he iking aga

Viking Pride Reaches Cold Waters

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In This Edition:

Behind the Scenes of the Main Office

Spring Sports Season Preview

Kopchik Excels on Bass

On the back:

www.thevikingsaga.org East Lyme High School, 30 Chesterfield Road, East Lyme, CT 06333

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Volume 44, Edition 13March 16, 2011 SVT

If you could add any food to the lunch

menu what would it be and why?

submitted by a. kopchik10

k.roberts/saga

submitted by j. bartlett

submitted by k. daneault In 2009, 5,474 people died as a result of distracted driving. In over 18% of these deaths, cell phones were reported to be the main distraction. East Lyme High School Student Advisory Board (SAB) is handing out rubber thumb-bands in order to spread the word about driving safely by not texting while driving. The red bands have the inscription “Txting Kilz.” Similar to the “Livestrong” wristbands, these thumb-bands are meant to remind wearers to refrain from texting while driving their car. “The thumb bands are a good idea,” said Sarah Butterfield, director at East Lyme Youth Services Association, as well as the SAB club advisor. “They will remind the teens that wear them that texting isn’t safe while driving, and it’s a dangerous thing to be participating in.” SAB is a student-governed group that plans drug and

alcohol free events for students, and is most involved in hosting concerts for student bands at East Lyme Youth Services. The club’s main objective is to plan events that keep teenagers safe, while allowing them to have a good time with their peers in the meantime. This most recent undertaking by the SAB is meant to keep teen drivers safe. New and inexperienced drivers are already the most susceptible to get in a car accident. Although people between the ages of 15-24 make up only 14% of the United States population, they account for almost one-

Thumbs-Up for Safe DriversNew thumb-bands designed to keep new drivers safeby Dan Gaffey

third of the total costs of motor vehicle injuries for both men and women. “We are handing out these bands in hopes that students will understand the danger they are putting themselves into,” SAB president Erin Larkin said,.“It would be heartbreaking [for everyone] to lose a friend or classmate in a car accident as a result of texting while driving.” The SAB club is also working in collaboration ELHS’s security director Chris Olsen on planning an all school assembly about driving safety, and the consequences that occur when teens drive unsafely.

East Lyme students stay focused on the road as “Txting Kilz” thumb-bands steer them away from dangerous driving habits.

submitted by d.gaffey

Anything but DrowsyELHS Drama Club’s production The Drowsy Chaperone is insanely amusingby Kaytlin Murphy Though called The Drowsy Chaperone, the East Lyme High School Drama Club’s comedy-within-a-musical’s upbeat tunes, unpredictable scenes and ridiculous plot line certainly did not leave anyone feeling heavy-lidded.

The show begins with an eccentric musical enthusiast, “Man in Chair” (junior Adam Pilarski), in his apartment raving about his favorite Broadway show: The Drowsy Chaperone. Pilarski transitions effortlessly from nostalgic appreciation to breathless anticipation as he

eagerly waits for the curtains to rise and reveal his favorite characters from the Broadway show past. His quirky manner and unusual obsession with Broadway productions put a clever twist on the traditional (continued as Drowsy on Page 11)narrator role, Pilarski rattling

n.maddux

by eMily MooraDianShifting Focus

opinion2 march 16, 2011

the viking saga

Talk Less; Say Moreeditorials by Kate Kielty and Emily Mooradian

Over February break I was lucky enough to experience the trip of a lifetime with one of my closest friends- two days in Paris and four days in London visiting my sister who’s studying abroad. To say the trip was spectacular would be an understatement. I had more intriguing experiences

in that week than I have in my lifetime here in America. From the beautifully elaborate architecture of Paris, with buildings older than our country itself, to the snappy, organized London Underground, it was like being on another planet. But aside from the sights I inevitably saw in tourist-fashion, one of the most memorable aspects of the trip was the culture and lifestyle habits. One of my first experiences with European culture occurred within twenty four hours after arriving. We were looking out the windows of the hotel at the pastry shop across the street, where we had planned to grab breakfast. I was disappointed to see the store was closed, despite it being a Tuesday morning, prime time to snag a quick snack. It also struck me that

I had opened my screen-less window, and was leaning out to look across the street. Windows without screens in any public building? Stores closing down whenever shop owners please? It became apparent to me the deeper we delved into Paris and London that the only word I could use to describe their cultures would be relaxed. No dirty looks from café employees when you’ve been sitting in their restaurant long after you’ve devoured your Crème Brulee and cappuccino. Free admission to every museum I was lucky enough to tour. Unattended to and exposed candles with flickering flames protruding out of the wine bottles they were kept upright in- no unnecessary little glass containers suffocating all sides incase, God forbid, something were to catch fire and a law

suit resulted. What struck me the most about my trip wasn’t how striking the Mona Lisa was, or the sheer enormity of the Eiffel Tower, but the fact that life in Europe was just that, life- not work. It made me think of the old adage: In Europe they work to live, in America they live to work. After experiencing an overload of culture in two proverbial cities of Europe, I can’t help but agree. While I will admit that a week is not nearly enough time to fully grasp and understand a culture, it was enough time for me to see a stark contrast in the way Americans and Europeans appear to live theirs. Perhaps we can learn something from our neighbors across the pond: to always live to experience life, not work endlessly until the dying day.

