page four
page eight
Dead Man Walking brings the death penalty debate to Hoban.
Standardized testing proves to be great influence on college applications and academic readiness.
the
page nine Get to know the Hoban custodial staff’s favorite shows, foods and what they love about their jobs.
archbishop hoban high school n issue 5 n november 11, 2011
EAT THIS, NOT THAT
pgs. 6 - 7
Photo by Allie Weiss
Taking a look at some of the popular lunch choices
editorial
two
Sports responsibilities cause burden
H
oban offers students a variety of options for all aspects of life. The wide range of course options allows for academic development, while school-sponsored activities such as immersion trips and retreats provide means for spiritual growth. However, many students find themselves unable to take full advantage of these options because of the amount of time and effort placed into one activity: sports. In today’s society, sports seem to take precedent over everything else. The amount of time put into most sports through practices and games makes it nearly impossible for students to participate in other activities they find interesting. Pressure from peers and coaches to attend every practice makes it hard for students to branch out from athletics and explore other ways to enrich their high school experiences. Recently, students began to express that this commitment is preventing them from signing up for retreats such as Kairos. While coaches may argue that the dedication they require teaches the importance of commitment, it is wrong to contain students to only one thing. “Playing a sport is a commitment which you must see through,” campus minister Scott Kopp said. “That being said, coaches need to
be sensitive to that fact that opportunities at this age only come once, and they must be open to talk about these opportunities with their athletes.” For some athletes, the fear of lack of sensitivity to their requests prevents them from even approaching their coaches to ask if it’s permissible to miss practices for retreats or other trips. It is important that students feel comfortable approaching their coaches with requests, and it is important that coaches understand the position of the students. The vast majority of student athletes do not go on to play sports in college. Of those who do, very few actually go on to make a living from it. Therefore, it makes no sense that students physical development should restrict their mental or spiritual growth. On the other hand, physical growth is still plays a vital role in the creation of a well rounded youth. Finding a balance between all aspects of life can be difficult because students have so much going on in their lives. Students will inevitably have to make choices and commitments, however, favoring one activity to the point where it hinders development in the others results in an imbalance and prevents students from having a full high school experience. n
NBA lockout proves players’ greed
I
n an age when the superstar athlete is glorified, fans watch their favorite player fighting over his next multi-million dollar contract. But this time it’s more than just their favorite player - it’s the entire league. On June 30, 2011, the NBA’s Collective Bargaining Agreement expired, leaving the 2011-2012 season in question. The players union and owners have not been able to come to an agreement since then. In turn, the first four weeks of the NBA season have already been cancelled. This means that all NBA operations will shut down until at least Nov. 20, accounting for more than 200 games. In the last CBA, players were guaranteed 57 percent of the revenue while the owners took in 43 percent. The NBA lost more than one billion dollars since this CBA was implemented in the 2005-2006 season. This time around the owners will settle for nothing less than an even split in revenue, while the player union wants a split 53%-47% in their favor. Players need to stop complaining about getting more money and agree to the CBA that the owners are proposing. These players are making millions of dollars playing a sport that they supposedly love, and that motivation should be enough. Superstars such as LeBron James, Steve Nash and Chris Paul claim the owners are the enemies in the situation. They have stated that the owners are not allowing them to play, while these same athletes contin-
ue to make an unreasonable amount of money from the owners who are struggling to make a profit. If this trend continues, small market teams may not be able to stay in business. With the recent trend of superstars teaming up and joining the big market teams such as Boston, Miami and New York, the smaller market teams are hurting financially. In fact, 22 of 30 teams lost money last season. The owners blame a large portion of the loss on outlandish player salaries. These franchises need a new CBA so they can stay afloat. In order to address this issue, owners are proposing a “hard” salary cap. This means that teams absolutely will not be able to go over the salary cap. In turn, the large markets will not be able to obtain every elite player. In turn, the all-too-familiar “super team” will become obsolete. This should be something that the players welcome. Instead of taking the easy way out and teaming up with superstars, players will be forced to compete at the highest level, making for an ultra-competitive and interesting NBA. The NBA Players’ Association must stop fattening its already overflowing wallets and agree to this new CBA. Nothing will happen until it does so, and the NBA has turned into a league divided in two where the big markets reign and the small markets falter. This league is becoming a joke and a stop must be put to players who want nothing more than a bigger paycheck and an easy championship. n
the
visor ARCHBISHOP HOBAN HIGH SCHOOL Mailing Address: One Holy Cross Blvd. Akron, OH 44306 Online: www.hobanvisor.com E-mail: visor@hoban.org AWARDS •CSPA Gold Medalist •NSPA All-American •Quill & Scroll Int'l First Place •OSMA First Place
The Visor subscribes to the ASNE/MCT Campus news service and to APStylebook.com. Signed letters for publication are welcome. Mailbox is in the main office. Unsigned editorials represent the consensus of the editorial board. Signed opinion represents the views of the writer only.
