THE LIGHTHOUSE Volume XXVI, Issue VI Lyndhurst High School April 2013 Poetry Slam brings spring fever BY BIANCA FATA Kara Mackin; Sophomores Ruka Olunlade and Haley Peduto and Freshman Matt De- On March 28, LHS students assembled Marco. in the media center for the Eleventh Annual “The lighthearted, humorous strategy always Spring Poetry Slam. Divided into nine catego- pays off,” Beatrice said about her volleyball-in- ries, the Slam was fi lled with poems whose spired poem, “I’m Only Me When I Hit You.” authors ranged from freshmen to faculty. Par- In fi fth place was Junior Nicolette Jimenez, in ticipants were also able to enjoy musical per- fourth was Senior Bobby DeMarco, third was formances by their classmates. Senior Nathan Duquilla, second was Sopho- Following tradition, while the judges deliber- more Ketevan Kobauri and in fi rst was back- ated, poets and musicians enjoyed cake while to-back Slam winner Senior Michelle Taliento. educators shared their poetry and Ms. Pas- “It was an honor to have won the slam twice, tor’s Creative Writing class delivered a group especially after hearing the other incredibly poem entitled, “What I Want My Words to Do talented poets present their work,” Taliento to You.” said. She wrote her poem, “Doing the Math,” English Teacher Mrs. DeMarco, who was about her struggles with college applications. among the four-member faculty/staff judg- Taliento’s poem conveyed the message that ing panel, recognized the following students, people are more than a piece of paper and COURTESY OF CHRISTIANE PIEZAS whose poetry earned honorable mention: Ju- that any college, trade or vocational school Seniors Cap Ki Kim and Grace Gigante perform niors Caroline Beatrice, Sarah Canaris and would be lucky to have an LHS graduate. with the chorale at the Spring Poetry Slam. ‘Fun is good’ for Dr. Seuss Day at Lyndhurst BY MICHELLE FOTI had Dr. Seuss Day as a kid,” Spahiu said. “It him paper hearts so he could love. was cool seeing how happy the kids were after Later, they were bussed to the high school On March 1, elementary students from helping them make their hot air balloons [in- auditorium to hear stories written by Kim Nor- across the district arrived at school wearing spired by] ‘Oh The Places You Will Go.’ It was man, a children’s author from Virginia. Norman crazy hairstyles and elaborate costumes for a fulfi lling knowing that I helped them.” shared her works, “Crocodaddy” and “I Know celebration in honor of Children’s Author Dr. Students in grades K-3 also received a visit A Wee Piggy.” She also recited an interactive Seuss and Read Across America Day. from the Grinch. They were summoned to give nursery rhyme, “Five Little Crocodiles,” in- The day’s activities were coordinated by Su- spired by “Five Little Monkeys,” in English and perintendent Mrs. Marinelli, along with a team Spanish. Additionally, Norman sang an upbeat of supervisors, principals, teachers and par- bedtime song, “The Storytime Boogie.” ents who volunteered their time. LHS’s Future Fourth and fi fth graders had a special Dr. Teachers Program and Peer Group Connec- Seuss celebration with New York Giants De- tion lent a helping hand with the day’s events. fensive Back Stevie Brown, who read the Dr. English Teacher Mrs. DeMarco served a Seuss classic, “I Wish that I Had Duck Feet.” dual role on the event committee, creating “I’m a Giants football fan and I wasn’t even the day’s schedule and formulating a plan to going as wild as everyone else,” said Jeffer- extend traditional Read Across America activi- son School Fifth Grader Hunter Johnson. “Dr. ties to students throughout the district. Seuss Day has never been this fun before.... “We wanted kids to recognize the founda- I wish every day could be as fun as Dr. Seuss tional lessons of simplicity that you learn in the Day.” younger grades are what you build upon as COURTESY OF DIGITAL PHOTOGRAPHY Mrs. Klein, supervisor of the Language Arts, you go up in the grades,” DeMarco said. “You Lyndhurst elementary students honored Dr. Se- Social Studies, and English as a Second Lan- aren’t doing the calculus without the one fi sh, uss by listening to his stories read by LHS stu- guage Departments, said the event was worth two fi sh.” dents and Giants Defensive Back Stevie Brown. all of the preparation and effort. Kindergarten through third grade students “I spent most of my time with the fourth and commemorated Dr. Seuss by reading “One fi fth graders, and I could see they were in- fi sh two fi sh red fi sh blue fi sh,” “I Wish that spired. [Brown] promoted reading, sportsman- I Had Duck Feet,” “Oh, the Places You’ll Go” ship and a fun atmosphere,” Klein said. and “Bartholomew and the Oobleck,” respec- DeMarco said she was also pleased with the tively. They completed creative activities fol- outcome of the Dr. Seuss Day events. lowing the themes of these books, even chan- “I give so much credit to all the elementary neling their inner scientist for an Oobleck lab. teachers. It had to be an exhausting day, but Senior and Peer Leader Justin Spahiu as- the things they were doing were fantastic. All sisted with second grade activities at Wash- the little things made the simple teachings of ington School. Dr. Seuss applicable to children and adults “Celebrating was fun because I never really alike,” DeMarco said.

PAGE 2 The Lighthouse April 2013

Question: If you could be in any band, what COLUMN band would you join? What would Franklin do? COLUMN COMPILED BY What would GIANNA DIPISA This one’s a really tough ques- Newman do? tion for me to answer. There are COMPILED BY so many choices coming to mind. GIANNA DIPISA I fi nd electronic music the most enjoyable music to both listen to and make. So, I’m tempted to As always, there are a lot of COURTESY OF GIANNA DIPISA COURTESY OF SEAN MCCHESNEY directions in which we could go. explore that possibility. Would Let’s knock out some of the pos- “The White Stripes.” At bass gui- I want to be in a break beat act music. Sure, you guys would still sibilities. tar: a dark horse of a selection, like NAPT? In some heavy indus- have all this EDM to fi st pump to, Shout out to Mr. Dellosa and the Flea from “Red Hot Chili Peppers” trial rock band like KMFDM? Or but it’s like asking if we’d have LHS Marching Band, but a march- fame. At drums, ranked the best do something more far out like calculus without Newton. We sure ing band would be out for me. drummer of all time by “Rolling record with Aphex Twin? I think it would, but it just wouldn’t have as How about others? Hip hop Stone” Magazine, Neil Peart of would be pretty cool to work with much swag. band? Nope. I’m certainly “street” the Canadian super-band “Rush.” Rob Swire. I’ve been following his I can’t ignore the real possibili- enough, but I stopped keeping it Finally, for our lead singer, we will drum‘n’bass act, Pendulum, for a ties that lie in this question either. I real years ago. I keep it unreal.... go with Bono from “U2” and his long time as it evolved into more mean ANY band? I could be there Fo’ real, though. brand new German surgically en- electronic rock and now his new when Elvis got big, the Beatles Vocal band? Unless we sang gineered back. Knife Party project, which is get- took our country by storm, with songs from the soul artists of the So, for our historic group (which ting really hot right now. Jimi at Woodstock, alongside the ‘70s, like Bobby “Blue” Bland or is a kinder way of saying “dead”): Two of my all-time favorite artists early DJs in Detroit birthing tech- Teddy Pendergrass, I say nay! at lead guitar, who else, but Jimi are Bill Leeb and Trent Reznor. no (yes, techno is American mu- It’s gotta be a hard rock or metal Hendrix. At bass, well, we can’t Leeb’s been in the Industrial sic). Sitting in a studio with some band, not some “alternative” band even go with bassist. We have scene forever heading up proj- of my previously mentioned acts where the song is about how hurt a second lead guitar, the Texas ects from Skinny Puppy to Noise seems kind of insignifi cant when the lead singer was by a girlfriend Tornado, Mr. Stevie Ray Vaughn. Unit to Delerium and everything in you think of cases like these. who left him crying when it was At drums, and he was great, but between, the most famous being If I could be in any band, I’d pick raining outside. No, I’m talking would be a hoot to hang out with Frontline Assembly (pretty heavy a band with both historical sig- about a band whose daily life is as well, Keith Moon from “The Industrial stuff). Trent’s music, on nifi cance and music I’m into: U2. crazier than the craziest night of Who.” Singer? Well, I would love the other hand, was the music Sure, this probably