September 2006 THE FALCON � InsIde:

Summer in Lebanon p. 3

InsIde:

St. JoSeph high School Vol. XLIX Number � The Student Newspaper of St. Joseph High School, Metuchen, N.J. September 2006

By Matthew KuchtyakStaff Writer

This year, students will see a few new faces replacing some familiar ones. The departures of Ms. Ippolito, Sr. Gerry, and Mrs. Cunning-ham, as well as the reassignment of Ms. Bergin, have opened doors for two new guidance counselors and one new Spanish teacher.

The first of the new guidance coun-selors, Ms. Antonette DeGiorgio, complet-ed her undergraduate work at Mercy Col-lege. Before com-ing to St. Joe’s, she worked at Children’s Mobile Response and went to grad school to get certified to become a school counselor.

“I’m very excit-ed to help all the students with their future plans,” said Ms. DeGiorgio.

Joining the guid-ance department as well is Ms. Valerie Bredin-D’Alonzo, who is originally

from Pennsylvania. Prior to her current job, she held an intern-ship in Bucks County, worked in a competitive public middle school, and attended TCNJ.

She earned valuable hands-on experience by volunteering in the guidance office when she was in high school.

Since Ms. Bergin is now the Dean of Students and will be teaching only one section of Spanish III, the school hired Ms. Christine Bilhar-dt to teach Spanish. She attended Wilkes University and was an assistant director in a preschool.

“I love the com-munity here,” said Ms. Bilhardt, com-menting on the new environment she is now in.

With the addition of three new faculty members and men-tors so enthused about working at the school, St. Joseph High School will continue to become an even better place to learn and have fun.

Photos by Mike Varco

New faculty and staff join St. Joe’s

By Alex MoskoStaff Writer

This summer, while St. Joe’s students were at the beach, camping, or sleeping until noon, workers were busy improving the campus for the students’ return.

The teachers’ workroom was completely refurbished with a new floor, a paint-job, and

new desks. Several rooms in Woodburn Hall received fresh coats of white paint. All of the doors in the main building were repainted by recent alumni, and the main office was re-car-peted.

For security purposes, new cameras were installed in Wood-burn Hall. In the main building, new access-card readers now

allow faculty members to enter the building with the swipe of a card.

All the renovations were managed by S t . Jo seph ’s Director of Campus Services, Mr. Jeff Andrejewski, who remarked, “Everything went very smoothly; I couldn’t have asked for a better crew to work with.”

Students welcome campus improvements

By Matthew VelezAssociate Editor

What is the best way to meet new people as a freshman? The Freshman Picnic, of course! This year’s picnic was a raving suc-cess.

Hosted by Campus Ministry, the Freshman Picnic, took place Monday, August 28, at 6:00 p.m. in the Vincent C. Maglio Gymna-

sium. The usual outdoor venue was changed due to inclement weather.

At this bustling, lively event, approximately 200 freshmen and their families had the opportu-nity to meet teachers, coaches, moderators, and faculty. Also in attendance were the Mothers and Fathers Clubs as well as numer-ous alumni.

In addition to meeting teachers

and coaches, the freshmen had the chance to walk around to meet new classmates. Nearly 120 men-tors, all of whom were wearing green shirts, were in attendance to converse with the freshmen and answer their questions.

The food consisted of the usual picnic favorites: hamburg-ers, hot dogs, coleslaw, potato salad, lemonade, and iced tea. The hamburgers and hot dogs, all of which were grilled outside, were cooked to perfection by Twin Oaks Catering.

All in all, the Freshman Picnic was certainly a spirited event.

“The picnic is such a spirited way to kick off the new school year,” proclaimed Director of Campus Ministry, Ms. Michele Palmer. “It’s a chance to welcome new students and their families as well as for returning students to reconnect with classmates and adults they may not have seen over the summer. It truly shows the charisma of the Brothers of the Sacred Heart.”

Needless to say, freshmen had a very warm welcome to St. Joes.