Staff: Editor-in-chief Lindsay Huth Managing Editor Kristin Brennan Features Editor Abbey Dankoff News Editor Connor Lynch Sports Editors Jordan Cook and Nick Corbett Copy Editor Katie Caprez Photo Editor Allie Weiss Website Editor Max Moore Staff Reporters James Axson, Anna Baumhoer, Katie Cottrill, Allie Griffith, Micaela Gutlove, LaTroy Lewis, Daniel Lloyd, Kevin Ritenauer, Lexi Smith, Jack Srail, Katie Stepanek, Mackenna Swing Adviser Natalie Meyer
Editorial Correction: The Visor would like to clarify that the financial support for the new bleachers was provided by the generous donations received at Extravaganza. This was inaccurately reported in Issue 4.
opinion
three
Time wasted in moderation protects students’ sanity
W
asting time is human nature. Ever yone from the most diligent and organized go-getter to the most easygoing and lethargic couch potato is born with the innate desire to occasionally put aside his or her obligations in exchange for some quality time doing absolutely nothing. Unfortunately, despite the inborn nature of this craving for nothing, wasted time is often looked upon in a negative light. I believe the negative connotation associated with wasted time originated from the idea that ever y person should live every moment to the fullest on the basis that no one knows exactly how much time he or she will have in this life. Just a few weeks ago, while driving home from work on a Sunday afternoon, I came upon a motorcycle accident that had just occurred. The body of a twenty-yearold boy was sprawled on the street, uncovered. While stopped at a light, I witnessed two police officers cover the body—the body of a young boy who would never move or breathe or laugh again—with a white sheet. At that moment, I fully real-
ized the fragility of life. We only get one chance on this earth— one precious opportunity to take this crazy thing called life and somehow manage to get it right. I agree that living life to the fullest is important; however, I also believe that small doses of wasted time can be one aspect of a completely satisfying existence. I am aware that the world would shut down if everyone decided they were going to simply toss aside their responsibilities. Chaos would erupt if doctors suddenly decided mid-afternoon coffee breaks were just as important as rushing to emergency heart surgeries, and we would take a huge step backward in advancement if scientists spontaneously stopped working toward furthering their progressive research. This kind of negligence of duties and obligations would be impractical and irresponsible. What is perfectly reasonable, however, is putting off a homework assignment ever y once in a while in exchange for a nature walk or a Modern Family marathon with a friend, reading a good book for a couple of hours instead of working furiously on col-
lege or English essays and spending an entire Saturday driving around doing absolutely nothing with someone you love. Living each moment as if it is your last is great advice, but doing so means more than always keeping a full schedule of one activity or obligation after the next. It is crucial to not only live every day to the fullest but to cherish each minute of it. People need to laugh, play and love more, and always make room for “wasted” time doing what makes them happy. Whether someone gets more fulfillment from lively conversation over dinner, staying up late making homemade gelato or playing Call of Duty alone in his basement is beside the point. n
Parents obligated to bring their teens to Sunday Mass
A
s I sit in Mass on Sundays, I see the elderly, the parents of grade school friends, little kids who cannot manage to sit still and many others. I cannot help but notice, though, that there are not a lot of kids my age. In many houses, parents let their teenagers skip church simply because they do not want another argument. I find this extremely juvenile. These parents would never allow their child to break the commandments of theft or murder, yet they let their child continually break the commandment of keeping the Sabbath holy. In God’s book, not one of these commandments is greater than the other. I can safely say that I have not missed more than three Masses while in high school. Barbie and Ken, my parents, have made it clear that skipping church is not an option, and I have come to enjoy the time spent with my family in church. My parents, like many of the parents of the students at Hoban, made a promise at my baptism to raise me in line with Catholic teaching. For them, this includes supporting all of the commandments. Some make the argument that Confirmation waives the right of parents to insist that their teen go to Mass. However, these people are disregarding the fact that Confirmation is an affirmation of the
promises made at Baptism. If anything, Confirmation only adds to the reasons why a parent must remain adamant that their child attends Mass with them. It is a parental responsibility to take any reasonable measure to ensure the best for their child. When did asking for one hour of a teen’s time become unreasonable? For a Catholic, the best thing one can hope for is eternal life and it is a parental responsibility to aid their teenager in achieving it. The Catechism of the Catholic Church states that attending Mass “is a serious obligation for all Catholics. A Catholic who
[
For a Catholic, the best thing one can hope for is eternal life and it is a parental responsibility to aid their teenager in achieving it.