seems to have your life. The kind of band that fl ies to have none other than the “Man that made me curious about how come from out of nowhere given into town in F-14 Tomcats, drives in Black” himself start off every it was made and got me playing the acts I’ve discussed, but U2 is monster trucks and has more py- concert by coming out and say- keyboard. a band I’ve been listening to for rotechnics in their show than most ing his iconic “Hello, I’m Johnny Of course, if we’re really gonna about 30 years. There’s just such cities have on the Fourth of July. Cash,” and we rock that house to talk about electronic music this a charismatic sincerity about their Now for my band.... Here we go! the ground! much, I’d have to mention Kraft- work wrapped up in simple pop First for the living musicians: at So, there are the rosters, and werk. These guys are responsible songs. There you have it. Thanks lead guitar, the man who IS rock yes, they are mine. for a lot of the methods and even for coming to me with the question music today, Mr. Jack White of equipment used in early electronic and tolerating my rambling. Lulu, the scavenging queen BY MICHELLE FOTI on this very special night. Howev- local boutiques until she fi nds a er, since agreeing to go, Lulu has fabulous gown. The big day is less than a month contracted a serious case of prom Item two: shoes and accesso- away. Gowns have been altered, anxiety. ries. Lulu must go straight to the dates chosen, tuxes ordered and Lulu’s to do list gets longer as mall. Looking through every last hair and makeup appointments the countdown gets shorter. With shelf and display case, she is des- booked. a little counseling from her light- tined to fi nd the perfect glitz. Amidst all of the prom jubilation, house friends, Lulu realizes her Item three: hair and makeup. though, there were a handful of challenges and accepts them with Since many proms share this juniors who remained dateless. motivation to look fabulous! She particular date, most salons are One of them was Lucas Lightie. will think of the race to prepare as already booked solid. So, Lulu will So, he asked Lulu Bright, Louie’s a scavenger hunt! ask a friend with cosmetic talent to girlfriend, to be his prom date. Item one: the dress. Lulu should beautify her. You may be thinking, relationship not bother looking in designer cat- Lulu can successfully complete drama! But actually, that assump- alogues, as there is not enough her scavenger hunt. Then, it will tion is incorrect. Lulu has agreed time to wait for the gown to arrive. be time to smile for the camera, to accompany Lucas as a friend She must hit the prom racks at looking picture perfect! COURTESY OF ANDREW COSMAN April 2013 The Lighthouse PAGE 3

LETTERS TO THE EDITORS The Lighthouse Dear Editors, perfect hair, makeup and clothes. I personally look forward to crit- I cannot believe how many art- This article states that being icism to grow as an actress, but Lyndhurst High School ists there are that work on our gorgeous is not about looks but I am confused at the mention of 400 Weart Avenue school newspaper! The illustra- about the kind of person someone my microphone as it, fortunately, Lyndhurst, NJ 07071 tions just keep getting better and is. This article tells the reader that proved to be one in which no tech- better! I think that in one of this they should feel confident about nical difficulties were present. To Adviser: year’s editions, there should be themselves and to accept your be quite frank, the microphones Ms. Pastor an entire page devoted to the ill- flaws. If you accept their flaws, have worked better than they lustrations of Andrew Cosman, others will too. have in other recent productions, Nicole Plonski, Assmaa Elbanna I think this article will encourage and in any auditorium that isn’t Editors in Chief: and Frank Agresti. others to be respectful and help on Broadway, technical difficulties Michelle Foti I also really enjoyed Diana others whenever possible. are bound to happen. Gianna DiPisa Shinnick’s review of “The Wed- Sincerely, As much as I appreciated the ding Singer.” As someone who Monica Baranowski, 2016 review, I am disappointed that missed the chance to see the per- the focus of the article remained Managing Editor: formance, I found it informative Dear Editors, not on the stellar ensemble and Vincent Lombardi and helpful (though I wish I had As a cast member of the LHS dance numbers, or the beautiful seen it myself). The auditorium plays and musicals, I look for- light sequences created by Mrs. could use a new sound system ward to the reviews placed in the Ruiz, but by the occasional pop- Written Content and better microphones! newspaper and enjoy reading the ping of a microphone that is prob- Editors: I, once again, am looking foward constructive criticism. Howev- ably well past its lifespan. Emma Flusk er, despite it being well-written, to next month’s issue of the news- I respect the newspaper’s right Joelle Voza paper. I found that the review of “The to free speech and opinion, yet I Sincerely, Wedding Singer” critiqued some- feel a lack of necessity for com- Ashley Stephens, 2016 thing well out of our control: the mentary such as this, which is in Business Director: microphones. direct opposition of the actual ne- Diana Shinnick Dear Editors, It is thoroughly insulting as an cessity for a new auditorium, ca- I really enjoyed reading Emma actress with a leading role to pable of housing a sound system Photography Editor: Flusk’s “The truth about being read that a performance that took worthy of our abilities as a cast. gorgeous.” Usually, when some- many months to perfect was no- With much respect, Christiane Piezas one says “gorgeous,” you think of table only in the sound quality, or Michelle Taliento, 2013 someone pretty who always has lack thereof. Staff: Christopher Anderson Control your stress Sara Barreiros BY ASSMAA ELBANNA disbelief and shock, irritability, Freshman Shqipe Cosovic said. Andrew Cosman fear, anxiety, difficulty making Like Caliguire, Cosovic said she Samantha Da Silva Everyone encounters stress, decisions, being numb to one’s listens to music and takes naps to Matt DeMarco and each person handles it dif- feelings, loss of interest in normal de-stress. ferently. Some are masters at activities, loss of appetite, night- “Not all stress is harmful,” Biol- Assmaa Elbanna handling the feeling, while oth- mares, recurring thoughts, anger ogy Teacher Dr. Dunn said. “Con- Bianca Fata ers struggle to keep their cool in and use of alcohol and drugs. trol stress [by] exercising. It is ac- Fernando Herrera tough times. Other symptoms may include de- tually good for you and it can even Isabella Hughes Stress is a normal physical re- pression, sleep problems, head- help you deal with the bad stress sponse to events that make a aches, back pains, stomach prob- that affects our daily lives.” Nicolette Jimenez person feel threatened or upset. lems and trouble concentrating. However, when stress grows se- Sean McChesney When a person senses danger, Freshman Francesca Caliguire vere, it becomes a serious health Emily Ortega whether it is real or imagined, the said school is a primary source of issue that could result in hyper- Viviana Perez body’s defenses kick into high her stress. tension, heart attacks and organ gear in a rapid, automatic process “There are many ways that peo- disease. It could also cause the Nicole Plonski known as the “fight-or-flight” reac- ple can deal with stress. I can deal immune system to destroy insu- Stephanie Pitera tion, or the stress response. with [stress] by remaining calm lin-producing cells, distort emo- Darleny Rivas Stress can hit a person when and saying everything will be fine,” tions and lead to physiological least expected or in more predict- Caliguire said. She said she com- issues. able high pressure circumstances forts herself by keeping her mind Dunn recommends dealing with Check us out like before a test, after an acci- off of her troubles. She walks, stress by socializing, exercising, on the Web! dent or during a relationship con- reads books, listens to music and finding a passion, meditating, fo- flict. While everyone experiences takes naps in order to relax. cusing on one’s posture and eat- Click on the student stress, a lengthy bout of it can “I mostly stress about school ing right. resources tab of the affect one’s health and ability to because now I’m trying to get my “Stop doing what you are doing deal with life. That is why social grades up. I’m a freshman, and I to trigger the stress. If it is caus- high school’s website support and taking care of oneself know that I have two years to get ing you distress, then