November, 2013 - Archbishop Molloy High School

Team Live and
Channel 4 are
IM champs
Bro. John calls
Frosh Retreat
“exceptional”
Page 7
Page 5
The Stanner
Vol. 57, No. 3
Archbishop Molloy High School
November 2013
Seniors work up a sweat to WTC
By Matthew Maneri ’14 and
Georgios Gulino ’14
While most Stanners took to
the streets of Briarwood to raise
money for the school in Walk-athon 2013 on Oct. 25, some
seniors opted to help in a
different way.
Many seniors took advantage
of the exclusive activities
offered to them such as a Zumba
dance class, the new Tourn-athon which replaced Flag this
year, and the 10th Annual
Brother Leo Richard Memorial
Senior Walk to the World Trade
Center.
Thirty-seven seniors signed up
for Ms. Liz Murdocca’s Zumba
class in the Theater.
“Zumba is an intense cardio
workout
with
prechoreographed routines,” said
Ms. Murdocca. “It utilizes simple
dance steps designed for high
cardio output.”
Ms. Murdocca, who has taught
Zumba for more than five years,
Seniors enjoy their walk to the WTC. (Photo by Jordi Sevilla ‘14)
said that most seniors had fun
Ms. Murdocca gave a special
and kept up with her, “but I could shout out to Mike Mosco for
see they could definitely feel the having the “best moves on
workout.”
stage.”
Fifty seniors signed up for the
new
Tourn-a-thon
to
participate in different sporting
competitions including a threepoint shootout, dodge ball,
touch football, and ultimate
frisbee.
Mr. Brian Klimas, who ran
the event along with Mr. Brian
Kelly and Mr.Craig Katinas,
said the seniors “had a great
time.”
Matthew Dolan and Kristen
Maurer were selected as the
tournament’s best players.
Mr. Klimas said the first
Tourn-a-thon was “a great
success and we will run it again
next year.”
Anthony Genna suggested a
way to improve the tournament
by allowing seniors to form
their own teams rather than
have Mr. Kelly pick teams. He
also said the dodge ball game
should be better supervised.
“But I had a great time
Continued on page 6
Spirit Leaders host scary soirée
Sophomore David Di Maggio
By Sargam Mehra '16
Molloy's new Spirit Leaders made
this year's Halloween Dance on Oct.
30 in the Cafeteria one of the scariest
and most fun in school history.
“Senior Bea Cruz had very creative
ideas for decorating and transforming
the school for the dance," said Director of Student Activities Ms. Liz
Murdocca. "She and several other
Spirit Leaders went to Party City numerous times in order to get the best
decorations. Senior Rosemarie Casano
came up with the idea of the Haunted
Hallway. I think the students appreciated the decorations.”
The 350 Stanners in attendance, almost all of whom came in costume, saw
that the Spirit Committee had added
several new elements to the dance.
"We had a photo booth, and an outstandingly spooky Haunted Hallway,"
Ms. Murdocca said. "We also had a
flash mob dance to 'Thriller,' by Michael
Jackson choreographed and taught by
Bea Cruz, Savannah Coppola, and
Deanna Aliperti and performed by the
Dance Club."
Ms. Murdocca said she couldn't have
been more pleased with the effort the
Spirit Committee made.
"It took us seven hours non-stop to
decorate for the dance, and no one
stopped working until it was done," she
said. "Then they stayed and worked all
evening at the dance. They gave it 110
percent.”
The effort was appreciated.
“This year’s dance was absolutely
amazing!" said sophomore Harry Singh.
"There were so many fun activities and
it was much more involved than last
year.”
Sophomore Maria Aliberti liked that
the school was "decorated and very festive which made it more exciting, especially the Haunted Hallway. It was a
Continued on page 6
Sophomore DaeQuan Morrison
Fooducation: by Alexandra Caruso ‘14
Add an ethnic touch to your Thanksgiving
Let's talk about the glories of
home-cooking.
For me there's nothing better
than sitting down to the amalgam
of scents, sights, and tastes that
Laura Caruso's golden touch in
the kitchen provides us on that
last Thursday in November.
But maybe you're from a
household that produces a series
of gastronomic catastrophes that
only worsen as Thanksgiving Day
approaches.
If this is the case, escape to one
of Krolewskie Jadlo's two locations at 694 Manhattan Ave. in
Greenpoint, Brooklyn or at 66-21
Fresh Pond Rd. in Ridgewood,
Queens, for some great Polish
food.
Both locations feature knights
in armor outside the entrance and
the same ambience inside: the
homey comfort of wooden tables
and chairs with paintings of old
Polish kings and swords hanging
Cartoon Corner
By Giovanni Vittozzi ‘15
on brick walls.
If you crane your neck a bit to
glimpse into the kitchen, you'll
see Polish grandmas tenderizing
meat, kneading dough, and chopping vegetables.
If you're always broke like me,
the three-course lunch special for
$9 will certainly reel you in.
It's great Polish food and who
doesn't love kielbasa and
pierogis? If you say you don't,
first try these.
For Thanksgiving, many families add special foods to the standard menu to add a cultural flair
to this traditional American holiday.
Senior Grace Anh's family puts
a Korean flair on this American
holiday, with "toranguk" (soup)
and "songpyeon" (rice cakes).
My Polish side of the family
brings sauerkraut and kielbasa to
the table.