is able to attend Sunday Mass (i.e., who is not impeded by illness, lack of transportation, etc.), knows the seriousness of this requirement, and nonetheless freely chooses to miss Mass, thereby commits a mortal sin” (cf. Catechism, no. 2181). With this in mind, I understand that there are teens who cannot get to Mass
because their parents do not attend on a weekly basis. However, I am still left to question if these teens have made ever y effort possible to attend Mass. Many parishioners would not mind leaving five minutes early to pick up a teen who would like to be attending Mass even without a parent. If these measures are not taken, or if a teenager who drives fails to attend church, they are, by definition, committing a mortal sin. In all honesty, I realize that Mass is not the most exciting thing to do on a Saturday night or Sunday morning. There are many activities more eventful that a teenager could find to do instead of attending church. Nevertheless, I firmly believe that ever y Catholic teenager should be at a weekend Mass whether it is by their own choice, or by the will of their parents. n
news
four
Photo by Allie Weiss
dead man walking. by abbey dankoff
O
n Thursday, Nov. 3, Hoban became one of over two hundred high schools from across the nation to grace audiences with the life-giving message of the play Dead Man Walking since its creation five years ago. Told through the eyes of Sister Helen Prejean, Dead Man Walking is based on a true story and recounts one inmate’s journey to redemption alongside the spiritual guidance of Prejean. Prejean, who spoke to students from Hoban, Walsh Jesuit, St. Vincent-St. Mary and Our Lady of the Elms about the injustice of capital punishment at Hoban on Nov. 3, knew that a play detailing her experiences with the men on death row would create a new level of discussion about the death penalty, an issue which, as she says, should be examined by high school students. “The movie [Dead Man Walking] awoke the debate over this moral issue, and it led people to read the book,” Prejean said. “But I knew that, through a play, this debate could last forever as it is retold on the stage week after week.” The Dead Man Walking School Theatre Project is a ten-year project that allows high schools and colleges to perform the play with the expectation that the schools will incorporate discussion of the death penalty into at least
two areas of their curricula. “[Playwright] Tim Robbins wanted this play to be turned over to the youth of the country and get their feedback over the ten years,” Prejean said. “This marked the first time a playwright ever entrusted his work to students, let alone high school students. We thought this idea would be the perfect way to stir discourse and get people talking.” Hoban’s performance, which took place over the course of three nights from Nov. 3-5, starred seniors Maggie Brown as Prejean and David Scarpitti as death row inmate Matthew Poncelet, and is regarded by students, faculty and parents as one of Hoban’s most outstanding productions to date. Brown, whose remarkable portrayal of a nun struggling to share Jesus’ teaching of love for all people was passionate and graceful, skillfully represented both strength in the face of adversity and an unflinching courage within the walls of the Louisiana State Penitentiary. Scarpitti’s depiction of a hardened criminal fervently fighting for his life was nothing short of heartrending and realistic, allowing audience members to truly experience the thoughts and emotions of a six-year prison inmate. Further, supporting characters, such as Poncelet’s mother (junior Gina Frisone) and the father of one of the victims (freshman Kolin Morgenstern), added dimension to both sides of the
capital punishment cases
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TROY DAVIS Savannah, Georgia
Davis was convicted of and executed for the murder of police officer Mark MacPhail. He was sentenced to death in Aug. 1991, July 2007, Sept. 2008 and Oct. 2008 but received a stay of execution shortly before each was to take place. Seven of the nine trial witnesses eventually recanted their previous testimonies identifying Davis as the murderer and many believed that he was wrongly accused. On Sept. 21, 2011, after the Supreme Court denied yet another request for a last-minute stay, Davis was executed by lethal injection.
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LAWRENCE BREWER Jasper, Texas
Brewer was executed on Sept. 21, 2011 for the brutal murder of James Byrd Jr. “As far as any regrets, no, I have no regrets. No, I’d do it all over again, to tell you the truth,” Brewer said when asked if he felt any remorse for his crime. The victim’s son fought against the death penalty for Brewer for moral reasons, but Byrd’s mother felt that Brewer’s death did not compare to the gory death he inflicted on her son.
death penalty debate. Although Dead Man Walking takes place in Louisiana, the reality of the death penalty is certainly not far from home. Ohio, whose total number of persons executed in 2010 was second in the U.S. only behind Texas, has already executed eight prisoners in 2011. Prejean, however, is confident that one day the death penalty will no longer be a part of American society. “Since 2001, the number of executions in the U.S. has been cut in half. Even the places in the south with a long history of executions have started to reduce the number of people facing the death penalty,” Prejean said. “It’s already begun to change.” Prejean, who continues to fight to stop the death penalty through her novels and prison missions, acknowledges that the struggle to end capital punishment must be viewed as a priority to high school students and adults alike. “This whole thing is so much bigger than me. It’s about bringing people into the discussion, giving them the experience and enlightening them,” Prejean said. “It’s not about preaching at audiences; it’s about giving them the opportunity to learn to question the culture that often leads us to be unquestioning. What people really need to think is ‘Can killing really heal?’” n
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GAILE OWENS Nashville, Tennessee
Owens was convicted of hiring a man to kill her abusive husband and was on death row for 26 years before her sentence was changed because her crime had never brought about the death penalty in past occurences. Governor Phil Bredesen commuted her death sentence for life imprisonment but Owens was released from prison on Oct. 7, 2011 because of good behavior. “I’m looking forward to leading a quiet, private but productive life,” Owens said just before she was released. By Katie Stepanek. Source: cbsnews.com.
