the

archbishop hoban high school n issue 9 n march 12, 2012

page fiveGirls Basketball team hopes for continued post season success.

page four page twelveStudent reflects on Honduras trip and its strong impact.

1 in every

1,500is born on February 29pages 6-7

visorthe

editorialtwo

Mailing Address: One Holy Cross Blvd. Akron, OH 44306

Online: www.hobanvisor.com

E-mail: visor@hoban.org

ARCHBISHOP HOBAN HIGH SCHOOL

The Visor subscribes to the ASNE/MCT Cam-pus news service and to APStylebook.com.

Signed letters for publication are welcome.

Mailbox is in the main office. Unsigned editori-

als represent the consensus of the editorial

board. Signed opinion represents the views

of the writer only.

Staff:Editor-in-chiefLindsay Huth

Managing EditorKristin Brennan

Features EditorAbbey Dankoff

News EditorConnor Lynch

Sports EditorsJordan Cook and Nick Corbett

Copy EditorKatie Caprez

Photo Editor Allie Weiss

Website EditorMax Moore

Staff ReportersJames Axson, Anna Baumhoer, Katie Cot-

trill, Allie Griffith, Micaela Gutlove, LaTroy

Lewis, Daniel Lloyd, Kevin Ritenauer, Lexi

Smith, Jack Srail, Katie Stepanek, Mack-

enna Swing

Adviser Natalie Meyer

AWARDS

•CSPA Gold Medalist

•NSPA All-American

•Quill & Scroll Int'l First Place

•OSMA First Place

Flaws exposed in campaign process

Dress down day priveleges abused

The modern presidential election con-sists of large amounts of money spent, personal attacks made and votes pan-

dered for; activities which detract from the central issues facing America today.

Modern politicians seem to believe that, in order to get elected, they must spend gargantuan sums of money. In 2004, Former President George Bush and Sena-tor John Kerry spent a combined $695 mil-lion campaigning for office, and in 2008 President Barack Obama and Senator John McCain joined for more than $1.1 billion, a mark that will likely be surpassed in the 2012 elections.

Spending such large amounts of money when many Americans struggle to get by on minimum wage or with no wage at all is an unfortunate situation, especially when the money raised is going towards mud-sling-ing, elaborate conventions and luxury tour buses all in the hope of buying the votes of the American people.

The theory of buying votes has been put to the test and proven many times be-fore and there are several recent examples of it in the 2012 Republican primaries. After front runner Mitt Romney lost by a land-slide in South Carolina to Newt Gingrich, he decided to ensure his victory in Florida by barraging Floridians with advertisements for his campaign. This calculated attack re-sulted in Romney spending $15 million on advertisements compared to the $4 million

that Gingrich spent, and a victory over Gin-grich by 15 points.

With such a large margin of victory for Romney in Florida, it may come as no sur-prise that 90% of his advertisements were direct attacks at Gingrich. This statistic provides a sad commentary on how easily the opinions of the American people can be swayed, and is further supported by statis-tics such as Gingrich’s victory in South Car-olina, where more than 40% of all political advertisements were anti-Romney.

The constant deluge of negative cam-paign advertisements and accusatory com-ments makes it hard to decipher what is the truth and what is not while also creating a distraction from what actually matters; the issues. People make their decisions on who is most loyal to the party, who is most popu-lar and who has the most over the top ral-lies when in reality none of these actually matter when it comes to running a country effectively.

It is hard to see how the United States is the supposed leader of the free world when our politicians cannot sit down and have a civilized debate with members of their own party, let alone members of the other party, without it turning into a hail storm of personal attacks and a plethora of wasteful spending. The behavior of our poli-ticians is not only childish and shows a lack of character but it is also embarrassing to the nation as a whole. n

D ress down days allow students at Hoban the opportunity to be free of certain uniform restrictions for a

day. These special days, like Blue and Gold days and celebratory days during Catholic Schools Week should be seen as privileges given to students by the administration.

As of late, students have been taking advantage of these days by wearing inappropriate attire that does not follow the dress down day guidelines. Therefore, if students are not willing to abide by the guidelines it should come as no surprise if and when those days are revoked in the future.