reconsider to view our are important, according to the prepared for the HSPA, and I just if it is worth doing or being a part newspaper. Centers for Control Disease and want to get a decent grade on that of. You have choices. Always give Prevention. test. When I graduate, I want to yourself options,” Dunn said. Symptoms of stress include graduate as an A and B student,” PAGE 4 The Lighthouse April 2013 Job and college interview tips for success BY SAMANTHA DA SILVA good with people. You can talk about ways you about you because if they are going to let you have worked with people, whether in school or into their college, they want to make sure you High School: the four quickest and most a group project.” -Mr. Clifford are going to carry their name respectfully and memorable years of our lives. These are the 4. Take initiative in your job search. professionally.” -Mrs. Colombo four years when we are desperate for money “You can’t be afraid to ask someone or a 3. Get involved with your school because a and terrified of what the future holds. business or a store if they are looking [to hire]. high GPA and SAT/ACT score is not neces- Most high school jobs aren’t posted in flyers or sarily enough. When our sixteenth birthday comes along, newspapers.” -Mr. Clifford “The best colleges do not simply accept stu- that is when freedom arrives. At sixteen, most 5. Not everyone will get a job on his/her dents with 4.0 GPAs and 2400 SAT scores. students acquire their working papers and first try. The job hunt may take time. Although these are nice things to have, these embark on their very first job hunt. So, what “Be ready to be denied. Don’t get discour- students are boring in their eyes.” -Cap Ki Kim advice should one consider before heading aged if you don’t get a job at first.” -Mr. Clifford 4. Take initiative. into a job interview? Guidance Counselor Mrs. “As we step into college, we are entering as Colombo and History Teacher Mr. Clifford give As students progress into their junior and adults. So, [college interviewers] look for adult their opinions: senior years, applying to college becomes an leaders, not followers.” -Cap Ki Kim 1. Job interviews for high school students important focus. For many, this means going 5. Experience everything because once are fairly laid back. on college interviews. Senior Cap Ki Kim and high school is over, it is over. “For a high school kid, most job interviews Colombo offer the following advice for these “My advice is to start now. Dive into things are pretty relaxed, mostly filling out an applica- high-stakes meetings: that you have never thought of diving into. tion and speak[ing] for a few minutes. You do 1. Do research and enter the interview with High school is the time to build yourself. So want to take a professional approach. Be nice, passion. grab every opportunity that it lays out for you.” shake hands, be respectful.” -Mrs. Colombo “I prepare with a mindset that every college -Cap Ki Kim 2. When applying for a job, keep in mind the that I’m interviewing for is my dream college.... qualities that employers are looking for in Aside from this, I potential employees. gain some back- “Employers are looking for reliability, trust- ground information worthiness, work ethic and professionalism. on the colleges When I say that, I mean no cell phone talking, and prepare my- getting there on time, respecting customers self for potential [and no] calling in sick because you want to questions that are hang with friends. They’re looking for someone likely to be asked.” who will always be there.” -Mrs. Colombo -Cap Ki Kim 3. To increase your chances of getting a 2. Make a great job, make yourself stand out. first impression. “For a job interview, you want to let [the em- “It’s all about ployer] know that you are willing to do what how you present other people will not do. They want to look yourself. [College at you and know that you will make this job interviewers] want work.... Try to express to them that you’re [to know] details COURTESY OF FRANK AGRESTI Seniors plan to make most of remaining moments

BY VIVIANA PEREZ Senior John Manzo said he plans to spend Like Herrera, Senior Michelle Taliento recom- the upcoming months with friends, explaining mends seniors get more involved in the LHS As seniors walk the hallways, they may not that they plan to travel to the beach. community. realize how close their graduation day is and Other seniors plan to use their time in high “Join something you’ve never done before. appreciate all of the moments leading up to it. school to make a change in themselves. They Stop into an SGA [Student Government Asso- This may be because it is hard to consider a hope to polish up their character before enter- ciation] or Improv Club meeting.... Have fun,” year of “lasts” or because daily life is too busy Taliento suggests. to think about the future. However, it is never Senior Kasey Nogueira advises his peers to too late to make plans and enjoy the remaining “Join something you’ve never done just “go with the flow.” He said being stressed days of high school. before. Stop into an SGA [Student or worried is not a pleasant way to spend the Many seniors plan on using their final Government Association] or Improv year. So, he suggests making the best of every months at LHS to create fond memories with situation because ideal circumstances may friends and teachers they have gotten to know Club meeting.... Have fun.” never come around. because, moving forward, it may be difficult to Nogueria said he expects to feel nostalgic keep in touch with old pals. ing the next phase of their lives. after leaving high school behind. “I [will] thank all my teachers and say my “I would spend my last days as an LHS stu- “I will miss many things when I graduate, last goodbyes to everybody because you nev- dent by trying to get more involved in school from the wonderful teachers to the crowded er know when you might see these people because I know that in college, I will be on my hallways, even those teachers and students I again,” Senior Austin Meeney said. “[I] want to own. I hope that I will be more talkative and have not gotten a chance to meet or talk to,” savor all the moments I have with them.” less shy,” Senior Elsie Herrera said. Nogueira said. April 2013 The Lighthouse PAGE 5 Victtor Minetto² BY FERNANDO HERRERA around for no reason. I used to like people ‘Victtor,’ they both turn around. I call Victtor J. calling me Jassier, but now I like being called ‘best friend’ and Victtor B., just Victtor,” Ven- They only came to LHS last year, but already Victtor,” Victtor J. said. dola said. many students around school know Victtor B. On the contrary, Victtor B. said he likes hav- Minetto and Victtor J. Minetto, more commonly ing the same name as his brother. known as the Victtor brothers. These two soph- “I like it because people call us the Victtor omores have the same fi rst and last names, brothers. I like being called Victtor,” Victtor B. are in the same grade and are not twins. said. Approximately 11 months apart in age, Vict- Having the same name is trouble enough in tor Jassier is the older of the brothers and Vict- social situations, but in the classroom and on tor Bryan is the younger one. Other than being sport teams, it gets even more confusing. called the two Victtors, they go by their middle “I have never seen the occurrence of hav- names and nicknames including Los Victtors, ing two brothers with the same fi rst names in Victtor 1 and Victtor 2, the Victtors or simply the same grade,” Junior Varsity Soccer Coach Victtor when only one of them is in the room. Fagan said. “When I handed in my rosters, the The brothers got their names as a result of athletic director would say that I wrote down a a family tradition whereby one son always is kid’s same name twice when I did not.” named Victtor. However, their dad wanted to Fagan said that having both Victtors on the name both of them Victtor to strengthen the team was complicated at fi rst. Victtor J. end- tradition. ed up quitting the team, which eliminated the Victtor J. said he sometimes likes having the complexity. same name as his brother and other times it Sophomore Giuliana Vendola said that at COURTESY OF FERNANDO HERRERA is annoying. fi rst, identifying the brothers was confusing, Sophomores Victtor B. Minetto (left) and Victtor “I do not like it because people always con- but after a year, it was no longer a problem. J. Minetto (right) are two brothers who are in the “It is kind of funny because when you say fuse me and my brother, and I end up turning same grade and have the same fi rst name. Now presenting the graduating class of 2013...