So You’ve Been...Accepted Rejected Waitlisted

1. Celebrate: Scream, jump up and down and express your excitement- you deserve it.

2. Share the News: Tell your friends and set that Facebook status you’ve been dying to make since you sent your applications out.

1. Indulge: Whether it’s watching rom-coms or consuming incomprehensible amounts of Ben and Jerry’s, give yourself some time to cope with the bad news.

2. Reflect: Look back on the application process. If you’re still coming up blank about where you went wrong, you probably didn’t. The application process is almost always unpredictable and baffling, but try to remember you’re not alone.

3. Move On: Although this might be unexpected road block, it’s really just a bump on the way to success. Explore the rest of your options, and remember life will go on.

1. Take A Deep Breath: While this wasn’t the news you were hoping to hear, it could be worse. Don’t get down on yourself and stay calm; you’ve still got a chance.

2. Reaffirm Your Interest: Contact the college reminding them of your interest and tell them about anything that has changed since you applied; it can never hurt to show your enthusiasm for the school again.

3. Brace Yourself: It’s never easy to hear you have to wait even longer to find out a factor of your future, but remember your other options and prepare yourself for any scenario.

3. Embrace Senioritis: While we do not recommend that you stop trying entirely, cut yourself some slack, spend some more time relaxing and less time stressing about schoolwork.

4. Say Thank You: Express gratitude to everyone who put up with your anxiety over the past few monts, including the teachers who helped you reach this point.

opinion

the viking saga

3march 16, 2011Editorial Staff

2010-2011

Editors-in-ChiefKate Kielty

Emily Mooradian

NewsChristine Durkee

FeaturesMike DeFaria

SportsBryan Swenson

EntertainmentAlly Sloss

ManagingSamantha Lyall

WebsiteKiersten Sinko

MediaRaj Thanabal

AdvisorJeff Beale

Staff WritersPage Burns

Stefanie DudaDan Gaffey

Kaytlin MurphyBen OstrowskiKaley Roberts

Francis ShieldsZoë SmallidgeAgree? Disagree? We want to hear from YOU!

Email us your letters to the editor, suggestions or story ideas at elhsvikingsaga@gmail.com.

b.e.grimwood

by Kate KieltyNo Plan B Few want to become parents at the tender age of 16; Juno and MTV easily demonstrate that. But while the issue of teenage pregnancy has become prevalent on TV and the national rate of young pregnancies has dropped to an all-time low over the past two years (according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s National Center for Health Statistics), it angers me to say that the American government is taking steps back from attacking this issue by removing support to young women across the nation. Believe it or not, on February 18, the House of Representatives, currently ruled by a Republican majority, came to a 240-185 vote in favor of the

Pence Amendment, proposing to remove all government funding to Planned Parenthood, a provider of contraceptives and sexual health checks to three million people across the nation a year. And for what purpose? No reasonable one at all. Planned Parenthood has been around for almost 100 years, today providing cancer screenings, HIV tests, birth control, counseling and, yes, abortions, on a regular basis. Services are provided to all of the women, men and teens who walk through the door, focusing especially on making the services affordable to those with low incomes. In my eyes, it is one of the best non-profit organizations offered across the nation. House Representative Republican Mike Pence from Indiana wrote his amendment because he is personally against abortions and does not wish to support a company where taxpayers’ money is associated with such a service. Yet, 90 percent of the service provided by Planned Parenthood is prevention: contraceptives that prevent unwanted pregnancies that could lead to abortion. I am never fond of politics, but this is ridiculous, especially

considering how Pence has no solution to make up for the services that will be lost by the defunding. Ever since Freshman Academy, the Physical Education teachers at East Lyme High School have encouraged students to access Planned Parenthood’s services, and, sure enough, over the last couple of years, I have known many students to use it as a valuable resource. It is a place where people can ask for help without feeling judged or having to break the bank to accommodate for the cost of something quite essential. As a country, we pride ourselves on the freedom of choice that each citizen is given. Whether you would get an abortion is a personal decision, one that I am sure is not easy for anyone to make, but you cannot deny that the women in this country reserve the right to make that choice for themselves. The Pence Amendment is an unpatriotic act set to remove women’s rights while stepping back from the issue of teen pregnancy. Please join me at istandwithplannedparenthood.org to sign a petition standing with Planned Parenthood and all the services it has, or one day could, provide to you.

