May 2011 - Abington School District

abington.k12.pa.us
June 2011
THE
THE ABINGTONIAN
In COLOR again
ABINGTONIAN
Vol. LXL Issue 8
June 2011
Abington Senior High School, Abington, PA 19001
Abington author comes home
Abington alumni and successful author Robin Wasserman visited her alma mater with words of advice
By Melissa Diamond
Robin Wasserman: Abington alumni, and young
adult author.
Robin Wasserman, a famous young adult author,
came to visit her old high school on Wednesday, April
26. Thanks to Mrs. Neary who contacted Wasserman
and asked her to visit her Alma Mater, Wasserman was
able to come and speak to Abington High School students. Mrs. McGee and the Creative Writing Club organized the event. While Wasserman had a great time
speaking to students, she was absolutely touched to
see her most supportive English teacher, Mr. Baker,
come to see her speak. She explained that she received
the Golden Pen Award in his class for writing. He recognized her talent, and encouraged her writing, so it
was an incredible student teacher moment
to see the teacher who had helped and
encouraged her so much.
Wasserman started her life in
Abington at Rydal Elementary School, and
entered the Junior High School in 1991.
At the Senior High School, Wasserman
wrote for the Abingtonian and the Literary Magazine. She went to Harvard, and
declared an English Major. When
Wasserman returned to Abington to tell
all of her English teachers that she was an
English Major, her teachers were simply
appalled that she would take what they
considered a useless major. Wasserman
ended up majoring in the History of Science, despite a similar reaction
from her history teachers. After college, Wasserman got a job at
Scholastic, doing what she described as, “editing [stupid] anime cartoon related books.” Exposure to such pitiful literature convinced Wasserman that
she could write something better. The very first book she published was a ScoobyDoo picture book. Wasserman decided to leave Scholastic and go to graduate
school. After graduate school Wasserman finally started publishing young adult
literature. Her three most popular books, or series are; Hacking Harvard, a comedy
about the chaos of the college admission process; The Seven Deadly Sins Series, a
Gossip Girlesque series; and The Skinned Trilogy, a science fiction story set in a
futuristic dystopia. Wasserman is now part of what she describes as “a very tightknit community of young adult authors,” she even jokes that they “write about
teenagers so much that they start to act like them.”
I sat down with Wasserman during lunch with the Creative Writing Club to
talk about her life as an author, and her writing.
Inside this issue:
Bin Laden.......pg. 2
Lady Gaga......pg. 4
Mr. Zanetti......pg. 6
Ghosts at
Disney..............pg. 8
Q: What first got you interested in writing?
A: Well, when I was in 2nd or 3rd grade I was very impressionable, and I also
loved to read. Adults always tell children that love
to read that they should write. My 4th grade teacher
told me I should be a writer and from then on I could
not imagine anything else worth doing.
Q: How did your time in Abington help you
become a writer?
A: I had really good English teachers, not
because they taught me so much in class, but because they were so supportive. Also, I write young
adult fiction that draws on my experiences. So the
spirit of Abington really lives in my writing.
Q: What inspires you to write?
A: I’m inspired by my need to
pay the rent. If I feel blocked I read my
old favorites, or I try to find something
new to blow me away and remind me of
the power of words. I believe a book
can completely change a teenager’s life,
and I really want to create something
that moves someone like that.
Q: What are your favorite books
and authors?
A: Stephen King and John Irving
are some of my old favorites, this year I
have gotten into Marcus Zusak and
Holly Black, but my favorite author is Kurt Vonnegut. He has a very
unique view on the world that appeals to me. I go back to my favorite novels by them to try to figure out what I’m doing with my life.
My favorite book is Hotel New Hampshire by John Irving. Hotel New Hampshire is
a fairy tale for adults. There is something in the core of the story that I latched onto.
I read it over and over again, like how children read fairy tales over and over.
Q: Describe the writing process
A: Painful. That is my one word description. The process takes about two
years, starting from writing the manuscript, and ending with it being published. I
used to write in a notebook because it seemed so artistic, but my hand could not
keep up with my thoughts, so I transferred to the computer. I think I write better on
the computer. I’m not good at coming up with ideas. My friends who are authors
always say that ideas are the easy part, and the hard part is writing them all. It makes
me kinda wanna punch them in the face because I come up with like one idea a year.
