard to student mental health, administrative structure, academic structure, and balancing athletic and academic pursuits.

Care to elaborate on each of these? Student mental health?

The Prep is a difficult school and that is something that I feel makes the Prep what it is today, but I do believe that the difficulty of a course should come from the material of a class, not the structure. Far too often is the material of a course simple, yet the structure of the course becomes a contributing factor to a student?s stress and anxiety.

I believe this relationship may be ameliorated by a higher consciousness of course material vs. course structure.

Administrative structure?

In the future I would like to see an increase of data collection and management across the Prep. While some data collection exists now, I believe an increase will help more clearly outline certain issues within the Prep and spur conversation about solutions.

From College Counseling to the Development Office, all departments may seek to benefit from an increase of data about the student body. I would also like to see an increase in cross department communication between the faculty and the administration. Often times different departments of the Prep feel secluded from one another resulting in time conflicts and teaching differences.

A greater understanding of the student body facilitated by a unified faculty would serve to benefit the entire school.

Academic structure?

It is my hope that a new wave of change will come across the academics within the Prep. It is my belief that a serious reflection on the academic structure of the Prep needs to occur in order to best prepare our students for the work they do now and in the future. An

example of this being in the science department regarding AP classes. Plenty of high schools from the area allow for students to take an AP science any year, while the Prep leaves its AP classes mostly for seniors and a few daring juniors. The limiting of course material for an AP class later on as a result provides conflict for many students, who then are required to take a SAT Subject Test in a science field for their college applications, but have not covered the material in the same depth that would prepare them for the test as an AP class would. I believe the data from institutions with different policies should be compared with the Prep?s to determine a better structure.

What about with regard to balancing athletics and academics?

As a student and an athlete, my experience with Prep Soccer has been the most frustrating experience of my life. I am in firm opposition to any school sponsored program that explicitly forces students to choose between academics and athletics.

No academic institution should force students to make this decision.

What are your thoughts on the various and sundry changes that have come to this school in your four years -including but not limited to an overall of the Prep?s administrators, a revised grading system, and a radically new schedule?

Stagnant water produces an incubator for dangerous parasites and bacteria, while running water is safer to drink. I hope the Prep continues to practice a greater amount of self-reflection in order to change for the better so we do

not stagnate and decay. Most of the changes in our time, especially those based in serious self-reflection for the benefit of the student body, have served to make the Prep a better community on the macro level.

With regard to the new schedule specifically, I give the Prep a lot of credit for going through with such a dramatic change all at once. Handling this new schedule was no easy task for students and the teachers alike, but I believe time will tell the true benefits and shortcomings of the adaptation.

Teachers will need to tweak their curricula and students will need to explore the options granted; with any luck, though, the Prep will soon be running as a finely-tuned machine once again.

What is your vision for St. Joe?s Prep twenty years from now, in 2038? Where will the school be?

I want St. Joseph?s Prep to be the dominant high school in the fifth largest city in the country.

As an academic powerhouse known for producing an accomplished product, I want the answer to be clear that if you attended school in Philadelphia, you attended the Prep. Certainly this is an attainable goal not limited by our competition within the city, but ourselves.

Any final comments, or parting words as your term comes to a close?

The work of a Prep student is never done; to any and all students, I urge you to continue your pursuits within and outside of the Prep with a critical eye to engage in the betterment of any system of which you find yourself a part.

Gillyar d '18 Awar d Established (Cont.)

He says that, going into their meetings, ?We wanted to have an award to recognize Ryan that came from the students.?

truly embodies what it means to be a Prep student. The Magis that we all seek out can be achieved by living the way we are called to, the way Ryan did.

In April, students were informed of the award's existence and asked to vote as best they can. The criteria passed along for the award are as follows: ?The recipient has the unique ability to inspire the entire class by deeds that often go unrewarded. He is loving.

He seeks out opportunities for growth while also laboring to aid in the growth of his classmates. He is the mortar that binds the class together, connecting them, and supporting them as they reach new heights. This is the graduating senior who embodies the spirit of the class and whose impact through his everyday actions leave an indelible mark on the class and the institution.? This award

Three years after this tragedy, it is important to never forget our sense of brotherhood. To reward that student who has done this above all others, unselfishly, over three years is truly special. Mr. Petruzzelli notes that it is a ?Really special and appropriate way to remember Ryan. You can get bogged down in sadness of him not being here, but this award keeps his memory alive.? His memory will live on long past the end of the Class of 2018?s days at the Prep, both through the continuation of this award for each graduating class, and through the actions and dedication of this year?s departing seniors.

(Photo: St. Joe's Prep)

(Continued from front page.)

Gillyard pictured here with classmates Brandon Sanders '18 and former Prep student Askia Hamilton.

News | 5

C& S's 1776 'Redefines Excellence'

By Ronan Egan '18 In the wake of the smash hit Newsies, the Cape & Sword Drama Society has once again shattered expectations with 1776.

Each one of the story's protagonists, Adams, Jefferson, and Franklin, were played excellently. Phillips? depiction of an uber-stressed, high strung character was an excellent fit for him. His first and final attempt to star in a Cape & Sword production was knocked out of the park, not only with regard to the acting and singing, but also in the more emotional conversations with his wife, Abigail, who was played by Merion senior Maddy Larkin.

He was accompanied for the most part by the sarcastic, laid-back Franklin, a role Koenig thrived in. His bald cap almost looked too natural as he sung and danced his way across the stage, often quoting himself amongst groans from the rest of the Congress. He

provided a significant amount of humor to the play, which served as a nice contrast to Phillips?constant tension. Both of them were joined by the lover and violinist Jefferson.

Dierkes? accent and demeanor on stage were exactly what you would expect from the real thing. He and his wife, Martha, who was played by Katherine Christen from Mount St. Joseph?s, had a dynamic that made significant contributions to the show.

Additionally, the rest of the cast was excellent in support.

Fogarty?s John Dickinson was an interesting ?villain?? if you could even call him that? with whom the crowd sympathized throughout.

Along with Dickinson, the self-promoting Richard Henry Lee (John Fioravanti ?19),

newcomer Lyman Hall (David Haddad ?18), Delaware's Caesar Rodney (Liam Grugan ?19), drunken Stephen Hopkins (Joe Scott ?19), and doubtful Samuel Chase (Dan Avington ?18) allowed the humorous dynamic of the Continental Congress to fully come together. Finally, an impactful song by The Courier, Justin Kearns ?20, humanizes the experience of the war and truly displays the real-life impact that the Congress? decisions will have.

Even with this unconventional musical -through powerful leading performances, a dynamic villain, and hilarity to boot, 1776 has redefined excellence on the Prep stage.

(Photo: Melissa Kelly

The plot of the musical is a story that we all know. It focuses on the desperate efforts of John Adams, Dr. Benjamin Franklin, and Thomas Jefferson? portrayed by Matt Phillips ?18, Paul Koenig ?18, and Stephen Dierkes ?18? as they try to convince the Continental Congress to vote in favor of independence and sign their Declaration of Independence. The characters are met with stiff opposition from Pennsylvania?s John Dickinson, played by Jay Fogarty ?18, who serves as the main, anti-independence opposition for most of the show.

DiCocco ?18. The song comes in the middle of a fiery debate over a clause blaming the British King for slavery in the new colonies. Playing the part of an affluent southerner, DiCocco?s character sings not only about the importance of slaves to the Southern economy, but also harpoons the northerners for playing as equal a role in the slave trade as their southern counterparts.

It is loud, elaborate, and fiery in nature, as this song more than any addresses one of -- if not the most -- controversial issue regarding the formation of the Declaration of Independence. As we all know from history, Jefferson does reluctantly agree to cut an abolitionist paragraph from the document and allow for the institution of slavery.

When searching for information about the play it is possible to find mixed things.

Often described as a ?musical without dancing,? I can assure you that is not the case. While it may not contain the elaborate dance numbers such as Newsies in the fall or The Music Man last spring, its songs are still wildly entertaining. With pure vocals on display as opposed to dancing, the lyrics of each song seem to carry more weight, especially as the intensity picks up later on in the show.

While each song was impressive, the one that stands out most was Edward Rutledge?s ?Molasses to Rum to Slaves,? sung by James

Jay Fogarty '18, as Pennsylvanian John Dickinson, leads the conservative delegates of the Congress in "Cool, Cool, Considerate Men" towards the conclusion of Act I .

Dintino Wins Presidential Election to fruition two months ago.

As the Prep academic year edges to a close, many Prep students and faculty members consider the recent student council elections. The annual election, which took place two weeks ago, is a democratic tradition in which the leaders of the rising seniors of the Prep are chosen by the entire student body. These elections are always fiercely competitive and this year was no exception.

Campaigning for these positions is no small task either, as each candidate must make posters, write a funny, yet convincing speech, and compete for support of the student body with many other qualified candidates.

This year?s presidential election featured some fiercely competitive candidates. Thomas Dintino, Robbie Calabro, Yualne ?Young? Ma, Alex Cabulong, and Michael Marchese advanced past the primary elections on last Friday. Each candidate had prior student council experience, making the standards for a presidential contender considerably high, which made for an election process which kept everyone on the edge of their seats. In the end, Dintino was elected as the 2018 class president, while Calabro and Ma, who received the second and third most votes, were placed into the co-vice president positions.

This year, under the leadership of President Christopher Ix ?18, the current student council displayed increased participation and effort in living up to their campaign promises. The most popular of these platforms was the promise of getting a school dog. Student council worked tirelessly to make the adoption of Iggy a possibility, which came

Dintino, who was a veteran member of student council for his first three Prep years, expressed his increased effort in campaigning this year, due to the underclassman taking part in the senior elections: ?This past election, I was most anxious about primaries, as they are mostly name recognition and I

only knew about a dozen underclassmen. This is why I allotted most of my resources (candy and sunglasses) into campaigning before primaries than afterwards: I had to get my name out there.? The campaign

sunglasses in particular were a huge success, as many students were seen wearing the edgy ?Dintino for President? glasses.

Dintino is eager to begin work for the many campaign promises he made in his speech, along

with many clever wisecracks.

These promises consisted of repaving the Cabot Lot and fixing the bathroom sinks. But amid all the jokes, (Continuedon the next page.)

(Photo: St. Joe's Prep)

By Ned Burke '19

Next year's Executive Board (L - R): Harry Fanto, Yuanle Ma, Thomas Dintino, Robbie Calabro, and Ryan Procopio.

6 | News

Paging the New Doctor Ruper tus, Ph.D.

By Jack Thorell '19

The achievement is one Rupertus has had in mind for the past 6 years, when he first resolved to pursue his doctorate as an undergrad at Temple. With an obvious interest in English language and literature, Rupertus decided to focus specifically and write his doctoral dissertation on the subject of orphan figures in African American literature.