These different ethnic food traditions enrich our holidays.
For Thanksgiving, I thought I'd
leaf through the sacred file again
and share the Caruso family's
stuffing recipe.
Happy Thanksgiving and eat
hearty!
Ingredients:
1 loaf of white bread
2 cups chopped onions
2 cups chopped celery
l lb. chopped mixed mushrooms (such
as white button, cremini, or shiitake)
1 cup fresh herbs (parsley, sage,
thyme)
2 cups turkey stock
2 eggs (lightly beaten)
1 lb. beef or beef & pork combination
salt and pepper
Directions:
1. Cut bread into 1/2 inch cubes and
leave out overnight to dry.
2. Preheat the oven to 375 degrees.
3. Sauté the meat until cooked
through, and remove from skillet.
4. Sauté chopped onions and celery
in the rendered fat from the meat until softened.
5. Add the mushrooms and cook until soft, about 5 minutes.
6. Combine meat, celery, onion,
mushrooms, and bread.
7. Add herbs. Salt and pepper to
taste. Toss.
8. Add the turkey stock and eggs.
Toss until just combined. (Over mixing yields a gummy texture.)
9. Place mixture in a 9x13 inch baking dish and bake until top is brown
and stuffing is heated through (about
35-45 min).
Campus Ministry brings
back Coat Drive to Molloy
Solidarity Sleep Out to
raise money for homeless
By Michael LaBella '17
About 40 to 50 Stanners will
spend the night of Nov. 22 sleeping on the floor of the Jack
Curran Gym in sleeping bags or
on cardboard boxes as they take
part in Molloy's second Solidarity Sleep Out in order to raise
awareness of the plight of the
homeless.
Almost 700,000 Americans
were homeless in 2012, including 49,000 New York City residents and 21,000 New York City
children.
Molloy is working with Covenant House to shed light on the
growing problem.
Each participant in the sleep
out is required to donate $10 to
Covenant House, an organization dedicated to helping homeless teenagers.
Students from all grades can
participate in the Sleep Out,
which is being organized by
Mrs. Daniela Jelcic.
Frosh Jenna Mulett, who
plans to join the sleep out, said,
“I think the sleep out will help
us understand the struggle that
many teenagers have to face today. Not everyone is lucky
enough to have a warm place to
stay or enough food to live. I
wanted to participate so that I
realize how fortunate I am to
have everything that I do.”
Another participant, frosh
Lauren O'Donohue, added,
“This event is great because I
never really thought about teen
homelessness until I heard
about this. It is a fun way to get
people involved and do something good.”
By Alex Yule '15
Imagine not having a coat to
keep warm on the coldest days
of the year and freezing while
trying to find shelter but not
knowing where to go.
People all over New York live
like this, which is why Molloy's
Campus Ministry sponsored a
Coat Drive from Nov. 4-18 to
help those people in need.
Homerooms 1E ($222), 2G
($141), 3A ($101) and 4L ($133)
raised the most money in each
grade and all members of those
homerooms will receive a special dress down day as a reward.
Molloy's Coat Drive, which
started over 30 years ago, has
been an off-and-on event since
2010. But this year Campus
Ministry Director Mr. Mike
Germano thought it was time to
bring it back.
A record 620 coats were do-
nated in 2008 but Mr. Germano
is not looking to set any records
this year.
"If everyone brings in a couple
of dollars or a coat to donate, we
should be in good shape,” said
Mr.Germano, who has Spirit
Leaders helping run the drive
along with Campus Ministry
Leaders such as seniors Daniela
Fazio and Anthony Maroutsis.
Campus Ministry sponsored a
homeroom collection on Nov. 2021 to support Philippines relief
efforts with students who gave
at least $1 getting a dress down
day as a reward on Nov. 22.
Correction
Sophomore reporter Laksumi
Sivanandan was the co-writer of
the Walk-a-thon story in last
month's issue. Her byline was
accidentally left off the story.
The Stanner
Volume 57, Number 3
Editors:
Production Staff:
Moderator:
Publisher:
Joana Capistrano; Pamela
Decolongon; Daniela Salazar; and
John Fenner
Caroline Bikles; Reynerio Rubio;
Phillip Barsamian; Sophia Savvides
Mr. Charley McKenna
Bro. Thomas Schady
Speech students put lessons into practice
By Anna Poulakas '14
Seniors in Ms. Mary Pat
Gannon's Public Speaking
course, whose voices are heard
every morning on the public
address
system
during
homeroom period, were the main
speakers who outlined key aspects of Stanner life at both the
Freshman Parents Orientation
on Sept. 26 and the Elementary
School Principals Reception on
Oct. 8.
The seniors, whom Ms.
Gannon selected after they
showed the qualities she was
looking for in a class activity,
received extra credit for speaking at the events, as did those
who served as Open House tour
guides and recite the morning
prayer and announcements.
At the parents orientation,
master of ceremonies Lauren
Nazarieh led the opening
prayer and introduced the
speakers.
Matt Dolan spoke about the
role of the school's principal, Anthony Genna spoke about the
school president, and Camille
Pangalangan, Sean Ryan,
Amelia Singh, and Melissa
Yurisak spoke about the duties
of the four assistant principals.
“As I looked out and saw everyone," said Nazarieh, "it was
kind of ironic because just the
other day I was in their seats
and now I was standing there
facing them, representing
Molloy.”
