The Searchlight May 2024

College students protest in support of Palestine Nearly 400 American colleges have participated in student protests

By Caroline Donnelly Staff Writer

This spring, Pro-Palestinian college protests have overtaken campuses across the United States in response to institutional investments in Israeli entities. Following protests at Columbia University, students at schools such as Harvard University, Northeastern University, Emerson College, University of California Los Angeles, MIT and Princeton University have demanded that their schools cut ties or divest from Israeli industries.

The first protest took place at Columbia University on April 17 with over 50 tents in part of the student-led “Gaza Solidarity Encampment.” Since then, nearly 400 schools across America have caught on with active Pro-Palestinian demonstration.

With the war between Israel and Hamas still ongoing, college students have decided to show their Palestinian support by opposing these relations between American schools and Israel. The majority of the participating schools are state-funded schools and/or liberal arts non-religious

based education systems that are politically involved in foreign affairs. Some school authorities are conflicted about suppressing students’ freedom of speech and civil disobedience, which students insist must be upheld in the midst of generally peaceful protests.

Police force and violence as a means of resistance has been kept to a minimum aside from the University of Arizona and UCLA, where police fired rubber bullets and pepper balls to seize control of encampment sights. At Columbia University, the New York Police Department has been asked to maintain its pres-

WHS hosts

ence on campus without acting with force to uphold authoritative figures. Students have additionally been faced with suspension threats that could alter the course of their graduation and include academic consequences.

President Biden recently responded to the influx of protests, unhappy with their disruption of educational facilities. Interviews about his stance on the encampments exposed his opposition to the cause as he openly denounced the disruption caused by the protests.

“There is a right to protest, but not a right to cause chaos. De-

stroying property is not a peaceful protest. It’s against the law. Vandalism, trespassing, breaking windows, shutting down campuses, forcing the cancelling of classes and graduations -none of this is a peaceful protest,” Biden said in a recent White House remark.

In the midst of graduation season, protests have infiltrated ceremonies and interrupted processions. In one instance at Duke University, a number of graduates left their seats to protest Jerry Seinfeld, an openly pro-Israel speaker and comedian during the ceremony on May 12. Disruption at University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill also interfered with graduation ceremonies as protestors were seen splattering red paint on the steps of a building just hours before graduation while leading chants as students posed for graduation photos in caps and gowns.

Currently, many student protestors have been barred from participating in their graduation ceremonies, sparking even more response amongst the student bodies. However, many colleges are still reluctant to meet the demands of the protestors.

22nd annual Film Festival Film program organizes red carpet alongside award show

By Ciara Foley & Erin Malinn Editor-in-Chief & Opinion Editor

On May 9 and May 16, Walpole High hosted the 22nd annual Film Festival, with a red carpet and award show at the second showing. Due to stormy weather, the annual red carpet took place inside, the second time in Film Festival history to do so. 11 crews walked the carpet in coordinated outfits, celebrating their achievements in front of paparazzi and a crowd in the gymnasium. As usual, Walpole High chemistry teacher Dan Mullaney hosted the ceremony and presented films. Throughout the award show, many groups were nominated and a few members were able to claim personal awards, even presenting speeches. Junior Owen Abril’s film “Baking Bad” went home with the

majority of the awards, winning the renowned award of Best Film, alongside others such as Best Screenplay. Additionally, “Black Jack” won Best Cinematography, and “Headline” won Best Art Direction.

This year’s Film Festival was a mark for multiple firsts as well. For example, Film Festival veteran Charlie Fitzmaurice, alongside a crew of over 20 individuals, produced the program’s first animated film. “Trouble on the Tracks” reflected stop animation to that of Walt Disney’s classic film introduction, mirroring Mickey Mouse’s character. The short film used over 600 frames of handmade drawings along with traditional techniques to create their sound effects, and Fitzmaurice won the Best Editing award for his efforts.

Additionally, Mr. Connor,

principal at Bird Middle School and former assistant principal of Walpole High School, is an individual that has acted in numerous films over the years, first debuting in 2005. Now, Mr. Connor has announced his retirement as a principal, making this Film

Festival his last. Starring in “Bird Turd,” written by senior Erin Malinn, Mr. Connor was able to lead alongside other faculty favorites such as Mr. Clifford, Ms. Morrell and Mr. O’Leary. Mr. Connor won the Best Faculty Member award for his performance in the film.

Student protestors have been organizing demonstrations at colleges across the country in response to the war between Israel and Palestine.

Photo/ Ciara Foley

Graphic/The Searchlight

“Bird Turd” star Ed Connor walked the red carpet in costume.

U.S. Senate passes bill to ban TikTok

What is the ban and what does it mean for Americans?

By Maeve O’Connor Staff Editor

Within the age of the 21st century and a global increase in online media intake, the federal privacy protections are often a hot topic for discussion. There are rising questions on the widely known social media platform, TikTok, and the app’s collection of all 170 million United States users’ data.

On March 13, the U.S. House of Representatives casted a vote to pass the Protecting Americans from Foreign Adversary Controlled Applications Act—a bill which would result in a banning of TikTok. At the moment, the app’s future is still in the hands of the U.S., but their decision has created uncertainty for many. The act would give TikTok’s parent company, ByteDance, a world-wide platform for entertainment and content, the options between selling the company to an acceptable buyer, or a more extreme result: a nationwide ban.

The issues America actively faces with TikTok is often correlated with their citizens personal information.These details may include users’ location, their likes and dislikes and even traces of how much and or little of the platform they’re consuming. The main concern for ByteDance is

the fact that the Chinese government has laws around companies sharing data, and while those same rules vary over in the states, the stress for Americans comes when wondering if their personal data is being revealed to surveillance outside their own country.

U.S. President Joe Biden has decided to take part in the data being sold off dilemma, advocating for bills that would prevent private data from flowing into the hands of the Chinese government. There have been lots of concerns throughout this process, now leaving a big question for many: should the worldwide app be banned in the U.S. entirely? If the court successfully follows through with their law, it would prevent TikTok from being further downloaded in app stores like Apple or Google until ByteDance sells the platform out of the hands of China’s government. Following that, a long legal process will be launched into effect for wondering if the bill violates the Constitution’s First Amendment.

Proponents of the app argue that eliminating a platform as big as TikTok would also get rid of many Americans’ voices and opportunities for people to feel heard. As the app has become a space for advertising to very large audiences, something as simple as banning that space of promotion

could ruin the pathway companies have created with their marketing strategies. The idea is that for many, TikTok is more than dancing videos but rather a platform to express themselves and creativity, grow businesses and even create a profit that is enough to live in the U.S. Though, the massive step from concerns about data and shutting down an entire app is very vast.