Explaining his reasoning for picking such a unique topic to write about, Rupertus asserts that ?The best dissertation topics are those in which the writer has a personal stake.?

The details of Rupertus?s familial composition makes his insights on the subject of children in African American literature particularly thoughtful and personal. ?Two of my four children are black and were adopted from

Besides the long hours doing extensive research on his dissertation, to which Rupertus credits his frequent visits to the stacks of Temple?s Paley Library, the process to obtain his degree was broken down most simply into three steps.

First was the required coursework he did and classes he attended, second was passing all the comprehensive exams for those courses, and finally, he worked with his dissertation chair to write and defend the dissertation. Each step of the process contained hours of work and revision, which Rupertus said he did in bursts, sometimes working 8 hours a day over the summer, but other times putting it on the back burner as he managed his job and family commitments.

Rupertus likened the time management and commitment of the process to that of being a Prep student, saying that, ?the keys to success are hard work, organizational skills, and stamina.?

Rupertus not only saw similarities to Prep life in the work of pursuing a degree, but found that he could use the advice he?d gotten and struggles he?d gone through to better his own teaching style and the writing style of his students. ?The same principles that I used while writing my dissertation - outline, draft, revise, solicit feedback, then

revise again and again and again - I work to incorporate into the process in which I ask my own students to engage.?

Rupertus looks positively on the experience of obtaining the degree, but is content with using this achievement professionally to become an even more astute Prep English teacher, not yet thinking about

any other long term professional goals. My goal was to become a better thinker, writer, teacher, and parent. I think pursuing and now obtaining this degree has assisted me in that process. My next goal is to live for a stretch without setting a huge goal for myself. We'll see how long that lasts; I like a good challenge.?

(Photo: Dr. Rupertus)

The ambitious and engaging English teacher whom we all know well as ?Mr. Rupertus? has an impressive new title by which the Prep community will now refer to him. ?Dr. Rupertus? has just gotten his doctorate in English from Temple University, gaining the title when he walked down the aisle this past Thursday to formally receive the degree.

Ethiopia, so I have spent lots of time thinking about their identities, and, by extension, my own identity.? He used this personal experience to keep himself motivated during the lengthy and strenuous process of pursuing his degree.

Dr. Rupertus poses with his dissertation advisor, Dr. Roland L. Williams Jr. from the Prep class of 1971.

After Eight Year s, Bietz Bids Farewell

By David M cCabe '19 This year, the Prep is saying goodbye to one of its most beloved teachers. After eight years of teaching at the Prep, Ms. Marielle Bietz announced that she will not be returning next year.

Most of the reasons for Ms. Bietz?s departure come from her commitment to her two daughters, Kendall and Hope.

Because of Ms. Bietz?s location in Holland, PA -about 25 miles away -- it is very difficult for her to commute every day while also dropping off her children at their babysitter in Hatboro.

Next year, Kendall will be entering kindergarten and with her distance from the Prep and the half-day kindergarten requiring a drop off much later than she would be able to, Ms.

Bietz reasoned that she must leave the Prep to accommodate her children?s needs at least for the next few years.

Ms. Bietz has also gone through a divorce in the past year. ?It?s funny because I think a lot of people stay in marriages that are bad situations because of the kids, and I think I left because of my kids. I only came to that conclusion [to leave] because of people like Mr. McGlynn and Esther Auerbach who were supportive and offered a lot of clarity.?

Ms. Bietz will not be teaching next year. ?I?m not leaving you guys for another school. If I were going to teach, I would want to be here, because you guys are my guys.

I would love to be able to get back into teaching at some point, and hopefully, I can do

that. If I could do that here, that would be awesome, but I think while the girls are young it?s just going to be really challenging to do so.?

So instead, she will be taking a job for which she can work from home.

When asked about how the Religion Department and the Prep are going to fill this position for next year, Ms. Bietz responded, ?They posted it on the website and I think right now they?re just collecting resumes, so they?ll do their interviews over the summer.?

When asked about one thing that she could take away from her time at the Prep, Ms. Bietz replied, ?It?s funny because we?re doing Grad-at-Grad stuff with our Sophomore class with Sophomore Conversation. We

talk about what it means to be religious, loving, open to growth,__intellectually competent, and committed to doing justice mean. But, the overarching theme of our Grad-at-Grad conversations has just been empowering young men for the future to be confident in whatever they want to do. I think that?s the beauty in any kind of single-sex education is that you guys get to feel empowered to speak your mind and be who you are in any capacity. My takeaway, if I have to pick just one from all that I?ve learned from my students and colleagues is that very same empowerment. I don?t think I would be where I am today or have made the decisions that I?ve made today without the Prep. It?s pretty cool to think of where I was and where I am today. A few

years ago I was in a really hard spot, and today I?m not.?

Ms. Bietz continued, fighting back tears, ?It?s really nice.

The faculty, who are my really good friends, have been really supportive. It?s been really wonderful from even during my pregnancy when I was like sick and dying and throwing up in front of classes.?

Ms. Bietz then went on and recalled a former student (no longer at the Prep), and said, "he?d bring a chair and a water and a trash can and he?d do my setup every morning. I?ve had all those experiences of the kids being supportive and the faculty being supportive.? ?This place is just such an awesome place to be because I think you have so many people who care and look out for you all_the_time.?

2018-19 Student Council Elected (Cont.)

(Continuedfrom Page 5).

Dintino ended his speech with a more serious, personal campaign promise. Dintino proposed that a part of the school, perhaps the corner of the dining hall, would be dedicated to the memory of Salvatore Dinublie ?19.

Calabro, another three year student council veteran, also stresses his determination to

fulfill his promises, stating that he would not make promises that he could not keep, as he understands the school administration.

Calabro expressed his intent to get Sparknotes unblocked, to allow a school wide March Madness Pool, and to fix errors in the schedule. Calabro stated, ?Too often, the needs of students are missed because there lacks a clear bridge to the people that

matter. I will be that bridge. I will create a back and forth dialogue with the administration about the everyday problems that we as students have here.?

Calabro, along with Ma, will serve as a vice president on the council.

In addition to the largely competitive presidential election, the elections for secretary and treasurer also kept everyone on the edge of their

seats. In the election for treasurer, Harry Fanto edged out a victory against candidates, Richard Nichols and James McDermott, with his edgy, somewhat unorthodox speech.

For the secretary elections, Ryan Procopio defeated Liam Grugan and Jackson Chamberlain, whose relentless campaigning gave him an edge over the competition.

As the student council will

soon be the main executive voice of the Prep, these five young leaders will collaborate with the younger class representatives in their attempts to live up to their campaign promises. This council will hope to not only live up to these promises, but to give the student body a voice and make the life of the average student better, as opposed to getting their needs pushed to the edge.

Features | 7

End-of-Year Poll Results

By David M cCabe '19 Who Voted?

Which depar tment is the best?

Have You Been Pleased with the New Schedule This Year ?

English - 37.6%

1 = Least Pleased,

Freshmen - 29.1%

Science - 16.8%

10 = Most Pleased

Eh... - 24.9%

Sophomores - 23.1%

History - 14.1%

Aver age - 7.55

No - 14.6%

(351 Responses)

Best Decade to Be A Prep Student?

2010s - 56% 2000s - 15%

At College - 50.9% Here - 49.1%

Best Bathroom in the School?

5th Floor J-Hall - 42%

Should M idter ms Go Back to After Chr istmas Break?

No - 81.6%

4th Floor J-Hall - 29.6% 2nd Floor Villiger - 14.9%

Yes - 8.9% No opinion - 9.5%

3rd Floor J-Hall - 13.5%

All of the Above - 85.8% We Must Apply - 7.6% We Must Do - 6.6%

1950s - 9.3%

Will the Eagles Win the Super Bowl Again Next Year ?

Yes, why even ask? - 81.7%

1980s - 8.1%

1960s - 3.3%

Yes - 60.5%

I s K nowing Not Enough? I s Willing Enough?

1990s - 5.4%

1970s - 3%

Do You Want L ebron to Come to Philly Next Year ?

M edian - 8

Juniors - 23.6% Seniors - 24.2%

College Star ts Where?

Nah - 18.3%

Who Has the Best Hair in the School?

Who's the Cutest?

M r. Br yan Ghee - 40.8%

I ggy - 79.4%

Mr. James Doyle - 31.1% Mr. Ronan Kelly - 10.7%

For tnite or PUBG? For tnite - 86.7% PUBG - 13.3%

What's Your Favor ite Netflix Ser ies?

Mr. Leo Vaccaro - 8% Other - 9.4%

Str anger Things - 41.5% Big Mouth - 13.4% Who is the Newcomer of the Year ?

Black Mirror - 13.4%

John Petr uzzelli - 39.8%

The End of the F* * * ing World - 8%

Iggy (The Dog) - 36.9% Aaron Jones - 8.9% Other - 14.4%

Coke or Pepsi?

Coke - 76.9% Pepsi - 23.1%

A Series of Unfortunate Events - 5.7% The Office - 4.7% Other - 13.3%

A L ook into the L ife of Coach I nfante

By James DiCocco '18

On the football field, Infantes emphasizes how key philosophies and phrases affect his coaching style. For instance, the motto ?Protect the Brand? has become a favorite of his. Coach explained to me that in our consumer society, we are attracted to the best brands out there - Rolex, Mercedes Benz, etc. Furthermore, it is that brand?s consistent nature of excellence that deems it

Discussing football-related subjects, recruiting specifically, Infante went on to explain that every student at the Prep, athlete or not, has been recruited to come here via the use of our admissions office. Through volunteering with underprivileged youth organizations turn, he is able to advertise The Prep to athletes and non-athletes: ?Football is not the most important program? but our

success has made us very visible? that comes with a tremendous amount of responsibility to make sure that our brand is consistent with the school?s brand. We are here to support the school and its mission.?

Speaking about the annual football trips that take place across the country Infante explained to me that 100% of the funds are raised by

families of the program: ?There is not one cent that the school gives to those trips, not one.?

He later went on to explain that many of his players would have never traveled on a plane or never seen different parts of the country, such as The Pacific Ocean, Louisiana, Tampa, etc., if it was not for football .(Continued on Page 9.)

(Photo: St. Joe's Prep)

An advocate for others, a spiritual man, a lawyer, and a lover of theater. Most individuals would not label these attributes to any football coach. However, Coach Gabe Infante is not like every other football coach. Furthermore, he is not a man of extraordinary labels, but of simple deeds that have extraordinary impacts. From his highly influential and successful professional career to even his faults, Infante always finds a way to be an advocate to the Prep community. In order to find out what makes this man so extraordinary, I took time to sit down with him and discover the ins and outs of a man.

reliable. Coach Infante brings that idea to his team when he pushes them to keep up a consistent level of excellence to the St. Joe?s Prep ?Brand.?