Congratulations to all East Lyme High School students who participated in the Mystic Arts

Association exhibition, Young at Art 2011!Sophomore Taylor Cushman was awarded first prize for a ceramic sculpture in the 3D category and senior Megan Disch was awarded second prize for her self

portrait in the 2D category.

Saga Shoutout:

Vik Grillo who was l u c k y enough to purchase her junior prom dress from the resale last year. The Senior Class Organization is looking for dress d o n a t i o n s of all sizes, lengths, and styles. Drop off gently used special o c c a s i o n d r e s s e s in one of the donation bags located in the main office and at the East Lyme Aquatic Center.

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the viking saga

march 16,2011

Freezin’ for a R e asonTeam Viking takes the plunge in support of the Special Olympicsby Stefanie DuDa The Penguin Plunge, an annual fundraiser benefitting the Special Olympics of Connecticut, took place at Ocean Beach Park in New London on February 20.

Participants from Team Viking, a group originating from East Lyme, gathered in one corner in preparation to take the icy dip into the Sound. Those participating received a maroon tie-dyed t-shirt as part of the team’s uniform, all of which were made by team leader Vicki Knopf. “I decided to start Team Viking as a way

to get the football team involved in giving back to the community and supporting my son Ben, who is the football team mascot and water boy,” said Ms. Knopf, mother of two East Lyme High School students. Ms. Knopf started the team three years ago and has been watching it steadily grow ever since. “This year we had the most people there since I have been doing it. It was amazing to see the team participating,” said senior Aric Knopf, who participated in the Plunge. In order to join, members had to raise a minimum $50 donation.

Team Viking takes a splash in the ocean during the Penguin Plunge.

This year, 353 people participated in the Plunge, with 30 of them on Team Viking. The team raised a total of about $4,500. Half of these funds will go to the Special Olympics of Connecticut, and the other half will go directly towards the Mystic/Ledyard Program. “It makes me feel proud of the great group of people we have involved to see how big this has gotten,” said Ms. Knopf. Those who participated were glad to show their support for children and adults who participate in the Special Olympics state-wide. “It was a good feeling knowing that many people took the time to raise money for a good cause,” said sophomore Jillian Cirillo. After the plunge, Team Viking received an award for the Top Fundraising School and the Best Group Costume. Everyone involved is excited to start planning and participating in next year’s Plunge. “I am already thinking about what we can do for costumes next year and what fun ways we can find to get more people involved!” Ms. Knopf said.

Dress for LessELHS Senior Class Organization wants to dress you up by Kaytlin Murphy While some people pay hundreds of dollars in preparation for prom, the parents of the East Lyme High School Senior Class Organization are providing an inexpensive option by holding the Dress You Up event on March 19. The money raised from this event will help fund the Class of 2011’s Drug and Alcohol-Free Graduation Party. The party, a tradition at ELHS, includes loading the seniors onto buses to a secret location to celebrate and enjoy their final time together as a class. Vendors such as Asiye’s Boutique, Men’s Warehouse, and Hot Flashes will be selling new and used dresses, jewelry and tuxes in the ELHS commons from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Along with prom attire, the event will

have make-up demonstrations and various raffles. Prizes range from a limo to gift certificates for services from That Look hair salon, Hoelck’s Florist, CLT photography and Arthur Murray dance studio. “I checked out the dress sale not really expecting to find anything, but I was actually pretty surprised. There was a wide range of dress styles to choose from, and the prices were very reasonable as well,” said senior Becca Ringer on her experience of last year’s re-sale event. “My advice to those who would like to get a dress is to come as early in the sale as possible because if you wait till the last minute, all of the good ones will be gone.” “I was out one day and I saw this event going on with a bunch of dresses, so I tried a few on, and one completely blew me away. I was so excited to know that I spent about one-tenth of the original price for my dress and everyone was so helpful,” said senior

Senior Vik Grillo in the dress she bought from last year’s resale.