Freshman picnic triumphs over weather

Photo by Dr. M. GubernatNinth graders and their families enjoyed food and fun at the picnic.

Ms. Antonette DeGiorgio

Ms. Christine Bilhardt

Ms. Valerie Bredin-D’Alonzo

By Lucas ZavalaStaff Writer

On June 12, eight students and two chaperones met at the Cor Jesu Conference Center, where they boarded a bus to Newark Liberty International Airport. Sev-eral hours later, they emerged from a Continental Airlines jet in Paris, France, ready to commence the two-week overseas adventure that would be the highlight of their summer.

Led by Mr. Jean-Marc Charrier and Ms. Sévérine Laurent from the Institution des Chartreux, who acted as guide and coordinator respectively, and accompanied by chaperones Mr. Milligan and Sr. Anne, the students toured the City of Lights. In just three days, they visited the Arc d’Triomphe, the Louvre, the Eiffel Tower, Notre Dame Cathedral, the Musee d’Orsay, and the Sacre-Coeur Basilica.

In addition to seeing Paris’s famous landmarks and monuments, they experienced a scenic boat ride on the Seine River. Such an exciting agenda of events would be enough

to satisfy almost any tourist, yet the journey was just beginning for the students and chaperones.

After a short, high-speed train ride to Lyon in east-central France, the students rendezvoused with the families that would be hosting their 10-day stay in the city. The students, their hosts, and the chaperones then toured Mar-seille, a port city on the French coast, and swam in the beautiful, sparkling waters of the Mediter-ranean Sea.

Senior Pat Fasano had a truly unique experience in Lyon. As the only student to have partici-pated previously in the exchange program, Pat was able to meet with the family that hosted him last year. “My two trips to France have left a positive impact on my life. In addition to seeing world-famous tourist attractions, I have made many new friends, eaten foods I had never heard of before, and even been to parties thrown by my hosts,” Pat said. “But most of all, I have experienced a culture completely different from my own, and I have the French Exchange Program to thank for that.”

While the students were with their hosts in Lyon, Mr. Milligan and Sr. Anne traveled to Geneva, Switzerland, where they visited the Red Cross and European Headquar-ters of the United Nations and rode on Lake Geneva.

The trip to Lyon was especially fulfilling for Sr. Anne, as the Sis-ters of St. Joseph were re-founded there after the French Revolution in 1818.

“I was able to visit the Sisters’ Heritage Room,” said Sr. Anne, “and see part of my history as a Sister of St. Joseph.”

The students’ two-week stay in France culminated with a cookout party held by the host families. After bidding their gra-cious hosts farewell, the students and chaperones returned to Paris, followed by a non-stop flight to New Jersey.

“The F rench Exchange Program gives students a chance to learn about French culture through the eyes of a normal, everyday teenager. [That is] something an organized tour could never provide,” said Pat.

The program, organized

in large part by Mr. Law-rence Walsh, President, and Dr. Mercedes Brand, French teacher, has become a St. Joe’s tradition. The exchange, which

promotes cultural awareness and international communication, will continue to provide students with priceless memories for years to come.

Vive la difference: French adventure

St. Joe's students enjoyed their stay in the City of Lights.

Photo by Mr. George Milligan

Sports p. 4

By Jack FitzhenryStaff Writer

On September 8, forty-eight students received pins and membership cards recognizing their induction into the National Honor Society. This nation-wide organization of high school stu-dents is dedicated to academic excellence and service within the school and local communities.

The inductees, who were selected in May of their junior

year, attained a cumulative grade point average of 3.9 or greater. However, good grades were not the only merits by which these students were selected.

According to Mr. Santiago, moderator of the NHS, “A stu-dent must have the qualifica-tions of character, leadership, and service.”

Under the direction of Mr. Santiago and assistant modera-tor Ms. Wesp, this year’s NHS inductees will take on a number

of projects within the school community. These include the Scholarship Gala, the Phone-a-Thon fundraiser, the Advent Liturgy, and the Open House.