So now I write down every random idea I have so that I can develop it into a real idea.
Once I start writing it seems like my book is the best idea ever. After a few chapters
I begin to get bored and worry that no one will like it. By the middle it is like
sloughing through a zombie wasteland of death. I try to be very disciplined and
persevere through the book. I’m a fan of writing the book all at once and not caring
how the first draft sounds. If I did that I would never get through a book. I save the
editing for after I have written the entire manuscript.
Q: Do you have any advice for aspiring writers?
A: Keep writing and don’t give up. There were always better writers than me
in my Creative Writing classes, but they are not authors. I know, I googled them.
This is not because I am more talented than they are, it is simply because I kept
writing. I would also advise young writers to stick with their old ideas. I’m sure that
halfway through Romeo and Juliet Shakespeare was like “What is with this teen
love? I wanna write about something cool…killing a king maybe.” Aspiring writers
should stick to an old book to the end, and put any shiny new ideas they have in a
notebook.
Q: Are you working on anything new?
A: I am working on The Book of Blood and Shadow. It is a murder mystery
similar to the DaVinci Code. It is set in Prague. I went there to do research; it was
great.
Vol.
abington.k12.pa.us
THE ABINGTONIAN
2
June 2011
Editorials
An Unsatisfying Victory
By Andrew Olenski
I got the text late Sunday night. I was coming
home from a concert when I saw those words. Osama
bin Laden is dead??. Sure enough, my friend was
right. I arrived at my house and found both my parents
watching Wolf Blitzer relay the news of bin Laden’s
demise. As time went on, the news switched to the
growing crowd outside the White House. Chanting
and impromptu renditions of “America the Beautiful”
broke out – it was evidently a scene of patriotic glee. I
even saw a fair number of students from my college,
The George Washington University, engaging in the
festivities.
Curiously enough, I was not filled with the same
sense of pride and elation as my future classmates.
Now, of course I was excited to see GWU on the news
– school spirit took over there. But I could not help
grappling with a degree of discomfort from the whole
scene. Certainly, I should be pleased that “we finally
won,” right? I should be cheering along with the rest of
them, jubilated. Nevertheless, for some reason unbeknownst to me I felt only a stunned sobriety.
In the days since his death, I have managed to
organize my feelings on the matter. Before I elaborate,
I feel compelled to make a few points crystal clear. I do
not consider Osama bin Laden’s death to be a mistake.
I will not say it was even immoral. Despite my disgust
and horror with capital punishment, I do believe that
bin Laden received everything he deserved. He was a
despicable man responsible for the murder of thousands.
Considering the terrifying length of his list of victims
and the impact he had on the world, who am I to scold
anyone for cheering with relief at his death? I am fortunate enough not to have lost anyone to terrorism, but
there are far too many people who are not so lucky.
At the very core of the issue, I simply cannot
celebrate a death. Yes, that means even one as deserved as Osama bin Laden’s. When I consider the
Bin Laden’s death sparked celebration in front of the White House on early Monday, May 2nd.
state of the Middle East, or the shootings in Tucson or
Virginia Tech, mortality suddenly seems all too real.
The humanitarian in me prevents me from cheering.
After nearly ten years – more than half of my
lifetime – the hunt for the most wanted terrorist is over.
The figurehead of the threat that I had grown up fearing has finally been eliminated, yet I do not feel anything close to the satisfaction that I thought I would
know. Instead, I had only a somber realization of the
destruction he caused. His death does not bring back
the people lost. Hopefully his victims’ families have
Tough Mudder Challenge
By Jazz Teich
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to just finish. This challenge is a twelve mile course filled with nineteen treacherous obstacles including a
monster truck chase, rickety swinging bridge above ice water, underwater tunnels, devils beard, log bog jog,
spider’s web, the muddy mile, the cliff hanger, a boa constrictor tunnel crawl, twinkle toes, and more.
