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HORACE MANN SCHOOL | WEEKLY SINCE 1913
November 18, 2011 Volume 109, Issue 10
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The Horace Mann Record
TedxWomen Links Ideas Nationwide
Students explored topics including
body image, binary code, womens
health, and domestic violence as part of
a national conference yesterday. While
some presentations were in Tillinghast,
participants also watched segments
of live streamed discussions in New
York City and Los Angeles as part of a
national TEDxWomen conference.
Te conference centered
around women and their various
accomplishments and ideas worth
spreading, as TED calls them, WIC
co-president Deborah Lefell (11),
said. Our intention in participating
in the TEDxWomen conference is to
celebrate accomplished
women, but we also hope
that the conference will be
a vehicle for intellectual
conversation and
exploration.
Miranda Jacoby (11)
presented a project
entitled An Interpretation
of Communication
through Translation
which had a lot of diferent elements
that all relate back to computers,
communication, and technology,
she said. Her presentation, which
discussed the layering of computer
coding language, began by typing
out the phrase Trough layers of
translation, the most important thing
is communication in binary. Te
presentation
Dani Boris (12) discussed the beauty
industry, eating disorders, and various
fgures in the media whom kids think
theyre supposed to look like, Boris
said. If you are fipping through a
magazine or passing by a billboard
you would accept the photoshopped
images of female models without
questioning their reality, which is the
problem Im trying to get at..
Julie Domonkos P13,15, attorney
and former executive director of
My Sisters Place Westchester, led
the frst meeting during which the
group discussed domestic violence.
Domonkos discussed her work with
MSP which is an organization that
works to end violence in intimate
relationships and combat the efects
of domestic violence and human
tramcking on survivors and children
said the MSP mission statement. It
was really interesting and a little bit
troubling when you count all forms
of domestic violence which are all
physical, Troy Sipprelle (11) said. Te
percentage is almost equal between
adults and teenagers.
During I period participants watched
TEDx conferences in Los Angeles that
examined, the ties that bind usto
each other, to our communities, and
to our most important institutions,
according to the conference program.
Speakers included Dr. Noel Bairey
Merz, the director of the Cedars-Sinai
Womens Heart Center,. who drew
distinctions between men and womens
experience with various cardiovascular
diseases and stem cell therapy.
Te E period livestreamed
Resilience Session featured guest
speakers: Katie Bell, Claire Sannini,
Rachel Simmons, and Busisiwe
Mkhumbuzi. Bell discussed
investment and entrepreneurship
opportunities for women, followed
by Simmons and Sanninis discussion
of womens role in the workforce
and educational institutions.
Mkhumbizi, an 11th grade student
from Johannesberg who had both
academic and athletic achievements
but did not receive a scholarship,
came to the realization that the only
way to get that scholarship was to
stop moping and get up she said. I
rose up as a leader amongst my peers
to confront the issues. Members of the
audience xpressed their
involvement by clapping
and singing along to the
closing song, Women of
Hope.
TED is an organization,
devoted to Ideas Worth
Spreading, according
to its website. TEDx is
a program of local, self-
organized events that
bring people together to share a TED-
like experience. Science teacher Dr.
Jef Weitz, who helped organize a Tedx
conference at school last year said,
TED is about aspiration, dedication,
passion and excellence.
English Department head Dr.Adam
Casdin who helped with the organizing
process said that we want students to
have an experience of, and participate
in the wider intellectual community,
and to see that the energy and
excitement in the classroom extends
far outside our walls, that they can be
part of larger conversation.
Asuiv B.Umvi
Sta Writer
Dani Boris (12) leads a discussion about the medias inuence on the standards of beauty and body image.
Emma Maltby/Staf Photographer
Vickram Gidwani (11) will
advance to the Siemens Competition
in Math, Science, & Technology fnals
in Washington D.C., December 2- 5,
where he will endeavor to not only
win the competition, but also receive
a $100,000 scholarship from the
Siemens Foundation. Gidwani with
his scholastic partner, Blake Smith
from Oceanside, NY, won the 2011
Region Four Finals of the Siemens
Competition and a $6,000 scholarship
for their lung cancer research project.
Lung cancer is the leading cause
of cancer death worldwide in both
men and women. Currently, 100% of
patients develop resistance to the only
targeted therapies available, Gidwani
said. Blake and I worked on testing
novel compounds that could be used
to treat advanced chemoresistant
lung cancer.
Gidwani and Smith discovered
that a series of new compounds,
derived from an antipsychotic drug,
preserved anticancer qualities in
non-schizophrenic patients while
eradicating harmful side efects on
the central nervous system. Tese
drugs (or most likely a more advanced
version of the compounds from our
project) have a high potential in lung
cancer research development, and
other future cancer research, because
of the results we have found,Gidwani
said.
Gidwani met Smith in the summer
of 2010 at a lab at Mount Sinai where
hes worked the past two summers.
I wanted to do research, and I was
interested in cancer so we worked
on a pancreatic cancer project. Tis
summer our mentor presented us a
project that focused on lung cancer.
We found it interesting and took it
up, he said.
Afer Gidwanis dad assisted them
in fnding medical oversight from a
professional in the feld, they worked
for two-and-a-half to three months
on the project, contributing about
500 hours each brainstorming, testing
in the lab, writing their paper, and
preparing their fnal presentation.
Gidwani and Smith then advanced
from the primary submissions round,
which had a reported 1,541 projects
submitted this year, to the regional
fnals, with 30 teams, to the national
fnals, with only six teams remaining.
Te best moment for me in this
whole process was probably winning
regionals because it validated all the
hard work we had put in, Gidwani
said. He added that it was always
exciting because with a project like
this where we were testing novel
compounds in lung cancer, we never
knew what to expect when doing
experiments.
Vickram aspires to continue
medical research this summer, and
most likely into his college career. I
fnd cancer research very interesting,
he said, so I would like to progress
with that topic.
We are really grateful for this
opportunity to show our work on a
national scale, and for the judges for
selecting us to be National Finalists.
Additionally, we are really thankful
for the trust and confdence that our
mentor at Mount Sinai had in us and
the freedom he gave us with this
project.
Te awards presentation will be
available, live, on Monday December
5 at 9:30 am on the Siemens
Foundation website.
Gidwani (11) Heads to National
Science Competition
S.v.u Hii1z
Sta Writer
Vickram Gidwani (11) is heading to D.C. this weekend for the Siemens Nationals.
Courtesy of Umesh Gidwani
Mr. Sherrys
funky furniture
5/ARTS
Thats Dr.
Oldham!