Ryan, who spoke about Assistant Principal Mr. Dennis
Vellucci's role in the school and
the family aspect of Molloy, said,
“Bro. Thomas [Schady] and Mr.
[Richard] Karsten came over to
congratulate me.”
Pangalangan was a bit nervous when she first started
speaking, so she was pleased
when Ms. Mary Ann Safrey told
her she had done a good job.
Singh got positive feedback
from two of her former English
teachers, Mr. Brian Kelly and
Mr. Mark Sweeney.
“It was great because those
teachers had taught me and
now they were commending me,"
she said.
Yurisak, who said the experience will make her more confident and comfortable the next
time she makes a presentation,
said, “I wanted the parents to
hear from a current student
about her present day experiences. I was pleased with the
way my speech went."
After meeting with the administrator they'd be speaking
about, the seniors each wrote a
speech and rehearsed it before
presenting it to their audience.
Ms. Gannon was “incredibly
pleased” with her students
whose phenomenal job made her
proud.
"They were formal, had great
poise, were articulate, and, of
course, used everything they
had learned in class while up at
the podium," said Ms. Gannon.
"They had high energy levels
and enthusiasm and spoke without using ‘ums.’"
Ms. Gannon said having students speak at events such as
Open House, and parents and
principals nights “showcases
Molly’s best asset [the students].”
I AM Green
Mr. Chris Dougherty prepares the environment club to hit the beach
and do some cleaning in the Rockaways. (Photo by Shoma Nath ‘16)
AM drama clubs to stage first Senior Show
By Robert Dittus '15 and
Liana Liang '15
The Stanner Players hope to
begin a new tradition this year
by staging their first Senior
Show in the Theater in late
January or early February.
The show, a series of skits written and performed by senior
members of The Stanner Players and Theater Arts & Improv
Club, will be similar to the cabaret show staged a few years ago.
New Director Ms. Shannon
Winters wanted to create a show
that would showcase the seniors’
musical talents because The
Stanner Players will not stage
a musical this spring.
So she suggested the idea for
a Senior Show and her students
were quick to embrace it.
“The kids are really enthusiastic but since it’s the first time,
we’re excited but also a bit ner- Seniors Deanna Mayo. left, and Mariyanthie Linaris starred in The Stanner
Players’ production of “Peter Pan” last spring. (Photo by Jordi Sevilla ‘14)
vous.” said Ms. Winters.
The show will be similar in for- spired by Saturday Night Live hearsals will take place on an
mat to Black Box Theater, and some comedic Youtube vid- informal basis, with certain skits
which is a simpler approach to eos,” said Ms. Winters. “We’re meeting to rehearse, one at a
theater focusing on perfor- aiming for the show to be a sort time," she said. "As we get closer
mance over set.
of a ‘Last Hurrah!’ for the se- to the show, the rehearsals
“We aren’t using as many niors that have been with us all would become more formal and
props as a normal show,” said these years.”
we will run through the whole
senior Manvinder Singh.
Ms. Winters estimated that as show.”
The show does not yet have a many as 30 students will be inCast members will take on diftitle but Ms. Winters said, volved in the show and she will ferent roles in each of the skits
"We’re aiming toward a ‘fairy- guide them in writing their with everyone getting on stage
tale stuck in reality’ kind of con- skits.
at least once, said senior Matcept, along with other skits in“After auditions, the show’s re- thew Spataro.
“We haven't done anything
like this before and we are still
in the early phases," he said.
"Ideas keep coming. The hard
part is deciding what to pick.”
Singh is interested in trying to
write a skit.
“One idea I’m leaning for is an
'America’s Next Top Model' skit
idea that we’ve been tossing
around, where there’s a surprise
ending,” he said.
Senior Mariyanthie Linaris is
looking forward to the show.
"I’ve been excited since September," she said. "We’re doing
a bunch of skits with a fairy-tale
theme, so I hope to take part in
those, especially with villain
characters.
"We seniors will be showing off
our singing, acting, and dancing
skills. The cast is really talented. It won’t be something to
miss,” Linaris said.
Aside from putting on the first
Senior Show, Ms. Winters said
The Stanner Players plan to
work with the kids at the
Briarwood Shelter while the
Theater Arts & Improv Club
will sponsor its annual
Shakespeare Festival in the
spring after a year's hiatus.
As for its spring production,
The Stanner Players will stage
a comedy but Ms. Winters has
not yet decided what that play
will be.
Sam is big on Japan
By Liana Liang ’15
Stanners typically see summer
as a time to wind down from the
busy school year by hanging out
with friends or going on
vacation. But one Stanner
turned last summer into a
remarkable experience.
Junior Samantha Morgan
joined an international student
exchange program to experience
life in Japan with a host family
for six weeks.
Soon after her arrival, Morgan
found herself in a store with her
host family.
“My host parents ran into one
of their friends and they
immediately introduced me as
their daughter with no
hesitation,” Morgan said. “It’s a
simple memory, but at the time
it meant so much to me and I felt
so happy inside that they had Molloy junior Samantha Morgan, center, poses with her classmates who made her overseas experience much
already accepted me as a part of easier by helping her translate Japanese. Morgan will continue to stay in contact with her friends in Japan by
their family.”
using the Japanese social media app Line and Facebook. (Photos courtesy of Samantha Morgan)
She ate dinner with her host
Just before departing for grandfather, a mom and dad, I can speak to them. I also
family every evening and spent
Japan, Morgan went to a three- two sisters ages 10 and 16 and learned to read Kanji so my
time with them on weekends.
one brother who is 15.”
reading abilities improved.”