news
five
French students share discussion with English classes by mackenna swing
T
Photo by Allie Weiss
hroughout history, humans have always had a unique knack for bonding with strangers over shared interests. Whenever people come together to discuss topics, new ideas spark. A common way to unite strangers is through literary discussion. This school year, for the very first time during Hoban’s French exchange program, the French and Hoban students formed their own book club. During the hot summer months, English teacher Natalie Meyer’s Honors English 11 students dedicated their time to reading the book The Stranger by Albert Camus. Jodi Sulbaran Honors French IV joined Meyer’s students and read the novel in it’s original French form. 4469 miles away in Altkirch, the French students read the same novel. The French students spent two hours a week for six consecutive weeks reading the English translation of the novel. The Stranger is constructed from the viewpoint of a convict on death row. The novel is also an in-depth display of the harshness and severity of the death penalty. Many of the French students were greatly shocked by the austerity of the death penalty in America given that the punishment was abolished in France in 1981. One of the English teachers from France, Denise Arkoub, shared her astonishment from reading the novel. “It is just so different than what we are used to in France,” Arkoub said. “Each person should be treated with dignity and respect.” On November fourth, this scholarly rendezvous took place and established an intercultural relationship on an academic level with between Hoban students and French students alike. As the students clustered in scattered
Junior Megan Bennett shares a laugh with French exchange student Erine Betche during their classroom discussion of the novel The Stranger. groups throughout the classroom, discussion flowed freely. The students expressed their thoughts on the protagonist, the plot and most importantly the death penalty. The discussion between the students displayed the diversity present in the classroom setting. After their discussion of The Stranger, the French and Hoban students had the opportunity to discuss recreational literature. They shared favorite novels among each other and gave each other a host of recommendations. The students were able to come to an agreement that students both cultures thoroughly enjoy the Twilight and Harry Potter series. “It was cool to see the similarities between our two different cultures,” junior Megan Bennett
said.
Thanks to the teachers who participated and Dr. Mary Anne Beiting, the book discussion was a success. It was a life time opportunity for both the French and Hoban students. “It was a wonderful experience, we were all able to realize that although we live in different countries, we hold many of the same beliefs and values as societies,” junior Tony Burns said. Whether it be discussing popular books, or expressing opinions of capital punishment, this years French exchange program was a marker in Hoban’s history and set as a precedent for the years to follow. n
Preparation for new school food club in the oven by katie cottrill and micaela gutlove
O
n the afternoon of Oct. 25, the administration approved Brother Philip Smith’s proposal to start a food club and arrangements are now underway. The idea to start a food club came about one day when he and senior Kristin Brennan, who shares his interest in gourmet foods, were talking after class. With plans in the works, Smith explained what events will take place during the rest of the school year. “Each month, we will go to an international or ethnic restaurant. Each restaurant will be within a 30 mile radius of Hoban,” Smith said. “We want everyone to be able to eat for less than twenty dollars and the best time to go will be either Friday or Saturday nights. That way we can take our time and not worrying about rushing home to get things such as homework finished.”
One restaurant Smith hopes the group will dine at is LiWah Dim Sum, a Chinese buffet in Cleveland. “I’m looking forward to tasting food from a wide range of cultures and talking to and meeting other ‘foodies’ like myself,” senior Nate Fulmer said. Since the foundation of the club is now in place, Smith mentioned the possibility of students bringing in top-notch dishes to sell so that people can taste them. The money raised will go to students in the club who may not be able to afford the aforementioned dining experiences. Along with consuming cultural dishes at various eateries, students will be able to bring in food from their families’ heritage, participate in a cookie exchange at Christmastime and compete with each other. Smith will organize a contest to determine the most
talented cook in the club. “The cook-off will take place in the cafeteria kitchen and there will be judges who will decide first, second and third prize winners,” Smith said. “There will also be discussion and sharing of how the food was made.” This new club is different from the foods classes that foods and child development teacher Allison Jackson instructs. Smith wishes for this club to be based on the gastronomy, the tasting and enjoyment of food, rather than sciences such as nutritional value. Club members will also learn about and be aware of each others’ food allergies if there are any within the club. The first meeting was Nov. 9 at Azteca Mexican Restaurant on E. Market St. in Akron. Keep listening around the building for more delicious details. n
SINK SW centerspread
six
[OR]
by the numbers:
}
average calories consumed by students who buy lunch
of students buy lunch
61%
of students pack lunch
639
}
606
39%
by abbey dankoff, lindsay huth and kristin brennan
}
40%
of students’ lunches contained some type of fruit or vegetable
average calories consumed by students who pack lunch
FRENCH FRIES
CALORIES: 300 FAT(g): 20 try instead: MOZZARELLA STICKS
CHEESEBURGER
CALORIES: 420 FAT(g) : 23 try instead: CHICKEN SANDWICH
TURKEY WRAP
CALORIES: 470 FAT(g): 13 try instead: HAMBURGER
centerspread
WIM (cafeteria style)
seven
Lunch, for most people, is a time of great choice. Most Hoban students, at one point or another, have wandered down the lunch line in Foley Commons without knowing exactly which foods they were going to choose from the numberous selections available. With a menu that changes daily, the AVI Fresh lunch service has provided students with an enormous array of lunch choices. To help avoid the lengthy food selection process, we have crafted this handy chart that details the calorie and fat counts of some of the most sought-after lunch choices. Some sank under the burden of hefty calorie counts, while others exemplified more beneficial nutritional choices.