The ?Brand Name? associated with the Prep is something that is attractive to others. ?It goes beyond our record,? Infante states. ?All watches tell time but why does a Rolex sell for more value than an Omega? It goes beyond what it actually does.?

I nfante poses at Hershey Stadium with some of his state-champion football players.

8 | Features

Class of 2018 College Acceptance Results #CollegeStartsHere is a slogan that is spread across the Prep?s advertisements and the Prep website. As a college preparatory school, the Prep grooms its students from the first day of their freshman year to successfully exist in the college and university world.

There is a small step between the jump from the Prep to college: the application and acceptance process.

The college counseling office defines this process as ?an important opportunity for students to build confidence and competence ? two important traits colleges look for in successful applicants.?

An anonymous senior, however, described the college application process as ?the most stressful part of [his] four years at the Prep.? However exciting or stressful the process may be, it consistently pays off when college acceptances begin rolling in during the winter/spring seasons.

The class of 2018, some of whom are still waiting for decisions, has a huge legacy to follow after the performance of the Prep?s class of 2017. With over 1,000 college acceptances spread out across 248 colleges and universities, the class of 2017 is spread out amongst 109 different schools. They have acceptances to some of the most selective schools in the country such as Yale,

Princeton and Harvard. The most recent graduating Prep class has students across thirty-one different states and 3 foreign countries. From the University of Miami to the University of Washington, Prep faces are spread out amongst the entire country.

Thirteen out of the 109 different schools are schools, which contain past Prep students who decided to continue with a Jesuit education.

A poll with various questions concerning their experience with the college process was sent out to the seniors: 59 seniors responded. Of the 59, the majority rated the college application process, on a scale of 1 to 5, as a 4: 5 being extremely stressful. This stress was proven to be worthwhile

with the majority of seniors applying to seven or more schools, and more than half of these seniors being accepted into their top choice school.

Similar to the class of 2017, the class of 2018 will be attending a wide range of schools: in type and location.

The majority of respondents to the poll will be attending schools in Northeastern United States; however, there are respondents who will be attending school in the western, southern, and midwestern regions as well as out of the country.

30% of respondents will be attending private colleges, public colleges, and Jesuit colleges: the remaining 10% will be attending military affiliated schools, Catholic

schools, and schools listed as ?other?.

The poll concluded asking the seniors if they had any advice for the class of 2019, as they will be going through the same exact process in a few months. While some of the advice was funny such as ?do it for the snap,? and ?no,? some seniors gave thoughtful advice that may make a difference next year for this year?s juniors.

One senior said, ?Do not wait until the day before the application deadline to do [college essays]. It's really easy to get swamped with them, and I'm really glad I was able to space them out, work on them, and get good feedback.?

Another senior said, ?find a place that will challenge you,

and [a place] you could see yourself living? four years: not just some prestigious school that you don?t really like, except for the name.? The final advice from a senior was to ?make everyday with your friends count. This may be the last time you?re all together.?

The current success of the class of 2018 is thanks to their hard work during its career at the Prep, along with the help of the college counseling office.

Good luck to the seniors still waiting for acceptances and scholarship decisions, and congratulations to the seniors who know where they will continue the next four years of their lives. May they all remember the lessons taught to them by the Prep, and continue to be men for and with others.

(Photo: St. Joe's Prep Facebook)

By Car l Whittington '19

The Class of 2018 on May 1st, the final day to submit a deposit for the college one will be attending in the fall.

The Untold Stor y of SJP's 'Goodest Boy' A Special Guest Repor t

By M egan Talke M M A '18

The fundraising began in January with a picture of a reddish, goldendoodle puppy taped to the Prep?s front door.

As you entered the building, there sat Chris with a plastic bin, collecting money for the Prep puppy, or ?The Pruppy.?

Hundreds of dollars were donated that day by the students and faculty. All were eager for the pruppy to join the St. Joe?s Prep community.

We had been advised by Prep alumni, Jeremy Lukianovich, VMD, ?01, Marlton Animal Hospital, to stay away from Lancaster, PA. Lancaster is a hotbed for puppy mills and brokers. Most dogs in pet stores are from puppy mills.

Store owners buy puppies through brokers who get their dogs from puppy mills or dog auctions. It is important to remember that you are not saving a dog by buying one from a puppy mill or pet store.

All this does is open space for another puppy to be shoved into a crate. Purchasing these poor dogs just perpetuates puppy mill breeding.

In the following months, there were more collections, bake sales, meetings, and proposals.

Finally, by mid-March, enough money had been raised to purchase the pruppy as well as sufficient funds for the dog?s care.

Things seemed to be looking up for the arrival of the pruppy.

However, the problem was that all the previous puppies that Chris had found online had been purchased. So, the search

After hours of researching, Chris finally found a breeder in Flemington, NJ who had a litter of nine and half week old puppies. There were only two male puppies left and the breeder anticipated that they would be sold the following weekend. With a snow storm forecasted and an early dismissal from Prep, we made the hour long drive to Flemington, NJ. The moment we saw Iggy we knew that we

had found our pruppy. He had the calmest disposition, hardly barking, and had the power to melt your heart with his puppy dog eyes. We watched Iggy chew his stuffed toys with his giant paws as well as being dragged around the room by his smaller brother. After many minutes of playtime, Iggy gave his toy to his brother, walked away, and plopped himself on Chris? lap. While Iggy was taking a quick nap, we paid the breeder for him and filled out all the necessary paperwork.

We finally had our own 'pruppy.' One and half hours later, while driving in the snow, we arrived back at the Prep where Ms. Baland was waiting to take Iggy home.

Little did we know that she would have the next two snowdays home to bond with Iggy.

Chris and Mr. Petruzzelli made the decision to keep Iggy?s arrival quiet until Dr. Jeremy could give him a physical. Because of the inclement weather, it would not be until a week later on March 27 when we would take Iggy to his vet appointment.

After school that day, we took Iggy to see Dr. Jeremy at Marlton Animal Hospital. He gave Iggy a full physical,

updated his shots, and gave him nexguard and heartguard pills as a donation towards the Prep?s newest endeavor. Dr. Jeremy verified what we had already knew: Iggy was a healthy and happy puppy.

We drove back to the Prep after the checkup and packed up Chris? car so that he could take Iggy home with him for

Spring Break. Upon returning from Spring Break, Iggy began getting to know his new Prep brothers. On June 3, Chris will deliver his commencement speech to his classmates and his journey will come to an end at the Prep, but he will leave his legacy behind with Iggy, the Prep?s newest brother.

I ggy wearing a St. Joe's Prep hoodie after arriving at the Prep.

(Photo: Chris I x '18)

It all began a year ago with a campaign poster and a picture of a puppy. However, unlike most campaign promises, Chris Ix proved to be a man of his word. With the support of Mr. Petruzzelli, Chris began his quest for the Prep?s official dog.

was on to find another puppy who could meet the qualifications of being a male, hypoallergenic, F2 goldendoodle.

Features | 9

Talking with M r. Hendr zak: The Ar t of Aikido Mr. Hendrzak: Chemistry teacher, Environmental Science teacher, Freshman Football Head Coach, Faculty Moderator of Prep Med. The man is very busy on a daily basis, but still he is able to balance his jam packed work schedule with his home life and hobbies; these hobbies include coaching his daughters in softball, coaching basketball, and watching Philly sports. Outside of school, Mr. Hendrzak loves to hunt and fish, and he also enjoys renovating old homes. We all know Mr. Hendrzak as the fun loving, energetic guy he is, but there is one side of himself that he has kept secret from the Prep community: Mr. Hendrzak is a first degree black belt in the Japanese martial arts of Aikido.

It all began about ten years ago: ?After I had my second child, I was looking for a balance between home, work, my kids,? said Mr. Hendrzak.

Martial Arts was always something that he wanted to try, so he gave it a shot. Mr. Hendrzak trains in Aikido,

which translates as ?The way of unifying with life energy.? It comprises of both physical and mental aspects, and is rooted in both defense and discipline. Mr. Hendrzak trains about two nights a week, and he also cross trains in the Israeli art of Krav Maga, which is more attack based than Aikido: ?The two marry well,? says Mr. Hendrzak.

Today, Mr. Hendrzak is a first degree black belt, meaning he holds the rank of Shodan. Next Spring, he plans to test for his second degree black belt. The test, quite simply, entails different people being called up to attack you, while you have to exert your ability to defend yourself while simultaneously executing the proper techniques.

The higher the level, the more vicious the attacks are, sometimes even including multiple attackers.

Mr. Hendrzak applies his expertise by teaching self defense classes at his very own self defense and fitness training facility. Yes, Mr. Hendrzak essentially has his own dojo. It started off with him and eight

other guys, who left the dojo where they originally trained and ended up opening their own.

The Valley Forge Training Center opened in 2015, and it offers classes in Aikido, Krav Maga, Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, and Yoga. They are open to training anybody, with members anywhere from high school to their sixties. Mostly, they train guys between age thirty and fifty, but when asked if the Valley Forge Training Center doors were opened to Prep students, Mr. Hendrzak responded, ?We will work with everybody.?

Mr. Hendrzak loves working as instructor at the training center: ?I like to teach and I like martial arts, so it works out well.? His main goal in teaching self defense is to help people not be a victim, especially women: ?Most people don?t go looking for a fight, but you never know what whack jobs are out there.?

Mr. Hendrzak enjoys the physical side of martial arts, which promote movement and flexibility, but he is also a big believer in the mental side: ?It helps people instill confidence

(Photo: Valley Forge Trining Center)

By Jacob DeAnnuntis'19

Mr. Hendrzak has been training in Aikido for over 7 years, he has now achieved first degree black belt. in themselves, which empowers them and helps them be successful.? Martial Arts also helps people with their ?situational awareness,? or understanding their environment.

Mr. Hendrzak never brags about his accomplishments in Aikido, and in fact, prefers to keep it lowkey. ?It?s not something I normally talk about, but some of the guys are starting to find about it. My juniors

know.? According to Connor Thompson ?19, who is in Mr. H?s chemistry class, the rest of juniors in the class are very aware of their teacher?s dual life in martial arts: ?We love to mess with him about it. We call him sensei and stuff like that all the time.? Mr. Hendrzak: Chemistry teacher, Environmental Science teacher, Freshman Football Head Coach, Faculty Moderator of Prep Med, and holder of a 1st degree black belt in Aikido martial_.arts.

Navy Vet Jimmy White on Living Passionately

By Andrew Shapiro '19

passionate about what you do.

On Monday, April 30, Navy veteran Jimmy White IV visited the Prep to speak to students about leadership. White, a south Philly native currently living in Exton, spent his time in the Navy aboard submarines. He is currently the Global Operations Center Manager with ABM facilities, a minister and Youth Department President for Prophetic Church of Christ, and a CDM mentor for the Travis Manion Foundation.