submitted by k. daneault

submitted by v.grillo

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the viking saga

5march 16, 2011

George Malavasic, an admissions representative from Johnson and Wales University, has spent time this past winter in East Lyme High School culinary classes talking about the university and demonstrating his cooking expertise. “These students are at the age where they should start thinking about what they want to do after high school,” said culinary teacher Patricia Newton. “Johnson and Wales has a great culinary program as well as many other options.” Johnson and Wales University not only has the largest culinary school in the world, but also provides students with 44 under-graduate majors to choose from. Since the school is still growing, they continue to add on new majors each year. “I want these students to know what is different about [Johnson and Wales] so that they can compare us to other schools,” said Malavasic. Johnson and Wales, unlike many schools in the country, offers an “upside down” curriculum, meaning students start completing their major courses during freshman and sophomore years and move on to required courses in junior and senior years. Johnson and Wales also requires their students to use one semester interning, so that by the time they graduate college, they have at least two jobs on their resume. Culinary students not only listened to the information about Johnson and Wales, but also were able to watch Malavasic demonstrate some of his cooking techniques. He chose to make the students eggless tomato moose, tasting similar to salsa. To do so, he showed students how to concasse a tomato, an alternative to peeling

A Whale of A Demonstrat ionGeorge Malavasic visits ELHS to educate others about Johnson and Wales

by paGe burnS

one. A few students even got to assist in this demonstration. “I found the entire demonstration very stimulating,” said sophomore Julie Dai. “It was very interesting to hear all of the information and to have someone teach.” “It was neat learning from somebody who has a lot of cooking experience and works in the business,” said sophomore Jillian Cirillo. “He was a really good communicator,” said Ms. Newton. “It was a very informative and fun presentation that showed the students some techniques we might not necessarily do in class.” “[Malavasic] was enthusiastic with a sense of humor. I felt much as if I were on a cooking show with a guest chef, though he clearly led the cooking,” said Dai. “I am even thinking of using this technique in one of the cooking labs,” said Ms. Newton. Malavasic attended two different universities, as he transferred to Johnson and Wales. After working as a professional chef in several different restaurants, he returned to Johnson and Wales to help incoming students. “It is fun for me to share my experiences and hopefully help others make the right choices,” said Malavasic.

p.burns/saga

End of the Year Changes

How the many snow days have affected end of the year plansby Zoë SMalliDGe Due to the need to make up the six snow days accumulated as of February, the East Lyme Board of Education has amended the 2010-2011 calendar. This means that the professional development day planned for April 1 has been changed to a regular school day. The last day of school is now scheduled for Wednesday, June 22. However, the graduation date has yet to be set. Due to state regulation, the school cannot set a finalized date for graduation until April 1 so it will not be announced until then. “We are bummed out because we were excited for a really early graduation date,” said seniors Sarah Woods and Lexi Hadcock. The uncertainty of the date is also making it difficult for seniors to accommodate the plans of relatives who were supposed to visit for the event. Due to the various changes in the calendar, the French class trip to France has also been cancelled. The students were set to depart for France on June 18. Had they gone through with the trip, many seniors would not have been able to attend graduation or the last few days of school due to the changes in the schedule. “I think it’s really unfortunate because Madam Casey worked really hard to put a trip like this together,” said Kat Cook, a senior who had planned on going to France. “If they end up not moving the graduation date after having already cancelled the trip, I’m definitely going to be upset with the administration.” “I’m very sad, especially for the seniors who I can’t offer the trip to anymore,” said French teacher Nathalie Casey. “The change of the graduation date is really the clincher.”

George Malavasic holds up his culinary creation in the ELHS culinary room.

features

the viking saga

6 march 16, 2011

Behind the New VoiceBehind the scenes with ELHS’s new main office secretary, Kimberly Hurlockby Kaley robertS Lunchtime hits, and the main office is like a drive-thru. Students shuffle in, grab the paper-bagged grub they forgot at home, and U-turn back to the cafeteria. Others speed in with field-trip money, or a burning question. It is a chaotic rush, nearly impossible to orchestrate. To find out what the office’s other business hours consist of, I recently worked three hours shadowing the new voice of the school, main office secretary Kimberly Hurlock. As she intercom-ed that there were six minutes to get to Block A, I plopped my backpack down and took a seat across from her desk. She waved with a smile, and then calmly turned to explain social study hall sign-in to a group of nervous freshmen. Ms. Hurlock later mapped it out for me –in the main office “no two days are alike,” she said. “You just have to make it go no matter what, because you can’t have any [change] in the routine.” That morning began with a threat to East Lyme High School’s usual routine. At 7:30, Ms. Hurlock’s study hall explanation was interrupted by a phone call. A teacher was out sick, without coverage. The clock struck 7:31, and Ms. Hurlock was frantically phoning potential substitutes. By 7:32, she found a sub who was able to cover the first block class only.

“Please rise for a moment of silence” –the intercom echoed, and Ms. Hurlock took a breath for the first time in five minutes. The pledge was a little late, but the history students had supervision. For the rest of the morning, I flinched whenever the phone rang. Over the span of A and B block, Ms. Hurlock took 18 calls, none as detrimental as the first. She also sent out a bulletin of absent teachers, reassured parents, arranged substitutes for the rest of that day and the next, and genuinely complimented every front-desk passerby.

