The Falcon Spring Musical - stjoes.org

Ms. Rocci Selected as Class Nobel EducatorBy Mike Syslo

Associate Editor

The sounds of the cafeteria shifted on the night of April 30 from the usual chatter of students talking about their day to resonat-ing guitar riffs and drumbeats.

Student bands took to the stage for the night and put on an incredi-ble show that not only excited fans but also raised money for a great cause. The proceeds will go to the son of a St. Joe’s alumnus with Hunter Syndrome, a rare disease that affects approximately 2,000 people worldwide. The event, the student council’s second rock show to date, was a perfect way to help a member of the St. Joe’s community in need.

“I think that this concert was an excellent way to support the cause of a St. Joe’s Family mem-ber,” commented Student Council Officer Andrew Modica.

The bands included Marilyn is Dead, Audio Insight, Unheard Heretic, Calling All Chaos, and Katharsis. Each band entertained

their fans with their own unique style of music, whether it be the powerful metal sound of Calling All Chaos or the alternative style of Katharsis.

Many fans came out and sup-ported both the cause and the bands. The concert allowed the bands to expose people to their music while at the same time rais-ing money to help a St. Joe’s fam-ily member. Fans left the concert both entertained and excited that

they had made a difference with their donations.

“I think this concert was a suc-cess because it was a collection of awesome bands coming together and playing for a good cause,” commented Student Council Offi-cer Daniel Quintin. This year’s concert will hopefully be the sec-ond of many of its kind, which will entertain the school community and strive to raise money for those in need.

By E.J. ZukowskiRetiring Managing Editor

Although each graduating class has many bright students, two in particular are honored above all others. The Valedictorian and Salutatorian are the two students with the highest grade point aver-age and most academic achieve-ment in the graduating class. They are given the honor of speaking at the graduation ceremony, as well as the Baccalaureate Mass. The Valedictorian for the class of 2010 is Nitin Srinivasan and the Salutatorian is Martin Pico.

Nitin Srinivasan has proven himself as an exceptionally tal-ented scholar, athlete, and vol-

unteer throughout his high school career. Nitin managed to achieve an unprecedented 4.789 GPA, all while engaging in a wide vari-ety of extracurricular activities and service opportuni t ies . Although studying for class takes up a lot of time, Nitin still found time to play on the Varsity Tennis team, captain the state champion College Bowl team, and serve as the president of the Math League and Science Nation-al Honor Society. Nitin will be going to New York University in the fall on a scholarship. Nitin explained, “My only goals when I first started high school were to work hard and do my personal best.”

Martin Pico’s high school his-tory is equally impressive. He also played on the Varsity Tennis team, was a managing editor for the Falcon, and was president of the National Honor Society, while maintaining a 4.779 GPA. Martin also plays a key role in his home parish of St. Bart’s as an altar server and a volunteer at a food pantry. The tremendous effort Martin put into his aca-demic career has certainly paid off; he will be attending presti-gious University of Pennsylvania in the fall. Martin was very excited to have his achievements recognized, commenting “win-ning Salutatorian felt ‘oh so good’.”

Despite the fact that Martin and Nitin have been so close in terms of academics, the two have been good friends throughout their high school careers. “We always helped each other out. We would study together,” affirms Martin.

Although they are both intensely focused on their studies, Nitin and Martin demonstrate that col-leagues can overcome competi-tiveness and maintain a healthy collaborative spirit and foster a deep friendship.

By Martin PicoRetiring Managing Editor

Once again, St. Joe’s must say farewell to the graduating class of seniors. Transforming from freshmen to mature young men, the Class of 2010 must now take flight, leaving the Falcon nest to begin the next chapter in their lives.

This year’s seniors have con-tinued St. Joe’s legacy of excel-lence with their many accom-plishments. Their hard work, determination, and spirit have culminated in several distinguish-ing achievements.

Seniors will be attending 85 different colleges, including two Ivy League schools. Also, the Class of 2010 boasted an excep-tional 21.5 million dollars in scholarship.

While 43 percent of our seniors will stay in New Jersey, the remaining seniors will attend colleges and universities in 20 different states and India.

Other academic accomplish-ments among the senior class include 6 AP Scholars, 2 National Merit Finalists, 11 students with an SAT of 2100 or higher, and 8 seniors who maintained a GPA of 4.5 or higher.

Commenting on the success of the senior class, Mrs. Yannaco, Director of Guidance, said, “The achievements of the class of 2010 are very impressive. We are cer-tain they will take this spirit of excellence with them into their futures.”

While the senior class boasts many academic accomplishments, it cannot be defined solely by grades and other statistics. From

the class’s unrivaled school spirit to its many athletic feats, the Class of 2010 will continue to prosper. Individually, these seniors will leave their marks, sharing their stories on the way, but as a whole, they will continue to grow and make an impact on the world.

Growing in the environment at St. Joe’s, the Class of 2010 has come to understand that they are more than just individuals of a student body. They consti-tute a unique student family that cherishes the deep relationships they have formed in their four years at this school. While this flock of Falcons will go their separate ways, they will always be remembered as part of a com-munity whose individual stories contribute to the one story titled “St. Joe’s.” Good luck and con-gratulations, gentlemen.

Valedictorian & Salutatorian of 2010:

Srinivasan and Pico

The Senior Class Takes Flight

Photo by Dr. R. Longhi

2010-2011 editorScongratulations to the new editors of the falcon newspaper for the 2010-2011 school year! (top row, left to right) charles Bruno, Sports editor; ryan langton, editor-in-chief; alexander Ganescu, Managing editor; Mark lee, Managing editor. (bottom row, left to right) Michael Henton, associate editor; Michael Bender, associ-ate editor; Michael Syslo, associate editor; Michael d’ambrosio, associate editor.

St. Joe’s Students’ Bands Rock Out

The FalconpaGe 5

2010 Sports Report Card2010 Sports Report Card

paGe 4

Spring Musical

Vol. LII Number 6 The Student Newspaper of St. Joseph High School May 2010

Photo by Ryan Langtonnitin (left) will be attending new York university in the fall, while Martin (right) will attend the university of pennsylvania.

Photo by Ryan Langton

Ms. ana rocci was recently named a class nobel educator of distinction by the nation-al Society of High School Scholars (nSHSS). Ms. rocci received the award for being a role model to her pupils, being committed to excel-lence in the classroom, and for her dedication to her students.

Photo by Edwin Ganolocal bands rock the night at St. Joe’s annual rock’n for a cause.

2 THE FALCON May 2010

By Mike SysloAssociate Editor

The 15th annual Brother Ber-nardine, SC, Memorial Golf Classic took place on Monday, May 17, at the Fiddler’s Elbow Country Club in Bedminster, with more than 130 participants in attendance.

Planned activities for the Classic included a round of golf, hors d’oeuvres and cocktails, and a sit-down dinner. Prizes were given out, with the win-ners receiving golf and sports related prizes.

Those who could not make it to the event were still able to contribute by donating money or sponsoring other golfers. The money will be used for upgrades

around school, technological improvements, scholarships, and need-based financial aid. Over the years, the money raised has also been used to put down new tracks, buy school busses and pickup trucks, refurbish the Cor Jesu center, and build Woodburn Hall.

This year at the dinner, the Fathers’ Club was honored for their dedicated years of service to St. Joe’s and involvement with many improvements to the school’s facilities and com-munity.

The event this year is espe-cially important. Due to the cur-rent state of the economy, the school will be awarding twice the amount of financial aid as it did three years ago. Without

the Golf Classic to raise money, providing financial aid would be much more difficult.

The event also reunited alumni and friends of the school, a valuable and unique experience for all involved. “I enjoy seeing many alumni and friends of St. Joseph High School enjoying themselves at a great event that supports the school,” commented President Larry Walsh ’68. “It typifies the St. Joe’s Way: giving back to one’s community. It also typi-fies the St. Joe’s Way in the way disparate groups come together for a common cause.”

The event turned out to be a great success, with a large amount of money raised and old friendships renewed.

By Alfonse MugliaRetiring Editor-in-Chief

When you get toward the end of your senior year, you’ll find that people will frequently ask you the question, “If you could, with the knowledge and foresight you have now, would you want to relive high school?” Various students would answer this question differently, but I find that perhaps the most common answer is along the lines of “I want to relive just my senior year.” Per-haps this is a bogus answer, but it is nevertheless the answer I give when faced with this question.

I’m not by any means suggesting that I have any regrets about this past year. Instead, I want to recapture the thrill of my senior year because I feel that I finally had the opportunity to understand the meaning of being a part of the St. Joe’s community and experiencing everything I was looking for when I came into the school as a freshman whose parents forced him to attend the all-boys school – funny how things change after four years.

The sense that this was our school and our year, and that what became of it would depend on our actions, our accomplishments, and the memo-ries we created is what made this year special for me. The power was in our hands to have the year we wanted to have, and the Class of 2010 rose to the occasion. The school pride we nurtured made the year exciting, while our achievements in the classroom made it worthwhile.

Success on the field made the year memorable, while time spent laugh-ing and enjoying life during down time made it unforgettable. This freedom to combine hard work and pleasure brought us great success and made senior year the time to which all other glorious times in my life will be compared.