As previously stated, the act that the U.S. Legislative branch is trying to heavily pursue is also one with lots of debate. The motive behind the act is to shield the citizens who actively use TikTok

to protect their privacy and data, while at the same time trying not to limit people’s free speech on the app itself. Finding that spot to ensure everyone is satisfied will not be an easy process, so it may take more time than people anticipate. Through the Protecting Americans from Foreign Adversary Controlled Applications Act, the U.S. explores the cruciality of the safety regarding their 170 million users, and additionally uplifts questions such as, is ByteDance taking consumers’ information? Having disputes all across the nation have lawmaking facing

Muffin House Cafe opens new location in Walpole Many residents celebrate new business by going to its grand opening

By Hailey Brooks and Madilyn Cataloni Staff Writers

On May 2, 2024, Muffin House Cafe, with locations in Hopkinton, Medway, Mendon, Natick and Westwood decided to expand and open another location in the center of Walpole. Many citizens of Walpole and surrounding towns came together on the opening day to celebrate this momentous occasion for the chain.

“The energy was great, everyone was just so excited, the community was excited, really great atmosphere for sure”, said Kealani Peters, the manager of the Muffin House Cafe.

At the Muffin House Cafe

grand opening, there was a line out the door with customers of all ages. Customers in the line were all very excited to be getting a new edition to the center of Walpole, which in the past has had a limited number of businesses to pique the communities interest.

“Muffin House cafe is a great option and wonderful addition to the Walpole community and the outdoor seating is a lovely addition”, Nicole Cataloni, Muffin House Cafe customer and attendee of the grand opening, said.

Outdoor seating is a key component to a flourishing business in the warmer months. Many people look forward to it and it is a great way to start the morning

by grabbing breakfast and basking in the warm air. With the summer coming up and weather becoming nicer, the ability to sit outside and enjoy your food is one cherished.

The Muffin House Cafe offers a variety of seating indoors as well, including booths, tables with mov -

able chairs and a bar with stools.

Overall, the Muffin House Cafe offers a variety of choices for everyone as well as a great centralized location. With their friendly staff and brand new interior anyone would feel welcomed inside of the Muffin

Muffin House Cafe’s new location in Walpole center.

TikTok’s potential ban could affects up to 170 million of their U.S. users.

Photo/ MassLive

House Cafe.

Photo/ CNN News

Senior trips: Are they a need for seniors or a want? Breaking the stigma of the new “norm” for senior trips

By Carly Schlittler Staff Writer

The near end of senior year creates bubbling excitement for the soon-to-be graduates as they end their high school careers. The last couple weeks of school contain many engaging events for the seniors, including prom, senior breakfast and graduation preparation. However, there is one certain event that lingers in every seniors mind: planning senior trips. Most teenagers’ behavior is driven by social approval, and now people are starting to feel like they have to plan a senior trip to “fit in”. The real question that should be asked is “Do I really need to go on one?”

A senior trip is traditionally a week-long getaway with one’s friends to celebrate leaving high school and entering a new chapter of one’s life. The usual spots seniors pick are tropical and touristy: Aruba, Miami, Cancun or LA. However, it is evident there is a growing stigma around individuals making a senior trip becoming a necessity. In the last few months of school, it seems as

if seniors in my class are only talking about trips, and it can make people wonder if they should fit the new role of a graduating senior and go on one too. Even though they could be fun to go on, it is not the absolute most important thing to do before graduating. People should not feel pressured to go on a vacation just because everyone else is going on one.

From my freshman to junior year, the months of May and June on my instagram were filled with beach photos from seniors going on their trips. I always expressed my jealousy of them and could not wait to plan my own trip. Now that I am a senior, I have a senior trip planned but it is not all that the instagram photos cover. Planning for a senior trip blurs the line between a need and a want, and people should not be forced to go on one just because “everyone is”.

“I think it is amazing if someone is able to pull off the planning that goes into a senior trip, but it is not the end of the world if it does not happen”, senior Kaitlyn Holland, who is going on a senior trip later this summer, said.

The plane tickets, hotels, food and clothes for the vacationquickly add up. Social media platforms such as Instagram never reveal the realities of paying a trip all on your own. Manyalways thinkthat for a trip like this, it would be easy: you just get on a plane and everything will work out perfectly. However, trips are almost never like that. A part-time job that students usually work usually barely covers the total cost of a senior trip, and it really makes people wonder if it is really worth it.

“I am very grateful and lucky that I am able to go on a trip with my friends, but I do not think that this vacation defines my senior year”, Holland said. “I would be happy no

matter if I went on a trip or not”.

Senior trips are not everything. As previously mentioned, they are not the end all be all for the graduating class. The talk around these vacations has increased over the years and senior trips are slowly starting to become a new norm. However, no one should feel pressure to plan one. Yes, they can be fun and exciting, but no one should feel like their senior year was a bust just because they could not go on one. No matter what, the graduating class is heading into their adult life, and that is way more important than a vacation. A senior trip does not define one’s high school years.

Seniors should consider the cost of student loans

Incoming college students are incurring too much debt

By Erin Malinn Opinion Editor

With college decision day approaching on June 1, the discussion of finances arises. It is well known that student loan debt follows many adults into their lives and can, in some cases, be crippling. This year, however, many graduating seniors are seen not only ignoring the true impact of this debt, but embracing it. Adolescents can often feel that certain aspects of their life will define them. What college one chooses to go to sometimes feels like having your life laid out for you. What college you go to will determine your job options, then your income, your success and the rest to come. Many feel they should avoid applying or committing to schools with high acceptance rates as they feel it is “too easy,” or worse, that others will think they could not get into more selective schools; therefore, prestigious schools are the way to go. However, students do not seem to be grasping the true significance of debt and how impactful it is on one’s life. According to the Federal Reserve, roughly 43.5 million Americans live with student loan debt at the end of 2022, averaging $37,787 per person. The total student debt in the United States stood at $1.77 trillion as

of 2023, with the average student loan debt in Massachusetts being $33,457. According to the Federal Student Aid, the average amount owed by the age group of 24 or younger is $103.2 billion.

Along with cost and tuition, quality of education is equally as important when finalizing college decisions. Yes, prestigious colleges obviously offer high quality education, there are many other schools that offer similar programs. It is important to research the major or program of your choice and discover what the program at certain schools look like, opportunities they offer and years of school they will take. Many colleges offer similar programs, meaning you can a similar education from a more affordable school. Gaining experience in your career field is as important as your grades. The opportunities your school can provide for you and your career is equally as important as the education they can provide. Additionally, a more extensive resume will allow for higher paying jobs

Though student loan debt is a jarring thought and often seems unavoidable, there are ways to work through it. Working through college has more benefits than just money. According to MoneyCrashers, college students who work an average of 10-20 hours a week tend to have better grades,

time management skills, and are more likely to graduate. Applying for student aid is the most common option. FAFSA, the Free Application for Federal Aid, is a free application that determines how eligible students are for financial aid. Research grants and scholarships are another money reliever. Students can be offered these based on grades, standardized tests scores, and other criteria. It is important to remem-

ber that one’s intelligence and self-worth is not determined by grades or which school you attend. There is no shame in attending a school with a higher acceptance rate, as long as it offers what will benefit you best in the future. We live in a time where debt is on the rise and money can be hard to find. College lasts four to eight years of your life, depending on what you stufy. Student loan debt can last a lifetime.