White then moved his speech into giving some examples of people who inspired him. White emphasized the important role that teachers play in training instructing and developing the next generation, and also how underappreciated these teachers are. In giving specific examples of the heroes who inspire him, White highlighted English teacher, Ms. Cook. She has organized Travis Manion Foundation events at the Prep for several years and made it possible for White to give this presentation. White praised her for the same passion that he told the students was vital to having a happy life and a positive impact on the world.

White opened his presentation by explaining the importance of finding what you are passionate about and your using talents and abilities to make the world a better place. He emphasized how you can have a positive impact on the world in even the smallest of roles if you are

White also stated that visualizing a life blueprint is the

best way to make sure that you end up doing what you are passionate about and something that you enjoy. However, White stressed that this plan is not static. He stressed that the plans we have for our lives can and will change and that it is how we respond to these changes and challenges that will determine how successful we are.

White then explained some other qualities that would make one a strong leader. Among these, the most important were ownership, and a sense of safety.

According to White, ownership is one of the most important qualities for a leader to possess.

He said that in order to gain trust and respect from those who you are leading, you need to take ownership of the results of everything the group or team does -- the good and the bad. He

said that if a team does poorly, it is the leader?s responsibility to take the blame, but if a team is successful, it is the responsibility of the leader to pass the praise to the people being led. Above all else, White said that safety has to be the number one priority for a leader, no matter how difficult or unpleasant ensuring safety may be. He shared a story about how when he worked on a submarine, the most dangerous thing on the ship was the washer. This is because when it had a high probability of catching on fire if not tediously cleaned. So, when the crew members were hesitant to clean the washing machine, White took initiative and cleaned it himself to show them necessity of the task and gain their respect and trust.

White also illustrated how attacking your shortcomings can make you a better version of yourself. He shared a story from his childhood about how when his mom found out that he was shy, she always made him answer the phone and order his own food at restaurants in order to make him come out of his shell. He said that without that, he never would have been able to become a minister preaching in front of a congregation or even give the presentation that he was giving.

White ended by stating the importance of his family in his life, specifically his two sons, his wife, and his mother. He said that he wishes that his mom was here to see the opportunity to see his progress and success, but he knows that she is still watching from heaven.

Profile: Coach Gabe I nfante (Cont.)

(Continued from Page 7.)

football.?

?Part of our mission is to expand the visions, horizons and dreams of our players by exposing them to things that without football, they may not have,? he explains.

He then went on to say how much this has been a supportive home to so many while already being at a demanding school. Through my own personal experience, coming in as a transfer, playing football, and then moving towards the music program as well as Cape and Sword, I can verify that Infante?s words ring true.

However, the fundamental goal of the football program goes far deeper than just winning championships. He believes that football can help a student achieve the principles envisioned in the Grad-at-Grad due to the demands of the sport and his very demanding program: ?My personal goal is to help our guys live better, more meaningful lives? because of the lessons and values they may learn through playing

While Infante understands the importance of winning in his work, he recognizes that sometimes failure can be just as crucial, admitting that it is his little failures each day that make his success happen: ?Failure is about becoming excellent, it?s a part of the

process? but it matters how you treat failure.?

Coach Infante then explained how a love of theater and the performing arts grew from his high school days as an inner-city kid who just lost his father. He explained that a freshman English and drama teacher of his became a second father to him. This teacher would go to the TKTS, a booth for discount Broadway tickets, and purchase tickets for Infante.

For Christmas, Coach Infante would receive theater tickets. The performing arts had such an impact on his development that he actually performed plays in high school

and college.

Being a performer, Infante was able to build a bridge between athletes and actors: ?From the trust of actors compared to the trust of teammates, the blocking of scenes to the makeup of a play, the physical demands of being there day-in and day-out, the consistency? that?s impressive.?

The connection is certainly there, and this reverts back to his emphasis on how football is intrinsically linked to a number of other activities, and how this connection can end up being helpful, not only for football, but for all activities involved.

After I turned in my helmet Infante said to me, ?Do not let

fear overcome your life.? This simple piece of advice has had a profound impact on my life. I think it speaks to the type of man that he is; very few people can have such a prolific influence on one?s whole life by simply giving out a piece of rather simple advice.

Again, Coach Infante is not like any other football coach.

His philosophies are unrivaled, his interests are unique, his heart is unmatched and, perhaps most importantly, he desires the best for the people around him. These things not only define what it means to be a coach, but also what it means to be a man for and with others.

10 | Entertainment

M EGA FACULTY GRI D By: M att Brennan '18

M r. M ichael Dougher ty '93

M r s. K athy Sullivan

M r. M ar k K r avetz

M r. Al Zimmer man '73

What is your favor ite animal?

Fish

French Bulldog

Narwhal

Gorilla

I f you could be one per son for a day?

My wife -- best life ever because she's married to me

Condoleezza Rice

Euler

Mike Trout

What place would you like to visit the most?

Rome. Been too long since I've been there

Ireland

North Pole

Baseball Hall of Fame

What is your favor ite Par t about Summer ?

Spending time with family

Not being a slave to schedules

The Ocean

Family vacation

No

Yes

Do you ?Tr ust the Process??

What is the best movie of all time in your opinion?

I f you were a student at the Prep today, what teacher would you most like to have?

What is your favor ite restaur ant?

Who's that?

I am not a 100% believer in "The Process" - sometimes you need to go off script and shake things up

Toss-up between The Sting & A Bronx Tale

The Godfather

Midnight Madness

Cool Hand Luke

Anyone but Mr. Coyle or Mr. Farren

Mr. Kevin Kearney

Mr. Feighan

Ms. Susie Cook

Don't really have one

Modo Mio

Scully's Restaurant

Maria's in Roxborough

Entertainment | 11

M eek M ill Freed From Pr ison More than ten years ago, 18 year old Robert ?Meek Mill?

Williams was arrested for carrying a gun while walking to his neighborhood bodega. This arrest then resulted in Meek being violently assaulted by the police: Meek used his swollen-faced mugshot on the cover of his fourth studio album, DC4. Judge Genece Brinkley, the same judge currently handling his case, sentenced him to almost two years in prison and seven years of parole. After six months, Meek was released on parole and then allowed on probation.

In 2014, while still on probation, Meek Mill was determined to be violating the conditions of his parole by booking shows outside of Philadelphia. As a result, Judge Brinkley sentenced the artist to three to six months in jail.

After being released from prison in 2014, Meek Mill?s career began to take off. While dating the popular female rapper in 2016, Nicki Minaj, and in the height of his ?rap beef? with Canadian rapper, Drake, Meek Mill was sentenced to three months of house arrest for another traveling violation.

The most recent violations, which led to Meek Mill being sentenced to two to four years in prison, took place in St. Louis and New York City.

Meek Mill was involved in a fight inside of the airport that he claims to have been trying to diffuse; however, any police contact is a violation of parole.

Meek was summoned to court and charged with misdemeanor

(Photo: Hypebeast.com)

By Car l Whittington '19

assault, which was recently thrown out. Meek also had a run in with the police when he ?popped a wheelie? on a four-wheeled bike in New York City. The police were at the location when Meek committed the alleged ?reckless driving and endangerment,? but only arrested him later after seeing a video of the incident on social media.

On November 16, Judge Brinkley gave out the sentence that sparked various rallies amongst Philadelphia streets and social media. Brinkley gives his two most recent run-ins with the police, failed drug test, and failure to comply with traveling restrictions as the final straws that earned Meek Mill two to four years in prison.

This sentenced enraged the hip-hop community, and eventually transferred to an overall criticism of the criminal justice system. Meek Mill?s lawyer while talking to CNN stated, ?[Meek is] frustrated, really frustrated and knows he's being treated different than anyone else. If his name was John Smith, he wouldn't be in jail and he certainly wouldn't be on probation." The Judge in question has been accused of having an unfair infatuation with Meek, and she has repeatedly been asked to recuse herself from the case: she refuses to do so. She even has allegations of asking Meek and his then girlfriend, Nicki Minaj, to to do a remake of the Boyz II Men classic ?On Bended Knee,? and to ?shout her out? on the song. These allegations, along with accusations of her asking him

Philadelphia native and uber-popular rapper Meek Mill was released from prison on April 24. to leave Roc Nation and sign to her friend?s label, resulted in Judge Brinkley to hire her own lawyer.

The Judge on the case is not the only reason people questioned Meek?s sentence and demanded his freedom.

The police officer who arrested Meek Mill at the incident that sparked every event leading to today was listed on the Philadelphia District Attorney?s office ?secret-list? of corrupt and questionable police officers. The named police officer has even had people testify against him, saying he was lying about the night of Meek Mill?s initial arrest.

When Meek was sentenced, he garnered the support of many big names. He was visited in jail by activist Al Sharpton, the owner of the 76ers, and many more

supporters: this includes Philadelphia?s mayor, Jim Kenney. Even the Philadelphia District Attorney?s office publicly stated that they do not oppose Meek Mill being granted bail whilst appealing his 2008 conviction.

On April 24th, Meek was granted bail by Philadelphia?s Supreme Court. Shortly after his release, Meek Mill attended that night?s 76ers game alongside his son, Kevin Hart, and a crowd excited to see him ring the Liberty Bell. On his release, Meek Mill says, "while the past five months have been a nightmare, the prayers, visits, calls, letters and rallies have helped me stay positive. To the Philadelphia District Attorney?s office, I?m grateful for your commitment to justice-not only for my case, but for others that have been wrongfully jailed

due to police misconduct."

In an interview with the Breakfast Club, Meek states that he is not an activist; however, he intends on using his platform and his past experiences to join in on the efforts to reform the criminal justice system. Meek is due back in court in mid-June.

Meek said in an interview with Don Lemon, ?I feel like I will be free one day, I think I?ll be able to get my chance pretty soon.?

For now, Meek says that he is working on music and enjoying being back home with his family. On the social media app, Twitter, Meek posted: ?In the meantime, I plan to work closely with my legal team to overturn this unwarranted conviction and look forward to reuniting with my family and

Dining with Dav: The L ast Supper

By David Haddad '18 Over this past school year, I have reviewed a variety of places ranging from traditional American cuisines, to Italian, to Asian, including dine in, dine out, and delivery options.

While all places remain a quick walking distance or short car ride away from the Prep, some trump the others on the leaderboard of best Dining with Dav reviewed restaurants.

On the top of the list, without a doubt is Stockyard Sandwich. Stockyard is one of the closest places to the Prep that I reviewed this year, and time and time again delivers both quality and taste. Over the past few weeks, while afterschool, I have ordered delivery for Stockyard sandwich multiple times, and each time was perfect. The delivery, through the application Caviar, was quick and easy, the food arrived still hot, and the sandwich was delicious. I had the chance to try a few other items on their menu including the burger, the

chicken sandwich, and onion rings, all of which were superb. Without a doubt, Stockyard Sandwich places number one.