With events held all over the world, Tough Mudder is a proud supporter of the Wounded Warrior Project
(WWP). To help its cause and to support the needs of severely injured service men and women, Tough Mudder
is offering a special discount to participants who see competing in a Tough Mudder as an opportunity to raise
funds for the WWP. There are also military and team discounts. Any Tough Mudder who raises $150 or more for
the Wounded Warrior Project gets a $25 refund. In 2010, their first year of business, participants collectively
raised $707,398 for the Wounded Warrior Project.
To participate in this challenge you must be 18 years of age and register months in advance (for the best
price). For an in-depth description of each challenge or to sign up you can visit the Tough Mudder Challenge
website at toughmudder.com.
received some degree of closure, they certainly deserve
it.
In the end, I suppose I still do not know what to
make of bin Laden’s death. While it means the end of
Osama, it is still far from signaling the end of terrorism.
We still must live with what he’s done to the world, the
movement he’s created. Osama bin Laden may finally
have died but we’ll never get back what he took.
abington.k12.pa.us
THE ABINGTONIAN
June 2011
3
Point/Counterpoint
Q: Should we be in Libya?
Libyaration
By Eli Brenna
At the present time, Libya is in a state of utmost turmoil. At the dangerous
helm of a country on the brink is Colonel Muammar el-Qaddafi, a man who, in the
past, has ranted against the United States, bombed a passenger plane flying over
Scotland, and supported terrorist groups. In 1969 Qaddafi led a military coup to
overthrow the government and set himself up as leader, grasping leadership with an
iron fist – and now, the Libyan people are revolting, fed up with the way Qaddafi has
been running the show. Rebels are fighting for power in a few major cities, including
Tripoli
and
Benghazi. Qaddafi
allowed gunfire to be
used on rebels, and
the two sides have
launched into what
is, on some scale, a
civil war. In March,
the United Nations
gave its member
countries permission
to strike against
Qaddafi, and the
United States soon
followed the British
and French in
launching attacks.
Contrary to criticism
from the American
public, this is the correct action for the
United States to be
taking at this time.
Rebels are
ecstatic knowing
that the United Nations supports the
revolution. Despite
the lack of American
desire to be involved
in yet another military engagement, it is
the right thing to do.
As a country that so
reveres democracy, and whose most famous three words are “We the people,” the
USA has a responsibility to ensure that the people of the world are, at the very least,
heard. And the rebels have spoken. The Arab League, a coalition of Arab nations,
legitimately requested intervention in Libya, which is not the case with myriad other
countries at the present time. Unlike the United State’s presence in Iraq or Afghanistan, the Libyans want change, want international influence – and Obama was right
to listen.
Meanwhile, Qaddafi still threatens rebels and strikes terror in the hearts of
Libyan citizens. The United States has launched Tomahawk missiles to destroy
Libya’s air defense systems, helping prevent Qaddafi from doing some damage to
the protestors. The USA is not even at the front of the attacks. Britain and France are
major parts of the effort, which is actually lead by NATO, the North Atlantic Treaty
Organization. The group has also enforced a no-fly zone over Libya, another effort
to weaken Qaddafi’s ability to kill rebels. In fact, rebel protection is the name of the
game – the official reason for interference is, in fact, to protect innocent Libyan
citizens.
It seems as if the effort could even work. Some of Qaddafi’s assaults have
been stopped or prevented, and with international backing, the rebels have a fighting chance of regaining control of their country after 50 years of essentially authoritarian control. Obama sees potential genocide as a result of not interfering, and if he
can continue to provide support to the UN-sanctioned efforts without, as he has
promised not to do, sending in American ground troops, then more power to him.
This is an opportunity for America to show that it can interfere in a positive way, and
not just overstep boundaries for its own selfish reasons, as has happened in the
past – Obama would have been wrong not to act, not to seize the opportunity to use
America’s influence to do some good in the world (for once).
