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March 29, 2010
Amy Yakubowski
Over the past two years, the volleyball team has worked hard to be recognized. In 2008, the boys won the Division II OHSBVA championship game at Hilliard Davidson High School. Last year, they were runners up in the championship game against Columbus St. Charles.
With a new season and the same game plan, the team still has one goal: take the championship game again and add another ring to the finger.
“We’re going to be competitive this year,” seventh-year head coach Matt Mihelic said. “We’re hoping to meet or exceed last year.”
“We’re going to try to win and redeem our loss from [St. Ed’s] last year,” senior setter Willy Veverka said.
With a 16-8 record last season, the boys hope to be more competitive this year.
“Walsh and St. Ed’s are our biggest rivals this year,” junior Mikey Sokol said. “St. Ed’s is better than last year, but so are we.”
Even with the loss of three seniors, many returning players will contribute.
“More JV players moved up,” Mihelic said. “We also have returning juniors who were starters last year. Leadership by Veverka, Sokol and Adam Weaver is also a plus.”
The team will also display a newly found depth.
“There are more JV players in the program,” Mihelic said. “I think there are a couple freshmen and a handful of sophomores that tried out.”
“The program is bigger this year,” Veverka said. “We have seven coaches.”
Mihelic’s top assistant will be a familiar face to him as his wife Alicia takes the helm.
“Adding more staff to the team will help in different areas,” assistant coach Alicia Mihelic said. “Having a defensive coach and hitting coach will help improve on those specific areas.”
The Knights, who play a 5-1 offense, plan to improve the defensive skills level.
“We’re trying to have a better defense,” Sokol said. “Having these coaches will really help.”
As for a trip to Columbus, the expectations are there.
“It’s too early to tell,” Sokol said. “But we do want to go to the state finals again.”
The boy’s first home game is Monday, March 29 at 6:30 P.M. against McKinley High School.
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March 29, 2010
Evan Luse
In the biggest games when the contest is on the line great players make big plays and that’s exactly what Canton South senior Shavon Robinson did. Robinson hit an unbelievable fading three-pointer from NBA range at the buzzer in the district final to eliminate the Knights on March 6 at Massillon High.
The remarkable shot terminated a great season for the Hoban squad and ended the careers of seniors Taneka Lewis, Jessacca Gironda, Krissy Sokol and Paige Benson. The unit clawed its way to a 17-6 record and captured its fifth consecutive NCL Blue Division crown.
Along the way the Knights pulled out some clutch wins such as a one-point victory early in the season over rival St. Vincent-St. Mary’s and two decisive victories over emerging rival school Padua Franciscan.
The Knights displayed their talent early in the playoffs as they defeated Akron North High School by an astounding 80 points to seal an opening round win 87-7 and prove themselves worthy of a second seed in the tournament. Later in the district semi-finals, the Knights showed solid potential to make a deep playoff run as they defeated Norton by a final score of 71-46. Senior guard Taneka Lewis, a Wheeling (W. Va.) Jesuit recruit, led the scoring effort in the semi-finals with 17 points. Senior forward and NCL MVP Krissy Sokol (14 points), sophomore guard Janaya Feaster (13 points) and junior forward Emily Orsini (11 points) helped the squad to jump out to an early 41-17 halftime lead.
Canton South (22-3) would prove to be a better challenge. The contest was heated from the opening tip and a raucous crowd filled Massillon Washington arena in Massillon. Canton South squeaked into the fourth quarter with a three point lead. In the final period, the combination of outside shooting from Canton South and sloppy Hoban turnovers kept Canton South ahead until Lewis evened the score at 48-48 with five seconds remaining. Robinson, an All-American, then knifed through Hoban’s full-court pressure and the rest is history.
“We played our hardest and I’m very happy with how my senior year ended up,” Sokol said. “Winning the NCL was nice and being named MVP was an honor.”
Sokol gave Hoban its second NCL MVP in as many years, following in the footsteps of former MVP and University of Akron star Rachel Tecca. Sokol has decided not to pursue a basketball career and has instead chosen to play volleyball for Walsh University. Lewis was disappointed with how her senior year ended, but was proud of what the team had accomplished.
“I didn’t think we played our style of ball and instead let our opponent dictate the flow of the game,” Lewis said. “I’m pretty proud of my Hoban career because I think I proved a lot of people wrong.”
