Mar 24, 2019 | Athletics
By Walker Johnson ’21
The varsity ski team, led by captains Annie Leithead (VI), Brian Kaplan (VI), Matt Dispenza (V), and Rosemary Collins (IV), is off to an impressive start. Overall, the team is looking great on the slopes and has continued to improve throughout the season. Leithead has noticed “a lot more aggressive skiing out of many individuals on the team. They showed up this season with more confidence and poise, and you can see it in the execution of the runs very clearly.”
Assistant Coach Susan Kinney commends the high level of commitment shown by the team members, who travel over an hour each way to the mountain for practice and races and often do not return until after 8:30 PM. She is deeply impressed by their enthusiasm for skiing as well as their support for one other.The girls’ team is looking to repeat last year’s Non-Public State Championship title, while the boys’ team aims to qualify for states. The captains also hope to compete in the Race of Champions in March.
Mar 24, 2019 | Athletics
By Josie Jahng ’19
The girls’ winter track team is off to a fantastic start to their season. Led by captains Cathleen Parker (VI) and Ally Lima (VI), the team has been working hard both in the weight room and on the track to prepare for their meets. Despite losing some seniors to graduation, the addition of newcomers has created great depth to a strong veteran squad. Parker notes that “we have a much more diverse team this year, including a number of pole vaulters and throwers which is something we’ve never had in the past.” Key contributors include: Nikki Vanasse (V), who has set and broke her own records in the 1600m and won the 3200m at Groups; Ryan Davi (IV), who has come back from injury to lead the team in the 400m; Caroline Dannenbaum (V), who is the second-best in the pole vault in New Jersey and a consistent scorer; and Lauren Taylor (V), who has placed at multiple championship meets and set new school records in the 200m. Going forward, Vanasse, Dannenbaum, and the 4×4 team of Davi, Kierstyn Brown (V), Parker, and Dylan Anidjar (V) will be competing at the Meet of Champions. In addition, the 4×8 team and the pole vaulters will be competing at Easterns. Their goal is to continue their success on the track and qualify for the New Balance Nationals in March.
Mar 24, 2019 | Athletics
By Josie Jahng ’19
The boys’ winter track team has had a great season so far. This year, the team is led by Captains Nick Robinson (VI) and Joe Shilts (VI). Though the team lost several key players to graduation last year, that did not stop the team’s success on the track. When asked about the season so far, Robinson said that, “Considering how few members we had this year, I’m really proud of what we were able to accomplish.” During practice, the team pushed through some hard running workouts, and they lifted in the BAC to build up their strength. Over the course of the season, “everyone managed to improve and ran some great times,” Robinson noted. The biggest contributors and scorers this year included Henry Wood (IV), who runs the 4x400m, 800m, and 1600m; and Joe Shilts, who does the 55m hurdles, 55m, and 200m. For next year, the team hopes to have more new members to increase their depth and continue their success.
Mar 24, 2019 | Columns, Food
By Felicia Ho ’19
Craving a slice of pie in the cold days of winter? Dreaming of that crispy brown crust crumbling with a satisfying crunch and that smooth tomato sauce melting with a fresh layer of mozzarella cheese? Put down the phone for Pizza Brothers, Dominos, Pizza Hut, or wherever your pizza pangs typically lead you. Instead, stop by the nearest Anthony’s Coal Fired Pizza to dig into some hearty Italian fare.
With six locations in New Jersey alone, Anthony’s Coal Fired Pizza has exploded in popularity since its first doors opened in 2002. Anthony Bruno, the founder, takes pride in every step of the process – picking the freshest ingredients, making and stretching the dough daily, handling orders, sliding the pizza into an 800-degree coal fired oven, and presenting the pie to customers. In fact, every single item on the menu (excluding the cheesecake and the salads, of course!) is baked in the 800-degree coal fired oven and delivers a smoky and crunchy first bite.