“My family living experience day orientation session in
Morgan learned to observe
She still writes to her host
was one of the best parts,” she California.
Japanese
rules
and
customs,
family in Japanese to maintain
“The experiences in San
said. “I would often forget I was
such as not drinking or eating her language skills and keeps in
Francisco
were
really
exciting
an exchange student because
while walking, staying quiet in touch with the Americans on
my host family treated me as because we learned so much
about Japan’s culture and public, dressing conservatively, her program through Facebook.
one of their own.”
and thinking of others before
“I met many Americans from
After coming home, Morgan etiquette,” she said. “We even
herself.
all over the U.S, but my closest
had language classes. We
saw the U.S.A. in a new light.
“People tend to be more friends were Jaime from
played
Japanese
games,
She wished that America had
respectful in Japan compared to Nevada, Larissa and Tak Chi
Japan’s “awesome vending learned how to adjust to the
Americans,” she said. “Apart from New York, Mimi from
machines, its fair university lifestyle and deal with culture
from the different customs and California, and Stella from
application process, impressive shock. But it was frustrating
rules, I learned to share with my Alaska,” she said. “Through our
public transportation system since we all just wanted to leave
host siblings, to be a big sister love of all things Japan, it was
with underground wi-fi, for Japan so badly.”
The group flew from Los or cousin, and to act like a true very easy talking to them.
recycling bins, and so much
Having an awesome sense of
Angeles to Tokyo on June 17 Japanese person!”
more.”
Morgan attended a Japanese humor helped, too.”
Youth For Understanding is and for six weeks Morgan stayed
high
school for about a month
Morgan said her experience
an organization that provides with a Japanese family in Aisai
with her host sister where she made her more mature and
City
in
Aichi
Prefecture.
scholarships for students to live
“The experience was pretty made Japanese friends such as broadened her horizons but also
in foreign countries to prepare
“Shin, Nanako, Tomo, Yosuke, influenced her future goals as
them for the responsibilities and different from how I live at
Namiho, and Rino the rhino, she now wants a career that will
challenges of living in a global home,” she said. “My host family
was big, with a grandmother and who helped me translate a lot of allow her to work abroad.
community.
Japanese.”
She suggests that Stanners
Using a both Facebook and a search online for the type of
Japanese social networking app foreign exchange program she
called Line, Morgan is still in found and apply to go abroad.
contact with all of them.
“I think going on an exchange
Although their coming to New program is an opportunity that
York would be pretty expensive, you cannot pass up if you have
she hopes that her Japanese the chance to go,” she said.
friends will visit someday. She “When else in your life will you
will definitely visit them again. get the chance to live and go to
“I know that I will return school in a foreign country for
without a doubt to see my family very little money? You could
and friends because I promised change your life and open your
to return to someday,” she said. eyes to a world of possibilities
By the time Morgan left that you didn’t even know
Japan, she was able to existed.
understand Japanese well.
“When you come back from an
“My speaking abilities got exchange, you not only have
better but I still struggle with precious memories, awesome
putting sentences together with stories, and cool foreign friends,
Samantha Morgan, far right, who exchanged her Molloy shirt and skort for the funky word order Japanese but you also gain a family for
the Japanese school uniform of polo shirt and shorts last summer while has,” she said. “I could life and a home to go back to
understand people better than when you return,” Morgan said.
posing outside their school.
Retreat tops
expectations
By Maria Aliberti '16 and
Alexa Campo '16
The first Freshman Retreat of
the year in Esopus on Oct. 1113, which attracted 89 frosh,
went so well that organizer Bro.
John Raeihle said it was “better
than I had thought it would be.”
The weather cooperated beautifully so the frosh could spend
time by the Hudson River.
“I was very pleased with the
way things went," said Bro.
John. "It was an exceptional retreat, which was a nice surprise.”
Frosh Jack Kiernan had a reaction similar to Bro. John’s.
Kiernan went on the retreat
only because “a lot of my friends
were going” but it turned out to
be “better than I had expected
it would be.”
Bro. John credited “the team
of juniors and seniors, who were
fantastic leaders and role models for the freshmen” for the
retreat's success.
Retreat activities included
"break the ice" activities organized by Mr. Brian Klimas, stars
meditation, pumpkin carving,
and Flag.
“Our goals for this retreat
were to make the new freshmen
feel at home, get them acquainted with one another, and
make them a part of the Marist
family,” Bro. John said.
Bridget Clabby, who went on
retreat because of her great experience at Freshman Camp, Retreat leader Sean Ryan, above, shows frosh how to carve a pumpkin
said, “I enjoyed growing closer while other frosh take “selfies” along the banks of the Hudson River in
to God and my classmates dur- Esopus. (Photos by Mr. Brian Klimas)
ing the retreat.”
She said the best thing she
learned on the retreat was that
“Molloy is one big happy family.”
Annaliese Roller went on retreat “to meet new people and
make some new friends.”
The frosh said they got to
know more classmates and felt
more welcome and more a part
of the Stanner community than
they had before going on retreat.
All recommended their classmates attend the next Freshman Retreat on Jan. 24-26 when
priority is given to frosh who did
not attend the first retreat.