In addition, NHS members will travel with Mr. Cabrita, Director of Admissions, as ambassadors to middle schools, to encourage students to become a part of the St. Joe’s tradition of excellence, which the NHS has helped to continue.

2 THE FALCON September 2006

The Falcon welcomes articles from students, parents and faculty members for consideration for publication. All articles are subject to editing. The opinions expressed in The Falcon do not necessarily represent the opinions of faculty or administration. Opinions expressed in any column except those of the editors are not necessarily those of the editors.

Graphics and Printing by Media Trends, Metuchen, NJ (732) 548-7088

Editor-in-Chief: . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Mike Varco Managing Editors: . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Stephen Polansky . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Jon RamtekeAssociate Editors: . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Kevin Guidette, Greg Myer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Matt Velez, Allan ZhangPhotographer: . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Gary Monteleone Sports Editor: . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Chris McGovernStaff Writers: . . . . . . . . . . . . Kevin Corlett, Mike Ferris, Jack Fitzhenry . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Matt Kuchtyak, Alex Mosko, John Nolan . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Chris McGovern, Russell Pepe, . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Matt Roth, Lucas ZavalaTechnology . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Mr. George MilliganFaculty Adviser . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Dr. Martine GubernatPrincipal . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Mr. John AndersonPresident . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Mr. Lawrence Walsh

Seize your year...todayBy Michael Varco

Editor-in-Chief

Welcome to the 2006-2007 school year! For returning students, this will be another great year, full of excitement and adventure. To the freshmen and transfer students, welcome to the St. Joseph High School family. As a student at St. Joe’s, you’re given the opportunity to get involved in the numer-ous clubs, activities, and sports, in addition to great academic programs. I can tell you from experience that being part of a club or team is very important because through involvement you will meet friends, have a great time, and, most impor-tantly, become part of the St. Joe’s community.

Sophomores, who after one

year of school are settled into the St. Joe’s routine, should reach out to the freshman in order to help them make the adjustments that you so recently completed. Also, this is an important year to join any clubs, activities, or sports that you may have wanted to last year, but never did. Your first year has already come and gone, and the remaining three years will pass quickly, too, so get involved!

Juniors have finally made it to the ranks of upperclassmen. In addition to all of the excitement of being part of that elite group (such as having a top locker), also comes a greater level of responsibility. This is the year to start researching colleges and get ready to apply. College is right around the corner.

Fellow seniors, this is our

last year at St. Joe’s. After three years, we can reflect fondly on all of the events that have made up “The St. Joe’s Experience” for us as individuals and as a class. During this time, St. Joe’s has become our extended family. From our first day as freshmen, we will always remember what it was like. As we get ready to embark on our journey to col-lege, we will bring with us the knowledge and experiences we have gained at St. Joe’s and retain them for the rest of our lives.

On behalf of The Falcon newspaper staff, have a won-derful year. Remember to get involved in the activities St. Joe’s has to offer. This year, like past years, will come and go very quickly. Don’t forget to enjoy and cherish every moment.

By Greg MyerAssociate Editor

The Campus Ministry Fusion Workshop was an orientation for students beginning their roles as mentors. This was the first meeting for the newly selected mentors.

At the workshop, they signed a contract that obligates them to be active participants as men-tors but more importantly holds them to high standards of morals and values. The students essen-tially agreed to be recognized as role models of the school not only for the incoming freshmen, but for all the other students as well.

The mentors also received a Code of Conduct sheet, which demands that they “Walk the Talk.” The sheet covered a wide range of topics, including posi-tive attitude, good behavior, tak-

ing responsibility, being reliable, showing initiative, and even being properly dressed in and out of school.

Two meetings were held on August 23 and 24 to accommodate the increased number of students involved in the program. Dur-ing those sessions, mentors were given dates of other functions that they were required to attend, such as the Freshmen Picnic on August 28 and the three Fresh-men Orientations on August 29, 30, and 31.