America, keep to your
own soil
By Tamara Hass
Following the footsteps of other Middle Eastern countries, Libya is beset with
a rebellion that is troubling the nation. Muammar al-Gaddafi, Libya’s leader since
1969, has engaged in a full out war with irate protestors. Rebels that are fighting for
democracy in Libya’s eastern region have begun moving westward towards the
country’s capital, Tripoli. Nevertheless, these
rebels are not
gaining democracy as soon as
they hoped or as
they had seen in
Egypt. Colonel
Gaddafi
has
maintained strict
control over his
military, causing
air strikes and
machine guns to
take the lives of
many. In March,
the estimated
death
toll
mounted to 6,000
people, either
fighting for democracy or fighting for the
Gaddafi establishment. President Obama declared, “The suffering and bloodshed is outrageous and it is
unacceptable.”
However, the
United States military intervention, while just in theory, remains foolish and dangerous in retrospect.
The noble goal of democracy is upheld by respected nations around the
world. Nevertheless, America does not know for certain that the dismantlement of
the Gaddafi regime will mean new leaders who share that goal. Obama’s reason for
this interference is that “the United States also strongly supports the universal
rights of the Libyan people. That includes the rights of peaceful assembly, free
speech, and the ability of the Libyan people to determine their own destiny. These
are human rights. They are not negotiable. They must be respected in every country.” Removing Gaddafi may in fact give rise to another leader whose ideals differ
from other rights that the United States’ deems nonnegotiable. The rebels do not
have a leader, and the area in which these events are taking place must be noted.
Highly surrounded by Al-Qaeda operatives, there is no telling if the country will be
susceptible to these threats with the lack of a military general.
Furthermore, Libya’s political injustice does not surpass that of any other
country’s suffering, and therefore neither should American interest. Many other
Middle Eastern citizens are treated poorly and savagely. Like America’s educational
policy of ‘No Child Left Behind,’ one country should not be given more attention
than the next. What’s more, since Libya hardly affects the U.S. in terms of political
influence or oil output, the U.S. should focus on its existing martial commitments in
Iraq and Afghanistan. It is militarily unsound to delve into three wars, especially as
the third could be considered only a costly distraction.
At the country’s founding, President George Washington wanted the United
States to remain an isolationist country. In his farewell address, Washington stressed
the importance of refraining from forming political connections with foreign nations.
In the Monroe Doctrine, the United States declared it would not meddle in the affairs
of European countries past the Western Hemisphere. It is time for the United States
to realize that no one, including the great super power that is the United States,
knows best every time. There is no telling whether Gaddafi or the next Libyan leader
will better treat his people, but it is certain that the United States needs to get back
on its feet before it takes Gaddafi off of his.
abington.k12.pa.us
THE ABINGTONIAN
4
F e
a
t
u
r e
June 2011
s
American Tragedy: Hollywood Undead
By Maia Holloway
All the way from Los Angeles, California, Hollywood Undead has given the world a new type of band.
Mixing hip-hop, alternative rock, emo, and metal, Hollywood Undead started in 2005 by posting songs on
their MySpace page, although the band faced trouble getting signed because of censorship issues. A&M/
Octone finally took them on in 2008 and they came out with their first album, Swan Songs. But early in 2010
the band’s lead singer, Deuce, was kicked out for musical disagreements. He was then replaced with the
band’s close friend and former American Idol contestant, Danny Murillo. So now Johnny 3 Tears, J-dog, Da
Kurlzz, Charlie Scene, Funny Man, and Danny have come out with the band’s second album, American
Tragedy. The new album still maintains the band’s signature hip-hop/rock sound, but it has matured. While
the album features fewer songs about partying, the music is still upbeat enough to make you want to get up
and move. The band has also added acoustic guitars and a little bit of jazz influence to a few songs.
Although they don’t have Deuce anymore, Hollywood Undead can still make music that can inspire anyone
to make their way to the dance floor. The band has brought together so many different people with the
variety of music they make. In the words of front man Johnny 3 Tears, “At the end of the day it’s all music.”
Lady Gaga-Born this Way
Word Link
By Maia Holloway
Hey word puzzle lovers! Frustrated with Life? Well, sit back, relax, and
fill out a word link. You play by creating a link of compound words from the
first word all the way to the last. The first and second words link to make a
compound word, like in the example: Guitar and string connect to make guitar
string. String links with band to make string band; then band and camp link to
form band camp. Some of the words even have letters filled in to help you out!
