2009 May Falcon - Saint Joseph High School

The Falcon
Remembering
Br. Peter
page
Vol. XLXI Number 6
Every year, the two seniors
with the highest cumulative GPAs
are awarded the coveted titles
of Valedictorian and Salutatorian. More than numbers, these
achievements symbolize years
of dedication, perseverance, and
hard work. The valedictorian and
salutatorian of the Class of 2009
embody these scholarly virtues.
On April 8, Michael Lee was
named Valedictorian, and Lucas
Zavala Salutatorian for the Class
of 2009. During Senior Awards
Night, Michael will receive the
Alumni Scholarship Award for
General Excellence in memory of
Thomas Plato, while Lucas will
receive the Salutatorian Award in
memory of Brother Gilbert.
Besides earning significant
titles and awards, Michael and
Lucas will have important roles
during the graduation ceremony
3
page
The Student Newspaper of St. Joseph High School
Valedictorian & Salutatorian:
By Michael Pico
Retiring Managing Editor
Sports Report
Card 2009
May 2009
Lee and Zavala
at St. Francis Cathedral on May
28. Lucas will read from Scripture, and Michael will deliver the
Valedictory speech.
Over his four year tenure at St.
Joe’s, Michael earned an astounding cumulative GPA of 4.7385.
Besides vigorously focusing on
academic scholarship, Michael
also engaged in numerous
activities. He was president of
the Science NHS, a Managing
Editor of the school newspaper,
captain of the Science Bowl team,
and co-captain of Computer
League. Michael was also a
member of the NHS, Spanish
NHS, and an important asset to
the Math and Science Leagues.
Outside of school, Michael spends
a lot of time participating in
mixed martial arts and helping his
parish community as an altar
server.
Lucas earned an equally
impressive cumulative GPA of
4.7229. Lucas also actively par-
ticipated in the school community
as Editor-in-Chief for the school
newspaper, Editor of the school
literary magazine, and president
of the German Club. Lucas also
was a key member of the Math
League, Science League, NHS,
German NHS, and Science NHS,
and he served as a school ambassador. Outside of school, Lucas
wrote for the St. Joe’s Today
magazine as well as attended the
Governor’s School for Science
and Boys’ State.
Looking back, Michael and
Lucas are grateful for the devotion and efforts of teachers and
mentors. The opportunities and
assistance offered by the school
community have contributed to
the successes of these scholars.
Lucas commented, “The Salutatorian Award has reminded me
of how blessed I am to have
accomplished so much in just
four years. More importantly, it
has shown me the importance of
5
Photo by Dr. M. Gubernat
Both Michael Lee (left) and Lucas Zavala (right) will attend Princeton
University in the fall.
having a supportive family and
school community.”
As a result of their steadfast
dedication to learning, Michael
and Lucas will both be attending
Princeton University in the fall.
Michael will always remember his humble beginnings at St.
Joe’s. He commented, “When I
look back on my four years at
St. Joe’s, the thing that stands out
most is the uniquely supportive
community. No matter what personal characteristics or personality
quirks one possesses, he eventually finds his niche in the school. The community is probably what
I’ll miss most.”
Michael and Lucas are prime
exemplars of the scholarship and
excellence that constitute the St.
Joe’s community.
ally, the Class of 2009 garnered
approximately 23 million dollars
in scholarships. Forty-nine percent of seniors will remain in New
Jersey to continue their education,
while the rest will study in 21
different states.
Among the 198 seniors, there
were 5 National Merit Finalists
and 13 AP Scholars. Four students scored a 2300 or higher
on their SAT. Twelve seniors
maintained at least a 4.5 GPA.
Four students qualified for the
AIME, and one senior competed
in the German language on the
international level.
On the achievements of the
Class of 2009, Mrs. Yannaco,
Director of Guidance, said,
“Kudos to our students! Over the
past four years they have exemplified ‘The St. Joe’s Way’ in academics, extracurricular activities,
athletics, and school spirit.”
Once again, the graduating
seniors have made the St. Joseph
High School community proud.
Congratulations on your graduation. Nice job, gentlemen.
Senior Class Shines in 2009
By Michael Lee
Retiring Managing Editor
Another year has come and
gone, and another flock of Falcons must depart from the nest.
Continuing the St. Joseph High
School legacy of excellence, the
Class of 2009 has distinguished
itself in a number of ways.
One hundred and sixty-five
colleges and universities offered
admission to students. Of those
165, five Ivy League institutions
accepted 10 students. AdditionPhoto by Dr. M. Gubernat
2009-2010 Editors
Congratulations to the newly named editors of the Falcon for the
2009-2010 school year! (left to right) Mark Lee, Associate Editor;
Nitin Srinivasan, Sports Editor; Michael Cash, Associate Editor;
Edward Zukowski, Managing Editor; Alfonse Muglia, Editor-in-Chief;
Ryan Langton, Associate Editor; Martin Pico, Managing Editor;
William Scarano, Photography Editor; Alexander Ganescu, Associate Editor.
By Alfonse Muglia
Editor-in-Chief
Photo by Edward Zukowski
Members of the College Bowl team continue to practice twice weekly to prepare for Nationals.
College Bowlers Go National
By Edward Zukowski
Managing Editor
The New Jersey state champion
College Bowl team will travel to
Chicago on June 12 to compete
against the best teams in the country in the national NAQT champi-
onship. Seniors Jack Wooley, Kyle
Gavin, Victor Janas, Jesse Castellanos, and junior Nitin Srinivasin
will represent the team in its first
national competition in over four
years. Hopefully, the team will
finish one of its most successful
seasons ever with a big win.
The Student Council held its first
ever rock concert on Friday, May
1. Six local bands, all consisting of
at least one St. Joe’s student, performed before a crowd of over 200 in
the decked-out school cafeteria. The
performing bands – Katharsis, Excuse
My French, Broken City Skyline, Fire
Down Below, A Clear Blurr, and Broken
By Production – lit up the stage with
both their original compositions and
their cover versions of popular songs.
Due to the efforts of the entire Student
Council and other volunteers, the
event earned approximately $1,000
that will go towards the junior and
senior proms.
Photos by Alfonse Muglia
2
Senior Awards Night ’09
By Anton Alicante
Retiring Associate Editor
On the night of May 26,
seniors, their families, and faculty will gather in the Vincent
Maglio Gymnasium to recognize the abundant accomplishments of the Class of 2009.
Wi t h o v e r 5 0 0 p e o p l e
expected to attend, guests will
be welcomed with a robust buffet dinner. The festivities will
continue by honoring those
seniors who have contributed
greatly to the extracurricular
Clubs & Activities program.
There are two recipients for
each club, with one receiving
the Falcon Achievement Award
and another receiving the Meritorious Service Award.
Recipients of the Robert
Frost English contest are also
recognized. In addition, there is
a special addendum consisting
of service academy awards, followed by the Edward J. Bloustein Distinguished Scholars
Award and the Edison Rotary
Seniors of the Month.
After the Clubs & Activities
awards, athletes are recognized.
Each varsity sport recognizes
two athletes, one receiving the
Most Valuable Player Award and
the other receiving the Coach’s
Award. The numerous scholarathletes will then be recognized,
as well as the recipient of the
THE FALCON May 2009
Br. Bernardine Golf Classic
GMC Sportsmanship Award.
Edward Stivers Jr. (soccer and
baseball) will be honored as
Scholar Athlete of the Year.
Academic awards round
out the evening as students are
honored for their scholastic
performance over the last four
years and department awards
are distributed. The event will
conclude with recognizing the
Valedictorian and Salutatorian,
awarded to Michael Lee and
Lucas Zavala, respectively.
Dean of Studies, Mr. Wayne
Fischer, commented, “We
expect the night to be a success.
It is always a great opportunity
to recognize the accomplishments of the graduates.”