BY STEPHANIE PITERA pre-med or chemical engineering. “I’m most excited to meet new people and “I’m most excited for the transition into a much have the experience of being more indepen- Many students dream of being the football more mature environment and the chance to dent, even though [independence] comes with star, the lead in the high school musical or study in depth what I’m passionate about,” Kim a lot of responsibility,” Zdanek said. the valedictorian of their class. They strive to said. College is a big responsibility. Although many do their very best academically and socially Senior Casey Zdanek, who plans to study ed- associate it with crazy parties and sororities, in high school... but what happens after they ucation at Drew University in the fall, said she education is its main purpose. have achieved their goals and move on? is enthusiastic about the year ahead. “College is a business and while you can With graduation rapidly approaching, the gain a tremendous education, have lifetime members of the Class of 2013 are left with memories and meet lifelong friends, realize big decisions about the road ahead. As many that your main reason for being there is to seniors would agree, paving the path to one’s reach your future goals,” History Teacher Mr. future can be exhausting. After all, the possibil- Newman said. ities are endless. Senior Camila Alonso will not be experiencing In most cases, high school students have traditional college life. She plans to attend col- plans for the following year in place months lege while serving in the United States Marine Corps. This is not the last you will see of “What infl uenced my decision was everything the Marines had to offer, like educational ben- the Class of 2013. efi ts, and also the chance to make a difference in people’s lives,” Alonso said. before they graduate, since most colleges re- Leaving the comfort of LHS may be diffi cult, quire a commitment from students by May 1. but it is important to make the most of every Students must also decide whether to live in new experience. a dorm or commute from home. “Take the time to enjoy each moment while it Senior Denice Vidals said she plans on living is there. So often, we end up making ourselves on campus because of the various opportuni- so busy that we don’t even realize moments in ties the experience presents. time have passed us by,” English Teacher Ms. “I need to get away. I need to get the full DiMaggio advised. college experience and grow up,” Vidals said. Whether attending college, joining the military She has not yet decided which school she will or choosing a different path altogether, seniors be attending, but said she plans to study crim- have big plans for their futures. In a time of un- inology. certainty, one thing is for sure. This is not the Senior Cap Ki Kim has not yet decided which last you will see of the Class of 2013. school to attend, but he hopes to study either COURTESY OF FRANK AGRESTI PAGE 6 The Lighthouse April 2013 OPINION OPINION OPINION Social networks Music app Dive into... ‘The Perks of Being provide awkward alternatives moments a Wallflower’ BY ISABELLA HUGHES BY EMMA FLUSK BY EMILY ORTEGA The best part of a car ride is listening to the If you use social networking sites such as radio, which has many stations from which to I first heard of the novel, “The Perks of Be- Facebook, Ask.fm and Tumblr, you most likely select. However, many of these stations leave ing a Wallflower” by Stephen Chbosky, during have or will encounter an awkward moment. I the listener dissatisfied by featuring the same a conversation with a couple of friends. Soon believe the nature of the sites and how people songs over and over again. after, I saw everybody reading it. So, I decided use them contribute to the occasionally un- NOW (92.3 FM), Z100 (100.3 FM) and to read it too. The book was so fascinating, I comfortable, yet enjoyable, user experience. POWER (105.1 FM) are popular stations finished it in four days! Facebook has evolved into a network used among teens. Unfortunately, they all tend to The novel is set in 1990, when parties were as a substitute for face-to-face conversation. overplay popular songs, which I think is ex- in basements and teenagers liked the feeling Have you ever found yourself connecting tremely annoying. of being “infinite” better than YOLO, an acro- with someone on Facebook, but then, in real Junior Connor McMullin said he prefers lis- nym for “you only live once.” life, acting like total strangers? tening to music apps. The narrator is a high school freshman People often make friends on Facebook, “The radio’s overplayed and you can also named Charlie. He tells his story through a feeling like they have gotten to know that per- pick your favorite artists for the stations [us- series of letters to an anonymous person who son from chatting often. ing apps],” McMullin said. He said he listens is never revealed. Charlie is antisocial and The downside is that once you see that friend to artists including ASAP Rocky, J. Cole and suffers from anxiety. He befriends two seniors, in person, you may feel overwhelmed by the Kanye West. Patrick and Sam, who introduce him to many realization that you do not truly know him or people and parties. her. This leads to confusion about how to act Charlie encounters a lot of family drama, with your Facebook friend in passing. So, you “The radio’s overplayed and you and the text focuses on the complications and settle for that little awkward wave in the school can also pick your favorite artists upsides of growing up. Although the book con- hallway. Though utilizing Facebook this way for the stations [using apps].” tains some mature content, it is still a great will make you feel uncomfortable, it does not tale that many teens will find relatable. take away the fun of talking to someone new. “The Perks of Being a Wallflower” original- Ask.fm is an anonymous social networking For those like me who are fed up with over- ly published in 1999, was turned into a major site that is catching on in popularity.This site is played music, Pandora Radio is a popular free motion picture that was released in 2012. The designed so that you do not know who is fol- alternative to the radio. This site or app allows film stars Logan Lerman as Charlie, Emma lowing you and who is asking you questions. listeners to create their own stations by select- Watson as Sam and Ezra Miller as Patrick. Therefore, be prepared to receive uncomfort- ing favorite singers and bands, whose names While I enjoyed the movie, many scenes able questions that your followers may view. appear in list form on the side of the screen. If were compressed, so the film is not as de- Receiving strange questions from people is you do not like the song, you can skip it, with a scriptive as the book. The movie also ex- what makes this website entertaining. I would limit of six skips per hour, per station. cludes some of the mature content from the much rather be asked something outrageous Pandora allows users to give a “thumbs up” novel, which is why it is rated PG-13. Several than something boring like “What’s your favor- to songs they want replayed in the future and movie scenes do, however, provide a clearer ite color?” Although I wonder if anyone from “thumbs down” to songs they do not want to explanation of events from the novel. my school has asked me this question, and hear again. The downside of Pandora, how- The movie opens with Charlie writing a let- I always have a little twinge of fear as to who ever, is that there are commercials between ter to an unknown friend because he does not will see my answer, which adds to the thrill. songs. have many friends at school. At a party, Char- Tumblr is another blogging site that, like Ask. Freshman Isabella Nunes said Pandora is lie reveals to a fellow student named Sam that fm, allows anonymous messaging. Some peo- her favorite music app. a close friend of his recently passed away. ple like to just own a blog and not talk to others “I like that the radio station you create plays Sam and her brother Patrick realize that Char- on Tumblr, but I enjoy the social aspect of this music from other artists in the same genre,” lie is lonely and welcome him into their group. website. Nunes said. “I love the Beatles, Imagine Drag- Sam greets him by saying, “Welcome to the What I like most about the interaction I can ons, Indie Rock and classics like Whitney Island of Misfit toys.” have with other people on Tumblr is the “put