The Fusion Workshop was not only about setting dates and guidelines, however. Ms. Michele Palmer, who organized the work-shop and heads the mentor pro-gram, said, “For many guys, it was the first time they were seeing each other since school got out in June, so the opening moments were social and a nice way to catch up.”

Campus Ministry sponsors Fusion Workshop for mentors

By Stephen PolanskyManaging Editor

The robotics team wasted no time this year by holding its open-ing meeting during the first week of school. Several new, exciting projects have been planned for this year.

Over the summer, a new cur-riculum plan was developed for a series of classes to be offered over a ten week period in the off-season, October through Decem-ber. These classes will cover a variety of topics, ranging from DC motors to power tool safety. By

offering these classes, the team hopes to engage more students and effectively utilize their talents in the building of the competition robot.

Throughout the previous school year, the robotics team made several trips to Perth Amboy Catholic grade school to pres-ent and give demonstrations of their various robots. This year, the team plans to visit more fre-quently (semi-monthly) to forge a stronger relationship with the students. These visits will be facilitated by a grant from Toshiba to purchase tools and supplies to

aid in this program.This year, the robotics team is

participating in a new competition called Roborocks, which is held annually by the New Jersey divi-sion of the Center for Advanced Technical Education, and hosted by Middlesex County College. Roborocks is a seven-week pro-gram that challenges area high schools to design and build small robots out of the Lego robotics system.

With these new initiatives, the members are gearing up for what they expect to be an exciting and successful year.

Robotics Team jump starts its activities

EDITORIAL

NHS

Published by the students of St. Joseph High School145 Plainfield Ave., Metuchen, NJ 08840732-549-7600 ext 261 • www.stjoes.org

Volume XLIX, No. 1 September 2006

By Russell PepeStaff Writer

Both students and teach-ers alike do their fair share of work during the school year at St. Joe’s. When summer finally rolls around, all are ready to com-mence their long-awaited summer activities.

Junior baseball player, Matt Granados, seemed happy with his summer, which included attending concerts such as the Vans Warp

Tour, and training camp for the Falcon baseball team. He was not the only student trying to stay in top athletic form.

Varsity hockey player, Ryan Cassidy, trained at the Somerset Medical Center, and had this to say about their program: “They really know what they are doing over there. By the end of the summer, I felt 100% stronger than I had been.”

Still, many students and teach-ers used the summer as a chance to simply “chillax,” as Dr. Brand phrased it.

Ms. Wesp spent some of her time on vacation in Costa Rica, during which time she explored her adventurous side. “I went bungee jumping,” explained Ms. Wesp, “You could say it was exhilarating.”

Whether in Seaside, in Costa Rica, on the playing fields, or at rock shows, St. Joe’s students and teachers accomplished what they needed to do during their three months of summer recess.

Summer 2006 Fun

Open House October �5

NHS Pin Ceremony honors members

Photo by Dr. M. GubernatNHS members smile as they reflect upon their achievements.

Photo by Columbia University ToursMs. Wesp bungee jumping.

SAVE THE DATE:

September 2006 THE FALCON 3

By Kevin CorlettStaff Writer

When students are asked what they did on their summer vaca-tion, the usual responses include, “went to the beach,” or, “just hung out.” This year, one stu-dent can actually answer, “I was evacuated from a war zone.”

Eddie Souaid, a junior, found himself in the middle of the war between Israel and Lebanon. Eddie, who has dual citizen-ship in Lebanon and the United States, visits Lebanon annually. This year’s trip to his family’s homeland started as a two month visit with his relatives, but ended a month short in the panic and chaos of the Israeli attacks on Hezbollah.

On June 26, Eddie traveled from France to the city of Jbayl on the western coast of Lebanon. Almost a month later, the Israeli attacks and Lebanese evacua-tions began. The daily bombings came continually closer to the city in which Eddie was staying until they finally reached him. Eddie could hear the bombs hit-ting nearby towns and see the smoke from buildings in Jbayl that were hit.