At second place, we have Mission Barbecue. Mission Barbecue was the most recent reviewee, and like Stockyard, I have had the chance to return numerous times specifically at the King of Prussia location, each time the food being delicious. There is a great variety of items on the menu and is very quick while maintaining a fresh product.

That all being said, it still falls short to Stockyard, but is held in a very prestigious second place.

Coming in a close third is Blaze Pizza. One for the first reviews of the year, but still remaining a great option. Blaze had fantastic service, was very close to the Prep, and serves a quality build your own pizza.

The only downside is it is a bit pricey, but if you are in the mood for a build your own pizza, it is not a bad option by

any means. When ordering here, you can be sure of your quality and taste being set to a high standard.

With these three options you definitely cannot go wrong.

You are surly in for a great meal at any location. This is not to say that the other reviewed restaurants are not bad by any means, some of them were still unique and exceptional.

Honorable mention to Savas and Cucina Zapata (a food truck located on Drexel?s campus) Unfortunately, for there to be a top of the list, there has to be a bottom as well. Towards the lower end of my recommendation list falls, a couple places that although may have been good, in comparison to these other places falls short. Tela?s Market and Kitchen fell toward the bottom of the bunch not for its location or style but the food did not surprise me in a positive way. It is definitely an easy option for dining as it is close to the Prep, but it is not

unique and the food is quite bland. Le Pain Quotidien does serve some good food and healthy options but unfortunately will leave you with little to no money left in your pocket. The prices for small portioned items is quite high, and will leave you delighted with the taste of the meal, but still hungry with little to no money.

It has been a wonderful year of tasting various restaurants and experimenting with different food types. This journey has been one that I am thankful for and has brought me great excitement. With that in mind, I sign off for the last time this year, encouraging you to try new foods and taste new places, you never know what you?ll find.

12 | Entertainment

M ar vel's Avengers: I nfinity War Str ikes Gold

By Anthony McTighe '18 After nineteen movies and ten years of history in the bag, Marvel all but wraps up book one of the Marvel Cinematic Universe. All of the heroes we have gotten to know and love have finally met their biggest villain yet in one of the greatest movies ever released, Thanos.

Avengers: Infinity War opened to the largest opening weekend ever, and is set to possibly become the highest grossing movie of all time, having already broken one billion dollars in just a few weeks. A record-breaking film and one of the most best Marvel movies to be released, here are just a few reasons why.

One notion that could have been a downfall of this film, but is not, is the feeling of being a

third act. Some of the best moments in many movies is when the hero meets the big bad for the final fight.

However, Avengers: Infinity War uses it?s past ten years as a foundation for act one and two, since Thanos? end credit scene in Avengers. This villian has been built-up for years along with other heros who have grown and changed. Avengers: Infinity War is a third act to the MCU. As soon as the film starts, we are kicked right into the action. There is very little set up, and the rest of the film is spent going from one awesome moment to the next. We watch as our heroes fight against their biggest challenge in the ?Final Fight? of this movie which has been viewed for ten years. It is the culmination of half of our lives for some. We observe these characters unfold through this crazy, life altering event.

And, unlike most comic book/action films of today, it is not a huge mess of explosions and destruction, but rather, the possible end of humanity.

Furthermore, I believe the (Photo: Disney UK)

The most noticeable aspect about this film is its cast.

Marvel has basically stolen nearly all of the talent in Hollywood. And, it is hard to find an actor these days, who is not already tied to the MCU. How can so many actors share the same screen? We have seen this from critically acclaimed directors who constantly work

with the same actors, and even then, they only get to approximately ten to fifthteen actors. However, Avengers: Infinity War brings almost forty different actors to the table.

This seems almost impossible, but directors Joe and Anthony Russo were able to find a balance. They gave everyone enough screen time, allowing the viewers to not feel like characters were gone for extended periods of time. Also, the film?s editing is amazing; cutting between the teams that the writers put together, the heroes were matched perfectly making the movie?s cast appear very well balanced. There are not many diverging characters, each team stayed together once assembled, creating small groups. It is balancing three to four teams, rather than forty characters. Although, I find it funny that one of the villain?s goals is to stabilize the universe. This film just has a harmonized aspect to it.

Called "the most ambitious crossover event in history," I nfinity War dazzled audiences nation-wide.

best part of this film is the exploration and dissection of the villain, the Mad Titan, Thanos. Marvel has had a bad reputation when it comes to their villains. For a long time, the best villain was Loki. It was not until Captain America: Civil War, that the bad guys started to pick up. However, I believe a great villain is when they have an understandable motivation that is tied to something humane.

For example, Black Panther, which has probably the best villain the MCU has seen since Loki. Erik Killmonger had a reasonable motivation. He wanted to share the resources Wakanda had been hiding with the rest of the world. This is understandable, he wants African Americans to start a revolution. Many do not agree with the violence that he is promoting. However, one can understand where Killmonger is coming from, as well as, the backstory to his character. It grounds him in an even more humane way.

Avengers: Infinity War does this as well, and I think it does it the best. We watch Thanos express his emotions and share his motivation, which is his desire to kill half of humanity. It is not to take over the world, or kill just to kill, but more so about his back story. This is a slight spoiler, however, the directors had shared this information prior to the film?s release.

Thanos? home world suffered from overpopulation, and because of this, he suggested that they kill off half the population at random. His idea

The Hawkeye Staff Editor s-in-Chief

Head Wr iter s

Matt Phillips '18

Matt Brennan '18

Marco Sammartino '18

Simon Williams '18

David McCabe '19

Ned Burke '19 Robbie Calabro '19

M anaging Editor

Jacob DeAnnuntis '19

Dan Avington '18

Christian Giuliani '19 Andrew Koh '19

News Section Editor

Matt Marhefka '19

Joe Scott '19

Jack Thorell '19 Carl Whittington '19

Features Section Editor Nick Palermo '18

Staff Wr iter s James DiCocco '18

Enter tainment Section Editor

Jake Feehery '18

Ronan Egan '18

Riley Herriman '18 Paul Koenig '18

Opinion-Debate Section Editor

Anthony McTighe '18

Liam Grugan '19

Sebastian Porreca '18 Dylan Robak '18

Business M anager

Frank Coyne '19

David Haddad '18

Scott Hibbs '19

resulted in Thanos, himself, being banished and exiled. As he was driven out, he watched his world die. This made him feel responsible for not preventing the entire galaxy from suffering the same fate.

This left Thanos having to collect the Infinity Stones, which he did not want to do, but felt as though he had no choice. We may not agree with his methods, but we understand. Thanos is a humane villain, suffering from the pain of feeling responsible for something out of his power, and Avengers: Infinity War explores the backlash he faces in his own world, that makes him do what he does. Thanos is an amazing foil to the Avengers, and by far the best villain the MCU has had to date.

So, what is left for the MCU? After the third successful Avengers film, what is there left to wait for? Well, coming in July, there will be the second Ant-Man film titled, Ant-Man and the Wasp, which will explain their absence from this film. Also there is Captain Marvel in March 2019, which will proceed the next Avengers film, being released in May 2019. Yes, there is going to be another. Avengers: Infinity War is an amazing film. I did not get into the details, as it is a minefield of spoilers, but it is a fantastic story. It is truly an event that one should see. If you love superheroes, you will love this movie. I can not voice my opinion enough, as I patiently wait for the next Avengers film.

Kevin Latu '19 John Leuzzi '19 Christian Locantore '19 Niko Sammartino '19 Andrew Shapiro '19 Chris Strohman '19 Ricky Weipz '19 Thomas Avington '20 Denis Gallagher '20 Stephen Harrison '20 Tyler Konrad '20 Jason Mattera '20 Marcus Murphy '20 Rocco Spadea '20 Matthew Bae '21 Max Coyne '21 James Janco '21 Matt McCarney '21 Garrett McCloskey '21 M oder ator Mr. Leo Vaccaro '05 Mr. Brendan Kolon '13

14 | Opinion-Debate

Closing Thoughts from the Class of 2018 Seniors Reflect on the Prep Experience The Prep has given me so much, and for that I am eter nally gr ateful. I will never be able to fully express my gr atitude to the Prep for all it has given me and for the countless moments of love, j oy, and brother hood I have exper ienced here. I want the remaining Classes of 2019, 2020, and 2021 to realize a few things about the Prep. Fir st off, this is a school rooted in tr adition. I t is an institution that respects its past. Take pr ide in this. Take pr ide in the fact that you are men of the Prep. Take pr ide in the fact that although the Prep has changed immensely over the year s, you are still taking par t in the same tr adition, brother hood, and excellence as the Class of 1851. Secondly, be fear less. The Prep can be a scar y place at times. There is always a hustle and bustle in the halls, you are constantly flooded with homewor k and exams, and you have to balance both school and family. Take a deep breath. Don?t let life bog you down. Walk through the door s of the Prep ever yday and slap the hand of that statue without a single drop of fear. Be br ave. Sign up for a new club, tr y out for the show, keep tr ying out for the basketball team, introduce your self to new people. You do not want to leave this place with any regrets. Finally, be present. Be conscious. Reflect. The Prep is the Prep because of the little things. The Prep is the Prep because of the brother hood between students, and the fr iendships between students and faculty. Cher ish ever y time you cr ack up laughing at your lunch table or play basketball with some guys at lunch. L ove the times you spend laughing with a teacher or chatting with a faculty member after class. Embr ace these relationships. The Prep is the Prep because of the relationships.

I would like to thank the Prep for some of the best year s of my life. I have exper ienced plenty of highs while at the Prep, and plenty of lows. I am gr ateful for ever y moment and do not regret a single thing.

Swing on along with the cr imson. M an for and with. AM DG.

- Paul K oenig '18 Dear Prep, What a four year s it?s been! I ?m not sure where the time went; I suppose that?s j ust the nature of high school. To all my Prep brother s who will be students next year : pur sue the excellence The Prep is known for. I n addition to that, hold high standar ds and expectations for the faculty and staff. Remember that excellence doesn?t require per fection, but it does require your and their best effor ts. While my time at The Prep has come to an end, I can?t help but to feel excitement for each class next year.

For the class of 2019, as they assume the role of leader s for the student body. For the class of 2020, as they become upperclassmen and have the oppor tunity to exper ience K airos. For the class of 2021, as they become role models for and older brother s of the new freshmen class. And finally, for the class of 2022, as they begin their love-hate relationship with M other Prep, that j our ney which educates and tr ansfor ms individuals who fully invest themselves. To all students: live ever y moment to the fullest and never look back!