4/FEATURES
IN
THIS
ISSUE
We want students to have an
experience of, and participate in the
wider intellectual community
2 THE HORACE MANN RECORD Friday, November 18, 2011 2
The Horace Mann Record
Editor in Chief
Sarah Pyun
News
Jenna Spitzer
Elizabeth Weingold
Lions Den
Matthew Cott
Thomas Kim
Features
Ambika Acharya
Opinions & Editorials
Courtney Hodrick
Arts & Entertainment
Hillary Winnick
Middle Division
Olivia El-Sadr Davis
Photography Editors
Rachel Essner, Laurence Ge, Justin Gilston, Kimberley Sarnoff
Faculty Advisor
Dr. Glenn Wallach
Editorial Board Volume 109
For a complete listing of our staff, please visit:
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an open forum. Letters can be submitted by mail (Letters to the Editor, e Record, Hor-
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Managing Editor
Christine Kim
Production Manager
Baci Weiler
Online Editor
Aramael Pea-Alcntara
Senior Editor
Eden Sung
Opinions & Editorials Opinions & Editorials
Be Here, Right Now
During the next two weeks, a large portion of the senior class will
receive a decision from at least one college to which they have applied.
To some, this moment will be the triumphant culmination of four
years of schoolwork, participation in clubs, and standardized testing.
Others may feel that their efort was in vain.
Tat feeling, though, could suggest that their four years were spent
pursuing a place in another community, rather than being fully
present in ours.
From our frst passage through the doors of Tillinghast, it can be
reasonably argued, we set our sights on an exit strategy. Te points
have been raised repeatedly: extra-curricular activities chosen from a
list of activities that students perceive as pre-approved by admissions
omcers, a focus on grades rather than on knowledge, and elevated
stress-leveled are symptoms of a college preoccupation that we dont
need to warn you again to avoid.
Maybe instead we should lead by example, pointing out the
opportunities that present themselves if we focus on remaining
present.
Activities are more than boxes to fll a quota, and the moments in
which we remember that fact make some of the most meaningful
memories. Putting blood, sweat, and tears into a game-winning
comeback; flling Gross Teater with our words and our music; or
watching anime with a few other otaku, we become part of something
greater than ourselves or our resums. We unite through our passions,
and that cooperation lends each moment an increased signifcance.
Classes, meanwhile, can be thrilling. When a discussion of Anna
Karenina becomes a shouting match about metaphysics, or trade
comes to life in a joint stock company commercial, our engagement
with the material is defned by more than the fnal grade.
Te classes we choose because the subject fascinates us are the
ones that we look forward to each day, and they are the ones well
remember.
If we see our teachers as only the suppliers of an A- or a C+, we
forget how much they can teach us. Te conversations we have with
teachers that extend the material a step further, or help us to see
something confusing from a diferent angle, enrich our academic
experience and can lead to new passions that we can further explore
in, yes, the future.
Dont focus on whether youll use the Pythagorean Teorem in
twenty years, but on the excitement that comes from fnally proving it.
Whether you have half a year or three and a half lef, its better
to try anything once now than to regret missing out on four years
surrounded by some of the best people youll ever meet. Dont be so
eager to let go of them.
To the Editor,
My name is Bill Hughes, HM 81. I attended the school
from Kindergarten through twelfh grade. Mine was the
frst elementary class of the school (when I started, there
was only Nursery years and the high school). I was a
member of the Varsity Club, captain of two sports and my
class president for several years. I was also the frst African-
American student body president of the school, according
to those who said they knew such things. So I knew most
of the people in my class and many at the school, and
everyone knew me. Tis, along with my parents blue-collar
background, gave me a unique and broad perspective on the
school.
I returned recently for Homecoming and my 30th reunion,
only to fnd the school
abandoned (aside from
the faithful maintenance
crew clearing away the
early snow). So I did not
get a chance to witness
you all as the current
crop of HMers. I did
wander the halls (they are
a lot more beautiful now
afer the last decade of renovations), and I was impressed by
the academic pursuits chronicled in the postings on the walls
and awards in the trophy cases.
So, when my mother forwarded me the NY Times article
regarding the recent poetry reading, naturally my heart sank
to see my alma mater shamefully portrayed as a privileged
yet morally troubled place. My frst thought was, What has
happened to my school? Where has it gone astray? So I
read some of the accounts of the situation and the responses
by students and administration and I saw what I should see:
some foolishness from students; some carelessness from the
adults; then in the afermath -- thoughtfulness, introspection
and an efort to clean things up.
I wondered if I had anything I could share in response
to the incident. I considered sharing how HM was when I
was there: that we were the frst class with girls, who led the
co-educationalization of the school (some started with me
in kindergarten); that we had a group of leaders in our class
that seemed to defy class, privilege and gender stereotypes.
I considered how shocking and out of place your poetry
reading incident would have seemed in our day.
But then, I took of my rose-colored glasses laced with
nostalgia, and I started to recall the kinds of issues we dealt
with -- and ones we didnt. We didnt talk much about race
and class, because it wasnt cool in the decade afer King and
the Kennedys to do so (I think ours was the generation to
invent Political Correctness). We didnt have a GLSA to give
a voice to gay students in our midst. And we certainly had
our own vices -- usually of the sex, drugs and rock-and-
roll variety.
So, as far as moralizing from the past, I fnd that kind of
commentary to be both useless and hypocritical. We had
our issues, and you have yours. Tey are diferent, and we
grew up in diferent times. However, I am prompted by my
love for HM and my experience beyond its walls to leave
you with two thoughts, some hard-earned perspective and a
challenge.
Te frst is that you are in a special place. Te walls,
traditions and prominence of the school is a gif to you from
generations gone by. It is impossible to truly process what
that means as you stress out over exams, SATs and college
applications. All I will say is this: use the space we have
made for you to help you learn to be the best person you can
be, for yourself, your family and for others. Remember the
lessons of Lord of the Flies, for they are prophetic: without
the exercise of self-restraint, respect for our communities
and society, humans will devolve into greedy, bloodthirsty
brute beasts (one could argue that my generation has
forgotten that lesson, and look where it has gotten us). At
HM, you have the space and resources to practice being
better than that, and to encourage others to do so, as well.
Despite the poetry incident, it seems like you still have that
sensibility. Hold fast to
it. It is more important
than you can imagine.
Te second is that
our world is in need of
rescuing and reform
right now, and your
generation will be the
ones to do it. By the time
you are out of college, the
worlds economy is likely to just be working its way out from
under the wreckage of the current fnancial crisis. It should
be primed for a generation of growth and innovation -- and
the challenges those bring. Tis is not unlike my generation,
which emerged from economic malaise and crime-flled
streets (the 1970s were NYCs nadir) to spawn the Roaring
90s and the Internet Age. My hope is that your generation
will learn from our mistakes. My hope is that you will
prepare yourselves now to be better and do better than that.
It starts with how you treat each other in the halls and on the
stage and in those small group conversations where you are
learning how to think and act towards others. It starts with
how you react to situations you know in your heart are right
and wrong.
Te situations like the poetry reading can help shed light
on where HMers are regarding your respect for one another.
Sort of like a mid-term, or your own benchmark against
who you say you are. Te question that matters is not only
Why did this happen? but, more importantly, Now
what?