While you are anxiously waiting for that first bite, take a look around the restaurant. Hanging on the walls are a few signs left behind from those who came before you. There’s a framed, signed jersey, probably from legendary quarterback Dan Marino, who frequents Anthony’s Pizza in Florida and is the inspiration behind the Eggplant Marino pizza; some magazine and newspaper clippings; and a series of black-and-white photos with celebrities. In a few moments, you too will join their ranks.
When ordering, keep in mind that portion sizes are large, as the dishes are meant to be shared with family and friends. As for appetizers, try the Coal Oven Roasted Chicken Wings with caramelized onions and focaccia, a flat oven-baked Italian bread that is nicely seasoned with a mix of spices that accents the flavor of the onions. The drumsticks are incredibly juicy, and the blackened char adds an edge to the tender, white chicken.
If you’re feeling adventurous, go for the speciality pies; personal favorites of mine include the Philly Cheesesteak and the Eggplant Marino. Topped with caramelized onions and marinated steak, a slice of the philly cheesesteak does a great job of rekindling memories of Philadelphia’s best. The Eggplant Marino is a must-get – especially for any vegetarians in the family. Even though the eggplant is sliced into paper-thin pieces, each bite is juicy and tangy, complimenting the thickness of the cheese. Of course, there is always the trustworthy build-your-own-pizza option to solve any arguments at the table.
A few thoughts to consider before you wrap up your order: if you are ordering the calzone, be prepared for a small pool of oil oozing out of the ricotta and cheese stuffed into the shell. It is definitely not a finger food, and even the length of a small calzone is about the diameter of small pie. Experiment by adding a little color to your plate – try the Arugula Pizza or the classic Arugula Salad with Burrata.
One of the downsides to Anthony’s Coal Fired Pizza might be just how filling it is: by the end of every lunch at Anthony’s, I am ready to fall into a food coma. Of course, that blissful happiness of finishing a meal well done attests to the rich flavor even in the crispy, thin pizzas. Where else can you grab a slice right out of a 800-degree coal fired oven?
Mar 24, 2019 | Athletics
By Vicky Gu ’20
The girls’ swim team is finishing up the season with a strong winning record. The team came in first place at the Prep A Championships and second in the combined Somerset County/Skyland Conference meet.
Captain Grace O’Mara (VI) explains that the season began with a rough start, as “most of our athletes were swimming in club meets and couldn’t be at our dual meets,” but everyone’s hard work allowed them to recover and win the semi-finals of the state tournament against Mount Saint Mary. The troubles from the beginning of the season inspired everyone to “push ourselves and go outside our comfort zone,” in the words of team member Lily Arrom (IV). For that, O’Mara states, “I am immensely proud of the team, and hopefully they will continue the momentum we gained this season!”
Though four swimmers and one team manager are graduating this year, Captain Darlene Fung (VI) says that she is “so excited to see what the team does in the future, because not only are they a fast group of girls, they have such an amazing energy and strong work ethic. I know they will be great leaders for future members of our team, and as long as they keep having fun, the fast swimming will come automatically.”
The team will compete against Immaculate Heart in the state finals on Sunday, February 23.
Mar 24, 2019 | Books, Columns
By Kristine Fu’19
In this book column, I will run through and review some of my favorite books I’ve recently read. My first suggestion is Becoming by Michelle Obama, a refreshingly candid autobiography. She delves into her childhood and life as the first African American First Lady, telling the reader about her background and how she found her voice. Obama shares her authentic self with the reader, taking us through her life full of accomplishments and meaning. The book is split into three parts: “Becoming Me,” “Becoming Us,” and “Becoming More.” Each section brings new perspectives and sheds light onto her own life and the life of her husband, President Barack Obama. As the story continues, you see how she grows, not only as a person, but as a mother, a wife, and a First Lady. Enduring and facing many obstacles, Michelle Obama inspires the reader to become truly and unabashedly themselves.