Of course, the reality is that we cannot do it all again. Our lives must move on, as will the school we’re leaving behind.

Perhaps the biggest challenge we seniors now face is learning how to continue to live without regrets, living the way we want to live and becoming the person we want to be. Lessons of hard work learned in difficult English classes will be needed to bring about our success in college and our careers. Lectures on being true to yourself and others throughout religion class must be put into practice. The sense of con-fidence and accountability created in various extracurricular involve-ments must be continued to keep shaping us into the future leaders of the world.

With this understanding of and commitment to being productive members of society, nothing can hold us down.

No matter where the road may take you, stay ambitious, true to yourself, and open-minded. With such attributes, how could one live with regret? With a lifetime-worth of opportunities for success and hap-piness before us, how could one be afraid of failure?

By Leonel DelgadilloStaff Writer

After four years of papers, cal-culations, and formulas, the seniors have come to the end of their time at our school and are heading for new experiences in college and beyond. When asked about their favorite experiences at St. Joes and what they are looking forward to the most next year. They said…

“I especially enjoyed freshman cup, and I can’t wait to be in a big city next year and see everything New York has to offer” – Justin Chung.

“Despite only playing one sport, I loved my four years of soccer at St. Joes. Each year was a little bit different and it allowed me to enjoy a different part of what the school had to offer. Next year I’m excited for the absolute freedom given to you and the brand new world of Boston.” – Leonardo Betancourt

“I really enjoyed making a com-mercial for German class my junior year” – Matt Knepper

“My favorite memory would probably be the basketball game we had against CBA this year, along with the ultimate Frisbee games after school.” – Quinn McCarthy

“I’m excited for the future and getting out of New Jersey and going to college!” – Vincent San Miguel.

I think my favorite part of St. Joes would have to be the sports games. The Falcon Flock goes hard. As for next year, I’m mostly looking forward to going away for college and living on my own. I’m ready for the responsibility and the freedom.” – Brian Pashkevich

“The best part about St. Joes has been being surrounded by classmates who have become like brothers to me. I’m really excited for the oppor-tunity to be more independent next year and meet people from around the world.” – Martin Pico

By Brian WhitesideStaff Writer

Along with the last day of school, AP exams, prom, and graduation, seniors also will experience Senior Awards Night. On May 25, the gym will be packed as members of the class of 2010 and their families enjoy a delicious dinner together.

After dinner, the awards will be handed out. They will be divided into five categories: Activities/Clubs, Athletics, Academics, Adden-dum, and Robert Frost Awards. Numerous seniors will be honored for their hard work over the past 4 years. Some of those seniors include presidents and vice-presidents of clubs, students earning significant academic achievement in a subject, MVPs of teams, and even captains of some sports teams.

“It is just great to be honored one last time at this school,” said Kevin

Linn, one of the seniors that will be honored at the ceremony, “Even though we are all excited to finally get out of here, receiving awards for our hard work and dedication throughout our high school career will always feel amazing!” Students are clearly eager to be commended for all their hard work.

“You know, we go through the same thing every year, and it still never gets old,” said Mr. Wayne Fisher, “It is always a sight to watch students be rewarded for what they have done. With seniors, however, it’s different. Perhaps it is the fact that they are attending their last awards night, but the seniors always seem to shine so much when they receive their awards.”

While prom and graduation are better known celebrations, it seems as if Senior Awards Night is yet another event the class of 2010 will never forget.

By Michael CashRetiring Associate Editor

A tradition unlike any other, the Baccalaureate Mass took place on Saturday, May 16. The annual event, held for graduating seniors and their families, began at 4:30 p.m. in the Vincent Maglio Gym-nasium.

“The reason that the Bac-calaureate Mass is significant is that it is a fitting way to help seniors end their time here in a faith-centered community. This amazing event sends our seniors off with the blessing of the Church in the form of the

Eucharist,” commented Deacon Rich McCarron.

Approximately 300 people gathered in the gymnasium for the mass with an air of remi-niscence, sadness, and hope for the future. Following tradition, the celebrant of the mass was St. Joe’s graduate Father Jack O’Kane ’87. A St. Joe’s gradu-ate is best able to deliver a very special and appropriate homily for the occasion.

“The event is one of the most symbolic ways to close the year for the seniors. It is a great way to wrap up their lives here at St. Joe’s,” concluded Deacon Rich.

By Christian GoldyStaff Writer

Illusion is a “misleading image presented to the vision,” according to Webster’s Dic-tionary. Illusion was the theme of this year’s Freshman Spiri-tuality Day held on May 19th. Coordinated by Mr. Robert Yunker, the day gave the Class of 2013 a chance to reflect on issues that they faced everyday in high school.

The purpose of the event was to instill God’s presence in everyday life and to increase moral and ethical awareness within the school. It also served as a chance for freshmen to discuss these ethical and mor-al problems with their fellow classmates. Fr. John Gloss, a former high school princi-pal, was the facilitator of the

event. “I was glad to be a part of

this and I hope that these fine, young men have learned to conduct themselves in a mature way,” stated Fr. Gloss.

The Class of 2013 was asked to think about things in a different light and realize that what may seem harmless to others could have a broad-er effect on different people. Pranks and jokes may seem trivial, but they could be an illusion. Realistic examples were used to show that nega-tive actions have consequences and we should think before we say or do something.

Freshman left Spirituality Day with a better understand-ing of the power of words, and will take the lessons learned here with them throughout high school.

By Mark LeeManaging Editor

Held on May 20 at the PNC Arts Center from 7 to 11:30 PM, the annual senior prom ended the seniors’ time at St. Joe’s with a bang. Over one hundred and thirty eight cou-ples attended the event. The night began with an hour of cocktail service followed by a dinner. The remainder of the evening was spent with danc-ing and music as the seniors gathered together for their last dance.

Moderator Ms. Tracy Uler, along with the Student Coun-cil, put her best foot forward

to make this an unforgettable night for the seniors. She planned a South Beach theme with a buffet-style dinner that included penne pasta, sausage and peppers, chicken Tuscany, mixed vegetables, and roasted garlic mashed potatoes.

“The Senior Class of 2010 is very close-knit,” com-mented Ms. Uler. “The night really turned out to be a great time!”

Reflecting on the night, senior class Vice President Sha-hil Patel commented, “Student Council worked really hard to make this night the best it pos-sibly could be and I honestly think we delivered.”

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 fac-ulty or administration. Opinions expressed in any column except those of the editors are not neces-sarily those of the editors.

Graphics and Printing by Media Trends, Metuchen, NJ

(732) 548-7088

Published by the students of St. Joseph High School

145 Plainfield Ave., Metuchen, NJ 08840

732-549-7600 ext 261 www.stjoes.org

Volume LII, No. 6 May 2010

Editor-in-Chief:Ryan Langton

Managing Editors: Mark Lee

Alex Ganescu

Associate Editors:Mike Syslo

Michael Bender Michael Henton

Mike D’Ambrosio

Sports Editor: Charlie Bruno

Staff Writers:

James Bogdanowicz Michael Cash

Leonel Delgadillo Sean Finan

Christian Goldy Daniel Kozub

Alfonse Muglia Himanshu Patel

Martin Pico William Scarano

Alex Schiffer Nitin Srinivasan Jonathan Teters Brian Whiteside James Ziemba

Edward Zukowski

Photographer:William Scarano James Ziemba

Comic Editor:Rob Luceri

Associate Comic Editor:Joseph Graham

Faculty Moderator:Dr. Robert Longhi, ‘81

Principal:Mr. John Anderson, ‘70

President:Mr. Lawrence Walsh, ‘68

Baccalaureate Mass: A Perennial Tradition

Golf Classic Raises Money ‘Fore’ a Good Cause

Senior awardS niGHt

Senior proM: Last Dance before Graduation

Freshman Spirituality Day Renews Faith

editorial

Reflections and Expectations from the Seniors

Senior Send-off: No Regrets

May 2010 THE FALCON 3

By Ryan LangtonEditor-in-Chief

Ey! Oh! Ah! Are you looking at Brother? Good, because it is time for the last movie review of the year. Everybody better be looking up front at all times. Also, remember to keep an eye out for you-know-who while on your summer vacation. They’re crazy! Okay, lets go.

Clash of the Titans — Brother liked this one. This movie was a good action thriller; also, Liam Neeson, one of Brother’s favor-ites, was in it. There were crazy battles, monsters everywhere, people being beheaded- good stuff. The only thing this movie was missing was the albino buf-falo and it would have had it all! HHH

Bounty Hunter — Now this movie was basically an hour and a

half of mindless comedy, so it was not too bad. It is about this guy trying to find and capture his ex-girlfriend who skipped bail. It had some action, some comedy, and a little bit of romance. The plot line was completely pointless but Brother laughed, occasionally. Gerard Butler wasn’t bad either, but don’t expect this to be like 300. HHH

Death at a Funeral — Ooh, Brother actually liked this one.