B l u e a n d G o l d d a y s a r e t i t l e d appropriately to pronounce a day when students should wear Hoban spirit clothing either bought through the Hoban bookstore or approved by the administration. They are days meant to promote school spirit and excitement for Hoban sports teams that will compete that day or weekend.

It is not fair that some students choose to abuse this privilege by wearing clothing that is not Hoban approved. Non-Hoban

sweatpants, Ugg boots, Nike zip-ups and yoga pants are not legal clothing and in no way promote school spirit. If students want to have more Blue and Gold days in the future, they should wear Hoban spirit apparel.

During Catholic Schools Week in January, the majority of students showed little ef fort in following the special theme of the day. Most students chose to wear t-shirts and sweatpants and used the week as an oppor tunity to come to school in regular street clothes.

Although it may be easier to pull on a t-shirt and sweatpants, the purpose of Catholic Schools Week is to show Catholic School spirit and students should par ticipate in the week’s themes and festivities.

Spec ia l dr ess down days make the school week less repeti t ive and are a privilege, not a right. With these opportunities, students need to respect the guidelines set by the administration so we can continue to promote school spirit in an appropriate fashion. n

opinion three

Saints’ singled out in “bounty” program censure

New year’s resolutions prove worthy of perserverance

Lose weight. Take chances. Make more friends. Travel. Live healthier. Be optimistic. Get organized. Spend

time with family. Learn something new.New Year’s resolutions tend to be vague

and hard to accomplish. Perhaps this is why a New York Times

study showed that more than two-thirds of Americans who make a New Year’s resolution give up on it by the end of February. This statistic most likely includes many students in the Hoban community. With pressures from school, sports, extra-curricular, family, work and many other things, New Year’s resolutions seem to become another burden on an already-long list of things to do.

Last year, however, I was able to beat the statistic. When 2011 started, my resolution was not to eat any fast food. For me, this also included any beverage, ice cream or healthy alternatives served at places such as McDonald’s, Taco Bell, Wendy’s or similar chains.

The resolution was surprisingly easy to keep. It was easy to pack a meal when I knew the only food choice would be fast food. It was easy to pass up a quick fast food stop and wait for the next meal. It was also

easy for me to just sit and enjoy my friends company when they would get fast food. I know the only reason that I was able to keep this goal was because it was straightforward and clear-cut. A simple “no” was all it took for me to keep the resolution for the whole year. Rather than having a vague goal, my simple one allowed me to live healthier all throughout the year.

When 2012 came around, I was dying for some T-Bell. When I got a Chalupa and Cheesy Fiesta Potatoes, I was feeling great. However, a few hours later I felt completely sick to my stomach.

After not having food like that for an entire year, my body was not used to the processed tastiness of Taco Bell. So, my year of not eating fast food paid off and has turned into a lifestyle that is fast food free.

With the end of Februar y recently passing, many students may have given up on resolutions just as the statistic suggests. But, I strongly encourage those students to re-evaluate their resolution. Maybe it was too vague, or far-fetched.

Maybe it was just unrealistic for a high schooler. Maybe, the student just lost the will-power their resolution required.

Whatever the reason for calling it quits may have been, now is the perfect time to start fresh. Lent is a time of sacrifice and many people give up things that can be carried out throughout the rest of the year. If the resolution is not giving something up, a change in season is around the corner so a time for something fresh and new is already in the air.

Contrary to popular reasoning, New Year’s resolutions can be made at any time. If it’s not time to take another try at one already made, it’s the time to start up one to be carried throughout the rest of the year in hopes of a happier and better year. n

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The New Orleans Saints’ “bounty” fund rewarding players for injuing key opponents in cr ucial playof f

games has incited public outcry. However, such a strategy to motivate players is often used in other levels of the game. From the Friday night lights of high school football to nationally broadcasted college arenas, coaching staf fs often reward players for big hits and exceptional plays. In many cases, those hits often result in the injury of opposing athletes. While this serious of fense is unquestionably wrong both legally and ethically, it is another way in which coaches create an ef fective and aggressive football team, which is at times very difficult.