My next suggestion is Death on the Nile by Agatha Christie. A very complex book with a chilling plot and well-developed characters, Death on the Nile is a great book to get you started in the Hercule Poirot series. The book starts slowly by introducing all of the characters and eventually building up to the murder on a cruise in Egypt. The real investigations begin when Linnet Ridgeway, a beautiful, rich socialite, is murdered in the prime of her life. She comes onto the cruise for her honeymoon with her new husband. Luckily, Hercule Poirot, world-renowned detective, happens to be on the same boat. The people on the boat all have separate motives and agendas, and it is up to Hercule Poirot to uncover the truth. Christie introduces many plotlines in the book, and, as the reader, you must avoid the red herrings and try to solve the murder.
Finally, Six of Crows by Leigh Bardugo is a heist story with diverse characters in a fantasy world. The book begins with a short prologue that introduces the setting of this story: a city of thieves, liars, and opportunity. Like many fantasy novels, it does start slow, but the pace quickly picks up. The book is focused on six central characters, each with their own narratives and different skill sets. All the characters have interesting flaws that draw the reader to sympathize with them. Bardugo weaves a grimy fantasy complete with knives, guns, magic, and technology. The character clashes and interactions increase tensions, and, as you keep reading the book, the stakes get higher and higher until the final moment when all is revealed.
Mar 24, 2019 | School News
By Armani Davidson ’19
Black History Month was established to honor the accomplishments of African Americans throughout U.S. history. On Friday, February 1, Upper and Middle school students came together for the annual Black History Month Assembly. The assembly paid tribute to Black History Month with student performances including singing, dancing, acting, and poetry. Nolan Baynes (IV), one of the presidents of the Black Student Union, noted that, “With this assembly, we wanted to display the gravity of Black History in a new and creative way to grab the attention of our peers.”
The Pingry Buttondowns and Balladeers opened the assembly with the song “Lift Every Voice and Sing” by J. Rosamond Johnson and James Weldon Johnson. The Buttondowns and Balladeers were followed by a group of middle schoolers who reenacted pivotal moments that took place during the Civil Rights Act, such as the first student sit-in in Greensboro, North Carolina, Martin Luther King Jr.’s “I Have a Dream” speech during the March on Washington, and Rosa Parks’ refusal to stand for a white passenger on a Montgomery bus. These middle schoolers “time traveled” using a time capsule full of mementos alluding to historical events to illustrate the hardships and progress that occurred during the Civil Rights Movement.
Members of the Black Student Union, including Kamal Brown (VI), Solape Fakorede (VI), Rashida Mohammed (VI), Nia Phillips (VI), and Veronica Williams (VI) performed “I, Too” by Langston Hughes. The poem describes how Hughes is able to identify as an American, even though he is the “darker brother.” Williams said, “Reciting Langston Hughes’ “I, Too” made me feel proud as I was able to stand strong in my own skin.”
Da Boyz, from North Star Academy Clinton Hill Middle School in Newark, NJ, performed an award-winning step routine. Stepping, a type of dance that uses movement, words, and sounds to communicate, is a tradition in African and black communities that originated in the 1900s. Angelina Mayers (VI) felt that “The Black Student Union did a great job with the poem, “I, Too,” as did the step group from North Star. It was so riveting! I was excited and empowered to celebrate Black History Month.” The assembly ended with the Balladeers singing “Imagine” by John Lennon.
Phillips, one of the presidents of BSU, said that “The Black History Month Assembly was a chance for not only the Black Student Union, but also the middle school to pay homage to the African Americans in history who have done so much for the progress of society.”
Mar 24, 2019 | Brooke Pan, School News
By Brooke Pan ’21
Pingry for Girls Empowerment (P4GE) is a new club in Pingry this year, looking “to raise awareness on contemporary issues affecting women and girls both nationwide and around the world,” according to club co-leader Eva Schiller (IV). The other co-leaders, Emma Huang (IV) and Sydney Stovall (IV), join Schiller to broaden the scope of girls’ empowerment both within and outside the Pingry community.
The club consists of a group of students interested in learning more about the fight for women’s rights and taking a more active role in advocating for women’s rights in today’s society. Although it was only established this year, P4GE has already gathered a diverse group of students who are eager to participate in the rich opportunities the club has to offer.