This movie is about what happens to a dysfunctional family when a deceased family member’s funeral goes horribly wrong. The movie turned out to actually be funny. Chris Rock and Martin Lawrence were great in the film, and the plot had some interesting twists. If you want to go see a real comedy, go see this movie. HHH

Kick Ass — Okay, Brother will try not to get angry when talking about this movie. This one was a disappointment. Brother expected to go see a movie full of action and clever humor and instead saw a bunch of kids dressed in tights saying stupid jokes. It was a complete waste of Brother’s time! There should be a serious punishment for the people respon-sible for this movie. Keelhauling sounds acceptable. H

By Alex GanescuManaging Editor

In a fierce contest amongst other German academics, junior George Ozga recently emerged as one of only thirty-nine students from the United States sponsored to participate in a month-long summer study program overseas. This tremendous distinction was achieved after George demon-strated his knowledge of the German language in its written, listening, and oral facets.

His journey began on January 14 in a heated contest with 23,000 other students when he took the National German Exam, which is organized by the American Asso-ciation of Teachers of German, Inc (AATG). A month later, he was contacted by the AATG and told he had scored in the 95th percentile. As a result, George moved on to prepare a letter for his potential German exchange family, working in conjunction with Frau Rhomberg.

Pleased with his response, the AATG invited George to partici-pate in a final challenge: a person-al interview in Somerville, New Jersey. By this point, George had already distinguished himself as a finalist from the original 23,000 students. Satisfied with nothing less than excellence, however, George continued to practice rig-orously with Frau Rhomberg in the weeks prior to his interview. George was accepted from the

New Jersey Chapter to participate in the study program sponsored by the German government.

“As I walked into my house, I found my parents and brother standing at the doorway clapping for me. My mother exclaimed ‘you’re going to Germany!’ The feeling was overwhelming; I real-ized all my hard work had paid off,” recalled George with enthu-siasm. George will now have to wait to hear back from the AATG about the city in which he will be placed during his visit. He will either be traveling to Nürnberg or Kulmbach.

Frau Rhomberg is equally excited to see one of her students see the program through to its completion. “I have at least one student score in the 99th percen-tile every year, but George has

really achieved a great honor to have his studies recognized in the form of an all-expense paid trip to Germany. Unlike senior German students, George had to compete with all underclassmen to earn one of the few spots offered.”

On his trip, George plans to attend classes with his colleagues, as well as to participate in field trips with both American and Ger-man students.

“Traveling is the best type of education,” concludes Frau Rhomberg. “It expands a student’s horizon and really allows him to see the world from another culture’s perspective.”

George’s travels will be fully explicated in a follow-up article after he returns from his trip. He is set to leave on June 27 and return on July 21.


“Where excellence is a habit, not a goal.” Although a trite statement, this seemingly sim-ple phrase embodies the work ethic of the St. Joe’s students. Nowhere is this strong integ-rity more evident than in the National Honor Society. This year, out of a pool of 61 eligible juniors, 36 were accepted into the NHS based on the criteria of academics, character, leadership, and service.

Proud of his affirma-tion into the NHS, junior Alex Ganescu said, “I’m glad I was accepted into the National Hon-or Society. My first priority has always been making my family proud of what I achieve.”

Those accepted were induct-ed into the Vox Sapientiae chap-ter of the NHS on May 19. The ceremony took place in the Vin-cent Maglio Gymnasium where the inductees along with family and friends attended. Both Mr. Lawrence Walsh ’68 and Mr. John Anderson ’70 gave their remarks to the students during

the event. Afterwards, those present attended a small recep-tion in the cafeteria.

The students’ acceptances into the NHS stand as a testa-ment to their hard work over the past three years. These juniors must continue their tradition of excellence as leaders of the St. Joe’s community. As members

of the NHS, they will be obliged to assist at school functions, such as dances, Masses, and Open House.

Mr. Carl Santiago, moderator of the NHS, commented, “Students

were reminded early on that acceptance into the NHS wasn’t just something to put on their college resumes or tran-scripts. Now is the time to give even more of themselves to the school and the wider commu-nity. Many opportunities will arise over their senior year for them to become ambassadors of St. Joseph High School.”

As representatives of St. Joe’s, these new inductees will lead the way in the future. This year’s group holds promise to exceed the expectations of their friends and family.

By Michael HentonAssociate Editor

Eight students recently repre-sented our school at the YMCA Youth and Government confer-ence in Trenton from April 16-18. The conference, a model govern-ment symposium held in 37 states nationwide, tests the political mettle of hundreds of high school students. Participants researched and presented their own bills on relevant political topics rang-ing from teacher tenure laws to the legality of euthanasia. The delegates participated in a range of conferences such as a mock Senate, the General Assem-

bly, and a Judicial committee, all with their own duties and capacities.

Junior delegate Michael Bender was named as an alter-nate for the Conference on National Affairs, a renowned annual youth leadership forum in North Carolina, for his perfor-mance in the Judicial conference. All eight representatives from our school performed exception-ally in their respective divisions and represented the school well.

Junior delegate Ryan McCa-dden, a leading member of the Treasury conference, said on the success of the event, “We

performed exceedingly well in this year’s conference, and many students excelled in debate. We look forward to returning next year and competing to the best of our ability to surpass this year’s successes. “

The delegates will head into next year’s conference confi-dent in the wake of impressive individual and collective accom-plishments. With skilled upper-classmen and up- and- coming beginners to spearhead future endeavors and the possibility of being represented at the Confer-ence on National Affairs, this year’s conference truly was a success for all involved.


The school year may be com-ing to a close, but the College Bowl team continues to practice and prepare for two national tournaments, which will bring an end to their very successful season.

Members of the team will travel to Chicago and compete in the National Academic Quiz Tournaments (NAQT) Champi-onship from May 28 to May 31. The A team, captained by senior Nitin Srinivasan, will included Aaron Knowlson, Paul Kibala, and Alex Frey, all of whom were on the team that won the NAQT state championship in

early March. Edward Zukowski and Jason Hill will also be on the team.

After the tournament at Chi-cago, the team will participate in the National Scholastic Champi-onship (NSC) Tournament held at George Mason University in Fairfax, Virginia from June 4 to June 6. A second team captained by sophomore Jason Hill and comprised of Ryan Langton, Hanish Polavarapu, James Gor-man, and Michael Ploch will be competing as well.

Commenting on the tourna-ments, the team’s moderator Mr. Edward Powers stated, “Both tournaments have very competi-tive fields, but if we perform our best we will do quite well.”

By Michael BenderAssociate Editor

With the addition of Person-al Finance and Psychology of Religion to the syllabus, rising seniors now have the option of taking classes on topics ranging from the origins of Religion to balancing a budget.

Psychology of Religion will be a semester-long religion class, offered to seniors, which will be taught by Mr. Jenkins. The class will be essentially an introduction to psychology, with particular emphasis on religion as a phenomenon and universal human experience. It will try to show how and why religion has developed in various cultures throughout history and why it plays so large a role in peoples’ lives.

When asked about the pur-pose of the class, Mr. Jenkins responded, “The goal is to broaden student’s understanding

of religion as a general human experience and to introduce them to certain methods and areas of study.”

Personal Finance will be taught by Deacon Rich as an elective. The class will teach seniors how to manage money in order to prepare them for life in college. It will cover topics such as mortgages, smart invest-ments, budget management, and credit cards. Over 80 students have signed up.

Commenting on why he thinks students should take this class, Deacon Rich stated, “I believe that seniors should take this class, because I feel that credit card companies set traps for students entering college that can get them into serious financial difficulties. The goal of this class is to give students a better understanding of how to manage money so they will be better prepared when they enter college.”

New Members Inducted into NHS

YoutH and GoVernMent conference

Student participate in mock government symposium

College Bowl Team Prepares for Nationals

Photo by Alex Ganescufrau rhomberg congratulates George on a job well-done.

BrotHer MiKe’S MoVie reView

movieweb.com

New Classes Create More Choices for Seniors

George Ozga Earns Opportunity to Study Abroad


By Michael HentonAssociate Editor

The International Travelers’ Club had a once in a lifetime opportunity as the club embarked on a ten-day tour of Greece and the Greek islands. On April 1, thirty students departed from N e w a r k A i r -port and started their journey to the birthplace of democracy. After an eight-hour flight, the group landed at the Leonardo da Vinci Airport on the outskirts of Rome and con-tinued to Athens after a two-hour layover.

Upon arriving in Athens, the students were greeted by their tour guide and escorted to their hotel less than a mile from the coast. After spending two days in Athens visiting landmarks such as a district just below the world famous Acropolis, the group set sail on a cruise of the islands sur-rounding Greece.

After excursions in Mykonos, Patmos, and Rhodes, the students spent a day in western Turkey. They visited the home where the Virgin Mary lived after the cru-cifixion of Jesus and the ancient city of Ephesus. On the final day of the cruise, the group visited the beautiful island of Santorini, a unique island shaped by one of the most violent, volcanic erup-

tions in history. After a grueling 589-step trek

up the cliff face of the island, students spent the entire day in the city and were able to witness the sun setting over the adjacent, sunken portions of the island from almost 1,000 feet above sea level.

Upon leav-ing Santorini the group spent one last night on the cruise before disem-barking early the next morn-ing. The last day of the trip was spent back in Athens, atop the Acropolis

the students had viewed from afar days earlier. The travelers were led to the Parthenon where they could see one of the most recog-nizable structures in the world as well as the amazing view of Athens below.