Faith-Filled Ending for SJ Seniors
By Kevin Corlett
Retiring Managing Editor
Published by the students of
St. Joseph High School
145 Plainfield Ave.,
Metuchen, NJ 08840
732-549-7600 ext 261
www.stjoes.org
Volume XLXI, No. 6
May 2009
Editor-in-Chief:
Alfonse Muglia
Managing Editors:
Martin Pico
Edward Zukowski
Associate Editors:
Michael Cash
Alexander Ganescu
Ryan Langton
Mark Lee
Sports Editor:
Nitin Srinivasan
Staff Writers:
Anton Alicante
Michael Bender
Kevin Corlett
Leonel Delgadillo
Jason Diaz
Michael Henton
Christopher Jacques
Matthew Kuchtyak
Michael Lee
John Nolan
Michael Pico
William Scarano
Brian Whiteside
John Woolley
Lucas Zavala
Photographers:
William Scarano
Michael Shkolar
Technology:
Mr. George Milligan
Faculty Adviser:
Dr. Martine Gubernat
Principal:
Mr. John Anderson, ‘70
President:
Mr. Lawrence Walsh, ‘68
The Falcon welcomes
articles from students, parents and faculty members for
consideration for publication.
All articles are subject to editing. The opinions expressed in
The Falcon do not necessarily
represent the opinions of faculty or administration. Opinions expressed in any column
except those of the editors
are not necessarily those of
the editors.
Graphics and Printing by
Media Trends, Metuchen, NJ
(732) 548-7088
A tradition unlike any other,
the Baccalaureate Mass took
place on Saturday, May 16. The
annual event, held for graduating seniors and their families,
began at 4:30 p.m. in the Vincent
Maglio Gymnasium.
“The reason that the Baccalaureate Mass is significant is that
it is a fitting way to help seniors
end their time here in this faithcentered community. This amazing event sends our seniors off
with the blessing of the Church
in the form of the Eucharist,”
Deacon Rich McCarron com-
mented.
Approximately 300 people
gathered in the gymnasium for the
mass with an air of reminiscence,
sadness, and hope for the future.
Following tradition, the celebrant
of the mass was St. Joe’s graduate
Father Jack O’Kane, ‘87. A St.
Joe’s graduate is able to deliver
a very special and appropriate
homily for the occasion.
“The event is one of the most
symbolic ways to close the year
for the seniors. It is a great way
to wrap up the seniors’ lives
here at St. Joe’s,” Deacon Rich
remarked.
The event was an enjoyable
success once again.
Senior Cup 2009
Final Competition of Senior Fun
By Alex Ganescu
Associate Editor
Like the Freshmen Cup in
October, which serves to welcome and bond the incoming
Class into the school community,
Campus Ministry held a Senior
Cup on May 14, which served
as a final bonding opportunity
for seniors.
“We want seniors to come
together in a fun activity before
they graduate,” said Ms. Alice
Backlund, Campus Minister and
organizer of the Senior Cup. The
event was held between 11:00
a.m. and 2:00 p.m., and was comoderated by Mr. Brian Jenkins
‘98. The festivities ended with a
barbeque organized by Dr. Robert
Longhi ‘81.
Seniors were divided into six
teams and participated in games
of ultimate Frisbee, kickball, and
volleyball. The final event of the
day was tug-of-war. During the
barbeque, the top three students
from each team competed in a
knockout tournament on the basketball courts.
Each team received different
colored senior cup T-shirts, replicas of the ones they wore during their freshman year. Junior
volunteers helped organize and
referee the games during the day.
The hope is that the same juniors
will know more about the Senior
Cup next year and participate in
it as well.
The Senior Cup was indeed an
environment full of healthy rivalry unhindered by the overbearing
prospect of college selections and
other pressures. It also served
as a way to relax during senior
exam week. Campus Ministry has
high hopes for the Senior Cup to
grow and become more popular
amongst future senior classes,
while always serving as a funfilled send off to the graduating
classes of years to come.
By Matthew Kuchtyak
Retiring Associate Editor
The 14th Annual Brother
Bernardine Golf Classic was
celebrated on May 18, 2009 at
Fiddler’s Elbow Country Club in
Bedminster Township, NJ. The
yearly fundraiser is held to benefit
the St. Joseph community by providing scholarships, need-based
financial aid, and program and
extracurricular upgrades for the
school’s students.
Competition was held on the
highly respected Meadow and
River courses, with play on each
course limited to twenty foursomes. The entry fee for each
golfer was $325, which paid for
the golf with a cart, lunch, dinner
with hors d’oeuvres, registration
gifts, and prizes. The day was
enjoyable for all golf enthusiasts
who relished the opportunity to
play one of the most prestigious
courses in the state.
Additional money was raised
in various ways, including a silent
auction, 50/50, event sponsorship,
and a game board, with prizes
donated by local businesses.
School officials have not yet tallied the money raised this year,
but the event has been a thriving
Photo by Mr. Kruper
Participants enjoyed a great day of
golf and other activities.
fundraiser in the past.
“The Golf Classic provides
an opportunity to remember a
St. Joe’s legend - Brother Bernardine Leanman - who taught
here from 1961 until he retired in
1997, including 20 years as the St.
Joe’s Golf Coach,” Mr. Jerry Pawlowski said. “At the same time,
it supports the schools ambitious
Development Program. The event
has grown over the years to where
it now accounts for over 25%
of the Annual Fund. Proceeds
from the event are placed in the
Endowment, providing important
financial assistance to help offset
tuition payments for deserving
students.”
Special thanks go out to General Chairman, John Langdon,
’80, and the rest of the Golf Committee who worked so hard to
make this event a great success
once again.
My Favorite Moment....
By Chris Jacques
Retiring Associate Editor
What was your favorite
moment during your time at St.
Joe’s?
Mike Lee: “Recognizing the
winner of the Applehead Award
in Br. Mike’s class.”
John Woolley: “Singing a
unique rendition of “Rock You
Like a Hurricane” in harmony
with Mr. Bryner.”
Kyle Gavin: “Winning The
Challenge… That’s a promise.”
Hayes Cozza: “Pulling off the
upset to win the coveted Joe’s
Bowl.”
Jon Langton: “Winter track’s
championship season and all
the bus rides to and from the
meets.”
Sean Ohnmeiss: “5th period
biology, freshman year, presenting Mr. Trojanowski with tons of
new bingo markers.”
Jesse Castellanos: “I enjoyed
the overall shenanigans of senior
year.”
Tom Vajtay: “Mr. Martin’s tangential interrogations.”
Chris Jacques: “Broadcasting
numerous basketball games on
youcastr.com.”
Alek Kubiak: “Storming the
court after the basketball team
defeated Piscataway.”
‘Nothing But Nets’ Gives Nets
By John Nolan
Retiring Sports Editor
The Student Council held its
second annual 3-on-3 Charity Basketball Tournament after school on
Friday, May 15 to benefit Nothing
But Nets, a grassroots campaign to
save lives by preventing malaria,
a leading killer of children in
Africa.
With approximately 100 students participating, the event raised
over $500.
Juniors Matt Pagano, Tim Per-
ez, Jayson Bolton, and Mark Radil
survived the 12-team upperclassmen bracket, while sophomores
Rob Ashamole, Tony Machalany,
Steve Cortez, and Giovanni Ortiz
bested the underclassmen field of
14 squads.
Student Council Moderator,
Mr. Brian Jenkins, ‘98, said, “I’m
glad that we were able to reach
out and help others in need from
across the globe. We take so much
for granted in our lives, when in
Africa, something as simple as a
mosquito net can save lives.”
editorial
The best we can be, it’s just the beginning
By Lucas Zavala
Retiring Editor-in-Chief
In my first editorial of the
2008-2009 school year, I urged
all of you to embrace change.
Changing your approach to
schoolwork, community service,
and extracurricular activities can
yield outstanding results, and I
encourage you to continue fostering this idea in your everyday
lives. With my final article as
Editor-in-Chief of the Falcon, I
come full circle, returning to the
concept of change.
In August 2005, St. Joe’s welcomed me and 200 of my classmates as the Class of 2009. On a
day-to-day basis, I noticed few
differences amongst the students
in my Class. We attended classes
together, we ate lunch together,
and we hung out together during
break and after school. The following year, we were separated
in classes for the first time, and
lunch periods were rearranged
according to our schedules. Even
as sophomore and junior year
progressed, my friends seemed
the same as they were on Orientation Day.