One of the main priorities P4GE leaders had when creating this club was differentiating it from Girls’ Affinity group, a group with similar interests. “The Girls’ Affinity group is definitely an extremely important asset to the school, so we wanted to make sure [our missions] weren’t clashing,” Stovall explains. “An Affinity Group is designed to bring people together that share the same identity to discuss topics that relate their shared identity. P4GE strives to be open to all genders because we believe women’s equality should not solely be an issue to women.” P4GE hopes to attract any student who shares the same goals as the club by hosting fun activities at each meeting.
The success and popularity of P4GE can be attributed to the creative ideas and opportunities the leaders have. When asked about her reaction to the response of the club, Schiller adds, “The leaders and I were very excited at the response of our club. Right now a large part of our club consists of sophomores, but we got a lot of attention at the club fair, and can hopefully expand further as we plan more activities.”
These activities include “female guest speakers from varying backgrounds to talk about female empowerment on a small panel,” according to Stovall, as well as “[taking] action by writing letters to government representatives” according to Schiller. With these plans in mind, the leaders hope to spark an interest for others to take initiative as well.
One of the first outside–of–school events the leaders planned was a trip to the Women’s March in New York City, NY. However, due to forecasts suggesting unfavorable weather, the trip had to be cancelled. Fortunately, the Women’s March did not go unattended as Grace Wang (IV) travelled to the city to attend the march. “I was disappointed when the trip got cancelled because I was really looking forward to it,” says Wang. “I decided to go anyway. It was such a nice atmosphere, and I had a great time!”
This year, P4GE hopes to encourage more students to participate in their club and to build on the environment at Pingry as a whole. The leaders are excited to see what the future brings for P4GE, and they aspir
Mar 24, 2019 | School News
Brian Li ’22
On February 21, 22, and 23, Pingry’s Drama and Music Department performed this year’s winter musical Rent, a Pulitzer-Prize and Tony Award-winning production by Jonathan Larson. Influenced by Giacomo Puccini’s opera La bohème, Rent follows a group of impoverished young artists suffering from HIV/AIDS struggling to establish themselves in New York City’s Lower East Side.
The musical focuses on two roommates on Christmas Eve: Mark (Nick Grimaldi ‘19), a struggling filmmaker and Roger (Ian Dugan ‘19), a previously successful but now troubled rock musician. One of their friends, Tom Collins (Lucas Vazquez ‘19), plans to meet the two at their apartment, but is attacked and beaten. Meanwhile, Mark and Roger’s former friend and current landlord, Benny (Rajeev Doraswamy ‘19), demands last year’s rent, but the two roommates refuse to pay. On the street, a cross-dresser called Angel (Leo Zhu ‘19) finds Collins and the two instantly fall in love, revealing to each other that they are HIV positive. Roger is also HIV positive, contracted from his previous girlfriend. He tries to write a song on his guitar, but fails, and is interrupted by Mimi (Katerina Deliargyris ‘19) knocking on the door. They instantly feel attracted to each other, but Roger pushes her away.
Out on St. Mark’s Place, Maureen (Dorothea Miller ‘19), a performance artist, begins her performance to protest Benny’s eviction of the homeless. Afterwards, all the protesters meet at the Life Café, but they see Benny there. He announces that “Bohemia is dead,” but the protesters celebrate “La Vie Boheme.” Beepers go off to remind them to take their HIV medicine. As a result, Mimi and Roger discover that the other is HIV positive and decide to begin a relationship.
The next summer, Angel dies. After his funeral, Mimi reveals that Roger has sold his guitar and bought a car to leave New York. Roger responds by saying Mimi is back with Benny, her previous boyfriend. Roger leaves for Santa Fe, and after a while, returns to visit his old friends with the intention of showing them the song he wrote in Santa Fe. Suddenly, Maureen and Joanne (Alessia Zanobini ‘19) carry Mimi into the apartment, who collapsed out on the streets. Roger pleads for her to live and sings Mimi the song he took a year to write. After appearing to die, she abruptly wakes up to everybody’s shock. The family has come back together and agree that there is “no day but today.”