a Houston and Beyonce.” Some scenes will leave your mouth hanging number in my ask box” game in which people Another easy to use free radio app is iHeart- open because they are so dramatic. The part post lists of numbered questions that you can radio. With iHeartradio, a list of local radio where Sam is trying to capture the feeling of reblog in the hopes of your followers taking an stations based on your zip code come up, being forever young will make you feel nos- interest and asking you something. Some of and you can choose from a variety of music talgia for the 1990s. She stands on the back the questions on these lists are very strange, categories. If you do not like the song, simply of her pickup truck with her arms spread wide but they are also the most fun ones to answer. pressing the scan button skips it. Like Pando- open while her brother drives under a bridge. By virtue of being teenagers, we are bound to ra and Slacker, iHeartradio also comes with Many students will be able to relate to the encounter weird interactions with people any- commercials. characters since they are also learning the where we go. My advice to you is if you do not If you are faced with the frustration of lis- hardships and value of growing up. find awkward moments funny, you should try tening to the same songs on the radio, these Whether you choose to read the book or to stay away from social networks to minimize internet alternatives may be perfectly suited watch the movie, you will not be disappointed! your chances of having these moments. But if for you. Both versions tell a truly great story that will you are like me, keep your inbox open! leave you feeling “infinite.” April 2013 The Lighthouse PAGE 7 OPINION Is LHS missing out on a senior prom? BY GIANNA DIPISA dress and be able to be Cinderella for the day. then having a low-key, dateless cocktail party Now, imagine being able to experience this a few weeks before graduation? As a small child, I can remember a sun- day... twice. Senior Kyre Boyd said he enjoyed every as- ny spring day, playing with Barbie dolls in my Of course, one can opt to go to LHS’s Junior pect of junior prom last year, acknowledging room until my mom told me it was time to go Prom multiple times, but it would only be that that it is a huge deal at LHS. However, for his out. person’s own special day once. senior year, he prefers a banquet. “Where are we going?” I asked her. Here at LHS, the tradition is for juniors to “I am excited for senior banquet just to dress “Today is Cousin Dena’s prom. We are go- go to prom and seniors to banquet. This dif- up and have a nice party with my senior class ing to go take pictures with her at her house,” fers from many other high schools that have a one last time,” Boyd said. she said. combination of a junior and senior prom or just Math Teacher Ms. Lampmann went to Prom? What could that even mean? Is that a a senior prom. Senior banquet, though? That Queen of Peace High School in North Arling- place? All these questions fl oated through my is pretty unique. ton, which has both a junior and senior prom. fi ve-year-old mind until a few minutes later, She agreed LHS has a good tradition, explain- we arrived at my grandmother’s house. ing she did not enjoy her senior prom as much The couches were moved out of the way, as her junior prom. so the corner of the living room became the “As seniors, we had experienced a prom set for the photos. My cousin looked like a before and therefore, the novelty of the event princess in her long gown with her hair and had worn off. With senior year coming to an makeup perfectly in place while a cute boy, end, our minds were more focused on spend- who I then thought was Prince Charming, was ing quality time with each other before gradu- standing next to her, smiling for the camera. ation,” Lampmann said. The pair had a matching wristlet and bou- “Having people not in our class share that tonniere of fl owers; I was mesmerized. My with us, left the night feeling anti-climactic,” grandmother took me behind the out-of-place Lampmann said. sofa so I wouldn’t be in the way, and I asked I agree that LHS has it right and its stu- her all of the questions that I was desperate to dents are not missing out on anything. Prom have answered. COURTESY OF MS. DISCHLER is a special day that should only happen once. She explained what prom was and how Otherwise, its value is diminished. someday I would be able to go to prom too. I So here is my question: Are LHS students Senior banquet is also a distinct experience was instantly hooked, and my fantasy began. really missing out by not having a senior that can bring the class together right before From that moment on, I knew my prom prom? Or are we the lucky ones reaping the graduation. The memory can live on its own, would be amazing. I would wear a beautiful benefi ts of one prom that is spectacular and rather than sharing the spotlight with prom. OPINION Junior prom is worth the wait BY NICOLETTE JIMENEZ high school and be in good standing in his/ I pose this question to freshmen: Do you her respective school. LHS graduates will be really want to spend all that money on a prom This year LHS has made a big prom change. permitted if they were in good standing while that isn't even yours? In due time, you will get This is the fi rst year that freshmen will not be they attended LHS. No guest over the age of your opportunity to enjoy this special event. allowed to attend prom. Although this policy 19 is permitted. Waiting is part of the magic that makes prom has caused mixed emotions, I am in favor of it. so wonderful. Prom is expensive and stressful. So, in my opinion, it should be a privilege that is earned after completing a year of high school. Fresh- man year should be devoted to getting used to the high school. Prom is a special night when you clean up and look beautiful or handsome. It is costly for everyone, but especially for girls who need to buy a dress, get hair, makeup and nails done and possibly get a tan. On top of that, there is the $140 bid (which varies from year to year) and a pricey transportation cost. According to LHS’s prom contract, LHS juniors are allowed to invite a date from the tenth, eleventh or twelfth grade who is in good standing, academically and behaviorally. If COURTESY OF a student’s date does not attend LHS, he or ASSMAA ELBANNA she must be enrolled in another accredited PAGE 8 The Lighthouse April 2013 Jersey Shore summer is set to begin Memorial Day Weekend BY SEAN MCCHESNEY lost everything they had,” Ferreira said. million for Superstorm Sandy victims. The recovery process would not be possible Aid also came from friends and family in the The December issue of “The Lighthouse” fo- without the donations and help from people all communities most affected. cused on the devastation caused by Super- around the country as well as the American “I helped my neighbor on my block and oth- storm Sandy. Now that six months have gone Red Cross and the Federal Emergency Man- ers in our community pick through their homes by, some Jersey Shore communities have high agement Agency. and salvage what was left,” Wartel said. hopes that rebuilding efforts will allow them to One event that brought hope to the Jersey With every negative there is a positive. Ac- bounce back this summer, offering vacationers Shore shortly after the storm was the 12/12/12 cording to NJ.com, Seaside Heights was an experience they will not forget. However, for Sandy benefi t concert that was held at a sold awarded a $3.6 million contract in January others, signifi cant damage still remains. out Madison Square Garden in New York City. to rebuild its legendary boardwalk in time for Junior Salvatore Wartel’s family has a house The concert, which took place on Dec. 12, Memorial Day weekend, which will mark the in Ortley Beach. With the fi rst fl oor of his home 2012, featured stars including Eric Clapton, beginning of the summer season. destroyed, they are now in the process of re- Alicia Keys, The Rolling Stones, Kanye West, Even though the Seaside Heights boardwalk building, hoping to complete it by the summer. The Who and New Jersey’s own Bruce Spring- will be ready in May, it does not mean the town Wartel said when he visited Ortley Beach af- steen and Jon Bon Jovi. According to “The itself will be back to normal by then. Accord- ter Superstorm Sandy, he was in shock. New York Times,” the concert raised over $50 ing to Casino Pier’s facebook page, the front “It was like a