As a graduating senior at HM, I was given the Allard
Lowenstein Alumni Award. Before the Awards assembly,
I had never heard of it, and aferwards I never heard it
mentioned (although I got a nice letter from Mr. Lowenstein
each year). I did keep the paperweight that had my name
inscribed, though. Te honor was nice, but the inscription
on the side has really been what I cherish. I think about it
almost every day -- now over 30 years later. It said, If not
me, who? If not now, when? I hope these words haunt,
challenge and stir you current HMers like they have done to
me for the past few decades.
And, before you move on from our alma mater on the
Hill, please leave the place better than you found it. Tat can
be your payback to those who came before you, and your
gif to those who will follow.
Respectfully Submitted,
Bill Hughes 81
Letter to the Editor
Ackerman Runs Out Of Time
Grant Ackerman
Our world is in need of rescuing
and reform right now, and your
generation will be the ones to do it.
Everyone always
nags me about
time management:
teachers, parents,
and even my dog.
Well, he just barks
at me when I dont
take him out for
a walk, somehow
thinking that he is always my frst priority.
What exactly is time management, one
might ask? I always used to look at it as an extra
thing to get lectured about, or something for
my parents to criticize me about. I know you
wouldnt have gotten a C+ on that test if you just
would have managed your time better, was the
phrase that most ofen came to mind.
I have to admit that my view on time
management has completely changed in the
high school, mainly because if you want to get a
decent amount of sleep (which it appears many
dont), good time management is essential.
School is very demanding, but especially
now that I am in high school, when there
are so many commitments to juggle. In
addition to schoolwork, people are a part of
clubs, publications, sports teams, and theater
productions, and some even try to maintain a
social life.
I fell into a trap that seems to ensnare many
freshmen: over-committing to clubs. At the
clubs fair, I signed up for about ten clubs and
publications. Tere is pretty much a club for
everyone, but the bad news is that there are
sometimes too many interesting clubs.
Another major problem is that of
procrastination. Everyone has done it. I dont
think that anyone can say that there has never
been a time for them where they had a paper
the next week, and they wrote the whole thing
the night before it was due. Te key is to limit
procrastination, resisting the urge to go on
facebook.
Furthermore, setting priorities is a key
to time management. In addition to setting
time aside for certain things, I advise you to
remember a key phrase: Academics always
come frst. Afer that, though, its pretty much
up to you. Never sacrifce academics, or getting
to sleep at a decent hour.
In Middle School, doing homework during
lunch period, or even during frees was basically
unthinkable, but now, if I am not in the library
during all of my frees, I feel that I am wasting
time. Not only that, but if I do not eat lunch
during one of my classes, I feel that I am
wasting time. I guess the nagging got to me.
Ethan Yaro/Staf Artist
THE HORACE MANN RECORD Friday, November 18, 2011 3 News News
Behind e Curtains With the eater Company
The Theater Company took
the audience behind the scenes of
theater and dance productions at
Tuesdays Assembly, as actors and
dancers recreated the audition,
rehearsal, and performance
processes for their productions.
It was the first assembly the
company had sponsored in
twenty years theater faculty
member Joseph Timk said.
We were just trying to put on
an assembly that would actually
engage the audience, Theatre
Arts department chair Woody
said. Beneath that surface
desire, we hoped that maybe we
would actually show folks in the
community some of the aspects
that go into what we do.
Arranged around a framework
of actors rehearsing a scene
from Romeo and Juliet and
dancers creating a dance from
West Side Story, the assembly
was almost entirely student run,
Howard said. We came up with
a framework because we felt that
was our responsibility, so we came up with
the idea of West Side Story and Romeo and
Juliet and some sort of design presentation
with something physical happening on stage,
he said. From there, the students ran with it.
A lot of working went into planning the
theater assembly, co president of the HMTC
Rachel Buissereth (11) said. What we wanted
to show was the process behind an amazing
work of art. Like seeing a painter paint, or a
writer write. We wanted to show the Horace
Mann Community what work goes into the
process, how fun and interesting it can be,
and invite everyone to join us.
In revealing the behind the
scenes of the theater department
to the community, student
organizers hoped to involve
students outside the HMTC in the
assembly as well. For the dance
company, the most challenging
part was finding boys, Co-
President of the dance company
Kiki Heintz (11) said. We
emailed like forty-five people at
the end, and there were only five
in the end.
My experience with the
HMTC was terrific, Troy Siprelle
(11) who participated in the
Show me the Money dance
said. I like hanging out with the
dancers.
Timko said he has been told by
community members that this
would be a great format for future
assemblies for other activities
around the school. He said it was
a format for an assembly that I
havent seen before. One of the
small communities that make
up our so-called community
showed what they do to people
who may not know. That kind of
sharing would, in fact, build some
kind of community, or at least some kind of
knowledge, in the same way that faculty
departments occasionally share what they do
at faculty meetings.
Concord Review Publishes Alumnus
History Paper
A research paper on the Federal
Reserve by a recent alumnus will
be printed in the December issue
of e Concord Review, a quarterly
journal that publishes history essays
submitted by high school students.
Justin Katiraei, 11, wrote the
paper in AP U.S. History last year. He
examined the politics and economic
conditions leading to the creation of
the Federal Reserve Act. Te paper
found that private sector actions to
combat the Panic of 1907 hurled the
political economy of central banking
on its head and led to the passage of
the Federal Reserve Act that caused
a more fundamental shif in the
Democratic and Republican parties
on the role of government, he said.
In the past 25 years, the publication
has received 23 submissions from
Horace Mann students and has
accepted 13 of them, journal
founder Will Fitzhugh said. History
Department Chair Elisa Milkes said
the number of submissions has been
fairly consistent and steady since
2000. Milkes said choosing to submit
essays is a students own choice. Te
History Department does not select
essays to submit and does not and
will not have an omcial policy or
requirement for students to submit
their work, she said.
Typically, submissions from
students are research papers that
were written in history electives or
in Independent Study, Milkes said.
Tose are the two main routes
because thats where you get a chance
to do a research paper, she said. In
ninth and tenth grades, youre usually
getting skills on how to write a paper,
and then you have an opportunity to
put those skills to work in the next
grades.
e Concord Review has published
a total of 987 essays since its
establishment in 1987, Fitzhugh
said. He selects the essays and said
he publishes about six percent of the
papers that the publication receives.
e Concord Review is a
publication, not a contest, so I look
for essays that are serious, historically
accurate, and written well enough
to be worth reading, Fitzhugh said.
I think our readers will learn some
history from Mr. Katiraeis paper.
Dominique Padurano, his AP
History teacher, had assigned a
yearlong project in which students
wrote a 15 to 20-page paper on any
topic related to American history. She
said that Katiraeis paper needed few
corrections before submitting it to the
publication. Justin is blessed by the
fact that hes a great writer to begin
with, she said.
Examining the history of the
Federal Reserve Act led Katiraei
to develop a passion for monetary
policy, he said. He is concentrating
on macroeconomics at Harvard
University and is more interested
in policy making than policy history,
although clearly knowledge is just as
essential in this regard.