The trip as a whole was a remarkable experience for all involved including moderator Ana Rocci and chaperones Rob-ert Longhi ’81, Brother Michael Yerkes, Brother Michael Migacz, and Jacky Rocci. Club President Michael Gargiulo said, “We man-aged to have a successful and educational trip with one of the biggest groups we have had in recent years. This trip served as a promising benchmark for years to come and was a great opportunity for all involved.”

By Alex GanescuManaging Editor

For the first time in its history the St. Joseph’s Theatre Company presented Howard Lindsey and Russel Crouse’s The Sound of Music. The cast for this spring’s production was one of the larg-est, bringing a diverse assortment of theatrical and technical talent together. The Theatre Company performed eight times from April 8 to April 18.

The Sound of Music is the story of Maria Rainer (played by Jessica Castro), a postulant who is sent from her convent to be the nanny of the Von Trapp family: seven moth-erless children who live with their father, Captain Von Trapp (played by senior Matthew Coyle). At first Maria’s lighthearted approach to

child raising is regarded with dis-dain by Captain Von Trapp, who runs his house as he ran his crew in the Austrian Navy.

As the story progresses, a series of complicated relationships takes root between Maria, Captain Von Trapp, and Baroness Elsa Schräder (played by Kathleen Haberle), who originally had plans to marry Cap-tain Von Trapp before coming to the conclusion it was never meant to be. The Von Trapps’ are also brought closer together through Maria’s instruction in singing. This even goes as far as rekindling the passion Captain Von Trapp had for music before his wife died.

This bond culminates in a musi-cal performance by the Von Trapp family at the Nonnberg Abbey, organized by “Uncle” Max Det-weiler (played by junior Daniel

Chedid). Shortly after, however, the Von Trapp family is forced to escape over the mountains as Nazi soldiers chase after them.

The character relationships were much more involved than in the Company’s last production. Friedrich (played by junior James San Miguel) and Kurt (sophomore Michael Thorsen) were very enthu-siastic in their roles as children of the Von Trapp family, transcending their sibling admiration for their sisters that no doubt stems from the long hours they spent with the female students in bringing this production to realization. Juniors Giovanni Ortiz and John Matera played Admiral Von Shreiber and Herr Zeller, respectively as stark contrasts to the jolly children.

Senior Ed Gorman portrayed a lively rendition of Franz, the Von

Trapp butler that kept the audi-ence laughing. Additional St. Joe’s students who made their debut in the Theatre Company included freshman Sean Puzzo as Rolf Gru-ber, the telegram boy and eventual Nazi soldier, and sophomore Ste-ven Lecessi, as Baron Elberfield, a patron of one of Von Trapp’s parties.

“In theatre, there is always a competition between the stage crew and the cast, in an attempt to ‘outdo each other during the performances,” commented junior David Mortellito. Unlike the fall production, The Sound of Music involved a dynamic set, requiring multiple scene changes and many hands to make it happen. Juniors Jack Naughton and Mortellito man-aged the whole behind-the-scenes production, with Mortellito once

again painting beautiful backdrops and adding a very meticulous level of detail that goes a long way dur-ing the performance.

Brother Ron Travers, S.C., one of the Company Moderators along with Mr. Craig Martin, was pleased with the production overall. “There were a few tough spots to work through, but ‘I always have my faith in my doubts’.”


A rts Center. Seniors were treated to a special prom location this

year, enjoying the special night at the PNC Bank Arts Center in Hol-mdel.

B eating CBA. Few nights this school year can top Friday,

March 5, when thousands of Fal-con faithful flocked to the Vincent Maglio Gymnasium to witness the basketball team defeat rival CBA in the state sectional quarterfinals.

C ancelled. Students were gener-ally lucky this year with the totals

and timing of snow storms through-out the year, leading to several snow days and early dismissals.

D ivision 1 Athletes. A list of the athletes who will be continuing

their careers at the top collegiate level: Kevin Cernuto (St. John’s), Nick Contino (Rutgers), Andrew D’Ambrosio (Rutgers), Victor Diaz (Mississippi State), Phil Gianakos (Temple), Jonathan Marques (Mon-mouth), Tim Moczula (Holy Cross), Anthony Parenti (Naval Academy), Steve Rennard (University of Penn-sylvania)

E xchange Students. St. Joe’s became a center for foreign cul-

ture at times throughout the year, with the arrival of the annual French Exchange Students, as well as Ital-ian visitors in early spring.

F acial Hair. The likes of Mr. Bryner’s beard of knowledge

and Br. Ron’s mustache were met with the newest member of the St. Joe’s facial hair club in Mr. Jenkin’s lumberjack beard.

G ames. The popular Call of Duty: Modern Warfare II came out for

Xbox 360 on November 10. Ironi-cally enough, classrooms looked unusually empty the following morn-ing. Other popular video games this year included Madden and Battle-field: Bad Company 2. For the active students, “bottle ball” was one of the most popular games on campus this year. Unfortunately, the rules are a secret.

H ealth care. The sensitive political topic reaches St. Joe’s class-

rooms this year, sparking debates among students and faculty leading up to President Obama’s monumen-tal signing of the Health Care and Education Reconciliation Act.

I naugural Football Game. This year’s Founders Day celebration

played host to the first football game in school history, as over a thousand members of the St. Joe’s family witnessed the Falcons defeat Shore Regional.

J ersey Shore. MTV’s hit show raised the eyebrows of Jersey

natives this winter with its apparent mockery of life down the shore. Oh well, here’s to summer ’10.

K yleigh’s Law. Provisional driv-ers across the state were met

with new regulations this May, including an early curfew and the “required” placement of a little red sticker on their license plate to denote that they were new driv-ers. The law was met with strong rejection on campus and minimal compliance.

L onghi on Newspaper. The newspaper witnessed a gen-

erally smooth transition of power from Dr. Gubernat to Dr. Longhi this year.

M SG Varsity. The network on Optimum established in order

to broadcast high school sports took off on campus this year, with a new club organizing the filming and editing of games and interviews.

N ew Classes. The curriculum underwent minor changes this

year, with the addition of classes in Economics and Constitutional Law. The change will continue next year, as Personal Finance and Psychol-ogy of Religion have been added to the course selection.

O ut-of-state. Some of the school’s top athletes and stu-

dents had the opportunity to show-case their talents outside of New Jersey this year. The basketball team traveled to Georgia, base-ball to Florida, Volleyball to Rhode Island, Model UN to Pennsylvania and Washington D.C., and the col-lege bowl team to nationals in both Chicago and Virginia.

P owerSchool. In its first year in the school, the online grade

book helped students and parents keep track of grades throughout the year. The system, however, expe-rienced common glitches along the way and has received mixed reviews. Another technological advance this year was the pur-chase of six smart boards.

Q uizzers. The College Bowl team brought home the State

Championship for the second con-secutive year.

R ankings. Newspaper rank-ings mean nothing if they

aren’t backed by victories, but the school’s sports teams earned some well-deserved publicity this year, with Baseball, Basketball, Bowling, Lacrosse, Swimming, and Volleyball all included in The Star-Ledger’s statewide top 10.

S asha Brown. Sorry, but this had to be included. Nothing

grabbed the attention of students more in mid-April than the mysteri-ous girl who befriended only St. Joe’s guys on Facebook, sparking the infamous “Sasha Brown Dress Down Day,” where dozens of stu-dents, suspicious that the school might have been behind the scenes, were reprimanded for shirts bearing phrases like “Sasha Brown, who are you?” Sasha’s identity has not been revealed.

T wo-Sport Athletes. A list of the seniors who earned varsity let-

ters in multiple sports: Kevin Cernuto (hockey, lacrosse), Nick Contino (basketball, lacrosse), Brandon Cotroneo (soccer, bowling), Jon Marques (soccer, track & field), Alfonse Muglia (track & field, base-ball), Bobby O’Grady (basketball, volleyball), Eric Peterson (basket-ball, baseball)

U ltimate Frisbee. The popular sport became a fixture around

campus this year as students could be found tossing the disk during lunch periods and after school, high-lighted by a fall tournament in which 80 students participated.

V aledictorian. Nitin Srinivasan brought home this year’s top

honor with his 4.789 GPA. Class-mate Martin Pico was a close sec-ond with a GPA of 4.779.

W Jay Williams. The school’s highest profile alumnus made

frequent returns to his alma mater this year, catching the basket-ball team’s victory over CBA and conducting an interview with our MSG Varsity crew. Fellow alumnus Andrew Bynum is working toward his second NBA title.

X -travagant performances. The Drama Club dazzled audiences

this year, with its performance of Cheaper by the Dozen in the fall and The Sound of Music this spring.

Y oung Rising Athletes. A list of the top eight underclassmen

athletes who made much needed contributions this year and will be called upon to fill the shoes of the graduating class: Brandon Allen (soccer), Quenton DeCosey (bas-ketball), Mike Fernandes (track & field), Matt Hratko (baseball), Ed Lubowicki (football, lacrosse), Nick Straughn (basketball, track & field), Chris Troche (track & field), Kevin Waitikowich (golf)

Z zzzzzz. A few seniors have noto-riously earned the reputation of

sleeping more often than not before school, at break, at lunch, and espe-cially during class.