- Stephen Dier kes '18 I have to say that my past four year s at the Prep were the best of my life. I ?ve had many highs and many lows over those year s, but the Prep community was always there suppor ting me, even if they didn?t know it. I f there is one thing I regret, it was how I did not put myself out there in freshman year. M y advice to the rest of the Prep student body: be br ave and do something that you wouldn?t nor mally do. Get to know people that you wouldn?t nor mally talk to. Being exposed to the people at the Prep --both students and faculty-- is one of the best oppor tunities in the wor ld. Don?t waste it.

- James Brooks '18 For me, the Prep is more than j ust a pr ivate Jesuit high school: it?s a brother hood.

Anyone can relate to this: whether it?s the senior s who remember our brother Gill?s death, or ever yone this past school year for Sal?s death, and how ever yone was there for one another. Those who went on K airos retreats can also relate to the love that is found for one another, within the brother hood at this school. However, I have noticed that the love at the Prep is not j ust found through these big events, but through the smaller, ever yday ones as well. The Prep is also more than a brother hood: it?s an exper ience; one that I am thankful to be par t of. Although the wor kload can be rough at many times, we will always cross the finish line. I am so for tunate to make new best fr iends here and to have shared countless memor ies with them, many which I , without a doubt, will never for get. M y advice to my fellow underclassmen Prepper s is to never be afr aid to meet new people, to step outside of your comfor t zone, and to go on a K airos retreat if you can! Going on K airos was the highlight of my Prep career and I hope it can be the same for you guys.

- Jonathan Dier kes '18

Opinion-Debate | 15 As students of the Prep, we sacr ifice a lot of things, the most prominent being time; we give up time tr aveling to and from school ever yday, time studying instead of hanging out or playing for tnite, time at pr actices, matches, games, and per for mances.

Over my four year s, I have lear ned that what we get in retur n makes all this time wor th it. We get in retur n a better education, more invested faculty, staff, and students, a Jesuit mission that we hopefully will remember to live out beyond June 3r d, and so much more.

Was my four year s ever ything I thought it would be? I n some way it was less, in most ways it was more. I never won an individual or team Catholic L eague Championship. I never was a captain of a spor ts team. I got denied and waitlisted at many of the college I hoped to get into. These were all things I thought were most impor tant coming into the Prep, but I lear ned while all these accomplishments would have been great, I still achieved greater and more fulfilling accomplishments than the ones listed above. I ?m one of the few single-spor t 4x All-Catholics in the senior class. I became a section editor of The Hawkeye. I was a leader on K ar ios CLVI I . I achieved an outstanding scholar ship to a school where I can continue to live the magis. M ost impor tantly, I ?m a per son more dedicated to being religious, loving, open to growth, intellectually competent, and committed to doing j ustice than I was four year s pr ior.

The greatest thing about the Prep though is not the r igorous academics, the competitive athletics, or the spectacular ly bankr upt school newspaper ; the greatest thing is the people that make all of these things happen. I ?m proud to say I not only know, but am fr iends with near ly ever yone in my year, and have good relationships with most faculty member s whether they?ve taught me or not. Thanks to all the people of the Prep who have taken par t in my life. Your impact is greater than you know. Go Hawks. AM DG.

- Nick Paler mo '18 Editor of the Features Section for Volume 43 of The Hawkeye

Always go to your teacher s for help; they want to see you succeed. Don?t take AP classes [only] because you think it?ll look good on your college application. After all, you?re the one in the class so take classes that interest you. Outside of the classroom, find something that you?re passionate in and completely immer se your self in it. Sur round your self with people smar ter than you as it?ll motivate you to wor k har der but also make sure that they?re people you like being around. M ost impor tantly, embr ace the academic gr ind, always tr y your best, and don?t sweat the small stuff; it all wor ks out in the end.

(Photo: Riley Herriman '18)

- Ben Sher idan ?18

16 | Opinion-Debate

L etter to the Editor : Rev. John Swope, SJ '72 Farewell...and Thank You! Dear Class of 2018, You made it! The final days of your j our ney at 17th and Gir ar d. Class of 2018, we have tr aveled a long road together. You were merely freshmen when we met--me as the President-elect wor king on tr ansitioning into this position at my alma mater and you, with one year under your belt, having more exper ience than the President.

Still, you kindly and generously accepted me and welcomed me back to our nest and I am forever gr ateful.

Our fir st meeting was far from a happy circumstance. M y fir st inter action with many of you was at the wake and funer al for your classmate and fr iend Ryan Gillyar d.

Watching you cr y together, suppor t one another and love one another through those ter r ible days told me all I needed to know about you, the Class of 2018 -- you were tr ue Prepper s who always have one another ?s backs. Those tr agic days will never be for gotten and you grew together and cemented your relationship. That is a bond that cannot be broken. The M emor ial M ass celebr ated the last three year s have been the most impor tant M asses I have celebr ated since my retur n to the Prep.

Dur ing our three year s together at the Prep, I have had the pr ivilege of exper iencing so much with you--beautiful M asses in the Gesu Church and the Chapel; quiet reflections on K airos; celebr ations of academic achievements such as National Honor Society; success on the athletic fields, cour ts and r iver ; tour de forces on the stage, concer ts, the cour troom, the robotics r ing and in forensics. And, of cour se, our newest fr iend, the Pr uppy: I ggy! Those events were tr uly j oyous occasions, ones that I will remember fondly, and I hope that you will too.

Soon, I will add another memor y: standing on the Commencement stage and awar ding you a Prep diploma. When I carefully and thoughtfully signed each diploma, I reflected on this milestone in your j our ney at 17th and Gir ar d. Your diploma is a tangible element of your time at the Prep. Something that you can hold in your hand or have fr amed on the wall. However, the most tr ue and pure milestones will be the memor ies you hold in your hear t--St. Joseph?s Prep Class of 2018. There will never be another class like you.

As you head off into the next stage of your life, I ur ge you to remember the great gifts you were given by God, nur tured by your parents and families and enhanced dur ing your time here. We are so proud of you and look for war d to hear ing your success stor ies when you retur n as alumni. Ad M ultos Annos gentlemen and Well Done!

Sincerely, Rev. John W. Swope, SJ ?72 President

Reflecting on Four Year s of The Hawkeye

By Ronan Egan '18 In the fall of 2014 I began my journey with the Hawkeye.

A flyer with the words ?free pizza? hanging in the hallway that links Villager to Jesuit Hall caught my eye and I attended my first meeting that Friday in the Quinn Library.

I knew nobody in that first meeting, aside from my World History teacher, Mr. Leo Vaccaro and former pre-8th classmate Matt Phillips '18. I was nervous? afraid to reach out and claim anything as we moved through the list of topics. Eventually, I spoke, and my nascent career began with a simple faulty grid. I picked up a copy the following week, proudly flaunting to my

parents the four-page, double sided issue that featured my name on the ?Staff Writers? list. This contribution was minimal at best, but to me, a freshman four weeks into his time at the Prep, it was significant.

From there, things grew rapidly. I fondly remember myself and current Editor-in-Chief Phillips co-writing our first legitimate article (faculty grid excluded), which was an opinion piece as to why the football team should begin to play out of state games. Oh, how things have changed.

Years of small articles, sports previews, and faculty grids passed by before the start of

the 2017 school year.

four years.

That brings us to this year, Volume 43 of the Hawkeye at the Prep. Our paper, to the seniors; something which myself and the rest of us take great pride in publishing every few weeks. To see these papers printed fourteen different times throughout the year was truly special. Our group of seniors, too many of them to name, took this paper and evolved it into something unseen before, printing more pages of the Hawkeye than ever before.

Color printing, a routine 20 pages, and so much content that we had to cut articles in order to fill the paper each week: that is what we stove to, and have achieved over these

And so as I sit here counting down my days at the Prep I cannot help but to be eternally grateful for what this paper has done for me and the four other senior editors. From the humble beginnings of my collaborative out-of-state football article to the dozen-person ?Staff Writers? list on the back of each issue, my resumĂŠ now stands loaded with front page news articles, political debates with teachers, opinions about virtually anything, and interviews with faculty and students, all while witnessing that same staff list grow to contain so many names we cannot possibly fit them all in the paper. This

paper has grown alongside our seniors over these last four years I want to thank Mr. Vaccaro, "Lord Vaccaro," for sticking with us the whole time. Even through our inevitable bankruptcy he has pushed hard to keep this paper afloat and for that, we are all grateful. To my classmates and fellow writers, without all of you none of this possible. The reader is what keeps us surviving, but to spark discussion means we are succeeding in the highest form.

Lastly, to The Hawkeye, may she rest in good hands for years to come. Liam, Joe, Dave, make us proud.

To all of this and all of you, I say, thank you.

Opinion: StuCo Needs to I nvolve Students

By M arcus M ur phy ?20

Most people realize that the student council can organize, or at least try to organize, mixers. It can also do some major things for the school,

The role and powers of the student council and class representatives is somewhat unclear to me. Students should know the council?s budget.

They should also know the limits of the powers of council: what it can and cannot do. The council should first seek the

opinion of the student body before making a big decision.

As much as one may like Iggy, the Prep dog, it was not a decision made by the entire student body, but rather by a small group of seniors. Major decisions by the council should first be voted on by the students (obviously after being approved by the administration). The council should also try to initiate fundraisers in which many students would participate, so that they can both raise money for the school and for benefits of the students. An example of poor fundraising for student benefits was the collecting of money for Iggy: student council representatives would wander around the dining hall begging for money for the dog.

Instead, it would have been wise to do something as simple

as a bake sale.

Overall, it would be wise for the decisions and budget of the council to be known by the

student body. In addition, the student body should have some form of a voice in the decisions of the council.

(Photo: St. Joe's Prep)

The student council elections for the Prep took place on Tuesday, May 1st, 2018.

Thomas Dintino was elected president, Robbie Calabro and Yuanle Ma were elected vice presidents, Ryan Procopio was elected secretary, and Harry Fanto was elected treasurer.

The elections for freshmen representatives occurred on Monday, May 14th and for sophomores on Tuesday, May 15th. The excitement of elections and all of the campaign promises stir up the question: How much power does the student council truly have?

such as get a dog, but can it really do the things that some candidates promise? Is it possible for the council to change the dress code in the warmer months, or fix broken sinks within the school? How much money does the council have; what are the limits of the budget? It is also unclear what the representatives of the freshmen, sophomores, and juniors do: Do they simply voice the opinions of their respective classes to the senior council?

President Chris I x '18 holding I ggy, this year's greatest StuCo achievement.

Sports | 17

By Fr ank Coyne ?19 Prep Crew head coach John Fife has connections to many crew programs across the country, but his closest connection is to Dallas Jesuit, where he was the head coach before coming to The Prep.

During his time in Dallas, he built the crew program from the ground up, and transformed them into a nationally competitive team. He even brought the team to England for the Henley Royal Regatta.