BROCCOLI CHEDDAR SOUP CALORIES: 180 FAT(g): 11 try instead: ITALIAN WEDDING SOUP
MUSHIE COOKIE CALORIES: approx. 400 FAT(g): 11 try instead: OREO PARFAIT
CALORIES: 430 FAT(g): 14 try instead: GRILLED CHEESE
STROMBOLI
CALORIES: 450 FAT(g): 17 try instead: PEPPERONI PIZZA
Based on a survey of 82 students. Nutrition information from avifresh.com and livestrong.com.
BOSCO STICKS (2)
features
eight
S C ORING YOUR FUTUR E Controversy about standardized tests runs rampant by katie caprez and lexi smith
L
ast school year, more than two million students took the Scholastic Assessment Test (SAT). That’s two million students, both in the U.S. and internationally, who sit through the intensive, nearly four hour test in hopes of attaining college acceptance. This massive figure poses an important question: are standardized tests like the SAT the best way to measure a student’s intelligence? Do they truly tell, as the College Board claims of its SAT, “What students have learned in school and their ability to succeed in college-level courses”? Or, as some argue, do these tests actually hinder intelligent students’ chances of being accepted into the college of their choice? Paula Purves, a Hudson-based standardized test tutor of over 35 years, feels that standardized testing allows colleges to “normalize” applicants’ prowess. Ideally, “the standardized test would ‘even out’ the students by having them compete on the same playing field,” Purves said. However, some students are more readily prepared than others because of intensive work done to better equip themselves for the test. Senior Leslie Mead, a pupil of Purves’, says her ACT score was the result of intensive studying, not only of the concepts tested by the exam, but of the test format. “It took a lot of work for me to get what I got because of the timing,” Mead said. The issue of whether or not tests like the SAT and ACT fairly measure students’ academic abilities might not be such a hot-but-
ton topic if the scores did not carry so much weight in the college admissions process. “Many larger colleges and universities use the scores simply as a means of separating ‘acceptable’ from ‘not acceptable’ students,” Purves said. At Yale University, rated the third best college in the United States by U.S. News and World Report, the middle fifty percent of enrolled freshmen last year had an average SAT combined score of approximately 2250 and an ACT score between 32 and 35 (a perfect score on the SAT is a 2400 and a perfect ACT is a 36). Comparatively, Fordham University, ranked 53rd, averaged an SAT score between 1830-2050 and an ACT between 27-31 for accepted freshmen.The unranked University of Akron’s “traditional freshman” class this year scored an average of 1020 on the SAT and a 21.1 on the ACT (figures for Akron’s Honors College freshman class were 1237 and 27.8, respectively). One fact that can prove daunting to college-bound high school students is that some institutions (Yale University included) require all of an applicant’s SAT scores be reported to them. This may put students like Mead, whose scores increased “every single time [she] took [a standardized test]”, at a disadvantage. Organizations like FairTest (The National Center for Fair and Open Testing) say that the claims that standardized tests give all students an equal opportunity to gain admission to college and that the SAT is needed to coun-
teract grade inflation are false, calling the SAT in particular “inaccurate…in forecasting bachelor’s degree attainment.” FairTest offers a list of colleges which do not require applicants to submit standardized test scores for admission. The world of standardized testing is not limited to the university level. Peyton Swing, an eighth grader at Holy Family School in Stow, is one of more than 200 students who has taken the Hoban Placement Test this year. Swing commented on the felicity of the testing process, “I was expecting it to be challenging, but I wasn’t too worried before.” He also believes that Holy Family prepared him well for the admission test. Some students, however, do not find the test as easy and thus earn lower scores on their placement tests. The ramifications for a low placement test score range from missed opportunities for scholarships to placement in a low-level English or math course. Some students who do not score particularly well on the placement tests go on to achieve impressive high school grade point averages while some who scored incredibly well on the tests are not the top academic achievers. Conflicting opinions about the place of standardized test scores in academic admissions policies may never truly dissipate. However, 21st century students who hope to gain acceptance at any selective academic institution will most likely have to encounter the reality that taking a standardized test, good or bad, is a part of the college application process. n
1. What was the average SAT score in the state of Ohio in 2010 (out of 2400)? A
1125
B
1456
C
2140
1608
E
1780
E
14.6
2. What was the average ACT score in the state of Ohio in 2010 (out of 36)? A
31.6
B
21.8
C
28.2
D
60% 1,000 51%
16.8
of college admissions officials placed “considerable importance” on test scores in 2006
of 2.25 million SATs taken each year, approximately
of college admissions officials placed “considerable importance” on grades in 2006
are withdrawn for copying.