The beginning of May brought not only spring flowers but also the stress of AP tests. However, the Class of 2011 was able to get away from the pressure of the season with an unforgettable night of music, food, and fun at the annual junior prom.

Held on May 7, the junior prom took place at Pierre’s Restaurant and Catering Hall in Monmouth Junction. The couples began to arrive at 7 and were treated to a hall adorned with a 1980’s theme.

After arriving, the guests partook in a buffet featuring a

wide selection of food. They then danced the night away to a col-lection of contemporary music.

Moderated by Ms. Tracy Uler and Mr. Brian Jenkins ’98 and organized by the Student Council, everyone was pleased with the outcome of the event. Reflecting on the night, junior class Vice President George Ozga exclaimed, “The prom went really well. Everyone, including myself, had a blast at it. I’m already looking forward to my senior prom!”

With dancing, friends, and plenty of memories made, the junior prom was an enormous success. To the Class of 2011, the night was truly an unforget-table one.

Photo by Mark BroganStudents experienced the unique landscapes and one of a kind architecture of Greece.

Photo by Mrs. J. McNamarathe Sound of Music received standing ovations and great reviews.

Year in Review from A to ZStudents Visit the Birthplace of Democracy

The Sound of Music Premieres

Junior proMAn Unforgettable Night


Sports Report Card — 2009-2010

By Nitin SrinivasanRetiring Sports Editor

Cross Country – After begin-ning the season with a 1-3 dual meet record, the Falcon cross-country team rallied against Pis-cataway and J.P. Stevens in its final meet to improve its record to 3-3. The team finished seventh overall at the Greater Middlesex Conference (GMC) champion-ship, led by an impressive show-ing from Junior Mike Fernandes. The squad concluded its season with 10th place finishes at both the NJ Catholic Track Champi-onship (NJCTC) and the Non-Public A State Championship. The squad has great hopes for next year, as Fernandes, fellow Junior Tom Cunningham, and Sophomores Luke Sprenger and Santino Cozza return to lead the squad. Grade: B

Soccer – The Falcons’ soccer season is best described as incon-sistent, as the team finished the year with a 10-9-0 record. After beginning the season impressively at 8-3-0, the squad went on a five-game losing streak, including its second consecutive first round exit from the GMC Tournament, this time at the hands of South Brunswick. The team defeated Paul VI handily in the first round of the state tournament, before falling at the hands of rival CBA 4-1. With a large group of tal-ented young players returning next year, highlighted by two-time First Team All-Conference member Brandon Allen, the team returns with experience, hungry for a title. Grade: C+

Basketball – After two con-secutive heartbreaking losses in the finals of the GMC Tour-nament, the Falcon basketball team brought home its first county championship in eleven years. The team was a perfect 19-0 against GMC opponents, and finished 23-5 overall, the program’s sixth consecutive 20-win campaign. The squad claimed the fourth seed in the NJSIAA Non-Public South A State Tournament and defeated CBA in front of a sellout crowd at home before losing 62-59 to top-ranked Camden Catholic, the eventual state champion. Although the team will graduate five valu-able seniors, including captains Steve Rennard and Andrew Mor-gan, a talented group of young players, led by sophomore Quen-ton DeCosey, will keep the team primed for another championship run. Grade: A+

Bowling – The 2009-10 sea-son consisted of many peaks and valleys for the Falcon bowling team, which finished with a much-improved 11-4-2 regular season record and and a win in the Joe Romer Invitational Tournament. The team performed quite well against GMC opponents during the regular season before losing to Piscataway in the first round of the GMC Tournament. The squad, once ranked seventh in the state, ended its campaign with a seventh place finish at the NJSIAA Central Jersey Group III State Champion-ship. Since three key Seniors will be graduating, Junior Joe Campos (First Team All-Conference) and company will have to work hard to improve upon this season’s results. Grade: B

Hockey – The Falcon hock-ey team successfully redeemed itself from last year’s disap-pointing 4-15-4 season. The team started the season strong, posting a 7-1 record through its first eight games, and finishing with an overall 15-7-2 record, including an impressive 11-2-1 against conference opponents. The squad earned a first-place seed in the New Jersey Interscho-lastic Hockey League’s (NJIHL) Southern Conference before los-ing a close game to Paul VI in the conference championship. The Falcons’ season ended with a 6-1 loss to Gloucestor Catholic in the NJSIAA Private Tournament Bracket. With a strong group of underclassmen, the team should improve even more next year. Grade: B+

Swimming – The Falcon swimming team yet again proved its supremacy in the conference with its state record 32nd con-secutive GMC title. Competing against a rigorous schedule, the Falcons posted an 8-6 dual meet record before recording a domi-nating 596-332.5 win over second place East Brunswick at the GMC Championship. After a solid win over St. Peter’s Prep, the Falcons suffered a heartbreaking loss to the eventual state champion, CBA. However, with seven underclass-men, led by junior Shane Tonery, named to the All-Conference team the team seeks to return to its previous glory in the 2010-11 season. Grade: A

Winter Track – In compari-son to last year’s stellar season, the 2009-10 winter track season seemed a bit disappointing. The Falcons finished fourth in the GMC Relays and sixth in the NJSIAA Non-Public A Relays this year, before concluding its season with a seventh place show-ing at the GMC championship. The season included a few suc-cesses for the Falcons: Senior Jon Marques defended his GMC title in the 400 and the Shuttle Hurdle Team, consisting of Seniors Tim Moczula and Zachary Sikanowicz and Juniors Chris Troche and John Matera, won the Non-Public A State Championship and posted the nation’s ninth best time at the Nike Indoor Championships. The experience gained through the winter will greatly help the team in its quest for county and state titles next year. Grade: B

Baseball – The Falcon base-ball team opened its season with a 4-3 start and a third-place fin-ish at the Hofball High School Spring Tournament in Florida. After a tough loss to Immaculata, the team bounced back with an 11-game winning streak before suffering a loss to local rival, and current* Star Ledger No.1 South Plainfield. The Falcons began the season ranked No.1 in the state and reclaimed the title on May 4. However, the squad has since lost three of their last four games, including a stunning first round exit from the GMC Tournament at the hands of North Brunswick, en route to a 18-6* record. The squad will look to redeem itself at the state tournament, which begins on May 25. Grade: B+

Golf – Coming off an excellent 20-1 season, a second-place fin-ish at GMCs, and a fourth-place finish at the NJSIAA Sectional Tournament, the Falcon golf team is determined to improve their

results this year. With a 18-1* record, the Falcons only blemish on their stellar record was a one stroke defeat versus rival East Brunswick. After finishing second at the Viking Invitational Tourna-ment on May 5, the squad looks to extend its solid performance into the upcoming GMC and state tournaments. Grade: A

Lacrosse – Currently* ranked No. 2 in the state by the Star Led-ger, the Falcon lacrosse remains undefeated against in-state oppo-nents. With a 19-1* record thus far, the Falcons have defeated tough opponents such as Seton Hall Prep, Bergen Catholic, and Immaculata, while completely dominating GMC opponents. Look for the squad to make strong showings at the GMC and state tournaments. Grade: A+

Spring Track – This spring track and field season has been filled with peaks and valleys for the Falcon team. Although the injury-riddled squad has only posted a 4-5* dual meet record, the team pulled together to finish fifth at the GMC Relays. With the season ending soon, the Falcons look for sprinter Jon Marques and 800-runner Vincent Buccigrossi to return in hopes of capturing a state title. Grade: B

Tennis – The Falcon tennis team has found more success in its second year after moving down to the GMC White Division. The team boasts a 9-8* record and finished 12th out of the 26 teams that participated at the GMC tour-nament. For the first time in four years, the Falcons qualified for the state tournament, where they fell at the hands of Paul VI. This experience should prove valuable to the team, as it makes its move back to the Red Division next year. Grade: B-

Volleyball – This year’s Falcon volleyball team has consistently been ranked in the top five in the state, and was ranked as high as No. 9 in the nation, according to ESPN.com RISE Top 50. With a pair of tournament victories, this team has more than enough experience to avenge last season’s sectional final defeat. As they enter the postseason, the 32-4* Falcons are favorites in both the county and state tournaments, and are in prime condition to capture one, if not a pair, of champion-ships. Grade: A+

Football – The inaugural game on Founder’s Day was a great success, as the Falcons delivered an impressive victory before an enormous, enthusiastic crowd. However, the team never received the same type of enthusiastic fan support throughout the rest of the season. Although the Falcons went on to finish its first season with a 3-3-1 record, the three losses only came by a combined 19 points. With the first-year jitters in the past, the program should take another giant step forward next season. Grade: B+

* As of May 17, 2010

Congratulations C L A S S

O F 2 0 1 0


SpRing TRaCk & Field UpdaTe

baSeball UpdaTe

golF UpdaTe

TenniS UpdaTe

volleyball UpdaTe

By Christian GoldyStaff Writer

Injuries have plagued the Fal-cons in the early stages of Spring Track and Field season. With key sprinters Nick Straughn, and Jon Marques, in addition to discus thrower Leonel Delgadillo on the sidelines nurturing injuries, the Falcons have finished the spring season with a 4-5 record in dual meets. The record does not give a clear indication of the team’s hard work, as two of the losses came by less than 5 points. The team, according to Coach Gary Trojanowski, ’72, “can do better.” “If everyone comes together, they can do well,” commented Coach Trojanowski.