A few weeks ago, my friend
Remus pointed out how his group
of friends had evolved with his
interests over the years. His
comment really made me think
about how I had changed, how
my friends had changed, and how
the Class of 2009 had changed in
just four short years.
All of a sudden, I realized that
the same group of freshmen (give
or take a few) that entered the
main building in white polos had
adopted a host of different interests, had contributed to the school
community in various ways, and
had grown to embrace the next
stage in our lives. Although I saw
little difference from day to day,
somewhere along the way we
had become (for the most part)
mature, responsible gentlemen.
Now, the same group of freshmen
will leave through the doors of St.
Francis Cathedral, dressed in cap
and gown.
My fellow graduates and I have
dedicated ourselves to achieving excellence in our everyday
lives. Our impressive list of college acceptances testifies to our
outstanding accomplishments.
In the next few months, everything we have come to know
about school will change as we
embark on the college journey.
Our maturity, determination, and
thoughtfulness will surely impact
the lives of those we encounter in
future endeavors, just as we have
impacted each other over the past
four years.
I thank St. Joe’s for giving me
the opportunity to go to school
with such a remarkable group of
young men, and I thank them for
changing my life.
THE FALCON
May 2009
3
Student Council Update
BROTHER MIKE’S MOVIE REVIEW
By John Woolley
Retiring Staff Writer
Ey! Oh! Ah! You lookin’ at
Brother?! That’s right, it’s time
for Br. Mike’s movie reviews
once again. This is the homestretch now, so make sure to keep
lookin’ at Brother and watch out
for you-know-who on your way
home for summer vacation.
Fast & Furious ­­— Shhhh…
I’ve got a plan, guys. Let’s take
the same plot, the same stunts,
and the same actors from one
of the stupidest movie series
ever and make a new one! It’ll
make a killing in the box office!
P.T. Barnum said there was a
sucker born every minute and
you’d have to be one to buy a
ticket to this movie. One out of
one stars for Vin Diesel’s shiny
applehead. H
12 Rounds—This movie gets
points for trying, but the applehead who wrote the script should
be keelhauled. It’s got action,
sure, but it’s about as intellectually stimulating as poking
yourself in the eye. Ey! Oh! Ah!
Things blowing up and people
Photo by Jeff Chan
The Frosh/Soph Semi-Formal was a big success, with more than 80
couples enjoying the buffet and dancing the night away on Saturday, May 4 in the Vincent Maglio Gymnasium, which was beautifully
decorated by the Mothers Club.
Duplicity
dying have been done better.
This movie stars John Cena, that
wrestling guy, and it’s hard to
look cheesier than when you’re a
wrestler, but he managed to pull
it off. H H
Monsters vs. Aliens—Look at
the little guys go! These are the
good little guys! This movie is
about a bunch of little monsters
that come out of hiding to fight
an alien invasion of Earth. How
could you get any cooler than
that? HHH
www.movieweb.com
Duplicity­— This movie is the
best there is out right now. It’s
got action, it’s got intrigue, and
most importantly, it’s actually got
a decent plot. It’s a spy/action
movie that’ll leave you guessing
‘til the end. Julia Roberts is fantastic. Clive Owen is fantastic.
Everything about this movie is
fantastic! You should go out and
see it now. If you’re not lookin’
at Brother, you should be lookin’
at this movie. HHHH
Freshman Spirituality Day
By Brian Whiteside
Staff Writer
As freshmen adjust to a new
campus, harder courses, and
hundreds of new students, their
transition from grammar school
to high school can sometimes be
an overwhelming prospect. The
annual Freshman Spirituality Day
serves as a reflective, prayerful
day, while giving the freshmen
an opportunity to speak with other
students undergoing the same
transition.
On May 20, the Class of 2012
had this opportunity to come
together to participate in their
Spirituality Day. Throughout
the day, they will undertake
various fun and reflective activities. They will also pray, enjoy
snacks, and discuss their experiences at St. Joe’s thus far.
“Everyone knows that freshman year is a period of adjustment
to a new environment,” explained
Deacon Rich McCarron. “This
day gives students a chance to
bond with each other and share
their experiences.”
Football Update
Football Coach Announced
By Leonel Delgadillo
Staff Writer
On Wednesday, March 25,
Mr. John Anderson, ‘70, Principal, announced the hiring of Mr.
Robert Molarz as the first head
coach of the St. Joseph’s football
team. The position was highly
sought after by many qualified
applicants, with roughly eleven
candidates being selected for
interviews from a field of nearly
forty applications. In the end,
Coach Molarz was everything the
school was looking for.
“Coach Molarz understands
St. Joe’s philosophy,” commented
Athletic Director Mr. Jerry Smith.
“We’re looking to build a strong
foundation built upon the fundamentals of the sport.”
Coach Molarz is a highly qualified and experienced football
coach whose record exemplifies his skills. As head coach of
Carteret High School for eight
seasons, he led the team to the
playoffs every year, with one Blue
Division Championship and three
White Division Championships.
He is a four-time Division Coach
of the Year, and his players have
received athletic scholarships and
grants totaling over $1,500,000.
Mr. Molarz is also currently an
assistant coach for the varsity
basketball team at St. Joe’s
Mr. Smith is enthusiastic about
the hiring. “We’re looking for
the entire St. Joe’s community,
including alumni, to be able to
come together on a Saturday and
enjoy a family atmosphere at the
football games.”
Springing into Prom Season
By Bill Scarano
Photo Editor & Staff Writer
September seems like only
yesterday, but once again the time
has come for the junior and senior
proms. Both nights are expected
to be remembered as wonderful
experiences for St. Joe’s students
and their lucky dates.
The junior prom was held on
Friday, May 8 at Pierre’s Banquet
Hall in South Brunswick. The junior
prom bid cost $130, which included
a night of dancing and a buffet.
Seventy-five couples attended.
The senior prom will take
place on Thursday, May 21 at
The Excelsior in Manalapan. Collections for the senior prom began
in early April, with 125 couples
expected to attend. Student Council President John Nolan is convinced the night will be a hit.
“It will be a bittersweet occasion because it’s the last time
we’ll be together as a Class to
make memories,” John said.
Student Council Moderator
Mr. Brian Jenkins, ’98, is very
optimistic about the proms and
is certain that all in attendance
will enjoy themselves.
“We’ve had a good response
from both Classes and we hope
everyone has a good time,” he
said.
With high attendance, exquisite food, dancing, and a lighthearted atmosphere, the junior
and senior proms are sure to be
nights to remember.
NHS Induction Ceremony
By Martin Pico
Managing Editor
The last three years have
been a time of great growth and
development for the junior class.
Many members of this Class of
2010 have displayed their academic prowess and exceptional
talents, while acting as models of
excellence for the entire St. Joe’s
community. As a testament to
their intellectual achievements,
St. Joe’s finest students will be
honored as they are inducted into
the National Honor Society.
The event will take place on
the evening of May 20 in the
Vincent Maglio Gymnasium.
Family and friends will watch
as the students proceed into the
gym and later are called up individually to receive a certificate
of membership.
Induction into the NHS is a
significant recognition of the
inductees’ past achievements.
The ceremony honors those who
have demonstrated academic
aptitude and leadership qualities, both in the school and the
community, over the past three
years.
Mr. Carl Santiago, the NHS
moderator, commented, “NHS
members are the best that St.
Joe’s has to offer. I hope that
when we encounter people who
visit our school, we reflect that
truism.”
Although induction into the
NHS is a great honor, it comes
with many new responsibilities. As leaders in the St. Joe’s
community, the 45 new NHS
members are expected to assist
at school functions including the
Open House, school dances, and
Mass. NHS members must take
a leading role in representing
the standards of excellence for
which St. Joe’s is known.
The Falcon would like to congratulate all inductees.
Br. Peter Murphy: An Image of Loving Service
By Lucas Zavala
Retiring Editor-in-Chief
Brother Peter Murphy, S.C.,
a long-time member of the St.
Joe’s community, died on Sunday, March 15, 2009. At his
funeral service on March 21,
we remembered his devotion
to the Sacred Heart, his passion
for learning, and his dedication
to St. Joe’s.