Since coming to The Prep, he has kept ties with Dallas and we have had the opportunity to host them as they compete on the Schuylkill. In April, both teams raced at St. Andrews in Delaware and returned to Philadelphia to compete in the 5th Flick. While both teams were unloading the boats from the trailers, their current head coach surprised everyone with a new boat that had coach Fife?s name on it.

Dallas coach Randy Dam, now the head coach, was an assistant coach while Fife was there and has continued to

develop the program since then. As a tribute to all that Fife accomplished in Dallas, coach Dam thought their new boat should be dedicated to him.

(Photo: St. Joe's Prep)

Dallas Jesuit Dedicates Boat to Fife While boats were being moved and rigged in preparation for the next day?s racing, an impromptu dedication ceremony was set up and everyone stopped and gathered around. Coach Dam made a speech, crediting Fife for the continued success of the program. Afterwards, Fife also gave a speech, although he was not expecting the ceremony, and the new shell was christened with champagne.

Both teams performed well that weekend and are set to continue as the championship races approach. The Prep, after winning five of the six categories at the City Championship, is getting ready to compete at the Stotesbury Cup Regatta, the largest high school rowing event in the world, drawing over 5,000 competitors and 10,000 spectators each year.

Prep Crew head coach John Fife (right) with his new boat and Dallas Jesuit coach Randy Dam.

(Photo: St. Joe's Prep)

Crew Does Not Attend PCL Championships

The Prep Crew team, pictured here competing at the City Championships, elected to row in the Noxontown Regatta instead of PCLs.

By Sebastian Por reca '18 This year, the Prep?s crew team did not attend the Philadelphia Catholic League Championships for the first time in years, and instead, the

team raced in the Noxontown Regatta at the St. Andrews School in Middletown, Delaware. The decision made by the Prep Crew coaching staff had several motivations

behind, and ultimately, the decision turned out be a success for the team. Initially, the decision was because of a logistical issue, with the PCLs being moved April 21st instead

of the traditional time at the last weekend of April. Before the date change was known, Prep Crew head coach John Fife ?98 accepted an invitation to attend a regatta at St. Andrews, where the team would race highly competitive teams. While attempts were made to keep the PCLs in the last week of April, the Catholic League decided on April 21st, primarily for cost. Coach Fife, involved in meetings with both PCL moderators and PCL member coaches, stated in an email that, ?The regatta organizers decided to run the PCL races on the tail end of a college regatta held on the same day to keep their costs low,? and as a result, Prep Crew chose racing at St. Andrews.

Another key reason why the Noxontown Regatta easily favored out over PCLs was the overall state of the Catholic League in terms of crew.

Unlike many other Prep sports teams, the PCL for crew is extremely small compared to the amount of teams even in just regular season regattas. ?Unfortunately, the PCL Crew championship is not as robust as it used to be.? says Coach Fife, ?There are only 5 schools with crew and many of those schools now have much smaller teams than in the past.?

The limits in size and amount of competition at the PCL Championship was vastly outweighed by the quality and larger competitor number at St. Andrews.

Extremely

competitive teams from across the East Coast and beyond turned out for the regatta and it offered an opportunity to face off against top tier teams before championship racing season. The Prep faced off against Winter Park from Florida, The Kent School from Connecticut, Gonzaga College High School from Washington D.C., Dallas Jesuit from Dallas, Texas, and The St. Andrews School, with SJP?s lightweight 8 and Freshman 8 taking first place, and the Varsity 8 in a close second.

While not attending PCL Championships was certainly a bit of a dissapointment, the Noxontown Regatta at St. Andrews brought much more to the team. Coach Fife, confident in his decision, remarked that it was ultimately ?in the best interest of my team and athletes to pursue greater competition? and the racing experience at St. Andrews proved that.

Luckily, the PCL has already voted to move the championship regatta back to the last weekend of April, so that Prep Crew can attend both the Noxontown Regatta and the PCL Championship in coming seasons.

This beneficial development has Prep Crew already hungry to win back the PCL Championship title, and Coach Fife closed by saying ?I look forward to bringing the PCL championship back to 17th & Girard in 2019!?

18 | Sports

By Simon Williams ?18 May has been a busy month for St. Joseph?s Prep student-athletes._With #NationalSigningDay kicking off the month, members of the senior class make their college decisions official. It is the result of months of deliberation and maybe even a year of going through this process. For some St. Joe?s Prep students, though, playing a varsity sport can mean the college process begins a bit sooner. Such is the case for Prep freshman Jeremiah Trotter, Jr. One of the team?s rising stars, Trotter picked up a scholarship offer from Syracuse University. He was joined by teammate and classmate Kyle McCord ?21 in scholarship recipients from Syracuse that day. This is

Trotter?s third offer; first out of the Atlantic Coast Conference.

He previously received offers from the University of Maryland of the Big Ten Conference and Temple University of the American Athletic Conference.

Trotter catching the attention of coaches at the next level is not as bewildering as one might think, even for a freshman. Making varsity as a freshman is a feat in and of itself for a Prep program that has one or two players get called up in their first year playing football. Stepping up to the challenge, Trotter manned the linebacker position for the defense and stepped in to games this year with an on-field presence unheard of in freshmen. Confident and cool under pressure, Trotter showed speed off the snap and great

(Photo: Jeremiah Trotter '21)

Student-Athlete of the Week: Jeremiah Trotter '21 chase-down ability to wrap up opposing receivers and backs.

His efforts against Archbishop Ryan earned him WSJP Player of the Week twitter poll honors as voted on by Prep fans. Other standout performances came against La Salle and Parkland in the Philadelphia Catholic League Championship and PIAA First Round games, respectively.

Getting another scholarship offer now propels Trotter?s name in recruiting circles. If not already scouted by coaches based on his play, being able to put his name to three Division I programs ? two of which from Power 5 conferences ? gives an idea of what type of player and student he is. For this_most_recent accomplishment, he has earned Student-Athlete of the Week honors.

Trotter '21 tweets about his offer from Syr acuse after receiving offer s from M ar yland and Temple.

Br andon Sander s: L eader On and Off the Field (Photo: Gil McGlynn)

While the title of captain was bestowed upon Brandon just this year for the football team, he?s been living out that word for his entire life. Brandon is the captain of Team Shawnie, the team the Sanders family runs for the Special Olympics every year at Coatesville Area High School. For Brandon, this job entails him promoting Team Shawnie and Autism Awareness to as many people as he can, and on the day of the Special Olympics, he organizes members of the team, directs people to different stations, encourages the participating athletes, and educates others about what it means to participate in a day like the Special Olympics.

Brandon Sanders '18 with his brother, Shawnie, at the Special Olympics this year.

By John L euzzi ?19 Hard worker.

State champion.

Plays with toughness and determination.

College football commit.

Multi-sport athlete. These are

just a few of the words that come to mind when Brandon Sanders ?18 is brought up in the halls of 17th and Girard.

However, not everyone knows a certain side of the

Downingtown native. When Brandon was four years old, his family changed forever, as his brother Shawnie was diagnosed with autism at the age of two years old.

For the past two years, members of the Prep football and baseball teams have participated as a part of Team Shawnie and Sanders could hardly even express how much that means to him, ?It means more than I could ever imagine because I know that these guys have my back for life, on the field and outside. For most of my life I have felt like I was alone having a sibling with special needs; no one that I could talk to or understand our situation. To know that some of my best friends care about me and welcome such a big part of my life in my brother is incredible to say the least. I couldn't thank everyone enough.? Jack Clinton ?18, one of Brandon?s teammates on the baseball team, was one of the many players who went to the event this year and reflected on his experience from this special day: ?It was a great experience to be able to help out and help support Team Shawnie. It turned out to be a great way for the team to bond over doing service.? Clinton also mentioned that he and his teammate Evan Matthews ?18 received a letter from one of

the kids they worked with before their game vs Archbishop Ryan thanking them for all of their efforts, which Clinton said was one of the best feelings in the world.

A few weeks back, the Prep Baseball team along with their opponent Archbishop Wood both promoted Autism Awareness during a pregame ceremony where Shawnie and an Archbishop Wood relative with special needs threw out ceremonial first pitches. When I asked Brandon what he thought about the baseball program doing this, he said, ?I'm not going to lie, I started to tear up a little because it showed me that I am loved not just for what I bring on the field, but off the field. The Prep has recognized something that is extremely important to me and found a way to display it.? Shawnie was also the Hawks honorary team captain for that game. I reached out to head baseball coach Anthony Valucci on what it meant to him to have the program take part in something like this, and he responded, ?It was great to have Shawnie out there leading our team against Archbishop Wood. Sometimes, as athletes, we forget how fortunate we are to play the game everyday. The way the team rallied around Shawnie and made him feel part of the team was great to see. It makes you happy as a coach seeing the team understanding how they can make a different.?

Even though Sanders graduates in a few weeks from SJP, his work with Autism Awareness won?t be finished when he heads to Bucknell. He said, ?I plan to bring awareness to Bucknell, and to help educate those who might not know as much as I do about individuals living with special needs.?

Sports | 19

By Gar rett M cCloskey ?21 Prep Rugby went 4-4 in regular season play this year.

The season started with a snow-filled practice in late January. After a month of training in harsh conditions, the Prep?s varsity squad suffered a 10-29 loss against the currently sixth-ranked Xavier Knights in February.

After a few weeks of rest, the Prep obliterated Loyola-Blakefield in a 41-5 win. After a loss to Doylestown and a win against Archmere, Prep rugby embarked on a journey to Spain. The varsity squad won all three of their games overseas. Upon their return, St. Joe?s narrowly beat Conestoga, but then lost to Bishop Shanahan and La Salle in the subsequent weeks. St. Joseph?s Prep?s playoff chances would be determined by the final game of the season against the Media Rugby Club in which they needed a win and score four tries to receive a bonus point. In a hard-fought, nail-biting game, St. Joe?s Prep prevailed as the 31-27 victors over Media, and the Prep rugby season continued into the postseason. In the first round of the Pennsylvania state playoffs, #8 St. Joseph?s Prep lost to #1 West Allegheny in a highly physical matchup, and their quest for the third state championship in program history fell short.

The season saw a lot of positives, including the promotion of Kevin Tkachuk, one of the Prep?s history teachers, to head coach.

Tkachuk played rugby professionally on the Canadian national team and the Glasgow Warriors in Scotland. Coach Tkachuk focuses on sharing his talents with the Prep?s premier forwards while motivating the young minds of other players to improve their play and work ethic.

The sophomores of the SJP rugby squad have been a pleasant surprise to the team.

Speedster Kane Ritchie ?20 has proved himself as a steady starter for the varsity team.