Many also believe that the Saints are in some ways being singled out by the NFL for the bounty program. Gregg Williams, the Saints’ defensive coordinator from 2009-2011, during the time when the franchise won a Super Bowl, is considered the architect of the program. However, his current team the St. Louis Rams, as well as his former teams, the Jacksonville Jaguars, Washington Redskins and Buffalo Bills have not undergone any sor t of investigation by the NFL. Phillip Daniels, a Redskins defensive end, Matt Bowen, another Redskins player and Coy Wire, a

Bills safety, admitted to sources such as the Washington Post and Chicago Tribune that bounty programs similar to that of the Saints’ were installed during Williams’ tenure at their respective teams. Yet, it appears only the Saints’ are being reprimanded.

In addition to the players who were motivated to play under Williams, victims of his bounty funds have also spoken out concerning the issue. Brett Favre, who in 2009 as the Minnesota Vikings’ quarterback suffered a number of questionable hits in his loss to the Saints in the NFC Championship Game, told Sports Illustrated affilate SI.com that he is not angry about the incident. “It's football. I don't think anything less of those guys," Favre said.

Kurt Warner, the quarterback for the Arizona Cardinals who was also apparently targeted and knocked out of the game by Saints defensive end Bobby McCray after an interception the same year, said that it was a “clean hit.”

Hard hits are part of the game, and players on both sides of the ball are aware of that basic law of football. However, the safety of players should be upheld on an equal standard across the entire league, not only to specific franchises. Yes, it may seem wrong that certain players were being targeted for injury, but it is the nature of

football that allows players to use physical force.

Since the NFL’s recent discovery of these “bounty” programs, head coach of the New Orleans Saints, Sean Payton and GM Mickey Loomis stated, “These are serious violations and we understand the negative impact it has had on our game. Both of us have made it clear within our organization that this will never happen again, and make that same promise to the NFL and most importantly to all of our fans.”

Now that NFL commissioner Rodger Goodell has some sort of an idea that these “hateful” actions are occurring, he will be forced to monitor every franchise in the league and continue to take the physicality out of a once aggressive game. n

newsfour

by james axsonStudent reflects on time spent in Honduras

Talented Hoban troubadour wins prestigous honor by katie cottrill

On January 15th, myself, two teachers and thirteen other students departed for a one week immersion trip in Nuevo

Paraiso, Honduras. We were aware that we would be acting as translators for a group of doctors and nurses on a medical mission based out of Holy Family in Stow, but we had little idea of what else to expect.

During the plane ride to the capital Tegucigalpa, I couldn’t help but think about the place we were going. I knew very little about Honduras and based on what I learned of it through the television I was expecting to land in a war-torn country filled with anarchy and violent drug lords.

“At first I was scared to get on the plane,” junior Jaleel Head said. “When we got there it was like a dream.”

The drive from the airport to Nuevo offered us a first glimpse into where we would be spending the next week of our lives. Hills covered in shacks made from corrugated tin and livestock roaming the streets offered a stark contrast to the place we had been just several hours beforehand.

When we arrived at Nuevo, home of the orphanage run by the Sociadad Amigos de los Niños where we would be staying, we were greeted by a group of orphans. Upon getting off the bus, they immediately ran up to us and “claimed” us, finding joy in the fact they were getting attention from someone older and different from themselves.

Our living quarters consisted of several rooms with bunk beds. The showers, which did not work on several occasions, were pipes sticking out of the walls through which cold water ran. Despite the accommodations not being up to our typical standards, we all

managed to settle in and a few times later in the week I found myself referring to it as home.

The medical mission consisted of us driving to nearby towns where we would be greeted by a long line of people awaiting care. We would set up the nurses and doctors stations, dentist, eye doctor and pharmacy and then began to see patients.

The people we met were a far cry from what I was expecting. Most were mothers, children and the elderly with the occasional working man thrown in. They were all, despite some waiting as long as six hours, polite and respectful towards us. They were patient when we had trouble understanding what they were trying to say and seemed happy to be receiving some form of aid.

“My favorite part of the trip was seeing the people and knowing that we made a difference in their lives,” junior Leah Marino said. “It was

nice to get away from our lives and experience those of others.”

By the end of the week no one wanted to leave. Honduras had given us an opportunity to think about who we are and the world we live in. We had not only grown more in touch with ourselves, but we had also grown closer together as a group. Personally, Honduras inspired me to pursue more in the realm of service and to strive to make improvements in my life.