The power flickered on and off, but the chaos was just begin-ning. In order to remain safe, he and his family had to evacuate Lebanon. They traveled fifteen kilometers south on Friday, July 21 at 6:00 a.m. (Thursday, July

20 at 11:00 p.m. American time). Soon after, Eddie and his family joined a growing mob of people, all attempting to go through cus-toms and board ships to get out of the war-stricken land.

For hours, Eddie and his fam-ily pushed through the crowds, desperately seeking safety. It was during these tense moments when Eddie was scared the most. He feared that he, his family, and the crowd of evacuees could easily be wiped out by a well-placed bomb.

Eddie and his family finally boarded a smaller boat that took them to the USS Trenton. Once on the American transport ship, they traveled six hours to Cyprus. The line to get off the ship was the longest Eddie had ever seen. His family waited eight hours to disembark.

Following that, they were transported to a fairground des-ignated a safe spot, then several hours later were moved by bus to the Cyprus Airport where they boarded a U.S. military plane. Five hours later they arrived in Germany to refuel, and, after a five-hour delay, Eddie again boarded the military plane, AMC McChord 33120, and started his 12-hour flight home to Fort Dix in New Jersey.

The total time of Eddie’s journey home was two days and eleven hours.

Although he and his fam-ily arrived home safely, he was

worried about his numerous relatives who were left behind in the war-devastated land. For-tunately, they remain safe in Lebanon.

Eddie felt that the worst part of the experience was the dam-age to Lebanon. “Lebanon was just getting back on its feet,” Eddie said, “and the country was just about to become a tourist attraction, but these attacks will

set them back years.”Eddie’s annual summer vaca-

tion was anything but typical this year. Although his life in

the states has returned to normal, he is reminded daily through media coverage of the ongoing struggles in the Middle East.

By Allan ZhangAssociate Editor

The Governor’s Schools are summer programs for academi-cally and artistically talented students who wish to broaden their knowledge and skills.

Students who live in New Jersey may apply and, based upon teacher recommendations, a resume of activities participa-tion, PSAT scores, numerous essays, and a transcript, a very select few are chosen to attend.

Two St. Joe’s students, seniors Roel Mercado and Michael Varco, were fortunate enough to have been given the opportunity to participate in this highly selective program.

Roel Mercado was accepted into The Governor’s School of Science at Drew University. The program was approximately four weeks long spanning from July 16 to August 12. Roel was one of only eighty-five participants selected into the program.

During the session, Roel took three core courses, Modern Physics, Molecular Orbital The-ory of Chemistry, and Famous Impossibilities in Mathematics, as well as an elective in Philoso-phy with an emphasis on causal-ity. In addition to these classes, the students were also divided into teams for one outstanding group project on radar tracking for which a twenty-page paper was required.

Roel was enthusiastic about his participation. “It was a mind boggling experience that great-ly broadened my horizon of knowledge,” he said. “I wish I could do it again!”

While Roel was busy at

Drew University, Michael Varco was attending The Governor’s School on the Environment at the Richard Stockton State Uni-versity in Pomona, New Jersey, which took place from July 2 to July 29. Only ninety-six stu-dents were admitted.

Michael’s focus was The World Water Crisis and Water Pollution Biology. Prominent speakers came to the school and gave lectures on current environmental issues.

In addition, the students had many hands-on experiences and participated in numerous field trips. Such trips included visits to water treatment plants and rivers, where students witnessed

firsthand the effects of excessive nutrients and chemicals entering the watershed.

Michael remarked, “It was a life changing experience that was both very educational as well as enjoyable. It enabled me to realize our dependence on such a fragile ecosystem. We humans are just another aspect in this cyclical ecosys-tem and I was reminded that we need a healthy environment to survive.”

With Roel and Michael’s participation in the Governor’s School program, St. Joe’s con-tinues to be well represented amongst the state’s academic elite.

By John NolanStaff Writer

Senior College Information Night, held on the evening of September 12 in the school caf-eteria, educated seniors and their parents about the college applica-tion process.