Br. Joseph Holthaus, S.C.,
Provincial for the New York
Province, reflected on Br. Peter’s
life, focusing on the image of
him “sitting on a red tractor
on the great lawn in front of
the Brothers’ residence with a
straw hat and rounding a cutting
row just behind the St. Joseph
statue.”
Born in 1933, Br. Peter was
first introduced to the Order at a
summer camp in 6th grade. He
graduated from Coindre Hall, a
school run by the Brothers, and
went on to attend Chaminade
High School, where he helped
the football team achieve its
first ever undefeated season.
He entered the Institute of the
Brothers of the Sacred Heart
in Mobile, Alabama, and after
professing his vows in 1954,
he received a degree in Spanish with a minor in Chemistry
from the Jesuit-run Spring Hill
College. He later studied at the
Lateran University in Rome
(Licentiate in Theology), Seton
Hall University (M.A. in Guidance), and Rutgers University
(doctoral degree in Counseling
and Guidance).
Br. Joseph noted that although
Br. Peter’s educational achievements may seem in opposition
to the image of him on a tractor,
they exemplify his dedication to
Photo by yearbook staff
Br. Peter, pictured here in 1965,
has been a part of the St. Joe’s
community for over 40 years.
service. “Just as Peter’s educational preparation was extensive
and diversified, so too was his
apostolic history,” Br. Joseph
said.
Br. Peter was originally needed at Coindre Hall, so he began
his ministry in Huntington, NY
teaching 6th grade, working in
the kitchen, prefecting in the
dormitory, and assisting with
the football team. After taking
preparatory courses at Fordham
University, he was sent to teach
biology, chemistry, and religion at Msgr. McClancy High
School in Queens, NY. In 1964,
Br. Peter began working at St.
Joe’s as Chair of the Religion
Department. He went on to teach
biology and math, acquiring the
nickname “Bio Pete.” He earned
great respect from his students,
both because of his teaching
ability and because of a rumor
that he had once been a boxer.
Over the years, Br. Peter grew
close to Br. George Woodburn
and retired master electrician
Bill Reuter. These friendships
led to his interest in plumbing
and electrical jobs. He earned
a Black Seal Boiler Operator
License in 1978, and soon his
academic responsibilities were
replaced with maintenance tasks.
When St. Joe’s was in need of
a new chaplain, Br. Peter was
chosen to fill the role. In May
1984, he was ordained a priest.
In addition to maintaining the
grounds, he served Mass for the
remainder of his life.
Br. Joseph reminded us not
to mourn Br. Peter’s loss, but to
celebrate his communion with
God. He said, “In all the ways
he served, he did so quietly and
without the need for recognition, in the spirit of our Institute
patron, St. Joseph, the ‘quiet
saint.’”
Br. Peter exemplified the
devotion to excellence in all
endeavors, and his loving service on behalf of St. Joseph
High School is truly missed.
4
A Simple Meal for Lent
THE FALCON May 2009
Photos by Deacon Rich McCarron
Ms. Marion Dellatacoma, religion teacher, organized and ran a
“Simple Meal” on March 24 to raise awareness of the plight of the
local poor. The event, which was hosted in the school cafeteria,
consisted of a very simple meal of soup, bread, and water – the
type of meal that a person might be served in a soup kitchen. Three
students and approximately 30 guests attended, each donating
money for their meal. The event raised $650, which was donated
to Catholic Relief Services.
Thank You,
Dr. Gubernat
Photos by Jason Diaz and tour guide
Members of the International Travelers Club enjoyed the unique culture, delicious food, and beautiful
scenery of Japan.
Journey to Japan: Students
By Jason Diaz
Retiring Staff Writer
Retiring Falcon Moderator Dr. Martine Gubernat poses with
Dr. Robert Longhi, ’81, who will take over the position in September. Dr. Gubernat has dedicated her time, energy, and effort to
the smooth operation of the Falcon for the past 19 years. Over
her long tenure, the Falcon has won a variety of awards from the
American Scholastic Press Association, including first place in
the nation for 10 consecutive years. The Falcon staff sincerely
thanks Dr. Gubernat for all she has done to make the student
newspaper a success.
The International Travelers
Club enjoyed a vacation to Japan
during Spring Break, their second
trip of the year. This long-awaited
adventure, with preparation dating
back to the 2007-08 school year,
took twenty-five students and two
teachers halfway around the globe
in approximately eighteen hours,
introducing them to an astonishingly unique culture.
“After 16 years of taking St.
Joe’s students overseas, this was
the most exciting trip,” commented long-time moderator Ms. Ana
Rocci. “Japan is a colorful and
exotic country, and the people are
kind and welcoming.”
After landing in Narita International Airport, the group met their
tour guide, Jerry, and were brought
to a traditional Japanese restau-
Wowed by the Exotic
rant. Throughout the week, they
undertook countless, remarkable
adventures. They toured Tokyo,
exploring the Meiji Shrine and the
indigenous religious practices of
Shintoism. They discovered many
unique shopping districts, including Harajuku and Asakusa.
On Easter Sunday, the students
traveled into the historic and scenic
settings of Nikko, a mountainous
region with shrines that date back
to 8th century AD. While there
were no Catholic churches to celebrate Easter, the students were
instead taught the history of the
Shinto and Buddhist faiths.
They then visited the resort
city of Atami, enjoying a day of
relaxation. In Atami, the students
were introduced to rooms with
traditional tatami mats and futons
laid across the floor. At the scenic Lake Ashi in Hakone, they
got a glimpse of Mt. Fuji from
Spring Play
Fiddler on the Roof
a distance, although rain clouds
unfortunately obscured the view.
During their journey, the travelers were frequently exposed to
the great respect of the Japanese
people, noting how different the
cities, especially Tokyo, appeared
compared to American cities.
Senior Curt Chapkowski noted,
“Every city we visited was so clean
and modern. The people living
there really made an effort to make
you feel welcome, which is a nice
change from places like New York
City.”
“It’s amazing how their work
ethic and how they present themselves is so far beyond America,”
added club president Phil Seggio.
With the great success of their
trip to Japan, club members are
optimistic that future travelers will
have the opportunity to enjoy such
an astonishing adventure.
Changing of
the Mascot’s
Guardian
Photo by Dr. M. Gubernat
Photo by Alfonse Muglia
A mural of the sun-lit hallway of the Brothers’ residence is the latest
beautification project by Little Bobby Duncan, ‘65.
More Color for O’Neil
By Mark Lee
Associate Editor
Little Bobby Duncan, ’65, has
done it again. The artist has added
to the beauty of the school with his
second mural in O’Neil Hall.
This mural, located next to
his first mural on the first floor of
O’Neil, depicts a sunlit hallway in
the rear of the Brothers’ Residence.
His inspiration for the scene stems
from his time spent as a student at
St. Joe’s.
Because of his experience, Mr.
Duncan is sure to impress with
his work. His previous projects
include murals in Red Bank, NJ
and San Mateo, CA, as well as a
recent family portrait for a friend.
He has also done many paintings
for his alma mater, St. Joe’s. His
future plans include a painting in
Lexington, KY.
Mr. Duncan commented, “Art
is a way of expressing my ideas.
It’s such a great feeling to look at
a finished project and have a sense
of accomplishment.”
Photos by Mrs. J. McNamara
The Theatre Company’s seven performances of Fiddler on the Roof
were met with outstanding reviews and standing ovations.
Gary Monteleone, ’09 (right)
passes off the Falcon mascot responsibilities to Adam
Nawrot, ’10, who will lead
the Falcon Flock during the
2009-10 school year. Gary
wore the Falcon costume
for two years, following his
decision to “take a more
active role in the athletic
program.” His role of firing
up the Flock certainly suited
his fun-loving, outgoing
personality. Gary’s favorite
memory of wearing the Falcon suit was the volleyball
state championship game
against St. Peters. “At the
very last point,” Gary said, “I
began running in front of the
bleachers, trying to pump up
the crowd. Eventually, I was
able to get the entire crowd
on their feet. It was an awesome moment!”