Graphic/Erin Malinn

Image/Terrier Times

Freshman year presents new shifts in students’ lives High school shapes students into who they will become

By Caitlin McCabe and Vanshi Shroff Staff Writers

Freshman year can drastically change a person. People embrace new styles, friends, perceptions of school and so much more. At the beginning of the year, many have the mindset that it will be just the same as middle school, but little do they know that it is much different in a variety of aspects. High school provides teens with new perspectives and many more opportunities. In middle school teachers are focused on preparing you for high school, yet high school is preparing you for the majority of your life ahead. One large part of the change from the beginning of freshman year and the end is the view on school itself. At the start, as mentioned, many people can think about high school as they thought about middle school. In middle school, grades mainly just prepare you for the course selection in high school; however, not only freshman year but all 4 years count towards your GPA. Every step of high school is just preparing for the life that will come around you. It starts to become engraved in your

mind that each and every grade matters and each and every grade counts toward your GPA. The difficulty of the classes significantly increases and because of this grades tend to drop. Various new teaching techniques are introduced so it takes a while for a person to get used to it.

Furthermore, figuring out what level courses you belong in is a strenuous task. You could think you belong in all honors or all cp2 but they could be too hard or too easy. Deciding where you fit in classes is a tough thing to do but afterwards you will be thankful you went through it and are not in the wrong spot.

Additionally, the fresh men coming into high school are just becoming teenagers. Most teens don’t think about their life ahead but going into freshman year, you start to wonder and consider what you want to do. Your good grades from middle school can change into ones that do not meet high standards. The change can affect many men tally and physically. Homework almost doubles based on how many honors classes you take and it makes you not want to do the things that you normally enjoy doing. Many of the days in high school can look the same: wake

up, school, sports (if you play), homework, repeat. Changing the way you perceive your future. Friends and a person’s social life can also change significantly. Certain people will enter and exit your life even if you think otherwise. Yet, you can find the people that you can trust and be yourself with. However, you may also find people that you don’t agree with, or don’t match well with, which is a natural part of life. You start to learn how real

becomes difficult with different schedules, class levels and sports. Much of the time that used to go into hanging out with friends now goes into doing things that are preparing for school. High school shapes a person into who they will be for the rest of their lives, starting with the foundation of freshman year. Although all the change can be scary, it is bound to happen at a variety of stages of life. You meet new friends, you lose friends,

Trump recieved a fair and succesful jury

Jurors have taken initiative to carry out their duties fairly

By Jess Cruz Marketing Manager

Former President Trump is now the first American president to face trial, facing thirty-four felony charges in connection to falsifying financial documents to hide the 2016 “hush money” payout to entertainer and actress Stormy Daniels. As arguments began the first week of May, the twelve jurors were present for what officials predict will be a six to eight week trial. Twelve jurors were sworn under oath to serve in Trump’s Manhattan trial, but concerns have surrounded for weeks on how the Jury could possibly maintain an unbiased view on the former president who is on a high profile trial.

“I cannot get a fair trial in New York,” Trump has argued. Let's address the undeniable liberal leanings of Manhattan, where CNN reports that Biden garnered 87% of the 2020 vote– concerns over bias are not a mistrial tactic. Trump has described himself as a nationalist, yet has attempted to dismiss the integrity of the unique American jury selection process based solely on political demographics.

The identities of jurors have not been revealed, and

pictures are not allowed while court is in session. The jurors are stated to have been chosen to represent a range of backgrounds. From sales to healthcare, these individuals bring perspectives to the deliberation table.

This is the information currently available about the jurors according to The New York Times. Juror one gets his news through FOX News and The New York Times. Juror two shared that he has followed a trial key witness, Michael Cohen, on social media at one point. Juror three shared that he did not really follow the news.

“I am freezing,” Juror four responded when asked how he was doing.

Juror five said that she avoids political conversations.

Juror six told the court that she probably has different views from Trump.

“This is a free country,” Juror six states however.

Juror seven said he agreed on some of Trump’s political views. Juror eight said there was nothing that would prevent him from being impartial.

“Everyone was kind of talking about politics,” Juror nine said. Juror 10 said his hobby was listening to psychology podcasts. Juror 11 has a sense of humor. Ju-

ror 12 listens to religious podcasts. Six alternate jurors have been selected as well, which you never know with this much of a high profile case, adding another layer of precaution, providing backup in case any unforeseen circumstances arise during the trial.

The jury has affirmed their ability to remain impartial and judge the case solely on its facts. But let's be clear— having an opinion does not equate to bias. What matters is the ability of these jurors to set aside personal beliefs and weigh the evidence presented in court with objectivity. They

have pledged to do just that. The selection process appears to have been conducted with utmost care to ensure a fair trial for all other parties involved.

As the trial progresses, it's imperative that the jurors uphold their oath to deliver justice impartially. If the jury finds Trump guilty, he could face over a year in jail-- however the Brennan Justice reports Trump will unlikely actually serve time, but if found guilty Trump will stain the respect and legacy all Former Presidents should display naturally at all times.

An artistic depiction of Trump’s jury made by Jane Rosenberg.

Graphic/ Vanshi Shroff

High school classes are much more challenging than middle school ones.

Graphic/ Jane Rosenberg

Searchlight students attend Benson Boone concert Staff recieves merch to commemerate album release

By Nicole Scotton News Editor

The staff of the Searchlight was greeted on the morning of Feb. 2, 2024 with over a hundred posters and bookmarks of new and upcoming music artist, Benson Boone. The merchandise included a sizable amount of posters with a photo of his face on a calendar and matching bookmarks. A message accompanied the unexpected surprise from Boone himself asking our staff to highlight his newest album, “Fireworks & Rollerblades.”

The album was released on April 5th and there are currently 20.8 million posts on TikTok relating to the album. Boone’s music falls under the alternative indie and pop genre, appealing specifically to young people all over the world. Many songs feature the themes of love and hardship, and the upcoming global hitmaker has three albums released as of now. Boone’s first mainstream appearance occurred when he performed on season 19 of American Idol back in 2021. However, a significant amount of Boones recent popularity originated on the social media platform TikTok, where he formally filmed and posted videos for en-

tertainment purposes. The artist has blown up drastically since then, as it is difficult to scroll through the app and not hear one of his songs. The most popular songs of Boone’s album include “Beautiful Things,” “Slow it Down” and “GHOST TOWN.” “Beautiful Things,” which is consistently played on the radio, rose to number 1 on the Billboard Pop Airplay Chart back on April 27th.