Statistics from National Association for College Admission Counseling Testing Commission Report, 2008. Graphic by Abbey Dankoff.
features
nine
Cleaning it up with Hoban custodians Learn about the janitors’ likes, dislikes and talents by katie stepanek and anna baumhoer
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ike the stage crew that becomes the backbone of a theater production, our janitors work behind the scenes to ensure that Hoban High School runs smoothly. From maintenance and cleaning to after school work-study, the product of their labors and hard work can be seen throughout the school.
by daniel lloyd
R
Coleen Gaydash How long are you at Hoban each day? Eight hours What does your job consist of? Work crew and detentions. Do you have any interesting talents? I play the cello and I love animals…does that count? How do you spend your time when you’re not at Hoban? Catching up on sleep and relaxing…oh and Grey’s Anatomy marathons. How long have you been working at Hoban? Three years. What do students do that bother you the most? When students just agree and nod their heads but have no idea what you’re saying...actually, this is going in the paper? They are all perfect! Cats or Dogs? I love animals...we have 7 or 8 pets: cats, dogs, ferrets and rabbits. What is your favorite food? The basketball team meals...they are all homemade and so good. What is the best part of your job? The Hoban environment.
Phil White
Photos by Allie Weiss
How long are you at Hoban each day? Eight or more hours, usually more. What does your job consist of? Anything and everything. Cleaning, maintenance, painting, whatever needs to be done. Do you have any interesting talents? Bowling -- I bowled a 300 once. I like Frisbee golf, too. How do you spend your time when you are not at Hoban? Sleeping. How long have you been at Hoban? I graduated with the class of ‘99 and have been working full time ever since, so 16 years. What do students do that bother you the most? Not thinking and not listening. Cats or Dogs? Both. I have a cat named Pearl and I dog-sit a lot. I have a dog but I don’t really have a dog. What is your favorite food? EVERYTHING What is the best part of your job? Working with the people around here.
Students found weekly lunchtime talent show ight about now, most students have lost their first quarter enthusiasm for school and have fallen into the long monotonous days which precede winter. It is times like these when all it takes is one individual or a group of students to step up and put some pizazz back into the day. For those in fourth period lunch, a table headed by junior Osahar Latson founded a weekly talent show, leaving students something to look forward to other than the weekend. It all started one day when their table thought that a little something was missing. “We were bored at lunch and I was dared to get up and step,” Latson said. For those that have had the chance to witness this act, it is no question why it soon became a Thursday ritual for the first lunch of the day. “It was some what scary at first, but then it was really cool,” Latson added. The talent fever soon spread throughout the entire cafeteria with performances varying from solo singers to gymnastic stunts. “I always look forward to lunch on Thursday because I never know what to expect,” junior Brian Mcmahon said. Most popular so far was the musical performance of senior Brock Barber and sophomore Peter Kratcoski. These two entertained with the rendition of Hey Soul Sister which quickly turned into the entirety of Foley Commons singing and clapping together as one. “Its always a blast playing to Brock’s voice and having an audience just made it so much better,” Kratcoski said. To many students, Talented Thursdays are a great way for students to express themselves to fellow colleagues and show off a personality people do not know about. “Everyone is encouraged to join in. We just want to see what unique and hidden talents our students here have,” Latson said when asked the limits of the show. “We want everyone to perform!” Many students have found that new traditions like these are exactly what students need to allow them to take a break from school for a short time and release some pent up energy. Talented Thursdays is a new tradition which truly shows off the uniqueness of the Hoban community. n
sports
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VOICES IN THE CROWD
If you played a third sport, what would it be?
JOEL PARADISE ‘13 // cross country and lacrosse I think a girls lacrosse team would be fun because Hoban doesn’t have one. It would be fun and different. KATIE EASTON, ‘14 // soccer and basketball
Gymnastics — it looks fun.
MADELINE CORRIGALL ‘13 // volleyball and basketball If I played a third sport, it would be curling because it requires the complete and utter skill of sweeping, teamwork and, most importantly, accuracy. JIMMY ZAZO, ‘12 // football and lacrosse Compiled by LaTroy Lewis
Kirsten Stepanek shines on the soccer field, basketball court and track.