Think you solved the puzzle? Print your name at the bottom, cut out
your completed word link, and drop it off at the “Ghost Box” sitting at the front
desk in the library. YOU WILL BE ENTERED IN A DRAWING TO WIN A
PRIZE! Winners will be announced at each meeting. Keep your eyes and ears
peeled for fliers and announcements!
ICE
W_T_R
B_Y
B_ND
S T_ _ D
GU_R_
D__
C_LL_R
B_ N E
THUGS
W
WO
O RR D
D LL II N
NK
K
W
WO
O RR D
D LL II N
N KK
Lady Gaga has mastered the art of fame, reached commercial success, and has
now come out with a new studio album. Born as Stefani Joanne Angelina Germanotta
(try saying that 5 times fast), she came to commercial success in 2008 after the hit
“Just Dance” began to play on the radio. Since then there has been no stopping this
Mother Monster. The hugely anticipated new album, Born This Way, Gaga’s third
studio album, came out on May 23, 2011. The first single to this album is “Born This
Way” which has become the fastest selling single in iTunes history. Many have
criticized the song, stating that it’s too similar to Madonna’s 1989 single “Express
Yourself,” lyrically and musically. However, the electro pop song still sends a great
message about being happy with who you are and not changing for other people.
The second single on the album is “Judas” which has caused quite a stir in Christian
communities, since it was released during Holy week. Though many might think that
the song is meant to promote Satanism, it’s completely the opposite. The song isn’t
even about Judas, it’s a metaphor. The song in reality talks about how you need to
forgive yourself and others for their faults and that there is always light in the
darkness. The song has a house music influence and an ‘80’s pop feel for the
chorus. As a whole, the album is just another masterpiece, possibly one of the most
empowering and original albums of the decade. Gaga produces and writes every
song. She makes up the dances and directs each music video. She has true talent
and is the very essence of what a real artist should be. So little monsters, are you
ready?
NAME:______________________
abington.k12.pa.us
June 2011
THE ABINGTONIAN
5
French fever in Philadelphia
By Ana Cvetkovic
Just as Punxsutawney Phil had foreseen, spring came early this year!
Now, you may be looking down at your clever composition of shirts, sweaters, and
scarves thinking that I am reporting from Hawaii, but I am right here in Philadelphia.
From the 6th to the 13th of March, our city caught a preview of springtime, and more
specifically springtime in Paris. The Pennsylvania Horticultural Society displayed
its annual Philadelphia International Flower Show at the Pennsylvania Convention
Center this year,
foreshadowing an
end to the gloomy
winter months
with its “Springtime in Paris”
theme.
The
theme’s exhibits
included
an
American
in
P a r i s- i n s p i r e d
display, a royal
room fit for the
Sun King himself,
and a glistening
Eiffel Tower as the
pièce de resistance. However,
while the Flower
Show did not
quite match modern-day Paris, it transported visitors to a nostalgic, fanciful France that even Parisians
would oh-là-là over.
While the Flower Show as a whole was full of delightful, what caught my eye
was an attraction less advertised: the pressed flowers. From afar, most of these colorful
pieces looked like an impressionist’s handiwork, but from up close, one could see each
flower that went into these beautiful works of art. Each piece was unique with diverse
color palettes and plant selections. Categories included framed vased flowers, fleur de
lises, and copies of the impressionist masters while submissions came from children as
young as four years old! The latter means that even you can compete for a blue ribbon
at next year’s Philadelphia Flower Show. While “Springtime in Paris” only comes to
Philadelphia once, the pressed flower exhibit is a permanent part of the show. Moreover, you can enjoy the French-inspired Philadelphia International
Festival of the Arts (aka PIFA) all over the city for the whole month of April if you have caught Paris fever! Visit pifa.org for more information on the
festival and theflowershow.com to get details on next year’s Hawaiian themed “Islands of Aloha” flower show.