A few of our editors, Sports Editor Max Grant, Editor in Chiefs Meg McNeil and Ciara Foley and myself purchased floor tickets the same day of the delivery of posters and attended his concert at the House of Blues in Boston on April 12th. Once we made it to the city, we were greeted by a long line of fans wrapped around the music venue. After finally making it inside of the venue, British pop singer Mimi Webb opened for Boone and kicked off the concert with an exceptional start, performing her most popular song “Dumb Love” that is also recognizable to TikTok users. The new performer proved himself to have an exceptional stage presence; he implemented backflips and even direct conversation with the crowd, interacting with his supporters. Sports Editor, Max Grant, was

even fortunate enough to be recognized by Boone himself after several attempts of getting the artist’s attention. Boone clearly demonstrates much care for his fans, as at one point he even ran off the stage to assist a fan who had passed out mid-performance. Boone additionally executed his piano skills to perform a select few songs to impress the crowd.

If you are interested in the album “Fireworks & Rollerblades,” it can be streamed on Spotify, Pandora, Apple Music, Amazon Music and various other platforms. Merchandise can also be purchased on his website, selling t-shirts, CD’s and albums. To access his tour dates, merch store or music videos, his website link is BensonBoone.com.

Journalism makes the trip to NESPA keynote A. Sherrod Blakely highlights the NESPA keynote with lessons

By Maxwell Grant Sports Editor

The Walpole High School (WHS) journalism staff on May 3, traveled to Boston University (BU) to attend the New England Scholastic Press Association (NESPA) keynote. A. Sherrod Blakley, who is a professor at BU and a National Basketball Association (NBA) writer for Bleacher Report, spoke at the event about how he worked up to the position he is in today.

The Searchlight took the commuter rail to Boston’s Back Bay station and the green line to BU. Students filed towards the front entrance of BU’s College of Communication where they got to interact with other journalism students from around New England. Prior to the start of the keynote, students got to attend various genres of workshops that can help expand their vision and creativity of journalism. Some of the workshops consisted of topics like how to find unreported stories in your area, getting away from reporting on the “Big 4” sports, how to cover the performing arts in your school and more.

After the Searchlight staff and other journalism programs attended two of the workshops, they made their way to the Morse Auditorium. As students filed in,

Blakely began his presentation.

“Embrace the fact that you have value and understand that surrounding yourself with people [...] who understand that is vital”, Blakely said.

Blakely also introduced the idea of being exposed to other content areas to students.

“You may write sports, but I write journalism [...] be a journalist first”, Blakely said.

Students were drawn in

by Blakely’s explosive personality and similar experiences that he experienced when struggling to become a journalist.

He took into account his time as a student journalist trying to break on to the scene with his time spent with former Pro Bowler Donovan McNabb.

“It is important to understand the value of why it’s important. The most tense moment in my career came when a coach said to me

that losing his job would be the worst thing to happen to him since the death of his daughter.”

The keynote ended with questions from students asking about his experiences from Syracuse University, how to get involved in various staffs and more.

The afternoon concluded with the journalism staff enjoying Boston’s Back Bay with the sun shining bright and going out to enjoy some food for themselves.

Benson Boone performs concert at House of Blues in Boston.

Graphic/Nicole Scotton

Journalism students pose for picture outside of NESPA conference in Boston.

Photo/the Searchlight

By Meghan McNeil Editor-In-Chief

In high school, many consider academics to be the sole reason for the existence of school itself. With parents and teachers emphasizing the importance of grades for the future, other forms of learning are often discounted. In doing so, people frequently overlook the importance of the arts and other creative outlets that schools have to offer. These outlets develop well-rounded students and arguably are just as important as academic achievement. Creative outlets allow students to have safe and artistic spaces to express themselves and just to have a class that brings them joy in school, a difficult task when taking many academic classes. Art, music, woodshop classes, journalism, film and clubs such as photography, creative writing and so many more all provide these spaces for students at WHS.

In a time of artificial intelligence and a plethora of online resources that can develop ideas for students’ schoolwork, creativity and originality is rare, as many students lack integrity and originality in their work. With a balanced sched-

ule between academics and arts, students can improve in both areas. On the other hand, academics can benefit creativity because subjects such as English require divergent thinking and coming up with out of the box solutions, which can support creative thinking as a whole.

In a study done by Gavin Clayton, an executive director of a mental health and arts charity, focused on the effect creative activities has on participants diagnosed with depression and anxiety or who are just overall stressed. 71% of participants felt a decrease in feelings of anxiety and 73% decrease in depression after painting and coloring for . Having space to destress and stop thinking about the pressures of life is pertinent for success in all fields. Reduced stress can improve sleeping habits and memory which influences academic ability. In order to maintain balance in one’s life, having a creative outlet—whether inside or outside of school—truly can support a healthy lifestyle. In addition to relieving symptoms of depression and anxiety, creativity can improve problem solving, emotional development and allow for time of self-reflection about oneself.

Creative outlets are crucial to student

The art WHS strives to enhance and furthermore experience the benefits an outlet beside a wide variety of draw and paint, sign, photography students can find truly interested in, outlets easy to find. courage self-expression, ing students’ confidence abilities, a skill needed being able to believe Throughout the hallways art is displayed, giving security and community dents. Student created es the thoughts and ist and allows future relate and admire pieces include uplifting about spreading clusivity, the key school experience “Printmaking my favorite class it’s not as structured demic classes and express my creative Mia Destito said. more freedom safe environment

outlets in school student success

department at enhance creativity allow students to benefits of having academics. With of classes such as printmaking, dephotography and ceramics, a class they are in, making creative find. Art classes enself-expression, improvconfidence in their needed for life and believe in oneself.

hallways at WHS giving a sense of community to its stucreated art expressand lives of the artfuture adolescents to admire it. Many of the uplifting messages kindness and into a great high experience for all students.

“Printmaking has been class so far because structured as my acaand allows me to creative ideas,” junior “Art classes have and promote a to be yourself.”

Another creative outlet WHS has to offer is the journalism program that produces the high school newspaper, the Searchlight. As both a class and a club, journalism is a time commitment but so worthwhile for the goal of keeping print media alive. With newspapers and print media as a whole dying due to people primarily finding their information online, the Searchlight has both online and print media for students to access. Journalism allows for students to express their opinions and develop their creative writing skills.

“The journalism program here at WHS exhibits an outlet towards creative writing. With the given categories of journalism that are available, the Searchlight offers a multitude of variety towards creating a positive environment in the classroom and establishing connections that support student success beyond the high school level”, sports editor Maxwell Grant said.

Music is another way to express creativity, through perfecting individual interest and advancing a specific skill set around singing or playing an instrument. Not only does playing music improve cognitive skills but so

does listening, so just being surrounded by others playing instruments or singing can thoroughly stimulate brain activity and positively affect students’ well-being.

“The music department has many opportunities for students to show their individual talents. For example, through Tri-M Coffee house events, soloists or group ensembles perform different types of sets and genres of music that are not usually seen in formal school concerts. Everyone in the Walpole music department strives to grow their own skills and foster community through outreach events like the library music gallery walk for young kids, or retro nights at Fox Hill Village,” TriM president Diza Girhotra said.