Lewis also had advice for younger players.
“Don’t play for approval, but for God, yourself, your family, and for your love of the game,” Lewis said.
Hoban’s four seniors leave big shoes to be filled next year and Sokol nostalgically reflected on her experience.
“Hoban basketball was like a second family,” Sokol said. “Some of my fondest memories are hanging out with my teammates. It was a blast.”
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March 29, 2010
Evan Luse
Originally, lacrosse was not sport, but rather a religious experience—one that prepared Huron and Iroquois tribes in America and Canada for war and for eternal glory. In 2002, Tom Rock of Lacrosse Magazine claimed that the game may have developed as early as the 12th century, where “teams” of anywhere from 100 to 1000 men would compete on fields up to as much as five miles long for days on end. Now, nearly 1,000 years after its birth, lacrosse players all over the world are still going at it. Some teams still prepare for war and glory and one of those teams battles on Dowed Field.
Last season, the Knights only managed to muster a meager 5-8 record, but with a new coaching staff in place and an experienced core group the squad expects much more. First-year head coach Drew Spears and first-year assistant Chris Schmoldt are confident heading into the season.
“We were very impressive in our first scrimmage,” Spears said. “We beat a good Mooney team 7-3.”
This impressive victory was rooted in pre-season preparations.
“Some guys played in the winter at Pinnacle to prepare,” junior midfielder Jack Myers said.
Practicing in the off-season is not the only factor that has led to early team success.
“Lacrosse is naturally a physical game, but we take it to a whole new level,” senior defender David Bott said. “Our swagger is based on intimidation.”
Myers agrees with Bott completely.
“We expect our opponents to be crying and begging for mercy,” Myers said. “We wouldn’t even wear helmets if we didn’t have to.”
Newcomer Jonathan Duckworth looks to add another physical ingredient to the mix.
“I like to hit people,” Duckworth said.
Spears embraces his team’s physical style, but thinks the team has to improve to be a success.
“We have some good athletes,” Spears said. “We just have to work on the game of lacrosse and get used to the game speed.”
The lax bros squared off with Kent Roosevelt and Lake in scrimmages last week, falling to Kent Roosevelt 12-4 and defeating Lake 13-5. The season opened yesterday with North Canton Hoover but results were not available as of press time. The Knights battle against the Revere Minutemen next Wednesday, March 31 on Dowed Field at 7:00 P.M.
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March 29, 2010
Jules Libertin and Alexander Salamon
Boys Track and Field
To get someplace you have never been, you have to do some things you have never done,” is the motto that the boys track and field team is living by as it prepares for the season. With the leadership of senior captains Jason Green, Chris Alto, Lawrence Wynn and Dan Solomon the team is hoping to go farther than they went last season.
“This season we have a lot of experienced runners,” head coach Dave Arbogast said. “They are at the top of their game.”
After winning the North Coast League championship last season and placing third at districts the team hopes to repeat as NCL champions and to qualify for states.
“Our goal this year is to get our fourth NCL title,” Arbogast said. “We also want to send people to states this year.”
Senior captain Jason Green agrees with Arbogast.
“Our work ethic and determination will help us meet our goals this season,” Green said. “Some of us have been training all year to meet our goals.”
With the snow melted the team is anxious to take the track and bring on the competition.
Girls Track and Field
Coming off an inspirational 2009 season, the girls track and field team looks to complete another undefeated campaign. With five first-team NCL athletes: Kaitlyn Chrostowski, Meghan Bartlebaugh, Juliana Libertin, Allie Weiss and Margaret Woods; and two second-team NCL members: Alex Kepler and Hayley Rowan returning, this year’s team has the experience needed to achieve glory.
“We want to continue our success,” junior Katie Chrostowski said. “We are ready to take on any team we run against.”
With returning NCL Coach of the Year Joe Lutz, the team will undoubtedly be a team to reckon with as the starting guns fire.
“After placing fourth in the state and winning the NCL title for four years in a row we are looking to continue our legacy,” Lutz said. “We have just moved up to Division I and the competition will be tougher.”
Behind Coach Lutz is hurdles coach Chuck McVan, distance coach Joe Zampino and discus/shot-put coach Joe Bodnar.
The girls face the Cuyahoga Falls Black Tigers at Hoban’s Dowed Field this Saturday, March 27 at 12:00 P.M.