Cuioi Ts.c
Sta Writer
AP US Students Hear Revolution
Scholar
Two AP US History classes heard
historian Gordon S. Wood discuss
the irony of democracy and the
consequences of the American
Revolution at a program at the
New York Historical Society this
Tuesday.
Woods field of expertise is the
American Revolution, which was
the main topic of discussion at the
seminar, and he has written several
award-winning books and articles
on the Revolution.
Wood, whose talk was titled
The Idea of America: Reflections
on the Birth of the United States,
discussed many different aspects of
the Revolution, including its roots
and how it relates to the modern
world. Wood argued that the idea
of democracy was contradictory
during the early stages of America.
Free African Americans lost
the right to vote while suffrage
expanded for white males in early
America, despite the revolutionary
idea of equality.
I thought it was really
interesting that he talked about the
tension between liberal ideas and
slavery because that tension builds
throughout American history and
it leads to a lot of dramatic change,
Amy Hood (11) said.
The trip definitely further
enhanced my knowledge of the
Revolution, Charles Scherr (11)
said. I heard a lot of intriguing
opinions that I had never come
across before.
There was also a question and
answer period of the seminar, in
which members of the audience
posed various questions to Wood.
One student, Nathan Raab (11),
asked Wood about the concept of
judicial review. Wood responded by
arguing that judicial review actually
contradicts democracy. His depth
and breadth of knowledge was
really incredible, Raab said.
AP US History teachers Dr.
Dominique Padurano and Dr.
Daniel Link organized the trip,
and knew that going to a Gordon
Wood lecture would be ideal at this
point of the year, because the classes
have recently finished covering the
American Revolution, Padurano
said.
The US History classes have been
focusing on some of Woods works
throughout the year, particularly
a recent brief synthesis they have
read, The American Revolution.
We heard a lot of the same things
that we have been learning in class,
so it was easier for me to understand
some of the more complex points
Wood was making, Troy Sipprelle
(11) said. It definitely made me feel
more confident of my knowledge of
history. Treshauxn Dennis-Brown
(11) said, I really enjoyed the trip:
it was refreshing to learn about US
History in a different environment
than an HM classroom.
The lecture exceeded my
expectations, Padurano said. I
think the trip went really well.
Padurano said that the history
department will plan similar trips
in the future.
Students of Dance 3 run through a dance number in West Side Story, depicting the preparation required for a dance performance.
Carly Amon/ Staf Photographer
Coii M.vx
Sta Writer
Auviw Av.noiui
Sta Writer
Justin Katiraei 11 shown here last year, will have a history paper published in e
Concord Review.
Tis the Season for the
Killington Ski Trip
SIGN UP!
Record File Photo
THE HORACE MANN RECORD Friday, November 18, 2011 4 Features Features
At 200 feet above the ground, with one foot wedged
into a half-inch crack and dirt in her fngernails, Sonia
Sehra(9) can see the peak of the clif 10 feet above her.
Afer an hour of climbing, she can feel her legs shaking
and her hands sweating, but is relieved by the cool
breeze that brushes across her face at that elevation.
Sehra got her start in climbing when she needed
something to do the summer afer seventh grade.
Having done climbing for birthday parties, Sehra
thought that it would be something really diferent to
do.
During the school year, like most students and
teachers who are rock climbers, Sehras time to climb
is fairly limited. She is a member of the group of
ninth graders who revived the Outdoors Club, which
organizes climbing and other outings.
Once or twice a week, Sehra and her peers make the
two-hour trip to the Shawanagunks, known popularly
as the Gunks. On this band of clifs in New Paltz,
New York, they can practice on natural rocks what
theyve learned indoors. Te tallest climb Ive done
is 210 feetthis was an assisted climb with ropes
and mechanisms, she said. Sehra uses a medley of
climbing styles, including an incredibly challenging
unassisted climb, where, on either an indoor course or
outdoor route, she is not attached with any rope or
pulley system, and can climb up to 25 feet, without
aid.
Te challenges of rock climbing are unlike those
for any other sport, Sehra said. Its not like other
individual sports where you have a coach who analyzes
your moves or gives suggestions for improvement.
Instead, you have to go at your own pace, forge ahead,
push yourself, and just get better and better every
time.
For Jordan Berman (12), who climbs weekly at
Brooklyn Boulders, one of the largest rock climbing
gyms on the East Coast, this afer-school hobby has
taken on a whole new meaning. Rock climbing
provides such a clear, defned sense of progress,
Berman said.
Berman manages to climb during the school week,
and, even though the climbing takes place indoors
as opposed to on a real rock face, he does not mind,
he said. Im actually part of a small subset of rock
climbers who prefer climbing in indoor gyms to
outdoor routes, Berman said. Most people view
indoor climbing as a way to make you physically
stronger for outdoor climbs, but Im not into climbing
for the outdoors aspectin fact, I really hate camping.
Climbing outdoors puts the climber at risk to the
elements, Berman said. Its really tough climbing
outdoorstheres a real strain of being injured at any
moment and you just have to trust your own knowledge
and previous indoor practices. But indoors, pads are
laid out so you recognize that you cant get hurt.
Although either type of climb can be strenuous,
the internal feeling of success at the end is extremely
meaningful, Berman, who wrote about the power of
this triumph for his college application essay, said.
Most people think to themselves, Yeah, I cant do
thatI have no upper body strength. But when
you fnish a really hard route, you have this sense of
achievement in your mind. Te memory of itmy
own physical ability to do something that dimcultis
just incredible.
History teacher Dr. Kalil Oldham, an avid climber
ever since 2002
when he was in
graduate school
at UC Berkeley,
also climbs weekly
at Brooklyn
Boulders.
Using ropes to
climb in the style
known as or trad
climbing, Oldham
goes to the gym
primarily to train and to stay ft for outdoor climbing.
In trad climbing, ropes are not used directly in the
ascent, but rather, the climber still relies on your own
power and uses ropes as a mechanism to keep you
stable and prevent falling.
Although the physical nature of climbing drew
him to the sport originally, Oldham said he now
appreciates most how rock climbing allows me to
achieve an elevated state of focus, where the rest of
the worldthe work you need to do, the dimcult
conversations you need to havejust falls away, he
said.
Frequently, one of Oldhams fellow climbers is Dorr
teacher Kevin Johnson, an experienced climber and
professional guide. Johnson, who fell in love with the
sport in summer camp as a teenager, dabbles in a
little bit of everything, when it comes to the types of
climbs he completes, he
said. From ice climbing
and mountaineering
in the winter to aid
climbingessentially
utilizing ropes and other
pieces of protection to
get up rock formationsto
trad climbing with Oldham,
Johnson said he is thrilled
when he can be outside and
observe beautiful landscapes, and
he tries to go climbing three to four days
a week, when hes not working with an
eighth grade Dorr program.