totally different half of Casino Pier will have place since the landmarks that rides ready for this sum- have been there for as long as I mer, but the back of Casino can remember are gone now,” Pier will not have rides un- Wartel said. til Summer 2014. Funtown Junior Anthony Giaquinto’s fam- Pier, the pier on the south ily also has a house in Ortley side of Seaside Heights, Beach, which the storm complete- will also reopen in 2014, ly wrecked. He said that when his according to NJ.com. This father went down to check on it, could possibly mean more his fi rst reaction at seeing the dev- business for other Jersey astation was heartbreaking. Shore hot spots like Wild- “The side of the house is gone wood and Cape May. and the base of the house is ripped According to Giaquinto, out. There was another house in a thriving economy at the our backyard and our boat had seashore is a possibility for disappeared,” Giaquinto said. this summer. However, he Junior Brittany Ferreira, who va- said that for more business cations in Barnegat, said she was opportunities to develop, amazed at the destruction that she people must accept that saw on the news. COURTESY OF FEMA.GOV storms like Sandy may hit “I felt so bad for everyone who Seaside Heights construction workers aim to rebuild the boardwalk by Memorial Day again. Weekend. Earth Day: a day of healing BY SARA BARREIROS protest pollution from coast to coast. the year. Basically, every day should be Earth The Environmental Protection Agency was Day," Manzella said. April 22 is Earth Day, an annual worldwide established on Dec. 2, 1970. It was tasked with Geophysical Science Teacher Mr. Frew holiday that raises awareness about global protecting the water, air and land. Because agreed that people should get involved in cel- ecological problems and people’s dependency of the EPA’s infl uence, between the years of ebrating Earth Day and continue their positive on the Earth. Earth Day also promotes action 1970 and 1974, Congress passed many acts practices throughout the year. to address environmental issues. According such as the Clean Air Act, Clean Water Act, “There are also community cleanups that to the Earth Day Network, a nonprofi t organi- Safe Drinking Water Act and laws to protect one can participate in, tree plantings or sym- zation, Earth Day is "the largest secular civic wildlife, like the Endangered Species Act. posiums presented by environmental groups event in the world," with over one billion people In 1995, President Bill Clinton awarded Nel- that can be attended,” Frew said. He explained participating in related activities. son the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the that even making small changes in one’s be- Former Wisconsin Senator and Environmen- highest honor for a U.S. civilian, for his role haviors are important. talist Gaylord Nelson is responsible for Earth in founding Earth Day, raising awareness and “It can start with simple things like conserv- Day's inception. Nelson was inspired by the promoting environmental action. ing water and energy by shutting off the lights power of the Vietnam anti-war movement and LHS Biology Teacher Ms. Manzella said she when you leave a room or not wasting water,” the damages of the oil spill in Santa Barba- makes an effort to participate in Earth Day ac- Frew said. ra, California in 1969. He believed if he could tivities and tries to incorporate environmental Freshman Evan Amin said people should be inform people about air and water pollution, it lessons into her classes. thankful to the Earth because of all it provides. would be forced onto the national agenda. "I do feel that we should incorporate the goals "Earth Day is important because it is a day The fi rst Earth Day celebration took place on and objectives of Earth Day into our daily lives that we should appreciate the Earth and help it April 22, 1970 and was a huge success with and attempt to educate ourselves about the become healthier, just like it does for us every millions of Americans utilizing the holiday to environment and our impact on it throughout day," Amin said. April 2013 The Lighthouse PAGE 9 Spring cleaning made swift BY NICOLE PLONSKI the most important place to make use of these “When I spring clean, I dance and clean at three boxes is the closet. You may have cloth- the same time. It turns something so boring Spring: the season where the days get lon- ing that is too small or you have never worn. into something fun,” Freshman Sandra Marti- ger, clothing gets lighter, fl owers blossom and If so, they can be placed into the donation or nez said. Martinez said it takes her approxi- we are spending more time outdoors counting Goodwill box. mately two days every year to fi nish her spring down the days until summer vacation. Mean- O’Malley’s fourth tip is to listen to music, es- cleaning with occasional help from her mom while, there is something in the back of our pecially upbeat music that will give you boosts and dad. minds that most of us dread... spring cleaning. of energy. The last of her tips is to reorganize Martinez suggests taking a trip to either the Cleaning is already a responsibility most of because it will make your room look and feel Container Store or Home Depot to stock up on us wish a magical fairy could do for us. Spring new and improved. organizing supplies. When her spring cleaning cleaning is an even bigger project full of de- “Don’t try to do everything at once because is complete, Martinez said she takes a bath, cluttering, organizing and possibly remod- you will cause a bigger project and get dis- gets her hair done and goes shopping. She eling. Though the task can seem dreadful, a couraged,” said English Teacher Ms. DiMag- said she feels proud of herself every time. few helpful tips can help you get the job done gio. She suggests putting aside a whole day “I’m pretty crazy about spring cleaning, most- quickly and effectively. or weekend and do little pieces at a time. ly because it’s fun to fi nd things you sometimes According to an article titled “Spring cleaning DiMaggio said she tries to do a spring clean- don’t remember you even had,” Freshman Me- tips for teens” by Mary O'Malley on Helium. ing every year, sometimes with the help of her lissa Bonacarti said. Bonacarti said she con- com, there are fi ve important tips one can fol- son. She starts by putting away all the clutter, ducts a spring cleaning not only of her room low. First, set aside a day or more if needed, and then dusts and washes so that if she does but her locker too. and do not make any plans for that time. Sec- not fi nish, her home will still look pretty good. Unlike DiMaggio, Bonacarti said she tears ond, if you make a to do list, you will not for- In order to keep herself from getting distracted an area apart during spring cleaning. Then, af- get anything during the cleaning process. She and stopping, she said she puts the same TV ter sorting her belongings into two piles, she said crossing each item off of the list as you show on in both the living room and bedroom. fi nds a more organized way to put it all back go will keep your objectives clear. It will also DiMaggio receives a catalog in the mail in order. give you a sense of accomplishment as you called “Get Organized,” that she said helps her Bonacarti advises keeping your space orga- visually see that you have less and less to do. to do exactly that. When all the cleaning is fi - nized after spring cleaning. Therefore, if you Next, sort items you collect along the way nally done and she can let out a sigh of relief, take something out, put it back where it was into three boxes: garbage, Goodwill and items she treats herself to a snack while watching a when you are done. This way, you will not have that are out of place. O’Malley mentions that movie and relaxing for the rest of the day. to keep doing major cleanups afterwards. How to get your body beach-ready BY DARLENY RIVAS She advises students to instead seek out are always indoors and on the internet,” said healthy food that is low in fat and consume Freshman Marlene DaCruz, who is on the The summer—with its warm weather and less soda and sugary drinks. Hykey said water track team. breezy, colorful clothes—will be here sooner is the best option. A healthy workout routine should consist of than you think. This season is known for fun Students who want to lose weight should 30-45 minutes of combined cardiovascular and and relaxation, but it can be frustrating for also exercise regularly. muscular