The benefits of having creative outlets, specifically in school, are numerous. In a rapidly changing modern world, the need for creative thinking is critical for future success. Creative thinking stems from our environment, knowledge and continuous learning. Having outlets to cultivate creativity are necessary for adolescents to become well-rounded adults, which is the goal of high school itself.

Casting of “Challengers” overshadows film “Challengers” releases and leaves fans with mixed feelings

By Meghan McNeil Editor-In-Chief

As the summer movie season kicks off, audience members have a variety of options ranging from major blockbusters to smaller indie films. One of the most discussed films in theaters is Luca Guadagnino’s new film “Challengers,” which prompted mixed reviews from audience members. It stars Zendaya in the role of Tashi Duncan, a rising tennis prodigy who gets injured before going pro. The movie revolves around a complex love triangle between Tashi and two other tennis players, Patrick Zweig (Josh O’Connor) and Art Donaldson (Mike Faist), that she meets in her adolescence.

The movie begins with Tashi meeting the two boys at a tennis tournament. With both boys competing to win her heart, Tashi proposes that the winner of their match can get her phone number. When Patrick wins her phone number, a split slowly develops in Art and Patrick’s friendship as a relationship sparks between Tashi and Patrick. Although Tashi said she didn’t want to “homewreck” their long time bond, her choice to entertain both of them did ultimately ruin it.

“Challengers” lacks key

details to make a movie successful and appealing to viewers. The casting of the movie was appealing to viewers. Even though celebrity casting of the movie attracted attention, the storyline itself is appealing to the general public. In recent years, love triangle stories such as “The Summer I Turned Pretty” have grown in popularity over debates about the best couple within the love triangle. However, unknown to people going to the movie, “Challengers” involves cheating and the characters lacking depth due to the time limit of a movie, making this specific love triangle itself not as enticing. Additionally, the choice of frequent flashes between past and present by director Guadagnino was a distraction from the movie because it created confusion. Although gaining background on the relationship between the three was crucial towards understanding the tension between Patrick and Art in the final game, the flashbacks still disrupted the momentum of the film. Having Art and Tashi have a child together after college ruined the entertaining drama of the love triangle, as infidelity in a marriage with a child destroys the appeal for viewers of choosing the best couple. Ultimately, Tashi was narcissistic and lived her tennis career through

Arty because she couldn’t with her career ending injury. She ruined Arty’s love for tennis and used him to live her dreams through.

One positive of the movie was the complexity behind the symbol of tennis that developed throughout. In the beginning Patrick and Arty played tennis for fun, but once Tashi got in between them it became more of a competition rather than lighthearted fun. Tennis for Tashi represents the origin of relationships itself because she only understands people on the court. So when Patrick gave up on tennis, she gave up on him because her career ending early never let her finish her understanding of the game and therefore can not un-

derstand long-term relationships. The film also included many different styles of cinematography during the tennis scenes, allowing viewers to feel as though they were there on the court. In the end, “Challengers” disappointed viewers looking for a typical romance film, and with a two hour and 11 minute movie time, the film dragged on and could’ve been simplified. But despite some key errors within the storyline and failure to use the great potential with Zendaya being in the film, the movie still provides an interesting commentary on the relationship between tennis players and their sport and how it can impact their lives on and off the court.

Lifetime releases “Dance Mom” cast reunion Cast comes together to reminice about the show

By Sophia Gibson Staff Writer

Now available to watch on the channel Lifetime is reality TV show “Dance Moms,” which has a new episode entitled “The Reunion”. This is considered the ninth season of the original show, and features six returning girls on the dance team coached by Abby Lee Miller and their mothers. Throughout the episode, the dancers and their mothers discuss how the show has and will continue to influence their lives forever. The participants show gratitude about their experience on the show and have the chance to connect with old teammates, while reconciling about their past.

At the beginning of the episode, Chloe Lukasiak is asked about her rivalry with Maddie Zieglar who was not at the event. She explains that her rivalry with Zieglar throughout the series would be hard to talk about and that, since she left the show, she had been working on regaining her self esteem. The other girls present were all able to show support towards her, they could relate to their similar experiences.

“I thought I wasn’t enough, like, in every single way,” Lukasiak said.

Further on in the episode, Kelly Hyland talks about

her past experiences with Miller, and what led her two daughters to dance for their last time without even knowing it beforehand. Hyland notes that their was a lot of history between her and Miller ultimately causing a constant tension between the two of them. Her daughters expressed during the episode that she did the right thing as a mother by taking them off of the show after the last fight between Hyland and Miller. The families discussion of the situation healed something that the family had not talked about amongst themselves since the event.

“We left because I lost my temper, but I pretty much felt guilty for the past 10 years of my life since that day happened,” Hyland said.

Opinions about Kendall Vertes from the public’s perspective also emerged during the episode as she was asked if she considered herself an original girl on the show. Social media has constantly been discussing through the years whether or not she can be considered as an “OG” or not because she joined the show in season two, later than a few of the other girls.

“I mean I consider myself an OG, I don’t know if any other people do,” Vertes said.

Later on in the episode the dancers went around in a circle to share their favorite and most

memorable dance from their time on the show. This part of the reunion caused Kalani Hiliker to get emotional when having to discuss a dance that she could personally relate to. She opened up about her experience with mental health and why the specific dance was so important to her.

People on social media also expressed their opinions of Jojo Siwa being a part of the reunion. Many said that she was invalidating the others’ experiences and relationships with Miller. However, others said that they liked seeing Siwa and Kalani Hilliker’s friendship throughout the re-

union. Siwa also shared her opinions about the other original girls that did not show up to the event.

“Them not being here is kind of like let me erase my past, pretend it never happened, shove it down the drain, when it’s like that’s why you are who you are,” Siwa said.

The rest of the season includes many compilations of popular clips from the show that have gained attention from viewers over the years. The episode has already gained a lot of support from fans, many previous fans of the show enjoy seeing the girls being successful in their new lives.

“Challengers” movie posters reflect the love triangle, the main conflict of the film.

The girls gather together after many years of not seeing each other in a group.

Gracie Abrams rises into the spotlight

Taylor Swift’s Eras Tour brings attention to a new artist

By Mia Destito Graphics Editor

From releasing songs on Soundcloud at the age of 13, Gracie Abrams has grown into a beloved singer and songwriter who has now gathered a fanbase of 11.4 million monthly Spotify listeners. Abrams gained a following on social media throughout the years by posting covers of her singing other artists’ music as well as releasing bits of her own.

Abrams’ path to fame has mainly stemmed from her opportunity to open for Taylor Swift on her Eras Tour in 2023. Abrams idolized Swift from a young age. Her music reflects a lot of Swift’s songwriting styles, creating poetic and heartfelt lyrics.

“I’ve always been so inspired at every stage of my life as a fan of hers”, said Abrams. “Every formative memory in my life is paired with a Taylor Swift song that helped me get through”,the rising star said.