Some of his most memorable climbs
with names like Serenity Crack and Sons of
Yesterdaytook place in Yosemite National
Park, a popular destination for climbers of all
types, Johnson said. Te environment there
is just gorgeousbeautiful valleys carved by
glaciers, granite rock all over the placeand so
many people share the same passion.
Oldhams favorite routes are also out westin
California, Nevada, and Yosemite, as well. Yosemite is
truly the most signifcant climbing for many climbers,
as some routes take climbers more than one thousand
feet on completely vertical rock, Oldham said. Tis
winter break, Oldham will take an eight-day trip to
go climbing in the Sierra Madre range in northern
Mexico, he said.
Tis past weekend, the Outdoors Club traveled to
Dorr and, among other group initiatives, completed
a nighttime scavenger hunt on which they did some
rock climbing of their own.
One of the clues led them to either the CAT or the
rock wall, Johnson said. In the dark, each team had
to have someone climb, someone belay, and someone
else serve as the backup belayer, in order to retrieve the
next clue and move on.
Searchers, a third trimester program open only to
seniors, uses Dorrs facilities by participating in team-
building activities and planning outdoors excursions.
Searchers learn fundamental skills and a little bit about
one another afer school, and then go on the trips
theyve planned, Johnson said.
Last years Searchers program culminated in a two-
day climbing retreat in the Gunks, he said. Everyone
was really into rock climbing, and I was impressed
that they did so well to challenge themselves, Johnson
said. Tis year, were defnitely going to go on another
climbing trip as a group.
Dorr tries to incorporate climbing not only into
special UD clubs, but also into some of its regular
programs, Johnson said. In ffh grade, students are
introduced to Dorrs rock wall, and, in eighth grade,
students climb the CAT. Were not there to make
climbers out of everyone, Johnson said. Were
there to provide a healthy challenge for peoplewe
encourage them, without directly saying step here or
step there. We ask them to see for themselves how
they can make the situation more approachable, how
far does that individual want to push himself.
Regardless of the style or approach each climber
takes, theres something special about being outside,
away from the city, without any cell phones, Oldham
said. When youre put into intense situations with
other people, you have to rely on people to support
you physically and to support you mentally as well. It
brings people closer together, but you also learn more
about yourself.
When you nish a really hard route, you have this
sense of achievement in your mind. e memory
of it, my own physical ability to do something that
dicult, is just incredible.
Miiiss. Roum.
Sta Writer
Rock On:
students climb the edge
Dr. Kalil Oldham climbs a cli
in an area outside of Tuscon,
Arizona last spring. His favorite
routes include ones in California,
Nevada and in Yosemite National
Park. is winter he will take a
trip to climb in the Sierra Madre
range in Mexico.
Sonia Sehra(9) climbs at the Clis at
Valhalla, a gym in Westchester. ere,
Sehra practices with other students her
age in order to train for outdoor climbs.
She and her peers make trips to the
Shawanagunks in New Paltz, New York to
practice on natural rocks.
Courtesy of Dr. Kalil Oldham
Courtesy of Sonia Sehra
THE HORACE MANN RECORD Friday, November 18, 2011 5 Arts & Entertainment
Despite hard winds and freezing rain
tearing up the streets of Rockefeller Center,
devoted fans of superstar Justin Bieber were
camped out in tents a few weeks ago waiting
for the pop stars live performance on e
Today Show. For a show on Wednesday
morning, some had been there since
Monday. As the big day approached, girls
from toddlers to teens flled city blocks.
His Today Show appearance became
the biggest in history, with over 18,000
fans in attendance. Te night before the
performance, Bieber came out to greet
the loyal fans that had camped out in the
pouring rain for him. Unfortunately, due
to the minimal capacity of space, many
fans were forced to watch the mornings
performance from behind the stage across
the street.
I was lucky enough to have a press pass to
the performance that guaranteed me a front
row view of the stage. As I waited in the
press box, I watched the parents of crying
little girls beg security guards to allow them
into the area in front of the stage.
Fans, who had traveled up to 11 hours
by car or had even fown to New York City,
were turned down and were asked to watch
the concert from across the street where
they were only able to hear the show, not
watch it. Since I was the youngest person in
the press booth, girls asked me if I was a fan
who had snuck into the press booth, and if
so, how they would be able to sneak in.
As the concert began, Today Show
anchors Matt Lauer, Anne Curry, and Al
Roker came outside on the plaza to greet
and interview some lucky fans who were
going to watch the show from in front of the
stage. With only fve minutes to go, Biebers
backup dancers and singers approached the
stage. Fans chanted Justin, Justin, Justin!
When Bieber ran onto the stage, there
was complete fandemonium, yelling,
cheering, screaming, and crying. Bieber,
who was wearing a red and white Christmas
jacket, skinny jeans, and high top sneakers,
broke into a performance of his single
Never Say Never from the soundtrack of
his documentary of the same title.
Afer Bieber sang his frst song, Lauer
interviewed him about his holiday album,
Under e Mistletoe. Bieber then performed
the second single of his album, Te
Christmas Song with a surprise appearance
from R&B artist Usher. Once he fnished
his last song, e Today Show anchors
interviewed the duo about Biebers success
as an artist and Under e Mistletoe being
the frst holiday album by a male artist to
debut at number one.
Janet Lus (12) drawings bring her
dreams into reality. It is my secret
kingdom that no else can enter. Lu
has been working her whole life
to become the artist she is today.
It came naturally, she said about
getting started in art. I had no single
inspiration.
She said that art has just always
been a part of my life, and that she
enjoys drawing because it helps
her escape and release some of her
emotions. Afer a bad day, I feel
better afer I draw.
Lu has taken seven years of drawing
classes at Horace Mann, since the
sixth grade. All the teachers here are
very supportive and encouraging
and they make you want to work
hard.
Lu is working on a series of
drawings on the relationship between
hiding and being trapped. Tese
drawing are about me never feeling
comfortable in my own skin and
fguring out the angst of my teenage
years, she said. Lu says she doesnt see
any of her work as fnished. Teyre
just a constant work in progress.
Even though she views herself
primarily as someone who draws and
paints, Lu respects all forms of art
and recognizes that they also require
hard work. Teres not a single type
of art that I really prefer, I try to
work with as many diferent media
as I can. Lu added that she wishes
she could sculpt or do photography,
but its really not that easy. She also
appreciates fashion, including icons
such as Alexander McQueen because
his creations are cool and quirky
with a twist of elegance.
While Lu said that she does not
have a favorite artist, she does enjoy
the works of painter James Jean and
American conceptual artist John
Baldessari.
Afer high school, Lu plans to
pursue a career in art and has applied
to only arts conservatories. Lu also
discussed her struggles to pursue
her dreams of art as a career. Tey
told me that one in a million make
it [in the art industry], she said. But
seriously, Im doing what I love.