A Portrait of Kindness
By Gabrielle Noone
For most of us, childhood photographs are relics of bad haircuts past, an easy source of embarrassment from our parents. But for some children, with no family at all,
these mementos are nonexistent. While volunteering in Guatemala in 2003, Ben Schumaker, then a graduate student at the University of Wisconsin, discovered this
unfortunate fact. He encountered a man who had been raised in an orphanage who explained that he owned no personal objects from his youth, inspiring Ben to create an
initiative to give orphaned children special objects that would contribute to their sense of identity and self-worth. Thus, the Memory Project was born. The Memory Project
matches American art students, including those here at Abington, with children and teens around the globe who have been orphaned, neglected, and disadvantaged.
Students receive a photo of their child and render a portrait of them in a medium of their choice. No two portraits are ever the same, allowing each childhood to own a
keepsake of their childhood, honoring their unique identity. To learn more about The Memory Project, visit www.thememoryproject.org and, remember, next time a loved one
breaks out the baby pictures, be glad that someone was there to document your formative years!
abington.k12.pa.us
THE ABINGTONIAN
6
June 2011
F e a t u r e s
China, culture, and capitalism
By Esther Katro
Streetlights smudge behind me like neon streamers. I lean forward. The only thing that
matters is motion, forward motion, propulsion. There’s a need to get away from the mundane
chores of society; I am a senior (second semester senior) in high school and it is my time to
explore the vast world before me. I veer onto the freeway- yes I am finally old enough to drive
myself to the airport- my mother is in the passenger seat praying we make it in one piece. My
big senior adventure is a trip to China (with my mother).
After twenty-two long hours, I awake to the crimson late evening light pouring through
the miniature, oval window. The burgundy light fills the still airplane, with the cherry scent of
China. The slender, yet potent surface of each ray of ruby light, atop the thick bundle of
clouds trembles, but the light does not break through- foreshadowing China’s strong people
complemented by its delicate, serene land.
Everything in this dragon nation seems to be amplified: the bright neon colors, the
garbled perplexing sounds, the sense that I am caught in something much larger than I am,
something mysterious, yet something so recognizable. Everything is tactile: the taste of the
duck, the feel of the pure silk fabric, the heel of the designer shoe, and of course the thrum of
the 5 million cars tearing the concrete road under the wheels of each car.
And it’s Beijing, the first stop on my trip, where everything is powerfully strange. As
Americans we often associate this great land with actors Jackie Chan, and Charlie’s Angles
Lucie Lou. Yet, the centuries of trade and exposure to western cultures made walking down a
street near Tiananmen Square a truly arcane stroll; the ancient Chinese buildings didn’t seem
to match the bustling city traffic on the road in front of them.
Nevertheless, one thing that I could never quite come to terms with, were the people of
China, who would point, stop and stare, and take pictures either with me or of me.
Now, the leading challenge for an eighteen year old
girl was not the language barrier or the fact that there were
no public toilets, (just a hole
with a four plastic walls surrounding it) but instead seeing the restricted page every time I tried to log onto Facebook. Going twelve whole days without Facebook
sure does make a teenage girl want to get back to suburban Abington. However, the restricted internet sign
did in fact give way for me to spend that free time shopping. While I was excited to tour Shanghai markets and
buy at the source of where the majority of our merchandise is made, the vendors are tough bargainers and
charge most tourists ninety percent over the original value of the product. While in America there are laws on
minimum wage, health benefits, and insurance, in China the vendors lean precariously over their shelves,
negotiating with each customer to settle on their steep price.
Food on the other hand, was not open to bargaining. To quote Timone or Pumba- whoever said it best,
“Slimy yet satisfying,” is certainly a way to describe traditional Chinese food. Each menu has large pictures
with specific details for us culturally challenged Americans. There are no utensils-only chopsticks- and no
paper napkins-only hot towels. The waiters are instructed to stand right in front of your table and perceptively stare while you eat- I’m not sure if it’s a part of the respect of Chinese culture, or if they simply enjoy
seeing the many faces that we make when our hot-dog sensitive stomachs undergo raw duck. Even so, I will
admit that shark fin soup, with a side of steamed bamboo shoots turned out to make for a great well balanced
breakfast- try picturing Tony the Tiger substituting that meal into the Frosted Flakes song.
Reality quickly hits as I watch the lights streak across the sky, bending as I stagger into the airport.