The cost of $140 includes bus
transportation and food.
Stanners raise record $160,000
By Daryl Caffarone '16
The big talk after Molloy's
2013 Walk-a-thon was about the
new route through Briarwood
which had Stanners take two
laps through the streets just
north of the school.
But even as comments piled
up, so did the cash, as Stanners
raised a record $160,000 to help
pay for renovations to the Cafeteria and Chapel.
"We'll start working over the
summer and by the first day of
school next year, it will be completed," said Molloy President
Mr. Richard Karsten.
All that money, however, only
amounts to a down payment, as
installing a new roof with skylights, a climate control system,
and new tables for the Cafeteria is estimated to cost $300,000.
Installing new carpeting and
air conditioning in the Chapel
is estimated to cost $30,000.
The Walk-a-thon also made
other changes such as eliminating the "card-stamping" system,
in which students had a card
stamped by teachers several
times along the way. The number of faculty monitors along the
route increased in order to avoid
the confusion of last year where
some walkers accidentally took
a shortcut and didn't complete
the entire route.
"[Assistant Principal] Mr.
[Dennis] Vellucci walked the
route four times, meticulously
taking note of any place students may stray off the route,
then devised a map with these
specifications," said Director of
Student Activities Ms. Liz
Murdocca, who added that Mr.
Brian Kelly and Mr. Jim
Sheldon also had input on de-
signing the route.
But as much as the staff liked
the new route, some students
thought otherwise.
"It went uphill too much, and
it was harder than last year,"
said sophomore Ashley Desena.
Love it or hate it, with the
thumbs up it received from the
faculty, the new Walk-a-thon
route seems to be here to stay.
Assistant Principal for Students Mr.Ken Auer also confirmed that another Walk-athon policy is here to stay.
Seniors Casey Goedtel and Mike Lamarca are leading the pack as Stanners
start out on the 2013 Walk-a-thon. (Photo by Ms. Laura Sawyer)
Each student who didn't raise
the required $80 minimum will
be coming to school on Friday
March 14 while the rest of the
school enjoys the day off.
Sophomore John Kilkenny
raised more money than any
other student in the school and
received free tuition for the year.
Another sophomore, Alexandria Dominquez, was second
best and won an iPad while
third place finisher, frosh Jenna
Pillar, received an iPod Dock
and a $50 iTunes gift card.
Homerooms 1J, 2F, 3B and either 4E or 4H were the top fundraisers and will enjoy a dress
down day on in December.
All prize winners, including
the 15 students who won raffle
prizes and the 47 students who
won $10 lunch vouchers, were
announced on Nov. 15.
Here are the top fund-raisers
for each grade:
Seniors: Elizabeth Prada, Erica
Jarosch, William Kazmierczuk.
Juniors: Sean Daly, Janet Narain,
Robert Dittus.
Sophs: Kilkenny, Domingues, Nina
Pesca, Shaha Shibangi, Kevin Louie.
Frosh: Jenna Pillar, Kayla
Ferderigos, Gianna Petraglia, Robert
Ayroso, Yanni Orfanidis.
Liturgy will focus on vocations
By Sophia Savvides ’15 and
Phillip Barsamian ’15
Molloy’s annual Thanksgiving Liturgy on Nov. 24 in the
Jack Curran Gym will lack the
usual crowd of recent alumni in
attendance.
The liturgy will be held on the
Tuesday rather than the usual
Wednesday before Thanksgiving due to a teachers’ meeting
scheduled for Wednesday.
So most alums won’t be back
from college in time to attend.
“There won’t be many alumni
at this service but there is a ser-
vice on [Saturday] Nov. 30 as
part of Homecoming,” said Campus Ministry Director Mr. Mike
Germano. “That liturgy will be
geared for the alumni.”
The 31-member Liturgy Committee started planning for the
Thanksgiving Liturgy in October.
“This year’s liturgy will include
the theme of Marist vocations,
as well as other Thanksgiving
themes such as the gathering of
family and giving thanks to
God,” Mr. Germano said.
Students who attend this lit-
urgy should expect to see, “something that surprises them, so
they should keep an open mind
because this liturgy is not made
from a cookie cutter,” Mr.
Germano said. “It is always
something new and different to
help students feel more connected to the Molloy family.”
Junior Joelle Tirado, a member of the Liturgy Committee
who worked on September’s Junior Liturgy and seasonal masses
in the past, loves being part of
the planning process.
“No one really knows how
much work goes into making
each mass a little different and
interesting for everyone,” she
said.
Tirado said the committee tries
to “create certain themes for
each mass and make the mass
enjoyable.”
Students attending the
Thanksgiving Liturgy will “feel
like they are a part of the Molloy
family and remember all the
things they should be grateful
for,” said Tirado, who extended
“a warm invitation to everyone
to attend this wonderful mass.”
Seniors work up a sweat to WTC
Continued from page 1
during touch football,” said
Genna, who recommended that
“athletically inclined” juniors
sign up for next year's tournament.
Another 50 seniors opted to
walk 11 miles into Manhattan
via the Williamsburg Bridge
with event organizer Mr. Chris
Dougherty before returning to
school via the E train.
The group walked west on
Queens Blvd., south on Ascan
Ave., west on Metropolitan Ave.,
across the Williamsburg Bridge
into Manhattan’s Lower East
Side, Chinatown, Little Italy, Financial District before ending at
the Millenium Hotel across from
the World Trade Center site.