The smile never left her face… but as 10:30 approached, it quavered. “I do slaughter the names,” Ms. Hurlock said, looking at the list of lunchtime names. “That’s the big joke around here. I haven’t learned them all yet.” And as kids trudged by the main office doors, Ms. Hurlock rattled off the names, slowly and exactly. “I try to maintain stability with the announcements,” she said, before kids arrived to retrieve their items. “But I’m also trying to add my own flair.”

Guess That TeacherCan you guess which ELHS teacher this is? by ben oStrowSKi

Viking Saga: What are your favorite activities?Mystery Teacher: “I love to travel; I’m going to Laos sometime in the fall. I love to read, being outside, going for walks.”

VS: What is a hobby you have?MT: “What I like is to both create and admire art. Oh, and I love to learn. I love coming to school!”

VS: What was your favorite subject in high school?MT: “Why history, of course.”

Answer will be posted on http://thevikingsaga.org

Ms. Hurlock answering her phone during a hectic A Block.

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valhalla

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englishexercises.org

features

the viking saga

7march 16, 2011

Talkin’ Toothpaste! The best brands to keep your mouth freshby franciS ShielDSBest Toothpaste Craziest Toothpaste Worst Toothpaste

When you walk into CVS you see the aisles lined with toothpastes from $2 to $20, but which is really the best? According to consumersearch.com, the winner is… Colgate Total. Further investigating this claim, I went out and bought some of the paste, and to my surprise, it was very good. I am normally a Crest type of guy, but upon brushing, it did not burn my mouth nor my taste buds. The mint was not overwhelming, and overall had a great taste. In addition, it is approved by the American Dental Association, which means it is legit.

Some people take mouth care very seriously, especially dentists. In Japan however, they take this to a whole new level, with hundreds of unique flavors that will keep your mouth looking for more. First, Indian Curry. I am not exactly sure who would want their breath constantly smelling of curry, but whatever attracts the ladies… Another flavor that sounds awesome is… wait for it… pumpkin pie. This would be perfect around Thanksgiving if you want to keep the holiday festive cheer with you at all times. For ordering information, check out breathpalette.com.

My mother went on her usual grocery trip and brought a new brand of toothpaste, Crest Pro-Health. I previously saw the commercials and thought, “It can’t be that bad.” I was wrong. The grainy texture seemed off as soon as I saw it and I knew I was in for a tough time. When I first tried it, it was like a sawmill was put into my mouth with little grains of flavor coating my gums. In addition to the gross texture, the flavor was hideous as well. It made me want to gag and spit the stuff out immediately. Do yourself a favor, do not buy this.

The Voice of our GenerationSenior Amy Whitehouse finishes 3rd in state speech contestby Dan Gaffey This year, East Lyme High School has boasted several award winning writers. Several upper classmen have won big name essay contests, as well as earned some prize money in the meantime. Senior Amy Whitehouse is the most recent. Whitehouse, whose essay contest was sponsored by the Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW), earned 3rd place in the final round of the state competition. For the speech, Whitehouse was required to write about her generation’s role in the future of America. “It is typical for teenagers to (have the reputation) of being apathetic, and uninvolved in society,” said Whitehouse, “But I wrote about how students in our high school are already making a difference in our society by taking initiative to create new clubs, and give back to the community.” Whitehouse won first place in the school and was therefore able to advance in the competition. She was given the opportunity to professionally record her speech at the 97.7 WCTY radio station, and submitted her recording to the regional competition where she won first place against 12 other regional finalists. From here, Whitehouse was entitled to compete in the state championship

contest, where her speech earned her third in the state. Whitehouse was introduced to her essay topic in her “Contemporary Issues” class. Contemporary Issues teacher Roseanne Hardy, who has been informing her classes of essay and speech contests like this since 1988, sincerely appreciated Whitehouse’s work. “Her speech had relevant content for the topic,” said Ms. Hardy, “She used historical examples, but was also able to use personal insight, which is the combination (the judges) are looking for.” She is not the only senior to have earned such an accomplishment this year. Seniors Tucker McCrabb and Eric Delea both finished first in the state for their essays about patriotism and Americanism. Both of these students are waiting to hear back from their contest sponsors about whether or not they

will compete in the national championship. In total, Whitehouse received over $400 in prize money from the contest sponsor. At her awards luncheon, she was also given the opportunity to meet the veterans who judged her paper. “I was really grateful to be made aware of this opportunity,” said Whitehouse. “It was very meaningful to meet all the veterans and people affiliated with the VFW as well speak to the potential of my generation.”