Photos courtesy of Kirsten Stepanek
I would bowl — no actually, I wouldn’t. I probably wouldn’t play a third sport, to be honest.
Satisfaction of success drives three-season athletes’ dedication by connor lynch
A
fter a grueling day of school, replete with honors classes, assigned homework and afternoon fatigue, there is a certain brand of student-athlete whose day is never over. These three-sport athletes dedicate their lives to multiple teams. They rely on perfection in efficiency and on average, get less than six hours of sleep a night. First and foremost, three-sport athletes must elevate their dedication to that of an obsession. “When I get home I begin my homework right away. If I have, say, soccer practice at 5 p.m., I would start my homework in the library or train with the cross country team a little extra,” sophomore soccer, basketball and track athlete Kirsten Stepanek said. Runners are not the only athletes who face a challenge of fulfilling the myriad of responsibilities they assume at Hoban. In many cases, three-sport athletes also assume leadership roles in academic and political arenas in the school. Marianne Dannemiller, a vice president of the sophomore class as well as a member of the girls volleyball, basketball and softball teams, fights the urge to procrastinate during her multi-sport seasons. “I can’t start my homework until after 9 p.m.,” Dannemiller said. “Then, I’m usually up until 1 a.m. getting everything done.” Another trait that defines the versatile athlete scholars is a well-adjusted will to sacrifice. Whether this be for the betterment of personal skills, improvement for the team or fulfillment in outside lives, each athlete has a personalized, intuitive sense of what is most
significant to them. When the athletes fuse their priorities with a need for sacrifice, each determines a unique forfeiture. “Well, I don’t have a social life,” senior golf, basketball and lacrosse player Jimmy Bott said. Many may wonder why the athletes subject themselves to such a grueling regimen over the course of the entire school year as well as the summer. After all, there is no offseason. On a typical day, the three-sport athlete wakes up in time to attend school, then heads straight to practice. Often times, commitments to other sports require additional training or club practices after a Hoban session. Then they head home to shower, eat and work on homework. In many cases this means that they must stay up deep into the night, fulfilling responsibilities. What makes this worth it? Unanimously, the athletes all cited the same cause for their tenacity: achievement. “Success, obviously,” Bott said. “I always feel a sense of accomplishment when I improve by lowering times, building footskills in soccer or building ball-handling skills in basketball,” Stepanek explained. With demands from coaches always increasing, the tri-sport athlete is always dedicated to each team and each sport. This seems to be a challenge that each threesport Knight readily embraces. Indeed, Dannemiller attests that her student-athlete participation saves her sanity. “I really like sports, a lot. If I didn’t play three, I don’t know. I’d probably go crazy,” Dannemiller said. n
sports
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Graduates face challenges of collegiate athletics by allie griffith
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emale athletes are often overshadowed by the popularity and success of men’s athletics in our society today. There is, however, a growing support of women’s athletics whether it is on the court or on the field. Hoban has had many extremely talented female athletes who have continued their careers at the collegiate level on sports scholarships. Emily Orsini, Julianna Libertin, Brittany Brown and Krissy Sokol each have had success on their college teams. Emily Orsini, who attends Lourdes University in Toledo, Ohio, has just began her 2011-2012 basketball season. She is a part of Lourdes’ first women’s basketball team and notes that the support has been phenomenal. However, the difference between playing a high school sport and a college sport can be challenging. “Compared to high school, it is a lot more disciplined and demanding,” Orsini said. “I played three sports in high school, so it was weird to focus on one sport.” Orsini trains for four hours a day, six days a week and usually has two or three games a week. In her first game against
Concordia University, Orsini scored 21 points and had five three-pointers. She continues her season Nov. 15 versus Trine University Angola. Soccer stud Jules Libertin led Hoban to a state runner-up title and had four phenomenal years on varsity. She continued her soccer career as a Division I player at Dayton University. Her freshman year she was ranked 14th in the conference, as well as being an all-scholar athlete maintaining a 3.7 GPA. This year, Libertin has scored eight goals and has had seven assists. She leads the team in game-winning goals, has recently been named Player of the Week in her conference and is ranked as one of the top five players in the conference. “I love the girls, the intensity, work ethic and how my team pushes me each day to get better,” Libertin said. Brittany Brown attends Central State University where she runs for the women’s track and field team. Her freshman year she qualified for USA Nationals where she placed in the top 30 in the countr y for the 400-meter dash. She received the MVP title for the indoor and outdoor track seasons as well. Brown was also chosen this past year to attend the United States Olympic Train-
ing Center, where she was able to receive training tips from past Olympic athletes and network with high position coaches. “I can say my experience has been challenging but rewarding,” Brown said. “The competition has become more intense, but with Christ and the heart of a Knight I can do all things!” Krissy Sokol attends Walsh University where she plays volleyball and notes that she cannot see herself anywhere else. “Playing volleyball at Walsh has been the best experience of my life,” Sokol said. “My team is my family while I’m at school and they are always there for me when I need them.” Sokol’s team’s current record for the 2011 season is 23-6. At the team’s first tournament at Madonna University, Sokol made the all-tournament team as an outstanding outside hitter. Her team has a great chance to win the Ohio Independence League on Nov. 12th if it continues to perform. These talented, hardworking female athletes have each had positive experiences on their teams and they continue the winning tradition of Hoban at the collegiate level. n
The Hoban Pop Culture Grid Athletes Deallen Jackson
Junior, Boys Basketball
Janaya Feaster
Senior, Girls Basketball
Nike or Adidas?