Of course, an 11-mile walk reDaniela Salazar and Cristina Otano quires a few breaks along the
on the bridge. (Photo by Jordi Sevilla) way and the group stopped at
Middle Village bakeries and had
lunch in Williamsburg.
Gabby Gangone’s parents generously set up two tables of complimentary water, candy,
cupcakes, and chips outside of
their medical supply store for
the seniors.
The walk created great memories for all involved.
“It was tiring of course, but
well worth it!" said Cristina
Otano. "Stopping off in
Williamsburg was perfectly
timed, too. What I liked best was
the sense of community. We all
really stuck together.”
Daniela Salazar added, “It was
a work out but there was so
much to enjoy. Being with
friends and spending our last
Walk-a-thon together really
made it worth it.”
Sebastian Geraci said, “In
Williamsburg, my friends and I
were able to have great food and
check out a couple of thrift
stores.”
Salazar recommended that
juniors take the walk next fall.
“Don't let the 11-mile walk
scare you; it’s beyond worth it.
It’s your last year, so why not go
all out?” she said.
Mr. Dougherty’s favorite
memory of the walk came while
he stood outside Fox Funeral
Home in Forest Hills where the
wake for Bro. Leo Richard was
held in 1995.
“Seeing this many seniors
come on an 11-mile walk in
memory of the brother who
started S.M.I.L.E. and the Peer
Group programs makes you realize there can be more than one
definition of an 'afterlife,'” Mr.
Dougherty said.
Spirit Leaders host scary Halloween soirée
Continued from page 1
good way to welcome everyone
inside. The music and the photo
booth were probably the best
things about it. It was nice to
save a memory from the night
while just laughing with your
best friends.”
Sophomore Kathleen Kelly
said, “This year improved a lot.
The Haunted Hallway, lighting,
the dancing, and the photo
booth were amazing.”
Kelly added that “the Nudist
on Strike and the mysterious
Batman guy going around dancing and high-fiving everyone
were the best costumes at the
dance.”
Sophomore Lauren Boldeau
agreed that "the Nudist on
Strike was the best and most creative costume.”
Singh, who dressed up as The
Mad Hatter from “Alice in Won-
derland,” said, “My favorite costume was Nicholas Gangone’s
Marshmallow Man costume."
Scheduling the dance just one
day before Halloween helped
add to the spirit of the occasion.
"I think the students already
had their costumes so it was easy
for them to dress up,” said Ms.
Murdocca, who added she was
very pleased with the Spirit
Committee's first attempt at
running the Halloween Dance.
“The decorations were amazing, the DJ played great music,
the students had a great time,
and everyone got home safely,"
she said.
The best costume winners won The prize for most original costume at the Halloween Dance goes to frosh
a trophy and all costume win- Bridget Clabby and the Chicks. (Photo by Jordi Sevilla ‘14)
ners won lunch vouchers. Here
are the contest prize winnners: as the Paper Bag Boy; Carlo Crivo, 2C, Scariest Costume: Julian Alvarez,
Best Costume: Christopher Weiss,
1L, as The Monk; Nick Gangone, 2D,
as Stay Puft Marshmallow Man.
Worst Costume: Andrew Arceo, 1A,
as the Ghost.
Funniest Costume: Sean Mollin,
1C, as Sombrero Man; David Di Maggio,
2C, as the Nudist on Strike.
1A, as The Wolf; DaeQuan Morrison,
2H, as The Joker.
Most Original Costume: Bridget
Clabby and the Chicks, 1C.
Channel 4, Team Live are tops
By Charlie Maisano ‘16 and
Rose Maisano '16
The Channel 4 News Team of
seniors Pat Cashin, Michael
Rodriguez, Adam Bakatsias,
Michael Buckley, and Danielo
Amoro won the upperclass
bracket of the Intramural Football Tournament on Oct. 17-18
on Stanner Field.
In the underclass division,
Team Live of frosh Daniel Hoff,
and sophomores Brian Jenkins,
Joseph Antonino, Antonio
Ortega, Gianfranco Barone, and
Dominick Priolo were champs.
"We won because we had the
best team," said Antonino, who
credited quarterback Jenkins
with making a lot of big plays in
several of their games.
As for the team’s name,
Antonino said, "It was really
Dom who made up the team. I’m
not really sure where we got our
name from."
“It came from something we
used to do in eighth grade,” said
captain Priolo.
Team Live beat Team Patrol
and Team Anti-Patrol by the
identical scores of 35-28 in the
first two rounds.
"The first team we played really made us work for our win,"
Antonino said.
Things got easier after that, as
Team Live beat Team Name in
a laugher, 35-7, in the semifinals
before beating The Boiz 35-21
in the final.
Twenty-four teams competed
in the two-day tournament.
To reach the upperclass finals,
The Channel 4 News Team, above
right, won the junior-senior title and
Team Live, right, were the froshsophomore champions of the 2013
Intramural Football Tournament.
(Photos by Jordi Sevilla ‘14)
Channel 4, which had a first
round bye, beat Team Victorious 35-14 in the quarterfinals
and Brad's Lions & Keith's
Hands 35-21 in the semifinals.
In the finals, The Channel 4
News Team defeated The
Swindle Warriors 35-21 to win
the upperclass title.