Amy Whitehouse poses with fellow competitors Sarah Cunningham and Nick Kuvalank.

submitted by r.hardy

Freshman Phenom

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the viking saga

From Swenson’s Sidelines

by bryan SwenSon

march 16, 2011

December 21: East Lyme’s Jenna Schumacher drops 17 points in a 65-42 win over Fitch. January 28: Schumacher helps the team to a 79-54 victory by scoring 20 against rival Waterford. February 8: the freshman goes for 20 more, this time helping East Lyme hand NFA its first Large Division loss, 60-56. Schumacher is a regular starter for East Lyme (14-6), a top team in the ECC this season. She is a versatile player, averaging 11.8 points per game, and also pulling down 3.6 rebounds per game “I just like playing basketball,” said Schumacher simply. “All of the upperclassmen help me to get better. I love playing with them.” The feeling is clearly mutual. “Coming in as a freshman I know it’s difficult,” said varsity sophomore Allie Stoddard, who also started varsity as a freshman. “But she has handled it well and become a key part of our team.” Schumacher’s strong play can be traced to her early roots in competitive basketball. She has been playing for eight years, and joined the Connecticut Storm, an AAU basketball program in fourth grade. But a series of coaches have helped her become varsity caliber. “My dad has always helped me,” said

Freshman Jenna Schumacher plays key role in girls’ varsity basketballby ben oStrowSKi

Schumacher. “So has [varsity coach] Bill Reagan and my Storm coaches.” Schumacher takes every opportunity she can to learn. “Jenna has a very good work ethic,” said varsity teammate sophomore Emily Ennis. “She is a dedicated player who always gives her best which makes her a tremendous attribute to the team.” She is also a college basketball fan, and tries to learn the players’ moves to add to her repertoire to be used against future defenses. Schumacher has a promising future in basketball and a hunger to learn. A freshman with talent is a scary thought for East Lyme opponents.

Schumacher shows that love for the game is stronger than pure experience.

Behind the numBers

Lacrosse season has finally crept back into the scene and its arrival could not have come at a better time. Specifically college lacrosse. If you have not seen or been to a game, get on that. No need to wait to watch the greatest college sport ever. The season is only so long, but I can tell you that the end is the best. The NCAA Men’s Lacrosse Championship weekend is by far the most exciting three-day sport event that anyone has witnessed and will experience in their lifetime. Ask anyone who has gone and they will agree that there is nothing better to do with your Memorial Day weekend. I have been going since I was a kid, so it has been a tradition for me almost my whole life. My dad took my brothers and I to one at Rutgers, a few in Philadelphia and a couple in Foxborough. Last year, I missed it because it was in Baltimore, but the two years before that it was in Foxborough. I, along with 200 other people from East Lyme, made the short trip up and had the time of our lives. The weekend kicked off with two Division I semifinal games followed by the Division II and III Championships on Sunday and ended with the Division I Championship. After going to these games, anyone will learn to love every moment of it. The past two years have had overtime Division I Championships that supply nothing but a thrilling and exhilarating end to the weekend. Some go to watch every second of the games, others tailgate like there is no tomorrow and everyone has a good time with the people they are with. So buy your tickets now before they sell out and make the trip out to Baltimore this upcoming Memorial Day weekend. Take a road trip with the family and some friends or catch a plane. Either way, the trip will be worth it.

submitted by j. schumacher

61: Most points ever scored in a March Madness game by Notre Dame player Austin Carr in 1970

105.8: Most points per game in one March Madness tournament by Loyola Marymount in 1990

146: Most individual points scored in one March Madness tournament by Glen Rice from Michigan in 1989

3: Most overtime games played by a team in one March Madness tournament by the Syracuse Orange in 1975

sports

the viking saga

9march 16, 2011 Spring Sports Preview

Teams look to spring forward and avoid fallbacks in the upcoming spring sports seasonby Stefi DuDa, Dan Gaffey anD franciS ShielDS

Boys’ Outdoor Track Last year’s boys’ outdoor track team placed third in the state competition. Despite the loss of key members Kevin Miao and Craig Van Alsten, senior Ryan Cirillo believes the team still has a great amount of potential. “We have a lot of returning athletes like Ben Lakeman and Sam Modzelewski and, as long as we stay healthy, we should do really well,” said Cirillo. With many star members returning and a second place finish at ECC’s during indoor track, the team is sure to have an even better season than before.

Girls’ Outdoor Track Sixteen individuals and relay runners placed in the top 10 at States and in the Eastern Connecticut Conference combined last season. While the group lost crucial runners Brianne Mirecki, Bridget Buckley and Manya Swick, several members remain to lead the team to success. “We’re all close friends so there won’t be any problems that we can’t discuss [and] we’ve already made friends with each of the girls in our groups so far from indoor,” said captain senior

Lexi Banker. Girls’ Lacrosse

The girls are coming off a successful season winning the ECC championship with a big victory over rival St. Bernard’s. They are led by captains Lexi Hadcock, Kristi Albright and Jessica Lillquist. They look to continue their reign of dominance in the ECC and hope to get deep in States.Their ECC finals rematch will be on April 29 against St. Bernard’s.