“I would recommend going on an immersion trip because it makes you realize how privileged you really are and to see the world in a different perspective,” senior Sholar Petit said.

Immersion trips are unique in how they provide opportunities to learn and grow as a person as well as opportunities to travel and see the world. n

Photo courtesy of Harrison U

hall

Three years in a row, students from Hoban have been given the honor of being named the State Thespian

Officer (STO) for Northeast Ohio. On Jan. 28, 2012, the current STO senior Brock Barber announced that junior Matt Kannel, who ran for the position against Barber last year, will be the STO for the 2012-13 school year. Michael Younes ‘11, the STO for the 2010-11 school year, was the first Knight to be given this honor.

“I was really excited to hear that Matt got STO,” Barber said. “He ran for the job last year, so ever since then I've been excited for him to have another go.”

In order to be eligible to become STO, candidates must be inducted members of the International Thespian Society. Applicants have to receive teacher and

director recommendations and write an essay stating why they would be a good selection for STO. After all of these items are submitted, the Ohio Educational Theatre Association board makes the decision.

Not only does the selection process take responsibility from the candidates, but the actual job itself is full of duties that the STO is obligated to fulfill. As STO, Kannel has to attend board meetings each month near Columbus, help organize area and state conferences and attend the International Thespian Conference.

“I think that being around past STOs will help him prepare for the job,” Barber said.

Kannel has par ticipated extensively in theatrical endeavors, including acting in 17 productions. These include his

performances as the title characters in the Hoban Troubadours’ productions of “Oliver Twist” in 2009 and “The Nerd” in 2010. He was also in the Hoban Production of “South Pacific” during his eighth grade year. He has a passion for acting and cherishes the friendships he has made.

“It has always been a support system for me,” Kannel said. “It’s a great environment and there isn’t any judgement. It brings out the best in everyone.”

Kannel has been rewarded with an all-expense-paid trip to the International Thespian Conference in Lincoln, NE this coming summer where he will receive leadership training and gain practice for his role as STO next school year. n

Students pose for a group picture during their time spent in Hondruas.

news five

Above: Seniors Lexi Smith, Alex Wills and Allison Pugliese share a laugh while dancing in the gym.Below: Senior Julianna Blischak lets loose on the dance floor.

Above: Anna Reece, Ben Rohr, Maddy Corwin, Zach Shoe-maker and Erin Gib-bons enjoy the city atmosphere. Left: The New York City sky line depicted on the back wall of Barry Gymnasium.Below: Erin McNicho-las and Annie Tomei marvel at the maga-zines displayed at the

Knights in the city

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EBS (Empty Box

Syndrome): When

parents write their

leapling’s name in

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Leap Year!

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Leap

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What is it like celebrating your actual birthday every four years?

It’s really not that different, but it’s pretty cool. I get to go to three different

places during the entire week for dinner.On which day do you celebrate your birthday every other year? March 1st.What do you and your family do on your actual birthday that you don’t do every other year? We usually do something big, like go to a party with my family. Usually we go

to my grandma’s house and play Wii together.

What is the best part of having your birthday on Leap Day? I get to be called four years old. I think it’s really funny.What is the worst part of having your birthday on Leap Day? I honestly can’t think of anything.

What is it like celebrating your actual birthday every four years?

It’s pretty cool that my birthday is on a different day than most people’s, but

it’s really not that different. On which day do you celebrate your birthday every other year?

March 1st.What do you and your family do on your actual birthday that you do

not do every other year?

I usually go out to eat with my family.What is the best part of having your birthday on Leap Day?

It’s unique. I feel special because most people don’t have their birthdays on

that day.What is the worst part of having your birthday on Leap Day? Not having a real birthday every year.

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Celebrating one’s birthday is generally a highly anticipated event. But for sopho-mores Malik Jenkins-Prude and Angela Palcko, this special day only comes once every four years. We asked them to share what it is like being born on February 29.

by anna baumhoer

Designed

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hoer and K

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anek

Q & A with Hoban’s Leaplings

sevencenterspread

featureseight

jack allie james

by james axson, allie griffith and jack srail

photo by Allie Weiss

Victor Li:James: Li-sanity! His fingers were moving at a Li-tastic speed!Allie: He could give Beethoven a run for his money!Jack : More l ike V ic tor y, s imply a phenomenal act! Successful, flawless and all around great performance.