"I watched the Junior-Senior
[championship] game and it was
exactly what we had hoped for
in this competition," said
Intramurals Director Mr. Brian
Kelly. "There was good
athleticism shown and it remained a gentlemen's game the
whole time."
The touranment had a girls
bracket two years ago but for the
past two years no girls teams
were formed.
Mr. Kelly said at least four
girls took entry forms but never
handed in team rosters for the
tournament.
He hopes that next year the
girls tournament will return.
Each player on the two winning teams received intramural
champions t-shirts.
"The tournament wouldn't
have been as successful without
the help of Ms. [Maureen]
Rosenbaum, Mr. [Mark] Verdi,
and the Intramural Committee," Mr. Kelly said.
Next up on the schedule will
the annual Ping Pong Tournament and, if Mr. Kelly is allowed
to reserve time in the gym, a
free throw shooting competition.
Volleyball teams excel under new coaches
Sophomore Jane McNoble serves the
ball during a Junior Varsity game.
(Photo Blue & White Yearbook)
By Katlin Stath '15
Molloy’s Varsity and JV Volleyball teams both had good seasons under a new coaching staff,
with the Varsity posting a 9-3
record and JV at 6-2, but both
teams fell short of their goals of
a city championship.
The JV finished as runner up
in the City Championship,
while the Varsity saw its season
end with a loss to Fontbonne Hall
in the CHSAA BrooklynQueens tournament semifinals.
Molloy was ranked No. 2 in
the city behind eventual state
champ St. Francis Prep by MSG
Varsity going into the playoffs.
The highlight of the Varsity
regular season was the victory
over fifth-ranked Fontbonne
Hall Academy while the JV was
most proud of beating rival St.
Francis Prep.
“The most memorable game of
the season was when we played
Fontbonne Hall," said senior cocaptain Erica Byrne. "We went
to five sets and won in the last
set. It was a really intense game.
Everyone worked so hard and in
the end it was a huge win.”
The Varsity was led by it allsenior front line of left side hitter Byrne, right side hitter
Emily Rabot, middle blocker
Camille Pangalangan and
Katherine Kilkenny.
The JV’s top players were
three sophomores, left side hitter Jane McNoble, setter Alex
Dominguez, and libero Emily
Li.
“I was happy with the improvement of my JV team from
the beginning of the season,"
said coach Ms. Nicole Bagatta.
"They really gave it their heart
and soul at the end of the season and came together as a
team.”
Those Junior Varsity players
will move up next year to replace all the departing seniors
from this year.
“We are graduating a lot of
key players who will be missed,"
Ms. Bagatta said, "but we look
forward to the improvement of
our JV girls moving up to Varsity.”
Varsity co-captain Rabot is
sad to see her career end.
“Senior Day was my best
memory of the season because
after playing for four years, it
was nice to hear how much of an
impact each senior had on the
team," she said. "That is what a
team sport is all about, giving
back to the players we leave behind as we go on to college.”
The Varsity started the year
by adjusting to a new coaching
staff of Ms. Bagatta and assistant Ms. Rebecca Power.
“After playing the first tournament you could see the connection on the court, and from
then on, we felt we could go far
in the season,” said Rabot, who
added that the seniors did their
best "to carry the team and kept
everyone together.”
AM soccer: We are family
By Anna Poulakas '14
Molloy’s Boys Varsity Soccer
team had one of its best seasons
as it overcame many injuries to
finish the regular season with a
12-0-2 record to win the CHSAA
Brooklyn-Queens Championship for the 14th time.
“They performed well this season because they were a team,"
said Coach Andy Kostel. "Their
resiliency was evident when the
game was on the line.”
The team continued to play
well in the playoffs, as junior
Lucas Do Nascimento scored
Molloy's first goal and senior
Justin Bertea scored the gamewinner with just five seconds left
in overtime in the Stanners' 2-1
semifinal victory over Christ in
the King on Oct. 31 at St. John's
University.
“I really wanted to score," said
Bertea. "I wanted to score more
than anything so I prayed and
God helped me. I felt like I was
going to score and after I did, I
knew I had done my part for the
team.”
Molloy's great season came to
an end on Nov. 3 in the city
championship game against St.
Francis Prep, when, despite
playing well, the Stanners lost,
2-1.
Athletic Director Mr. Mike
McCleary praised the team's
performance, complimenting
the players for how hard they
worked and how seriously they
took each game.
“It was really a great team,” he
said.
He said the team leaders were
four seniors, forward Denes
Kostel, defenders Anthony
Iurillo and Eric Alerte and goalkeeper John Young.
“We worked hard and played
hard and always remained a
family,” said Iurillo.
Kostel added, “During the season, we had our share of injuries,
but as a team we pulled through.
Our defense, offense, and the
whole team stepped up to the
plate. All season we only gave
up four goals.”
As the goalkeeper, Young
played a big role in that great
defensive record.
“Every time we had a game, we
put everything we had out
there, especially during the
semifinal against Christ The
King," Young said. "We just
kept on fighting.”
Young said the key to the
team's defense was that Molloy
was “a well organized team. Being in good position is key. I trust
my team. Even if I do mess up, I
know they will back me up. But
when I do make a save, I don’t
let it get to my head even though
I am satisfied.”
Kostel and senior Michael
Mendez were the team's leading
scorers.
“From the start I knew we
would make it to the championship game," Mendez said. "We
did have our high point and, despite all the injuries, we fought
to the end of every single game.”