May 2009
THE FALCON
Sports Report Card — 2008-2009
By John Nolan
Retiring Sports Editor
Cross Country
On paper, a 1-5 dual meet
record appears dismal. However,
the squad’s mark was only an indication of the Greater Middlesex
Conference (GMC) Red Division’s
strength in 2008, as the team finished eighth out of 26 schools at
the GMC Championship, when
seniors Hayes Cozza and John
Nolan, junior Alfonse Muglia, and
sophomore Mike Fernandes all ran
personal best times. Senior Jesse
Castellanos was the team’s top harrier throughout the campaign, leading the Falcons to 12th and 11th
place finishes at the NJ Catholic
Track Conference (NJCTC) and
Non-Public A State Championships, respectively. Considering
that Jesse and Alfonse were the
lone returning varsity letter-winners from a year ago, the squad had
a respectable season and should be
improved next year with upcoming freshmen Luke Sprenger and
Santino Cozza. Grade: C+
Soccer
It was yet another season of
peaks and valleys for the 2008
Falcon soccer squad, concluding with a 10-7-3 record. After
underachieving last season, the
team returned to the Non-Public
South A State Tournament, but
suffered a gut-wrenching overtime loss to CBA in the semifinals.
Blending youth and experience,
the Falcons, whose early-season
record was just 2-4-2, worked
hard to earn the No. 6 seed for
the GMC Tournament, only to be
knocked out in the opening round
by eleventh-seeded Old Bridge.
Though eleven seniors, including
three-year starter Greg DeMaio,
are graduating, the Falcons have
a crop of young talent to take the
reigns next season, highlighted by
freshman Brandon Allen, who led
the team offensively with 20 goals
and six assists. Grade: C+
Basketball
Despite finishing the season
with an impressive 24-4 record,
its fifth consecutive 20-win campaign, the 2008-09 Falcon basketball team fell short of attaining
its goal of winning a title. The
Falcons dominated their GMC
competition, going 19-3, but lost
in the GMC Tournament Finals,
for the second straight year, to
Piscataway. Claiming the No. 2
seed in the Non-Public South A
State Tournament, the team cruised
by Red Bank Catholic, but lost at
home in front of a sold out gym to
CBA in the semifinals, 56-48. The
Falcons were guided by seniors
Gerard Lewis and Nikko Vastola,
as well as junior Steve Rennard,
who during the season became the
fifth player in school history to
amass 1,000 career points. Steve
and company are sure to be hungry
for a championship next season.
Grade: A
Bowling
The 2008-09 Falcon bowling
squad failed to advance past the
GMC Tournament Quarterfinals
for the first time since ’04-05. In
this year’s GMCT, the team racked
up wins over Middlesex and Perth
Amboy before bowing out to East
Brunswick. For the season, the
Falcons compiled a disappointing 6-11-1 record. However, the
squad ended its campaign with
a solid fourth place showing at
the Central Jersey Group III State
Tournament. Considering that Nick
Durso was the lone senior, the team
expects to be improved next year,
behind sophomore Joe Campos and
juniors Brandon Cotroneo and Paul
St. Marie, who executed the first
7-10-split in school history during
the season. Grade: C
Hockey
The Falcon hockey team realized that their path in 2008-09
would not be an easy one since
it graduated 15 players from last
season, the second best in school
history. Battling against stiff competition in the NJIHL Central Red
Division, as well as in their outof-conference schedule, the Falcons took their hits, ending the
year 4-15-4. Over one-third of
the team’s games came against
opponents ranked in the state’s top
20. Senior assistant captain Steve
Geffre led the Falcons in points
with 11 goals and 7 assists. With
nearly half of its roster comprised
of freshmen and sophomores, the
team’s younger players gained
invaluable experience for the
future. Grade: C
Swimming
For most teams, winning a
GMC title (31st consecutive) and
reaching the finals of the NonPublic A North State Tournament
would be considered a banner season. However, the Falcon swimming program’s history is so rich
that the 2008-09 season was actually below standards. Competing
against a rigorous non-conference
schedule, the Falcons posted a
7-7 dual meet record. While winning the GMC Championship with
relative ease, the squad beat Don
Bosco in the state tournament, but
could not overcome Seton Hall
Prep in the sectional finals. Sophomores Alex Burzynski, Dylan
McDermott, and Shane Tonery, as
well as freshman Matt Dezenzo,
were all top area performers and
in the coming years will seek to
restore the program to its state
championship-winning ways of
the past. Grade: B+
Winter Track
GMC Relay Championship?
Check. GMC Individual Championship? Check. Non-Public A
State Championship? Check. The
2008-09 winter track season was
one to remember for the Falcons.
The team first gained its swagger
after placing second at the NonPublic Relay State Championship
and ran with the momentum from
there. Exhibiting teamwork and
talent in every event, the Falcons
had their most successful season
since 1998. Seniors Rich Bills,
Hayes Cozza, James Livingstone,
Camaron Burke, Will Schubigger,
John Nolan, Jon Langton, Anthony,
Buccigrossi, Jesse Castellanos,
Kyle Witkowski, and Nick Pavia,
in addition to juniors Jon Marques,
Matt Delaney, Tim Moczula, Zach
Sikanowicz, and Alfonse Muglia,
and sophomores Mike Fernandes
and Chris Troche all contributed
to the team’s stellar season. Head
Coach Gary Trojanowski, ’72, was
named the Home News Tribune’s
Coach of the Year for his efforts, as
well as those of Assistant Coaches
Andy O’Reilly, Barry Finn, ’98,
and Al Ernst. Grade: A+
Baseball
The Falcons returned from the
All-Catholic East Baseball Classic hotter than the Miami weather
they left. After a 3-4 start, the team
reeled off eight straight victories to
earn the No. 1 seed for the GMC
Tournament and clinch the GMC
Red Division. However, with the
postseason underway, the 16-5*
Falcons have their sights set on
more than just regular season success. Grade: A
Golf
In 20 matches, the consistent
Falcons lost just once, at the hands
of East Brunswick. Yet their 19-1
record and GMC White Division
plaque will be for naught if they
do not perform well at the GMC
Tournament on May 21. At the
Non-Public South A Sectional
Tournament, the Falcons finished
4th. Grade: A
Lacrosse
Despite a few hiccups, the Falcons have put together another
superb season. While winning
their second consecutive GMC
Tournament, the squad also tested
itself against a demanding nonconference schedule and enters
the upcoming Non-Public A State
Tournament with a 15-4* tally.
Grade: A
Spring Track
The Falcons placed second to
Old Bridge at the GMC Relays
but overcame their nemesis at the
GMC Individual Championship.
The Falcons posted a 7-1 dual
meet record, tying for first in the
Red Division with Old Bridge and
South Brunswick. The team will
seek to re-conquer glory at the
Non-Public A State Championship
at month’s end. Grade: A
Tennis
With their move down to the
GMC White Division, the Falcons
have found more success. The club
has posted a 7-12 record*, which
is better than the past two seasons
combined but still fell short of
expectations. Grade: C
Volleyball
While last year’s 43-1 state
champ squad was legendary, this
season’s version of the Falcons
has been equally impressive in its
own right. The Falcons are 32-8*
and have been ranked No. 1 in the
state. Among a handful of other
opponents, East Brunswick will
stand in the Falcons’ way of repeating as the GMC’s and state’s finest
in ’09. Grade: A
*As of 05/17
5
THE FALCON 6
Falcon SPORTS
baseball Update
By Alfonse Muglia
Editor-in-Chief
It’s crunch time for the championship-bound baseball team.
After a regular season that had
its ups and downs, highlighted
by an Easter Break trip to Miami,
Florida, an eight-game winning
streak in the end of April, and
a Red Division championship,
playoff time has arrived, and the
Falcons are geared up to go out
on top.
The Greater Middlesex Conference tournament began May 12,
with St. Joe’s receiving the first
seed, after recording an impressive 11-1 Red Division record in
the regular season. After defeating Carteret in the first round and
South Plainfield in the second
round, the Falcons advanced
to a semi-final matchup with
Woodbridge on Saturday, May
16. Sparked by homeruns from
senior Mike Hamel and juniors
Victor Diaz and Phil Gianakos,
the Falcons romped Woodbridge
14-3. The squad now looks to
defend its GMC crown against
North Brunswick on May 30.