Swift gave a specific shoutout to Abrams in a Tik Tok comment back in 2022 complementing her song “Rockland”, putting her in the spotlight. Being such a big fan of her music, Swift later recruited her to open for the majority of her Eras Tour in the United States.

“Gracie’s writing mixes fragility with introspection in a way that I really relate to,” shares Swift.

Over the duration of the tour, fans have made Abrams’ performance a magical experience. Fans have created traditions that brought attention to Abrams’ opening performance, such as screaming the word “sorry” back to her while singing her song “21.” It did not take long for the tradition to reach all the stadiums throughout the tour, due to how rapidly the song began to spread on social media. Fans attending the tour were sure to include their excitement for Abrams performance on various social media platforms, mainly only spreading the enthusiasm.

Not only did Abrams open for Swift, but she was also invited on stage to duet her song “i miss you, i’m sorry” with her. The collaboration of the artists brought much attention to Abrams and her music.

Abrams had a very successful year after not only opening for Taylor Swift but also releasing her debut album, “Good Riddance.” The album hit No. 1 on Billboard’s Heatseekers albums and has now reached over 10 million streams on Spotify. Abrams

has had small releases of music in previous years, yet this has been her most successful project so far. The album has a focus on loss, change and the process of growing up. The budding artist is well known for her poetic lyrics and relatability, where she had gained a majority teenage audience.

Along with the success of her debut album, Abrams was also nominated in the Best New Artist category in the 2024 Grammys. She continues to release more music as she recently announced her new album “The Secret of Us” coming out June 21, 2024.

Many believe the art-

ist hints at signs thanking Taylor Swift as she chose to have 13 tracks on her new album, a number famously known to resemble Swift. Abrams also chose the number 13 as the house number in her recent music video for her newest single, “Risk.” Swift has a feauture on Abrams upcoming song “us.” Fans are eager to hear the artist’s collaboration. Abrams has seen much growth in her popularity over the past year alongside Taylor Swift on tour. Abrams is a talented artist and her fanbase is excited about her getting more recognition over time.

“Back to Black” depicts Winehouse’s rise and fall Audiences are enhanced by singer-songwriter Amy Winehouse’s story

By Ciara Foley Editor-in-Chief

Throughout recent years of music, some of the most influential artists consist across a variety of genres, a few examples including that of Taylor Swift and Prince. More specifically, some of the most influential artists stood out greatly among others, whether it was their talent or persona. In the case of Amy Winehouse, a younger, unique musician within a variety of genres, her legacy leaves a bit of both—while her welcoming personality and impressive vocals allowed her to strive within the music industry, it was her personal issues that also brought her great amounts of time in the spotlight. In honor of her legacy, “Back to Black” is set to be released on Friday, May 17, focusing on moments throughout her music career that the media could not publish or see. Already released in the United Kingdom, the film has surpassed 10 million at the Britain box office, and reached number one in the box office solely on opening weekend. Beyond it’s impressive, rapid achievements, many critics praise the work of Marisa Abela, the main actress who plays Amy Winehouse in the film. Abela, who worked alongside Margot

Robbie and Ryan Gosling in the hit-film “Barbie,” is said to go above and beyond throughout the movie, using personal vocals and transformative emotion to convey the perspective of Amy Winehouse herself. Director Sam Taylor-Johnson purposefully chose Abela because of the similarities between her and Winehouse, specifically coming from similar backgrounds and obtain great musical and eye-catching talent.

Many critics, however, compare additional aspects of the

film to other works surrounding Winehouse. Movies such as “Amy” and the “Amy Winehouse: Back to Black” documentary are speculated to produce far more eye-catching and honorable writing to the artist, reflecting a Rotten Tomatoes score of 38. Additionally, there is great concern with content accuracy of the film, as some key moments within Winehouse’s career are portrayed far differently in the film and it mainly centers around her romantic life. While critics are uncer-

tain about the decision, Johnson reassures that it was intentional, used to honor Winehouse.

“The heightened love story depicted in [her] album “Back to Black” was what Amy wanted her legacy to be.” Johnson said in a New York Times interview.

Although some raise concerns about the generic manner of the film, it overall attempts to capture a raw, heart-breakingly accurate perspective of Winehouse herself. While her music career consisted of a variety of success, including various grammy awards solely for her album “Back to Black” alone, Winehouse herself struggled with trauma that resulted in heavy drug usage. Additionally, the media had great insight on Winehouse’s rocky romantic relationship with Blake Fielder-Civil, her ex-husband that had inspired a great amount of her greatest hits. Therefore, the film reflects the mental toll such pressure and life changes took on Winehouse, attempting to give audiences around the world a glimpse of reality beyond what Hollywood seems to be.

“It’s my responsibility to portray Winehouse’s struggles with depression, bulimia and addiction” said Johnson. “But not to in any way glamorize, or show in multiple scenes.”

Marisa Abela, who plays Amy Winehouse, utilizes her vast vocal range and acting skills to portray Winehouse’s story.

Abrams new album, “The Secret Of Us” is being released June 21, 2024.

Photo/ BBC News

Photo/ The Forty-Five

How to create a prom outfit on a budget Advice towards saving money during prom season

By Sophie Murray A&E Editor

Prom is arguably one of the most anticipated events of the school year for juniors and seniors. The process towards preparing for the prom absorbs many girls’ lives in the upcoming months. Buying the perfect dress, getting shoes, finding a hairstyle and getting your nails done all contribute to putting the perfect look together. However, every step taken towards getting ready adds up quickly. Considering the prom ticket prices have increased each year and are currently sitting at $95, some people can not afford or justify spending another hundreds of dollars on extra accessories or products for prom. However, there are many ways to achieve an expensive look while on a budget.

Arguably, one of the most expensive aspects of prom, besides the ticket, is the dress. There are many different options to be able to buy a dress on a budget. Borrowing a dress from an older relative or friend is a great choice, as some will let you borrow it for free. Another affordable option is to rent a prom dress. This is a very justifiable option as you are only going to wear the dress

for one night and buying a very expensive dress to be worn once does not make sense for some people. If you want to still enjoy the process of trying on dresses, go to stores after the prime prom dress shopping months, which are usually between January and March. After those months, many dresses will be discounted and can be found in clearance sections.

One of the most expensive parts about creating a prom look is the extra add ons that tie the outfit together but quickly add up price wise. For example, many girls get spray tans for proms. They will even go the extra mile to get a trial run done a few weeks before the prom to figure out the right color for their skin tone. However, spray tan prices can range anywhere from $30 to $140. To spend that much, sometimes even twice, for a tan that lasts only a week is not worth it for many people. To still achieve a bronze look for prom, go to any drug store, like CVS or Walgreens, and buy your own self tanner. This is significantly cheaper and you get way more control when doing it yourself. You can control how dark of a tan you want and it is easier to practice and test out because you can do it whenever for a fraction of the cost.