Sophomore Jesse Rodrigues, a
first-year varsity player, spoke
with pride that his teammates
were like brothers to him.
The loss to Prep in the city
title game hurt because Molloy
had played the Terriers twice in
the regular season and beat
them both times. Junior Pedro
Paula recalls how thrilled the
team was with the victories from
both those games, which made
the loss in the title game especially painful.
Senior Dillon Zimmermann
said that despite that loss,
Molloy had an incredible season
and he will always remember
this team because it is like a second family to him.
Mr. McCleary was proud of the
team's efforts and the job done
by Mr. Kostel, who has been
coaching Molloy for 40 years.
Eric Alerte goes around a defender. (Photo by Blue and White Yearbook)
Stanner runners dominate B-Q
Molloy dominated the competition by winning both the Boys
and Girls CHSAA BrooklynQueens Varsity Cross Country
Championships on Oct. 26 at
Van Cortlandt Park in the
Bronx.
Led by senior Branden Warders’ second place finish, Molloy's
varsity boys placed five runners
among the top 11 finishers as
the Stanner defeated second
place Xaverian by 45 points.
Warders finished the 4,000meter course in 13 minutes,
50.49 seconds, just 3.71 seconds
behind the first place finisher,
senior Caleb Wright of Bishop
Loughlin.
Molloy's Varsity Boys Sectional Champions had one junior and two sophomores among
its top five finishers.
Led by sophomore Mikayla
Roberts' fourth place finish,
Molloy's Varsity girls placed five
runners -- two sophomores, two
juniors and one senior -- among
the top ten finishers as the
Stanners defeated second place
St. Francis Prep by 26 points to
win the Varsity Girls title.
Roberts covered the 4,000meter course in 17:21.41, with
Stanners take off from the starting line with the rest of the field at the
CHSAA Brooklyn-Queens Cross Country Championships at Van Cortlandt
Park last month. (Photo by Jordi Sevilla ‘14)
sophomore Carolyn Crocker
right behind her in fifth place
and junior Michelle Armogan in
sixth.
Molloy won five of the six sectional team titles at the meet.
Molloy swept the first nine
spots in the JV boys race and
won the sectional title over
Xaverian and St. John's Prep,
the only other two teams who
could field the five runners required to qualify for the team
competition.
Molloy's freshmen boys were
the only team to field enough
runners to qualify for the team
competition, so they won their
team title by default.
Molloy defeated St. Francis
Prep in the two-team race for the
Brooklyn-Queens Girls JV
Championship but finished second to Prep in the Girls Frosh
Championships.
Here are Molloy's results from
the Brooklyn-Queens meet:
Varsity Boys (4,000 meters)
Individuals: 1. Branden Warders,
13:50.49; 6. Raymond Henry, 14:09.31;
7. Brian Tracy, 14:13.11; 8. Alex
Goldberg, 14:14.53; 11. Kieran Rock,
14:26.95.
Team scores: 1. Molloy, 30 points;
2. Xaverian, 75; 3. Loughlin, 80; 4. St.
Francis Prep, 81; 5. Cathedral, 150; 6.
McClancy, 164; 7. Ford, 179; 8. Christ
the King, 188; 9. Holy Cross, 254; 10.
St. Edmund’s Prep, 271; 11. St. John's
Prep, 279.
Varsity Girls (4,000 meters)
Individuals: 4. Mikayla Roberts,
17:21.41; 5. Carolyn Crocker, 17:30.90;
6. Michelle Armogan, 17:34.07; 8. Shannon Lavin, 17:39.60; 10. Mary Ellen
Woods, 18:07.71.
Team scores: 1. Molloy, 33; 2. St.
Francis Prep, 59; 3. Bishop Kearney,
87; 4. Mary Louis Academy, 91; 5. St.
Agnes, 166.
JV Boys (4,000 meters)
Individuals: 1. Michael Reddy,
14:55.68; 2. Liam Rock, 15:00.61; 3.
Andrew Garabito, 15:17.42; 4. Austin
Pizzella, 15:21.51; 5. Thomas Morreale
15:32.95.
Team scores: 1. Molloy 15; 2.
Xaverian 50; 3. St. John's Prep, 85.
JV Girls (4,000 meters)
Individuals: 2. Kayla Rayder,
19:21.03; 3. Cara Loftus, 19:23.67; 4.
Molly Sasso, 19:28.61; 7. Amanda Pape,
20:46.99; 8. Kelly Gerlak, 20:48.60.
Team scores: 1. Molloy, 24; 2. St.
Francis Prep, 40.
Frosh Boys (2,500 meters)
Individuals: 1, Joe Cardinale,
10:41.57; 3. Lucas Annink, 10:57.92;
4. Steve Palacios, 11:06.84; 5. Raffaele
Lagos, 11:23.36; 7. Salvatore Ciulla,
11:53.12.
Team scores: 1. Molloy, 15.
Frosh Girls (2,500 meters)
Individuals: 4. Jillian Hubert,
11:33.83;6. Jenna Piller, 11:52.36; 9.
Alyssa Roman, 12:12.75; 11. Maria
Annink, 12:18.24; 14. Elena Rossi,
12:43.61.
Team scores: 1. St. Francis Prep,
28; 2. Molloy, 44; 3. Bishop Kearney,
92; 4. Mary Louis Academy, 126.