Daniel Sutter & Daniel Sullivan:

James: It was an excellent cover of my main man Jimi. Sutter’s dynamic performance really brought it to life.Allie: What a dynamic duo!Jack: Was this kid born with a guitar? Because Daniel appeared to be one with the guitar during this act!

Los Fantásticos:James: The sweet Latin tone accompanied by Mr. Milo’s sensational dance moves came together for an all around good show.Allie: Teach me how to Milo, teach me teach me how to Milo.Jack: How could this not make you want to get out of your chair and dance! Great rhythm and three thumbs up to Mr.

Milo for some rather fresh dance moves!

Kevin Ritenhauer:James: How did he play with four mallets?Allie: This was such a creative performance and the amazing music tickled my eardrums.Jack: A personal favorite of the night! This kid has it all: talent, a loving mother and the best looks this side of the Mississippi.

Syndey Schubert, Casey Hodgkiss, Lindsey

Hodgkiss:James: Their legs were moving almost as fast a Victor’s fingers.Allie: Everything from the dramatic intro music to the curly hair and sparkling dresses made this dance routine the real deal!Jack: The last time I witnessed legs moving that fast, Evan Luse was tearing up the Hoban track! Great Job ladies!

Danielle Cincurak, Katie Easton, Elena Gutbrod,

Kaitlyn Mann:

James: A colorful performance.

Allie: This brought me back to my good old Disney days, and the fact that this was a cappella was impressive!Jack: My favorite song from my favorite movie! Each one of you looked just as beautiful as Pocahontas herself.

Sandra & Jazmin:James: That was soulful girl!Allie: Some people want diamond rings, but I just want you two to perform for me everyday!Jack: Brilliant. Absolutely brilliant.

John Urdiales:James: His performance blew me away!Allie: His music took me to the majestic lands of Ireland.Jack: His music took me to the sweet island of Japan.

The Foxtrot Five:James: Good original song. Danny Kosco rocked that keyboard thing.Allie: What a creative song from a creative group of people!Jack: More like the Foxtrot Six, God was

angry birds. cut the rope. temple run. instagram. tiny wings. words with friends. facebook. draw something. stumbleupon. pinterest. pandora. twitter. fatbooth. fandango. runpee. pages. ibooks. spotify. skype. hanging with friends. youtube. gmail. camwow. safari. groupon. boggle. netflix. 8tracks. urbanspoon. tumblr. the game of life. pocket god. plants vs zombies. fruit ninja. scribblenauts. where’s my water. the oregon trail. photobooth. facetime. four square. scrabble. tiny towers. the weather channel. amazon. mapquest. messenger. redlaser. night stand. IMDb. game center. audible. zippo lighter. pocket pond. youtube. angry birds. cut the rope. temple run. instagram. tiny wings. words with friends. facebook. draw something. stumbleupon. pinterest. pandora. twitter. fatbooth. fandango. runpee. pages. ibooks. spotify. skype. hanging with friends. youtube. gmail. camwow. safari. groupon. boggle. netflix. 8tracks. urbanspoon. tumblr. the game of life. pocket god. plants vs zombies. fruit ninja. scribblenauts. where’s my water. the oregon trail. photobooth. facetime. four square. scrabble. tiny towers. the weather channel. amazon. mapquest. messenger. redlaser. night stand. IMDb. game center.

features nine

11:11 PMiPad

Pages

Some apps are here today and gone tomorrow, but others are created and continue to leave an

indelible mark on the ways technology is used in our everyday lives.

The birth of the smart phone is arguably the most prominent technological advancement of the 20th century. These handheld computers also opened up one of the largest and unique markets to the public.

The iPhone, Droid and the Galaxy are all known for their endless entertainment and assistance through applications commonly known as apps.

Apps give users the ability to access anything they could imagine from world maps to Tetris at any given time. One can even set their house alarm from across the country.