The state tournament, meanwhile, is just around the corner,
Photo by Normandy Studios
Senior George Gonzalez successfully tags out a runner.
and the team expects to make a
run at its first state championship, although they’ll have to go
through stiff competition. The
Falcons open against rival CBA in
Lincroft on Tuesday, May 26. The
team is confident that if they keep
the right frame of mind, nobody
can stand in their way.
“Hard work + dedication =
success,” said senior captain Chris
Bielak. “That’s been our motivation all year.”
A championship would have to
be fueled by superb pitching and
consistently flawless defense. On
the hill, Bielak, Diaz, and senior
Joe Esposito, have provided the
reliable pitching performances,
while also contributing offensively. Seniors George Gonzalez,
Matt Karabin, and Ed Stivers,
and juniors Shane Alvarez, Paul
Nyitray, Eric Peterson, and Rob
Sammarco have also provided
consistent at-bats.
LACROSSE Update
By Ryan Langton
Associate Editor
After a grueling preseason, the
Falcon lacrosse team started its
schedule with a bang by compiling a promising 6-0 record.
The team began the season
with wins against Pingry (169) and North Brunswick (18-6)
and brought this momentum with
them against out-of-county foe
Bridgewater-Raritan, beating
them 8-7. The Squad continued
to gather impressive victories,
including a staggering 13-point
win against Old Bridge, until they
suffered their first loss of the season against East Brunswick (7-9)
on April 18.
The team has tremendous tal-
Photo by Normandy Studios
Ranked 1st in the county and
14th in the state, the lacrosse
team is geared up for a run at a
title or two.
ent on both sides of the field. The
squad’s offense, led by juniors
Andrew D’Ambrosio and Kevin
Cernuto, has had no difficulty
scoring goals this season.
Defensively, the team has
played well for the majority of the
season. This exceptional defense
can be attributed to junior Nick
Contino, sophomores Slay Sudah
and AJ Proulx, and senior goalie
Kenny Cernuto.
With 15-4 record, the Falcons
earned the first seed in the Greater
Middlesex Conference Tournament and captured 1st place overall by defeating Old Bridge on
Friday, May 15.
As the season comes to a close,
the Falcon squad has set its sights
on the highly competitive NonPublic A State Championship,
with hopes of going farther in the
tournament than last year.
“This is a much different team
than last year’s team,” commented
head coach Marc Moreau. “We have
more depth and a better focus.”
Spring Track & Field Update
By John Nolan
Retiring Sports Editor
On their quest to repeat as
Greater Middlesex Conference
(GMC) champions, the Falcons
were reminded early on who their
main competition was: Old Bridge.
The Knights narrowly thwarted
the Falcons, 73-67, in their first
dual meet of the season on April 9,
which came down to the final event
just as the GMC Championship did
in February. However, Coach Gary
Trojanowski’s team responded by
winning its remaining seven duals
to finish in a tie for first place in
the Red Division.
Among the early season
highlights for the Falcons was
the performance of senior Luke
Sheptuck and junior Mark Bauer in the javelin. The duo set a
school record for the two-man
javelin relay at Hillsborough High
School’s Raider Relays on April
18, when Luke threw a personal
record of 169-7 (feet-inches) and
Mark tossed 159-2.
As was the case in the winter season, the squad’s greatest
strength has proven to be their
depth, turning out top performers in nearly every event on the
track and in the field. Senior
May 2009
volleyball Update
By Michael Cash
Associate Editor
The volleyball team sent
shockwaves through the state by
opening their season with a hardfought victory over rival East
Brunswick. Many expected the
Bears of East Brunswick to pummel the young Falcon squad, yet
the Falcons found a way to defeat
the state’s top-ranked team.
The team puts in a lot of time
on the court for practices and
games, and also finds time to hold
team-building activities off the
court. Since the beginning of the
season, the team has attended the
funeral of Br. Peter, has held team
pasta parties, has gone to Ramapo
College to watch the Division III
National Championship, and has
ventured to Chicago to compete
in the Br. Rice Smack Attack Invitational on April 24.
Senior captain Danny Vaccariello described the team, “We’re
not just a typical school athletic
team. We build good chemistry
Photo by Normandy Studios
The Falcons have won an impressive 17 matches against teams
ranked in the state’s top 20.
through our activities off the
court, which helps us in being a
greater threat on the court.”
After facing remarkable competition in Chicago, the team has
come home with greater confidence and experience as the state
tournament approaches and they
prepare to defend their county and
state titles. The team was 32-8 as
of May 17.
golf Update
By Chris Jacques
Retiring Associate Editor
The saying goes that April
showers bring May flowers. Well,
for the Falcon golf team, all that
was showering in April was wins,
16 to be exact. Experience proved
to be invaluable as seniors Curt
Chapkowski, Matt Kuchtyak,
and Chris Jacques, along with
match-proven sophomore sensation Kevin Waitikowich, vastly
improved upon last year’s 11-7
record.
The squad’s most impressive
wins came against St. Peter’s
Prep, a team to whom the Falcons dropped a match in 2008
by a mere two strokes, and South
Plainfield, last year’s White Division champion and runner-up in
the 2008 conference tournament.
Matt Kuchtyak also carded an
impressive 81 at the Cherry Valley
Invitational in less than perfect
conditions, finishing 7th in a field
of 80 top players in the state.
After a sparkling 17-0 start, the
turn of the calendar brought about
a litmus test of the Falcon’s true
ability as they faced conference
powerhouse East Brunswick. The
team lost this match and finished
Photo by Normandy Studios
Senior Chris Jacques helped lead
the golf team this season to the
most wins ever earned.
the season with a mark of 19-1.
Also, the Falcons achieved
a fourth place finish in the state
sectional tournament.
“This is one of the best starts
in the program’s history,” Coach
Lechner said. “Without underestimating our opponents, we simply
must continue to approach each
match with confidence, and not
allow our desire to falter.”
tennis Update
By Nitin Srinivasan
Sports Editor
Photo by Michael Shkolar
The track team defended its GMC title at the GMC Individual Championship on May 16 and now looks to carry this momentum to the
Non-Public A State Championship on May 29.
Hayes Cozza, who exemplifies
the team’s versatility, running in
the 100, 200, 400, and 800-meter
races during the season, said, “We
realize that winning a championship takes a total team effort.”
The Falcons failed to defend
their winter-season GMC Relay
title on April 28-29, placing second. Top performers in the event
were the javelin team, the pole
vault team, the sprint medley
team, and the 4x400. The squad
defended its title on May 16 at the
GMC Individual Championship
and is tuning up for states at the
NJ Catholic Track Conference
Championship on May 24.
The campaign concludes on
May 29-30 at the Non-Public A
State Championship, held at Egg
Harbor, when the Falcons hope
to duplicate the successes of St.
Joe’s 1972 and 1998 teams, which
won both winter and spring state
titles.
After a series of inopportune
cancellations due to Mother
Nature in early April, the Falcon
tennis team racked up an earlyseason record of 2-5, with solid
wins over New Brunswick and
South Plainfield.
Since the squad’s drop from
the Greater Middlesex Conference
Red Division to the White Division this season, it has improved
it’s dismal 3-15 record from each
of the past two years. As of May
17, the team has compiled a record
of 7-12. Under the leadership of
senior captains Conor Lynch and
Joe Jaeger, the team has played
consistently through the season.
Although the entire team
advanced past the preliminary
round in the GMC tournament
on Thursday, April 23, all five
positions lost tough matches in
the first round.
Coach Jarrett Dewelde, ’96,
commented on this year’s team,
Photo by Normandy Studios
Junior and first-singles player
Frank Osolnick hits a forehand,
helping to lead the tennis team
to its best record in three years.
“We are winning the matches we
are supposed to, but in order to
take the program to the next level,
we need to be more competitive
against some of the top teams in
the county.”
The Falcons will lose only
two of the starting seven players to graduation this year and
are primed for another improved
performance in 2010.