Another extra accessory people spend a lot of money on is their prom nails. Lots of people will go to the salon and get some sort of acrylic nails with a special design to compliment their dress. Depending on the type of style and design, these can be a large investment. Since prom is only one night, getting press on nails is a much more sustainable option as they are really cheap and most will hold their duration for the full prom night.

Bouquets, corsages and boutonnieres are also a significant part of prom especially if you have a date. If you are someone that isn’t looking to spend $50 for flowers, a much cheaper

and fun idea is to make your own bouquets with your friends. Local supermarkets or stores like Trader Joes have really beautiful and affordable small bouquets or flower assortments. You and your friends could rearrange different flower assortments and tie it together with a bow or ribbon to make your own bouquet that is not only a cheap option but also aesthetic that will last the night. Overall, prom does not have to be an overly expensive experience. If spending hundreds of dollars on top of an overly expensive ticket is unrealistic or unjustifiable, it is still super achievable to create an expensive prom look on a budget with this advice.

Ranking the best refreshers to try this summer Dunkin and Starbucks release new summer menus

By Sienna Kreuzer and Anika Umapathy Staff Writers

With summer break approaching and the temperatures getting higher, students are beginning to try new drinks to combat the heat. Whether it’s before a game, or after a long day of tests, anyone can appreciate a refresher to stay happy and hydrated. With establishments like Dunkin and Starbucks releasing many new flavors for the upcoming summer, it sparks the debate: which refresher is truly the best?

Ranked at number nine: Starbucks’ spicy strawberry lemonade refresher is a drink with a combination of lemonade, strawberry açai flavoring and freeze dried strawberries, the spicy chili powder creates too many different tastes in the drink. By adding more sugar to the drink and taking away the strong flavoring, Starbucks created a very sweet drink that is overpowering.

At number eight, with the sweet flavor of pineapple as the base of this drink, the Starbucks spicy pineapple refresher is a juicy drink with a small addition of a pulpy chew. While this refresher provides a sweet flavor of pineapple combined with the spicy mix, the combination of all these things

makes the spicy pineapple refresher distasteful at some points.

The spicy dragonfruit refresher from Starbucks follows the taste of the original dragonfruit refresher, placing it at number seven on the list. By adding Starbucks’ spicy chili powder to the mix, this refresher allows has an extra kick from the spicy chili powder mix. While the Starbucks spicy refreshers were not the most appetizing drinks, this refresher is arguably the best choice out of the spicy options.

Seemingly the most tropical flavor, and ranking sixth on the list, the Mango Pineapple Refresher from Dunkin is a bit underwhelming. It is hard to taste the pineapple in it and the flavor was closer to pure mango

juice than a refresher. While the lemonade added a citrus kick to it, you cannot help but feel that the drink missed the mark.

In 2024, Dunkin introduced the flavor Kiwi Watermelon, and the newest addition ranked fifth on the list. With the lemonade added, it was very sweet and tasted similar to a jolly rancher. The candy flavor overwhelmed the intended notes and the watermelon and kiwi didn’t really register. People who enjoysugary candies would enjoy this drink.

Ranked at number four, the pineapple passion fruit lemonade drink from Starbucks has a strong sweet and sour taste which comes from the base of pineapple passionfruit and lemonade. While the combination of these two fla-

vors to make up the core of the drink were not the most thought of combination, they provide a taste that will be refreshing during the hot summer months.

The mango dragonfruit refresher with lemonade from Starbucks is another way to start off your morning. Coming in at number three on the list, this drink has a very sweet mango dragonfruit base combined with lemonade and frozen dried dragonfruit pieces. These ingredients blended together make a flavorful tropical drink which is a good start to the day.

At number two, Dunkin’s original and, best option is the Strawberry Dragonfruit refresher. It is a great balance between sweet and tart. The refresher can also include lemonade, green tea and water.

Finally, the strawberry açai refresher with lemonade is has a delicious base of strawberry açai. The addition of the sweet lemonade and crunchy freeze dried strawberries adds another delicious layer of goodness on top of the refresher. With its appetizing flavor palette and amazing additions of lemonade and freeze dried strawberries, the strawberry açai with lemonade refresher from Starbucks is the drink of the summer.

Prom dresses and assecories do not have to cost hundreds of dollars.

Graphic/Mia Destito

Dunkin Donuts and Starbucks offer a variety of refesher flavors.

Graphic/ Talent Taste

Boys outdoor track wins herget title

This marks the third time the team has won the title this year

By Joe Curran Staff Writer

On May 9, the Walpole boys outdoor track and field team won its first herget title since 2019 at Walpole High School. The meet was also the team’s senior night, making the victory over Braintree even sweeter. At the end of the night, Walpole had put up 89 points and Braintree only had 47. The title completed the team’s dominance within the Herget this year, having won it every season.

The Walpole boys had 16 seniors competing on the Walpole track for the last time, and of those 16, over half of them were able to achieve a personal record (PR) to cap off their careers. Some of these PRs include captain Sean Kerin running the fifth fastest 400 meter in school history, Joseph Lewis running an 11.2 second 100 meter, captain Yoan Terzyiski throwing nearly 16 feet farther than his previous record, Declan Cunningham achieving an 11 second PR in the mile and, in the same event, Dylan Bent breaking five minutes for the first time this year and the second time in his career.

“We are always making sure that we push each other to our limits and that we are cheering for our teammates at all times, and that has really been the main factor in our success,” Bent said, crediting this for both the team’s and his personal success.

Originally the meet was

to be scheduled for the eighth of May, but only the girls two mile could take place before it had to be postponed due to a thunderstorm. The meet picked back up the next day with the shot put where Terzyiski and fellow senior, Andi Kurtiqi, led the group to an 8-1 win. Back on the track, Walpole started by sweeping both the 100 meter dash and the 110 meter hurdles. These were two of five sweeps of the day, along with the 200 meter dash, the 400 meter hurdles and the two mile. Although many of these sweeps were led by seniors, other grades were also given the chance to make large contributions to the team, setting Walpole up for the future.

“The seniors make sure they score points but they also help underclassmen improve,” senior and shotputter Paul Donlan said.

Although they will no longer be competing for Walpole, many of the seniors intend to continue their careers in college. Some, such as Kerin, John Daher and Jackson Massey will continue to run competitively as collegiate athletes, while others, like Bent, who will be attending the University of South Carolina, have opted to instead run as a part of their school’s club.

“It’s not like it’s a division like D1, D2 or D3 or anything but it’s kind of for fun, I still get to get out there and compete which will

be really cool and fun,” Bent said.

Winning the meet cemented the team as Herget champions, marking it as one of the most successful regular seasons in the program’s history due to that along with their victory in the Division 3 Relay Meet. As the regular season ends and the postseason begins, the seniors will attempt to end their Walpole High School careers by taking home their third divisional title of the year.