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March 29, 2010
Ryland Parnell
Your opponent ominously lurks 70 feet away. Your hands are sweating and fiddling with the synthetic felt between your fingers as the ball darts towards you at 110 mph. That’s right, tennis season is here and the squad is not settling for anything but first.
This year the team’s success will be carried on the shoulders of seniors Paul Kramer, Evan Shaub, Alec Hyde and Alec Droba.
“We have excellent seniors that are doing a great job so far,” head coach Bernard Pietrangelo said.
Pietrangelo is in his sixteenth year as tennis coach for the Knights.
“We really have to come together and build team unity that will make us a great team,” Kramer said.
The Knights have a daunting schedule this year featuring local powerhouses such as North Canton Hoover, Walsh Jesuit and Cuyahoga Valley Christian Academy.
“We have a tough schedule but I think we will be able to do well,” Pietrangelo said. “We have some good players on our team.”
“Our goal this year is simple— states. We want to be the best,” Kramer said.
The tennis team lacks fan support at their meets with almost zero support from the student body and gets most of its support from parents and loved ones, not uncommon in the world of high school tennis.
“We really wish our fans were better,” Kramer said. “I think we would do even better if we had some strong fan support.”
“We would like to see some more fans at our meets, the parents do a great job every meet,” Pietrangelo said.
The Knights have recently added Brother James Kozak as member of the coaching staff for the JV team. Kozak, the freshman football team’s team manager this past fall, teaches religious studies.
“It’s been great having Brother around,” Pietrangelo said. “He always has a very positive attitude when he comes to practice.”
The boy’s tennis team will open up its regular season with arch rival St. Vincent-St. Mary’s on March 29.
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March 29, 2010
Peter DelMedico and Ben Edwards
It’s 3:47 P.M., and students are just getting home from school, and want nothing more than to escape the everyday and enter a land where anything is possible.
If you’re male and attend Hoban, chances are you have a video game console. You may still be playing your older brother’s Sega Genesis or a coveted Nintendo 64, but the majority of gamers have fallen to the technological enigmas called video games consoles. Sony and Microsoft run the world of video games and of many younger boys’ lives.
“There are certain times when it’s the most important thing in my life,” said sophomore John Paradise. “It is my Call to Duty.”
The modern marvels are Sony’s PS3 and Microsoft‘s Xbox 360. Consumers tend to defend the system they own to the death so the argument over which is better is brutally biased… until now. The sleek PS3 is the zenith of gaming and entertainment.
“It has everything you could ask for in a system,” junior Nate Tarr said.
The phrase “you get what you pay for” is quintessential to the argument over the inflated price of a PS3. The 250 gigabyte PS3 costs $350 and its 120 gigabyte counterpart is $300. Don’t think you’re paying $300+ to abandon your mountains of Playstation 1 and 2 games. The PS3 is backward compatible with Sony’s other two systems. This means gamers can play any classic playstation game on the PS3.
“My dad and I play for hours,” junior Anthony Arnone said. “It doesn’t matter what game, they are all good.”
One characteristic that is totally unique to Sony’s system is the built in Blu-Ray DVD player.
The Xbox 360 transcends the norm for the basic console. Microsoft’s unique ability to take the graphics of the PS3 and the family/party games for the Wii and put it all in one package sets it apart from competition. Perhaps the most envied feature of the Xbox though is Xbox Live, where over the Internet; gamers can play with people all over the world, download game demos and even check Facebook.
“Day after day, Xbox live continues to astonish me. I love having the ability to virtually shoot people from all over the world,” senior hardcore gamer Brian Gibbons said. “I would give my left arm for a subscription to Xbox Live, although that would make it difficult to actually play Xbox Live.”
Another plus is that the Xbox 360 will not break the bank, as it runs anywhere from $150 to $300 depending on how much memory a gamer desires.
With the high-intensity graphic processor of the PS3 and the well rounded fun for everyone in the family Xbox, this is one argument that might never be resolved.
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March 29, 2010
Jules Libertin
After months of cold and bitter weather the snow has finally melted away and the sun has come out— spring is here at last. With the weather warming we find ourselves anxious and eager to get outside and enjoy the spring season. Here are the top five spring activities:
Little Italy in Cleveland
Only an hour away, Little Italy can a be a quick and fun getaway. Located right outside Cleveland Heights, the area is filled with delicious Italian restaurants along with authentic shops, art galleries and music entertainment.