Junior sprinter Chris Troche has stepped up in the absence of Marques, leading the team in points through the first six races.

Senior Tim Moczula has also add-ed significant points in both the hurdles and high jump. Seniors Mark Bauer and Ryan Maccie lead the team in the field events, while sophomore Matt Wyman

continues to impress in his first Varsity spring season.

Coach Trojanowski expects the team to achieve full potential as integral members return from the disabled list. The team finished with a 5th place finish at the Greater Middle-sex Conference (GMC) coaches relays, before a placing a disappoint-ing 12th at the GMC Championships. The team looks to capital-ize off the momentum of 2nd place finishes by the freshman and

sophomore teams at the New Jer-sey Catholic Track Conference meet as the Falcons look towards the state championship.


After a premature exit from the Greater Middlesex Conference Tournament (GMCT), the Falcon baseball team has set its attention on a run at the Non-Public A State Championship, hoping to capture the first title in school history.

The Falcons’ rollercoaster season began with a trip to Fort Lauderdale in early April to com-pete in the Hofball High School Spring Tournament. The team went 2-2 against some of Florida’s top teams, bringing home a 3rd place finish. Senior pitcher Anthony Parenti was selected as team MVP, earning a spot on the All-Tourna-ment Team.

Upon returning to New Jersey,

the Falcons went on a tear, reeling off an 11 game winning streak en route to a 12-0 record against GMC Red Division opponents, earning the squad the top seed in the GMCT.

Senior pitcher Victor Diaz (5-2, 0.76 ERA) has paced the team on the mound, while first baseman Phil Gianakos (.390, 30 hits) and centerfielder Shane Alvarez (.412, 13 stolen bases) anchor the potent offense.

Despite being considered the overwhelming favorite, a county title was not meant to be for the Falcons. The team dropped an opening round matchup to 2009 runner-up North Brunswick, fall-ing short in their quest to capture a third consecutive GMCT cham-pionship.

With the loss behind them, focus has shifted to the state tournament, where the Falcons were granted the top seed in the NJSIAA Non-Public South A Bracket and pitted with an open-ing round matchup against either Christian Brothers Academy or St. Augustine’s Prep on Tuesday, May 25.

“We have to go into states with a loose and relaxed mentality,” commented Alvarez. “We are a good team, and we need to play like we know we are good.”

The last year the Falcons failed to win the county tournament was in 2007, when the team went on a surprising run in the state tourna-ment to capture the sectional title in dramatic fashion. This year’s team is hoping for the same glory.

By Sean Finan Staff Writer

The Greater Middlesex Con-ference Red Division is composed of the best teams in the county. After dominating the White Divi-sion in the 2009 season, the time had arrived for the golf team to join the ranks of the other Falcon sports in the premier GMC divi-sion. Most teams would be pre-pared to struggle in their incipient season in a tougher division. This Falcon squad, however, continues to perform against par regardless of division.

Under the leadership of senior captain, Ryan Downey, and senior, Tom Herring, the Falcons have finished the regular season with an impressive 18-1 record. “From the people I met, the courses I played, and lessons I learned, I feel that playing St. Joe’s golf taught me important things I will take with me. Hopefully everyone’s hard work will pay off this year,” com-mented Downey.

In addition, the underclassmen have been integral to the success of this year’s squad. Juniors Joe Malinske, James Finan, and Chris Kuleza have rose to the occasion to fill the void left by six graduat-ing seniors. Kevin Waitikowich, a three-time returning letterman, has helped lead his fellow team-mates to a first place lead in the White Division.

The hard work and dedication of these players finally paid off when they won the GMC Red Division Championship. The squad looks to continue their win-ning streak with a strong showing at sectionals.

Coach Ryan Lechner firmly believes this year’s team can achieve greatness. “Entering the season, we maintained the same expectations we always set,” com-mented the seven-year coach. “A county championship and a solid performance at sectionals that would earn us a Tournament of Champions birth are certainly within reach.”

By Nitin SrinivasanRetiring Sports Editor

Experience, chemistry, and senior leadership have been the keys to the newfound success of the Falcon tennis team this year. With five returning varsity play-ers, including senior co-captains Frank Osolnick and Martin Pico, and five seniors on the squad, the Falcons started the season with an impressive 4-0 record.

“Not only has our record improved from last year, but we’ve learned to play each point individually and come together as a team, pushing each other physically during practice and supporting each other mentally during tough matches,” com-mented Pico.

This improvement became evident at the Greater Middle-

sex County (GMC) Tournament, where the team finished 12th out of the 26 teams that participated. The three singles players and the first doubles pair all lost tough matches to either Old Bridge or Sayreville, both top teams in the county. The second doubles pair of seniors Nitin Srinivasan and Shahil Patel scored points for the team by advancing to the quarter-finals before losing a nail-biting three-set match to South River.

Currently boasting an 9-8 record (as of May 17) in its sec-ond year in the GMC White Divi-sion, the Falcons have already defeated some tough opponents, including Colonia and Monroe. At this pace, the Falcons have a good chance of qualifying for the state tournament and finishing with a winning record for the first time in four years.

By Mike D’Ambrosio Associate Editor

With a tough schedule with over 50 matches, this year’s Falcon team looks to join in the greatness of previous state title winners, while possibly setting some records along the way. The squad has shown that they are ready to live up to the challenge after falling to Southern Regional in the NJSIAA Nonpublic South Final last season

Co-captains Bobby O’Grady and Nick Yipp have both expe-rienced the joy of winning (in 2008) and the bitterness of defeat last season. These returning First Team All-State members high-light a senior class that has lead the team to a 32-4 record, solidi-fying their role as a top five team in the state.

The Falcons put their skills to the test against some of the Northeast’s best teams in the Rhody Invitational. The squad showed their strength, breezing through pool play and capturing the title against Newton South High School of Massachusetts in three sets. The team defended

their title from the inaugural 2006 tournament with an undefeated record.

St. Joe’s hosted the annual Super Six on May 8th. The com-petition, consisting of the best two teams from each of New Jersey’s three regions, can be considered a mid-season Tour-nament of Champions. At the end of the day, the team finished with a record of 2-2, including a victory over state powerhouse Fair Lawn.

Although the team is predomi-nately senior based, there are also four juniors as well as four sophomores. These underclass-men have worked hard to add some unexpected contributions to the team.

Even though the team has had an extraordinary season so far, Head Coach Miguel Cabrita ’91 recognizes the difficulty in reaching the top. “The experi-ence and skill level are there,” commented Coach Cabrita. “Now we’re just looking to solidify the team chemistry.” The competition throughout the state is intense, and the Falcons looks to get on a roll they into the playoffs.

Photo by staffthe track team hopes to succeed in the non-public a State relays with key athletes such as junior nicholas Strong (above) returning from the disabled list

By Charlie BrunoSports Editor

Few teams at St. Joe’s can recall such a bitter defeat as that suffered in the final seconds by the lacrosse team in last year’s NJSIAA Non-Public A final at the hands of top-ranked Delbar-ton. This year’s squad has proven that they want nothing less than another chance at the title.

Breezing through an admit-tedly weak Greater Middlesex Conference schedule was some-thing that was certainly expected of the Falcons squad. However, the magnitude of their domination has been astounding. They went undefeated, capturing every game, including the GMC title game against rival East Brunswick, by at least 11 goals.

The Falcons have shown that they are certainly a force to be reckoned with at the statewide level. Traveling out of conference to defeat traditional powerhouses such as Bergen Catholic and Seton Hall Prep, the Falcons are cer-tainly no fluke.

What makes the squad so dom-inant is their ability to control both sides of the ball. On offense, sophomore state scoring leader Eddy Lubowicki helps orchestrate the potent offense headlined by

senior Kevin Cernuto and junior standout Ryan Loughlin. Sopho-more Harry Burke has done well in his first season assuming the starting goalie role, thanks in large part to the protection from co-captain Nick Contino and juniors Slay Sudah and A.J Proulx. Senior Andrew D’Ambrosio has helped lead the team to a 19-1 record, elevating the team to No. 2 in the Star Ledger Top 20.

Early season success indicates this team’s potential, and there is certainly no lack of talent. Lubowicki believes the key to success lies in team unity. “We

work harder than any other team in the state. When you see your teammates pushing each other day after day, you know that everyone is in it for one common goal- to win a championship,” commented the sophomore phenom. “When we come together, we’re unstop-pable.”

For senior Kevin Cernuto, a GMC championship is merely a formality. He knows this Fal-cons squad wants to be lifting the heavy hardware at the end of the day. His mind is set on avenging last year’s heartbreaking loss. “State championship, here we

Golf Team Unphased by Red Division

Lacrosse Teams Sets its Goals on Biggest Stage

Photo by Mr. Brandes the falcons hope to outdo last year’s performance and win a state championship.