The emergence of the app market has changed the lives of people throughout the world.

“Apps have changed my life,” senior Jimmy Zazo said. “Now when I haven’t finished my English vocab, I can just use the dictionary app on the run.”

Smart phone applications have

also incorporated social media into their sales.

“I use apps to post my pictures on Instagram and go on my Tumblr so I can stay connected with the world all the time,” senior Pat Carabin said.

Smart phone applications are not just limited to one’s own personal uses with many of them having the compatibility to play or compete with others you may or may not know. The communicative abilities of apps allow for the opportunity to create new or strengthen old friendships over small handheld games.

“My favorite app is doodle buddies, because I like to doodle with my buddy Colleen,” said junior Leah Marino.

S m a r t p h o n e s a n d t h e i r applications are a market that is constantly evolving to entertain and appeal to the consumer market. If the consumer confronts a problem hindering his way, they can expect that in the near future there will be an app for that. n

APPS

by daniel lloyd and jack srail

Apps revolutionize everyday life

featurestenSophomore breaks bagpipe gender barrierby anna baumhoer

WZRD disappoints Cudi fans but band proves promisingby max moore

For the past four years, the Pipe Band has been a proud part of Hoban’s diverse variety of extracurricular

activities. However, during those four years, the Pipe Band has been entirely male dominated, until now. This fall, sophomore Maddy Gooseman will become Hoban’s first female piper.

“I thought it was a really unique instrument and I thought it would be cool to be to be the first,” Gooseman said. “I also love music!”

Boy or girl, the training to become a piper is extremely demanding.

“The first steps to becoming a piper are to learn the scale, which consists of nine notes, and to then rigorously practice finger work exercises. Maddie has been doing this for six months,” senior piper John Urdiales said.

G o o s e m a n i s a l s o c u r r e n t l y participating in classes at the University of Akron taught by members of the Akron & District Pipe Band (ADPB).

“Practices are two hours every Monday, and I have to practice at least twenty minutes each day,” Gooseman said.

Gooseman is now able to play the song “Amazing Grace” and is in the process of learning other traditional tunes, such as “Blue Bells of Scotland," "Rowan Tree," and "Scotland the Brave."

Despite the extra amount of time and effort that the bagpipes require, Gooseman is still enjoying this new activity.

“My favorite part is the style of music

because it is so different,” Gooseman said. Although she is the only girl, Gooseman already feels comfortable with the rest of the band.

“Br. Phil was ecstatic to have a new player,” Gooseman said. “Ever yone was very welcoming and eager to teach.

Other members of the band are also excited to work with the new piper.

“She is keen to learn as much as she can,” Urdiales comments.

Gooseman is learning at a fast rate and is beginning to take her ranks with the rest of the band. She will of ficially join the rest of the Pipe Band on the football field before the game next fall. Her hard work and determination will be rewarded as she becomes Hoban’s first female bagpiper.

“I feel honored to become a part of Hoban’s history,” Gooseman said. n

K id Cudi and Dot Da Genius have teamed up in an effort to make an experimental rock album that infuses

elements of hip-hop. The band, WZRD, re-leased their first self-titled album to mixed reviews. Some faithful Cudi fans wanted regular rap, while others think the new duo adds to his genius. Personally, I think that this was a work in progress at best. Even though this album was delayed multiple times, Cudi claimed that the studio rushed him through the album to work on his next rap album Man on the Moon III.

I believe that another WZRD album will be better than this first one. With only a couple hit songs like “Teleport 2 Me (Jaime)” and “Upper Room,” there is definite room for improvement. Kid Cudi’s signature vocals were appreciated, although if he works on

using better guitar rif fs, then maybe WZRD will star t to take off.

Another aspect about this album that differed from Cudi’s previous works was the overall message of the album. In his previous Man on the Moon works, there was a heavy theme on drugs and alcohol. In WZRD, he cel-ebrates his new found sobriety and his trials of ending the battle with addiction. This was something that gave me hope for his continu-ing works. With the birth of his first daughter coming just last year, a new page has been turned in Cudi’s life and we can expect to see a change in his music as well.

Overall this album was a very promis-ing start to his career as a rock musician.