THE FALCON
May 2009
7
Academic teamS: year in review
college bowl
By Edward Zukowski
Managing Editor
The College Bowl team has
had one of its most successful
seasons in recent memory. Participating in over twenty tournaments, the “A Team” came in first
place three times, while the “B
Team” brought home the same
distinction twice. The teams’ victories have earned them over two
hundred dollars, which was used
to enter additional tournaments.
The A Team’s tournament wins
have made them eligible to com-
pete in the national tournament in
Chicago this June.
In addition to the regular tournaments the team participates in
every year, five members of the
team were selected to compete
on the televised competition, The
Challenge. The team won its first
three matches against other New
Jersey teams and is scheduled to
face Bergen County Academies in
the state finals. If victorious, the
team will win $2,000 and compete
against some of the best teams in
the metropolitan area in the TriState playoffs.
Science Bowl 2009
math league
By Michael Henton
Staff Writer
Building off of last year’s
successes, the Math League had
an exceptional year. The freshman/sophomore team earned first
place in the region in Geometry
and second place in the region
in Algebra II. The junior/senior
team finished first in the nation
with a perfect score in Advanced
Math. Senior Lucas Zavala posted
a perfect score in Calculus, while
senior Junyan Miao posted a perfect score on the New Jersey Math
League Contest for the first time
in St. Joe’s history.
Lucas, Junyan, and senior
Matt Kuchtyak qualified for the
AIME, the second of four contests
used to determine the U.S. Junior
Olympic Team. Lucas competed
alongside seniors Michael Chua,
Kevin Corlett, John Woolley, and
Michael Lee in Moody’s Mega
Math Challenge, a research competition that involved using mathematical models to predict the
impact of the recent economic
stimulus. Out of more than 500
teams from throughout the East
Coast, St. Joe’s placed in the top
23, earning honorable mention as
well as a $1,000 scholarship.
Photos by Anton Alicante & Ms. J. McNamara
computer league
By Michael Cash
Associate Editor
The Computer League is proud
to declare that they have achieved
respectable scores this year,
despite losing some great members from last year’s team. Led
by seniors Mike Lee and Mike
Chua, and junior Nitin Srinivasan,
the team is ranked ninth overall in
the American Computer Science
League after three contests.
The team opened the year with
two strong performances, scoring
a 43 on the first contest and a
44 on the second contest, out of
a possible 50. After struggling
and receiving a score of 28 on
the third contest, largely due to
a lack of participation, the team
expects to improve its standing
as it awaits the official scores
of the fourth and final contest of
the year.
chess team
By Michael Bender
Staff Writer
Despite losing five of its six
top players from last year, the
emergent members of the Chess
team proved their mental prowess
by securing second place in their
division and qualifying for the
Shore League playoffs. The team
suffered from an unlucky draw of
top ranked High Tech in the first
round and was eliminated.
The team also struggled to best
the tough teams who attended
the NJ States, resulting in a
1-4 record. This was only to be
expected, however, from such a
young team and next year promises to be even more successful.
career day
By Brian Whiteside
Staff Writer
The pressure of applying
and getting accepted to college continually worries high
school students across the country. Beyond that, many students
are apprehensive about choosing a career. Career Day gives
students a chance to learn more
about some popular careers and
even gain a little bit of hands-on
experience.
On the morning of May 20,
sophomores and juniors were
granted the opportunity to listen
to and speak with a number of
St. Joe’s alums who hold positions ranging from veterinarian
to social worker to teacher.
The day was a great opportunity to spark students’ interests
in potential career paths. Each
guest explained what he did for
a living, described the nuances
of his profession, and answered
questions.
“We all know that choosing
a career is a very stressful decision,” said Ms. Diane Yannaco,
Director of Guidance. “That is
why we have Career Day. It
gives the students a chance to
see several options and think
about their future.”
Congratulations
Class of ‘09
St. Joe’s welcomed 97 students from 10 middle schools to its first Science Bowl event on April 25.
The students took a 50-minute written test encompassing various topics in science. Students from
the four highest-scoring schools moved on to the buzzer round, in which the young scientists clashed
in Jeopardy!-style competition. In the end, the students of Edgar Middle School emerged victorious.
The event owed its success to the efforts of Ms. Jeannemarie McNamara, Science NHS & League
moderator, several teachers from all academic departments, members of the Science NHS, and other
volunteers.
Model UN
By Nitin Srinivasan
Sports Editor
The Model UN program
enjoyed another successful year,
debating well and writing effective resolutions at its conference
in Hershey, PA.
The program has grown tre-
mendously since its inception
three years ago and now contains
over forty members. Although
the team did not win any major
awards this season, many individuals performed admirably within
their committees.
The Model UN program has
high hopes for next year, led by
Youth Secretariats Nitin Srinivasan, Mike Huber, and Dave
Stess. The group plans to return
to the conference in Hershey,
while hopefully taking a trip to
the United Nations building in
New York City and participating
in a second conference.
science league
By Michael Henton
Staff Writer
This year’s Science League
season can best be evaluated as
a series of individual successes.
Although the team did not perform quite as well as last year,
falling short of the state’s top
ten, individual students rose to
the occasion and did very well
in their respective competitions.
Senior Junyan Miao finished in
the top 150 students in the nation
for the Physics Olympiad, a threecompetition event encompassing different aspects of physics.
Junyan and Michael Lee both
earned the very respectable score
of 50 out of a possible 60 in the
Chemistry Olympiad Test.
Competition was tough, with
powerhouses like JP Stevens and
East Brunswick providing tough
opposition; however, the team
managed to finish first out of all
competing Catholic schools in the
state. They also progressed through
seven rounds of the National Science Bowl. Despite falling short
of a top ten finish, various students
finished in the top 10 percent of
participants. The members are
looking forward to improving
upon their successes and returning to prominence next year.
robotics team
By Alex Ganescu
Associate Editor
During the second semester, the
Falcon Robotics team participated
in two competitions: the Finger
Lakes Regional in Rochester, New
York and the Chesapeake Regional
in Annapolis, Maryland.
At Rochester, the Falcons
participated in a team competition
alongside two other groups,
earning the overall rank of 31st
out of 49 teams after making it
to the third round of semi-finals.
The team also ranked 23rd out
of 55 teams in the Annapolis
competition, losing in the
quarterfinals.
The team will be participating
in several off-season events for
the benefit of the underclassmen
members of the Robotics team,
who will carry the Falcons into
next year’s competitions and
beyond.
Overall, the team ranked well
despite going up against corporatesponsored competition, and will
continue to strive for excellence
in the 2009-2010 season.
debate team
By Michael Bender
Staff Writer
The Debate team finished the
year with a bang as they completed their entry into the YouTube
Video Contest commemorating
the 200th anniversary of Abraham
Lincoln’s birthday. This threeminute video, which culminates
with Lincoln’s assassination, portrays the great effect that Lincoln
has had on the country.
As always, the year was also
peppered with in-house debates
and presentations by new mem-
bers. The team, however, decided not to attend the Mock Trial
competition, believing that the
identity theft case this year was
too strongly oriented toward the
defense and that some of the computer jargon was too difficult to
understand and use.
THE FALCON 8
May 2009
CLASS OF 2009
Name College
Anton Alicante..............................New York University
Danel Allen..................................... Rutgers University
Jeffrey Anderson............... William Paterson University
Thomas Angell.......................Delaware Valley College
Gabriel Aquino................................ Rutgers University
Arturo Arce...................... Nassau Community College
John Aversa..............................................York College
Colin Bacorn.........................................Rice University
Daniel Baran............................. University of Maryland
Joseph Bartonek...................Delaware Valley College
Kyle Bascom.............................. Quinnipiac University
Bassil Bassil......................The College of New Jersey
Peter Batista................................. Villanova University
William Batista......................... St. Joseph’s University
Christopher Bell.................Carnegie Mellon University
Christopher Bielak.................................Marist College
Richard Bills............................... Monmouth University
Peter Birri....................... Valley Forge Military College
Matthew Bonfiglio.....................................York College
Joseph Bonner............................. Villanova University
Kyle Braganza................................ Rutgers University
Tyler Prince Branch................. St. Joseph’s University
Karandeep Brar................... Montclair State University
Robert Bruder III................The College of New Jersey
Anthony Buccigrossi Jr...................Manhattan College
Camaran Burke.............................Morehouse College
Thomas Cahillane..........................Manhattan College
Robert Campbell............................. Purdue University
Robert Canciello................The College of New Jersey
Ryan Carlucci................................Fordham University
Michael Carpetto..........................Muhlenberg College
Michael Casari................. Johnson & Wales University
Jesse Castellanos.............................Brown University
Kenneth Cernuto...................................King’s College
Michael Chan................................................. U.C.L.A.