fi tness exercises, according to Web- students struggling with some extra pounds. “Students should be more active. Teens MD.com, a health website featuring in-depth There is no need to worry, though. Put away medical news, features and reference material. those baggy clothes and fi nd out how to get in Health Teacher Ms. Vasto recommends an shape quickly and easily, just in time for beach exercise program combining cardiovascular season. endurance such as walking, running, jogging Let’s start with what not to do. Do not go cra- and swimming with weight training. zy and try to lose weight too quickly. A healthy Students can also try yoga because it incor- amount of weight loss is one to two pounds porates the body, breath and mind to improve a week, according to nutrition.gov, a nutrition physical and mental health. Yoga is known to website run by the federal government. Losing help reduce stress, increase energy, strength- weight faster than that eliminates muscle with en and shape the body and control weight. the fat, which makes a person look thinner, but Hykey recommends that students establish also fl abbier because of the lost muscle. COURTESY OF DARLENY RIVAS a long-term goal, whether that be to lose 20 Good nutrition is important. A healthy diet Freshman Hailey Wenger does weight exercises pounds or run a mile in eight minutes. They in the Lyndhurst fi eldhouse. should include protein, fruits and vegetables. should also set short-term goals and reward So, try eating a bowl of oatmeal topped with themselves when they achieve them. blueberries for breakfast, snacking on al- “On your way to achieving your long-term monds or walnuts and eating salmon in a sal- goal, you will set and reach many short-term ad at lunch or as an entrée for dinner. Eating goals which will keep you motivated to work in moderation, and having smaller meals fi ve out,” Hykey said. or six times a day, can be benefi cial. Whether you are trying to eat healthy or work Students should also avoid fast food, which out more, Vasto said it is important to stay mo- often leads to weight gain. tivated. “Eating out is not healthy. Unfortunately, “Set a realistic goal or goals,” Vasto said. sometimes life is crazy and it forces us to eat “You must desire, believe and expect to ac- out,” Track and Field Coach Ms. Hykey said. complish the goals you set.” PAGE 10 The Lighthouse April 2013 Major League Baseball back to bat for victory

BY CHRISTOPHER ANDERSON does not necessarily mean the Giants will win Tillman. again in 2013. The Nationals also made the playoffs last Major League Baseball spring training start- “My prediction is that the [New York] Mets season. Star Pitcher Stephen Strasburg is ed in mid-February, and the season offi cially will win the World Series,” Freshman Nicho- making his return after a limited number of in- began on April 1. While spring training games las Nicastro said. Being the fi rst to start spring nings due to a severe elbow injury and, conse- do not count towards a team’s overall record training gives the Mets an advantage and their quently, Tommy John Surgery in 2010. for the season, they are a stepping stone for new players will help them win it, Nicastro said. With many young teams and a mix of veter- players to prepare physically and mentally for Others predict that the Baltimore Orioles will an teammates, Freshman Vincent Dorio said the long journey ahead. beat the Washington Nationals in six games to he believes the competition will be pretty even The 32 MLB teams tend to have drastical- capture the World Series title. among the league. ly different performances each year. For ex- The Orioles made the playoffs last year for “There is no team with multiple great play- ample, last year, the Baltimore Orioles made the fi rst time in 15 years, and they are only get- ers,” Dorio said. the playoffs for the fi rst time in 15 years. That ting stronger because they have many young, This season, the MLB teams are much more same year, the San Francisco Giants swept returning players. Some of these talented even than past years, which is likely to make it the Detroit Tigers in the World Series, but that sportsmen include Manny Machado and Chris a competitive season that is exciting to watch. Coach Shoebridge is set on 18th championship

BY VINCENT LOMBARDI Shoebridge said the team’s success also Shoebridge said the team’s sucess also comes from the student athletes who are will- Coach Shoebridge, head coach of the boys ing to work hard during every practice. track team, is a cornerstone of LHS sports his- "Shoebridge is a great coach. He is always tory. He has been coaching the team for 34 motivating you to do your best and genuinely years. During that time, he has won 17 champi- cares about each individual athlete and never onships: ten league championships, six county talks down to anyone," Senior Captain Brent championships and one state championship. Negrao said. Shoebridge is a former track athlete him- Shoebridge is known for helping his athletes self. When he attended LHS, he was a hurdler make the most of their natural talent. and high jumper. He said he draws on his own ”I have never met anyone like Coach Shoe- playing experiences to help his players grow bridge. He is the most inspirational person I as athletes. have ever met,” a former track athlete, Antho- Shoebridge attributes the track team's ny Maldonado, said. success, in part, to his many great assistant Many students are wondering whether Shoe- coaches who are always there to support him. bridge, who retired as an LHS physical educa- The assistant coaches also think highly of tion teacher last June, has any plans of retiring Shoebridge. from coaching. “Coach Shoebridge is one of my mentor In response to these rumors Coach Shoe- coaches, and he knows how to motivate stu- bridge said he has not given thought about re- COURTESY OF LORS STUDIO dents at every ability level,” Assistant Coach Coach Shoebridge is head coach of the boys tiring and wants to continue coaching as long Tessalone said. track team. as possible. Boys track eyeing another triple crown ring BY VINCENT LOMBARDI The team feels like it has something to prove on April 3 with a home dual meet against this season and aspires to compete for its Dwight Englewood High School and Queen of The boys track team has its sights set on an- second triple crown in three years. The tri- Peace High School. other great season. The team is led by Head ple crown is achieved when a team wins its As of April 8, the team’s record was 2-0. Coach Shoebridge, who has pretty high ex- league, county and state cham- pectations for this year. Although 16 seniors pionships. graduated last season, many talented under- “After losing states by one classmen returned. The team consists of over point last year, all of us are hop- 100 student athletes. ing to make a comeback and The team has three senior captains: Cap get another set of rings, but we Ki Kim, Brent Negrao and James Wenger. take it day by day and just aim There are eight other senior leaders: Steve for being the best athletes we Alemany, Nathan Duquilla, Philip Fernandez, can be,” Negrao, a hurdler, said. Mac Lee, J.P. Manzo, Vinny Munafo, Jason According to Thrower Justin Waldron and Ian Yunis. Spahiu, “The team has many “The team will be successful if the ath- talented athletes and can defi - letes work hard every practice and follow the nitely achieve a lot of success instructions and tips given by the coaching this year.” COURTESY OF LORS STUDIO staff,” Shoebridge said. The team started the season The race to victory begins for the boys track team. April 2013 The Lighthouse PAGE 11 COMMENTARY Wrestling gets slammed out of Olympics BY MATT DEMARCO the Olympics. “[The decision] is stupid. It's one of the best Although the sport will be removed from the sports and has been around since the Greeks,” Wrestling was one of the original sports in the Olympics after 2016, there is a chance that the Russamano said. first Olympic Games in 708 B.C. Now, thou- IOC will overturn its ruling. According to ESPN. Like Russamano, Junior Joey Morreale dis- sands of years later, the sport will be removed com, there are several international campaigns agrees with the sport’s removal. after the 2016 Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, led by wrestlers, and the sport’s supporters are “It was one of the first sports in the Olympics. Brazil. trying to appeal the decision. I really hope they rethink it and put wrestling The International