FalCon SpoRTS

Out to Save the Season, Falcons Eye State Title


MatH leaGue

coMputer leaGue

cHeSS teaM

colleGe Bowl

Middle ScHool cHeSS tournaMentBy Michael Henton

Associate Editor

This year was one of many remarkable individual and team successes. Participants compet-ed in various contests on subject matters ranging from Algebra I to advanced math and Calculus to see who would accumulate the highest total score, both nationally and within our school community.

The top scorer in the Algebra I contest, a contest administered to accelerated freshmen Alge-bra students, was Zachary Hill. Zachary also took first place in the Continental Math League, a series of 5 algebra contests. In Algebra II, sophomore Karim Elmorshedy finished as the

highest scorer.The Math League also man-

aged to win first place in the division for the geometry con-test, with Michael Ploch as the highest cumulative scorer. The top three scorers in the New Jersey Math League compe-titions, a series of math tests taken by upperclassmen, were seniors Martin Pico and Vincent San Miguel and junior Craig Barretto.

Senior Nitin Srinivasan man-aged to have the highest score in both the advanced math and calculus tests with an impres-sive 98 out of a possible 100 points in advanced math. The Math League looks to continue their excellent performances into next year.

By Daniel KozubStaff Writer

The Computer League team had an overall successful year. Although the programs and computer science topics posed a significant challenge for the team, the foundations for a strong 2010 and 2011 year have been firmly planted in all of the younger members.

The team participated in their fourth and final contest on March 29 with praise-worthy results across the board. On average, the team scored 36

out of 50 points in each con-test, which consists of a written computer science exam and a problem that students try to solve through a computer pro-gram.

The squad will be losing senior member Nitin Srinivasan to graduation, but junior mem-bers Anthony Zsamba, George Ozga, Alex Ganescu, Dennis Connors, Jack Naughton, and sophomore member Vincent Saulys hope to continue on to new heights. Next season, the squad looks to have an even bet-ter performance than this year.


The St. Joe’s chess team was deep in thought as they attempted to out-think and out maneuver their opponents at the NJ States chess tournament on March 5 and 6. This five round, two day event marked the end of the 2009-2010 chess season.

The team has had a success-ful regular season this year, winning seven of its ten match-es and defeating classic rivals such as North Brunswick. This performance qualified them for the Shore League Playoffs. Unfortunately, they were paired against highly ranked High Tech, which eliminated them before they could qualify for the second round.

The team, comprised of senior Anthony Fontanet-

ta, juniors Michael Bender, Evan Tardosky, and Patrick O’Connor and sophomore Jason Hill, then set their sight on States.

The team began a little shakily, losing their first two matches, but they recovered, getting a win in the next two matches and losing the third by only one game. This gave the team two points out of a possible five, an improvement over last year.

Now, with the season over, the team will begin to prepare for next year. They hope to use the remainder of this school year, as well as the summer, to hone their skills and learn new tactics so they can outplay their opponents next year. With four of the five members of the var-sity team returning next year, the team will be well prepared to put these skills into use.

By Mike D’AmbrosioAssociate Editor

The St. Joe’s college bowl team, coached by Mr. Edward Powers, has proven to be top in the state this year by not only bringing the state title back to the school, but also going undefeated during the state tournament. After being down by a huge deficit in the state finals, the team came back to defeat their worthy opponent, Bergen Academy.

Although the team won the state title, their season is not yet over. During Memorial Day weekend they will travel to Chicago, where they look to become national champions. Teams from all over the

country will be coming with the same goal of national acknowledgment.

The team, led by senior captain Nitin Srinivasan, practices routinely in school and also studies at home. The hard work and dedication put in by each individual proved to be important assets to the team, earning these scholars a new school record of over one hundred wins in a season.

Even though most of the team will be graduating this May, next year’s team looks to be just as committed and motivated. Sophomore Alex Frey will be leading the team, and hopes to continue the tradition of excellence.

Model un

career daY

Science leaGue

roBoticS teaM


The Model UN program, mod-erated by Ms. Jeannemarie McNa-mara and Dr. Robert Longhi ’81, experienced a very successful year as it continued to excel in conferences and debate.

At their conference held in Hershey, Pennsylvania, mem-

bers performed well in their com-mittees and earned numerous honors and distinctions. Senior David Stess and sophomore Joseph Graham received the award for Best Position Paper in their committees and the delegation as a whole was rec-ognized as an “Outstanding Del-egation.”

The delegation hopes to con-

tinue their record of excellence with Youth Secretariats Michael Huber, Ryan Langton, Michael Brandes, and Michael Bender leading the way. The group will attend the conference in Hershey as well as participate in new pro-grams and conferences next year, including a possible visit to the United Nations Headquarters in New York.

By Jonathan TetersStaff Writer

For some, the idea of graduat-ing from our school may seem distant, but every student at one point or another has to think about what career they will pur-sue when they leave. On May 19, sophomores and juniors had the opportunity to see some of the careers that multiple alumni and parents of students have chosen. They discussed many different careers, including busi-

ness, finance, medical careers, engineering, firefighting, and even sports management.

“We even have an environ-mentalist/global explorer who is speaking,” commented Ms. Nicolau.

In order for everyone to be able to learn more about the career that interests them, all students filled out applications and checked off careers about which they wanted to hear. The first three periods of the day were spent learning about these different jobs. With 25 dif-

ferent speakers and alumni who attended St. Joe’s as far back as the 60’s, sophomores and juniors were able to get an idea of the many different careers that are available to St. Joe’s graduates.

Only time will tell what other interesting careers graduates will contribute to over the next few years. Seeing graduates who have made it to management in the NBA and explored the world will no doubt be an inspiration to all students, no matter what they will eventually pursue.

By James BogdanowiczStaff Writer

The school year is winding down, and so is Science League. Science League members take part in a series of contests and quizzes that require a broad knowledge of science, along with problem solving skills and critical thinking to defeat other schools.

The Science League is another

one of St. Joseph’s great academic teams, and they have had varying successes. This year, however, considering the accomplishments of the team, they did not do as well as they have in the past. Last year, they were ranked first in four of six categories. This year they were ranked in second place. The team did show improvement, including making it to the 6th round in the National Science

Bowl. Despite their shortcomings,

the squad grew dramatically in participation, which shows for a greater future and a more impressive season next year. The Science League team, along with Moderator Ms. JeanneMarie McNamara, believes the future holds great promise and hope to build on this year and get back on top.

By Alex SchifferStaff Writer

The robotics team once again had a successful season keeping the winning tradition at St Joe’s alive.

Entering the season, the team, led by Peter Caravano, Mat-thew Szatkowski, and David Murawski, looked forward to a competitive and eventful year. The squad started the year by

holding the First Lego League (FLL) event on November 14. After spending countless hours building their robot, the team was ready for competition. The first regional competition was held on the weekend of March 11 in Chesapeake, New York. The team showed a strong display of their hard work as they competed against 50 other teams. The team then attended their second regional competi-

tion, held on March 25 in Long Island. The team placed 3rd out of a field of 48 teams and earned the Imagery Award, thus adding to their list of achieve-ments.

Next year the team will look to continue its success. With the departure of some seniors the team will rely on the underclass-men to fill the empty spots as they strive to continue their spectacular performance.


The Cor Jesu Conference Cen-ter was filled with excited young faces as over sixty young chess players from 5th through 8th grade prepared to take part in St. Joe’s 3rd annual Middle School Chess Tournament. This tourna-ment took place on April 17 and was run by the chess club.

Tournament play consisted of five rounds in which players were paired against others with the same score. The tournament then culminated in three thrilling blitz matches played by the top six players in order to determine the final placing. Daniel Zhu of High-land Park Middle School emerged victorious, taking first place. Just behind him was Alex Itnytska, also from Highland Park Middle School in second and Thomas Bender, last year’s champion from Holy Family Academy, who came in third.

Plaques went to the top two

schools overall. In first was High-land Park Middle School and Edgar Middle School finished in second.

Eighth grader Kavinayan Siva-kumar, who is rated over 2100, also agreed to play eight simulta-neous matches against volunteers from the audience. He moved from board to board, spending a

few seconds at each to make his move. He won seven of the games and drew the last.

When asked how he thought the tournament went, Mr. Fis-cher responded, “It was a very successful tournament that the kids enjoyed. Everyone had fun and there were a lot of promising chess players.”

AcAdemic teAmS: yeAr in review

Photo by Mr. FischerStudents from 5th through 8th grade competed in the 3rd annual Middle School chess tournament.