Boys’ Lacrosse Last year, the boys went undefeated in the ECC large division during the regular season, but were beaten by Ledyard in the ECC final 6-7 and suffered another tight loss in the state playoffs 13-14 to Daniel Hand. They are looking to bounce back this year with returning starters and captains seniors Zach Bartlett, Zach Caldwell, Kevin Seery and Bryan Swenson. The Vikings are going to have a high-powered offense and hope to overpower their opponents. Look for the ECC final rematch against Ledyard on April 28.

Baseball After making it to the Class L semi-finals in their 2010 season, the varsity baseball team looks to start their 2011 season off with familiar intensity. Graduating 10 seniors last year, the team is looking for the young players to carry a lot of weight this season in the batter’s box. “We’re still going to be the team to beat,” Lloyd said, “but it’s going to be the youth that really helps carry this team.”

Softball The softball team is

planning to break away from their previous losing seasons, and come away with a successful and winning 2011 season. Losing only two seniors from last year, the team looks to beat the talented rival Fitch Falcons once again as well as defeat the strongest ECC team in Waterford. “With two varsity slots open, we’re looking to fill those gaps with talented players,” said junior pitcher Anna Salvatore. “The whole team just needs to come out ready to play.”submitted by t. regan

submitted by j. bartlett

submitted by j. bartlett

entertainment10 march 16, 2011

the viking saga

The bass: a large string instrument with a deep and radiating sound. While some players could easily be overtaken by such an instrument, senior Alex Kopchik takes charge. After eight years of dedication and devotion, Kopchik has conquered the bass. As an elementary student, Kopchik was introduced to the world of music by means of his first instrument: the violin. Though he quickly found out the violin was not for him, the strings section intrigued Kopchik. This interest eventually led him to the bass. “Though I did not know much about [the bass], I just decided to play,” said Kopchik. Kopchik never expected his decision to open up so many doors for his future as a musician. In seventh grade he was accepted into the Thames Valley Music Youth Symphony at Connecticut College. Generally, this orchestra is a mix of high school and college students playing originally arranged, challenging songs. This posed a challenge for the young Kopchik. “[The Thames Valley Music Youth Symphony] is very intense,” said Kopchik. “I just wanted to try to play up to their skill level. It was essentially another world of music.”

Along with the Thames orchestra, Kopchik has played in the Eastern Regional, All-State and All-New England orchestras. Each orchestra holds its own audition process in which the player must perform a short solo and two scales chosen by the Connecticut Music Educators Association; some auditions require the player to read a short excerpt as well. “I get unnecessarily nervous before my auditions, said Kopchik. “I practice, to get things sounding as good as I can, but I shouldn’t get so nervous, because compared to the violin, it really is not that competitive for bass players.” This year, despite his nerves, Kopchik was not only selected for each orchestra, but he received the highest score amongst bass players for the Eastern Regional and All-State orchestras, positioning him as the principal bass player. Kopchik is also a dedicated member of the East Lyme High School Symphony and Chamber Orchestras, Jazz Band and Jazz Combo. “I am amazed at how naturally jazz comes to Alex. It’s been great having a quality bass player to build a rhythm section around,”

said jazz band advisor Brad Normand. Why does Kopchik give so much of his time to various music ensembles? He just likes to play. “The ubiquitous nature of the bass ensures that I always get a chance to play the music I like,” said Kopchik. Though unsure of where his music will take him in college, Kopchik’s love for the bass ensures that he will keep playing even after his last high school performance. “I plan on playing bass as much as I can when I am in college, whether it be with just a few friends, a college orchestra or a jazz ensemble,” said Kopchik. “I hope to continue as long as I can to get better and keep playing.”

Sticking with the BASSicsELHS senior pursues passion for music in multiple orchestras across New Englandby paGe burnS

Kopchik, who plays in multiple orchestras and ensembles throughout the region, feels a true connection to music when playing (or goofing around with) his bass.

submitted by a. kopchik

Picture PerfectJunior Perry Wu received prestigious Gold Key Awards in the Connecticut Scholastic Art Awards and the Northeast Regional Scholastic Art Awards for his photograph, “Second Birth” (right). The Northeast Regionals included artwork from New England, New York, New Jersey and Pennsylvania. Wu’s photograph will now compete at the national level. Results will be announced later this month.

www.courant.com

Wu’s self-portrait of himself coming out of a dryer wrapped in white sheets.

entertainment

the viking saga

11march 16, 2011

Confession Number 13: Like so many others out there, I have an addiction to MTV’s amazingly trashy TV. Most recently,

I have dedicated a solid chunk of my Thursday nights to The Jersey Shore. By the end of the episode, after watching the outrageous characters and depictions of “reality,” the only thought running through my head is,

“Wow, I’m so glad I’m not Snooki.” While most MTV weeknight “dramas” are highly enjoyable, one of the networks newest show leaves me feeling uneasy rather than entertained. Skins, MTV’s take

on a popular British series, is a scripted drama following a group high school students on their drinking binges, sexual

escapades and larger-than-life parties, all of which usually take place on school nights.