“I think what I’m going to miss the most about it is being surrounded by such kind, smart individuals every day that really want the best for you and will push you to do your best on everything,” Bent said.

Salmans takes on role as varsity girls soccer coach

Peter Salmans formerly coached both freshman and JV teams

By Liv Carney Lifestyle Editor

WHS English teacher and Bible Club adviser Peter Salmans will begin a new position as the girls varsity soccer coach for the upcoming fall season. He will be coaching alongside Karen McCarthy, who has been the assistant coach for girls varsity for the past four years.

“[McCarthy] has a lot of experience coaching and really knows the game,” Salmans said Salmans began his coaching career as head coach of the freshman boys soccer team in 2018, which he did for two years before coaching the girls junior varsity team for the next three seasons. Throughout these years of coaching, Salmans has learned a lot about the importance of preparation, passion for the game and building relationships from the varsity boys soccer coach Lee Delaney and former varsity girls soccer coach Callum Maclean.

Because Salmans has been teaching at WHS for the past ten years, he feels very strongly about investing in the success of its students and the athletic program. He sees coaching as an impactful way for him to serve his community.

“I learned a lot from coaching the girls junior varsity team,” Salmans said.

While Salmans is very passionate about the whole aspect of coaching soccer, his favorite part of coaching is the role he takes in helping students grow as well as seeing the relationships players form with the coaches and with each other. He also believes that being a teacher and a coach at the school has advantages because he is able to watch his students grow not only academically, but as athletes too.

“I think being a teacher and a coach can help to improve relationships with students and athletes,” Salmans said.

Junior varsity coaches often focus on developing ath-

letes’ skills to ensure they are ready for the higher competition of varsity athletics. By contrast, varsity teams typically represent the school at large and therefore have more demands for both athletes and coaches. Because varsity is more competitive than teams he has taught in the past, Salmans looks forward

to the challenge and greater responsibility. However, he also is excited to help oversee the girls soccer program as a whole.

“I’m excited to work with kids from freshman to senior year. One of the most exciting parts of coaching is helping students grow as players and as people,” Salmans said.

The track and field team set out to rebuild the program after COVID-19 setbacks.

Photo/ K David Forresster

Salmans has already began preparing for his upcoming season.

Photo/Liv Carney

Walpole softball seeks redemption against Milton 15-1 record reflects the Timberwolves endless hardwork

By Ciara Foley Editor-In-Chief

This upcoming 2024 season, Timberwolves varsity softball has only foreseen a singular loss to Milton Wildcats, with a close score of 4-3. Beyond their singular loss, the team obtains one of the most successful seasons yet, clinching win after win in the Bay State Conference. In similar fashion, the Timberwolves were able to redeem their title, welcoming the Wildcats to a rematch on May 15.

While the team has had an incredibly impressive season so far, Milton seemed to be the perfect match up for the Timberwolves.

With Milton’s 13-2 record, Walpole knew to be prepared, needing to play to the absolute best of their abilities throughout the match.

“We knew they were going to put balls in play. We knew they were going to challenge us for a full seven innings,” Timberwolves coach, Rachael Sprague said in a Boston Herald. interview.

Beyond the expected challenge, both teams put up an endless battle to get a lead. For a bit of the match, the Timberwolves were able to maintain a prominent score difference, eventually pushing the lead 6-1 in the seventh and final inning. Regardless, Milton

was able to find loopholes, utilizing key players such as junior Sadie Steuterman and senior Cara Facey. Thanks to early efforts by various players, however, Walpole was still able to find success, redeeming

their singular loss from the season and marking their record 15-1.

“Milton is a very impressive team, but it was all of our work that allowed us to win.” sophomore Sienna Kreuzer said, who scored a

two-run in the fourth inning to lead the team 4-0. “We all put our best foot forward and strive to be the absolute best we can be.”

As of the moment, the team sits at number four on the Division II Massachusetts rankings, continuing to climb the ladder as the season goes on. Now, the girls plan to focus on playoffs, utilizing practice time to the absolute best of their abilities.

Even with such great success this season, the Timberwolves record has reflected great talent and dedication to the sport. Just last season, returning varsity members Kreuzer, Kreuzer and Sharlotte Stazinski won awards such as Bay State Conference All-Stars, alongside class of 2023 members Abby Kearns and Brookie Arena. Stazinski, particularly, has shined despite being a junior and coming off of a recent injury, being named a League MVP and Boston Herald and Boston Globe scholastic last season. Her work reflects such titles, showcasing her passion and skill within the sport at the team’s most recent showdown against the Wildcats.

“Stazinski is really our rock out there and she did come out strong,” Sprague said in a Boston Herald interview. “She’s just so tough out there.”

Walpole boys tennis defeats Catholic Memorial Successful season continues for WHS tennis

By Meghan McNeil Editor-In-Chief

On May 14, 2024, the Walpole High School (WHS) boy’s tennis team took on the Catholic Memorial School (CM). WHS tennis, in the division two league with a record of 9-6 defeated CM, a division one team with a record of 2-9. Similar to their previous match against CM earlier in the season Walpole swiftly won all five individual matches, improving their record to 10-6.

“Catholic Memorial is always a tough opponent, although we won, every single match was close games wise,” said termi-

nally ill captain Michael Boland.

Despite the blazing heat with direct sunlight on the court and 78 degree weather, the WHS tennis team started off the match strong. Captain Michael Boland faced off against his opponent in the first singles match. Boland began receiving in the first set, and quickly got a lead of 3-0. However, Boland’s opponent didn’t let him get away that easily and came back, pushing the score to 4-3, with Boland only leading by one point. Ultimately, in a tie breaker with the games tied at 6-6, Boland won, taking the first set.

“As we are ranked nine in

the power rankings right now, we already exceeded initial expectations of the season,” said Boland.

The singles lineup included Michael Boland in first singles, Stephan Jung in second, and Brady Goldman in third. On the doubles court, senior Matt Bruen faced off against two of CM’s top JV. This match switched up the doubles with Matt Anastasi and Dillon Blaquerie in first and Luke Moses and Shreyans Jhadav in second.

“All the doubles played really well and they definitely had to fight to win, which is good,” said Bruen. We expected to win but we definitely didn’t expect to win 5-0.

With being ranked well in the MIAA power rankings currently, the team is ready for playoffs in their new neon-orange gradient uniforms. Their first match is already set, with WHS having home court advantage. Good luck to the WHS tennis team in their future endeavors as they progress further in the power rankings.

“The team’s goal was to be ranked in the top 20 in power rankings because we are a young team, with myself being the only senior on varsity,” said Boland. “My personal goal was to go above .500 for a win-loss ratio, which so far this season I have met.”

Photo/ Instagram

The Walpole Girls Varsity team poses for a group photo, after a 12-0 win against Braintree.

Photo/ Meg McNeil

Team captain and senior Michael Boland takes on a fellow Catholic Memorial player, taking the first set.

Boland takes a 4-3 lead, despite being pushed.

Photo/ Meg McNeil