Cregar sets, breaks swim records Blaise Lacca ‘07 For Cregar, this success was the pool are known as dry result of a lifetime of dedication to land practices. These The Patriot Issue 5 Washington Township High School, Sewell, NJ March 2006 A lot of guys wouldn’t consider his sport. practices include joining the swim team because they His first swim team experience running, stretching, don’t like the idea of wearing a was with the old Wedgewood Swim crunches, push ups, Speedo. This is not the case for Billy Club before the pool was shut down. some weight training, Cregar ‘07, Township’s top male It was on this team that Cregar and a lot of medicine Township staff takes stage swimmer. Cregar, 17, has been officially learned the sport of ball exercises. The other Margaret Bonanni ‘09 competitively swimming since the swimming and found his talent with half of practice that Mr. Raymond Anderson’s fierce age of five years old, and not once two strokes, the freestyle and the takes place in the pool James Brown impression, and their has the thought of wearing a Speedo butterfly. is not just a bunch of Township’s got talent, and proved performance of ‘Lets Get It Started’ The Black Eyed Peas bothered him. Cregar instantly found the laps cruising back and it on February 15, 2007 at the Faculty by . Township Fire “I don’t even notice that the sport to his liking and this forth. These practices Talent Show. The show was In the second act, suit is a Speedo because I’ve been enjoyment made him eager to strive include a warm up, envisioned by Mrs. Debbie McFadden, reminded students and faculty were swimming for such a long time,” for greatness. As his swimming multiple short distance Mrs. Carol De Lucas, and Mrs. Karen reminded of the great times they’ve Cregar said. career took off, he decided to join sprinting laps, kicking Muro in 1996, and is now produced experienced at Washington Township When it comes to racing, the the U.S.A swim team at GCIT. on a kickboard, by McFadden, Mrs. Pat Brown, and High School with a slide show. The time Cregar spends in the pool is There Cregar endured grueling three swimming without use Mrs. Criquette Norris. It has become slides depicted images of Township Rob Cavella ‘07/ The Patriot an anticipated event for students, and from the past and present and got a actually getting shorter. Several hour a day daily practices in and out of the legs, long distance Billy Cregar won the state championship times this season he has broken of the pool. Now that he is older, swimming, and starts a growing tradition. great response from the audience. in two freestyle events. school records only to set a new mark Cregar attends practices in the early and turns. “I’ve been in all six talent shows, “I thought the slide show was in the next meet. morning hours before school, and “It is hard work, but my He has gone on to win and place from the beginning, and every year hilarious, especially when they He is the state champion in the then returns to the pool for the accomplishments are well worth the in multiple events over his high school the crowd gets bigger. You can tell showed the part about the chickens 200 yard (eight laps) individual second practice after school. effort,” said Cregar. career which has given him valuble from the energy that students are being caught in Quay Way! It was medley, and the 500 yard (twenty laps) “There is a lot more hard work One accomplishments Cregar experience to continue at the colligiate excited about it,” said Patricia Conroy. my favorite part of the show”, stated freestyle. Other state championship that goes into the sport that most has achieved is qualifying for the level. That night the audience was able Kayla Dieter ’09. Photo Courtesy of Colonel Wolozyn th people don’t know about, most to see some of their favorite faculty The show closed with Sgt accomplishments include finishing 6 New Jersey State Individual Cregar plans to attend the Mrs. Cheryl Silverman and Mr. Chris Lawler as “Silvy & C-Law” in the 200 yard freestyle relay where people believe that all you have to Championship Meet every year University of Georgia and will begin members display their incredible Schirmer’s Clan, where the guidance This wow the crowds with their rendition of “Mockingbird” he teamed with Bill DeMarco ‘08, do for the sport is dive into a pool since he was a freshman. his college career in the fall of 2007. talent. Opening the show was department got to get funky with their a more contemporary selection of