His new innovations to the genre and his infusion of hip hop brings a new sound that meshes well. The drone of his voice over the bass and guitar complimented each other greatly. With more time in the studio and practice, WZRD will sure to be just as popular as Kid Cudi’s signature works. n

Gooseman practices on her own time in preparation for her classes.

Photo courtesy of Maddy G

ooseman

our ratings: WZRD

musicalityoverall

lyrics

sports eleven

Junior swimmer excels in and out of the water

Professional athletes are role models by nature

by katie stepanek

by daniel lloyd

Ever y child athlete grows up with their eyes set upon the dream of one day living in the glory of becoming

a professional athlete. I was one of these children. Knowing that our day was far to come, we admired those who had already achieved our goal, hoping that one day, we could achieve their status. Everyday we would sit in front of the television or flip through the latest issue of Sports Illustrated just to capture a glimpse of what our athletic model had accomplished.

Being a role model comes with the job of being a professional athlete. The problem arises when the athletes begin to care excessively about their money and not enough about those that look up to them. Kids emulate every action of those they admire, and when a famous athlete steps over the line, kids learn from and imitate what they’ve seen. If the highest paid, most famous athletes can host dog fights, sleep with whomever they want and sell off their winnings for favors, what is wrong with

breaking a few simple rules?The second an athlete steps onto the

court, they are being analyzed. What most professional athletes fail to realize is that not only during the game, but everywhere they go, they are being followed, filmed or recorded by hundreds of media reporters just waiting to report the next big scandal.

The sport of golf was once, to me, one man: Tiger Woods. The only reason I ever watched golf was to watch him play, until he joined the many before him that fell to the temptations of our society. Now, my reason for watching the sport is gone. My star player may have returned, but he is no longer great in my eyes.

Today’s rapid growth of social media has become a double edged sword for all athletes in the big leagues. They can build a positive and marketable image through it over time, or they can destroy their image in one tweet. All it takes is one comment, one decision, one night and their crowd of followers can disappear, dissapointed in the object of their

misplaced admiration.Why is it that most of us, myself included,

gave endless praise to proclaimed gods of the field, court or arena, just to one day learn of their hidden lives and the lies that they live every day? Being a professional athlete comes with a duty that is not clearly, but very well should be, defined in the contract. Athletes should not only play professionally, but act professionally during the game, and in their everyday lives as well. n

Throughout the winter season, her name is consistently on the announcements and yet, while she has earned the right,

she never boasts of her own accomplishments. Holding five Hoban records and receiving the coveted MVP of the North Coast League, Megan Kudlac has made a splash in the world of high school swimming yet again this year.

As a junior, Kudlac was selected by her coach to represent the Hoban swimming team as one of two female captains. Kudlac was expected to act and perform as a leader in and out of the pool and she did not disappoint. She broke three individual records in the 100, 200 and 500 freestyle races and contributed to two relay records in the 200 free with teammates Abby Blinka, Sydney Schubert and Annie Zielasko, and 400 free, with teammates Alex Jackson, Blinka and Zielasko. Kudlac made first team NCL for the third year in a row and was named Hoban’s MVP her freshman and sophomore years. (This year’s MVP will be announced at the upcoming sports banquet.)

This level of achievement is not simply handed to a swimmer. The team trains intensely all season with top swimmers attending two practices a day.

“We swim over five miles in those three total hours each day,” Kudlac said.

Back on land, Kudlac has found herself consistently in the top five spots of the junior class rankings. As a three-season athlete, Kudlac is no stranger to nearly sleepless nights, so when questioned about her time management plans

during the season, she was very blunt.“It was really hard and I struggled to stay

awake. I just did all my work until it was done and didn’t pay attention to what time it was,” she said.

Suppor t from the team keeps each swimmer going through the long winter months in which the identifying characteristics of a swimmer have become drooping eyes and dragging feet.

“We are pretty much a family by the end

of the season. I mean, we spend more time together than with our real families,” Kudlac said of her teammates who know her by the endearing nickname, Kuddles.

While the swimming season is over, Kudlac is still hard at work, training for her next season. She will be racing yet again but with a change of venue. In the months to come, Kudlac will be found at the track, ready to begin her third and final sports season of the year. n

Junior Megan Kudlac begins her race with a dive early in the swim season.