Curtis Chapkowski...................... Quinnipiac University
Anthony Chin.....................The College of New Jersey
Michael Chua....................................Brown University
Dominick Ciccarelli............. Middlesex County College
Mitchell Clark.........................Miami University of Ohio
James Coonan.......................... Penn State University
Kevin Corlett........................................Duke University
Hayes Cozza.......................U.S. Naval Academy, F.S.
Daniel Cubelo...................... Montclair State University
Mitchell Curras................... Middlesex County College
Matthew D’Angiolillo....................... Rutgers University
Remus Paolo DeJesus................... Rutgers University
David DelliSanti.......................... Seton Hall University
Gregory DeMaio....................................King’s College
Ronald DeSantis.......... Salem International University
Jason Diaz................................... SUNY - Binghamton
Nicholas Diorio.................... Montclair State University
David Dodds............................... Monmouth University
Nicholas Durso........................... Seton Hall University
Daniel Echeverria...........................St. Peter’s College
Ryan Elwood.......................................Drew University
Iheanyi Emenike...............................Cornell University
Nathan Englis........ Raritan Valley Community College
Kevin Enriquez..................................Drexel University
Joseph Esposito............................. Rutgers University
Jeffrey Estrellas........................... St. John’s University
Richard Fetzer................................... Ramapo College
Nicholas Figueroa............................. Ramapo College
Joseph Francavilla............. Middlesex County College
Kyle Gavin.......................................Colgate University
Steven Geffre..................................... Rider University
John Gillespie........................................King’s College
Name College
Sumit Gogna.................................. Rutgers University
George Gonzalez..............The College of New Jersey
Eric Graebener...... Raritan Valley Community College
Damian Gromek................. Middlesex County College
Michael Hamel..................... Montclair State University
Anthony Hernandez............. Montclair State University
Jonathan Hopkins........ Brookdale Community College
Patrick Hunter...........................Misericordia University
Ryan Iannuzzo...............................Manhattan College
Christopher Jacques............University of Notre Dame
Joseph Jaeger..........The College of William and Mary
Ryan Jago...................................... Rutgers University
Victor Janas......................................Cornell University
Nicholas Jeglinski............................... Rider University
Daniel Kane........................................ Rider University
Matthew Karabin......................Misericordia University
Donald Keenan............................... Ashland University
Harley Keh..........................University of Pennsylvania
James Kelly........................ Middlesex County College
Casey Klein................................ Monmouth University
Michael Klotz Jr.......................... Seton Hall University
Aleksander Kubiak..............................Drew University
Matthew Kuchtyak.......................... Rutgers University
Cameron Lambert............................. Ramapo College
Jonathan Langton.......................... DeSales University
Andrew Lasko.................................Widener University
Andrew Lawler............................ Monmouth University
Anthony Lazaro................... Montclair State University
Michael Lee..................................Princeton University
Gerard Lewis...................................Howard University
James Livingstone..................U.S. Air Force Academy
Kyle Livingstone.......................................York College
Conor Lynch................................... Rutgers University
Elias Machalany......................... Seton Hall University
Brendan Maloney.................Saint Joseph’s University
Daniel Marrazo............................... Rutgers University
Joseph Martucci............................. Rutgers University
Christopher Mateo.......................... Rutgers University
Nicholas Mazzeo................................ Rider University
Timothy McCaig.............................Providence College
Ryan McCartney.......... Brookdale Community College
Patrick McGhee................. New Jersey City University
Mark McGovern.........................University of Scranton
William McIntyre.............................Merrimack College
Alexander Meier................................Drexel University
Junyan Miao.....................................Cornell University
Nicholas Migliaccio..............................Kean University
Jonathan Miskewicz......Fairleigh Dickinson University
Timothy Mohin.................. Mount St. Mary’s University
Jose Monsanto.......................... Penn State University
Christopher Montalvo..................... Rutgers University
Robert Montanez.... Raritan Valley Community College
Gary Charles Monteleone.............. Rutgers University
Matthew Morgan.......................University of Delaware
Daniel Natkie II....................................Drew University
Kevin Nicotera................................ Rutgers University
John Nolan................................... Syracuse University
Eric Nuber..................................... Bucknell University
Ian O’Connor............................... Landmark University
Sean Ohnmeiss................................ Lehigh University
Jeffrey Olsen.................................Clemson University
Michael Olson................................. Rutgers University
Richard Pacheco........................ Monmouth University
Jose Palao Jr.................................. Rutgers University
Eric Palumbo....................University of North Carolina
Nicholas Panos.............................. Rutgers University
Alex Paredes.......................................Kean University
Name College
Biren Patel...................................... Rutgers University
Raj Patel............................................Drexel University
Nicholas Pavia................................ Catholic University
Ryan Peters.................................... Centenary College
Michael Pico......................The College of New Jersey
Christopher Plumeri.............................. Loyola College
Christian Prince.............................Morehouse College
Benjamin Prohaska.................... Seton Hall University
Daniel Rainbow.................................. Rider University
John Ramos........................ Montclair State University
Anthony Rodriguez............................ Ramapo College
Matthew Romanyshyn............ Northeastern University
Nelson Romero.................. Middlesex County College
Shannon Rosario...........................Fordham University
Lawrence Rosello.....................University of Delaware
Jake Russo..................................... Rutgers University
Zachary Russo........................... Quinnipiac University
Patrick Sammon.............................. LaSalle University
Andrew Sanabria........................... DeSales University
Ryan Joseph Santiago........ Johns Hopkins University
Andrew Sasso................................ Rutgers University
Kevin Schaefer................... Middlesex County College
Steven Schofield...........................Clemson University
William Schubiger...................... Penn State University
Michael Schuhrer............................. John Jay College
Philip Seggio................................American University
Thomas Semple............................. Rutgers University
Samip Shah.......................... University of Connecticut
Michael Sheehan...........Fairleigh Dickinson University
Luke Sheptuck.............................. Villanova University
Mark Smith....................Fairleigh Dickinson University
Zachary Sosnovich...............................Centre College
Jason Sotomayor.................... Georgetown University
William Spear................................. Rutgers University
Mark Sprenger..................................Rowan University
Dillon Sprowls...................................... Boston College
Edward Stivers Jr.................University of Notre Dame
Scott Suleski.................................. DeSales University
Jake Surma............................ West Virginia University
Ryan Terracciano............................SUNY-Binghamton
Alex Terwilliger.................................... Rider University
Philip Thomas Jr............................. Rutgers University
John Timoni...................................Fordham University
Michael Tumminello............ Middlesex County College
Jeffrey Ulrich.........................University of Notre Dame
Daniel Vaccariello.............................. Ramapo College
Stephen Vajtay............................... Rutgers University
Thomas Vajtay.................................... Rider University
John Vassallo Jr...............................Boston University
Nikko Vastola.......................................Kean University
Anthony Verdiramo.............. Montclair State University
Alberto Vergara.... New Jersey Institute of Technology
Brian Vieira............................... Immaculata University
Jaskarn Virk.................................... Rutgers University
Tyler Vitello.......................... Montclair State University
Jeremy Wang............. Stevens Institute of Technology
Charles Watts............................University of Scranton
Ronald Williams.............................. Rutgers University
Kyle Witkowski...................Carnegie Mellon University
John Woolley........................... Georgetown University
Joel Young............................. Arizona State University
Haley Yuen..................................... Rutgers University
Lucas Zavala................................Princeton University
Stephen Zielinski....................... Penn State University
Paul Zushma................................ University of Tampa