The crowd is a blur. The evocative scent of the dragon fruit and raw fish, string around my nostrils and fill
my lungs with the sharp smells of Beijing. I have to breathe deeply to soak it all in. I draw the deep breath
again and again, but it is nowhere near enough. While I marveled at all the ancient and historical sights in
Beijing
and
Shanghai, it was
more the people than the architecture that made the impact on me. I was ale to
experience first hand the great respect that Chinese people have for their elders,
the beautiful nature that surrounds them, and the booming economy of the
world. I have visited and encountered many different people from many different countries, yet I have never encountered people of such a simplistic and
good nature.
As the landing lights came to a still, I leisurely pulled into a driveway, in
a neighborhood where every house looks the same. I stepped out, breathed in
the fresh pine scent, got a little dizzy, shook the smog out of my head, went
inside, and ate a bowl of cheerios. So much for getting away.
abington.k12.pa.us
THE ABINGTONIAN
June 2011
S
p
o
Philadelphia women’s
basketball regional wrap-up
By Michael Tershakovec
th
th
On March 27 and 29 , 2011, Temple University hosted the Philadelphia Regional of the 2011 NCAA Women’s Basketball Championship. The final game of the
regional was between the Duke University Blue Devils, and the star-studded roster
of the University of Connecticut Huskies, led by senior Maya Moore and coached
by Philadelphia native Gino Auriemma. While the Men’s March Madness Tournament got most of the public’s attention this year with thrilling upsets and Cinderella
stories, the women’s basketball championship provided much entertainment in our
own backyard.
However, given the talent and level of play at the women’s games, it is an
unfortunate note that sellouts are fairly rare. The Philadelphia Regional was played
at Temple University’s Liacouras Center, an arena that holds about 10,000—not a
large capacity by today’s standards, but still half of the seats were empty for the
championship game. Whereas lower level tickets were still available for purchase
the day of that game, an equivalent ticket for the same level game in the men’s
tournament was fetching hundreds, if not thousands, of dollars on websites like
StubHub.
After jumping out to a ten-point lead in the first half, the UConn Huskies never
looked back, winning by a final score of 75-40. Maya Moore played very well,
posting totals of 28 points and 10 rebounds in the game. By winning the Philadelphia Regional, the women’s basketball team from UConn clinched a spot in the Final
Four, where they ended up losing in the National Championship game to the Notre
Dame Fighting Irish on April 3rd, by a score of 72-63.
Abington boys’ lacrosse –
season in review
By Ben Salus
The Abington Boys Lacrosse team faced adversity throughout their season,
even before their first game. With the departure of star-sophomore attacker Matt
Rambo, who transfered to LaSalle College High School two weeks prior to the start
of the season, the Ghosts had a lot of work to do. In the end, the team proved that
they were able to mount another successful season, comprising a 15-6 record during
the regular season and ultimately winning a fifth consecutive Suburban One National Conference Championship.
After a tough loss to Avon Grove in the fifth place game of the District Playoffs on May 24, I had a chance to talk with team captain Ryan Ambler about the
Ghosts’ season. Ambler, a junior, was voted to the 1st team of the National Conference and the All-State team, as well as being named Player of the Year in the National
Conference. Ambler, whose name will be tossed into the mix at the All-American
meetings within the next few weeks, recorded roughly 40 goals and 50 assists this
season. He has garnered a lot of interest from several top tier Division I lacrosse
programs (He is verbally committed to Princeton University, with Lehigh University
and Drexel University as his back-ups). Ambler led a talented group of Abington
players this year, including Anthony Greco, Nick Pisko, Matt Figueroa, Austin Pifani,
and Chris Duffy, among many others. I recently sat down with Ambler to ask him a
variety of questions.
BS: Tough last game against Avon Grove, can you take us through it?
RA: Face-offs were key and we couldn’t win one. We took an early lead, but
let it slip away in the second quarter and went down four goals at halftime. We came
out hard in the 3rd and cut it [the lead] to one, but couldn’t tie it. The same happened
in the fourth. We pulled within one, but just ran out of time.
BS: So, how was this year overall?