Tired of seeing
former sets go
to waste, Faculty
Technical Director Joel Sherry began creating
furniture in 2004, using lefover lumber from the
scene shop. Afer experimenting with the process
for the past six years, he now produces pieces for
his own home. I dont have to just go to IKEA,
he said. I can actually be responsible for creating
my own environment.
Were always designing; were always making
choices, Sherry said. I like to take it one step
further and actually create the things I design.
Ten wooden furniture pieces that Sherry
made will be displayed in the Hudson Crafs
Collectives Holiday Craf Show this week.
Designing a piece of furniture or a set always
starts with a sketch, later brought to life using
a small-scale model. Te material itself speaks
to the design, since diferent grains within the
wood develop a pattern when they are joined
together, he said. Shapes are simply incorporated
to breathe new life into the wood and make it
elegant.
A large part of the process involves balancing
the sculptural and functional aspects of a work.
Te combination of positive an negative space,
for example, can give a piece like a notched side
table a second use, with two gaps that can store
books or other items.
Originally interested in painting and
sculpture, his love of collaboration eventually
led Sherry out of the studio and into the world
of theatre design and production. He instructs
eighth through twelfh graders on set, lighting
and costume design, construction, electrics, and
backstage work. He also spends much of his time
at school, mentoring the Horace Mann Teatre
Companys student designers.
Joel teaches you to take whats given to you,
embrace your imagination and love every part
of what it is you are designing, said Student
Technical Director Ken Zhang (12), who has
worked with Sherry on HMTC and out-of-
school projects. Rather than looking for the
correct response, he pushes his students to
develop their own ideas. According to Sherrys
teaching philosophy, there isnt necessarily a
right answer; there are only well thought-out or
poorly thought-out plans, Zhang added.
His interest in the crafs show began because
I really like handmade. I really like local, and I
wanted to start a relationship with people who
do too, Sherry said. Te collective works to
promote Hudson Valley-based artisans and their
products. Sherry said, Handmade furniture
should be created locally, sold locally, and
appreciated locally.
Sherrys pieces and the rest of the crafs
show, are on display beginning tomorrow at
the Reformed Church of the Tarrytowns in
Westchester.
Justin Bieber Rocks Rockefeller Center
Spencer Bistricer (10) goes behind the scenes of Biebers Today
Show performance.
Tio AvmUs-L.sxi
Sta Writer
Spencer Bistricer/Staf Photographer
Nicoii Suiiuo
Contributing Writer
Sviciv Bis1viciv
Contributing Writer
(Y[PZ[7YVSLZ! From Furniture to Paintings, Teachers and Students Create
Clockwise from
le: Untitled, a
multimedia collage;
Down the Rabbit Hole,
an acrylic painting; a
photo of Janet Lu (12) in
the art studio she works
in outside of school with
the words Janet Working
Hard!
Clockwise from top: Head
Strong Shelf; Load Out
Chair; Drop-Cut Table. All
are part of Joel Sherrys Load
Out series of handmade
sculptural furniture objects
and are made of reclaimed
pine wood.
Janet Lu
Photos courtesy of Joel Sherry
Photos courtesy of Janet Lu
Joel Sherry
THE HORACE MANN RECORD Friday, November 18, 2011 6
The students of two middle school
classes, Morgan Yaroshs English class
and Eva Abbamontes history class,
received iPads for the second trimester
of the iPioneer Program, and will be
using them in variety of ways both in
and out of the classroom.
Yarosh plans to use a word processing
program and an annotating program to
help the students learn ways to analyze
literature and edit their writing with a
program called GoodNotes.
Abbamonte will use the iPads as a
way to take notes during class and as a
document reader, allowing students to
annotate, highlight, and interact with
the reading materials. She also hopes
to use the iPads in more creative ways,
such as through a program that creates
an interactive experience with the Dead
Sea Scrolls. Another program would
allow students to upload pictures of
paintings that they are studying and
take notes directly onto the image.
The students could additionally record
voiceovers about their paintings, and
the class would then be able to go
around the class and learn from the
lectures of their fellow classmates.
Im definitely looking forward to
interactive, creative ways of using the
iPads, Abbamonte said.
To some degree, well be looking
to the students to figure out how to
best use the iPads, Yarosh said. The
teachers are expecting feedback from
the students, helping them to determine
which programs are best, easiest, and
most effective, she said. Abbamonte
said that she and the students will be
learning from each other. It will very
much be a journey together, she said.
Many of the students in the two
classes are looking forward to this
opportunity to combine technology
and learning. Its great because I think
that a lot of kids dont really have access
to this kind of technology, Phillip
Deutsch (8), who is in Yaroshs class,
said. Its also fun for the student and
can be a progressive way of learning,
and I think it will keep the students
more engaged.
Using iPads has other benefits
as well, including creating a more
environmentally friendly classroom as
well as helping to organize students.
We wont have papers all over the
place, and will help students who have
had trouble organizing themselves,
Carolyn Applebaum (8), who is in
Abbamontes class, said.
In the first trimester, Michelle
Amilicias 6th grade science class and
Emily Duttons 7th grade history class
participated in the iPioneer program.
Amilicia used applications that allowed
the students to virtually explore the
skies during their unit of astronomy,
and Dutton used programs that helped
students take notes and annotate both
in class as well as for homework.
The overwhelming consensus of
the program so far is that they iPads
have been really helpful and positive,
Sam Schalman-Bergen, who works in
Academic Technology Development,
said, and students have loved and
enjoyed using them. The iPads allowed
the students to keep all their work and
handouts in one place, and many middle
school students found themselves able
to work more throughout the school
day, including on the bus, since the
material was available at any time,
Schalman-Bergen said.
There will be a lot of problems, such
as responsible use of the iPad, that will
have to be worked through, Abbamonte
said. Thats why its a pioneer program-
this will help us decide if we want to use
this technology on a global scale.
Middle Division
WHO: ALL MIDDLE SCHOOLERS
WHAT: MIDDLE SCHOOL DANCE
WHERE: COHEN DINING
COMMONS
WHEN: TODAY, DECEMBER 2nd AT 3:30-5:45
WHY: FOR CHARITY AND FUN!
ONCE UPON A
MATTRESS
Thursday 3:30
Saturday 7:30
Sunday 2:00
iPads Hit Rose Hall: English and History Classes Go Hi-Tech
Moiiv Wu.v1o
Sta Writer
Laurence Ge/Photography Editor
THE HORACE MANN RECORD Friday, November 18, 2011 7 Lions Den Lions Den
Fencers start this years season with
new coaches for three weapons who
have international championship
experience. Its dimcult to fnd
coaches for all three weapons, epee,
foil, and sabre, that will be able to
fully commit to the team. Being able
to get coaches to coach the team and
the separate weaponry divisions was
really helpful, Director of Athletics
Robert Annunziata said.
Annunziata will be head coach,
this year , working with Associate
Head Coach Brendan Myers who
will coach mens and womens foil,
Benjamin Bratton, mens and womens
epee, Luther Clement, mens sabre,
and returning foil coach Zaddick
Longenbach.