Olympic Committee’s deci- Many student wrestlers are unhappy about back in,” Morreale said. sion to remove the sport is based on its belief this decision, including Sophomore Rocco Junior Michael Fortson, however, agrees with that wrestling is not popular enough to be in Russamano. the IOC decision. the Olympics. According to ESPN.com, there “I don’t care at all that Olympic wrestling is are often open seats in the arena during the getting removed. I never watched it, and I nev- wrestling matches and the number of televi- er enjoyed watching two men fight,” Fortson sion viewers also drops. said. IOC documents show that during the Lon- As a wrestler myself, I completely disagree don Olympic Games, there were an average with the IOC’s decision. I compete in three of 58.5 million TV viewers, but only 23 million sports---baseball, football and wrestling---and of them tuned in to watch wrestling. out of those sports, wrestling is by far the hard- According to ESPN.com, the IOC is trying est, both physically and mentally. Wrestling is to make the Olympics more mainstream, and also extremely fast-paced and exciting. by dropping wrestling, it hopes to add another, Google’s dictionary defines a sport as “an more popular sport. activity involving physical exertion and skill in The removal of this time-honored sport deals which an individual or team competes against a blow to high school and college wrestlers another or others.” Wrestling meets this defi- looking to continue their passion on the mat nition better than sports like ping pong, dres- after they graduate. After college wrestling, the COURTESY OF ANDREW COSMAN sage and synchronized swimming, all of which only other serious level at which to wrestle is remain in the Olympics. Wrestlemania makes history at MetLife Stadium BY MATT DEMARCO won. In Ryback vs. Mark Henry, Freshman Justin Smith watched person. Before the event, these Mark Henry won. Also, the debut Wrestlemania 29. were his predictions: “I think John Finally! Dwayne “The Rock” of Fandango shocked the world “I [saw] all my favorite wres- Cena will beat The Rock because Johnson came back to New Jer- when he beat Chris Jericho. tlers go against each other in the John Cena really is the Hulk Ho- sey for Wrestlemania 29. On April The main event was The Rock, biggest WWE event of the year,” gan, Stone Cold Steve Austin and 7, Wrestlemania, one of the larg- who is also known as “The Peo- Smith said. The Rock of this generation. The est professional wrestling events, ple’s Champ,” vs. John Cena. This Even though this event took Undertaker will beat CM Punk be- took place at MetLife Stadium in particular fight was surrounded by place close to Lyndhurst, the cost cause he never loses in Wrestle- East Rutherford as over 80,000 significant hype because these of admission hindered most stu- mania and I’ll probably still wear fans filled the stadium. superstars fought each other for dents from attending. a 20-1 shirt just to anger those At Wrestlemania, The Undertak- the second year in a row. Also, the As of March 26, tickets were al- crazy Undertaker fans,” Newman er succeeded to continue his 21-0 match was for the World Wrestling most sold out and selling for hun- said. “Finally, I think Triple H will undefeated Wrestlemania record Entertainment championship. dreds, even thousands, of dollars. beat Brock Lesnar in the ‘no holds against CM Punk. Additionally, in Freshman Gianna Jacobelli said Watching the event on television barred match’ in revenge for Le- a “no holds barred” match with her favorite wrestler is John Cena. was also expensive; Wrestle- snar breaking his arm the last two Triple H vs. Brock Lesnar, Triple “He is a great overall wrestler mania was only available on Pay- times they faced off.” H won. In Alberto Del Rio vs. Jack and cares a lot for his fans,” Jac- Per-View and cost $44.95. Newman’s predictions were all Swagger for the World Heavy- obelli said. “I, of course, want[ed] History Teacher Mr. Newman correct. weight Championship, Del Rio John Cena to win the main event.” attended Wrestlemania 29 in A strong start for girls track BY VINCENT LOMBARDI was Coach Vuono’s final year at last season, finishing with a record er to create a community. the helm. of 5-1 and placing second in their The team has seven senior The girls track team has gotten Hykey is a former LHS track league. Even though the girls had leaders: Sara Abouzid, Tesneam off to a great start with a 2-0 re- athlete and has experience from a good year, they still have room Abu-Hakmeh, Camila Alonso, cord as of April 8. They beat both being an assistant coach before for improvement. Gabby Cuviello, Gianna DiPi- Queen of Peace High School and becoming head coach. “The team still needs to work on sa, Brittany Levario and Esther Dwight Englewood High School “Coach Hykey is leading the their techniques and knowledge of Olasehinde. on April 3. team to victory and she is doing the sport,” Hykey said. Alonso said the team has the This season, the team has a an amazing job at it,” Sophomore Something that the track coach- ability to win their league and new coach, Coach Hykey, who Danielle Carroll said. es have changed this year is that county tournaments and compete is leading the way. Last season The team was very competitive the boys and girls practice togeth- in the state tournament. PAGE 12 The Lighthouse April 2013 LHS baseball brings talent down south BY BIANCA FATA PHOTOS COURTESY OF LORS STUDIO This year the baseball team Senior Max Hart (photo left) and Se- started off the season with a fi ve- nior Bobby DeMarco (photo below) day spring training trip to Florida. join their team in a huddle (photo On March 20, the boys fl ew down center), getting off to a strong start to Fort Pierce, Florida with about for the 2013 season. 30 of the top baseball programs in the country. They had at least one game a day with a double header on the last day. The team played fi ve games in four days, fi nishing with an overall record of 2-3. Coach Servideo said the trip was a great opportunity to evaluate his

squad and, at the same time, build things.” camaraderie that will benefi t them The team is led by four senior throughout the season. captains: Outfi elders Marcus “We will put it together and be Brandon and Bobby DeMarco, a contender for another league Pitcher and First Baseman Max championship, excel in the state Hart and Catcher Austin Meeney, tournament and seek a bid to the all returning varsity players. prestigious Bergen County Tour- Junior Center Fielder Sergio nament,” Coach Servideo said. Turelli said the team would benefi t Senior Pitcher Nick Galvez said from better utilizing practices. the team wants to win a lot of “We can take things more se- games, explaining, “We have a riously and not lose games that lot of potential and we can do big should be wins for us,” Turelli said. Girls softball back in the swing of things

BY JOELLE VOZA last season. Having lost only two this year,” Sophomore Kayleigh beating Dwight Englewood High seniors, they are very capable O’Rourke said. “Our team is very School 26-0 on April 1 and beat- of doing so, according to close to each other and I think that ing Harrison High School 14-0 Center Fielder Junior Dina is going to help us succeed.” on April 3. On April 8, they beat Ingenito. The girls began the season 3-0 Ridgefi eld High School 5-1. On March 11, the team had its fi rst scrimmage against Lakeland High School. Winning the scrim- mage 5-2 started the girls off on the right note and provided good motivation, especially because they were all getting hits even though they had not had practice the two days be- fore, Ingenito said. Senior Captains Casey Zdanek and Julie Schnei- denbach have been varsi- ty starters for four years. Since mid-January, the softball They are the only seniors team has worked hard on the on the team and have been the fi eld, at the batting cages and at pitcher-catcher duo since they Formative Athletic Strength and were freshmen. Speed Training (FASST), a cross- “We work so well together,” fi t training center in Lyndhurst, to Zdanek said about Schneiden- prepare for March 1, the fi rst offi - bach. “It’s natural, and I wouldn’t cial day of the season. feel as comfortable with any other PHOTOS COURTESY OF LORS STUDIO The team hopes to maintain its catcher.” Senior Casey Zdanek (photo left) and Senior Julie Schneidenback (photo league championship title from “I have really good feelings about above) are the pitching and catching dynamic duo.