Ms. Diane Yannaco, Director of Guidance and coordinator of the program, described the event as, “an opportunity to get seniors into a frame of mind where they a r e r e a d y t o t h i n k a b o u t the schools they want to apply to and start filling out applica-tions, giving them a good start t o t h e w h o l e a p p l i c a t i o n process.”

Senior College Information Night featured two speakers: Mr. William Larrousse (SJHS Class of ’83), Associate Director of Admis-sions at Rutgers University, and

Ms. Marianne Kollar, Associate Director of Admissions at Rider University.

Mr. Larrousse discussed how colleges evaluate students’ applications. He emphasized the importance of working hard dur-ing all of senior year so that a college will not revoke a student’s acceptance. In addition, Mr. Lar-rousse gave an update on Rutgers and its application process, since many St. Joe’s students apply there.

Ms. Kollar made suggestions about how students should assess a college. She advised them to take into consideration the majors that are offered, the size of the school, and its location.

Seniors have many challenges ahead this year. This program was just one of many ways that the Guidance Department will assist them in planning their future.

Annual Senior College Information Night held

By Jonathan RamtekeManaging Editor

In order to prepare for the challenges of high school, incoming freshmen attended orientation from August 29-31. Students attended assemblies, broke into small groups, and participated in activities such as Mad Libs and a scavenger hunt.

New students also learned about the history of the school, the Brothers of the Sacred Heart, and Student Council. Afterwards, freshmen were able to meet their teachers. Through-out the three days, upperclass-

men mentors ensured that the newest members of the St. Joe’s family were familiar with the campus and its opportunities.

As always, the highlight of Orientation Week was the prayer service. This long-stand-ing tradition, meant to provide the students with a reflective moment after the stress of the day’s activities, was held in the campus chapel. During the service, each student was given a marble that represents his individuality.

“Orientation was informa-tive,” commented freshmen William Tool. “It set me on the right path for St. Joe’s.”

Freshman Orientation primes incoming students for success

GOVERNOR'S SCHOOLS SuMMER 2006

Causality, world water crisis explored

Eddie and his family greet the American soldiers.

Photos by Eddie Souaid(Top inset) Eddie and his family on the uSS Trenton transport ship.

(Above) A Lebanese soldier over-sees the evacuation.

Summer vacation on the frontline

Photos by Mike VarcoGovernor's School participants, including our own Mike Varco (second from the right), learn about issues facing our world today and making some new friends along the way.

A guided tour of Tuckerton Seaport Museum in Pomona, NJ by teacher Kevin Wolbach gives students a hands-on experience of the realities of how the water crisis affects us in New Jersey.

4 THE FALCON September 2006

Falcon

St. Joseph High School

By John NolanStaff Writer

Coming off a mediocre 10 - 10 record last season, the 2006 varsity soccer team is ready to rebound. The team returns 13 players from last year’s varsity squad and adds 10 members from a JV team with a 19 - 2 a year ago.

The Falcons will be led on the field by captains Mike Petrosini and Rob Allen, the latter of which is a preseason all-area selection. Head coach Michael O’Boyle, entering his 9th season at the helm, expects his team to make a serious run in both the county and state tournaments.

The team will be tested by a difficult schedule, which includes non-conference match-ups with Harrison and Morris Catholic, both of which were top 20 teams in the state last season, as well as two games with rival East Brunswick.

According to Coach O’Boyle, “What we lack in size and

strength, we make up for with speed and smart play.”

The team’s overall success may be determined by its ability to play a smart, fast-paced style. The Falcons will also need players to fill the void left by the gradua-

tions of Mike Atehortua and Sean Gilmartin, both of whom scored ten goals last year.

Heading into the season, the Falcons were ranked #6 in the county by The Home News Tri-bune.

SOCCER upDATE

By Michael FerrisStaff Writer

As students begin adjusting to the daily grind of school in early September, there is one source of joy for many students: the beginning of flag football season. Flag Football is by far one of the school’s largest clubs, containing over twenty-five percent of the student body.

The teams are student-picked then sorted into conferences and divisions. There is a fresh-man-sophomore conference and a junior-senior conference. In each conference, there is an east and west division. During the season, each team will play within its division with the exception of one game against the opposing division.