Other than Annunziata and
Longenbach, the three other coaches
have a past association with Te
Fencers club. During the search for
coaches, students on the team, who
fenced in outside fencing clubs had
recommended coaches they thought
would be able to commit and coach
the team, Annunziata said.
Bratton is a three-time fencing
all-American and a national team
member for the USA. He was
the former assistant epee coach
at Riverdale Country School. He
has competed in world fencing
championships in 2006, 2009, and
last years competition in Paris, where
Bratton and Team USA won the Mens
Epee Team silver medal.
Meyers is a three-time junior cadet
Bronze Medalist and was a Finalist at
2003 Cadet Word Championships.
Last year the team focused on
physical endurance and conditioning.
Aside from footwork and
conditioning, Im hoping to build-on
and improve the teams fencing skills,
Meyers said.
Both coaches are extremely
knowledgeable in his feld of practice
and because they know so much
about the sport and well-experienced
people it makes it a lot easier to
follow, Diana Li (11) said. Having a
sumcient number of coaches as helped
the teams practices and development.
Tis season is about restoring and
rebuilding the fencing teams overall
structure and laying the foundation
for the future program, Elisabeth
Stam (12) said.
Te team spends the frst half of
practice participating in collaborative
work such as footwork and condition
and spend the second half of practice
in their separate weapons teams and
participate in drills with weaponry
coaches and teammates. It is really
convenient to have this new coaching
staf. Tey will really help us gain a
new perspective and focus on things
we could not before by having more
individual attention, Daniel Lopez
(11) said.
Tis season we look forward
to going out and competing in the
Independent School Fencing League,
winning the team championship and
individual championships as well. We
want to compete for Horace Mann
to the best ability; the team has a
tradition of winning and we want to
keep that tradition alive, Annunziata
said.
Vivii IxwU.zom
Sta Writer
Gina Yu/Staf Phtographer
Troy Siprelle (11) lunges and makes a touch on fellow foilest Kiwon Lee (10) in practice.
Te Boys Basketball team is
preparing to kick of their season
with a challenge on Monday against
a talented Masters team. We have
been practicing hard everyday and
really working on our conditioning to
get ready for the upcoming season,
Captain Tomas Kim (12) said.
Te Lions had a couple of hard
practices during Tanksgiving
break and had a scrimmage against
an extremely athletic Xavier team
to ready themselves for opening
night. Te scrimmage was a great
opportunity to compete against
a very talented team and also try
diferent lineups to see what works
best for us, Kim said.
Even though it was just a
scrimmage, it was nice to see our
team already performing at a high
level, head coach Tim Sullivan said.
I would like to see some better
decision making on ofense, but
overall I was pleased with our efort
against Xavier.
Te Lions are going to have to
work extremely hard this year to
compete in the Ivy League, a league
full of exceptional talent and depth.
We know the league is deep this
year, but as long as we work everyday
and stay focused, we have a shot to
beat any team, Sullivan said.
Te Lions have fve talented seniors
who will provide the leadership
and a skilled group of juniors and
sophomores as well. Te Lions will be
running a 3-guard ofense, featuring
Andrew Bakst (10), Bernie Rawlins
(11), and Steven Hefer (12), to take
advantage of the teams speed to try
and outrun opponents. Everyone on
the team believes in each other and
the team. We are a really unselfsh
team, which will defnitely contribute
to our success this year, Rawlins said.
Te team lacks a low post scoring
presence, but will use a balanced
ofense to keep opponents of-guard.
Horace Mann faces rivals Dalton
and Fieldston early in the year, which
players said will be good early season
tests for the Lions. We have to do
a better job executing our ofensive
plays and we need to raise our overall
intensity on the court, Sullivan said.
Were doing a lot of running during
our practices because we want to be
the best conditioned team in the Ivy
League, Rawlins said.
Sullivan, along with Assistant
Coach Sam Schalman-Bergen,
is heavily stressing defense and
rebounding, something that they say
will ofset the teams lack of size in the
paint. We are just in the beginning
stage and we are trying to put the
building blocks in place and move
forward step by step, Sullivan said.
Even though we are lacking size
on our team, I think our teamwork
and toughness on the court will make
up for that, Sullivan said.
Our main goal this year is to just
work hard and improve everyday. We
are going to take it game by game,
and right now we are really focusing
on Masters and studying our game
plan for them, Coach Sullivan said.
Te Lions are looking to beat last
years 8-14 record when their regular
season begins on Monday against
Masters.
Micu.ii Riiss
Sta Writer
Nick Wiener (12) shoots a reverse layup in preparation
for the teams rst game against Masters.
Gina Yu/Staf Photographer
Basketball Warms Up for Winter
New Talent to
Propel Track
Afer third and fourth place
fnishes last season respectively, the
Boys and Girls track teams have their
eyes on the top of the standings as
they go through with their grueling
workout regimen.
Te events that the team competes
in vary from short and long distance
running, hurdle races, long jumps,
and shot put. When asked what event
the team is best at Coach Meredith
Cullen said, We are looking very
strong in every event, I think our
sprinters are very athletic this year.
Long Distance runner Kareem
Mosaed (10) said, Trowing is one
of our strongest events because we
have strong returning athletes and
talented new recruits.
Te team is very close knit and
there is a lot of team chemistry for
such a large team, with over 40 total
athletes. Cullen said, Te team
chemistry is excellent I could not
have asked for a nicer, more cohesive
team.
Mosaed said, Our teammates
are very supportive and our
upperclassmen have taken a
leadership role and embraced the
underclassmen on the team.
Tis year the team is very
confdent and will try to continue
improving together. One of the
important questions a team must ask
coming into the season is whether
they can maintain or improve their
level of play even with the departure
of some of the key athletes on the
team. Steven-Louis Dreyfus (12), the
top hurdler on the team, has taken a
leadership role during practice with
the younger players.
When asked how the team
compares to last year Coach Cullen
said, We lost some very good
runners but we gained a couple of
new athletes that are very talented.
Te team has several new seniors,
including Jordan Berman (12), Matt
Cott (12), Larry Ge (12), Dani Boris
(12), Sophie Altcheck (12), Dan Eldar
(12), Matt Rolfo (12), and Pak Shen
(12), who will help in a variety of
events.
All the athletes are practicing hard
in preparation for the upcoming
season. Te team uses 4 acres for
distance running, the indoor track
in the lower gym for sprints and
hurdles, and train in the ftness
center by working on their strength
and stamina. Coach Cullen said
that the team is preparing for the
season by doing a lot of speed, agility,
and strength training along with
improving their conditioning.
Confdence levels are high on
this team and they feel like they
have shot at taking home the Ivy
League championship. Cullen said,
We defnitely have the potential to
win it all but anything is possible,
and Trower Matt Kim said, We
defnitely have a shot to win the Ivy
League; we have a lot of new athletes
and I have complete faith in my
teammates.