Skilled Students Compete in Annual Tournament


Class of 2010

Michael Alvarez .............................. U. MassachusettsShane Alvarez ....................................Kean UniversityFrancis Ambrico ........................University of ScrantonVasanth Kumar Balaji ................... U. of Madras, IndiaDominic Barszcz ......... U. of No. Carolina, WilmingtonMark Bauer ..................................................... RutgersKevin Berry .............................Champlain College, VTLeonardo Betancourt .......................... Boston CollegeNicholas Bevilacqua ................ U. of the Sciences, PAGabriel Blanco ................................................ RutgersDylan Boegel ......................... St. Bonaventure U., NYJayson Bolton ....................................Kutztown U., PAVictor Breton Jr .................New Jersey City UniversityRyan Bushman .....................................Arcadia U., PAMatthew Bustamante ............................ Penn State U.Christopher Buszka ............................. U. of MarylandGregg Cambareri ................................... Monmouth U.Cristian Caraballo ...................................DeVry U., NJJaime Carpena ........................Middlesex Co. CollegeMichael Cash ...............U. of No. Carolina, Chapel HillSean Cauley ......................................... Penn State U.Kevin Cernuto ...................................St. John’s U., NYAmery Chang...............................New York UniversitySamuel Chau ....................................St. John’s U., NYJustin Chung................................New York UniversityNicholas Comiskey .........U. of No. Carolina, CharlotteNicholas Contino ............................................ RutgersBrandon Cotroneo ...................... SUNY - BinghamtonMatthew Coyle ................................King’s College, PAAdam Cristofich ................The College of New JerseyAndrew D’Ambrosio ........................................ RutgersChristopher DaSilva............................Kean UniversityMichael Dauigoy .............. George Washington U., DCEurico David II ........................................ Rider U., NJJared DeBrizzi ....................................Kean UniversityDaniel delAlcazar..................... Haverford College, PAEric Delaney ....................................... Boston CollegeMatthew Delaney ................................ DeSales U., PALeonel Delgadillo .......................... St. Joseph’s U., PAMichael Derechailo ......................................... RutgersVictor Diaz Jr. .............................. Mississippi State U.Tomas Diaz ....................................U. of Rhode IslandTimothy Dillon .......................................U. of ScrantonRyan Downey ................................................. RutgersJaime Echeverria ................................Kean UniversityWilliam Ellis .................................................... RutgersStephen Evans ............................................... RutgersAnthony Fontanetta ..........The College of New JerseyErnest Forcella II ................................ DeSales U., PATimothy Fulton ................................King’s College, PAMatthew Galinsky .............The College of New JerseyJason Garay ................................Felician College, NJRonald Gardner ....................................... Rider U., NJPhillip Gianakos .................................... Temple U., PAAlec Gonzalez ...................................Fordham U., NYEdward Gorman ..........................Felician College, NJMatthew Granas ......................Middlesex Co. CollegeCollin Harrity .......................................Kean UniversityOwen Hayes ..............Stevens Institute of TechnologyThomas Herring ..............................King’s College, PAJoseph Hilyard ................................... Villanova U., PAPatrick Hogan ....................................... Temple U., PADaniel Hoover ......................................Norwich U., VTJacob Hunt ..................................................... RutgersWarren Jagger ..................The College of New Jersey

Peter Janssen.................................King’s College, PABryant Javier................................................... RutgersRavi Jogee...................................................... RutgersBrandon Johnson .................................. Drexel U., PAPatrick Jones ................................... Seton Hall U., NJMatthew Juba ................................ Immaculata U., PAKyle Kaczka .................................................... RutgersPatrick Keenan ............................... Montclair State U.Thomas Kennedy ........................U. of Central FloridaPaul Kibala .......................The College of New JerseyMatthew Knepper ........................................... RutgersAaron Knowlson ............................U. of PennsylvaniaStefan Kolodij .......................... U. of the Sciences, PAAlexander Kruper..................................U. of ScrantonKarl Laano ..........................................Kean UniversityMatthew Lajiness .....................Ramapo College of NJJoseph Lapczynski ........................... Syracuse U., NYJonathan Lee .......................................SUNY - AlbanyRichard Lee ........................................Kean UniversityMatthew Lester ...........Massachusetts Maritime Acad.Christian Lewis ........................... Loyola College., MDDaniel Lewis .....................................American U., DCJames Lindsay....................................... Monmouth U.Kevin Linn ........................................... DeSales U., PASteven Lins .......................................U. of New HavenFausto Lliguicota ...........New Jersey Institute of Tech.Matthew Lucciola ............................................ RutgersRobert Luceri ...................................U. of Notre DameMichael Lund ........................................U. of ScrantonRobert Macchia ..................................Kean UniversityRyan Maccie ......................................... Temple U., PAGregory MacDonald .........................SUNY - CortlandJonathan Marques ................................. Monmouth U.Joseph Martucci Jr..............................Kean UniversityQuinn McCarthy.........................................Bucknell U.Michael McNamara......................................... RutgersTyler McNee .................................Cabrini College, PAPatrick McSherry .................................. Penn State U.John Meagher IV .......Stevens Institute of TechnologyFabio Messina .........................Middlesex Co. CollegeJohn Meyers ................................................... RutgersMichael Micali ....................................Fordham U., NYMario Miceli ............................................. Rider U., NJMatthew Mikula..................... Muhlenberg College, PAChristopher Mills-Lutterodt ............................. RutgersTimothy Moczula .........College of the Holy Cross, MAMatthew Modica ........................... St. Joseph’s U., PAAndrew Morgan ...................... Bloomfield College, NJHarry Mueller III .................................... Penn State U.Alfonse Muglia .................................Cornell UniversityMichael Murray ........................ Union Co. College, NJChristopher Musante ....................Cabrini College, PAAnthony Muscio ...............Lebanon Valley College, PAChristopher Natale..............................Kean UniversityAdam Nawrot .................................................. RutgersMinh Nguyen ................................... Seton Hall U., NJPaul Nyitray ................................Caldwell College, NJShawn O’Connor ............... Fairleigh Dickinson U., NJRobert O’Grady ...................................U. of DelawareRichard Ortegon ............................................. Rutgers David Ortiz ................................... Tufts University, MAFrancis Osolnick IV..................Ramapo College of NJMatthew Pagano Jr........................... Syracuse U., NYSean Pajak .....................................Unity College, MERalph Paone .................Richard Stockton Coll. of N.J.

Anthony Parenti ..........................U.S. Naval AcademyBrian Pashkevich .......................Rowan University, NJErik Pasierski ...........................Middlesex Co. CollegeShahil Patel .....................................Boston UniversityAlexander Paz .........................Ramapo College of NJAngelo Pengue ........................Middlesex Co. CollegeTimothy Perez ...................................Kutztown U., PAJon Peters ...........................................U. of DelawareEric Peterson .................................... Syracuse U., NYAnthony (AJ) Petrocci III ...........George Mason U., VAMartin Pico.....................................U. of PennsylvaniaChristopher Pientak ...................... St. Joseph’s U., PAVincent Pizzi .......................... St. Anselm College, NHAndrew Presnal ................................American U., DCMark Radil ...............................Ramapo College of NJKeith Ramos .....................The College of New JerseyNavrit Randhawa .....New York Institute of TechnologySteven Rennard.............................U. of PennsylvaniaAntonio Ribeira ........................................ Rider U., NJZachary Riti ...........................................Purdue U., INJarrell Roberts .....................................SUNY - AlbanyDerrick Rosario ............................................... RutgersMichael Saggese ........................Rowan University,NJRobert Sammarco ................................ Temple U., PAVincent SanMiguel ................................ Penn State U.Mark Santapaga ......................Ramapo College of NJAmir Sarrafian.......................................... Drew U., NJEric Scala ....................................... Montclair State U.William Scarano..................................... Monmouth U.Jude Schell-Sheehan .............. Union Co. College, NJKyle Schofield ........................Coastal Carolina U., SCMatthew Scimeca ............................... DeSales U., PAZachary Sikanowicz............................ DeSales U., PAMichael Simpson .....................................Pace U., NYWilliam Smith II ........................Middlesex Co. CollegeMatthew Snyder............................. U.S. Marine CorpsCollin Spezio.............................Neumann College, PANitin Srinivasan............................New York UniversityPaul St. Marie ..................................... Widener U., PADavid Stess ...........................................Emory U., GATimothy Stoldt ..........................St. Peter’s College, NJDaniel Sullivan .........................Ramapo College of NJSamuel Syjongtian................................. Drexel U., PAMatthew Szatkowski ....................................... RutgersNahji Talley ............................................ Miami U., OHJonathan Tam ....................................... Penn State U.John Tampellini ..................................Fordham U., NYPeter Telidecki .......................... Moravian College, PAJesse Tenpenny ..................................Kean UniversitySpencer Thielmann .....................New York UniversityAustin Tomaszewicz .......... Fairleigh Dickinson U., NJWilliam Toole ........................................LaSalle U., PADavid Ungco ................................................... RutgersAndrew Vajtay ...........................University of ScrantonBenjamin-Paul Velarde .............University of ScrantonAnthony Walenty .....................Ramapo College of NJThomas Weindl ........................................ Rider U., NJEdward Wells .................................Marist College, NYBrian Whiteside .............................................. RutgersJohn Wieczorek ...........................Ursinus College, PAStephen Woody ................. Fairleigh Dickinson U., NJNicholas Yip ......................................St. John’s U., NYKenneth Zampino ............................ Seton Hall U., NJChutian Zhong ..................Art Institute of PhiladelphiaEdward Zukowski ..............................Fordham U., NY

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Documents

The Falcon Spring Musical - stjoes.org