The Joe’s Bowl will take place on November 2, in which the champion of the eastern division will compete against the cham-pion of the western division to be crowned champion in the junior-senior conference.

“The club provides a competi-tive athletic environment as well as a social environment for the

students,” said Coach Yunker, moderator of the club.

The referees for the league met with Coach Yunker before the start of the season and were given a rules guide to learn for the season. James Valvano, co-leader of the referees along with Sean Dempsey, stated, “This club was how I made a lot of new friends

my freshman year and I hope it continues to do the same for the incoming class. It is simply very competitive and a lot of fun.”

The twenty-two competing teams are looking forward to an exhilarating season. Once again, Flag Football continues to be one of the school’s most successful and fun after-school activities.

By Kevin GuidetteAssociate Editor

The St. Joe’s Falcon baseball capped off last year’s impres-sive season with a win in the county tournament finals against the South Amboy Governors. Although this was an impressive feat, this year’s team hopes to improve on last season’s record of 17-11.

Under the guidance of recently-hired head coach Keith Connolly, the team looks to concentrate its efforts on winning while still hav-ing fun. Connolly, a former pitcher for the San Francisco Giants and

current scout for the Florida Mar-lins, brings a true knowledge of the game, which should help lead the Falcons to future success.

Although the team lost All-Conference pitcher Mathew Owens, who will pitch at St. John’s University this year on a full scholarship, key return-ing players include catcher and last year’s MVP Nick Ciardiello, Eddie Brown, and pitcher Kevin Poll.

“The focus this year is specifi-cally on the team, which it hasn’t been in past years,” said Mr. Jerry Smith, Athletic Director. “Expec-tations are very high.”

Photo by Normandy StudiosAlex Egiziano

By Chris McGovernSports Editor

For three decades, Coach Gary Trojanowski has spent his fall afternoons on the athletic fields working with his runners during practice. Coach Trojanowski’s 30 years of coaching cross coun-try experience have provided continuity and expertise for the program.

Team captain Jack Fitzhenry is cautiously optimistic regarding the squad’s prospects for the sea-

son. “I expect us to have a good dual meet record,” he said, “but the invitationals will test how well we run under pressure.”

Coach Trojanowski spoke highly of the “group of athletes who have been very faithful to the summer program,” which included conditioning for the upcoming season.

The team won its first dual meet versus JP Stevens on Sep-tember 12. The first invitational meet took place on September 23 at Warinaco Park.

By Chris McGovernSports Editor

On the evening of Wednesday, September 6, Sports Information Night was held in the Cor Jesu Conference Center. This was the first year that the school offered this unified information event for athletes and their parents. In prior years, individual sports held their own sessions as their respective seasons approached.

Because of the new proce-dures, students who plan to par-

ticipate in any school sport were encouraged to attend. According to the athletic director, Mr. Jerry Smith, freshmen and sophomores would have benefited most from the session.

Speakers included Ms. Althea Bowman Williams, mother of graduate Jay Williams, Class of ‘99, and Mr. Andrew O’Reilly,

an assistant track coach. Topics included proper crowd behavior and college recruiting, as well as the introduction of new and returning coaches. Parents then had an opportunity to pose ques-tions to Mr. Smith, the coaches, and others on the athletic staff.

On the school’s website, Mr. Smith posted his gratitude by say-ing that, “the St. Joseph athletic staff and our administration would like to say thank you to the multi-tude of parents that attended our Sports Information Night.”

Photo by Gary MonteleoneStudents enjoy a fall day with a competitive game of flag football.

FLAG FOOTBALL upDATE

CROSS COuNTRY upDATE

BASEBALL REVIEW

Sports Information Night kicks off year

Photo by Gary MonteleoneTeam members warm up on the track before hitting the course.

Photo by Gary MonteleoneCoach O'Boyle preps the team before a match.

SPORTSFor more sports

go to www.stjoes.orgclick on athletics