Director Mr. Alan Van Antwerp brought his dramatic expertise to the winter musical. With a background in managing and performing in professional and community productions, Mr. Van Antwerp was able to unlock the full potential of all the cast members. Although Rent was his first time serving as the director of a Pingry production, Mr. Van Antwerp created a passionate and supportive environment for everybody. In order to allow the audience to see the magic within the performance, Mr. Van Antwerp taught the cast and crew about the importance of collaboration. Deliargyris elaborated, saying, “Having Van as the director, he’s amazing, and I feel extremely lucky that I’ve gotten the chance to work with him.” Combined with a group of phenomenal performers and students, the musical was breathtaking and captivating.
Mr. Van Antwerp also served as the lighting designer, while Mr. Sean McAnally was the sound director. Dr. Andrew Moore directed the pit orchestra. The stage managers were Grace Brown (VI), Udochi Emeghara (VI), and Allie Matthias (VI). Ms. Jane Asch and Mr. Christopher Abbott worked tirelessly to create the set for Rent, along with help from the students and parents.
Deliargyris, who played Mimi, said that Rent was much more serious than the previous two musicals. “Trying to portray that message has been something I’m very grateful for and I think it’s very important that we show the message to the school.” When asked what she will miss most about the Drama Department at Pingry, Deliargyris said, “I’m going to miss the community aspect of drama here and the teachers, as they always push you to be your best. I just love how everybody always loves coming to see the shows.”
Mar 24, 2019 | School News
By Rhea Kapur ’21
On February 8th, the highly anticipated Lunar New Year Assembly opened with a bright, lively rendition of the traditional dragon dance. This was performed by students from the Form II Chinese class with taiko drumming by Mr. Christopher Leone in the background. During this standard component of festive Chinese celebrations, students maneuvered a long dragon figure using poles positioned throughout the body to simulate the “river spirit,” which the dragon represents. Dragons also symbolize Chinese culture and are thought to bring good luck for the new year.
The 2019 Lunar New Year began on February 5th and ended on the 19th. As per the zodiac calendar, 2019 is the Year of the Pig – the 12th animal in the 12-year cycle of Chinese zodiac signs. In China, pigs generally symbolize wealth. Those born in the Year of the Pig are thought to be blessed with good fortune, happiness, and success later in life.
First, and a definite highlight from this year’s assembly, were 12 exchange students from Quzhou No. 2 High School, Pingry’s sister school in southeastern China. The students, who visited Pingry for 2 weeks and were hosted by the families of various Upper School students, first introduced themselves to the school and then proceeded to sing songs they had prepared that reflected the spirit of their city and school.
Next, the brother-and-sister dynamic duo, Elbert Ho (Grade 6) on piano and Felicia Ho (VI) on violin, performed a duet of the traditional Chinese folk song “The Joy of Spring” to welcome in the spring, all while dressed in traditional Chinese clothing. Belinda Poh (III), Francesca Rainuzzo (IV), Udochi Emeghara (VI), and Annaya Baynes (VI), members of the K-Pop Dance club, followed with another energetic, more modern performance of “DDU-DU DDU-DU” by the K-Pop girl group Black Pink.
The Taiko Drumming Club introduced a new performance piece, “Dokokara,” during the assembly, featuring solos by Noah Bergam (IV), Julian Lee (IV), Justin Li (IV), and Guan Liang (IV). This year’s piece was “one of the hardest yet, especially in terms of technique” said Lee, “with many complicated elements that involved interaction between us four soloists – we had to pass the beat back and forth.” Next was The Purple Swans Dance Troupe, a group focused on displaying the beauty, ideas, and significance behind Chinese culture through peking opera, which combines opera with dancing, acting, and acrobatics. Many members of the Pingry community belong to this group, and some took part in their dance performance during the assembly, titled, “The Song of the Pear Blossom.”