“The food at Little Italy is one of a kind,” senior Michael Francesconi said. “My favorite restaurant is Mama Santa.”
Akron Zoo
For only nine dollars, one can explore the upgraded Akron Zoo. The 50-acre facility is filled with over 700 animals, including the endangered Humboldt penguins, Sumatran tigers and Komodo dragons. The zoo also has many interactive exhibits and a butterfly garden. The zoo’s hours in the spring time are 10 A.M. to 5 P.M.
“The Akron zoo is a surprisingly entertaining activity,” senior Anna Zedar said. “They have done a great job upgrading the area. My favorite exhibit is definitely the bat exhibit.”
Akron Aeros
Akron is home to a minor league baseball team, the Akron Aeros. Located in the center of downtown, the team brings the excitement of baseball to Akron at a low price of $10.00. The fans do not just get a great game but also fireworks on Friday, “Dollar Dog” Mondays and other fun activities every game. The first home game of the season is April 15.
“The games at Central Canal Park are exciting and cheap,” senior David Bott said. “My favorite part is all of the games in between each inning.”
Drive-in movie theater
Instead of being cooped up in a dark theater, how about enjoying a movie clip in the comfort of your car in the great outdoors? The Melody Cruise in Springfield and Blue Sky Drive in Wadsworth are two drive-ins that open in May. The cost of the drive-in is $7.50 per car which includes two movie flicks.
“Drive-in movie theaters are the best,” senior Annie McLaughlin said. “You get two movies for a cheaper price than you would at the movies.”
Metro Parks
Summit County metro parks offer 90,000 acres within 13 parks and six conservations. The parks feature hikes with stunning views, concerts, bicycle routes and picnic areas. The best part about the metro parks is that one can do all of these activities for absolutely no cost.
“With the weather getting nice out it is great to get outdoors,” senior Hannah Karg said. “Metro parks have a lot of great running trails that are better than running on the streets or on a treadmill.”
So whether it is hiking in the woods, exploring the Akron Zoo or taking a visit to Little Italy, it is time to get up, get out and enjoy the weather.
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March 29, 2010
Allison Jackson
Big Ben is in big trouble…again. The two-time Superbowl quarterback hasn’t crashed his motorcycle or injured his throwing arm this time. No, he has been accused of sexual assault for the second time in less than a year. A 20-year-old woman in Milledgeville, Georgia, claims Roethlisberger sexually assaulted her in the women’s restroom at the Capital City Club. The woman was taken to the hospital and later released. Roethlisberger admits there was “sexual contact” but adamantly states that it was consensual.
Pictures of the unnamed woman posing with Roethlisberger have already been posted online. The pictures were taken a few minutes before the alleged assault took place and in both pictures Roethlisberger and the woman appear friendly and close.
Assault charges are not new for the rambunctious Roethlisberger as a similar situation occurred less than a year ago in the summer of 2009. Andrea McNulty, an employee at a Harrah’s casino, alleged sexual assault against Roethlisberger. The 2009 case ended in a settlement but Roethlisberger could find himself before a judge as the woman has hired a lawyer.
An Ohio native who attended Findlay High School, Roethlisberger has had a less-than-perfect criminal record to add to his less-than-perfect season. Starting with his motorcycle accident in June 2006, Roethlisberger has been in the news as many times for run-ins with the law, as he has for victories over the Cleveland Browns.
Despite his past antics, Steelers fans are still shocked and disappointed by these new allegations.
“I’m disappointed but I trust Ben,” junior Riley Kramer said.
The NFL has already stated that even if not convicted, Roethlisberger wil receive some sort of penalty. Some fans are worried that Big Ben has caused more trouble than his $102 million eight-year contract is worth. Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin has already spoken out in regard to the incident.
“I’m highly concerned for our franchise and for Ben personally,” he said.
With the NFL draft approaching, fans are wondering if their beloved number seven could be replaced with a different digit. However, the director of football operations Kevin Colbert assures fans the quarterback position “appears to be set.”
Other fans are more than willing to give Roethlisberger another chance to lead the Steel City to a Superbowl win.
“I’m a little disappointed in him,” junior Casey Mazzotti said. “But people make mistakes and God allows for second chances.”