Favorite Spongebob episode
Most overrated rapper
Favorite song you are embarrsed to listen to
Fad that should never come back
Who would you like to take to dinner?
Nike
The pizza delivery episode
Lil Wayne
Any Justin Bieber song
Heelys
Whoopi Goldberg
Nike
Bubble Bowl episode
“It Ends Tonight” by the All-American Rejects
Mullets
Mr. Hottinger
Tyler the Creator
Nike
Colored Krabby patty episode
Wiz Khalifa
“Super Bass” by Nicki Minaj
Silly Bandz
LeBron James
Carla Lemus
Nike
Ripped pants episode
T.I.
Any Disney song
Men’s short shorts
Any Abercrombie model
Adidas
Employee training video episode
Senior, Bowling
Junior, Dance Team
Jake Hochsch wender
Sophomore, Swimming
Lil Wayne
“Purple Rain” by Prince
70s afro
George Clooney
Compiled by Max Moore
Nick Boshara
twelve
sports
Fit for the classroom
Teachers tell tales of past athletic careers by nick corbett
JENNIFER SPONTARELLI [gymnastics]
Math teacher Jennifer Spontarelli competed in gymnastics in almost all events including floor events, uneven parallel bars, beam and vault. Her gymnastics career started at the age of 13, and she quickly learned the newly aquired sport. She competed for North Olmsted High School and later switched to a club team for her senior year. She took first place in the Lake Erie Championship at Kent State University , as well as first place for the floor exercise at the state competition. “I think the most important thing that gymnastics taught me was that you can do what you believe you can do,” Spontarelli said. “If you don't think that you can do something, you won't. For example, if I thought ‘Don't fall off the beam,’ I would fall off the beam because that is what I was thinking. So if I turned it around and thought, ‘Stay on the beam,’ I would!” She feels her sports career prepared her well to succeed in other areas. “Your mental attitude completely determines the outcome. I use this philosophy every day in my job,” Spontarelli said. “When a student says, ‘I can't do math,’ I have to help them turn their attitude around so that they can prove to themselves that they can at least try.”
BERNARD PIETRANGELO [soccer]
Many people know Bernard Pietrangelo as a teacher, coach or that guy who talks with an accent in the hallway. Most do not know that he played soccer professionally earlier in his life. He began playing at Mitchell Junior College where he was named an All-American. He transferred to The University of Akron in 1969 where he was elected to play in the MVP Division 1 all-star game. He was drafted into the Mexico Premier League and played for Atlanta F.C. for five seasons. “All of my college education was paid for which was nice,” Pietrangelo said. During his professional years, Benny also had the luxury of traveling around the Europe and most of the countries in North America, South America and Central America. Throughout those years, he also had the opportunity to meet several famous soccer stars including Pele, Carlos Valderrama and Diego Maradona. Pietrangelo later then moved on to coach Hoban’s boys and girls soccer teams through several great seasons. Now Benny “The Jet” Pietrangelo has the great opportunity to be the color commentator of the the Columbus Crew’s Spanish radio La Mega 103.1 and the Columbus television station T.V. Azteca [MLS]. “It is a wonderful experience that I get paid to share my knowledge of soccer to Crew fans all over,” Pietrangelo said.
PAUL DONATELLI As math teacher Paul Donatelli blows past 17 and 18 year old high schoolers in math problems, it only reminds him of his past track career blowing past kids by sprinting on the track at our very own Hoban High School. In 1992, Hoban took first place in the state championship winning in several events. His efforts of lifting, running,practicing technique, watching video and learning to critique his other teammates paid off. After Hoban, Donatelli moved on to run for the University of Akron. In his career at Akron he placed third in the Mid-American Conference (MAC) in the 400m twice indoors and twice outdoors. “I learned to push myself to limits well beyond what most other people will,” Donatelli said. The track and education at Akron paid off in the long run as he created bonds with the other runners. Donatelli competed in the 200m, 400m, 4x100m and 4x400m. “My sprint teammates and I had a reunion this past summer and people flew in from all over the country just to get to spend time with one another again,” Donatelli said. Years later, the relationships Donatelli formed in track still stand strong. n
Photos courtesy of Spontarelli, Pietrangelo and Donatelli
[track and field]