New additions to the 2019 assembly included Natalie DeVito (III)’s recital of the poem “Facing the Sea by the Warmth of Spring” by the famous poet Hai Zi entirely in Chinese. The closing element, an exclusive interview with Pingry Sage Dining Executive Chef Mr. Won Ho, a Chinese immigrant, and James Wang (V) was also a highlight. Overall, the many diverse performances of this year’s Lunar New Year Assembly emphasized the beauty of Chinese culture and its core virtues, something to remember and look back on for the year to come.
Mar 24, 2019 | Editorial, Noah Bergam, Opinion
By Noah Bergam ’21
Ask almost any Pingry student who Billy McFarland is, and the response is quick: he’s the Fyre Festival guy. The fraudster. The former Pingry student.
For me, that last part has always been an afterthought, a small irony. I heard about it back when the festival came crashing down in 2017, and whenever the name came up it was a fun laugh.
But when I watched the Netflix documentary about the Fyre Festival, something about the whole disaster was brought to life in a disturbing way. Witnessing plans crash in real time, with the livelihoods of so many people put at risk, the amount of time and money and pride put to waste on a fraudulent business model — it all makes you wonder what kind of person it takes to remorselessly allow this to happen.
Sure, he was a person who went to this school. But he’s also a person that a lot of us will now immediately characterize as “crazy” or “malicious.” Someone whose mind just works in a different, broken way that we can’t relate to. Someone who we can frame as the butt of endless SAC memes of the week.
But I believe that this mindset of quick assumptions is deeply flawed, and I don’t say that in defense of McFarland. I think we have to understand him and his intentions in a much more complex way in order to properly learn from his mistakes.
I would argue that Billy McFarland is the product of a greater generational shift, a far-reaching phenomenon that I like to call Fyre. It’s an addiction, an obsession with attention, in which one’s ambitious words and the attention they gather outpace their abilities to make those promises come true. This is what allowed Billy to get investors on his side and to turn his impossible festival into a sellout show — he had an excessive Fyre, a pride in his lies. The people around him mistook that for true, entrepreneurial fire – and were proven utterly wrong.
But this idea applies to much more than just fraudulent tech startups. We all, at some point, have set out on a course of action with faulty ambition and pride, saying things that we can’t fully back up. This Fyre manifests itself everywhere across this very school — in promises to friends, club announcements, resumes, memes of the week, and probably even some Pingry Record articles. And the reason I ask Pingry in specific to look inwards is because, in my experience, we reside in an extremely success-oriented community.
I don’t think that statement would come as a surprise to anyone. Moreover, there is nothing wrong with that; in many ways, it inspires students to put their best foot forward. That being said, this focus on success translates into an even larger focus on ego, on reputation. Whether social or academic, these reputations can be boosted by exaggerations or small lies, which, over time, can add up. Often, especially in an environment as trusting as Pingry, these words can successfully create the desired illusion of wit or success, and thus be fostered further.
Perhaps more often than we as a community are willing to let on, people get away with this, and nobody gets hurt. But when this Fyre becomes an ingrained habit in our everyday lives, bubbles of lies begin to form. These bubbles can burgeon in importance, until at last, the needle of reality catches up, and the hard truth comes crashing down.
Hence, the story of Billy McFarland. A millennial Icarus, whose Fyre was enormously amplified by the distinctly modern power of an Internet Age. We, too, perhaps on a smaller level, are liable to make those mistakes in our Pingry community if we let lies or exaggerations overtake our reputations.
McFarland may be insane or malicious to some degree, but he showcased a Fyre that is present within all of us. We all need to recognize that instead of simply treating his mistakes as jokes. And hopefully, with that recognition, we all can create a school environment that puts out Fyres rather than encourages them.
Jan 19, 2019 | Athletics
By Josie Alston ’21
Led by captains Michael Sun (VI) and Chris Yu (VI), the boys’ fencing team is off to an excellent start. With preseason conditioning and footwork finally coming to a close, the team is beginning to transition into competition preparation.