Tom Ec
Sta Writer
Boys Basketball Home Opener
Wednesday: Columbia Prep 4:00
Girls Basketball Home Opener
Thursday: Columbia Prep 4:00
New Coaches Revive Fencing Team
LionsDen
November 18, 2011 Volume 109, Issue 10
The Horace Mann Record
As the winter season begins,
the squash team looks to repeat its
highly successful season from a year
ago. Te team is looking to improve
on their excellent season from last
year by working on their skills and
agility to go from second to frst in
the Ivy League.
Te team went 5-3 last year,
fnishing second in the league. Teir
rival, the Riverdale Falcons, took the
title, and has a target on their back
this season; the only other team to
beat the Lions was St. Lukes.
Getting that league championship
will not be easy, as other teams in the
league focus to improve their squash
line-ups. Coach Eshoo looks to do
the same thing by supplementing
the core group with other up and
coming players during tryouts.
Te top three players on the team
this year are likely to be Finkelstein,
Pierson Broadwater (10), and Evan
Hahn (11). All three are active on
the squash court during the of-
season to prepare, and said that with
the teams improvement, a league
championship is not out of the
question.
Squash is a game of fnesse and
stamina, which makes practice
during the season and training
important in ensuring that the
teams roster is strong enough to
achieve the teams goal of winning
the league championship. Along
with the returning players, new
skilled freshmen are taken in to
focus on becoming a greater squash
player, as well as provide new, rising
potential for the team in the coming
years.
Finkelstein said, Each one of us
tries to train on our own over the
ofseason, but it can be dimcult.
Although the game involves hitting
a small ball with a racquet against a
wall, power is important in addition
to technique and endurance
running around the court; it can
be a diferentiating factor between
winning and losing, Finkelstein said,
If one wants to be an ambitious
squash player, you must be able to
hit the ball against the wall with a
decent amount of power.
For these reasons, Coach Eshoo
looks for players with strength,
mental acuteness, physical agility
and ambition. Te returning players
are looking to supplement the roster
with players with these abilities.
Finkelstein said, We really have
a lot of potential on our team this
year. Tey have proven to be great
athletes and I believe that they will
play a huge role in our success this
season.
Te Lions are facing a longer 14
game season this year. Finkelstein
said, All the hard work weve
been putting in will pay of with
a successful season, and should
culminate by defeating Riverdale.
Roniv1 Hii1iv
Sta Writer
Squash
Confdent
for Season
Boys and Girls Swimming
Swimming kicked of its season
Wednesday with the Fieldston Relay
Carnival. Seven schools, fourteen
teams, and six lanes pulled into the
pool where Ivy Trial is held each year.
Coach Oleg Zvezdin said, Te
meet was an opportunity for all and
it give everybody a crack at the true
Varsity level of the sport. Its fun, but
it gets everybody involved.
Players agreed Horace Mann
arrived as the loudest, proudest
squad to give everybody the idea
that afer four consecutive league
championships, the Lions are ready
to compete for championship
number fve.
Te meet was split into six relays
of girls then boys, and even though
this meet was meant to be something
festive and enjoyable, this was truly
the time to test out new members
and to assess the teams rivals.
Te Boys Swim Team began the
meet with a 8x50 Medley Relay
and proved itself to all that they
have the horsepower to take on any
challengers. Te boys top team
stepped up to the board and claimed
frst place by a landslide compared to
any other team.
Other events resulted good results
showing improvement for the team
as a whole. Alessandro Van den
Brink (10) said, Tat frst freezing
dive of the season really woke me
up. Several team members got
personal bests from last year, and
new swimmers set their frst times.
Te Girls Swim team comes
back into this season as underdogs
in the league afer losing their best
swimmers from last year. Many new
freshmen had never seen or heard a
Varsity meet and had to understand
the new intensity that they are
coming into. A former middle school
swimmer, Abigail Zuckerman (9)
said, Its crazy. Te experience was
way more fun. We all lost our voices.
Te girls showed the efort and
outcome from their hard work
the last few weeks to prepare.
Zuckerman said, Races were close
down to the hair and with emotion
ringing throughout the building.
Te team placed their mark by
going above and beyond expectations
for the frst meet of the year. Coach
Michael Dufy said, Just about every
single relay on the girls beat previous
records, showing the girls backing
up in their previous claim to be
noticed this year.
Te Carnival was a great
opportunity for the team to come
out to the deck with its large, 50+
member team and take control
for a brand new season. Van den
Brink said, Our captains led us in
cheer and merriment that overall
won us the festival emotionally and
physically. Every single swimmer
there will remember that Horace
Mann is the team to beat.
Y.c Fii
Contributing Writer
Team Shows Potential in Fieldston Relay Carnival
Carly Amon (11) breast strokes her way down the pool.
Gina Yu/Staf Photographer
Girls Basketball Shoots for Success
Gina Yu/Staf Photographer
Sara Land (11) shoots over teammate Rachel Lander (11) in Practice.
Grueling thanksgiving practices
and two tough scrimmages have
the Girls Varsity Basketball team
prepared to start their season, player
say.
Afer scrimmaging perennial
powerhouse Sacred Heart of Yonkers,
and then Ardsley on consecutive
days, the Lions were pleased with
their performance against such tough
competition.
While we initially struggled in
the Sacred Heart game, we were able
to learn from our mistakes and play
better in the Ardsley game, Kaitlan
Puglia (11) said. Even though we
had a slow start against Ardsley
we were able to turn it around and,
for the frst time this season, things
fnally started to click.
Anchored by point guard and
captain Maddy Gordon (12), and
center Rachel Lander (11), the Lions
are hoping to build of last season
and have another successful year. In
order to succeed this season we are
going to rely a lot on the strong play
of Maddy and Rachel, veteran coach
R.J. Harmon said. However it is also
essential that we play as a team. Te
chemistry is there but many players
have to learn how to settle into their
roles.
Players echoed their coachs
sentiments. We are going to miss
Samantha Schif and Clara Hill, but I
believe we can persevere and get the
job done with the leadership of our
key players, Puglia said.
Harmon noted that everybody on
this years squad has something to
contribute to the success of the team,
but we do have our limitations. If we
are able to play to our strengths and
accept our roles, I ardently believe
that we will be very competitive.
Te Lions open their season
against a newly improved Chapin
team next Tuesday. Many team
members feel that one of the keys to
victory is defensive intensity. Afer
our two scrimmages this past week
we learned to implement our man-
to-man defense and zone defense
much better, Puglia said. We need
to come out and play disciplined and
aggressive basketball.
Coach Harmon was also confdent
his teams abilities. If we play solid,
fundamental basketball like I know
we can, I think we have a good shot at
coming out victorious, Harmon said.
Te Lions also look forward to
the annual Peg Duggan Invitational
Tournament next Tursday. Tey
will face Columbia Prep in their frst
round match-up. It is always a blast
playing on our home- court in the
Duggan Tournament, Harmon said.
Hopefully we can go on a run and
make something special happen.
Auviw Scuw.v1z
Sta Writer