RA: I think it was a good growing year. We lost about 60% of our offense and
some key defensemen, but we still won our league and really came together as a team
to overcome some adversity.
BS: Going into your senior year, what are your goals for next season?
RA: Beat Germantown Academy, win the league, and get into the state playoffs.
BS: Anything to say about head coach Randy McNeill leaving?
RA: It’s been fun the past few years. I wish him all the best.
BS: Any more closing comments on the team, the season, etc.?
RA: I’m proud of our guys for sticking together and never giving up on each
other no matter what.
As the Ghosts look back upon their success this season and look forward to
the beginning of next season, they will have to do so keeping in mind the fact that
long-time coach Randy McNeill will not be Abington’s Boys’ lacrosse coach next
year due to family obligations. Under Coach McNeill, the boys’ lacrosse program
was extremely successful, winning five consecutive, undefeated in-conference seasons. McNeill also was instrumental in sending numerous Abington Ghosts on to play
lacrosse in college. The Abingtonian staff wishes Coach McNeill the best of luck.
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By the numbers
By Mike Spasari
2
RBIs by Abington Ghost senior baseball player Sam Pitkow, lifting Abington’s baseball team to its first conference win of the 2011
season on April 11, beating Pennnsbury 6-3
.318
The Philadelphia Phillies’s team batting average through its first
11 games of the 2011 season, the highest in the Major Leagues (for
now)
10
Maximum number of years in jail home-run king Barry Bonds will
have to spend after a conviction of obstruction of justice in his federal
court case
36
Years since the Philadelphia Flyers last won the Stanley Cup
5
Years since the Abington Ghosts Boys Lacrosse team lost a league
game in the Suburban One Conference
abington.k12.pa.us
THE ABINGTONIAN
8
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June 2011
s
Ghosts go to Disney
By Ben Salus
The Abington Ghosts Boys Baseball Team traveled to ESPN’s Wide World of Sports Complex in Walt
Disney World in Orlando, Florida from March 31 –
April 4 for their annual spring training session. To
prepare for the regular season, the Ghosts played three
games while at Disney, finishing with a 1-2 record.
Despite their losing record, the team had a great time
on their trip, which was a great bonding experience
for the program. Junior Greg Mugnier pitched very
well in Disney, which gave him the tools to already
throw two complete game victories in the regular season. Eric Tidwell, Ben Salus, and Sean Gannon led the
Ghosts at the plate with averages of .517, .714, and
.500 throughout the tournament, respectively.
However, the offensive production did not stop
in Florida. As of April 19, the Ghosts are riding a fourgame winning streak and are making an unexpected
run to challenge for a spot in the district playoffs.
With the hard-nosed play of team members Chris Ruhl,
Dale Hoover, Sam Pitkow, Sam Sparhawk, Sean Fennel, Sean Gallagher, Kris Carr, and Dan Landgraf, the
team is starting to pick up some momentum going into
May. The Disney trip gave the team memories that
will last a lifetime as well as some of the best practices
they have ever had, and yes – they did go on the “It’s
a Small World” ride.
ABINGTONIAN
2010-2011
Published by:
Abington Senior High School; Abington, Pennsylvania
Editors-in-Chief: Ana Cvetkovic & Esther Katro
News Editor: Melissa Diamond
Editorial Editor: Kelsey Hughes
Features Editor: Gabrielle Noone
Sports Editor: Chris Gerhardt
Writers:
Sports Trivia
by Chris Gerhardt and Jordan Leibowitz
Five NBA players have career
playoff scoring averages of 28
points or more for their career.
Can you name all five?
Nick Kohn, Andrew Olenski, Jazz Teich, Maia Holloway,
Gabrielle Noone, Ana Cvetkovic, Ben Salus, Chris Gerhardt,
Jordan Liebowitz, Melissa Diamond, Michael Tershakovec,
Mike Spasari, Eli Brenna, Tamara Hass
Point/Counterpoint:
Eli Brenna & Tamara Hass
Advisors:
Mr. A. Saylor, Mr. R. Wrigley
Administration:
Dr. J. Fecher, Mr. R. McCuen, Ms. D. Heaven, Mr. E. Johnson