As the actual season has just begun, footwork is still a routine practice. Now under the gaze of watchful coaches, including Head Coach Ted Li, the boys are beginning to practice using their weapons, along with other secondary equipment.
Last year, the boys had a very successful season as a team. They qualified to compete in the Sweet Sixteen tournament and placed third in the District Three Championships. In addition, the boys sabre squad and boys foil squad competed in their respective Squad State tournaments.
It is very exciting to see so many new fencers of all grades and experience levels join the team. In the upcoming season, épée fencer Sankar Gollapudi (III), is looking forward to “getting to know fellow épées” and establishing relationships with teammates outside of his grade.
The team is ready for a great season with their first competition against Montgomery High School on December 14th and their first tournament on December 15th.
Jan 19, 2019 | Athletics
By Josie Alston ’21
Captains Jamie Wang (V) and Georgia Liu (VI) are leading the girls’ fencing team in a strong direction this year. During preseason, they guided the team through conditioning and footwork; now, at the start of the season, they look forward to putting their bladework to the test.
Although the team is considerably smaller this year, there has been an influx of new freshmen at varying levels of familiarity with the sport. In response to the new lineup, Alison Lee (V) shared, “We have a small team this year but I’m excited to succeed this year like we did last year! Especially the foil team!”
Lee is not kidding when she mentions the success of the girls’ team last year. Not only did the team win Overall District Team Champions, but they also qualified to compete in the Sweet Sixteen Tournament, sending teams to compete at Squad States.
The team is off to a great start and is putting in a lot of effort to make this season even better than the last. On December 14th, the girls will be facing off against Montgomery High School, and, on December 15th, they are looking to compete in their first tournament.
Jan 19, 2019 | Athletics, Noah Bergam
By Noah Bergam ’21
The boys’ basketball team is off to a great start this season, having lost only four seniors to graduation. Under the leadership of Captains Nate Hefner (VI), Kyle Aanstoots (VI), and Ray Fluet (V), the team is excited to kick off the new season.
Last year, the team finished with a record of 4-20 and plans to keep working hard this year for continued improvement and success. Head Coach Jason Murdock said that, “Last season was a year of growth and development, and we are looking forward to bouncing back from our 4-20 record. This season will require a collective effort and I’m looking forward to the guys meeting the challenges ahead of them.”
Coach Murdock looks forward to creating an environment where players feel valued, can have fun with the competitive nature of the game, and, of course, enjoy a few victories.
Murdock has been coaching the team since 2007. When asked what his favorite part of
coaching basketball is, he said, “As a former player, the competition. But as a coach, it’s seeing the relationships formed by the team, and players reaching their potential by creating an
environment that is both challenging and rewarding.”
Jan 19, 2019 | Noah Bergam, School News
By Noah Bergam ’21
Once meant as a method to curb nicotine addiction, vaping has become an increasingly widespread practice among American youth. As the number of vaping high school students across the country rises, it has become ever more important for teens, as well as parents, to understand the health risks of the practice.
For all their flavors and attention in the media, vaping devices, also known as e-cigarettes or e-vaporizers, have had their share of controversy among Pingry’s own community in recent years. As such, all of Pingry’s health classes have already made sure to include important information about the relatively new trend in their curricula. However, until now, parents have mostly been left out of the loop. In response, the Health Department put on an informative health and wellness presentation for parents for the first time about the issue on November 28th.
Led by health teacher Mrs. Nancy Romano and Health Department Chair Mrs. Susan Marotto, the presentation was a response to a request from a number of Pingry parents who wanted to know more about the consequences of vaping devices.
“We wanted to run the meeting to tell parents about some of the risks of vaping,” said Mrs. Marotto. “We wanted to give them information about what vaping devices are, some of the dangers involved, and how they can talk to their children about it.”
Real vaping devices were on display for parents throughout the 75-minute presentation. Overall, it was a very informative night for the community.