Ritchie excels not only on the rugby pitch, but also the soccer field. When asked about being the sole sophomore in the starting lineup, Kane Ritchie said, ?It's an honor to have been selected to varsity A-side, and I've learned a lot about the game from my older teammates.? In addition, Pat Cone ?20 has been praised by his coaches because of his outstanding rugby talent. Cone is noted for running hard onto the ball to break through powerful defensive lines. His stellar tackling and keen eye for open gaps has helped Cone become one of the most dominant young players that St. Joseph?s Prep has to offer.

When asked about this year?s sophomore class, assistant

(Photo: St. Joe's Prep)

Prep Rugby Season Comes to a Close

Prep Rugby players Leo Henkels '19 and Kevin Lunney '18 lift up Ryan Lopresti '18 on a throw-in against Conestoga earlier this season. coach Brian McCloskey ?91 said, ?I think this is one of the best classes we have ever had.

The class, along with a smaller, but equally as strong junior class, boasts a lot of talent.

They?ve gained valuable experience playing at high levels this year, and we hope this pays dividends this year and the next next year.? Along with Ritchie and Cone, fellow sophomores Aidan ?AP? Kelly, Joe Kelly, Joe Lilley and Andrew Ward have proven that they have varsity potential.

At the end of this season,

Prep rugby will bid farewell to its talented senior class led by senior captains Brendan Heffernan, Alex Smith, and Chris Lamplugh. Prep rugby will have big shoes to fill following the departure of its senior-heavy lineup. When asked about his future in rugby, Frank Villanueva ?18 said, ?Next year, I'm going to Penn State, which has one of the best teams in the nation. Prep Rugby has prepared me to play at the collegiate level because of our excellent coaches and our rigorous training.? Prep rugby?s senior class talent will

be seen on the pitches at Arizona, Auburn, Fairfield, Loyola-Chicago, Michigan State, Penn State, Scranton, SJU, South Carolina, St. Bonaventure, Syracuse, Temple, and Widener next year.

As another Prep rugby season goes into the history books, Prep ruggers certainly will not forget their recollections of snowy practices, an international trip, and all the other memories they have made over the course of the 2018 season.

Tkachuk on Eagles' Dr aft of Rugby Player

By Simon Williams ?18 In and around Philadelphia, winning the Super Bowl meant everything to fans. After never having taken home the Lombardi Trophy prior to this fateful February in Minneapolis, anytime the Eagles are brought into the conversation ? whether that be on sports talk radio or the lunch table ? the candor is always positive.

As for the Draft, Eagles fans were not as excited over who the Birds should or should not pick, but rather the fact that no matter the selection, the pick would upset the fans in attendance? in Dallas.

Because the NFL held the Draft in Philly to much success last year and followed it up by the event being hosted in a rival city, fans were surely going to take personal an interest to ensuring the event pales in comparison to the year prior.

Droves of Birds fans attended the event outside of the Cowboys? AT& T Stadium in North Texas and made their presence felt to the local audiences by being particularly loud when the defending Super

Bowl Champions announced.

were

Late in the event, when the 7th and final round came up, the Eagles were on the clock, slated for the 15th pick that round, 233rd overall. It was a slot they wound up with after an elaborate wheeling and dealing where the pick was in control of three other teams before belonging to the Eagles.

The New England Patriots, the very team who the Eagles beat just a few months ago, swung a deal with their Super Bowl counterparts, landing Philly?s 7th round pick (250th overall) and next year?s 7th rounder in exchange for the 233 spot. From there, the Eagles made history.

With pick #233 the Eagles selected Jordan Mailata, a 21-year-old professional rugby player. Mailata who never has played a down of American football in his life, was just the guy the Eagles had their eye on.

As weird as it sounds, it actually makes a lot of sense.

Mailata is a physical specimen, standing at 6?8?, weighing 246 pounds. He came off the bench

as a reserve for the South Sydney Rabbitohs of the National Rugby League, but his highlight tape is absolutely insane. He has breakneck speed for such an imposing frame, running a 5.12 40-yard dash, good for eighth out of all offensive linemen who participated in the NFL Combine.

That is the next thing that makes Mailata so interesting: he is going to play offensive line. With such size and athleticism, the Eagles figure they can utilize him on the O-Line as a sheer dominant presence to protect quarterback Carson Wentz, with more refined skills of the position to be learned along the way.

Prep history teacher Mr. Kevin Tkachuk, a former professional rugby player in his own right, took particular interest in that facet of the Mailata selection: ?Rugby league players are renowned for two things, one their ability to tackle and two their hard running with the ball. Having looked at highlights, he can definitely do both. For me, I could see him as DE (defensive end) but also

perhaps a TE (tight end) or short yardage back as well.?

Even with the disparity between his projected role and what he was drafted to play, Mailata is not that far behind in terms of the natural, physical elements of the game. It is the Samoan-Australian?s ?athleticism and fitness,? as Mr. Tkachuk notes, that can give him a competitive edge among his unit-mates.

Mr. Tkachuk believes Mailata?s background in rugby will not only keep him on pace with the other rookies or even his position partners, but he it is not unlikely the Aussie excels: ?[He] will have a better work capacity then most football athletes due to the nature of the requirements of rugby league.?

These requirements include a set of what Mr. Tkachuk calls ?open skills? ? techniques and elements to the style of play like tackling and attacking ? in contrast to American football?s ?closed skills? based on the player?s position.

Professional scouts agree with Mr. Tkachuk?s assessment. According to

NFL.com, outside of the learning of football basics and transition from rugby attacker to football?s defensive posture, Mailata has ?some hip tightness in his movements,? speaking to the lack of extended training in the sport he has missed because of rugby.

Mr. Tkachuk sees Mailata?s departure from the pro rugby ranks as not an anomaly.

Plenty of rugby players are actually fairly into the NFL, per Mr. Tkachuk.

But regardless of a player?s level of interest in another sport, the nature of their profession as athletes is centered around adversarial situations, he says. ?The NFL is casting its net wide to look for talent and for good reason, there are some rugby union, league and even Aussie Rules Football players that would have the perfect skill sets to perform in the NFL,? he told me. ?The nature of a professional athlete is to seek challenge and challenging environments so the desire to transition to a new sport is usually not as daunting as it might seem, especially if the compensation is right!?

Avington: Senior Class Among Best in School Histor y volleyball), Brendan Richey ?18 (University of Delaware crew), and Isaiah Ritchie ?18 (Loyola University New Orleans - track and field).

By Dan Avington ?18 First off, I want to apologize for any of the commits I missed last issue in my column, including but not limited to Bobby Dupell ?18 (High Point University - track), Paul Gerlach ?18 (United States Coast Guard Academy - crew), Danny Guinan ?18 (King?s College - wrestling), Charlie McNamara ?18 (University of Delaware - crew), Declan Quinn ?18 (Elmira College -

Second, I wanted to use this column, my final one as sports editor, to look back on all of the phenomenal athletic moments that I?ve been given the opportunity of reporting on in my time at St. Joe?s Prep.

Starting off with football, I watched so many victories over the past few seasons that I can?t even keep them straight. From two state championship wins out in Chocolatetown to victories across the nation in Mission Viejo, CA and Tampa, FL, it?s been phenomenal watching the team grow and getting the chance to broadcast the games of and interview some of the most successful

athletes history.

in

Prep

Football

Another awesome moment as a Prep athletics viewer came in this my senior year: getting the opportunity to see the Prockey team capture their first ever Flyers Cup victory over Holy Ghost. Being from Bensalem and constantly hearing kids from my grade school discuss the greatness of Ghost?s hockey team annoyed me greatly so broadcasting our team?s slaughter of them on their own home ice was nothing short of amazing.

But I?d have to say my favorite part about covering Prep sports for WSJP and the Hawkeye over the past years is being given the chance to watch my friends compete at such high levels. One day I?ll be sitting next to them in math

class being completely lost during a Calc lesson, and the next they?ll be striking out three Ryan batters in the final inning to put the game away.

Or I?ll be working in a group of four in a science lab, and within the next month I?ll watch one of them dominate the opposition on the ice, one smack an extra base hit in a crucial playoff game, and the other put one past the goalie to win a critical lacrosse game.

Seeing all of my classmates and others I see every day in these halls have so much success on the field, ice, or court has been an absolute pleasure, and that?s the reason why covering them never seemed like a job, it was always simply a blast.

Finally, I am very conscious of the fact that the athletic

achievements that we have witnessed over these past four years is nothing short of outstanding. It?s possible that never again in our school?s history will we see a span when the football team wins two state championships, golf wins a state championship, basketball reaches the Palestra and state playoffs, hockey wins the Flyers Cup and state championship, lacrosse wins a Catholic League title and goes on to the state championship, baseball reaches the state playoffs, track wins a National Championship, and crew and rugby have immense success year in and year out. It?s simply phenomenal.

It?s been a pleasure writing this column every issue. I hope you enjoyed reading as much as I enjoyed writing it.

(Photo: St. Joe's Prep)

Prep Ultimate Dominates Colonial Callahan ?19, Thomas Avington ?20, Jimmy Carr ?20, Jack D?Angelo ?20, and Benicio Beatty ?21, the team was able to take home all three games in their bracket.

In their first game against Holy Ghost, the Hawks took immediate control. Despite their loss earlier on in the season against the Firebirds, SJP hopped out to an early lead thanks to quick passes and a stellar zone defense that Ghost was unable to break. In the 10-4 win, Prultimate got scores from Dan Avington ?18 (2), Matt Bevilacqua ?18 (1), Ricky Weipz ?19 (1), Thomas Avington ?20 (4), Jimmy Carr ?20 (1), and Benicio Beatty ?21 (1).

The Prep Frisbee team at the Colonial Callahan tournament.

By Dan Avington ?18 On Saturday, May 12th, the Prep Frisbee team competed in

the Colonial Callahan tournament hosted at P-W. Led by senior captains Matt Bevilacqua and Shea Enright

and spurred on by the team core of Dan Avington ?18, Jake Legaard ?18, Theo Meis ?18, Nick Palermo ?18, Ricky Weipz

Against the Knights of North Penn in the next matchup of the day, the Hawks were even more dominant.

The Avington brothers combined for 5 of the team?s 10 points, including the game-winner, Bevilacqua caught 2, Carr had 1, Nick Palermo ?18 added 1, and

Weipz contributed 1 as well. In the final game of their originally slotted ones, the Prep squad handily defeated Abington Friends by a score of 11-2. Even though they were forced to run a man defense instead of a zone due to Abington?s offensive style, the Hawks still allowed just two scores and capitalized on AF turnovers to get points of their own.

Since they went undefeated in their first three and won their bracket, SJP moved on to the championship round of the Division 3 section of the bracket against the Aces of Lower Merion. In a hard fought game that went right up to the time limit, the Hawks took home the difficult 7-5 loss. Even though they were unable to take home the Mission BBQ prize basket at the Colonial Callahan tournament, the Hawks were able to use this outing to secure the first overall seed in the City championship tournament.