MTV claims the show is aimed at an older audience – those in and out of high school. It even precedes every show and follows each commercial break with the generic “viewer discretion advised”

warning. What worries me, however, is Skin’s younger audience. In reality, that warning only makes the show more attractive. I remember being in sixth grade and blatantly ignoring similar warnings to catch episodes of Laguna Beach. I could not wait for my life to be that glamorous and dramatic when I entered ELHS. I highly doubt that kids are doing (or thinking) anything differently today. Will every 12-year-old who watches Skins become an alcoholic and have little regard for safe-sex practices by the time they get to high school? Obviously not. But, they should still proceed with caution when watching shows that are made for a more mature audience. For any younger bookworms out there, here is my “viewer discretion” advice: don’t let Skins blur the lines between fact and fiction. Watch the show to enjoy the crazy antics of the bizarre characters, not to get tips on how to act once freshman year rolls around.

Confessions of a Bookworm:

The entertainment world from a nerd’s

eye view

by ally SloSS

Top: Senior Adam Duong and Joe Lussier as well as junior Skylar Bowers perform in The Drowsy Chaperone. Bottom left: Janet van de Graff (senior Kelly Eberle, front center) tries not to “show off.” Bottom right: Man in Chair (junior Adam Pilarski) amuses all as he narrates the show.

off a nauseating number of lines throughout the entire play. As the fanatic’s introductions come to a close, the musical, which is set in the 1920s, officially begins with a dance routine by a dozen fabulously dressed flappers. They can-canned, tapped and flirted their way across the stage and grabbed the attention of the audience. The rest of the show followed suit and was perfectly over the top. After the dancers left the stage, the rest of the roles of the cast were introduced. Lovely show-girl Janet Van de Graff, the leading lady played by senior Kelly Eberle, flawlessly hit every note as she sang her way through the triumphs and trials of her wedding day. Constantly pining to be by her side was the hopelessly romantic groom Robert Martin. Senior Austin Begin, who played Martin, wowed the crowd with his fancy footwork – alongside fellow seniors Nate Whipple and Kiersten Sinko – as he warmed up his pre-wedding “cold feet.” Senior Lily Fryburg played Janet’s slightly alcoholic chaperone. Although she did not provide any answer’s to Janet’s questions about love and marriage, she offered plenty of perfectly delivered, slurred and witty

Drowsy(continued from Front Page...) remarks and killer vocals.

Although absolutely incredible, these leading roles did not over-power the other wonderful actors. Senior Tori Nortz as the amusingly senile Mrs. Tottendale, senior Patrick Moffat as her Underling, barely keeping from strangling her, and Whipple playing the frantic best man attempting to plan the perfect wedding, all add a dash of crazy humor and a lot of amazing talent to the show. Add in a seniors Joe Lussier as the hair challenged producer, Adam Duong as the hysterical and heavily accented Latin ladies man and ditzy wanna-be Broadway star junior Skylar Bowers and you have a recipe for a phenomenal production. Alongside great acting and pure vocal talent, an orchestra composed primarily of ELHS students performed all of The Chaperone’s musical selections without faltering on a note or skipping a beat. Pair all of this with flashy 20s clothing and a shabby-chic apartment set, and you have the exceptional hit that is The Drowsy Chaperone.

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“Burger King cause I can have it my way.”- sophomore Kaitlyn Kuvalanka

“Poutine, [it is] french fries, gravy and cheese, because it’s Candian, ay.”- senior Al Llyod

“Coffee, coffee, and oh yeah, coffee!”- senior Brooke Karanovich

“Fried chicken because everyone would assume I’d want fried rice.”- senior Andy Bi

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the viking saga

back page12 march 16, 2011

If you could add any food to the lunch menu what would it be and why?

“McDonalds’ cause I’m lovin’ it.”-sophomore Kareem Small

“Tacos because tacos are yummy.”- freshman Alex Lomonaco

“Cheesecake because now boys will have the way to get to my heart.”- senior Shannon Craddock

“Melons because they are phenomenal.”- sophomore Trinh Nguyen

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