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March 29, 2010
Johanna Breiding
Cleveland are you ready to rock? Rock and Roll Hall of Fame’s newest inductees: Jimmy Cliff, ABBA, Genesis, The Hollies and the Stooges took their place next to rock legends Pink Floyd, Led Zeppelin, Buddy Holly and many more iconic faces of modern music.
Since 1986, potential inductees have been decided by 500 “rock experts” who evaluate the candidates and vote on who should be inducted. This year over 50 artists were considered. Artists are eligible 25 years after their first recording is released and with over 150,000 square feet of space on seven floors, the museum certainly has enough room for its new additions. So far the names of the other nominees are being kept quiet but will be public soon.
“The inductees represent a great cross-section of artists that define the broad spectrum and history of rock ‘n’ roll and people that have contributed immeasurably to our business,” Joel Peresman, president and CEO of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Foundation, told CNN.
The Hall of Fame doesn’t limit its collection of rock icons to the music stars themselves but also includes the behind-the-scenes individuals and impressive back-up artists such as record executive David Geffen, who was also inducted this year.
The 2010 induction ceremony on March 8, however, did not take place in Cleveland, but in Waldorf Astoria Hotel in New York. Soon after the concert, the group of inductees had their stage outfits, handwritten lyrics and instruments, among other things, opened in the new exhibit.
As more music is made it will become increasingly difficult for new and older artists to get their guitar straps and performance shirts in the glass pyramid building that seems immortalizes artists forever in rock history. By this time next year, another few groups or artists will have been welcomed into the Hall, and maybe someday even Hoban’s own Igor and the Vultures will be welcomed into the hall.
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March 26, 2010
Lindsay Huth
Learning about science is as easy as pie for some students – deep-dish pizza pie, that is. Over spring break, 21 science scholars will travel to Chicago for four days to visit laboratories and museums and, of course, eat pizza.
“I think this is a great chance to be immersed in science for four days,” trip chaperone and science teacher Judy Mohan said. “On field trips we don’t get to visit all of the cool places we could. We will get to see everything from physical to life science in a community that values it.”
The excited students will embark on their science tour on Tuesday, Apr. 6, and, after the seven-hour bus ride, tour Fermilab where energy, intensity and cosmic physics are studied. Experiments such as colliding particles in particle accelerators that are miles in diameter and exploring matter in space occur at the lab.
The following day, the young scientists will visit Argonne National Laboratory, a U.S. Department of Energy lab that investigates alternative and nuclear energy, energy storage, ecological systems and national security technology.
“I am most looking forward to seeing the Argonne lab,” junior Ian Drake said. “They have a particle accelerator there!”
At the Shedd Aquarium, the group will explore its collection of undersea wildlife including octopi, whales, eels and sharks from locations such as the Caribbean reef, the Amazon, the Pacific Northwest and the Indo-Pacific reef.
“The part to which I am looking forward the most is the trip to the Shedd Aquarium, which I very vaguely remember visiting once before when I was either 4 or 5 years old,” senior David Breen said.
After exploring the depths of the ocean below, the students will tour the expanse of the sky above at the Adler Planetarium. Later, they will discover natural history at the Field Museum which features exhibits about evolution, fossils, ecosystems and even Sue, the 13-foot tall dinosaur that is the largest, most complete, best preserved T. Rex fossil.
“I am really excited about going to the Field Museum because it concentrates on living things,” Mohan said. “I am looking forward to seeing the insect zoo there.”
On the last day, Friday, Apr. 9, the group will view the city from atop the Sears Tower, the tallest building in the Western Hemisphere, before heading to the Museum of Science and Industry which boasts Chicago’s greenest home, an Omnimax theater and exhibits covering everything from transportation to genetics.
Of course, the group will take time to relax as well by shopping at Chicago Premium Outlets and on Michigan Avenue, watching movies and enjoying deep-dish pizza.
The trip is the fifth time science teacher Matt Bryant has brought a group to Fermilab, the last trip being two summers ago. New additions to trip include excursions to the Shedd Aquarium, Adler Planetarium, Field Museum and Sears Tower.
“I hope when the kids go to the labs they will learn about science and see how much work it takes to do interesting science,” Bryant said. “I hope they are inspired and it peaks their interest to investigate something.”
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