Photo courtesy of Megan Kudlac

sportstwelve

Harvard NBA phenom goes from sofa to stardomby jack srail

by james axson

Lin-sanity has swept the National Basketball Association over the past month. Now it seems that the

phenomenon has gone worldwide. Lin is the NBA’s first American-born Taiwanese player, who has emerged from the end of the bench to become a world-wide basketball icon in a week’s time.

Lin, an undrafted free agent graduated form Harvard University in 2010, and played a year in the NBA’s D-league before earning a spot on the New York Knicks star-studded roster. Lin has been living with his brother and sister-in-law, calling their couch home since he signed with the Knicks on Dec. 27.

When fellow teammate Carmelo Anthony was asked what he thought about all the Lin-sanity that has taken place he said, “I love it. I love it. It’s crazy. Everywhere you go, it’s

Lin, Lin, Lin, Lin. The underdog story -- a guy who’s been sent down to the D-League and then to actually come back and give our team and New York a spark. It’s something that we’ve been looking for.”

Lin has had an amazing first four games as an NBA starter, totaling up 76 points and 25 assists in his first three games in the league. Game four was his biggest game to date; the Knicks played Kobe Bryant and the L.A. Lakers,one of best teams in all of basketball. Bryant and the Lakers thought that Lin was all hype, but they found out the hard way that Lin is the real deal.

Lin erupted with 38 points, dished out seven assists and grabbed four rebounds, while leading the suddenly unstoppable Knicks team to a 92-85 victory over the Lakers. His 109 points throughout his first four career starts are

the most by any player since 1976-77, and he became the first player in NBA history to tally at least 20 points and seven assists in each of his first four starts. Lin has managed to do all of this in six days which is the reason that he was named Eastern Conference player of the week. Not only has Lin become one of the most famous NBA athletes over the past few weeks, but Lin has had the best selling jersey in all of February.

“It’s really madness right now around New York, and it’s been out of control with him and what he’s doing. He’s very well-received because he’s a humble guy and he loves to play the game,” said Amre Stoudemire, teammate of Lin. When asked what his favorite Lin pun was he replied, “I like Lin-sanity, or ‘Lin-derella’. n

On Saturday March 3rd, the girls basketball team took on the undefeated Manchester squad for the district

title. After a slow first half, the Knights cut the Panther’s 14-point lead to 1 at the beginning of the third quarter with a 13-0 run led by junior Emma Horning and senior Janaya Feaster. “Yesterday's game is one that I will never forget.” head coach Scott Callaghan said. “Our effort, toughness and will to win was on full display throughout the second half. I am incredibly proud of our players.” The Knights continued to push throughout the fourth quarter but were unable to take the lead. In the end, Manchester came out on top with a final score of 56-52. Horning and Feaster combined with junior Meghan Donohue for all

of Hoban’s points. “We started out slow but we finished the game with a tremendous amount of heart,” Horning said. “Things just weren’t going our way when we needed them to, but I am still so proud of my team.” The Knights finished the season with a remarkable record of 19-4, which included an 11-0 winning streak in the first 11 games. Of the 19 victories, 10 of them were by a margin of 20 points or more including three with a margin greater than 50. The season also consisted of hard fought victories over Kenmore and Lake Catholic as well as an impressive 10 point win over rival St. Vincent-St. Mary.

“This year we became really close, which helped us to play with intensity as one unit,”

junior captain Natalie Bender said.Going into next season, the Knights will lose

several talented players: senior center Kaleigh Roop and senior guards Sarah Alto and Janaya Feaster, but will maintain a strong set of starters consisting of returning varsity players. The team will also enjoy the company of a group of underclassmen moving up from Hoban’s junior varsity squad who went 16-2 this season.

“As a basketball program, we must use our tournament loss as a motivating force.” Callaghan said. “We must use the off-season to get faster and stronger. We must become a more skilled team, a team that dribbles, passes, shoots, and finishes at a much higher level. I have faith that our returning players will put in the necessary work.” n

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teameffort

Hoban girls basketball ends the season with lofty goals for the future

Senior Janaya Feaster scans the court for an open teammate during the game against Walsh Jesuit.