Blaise Lacca ‘07, and Dan Bower ‘08 and swim back and forth for a while,” “Making States as a freshman He chose not to follow in his father’s Old House Band, featuring popular which received an exciting reaction rendition of Lou Bega’s ‘Mambo songs. to set a new school record, and said Cregar. was a huge achievement for me because and sister Amanda’s footsteps by music from the past, and today. With from the crowd. In this piece Number Five’. This performance left “It was great when they finishing 14th in the 400 free relay Cregar reveals that practices for only a few freshmen from all over New attending University of South their great choice of music the band’s teachers danced to a mix of songs the show with a comical positive note played ‘Wonderwall’ by Oasis, and where he was joined by teammates a U.S.A team are half in the pool and Jersey qualify for the state meet,” Carolina. performance was a great way to open from different decades and music and sent the audience home smiling. over all the show was fun,” said DeMarco, Lacca, and Andrew Wood. half out. The practices out of the Cregar stated. “I want to go to my own the show, and give the audience a types, and showed how dance has Not only was the show com- Alex Quinn ‘09. college,” Cregar said, “Not that taste of what was to come. changed over time. prised of great performances, and In addition to the opening of there is anything wrong about Other music was performed by “This had to be the best act of a sight to see, but it also benefited the show, Hart’s band also played Girls make state tourney University of South Carolina.” Cregar Mr. Robert Hart’s band, who chose the night,” says Desiree Trzaska ‘09, students. The proceeds from the during intermission and in between Blaise Lacca ‘07 ‘09 teamed up in the 200 said. “It was so cool to see the teachers show went towards Project Gradu- performances of the show. free relay at the State Indi- Prior to selecting Georgia, dancing on stage and having fun.” ation and Renaissance. Be sure to In the first act, the audience was On March 8, the girls swim vidual Championship meet Cregar said that he seriously Inside... Another great performance in catch next year’s Student Talent dazzled with amazing dance acts team held their annual end of to finish fifth overall. considered the University of Texas, the first act was Teachers With an Show on its usual date before the What’s Happening p. 5 such as The Evolution of Dance, Attitude. The crowd was stunned by Presidents’ Day Weekend. the season banquet at the Whitman “I’m really proud of how Florida State, Auburn, and Indiana. Commentary p.6 Fire Hall. At the banquet the girls hard all the girls worked this. Each of those institutions caught were honored by their coach, Jessica It was a great way to end my Cregar’s attention because not only Letters p.8 Slates, not only on their individual swimming career here at do they have top notch swimming Features p.10 FCCLA “lovin’ it” accomplishments but also their Township”, said Castiglione. programs but an extensive science Lifestyle p.12 successfulness as a team. Victoria Pellerito, Noonan, curriculum. Tech Talk p.14 Club serves up good time for kids in need Throughout the season the girls Wood, and Cregar also came He felt the University of Odds & Ends p. 16 racked up quite a few wins. They together in the 400 free relay Georgia will give him the best Books p.17 Laura Marder ‘07 Chicken Devan with multiple were so happy to have something to keep appetizers and desserts. The club and remember us by,” said Letty Scanlon finished with a 9-3 record, including to break a school record at the opportunities to accomplish his Entertainment p.18 photo courtesy of tori pellerito ‘07 state meet. goals which include becoming a On Feb.20 FCCLA made a helped prepare the food at the school ’07, president of FCCLA. making it to the second round of the Sports p.22 state tournament playoffs. Danielle Mocella ‘08 lends helping “Our whole team really member of the Men’s U.S.A difference in a group of very special and the officers brought it over and “Everyone was so appreciative, all Other team accomplishments strokes to state tournament came together this year. We professional swim team. people’s lives at the spent the evening with of the parents thanked us,” said include finishing sixth at the “Swim swim races they weren’t used to just swam for each other, and at states we “This is a huge goal of mine, The editors of the Ronald McDonald “seeing the kids the residents.