The Index
The student voice... since 1888
Ευταξια Σωζειν Δοκει
November 2017
Volume LXXX, No. 3
Haverford, Pennsylvania
www.havindex.com
INTEL CHEN ’19
(L to R) Fifth Formers Nick Brill-Edwards, Griffin Wada, and Will Micheletti playing against EA at Talen Energy Stadium this October.
Brady’s boys prepare to take on EA SAMUEL TURNER ’18
Fifth Former Jed Senior laces up his cleats. Standing to his right, Sixth Former Kyle Wagner unties a netted bag, releasing a wave of soc-
cer balls. One of the balls trickles over to Sixth Former Michael Pilkington, who starts kicking it around. Fifth Former Nick Brill-Edwards juggles another. Memorial Field seems large and looming, but soon more balls cut through the thick wind and more players dance on the turf. Another day of soccer practice commences. Today, however, two star players sit on the sidelines. Injury plagues Sixth Form Captains Will Baltrus and Parker Gravina. Baltrus, starting goalie since Fourth Form year, may not return to the field this season, but his presence is still tangible. Head Coach Mr. Bill Brady said, “He’s quietly been doing a great job behind the scenes, with the younger guys especially, keeping them on course and focused through the ups and downs.” Sixth Former Bobby Stratts and Fourth Former William Boyes have defended the net in Baltrus’s absence. Sharing the responsibility, the two goalies have smoothly transitioned into their starting role, with Stratts starting most games and Boyes building his confidence. Fifth Former Dan Calvelli said, “Baltrus’s injury did rattle us, but our other two goalies have stepped in and done an amazing job. And even though he went down, Baltrus has been pushing us from the sidelines, keeping us focused.” Gravina has been in and out of the lineup with a hip injury, but abounding senior leadership and exceptional underclass performance has kept the team in high spirits. “My responsibility as captain,” said Gravina, “is to get the team riled up and playing with passion: every single game requires high intensity.” Sixth Formers Michael Pilkington and Niklas Golz both recently served as in-field captains, and “Younger guys have really stepped up and played
MR. JIM ROESE
Toby Ma ’20 discusses response to national anthem on pg. 3
big roles for us, especially Fourth Formers M.J. Atkins, Mitchell Hark, and Luke Macione,” said Fifth Former Dan Calvelli. The team has drawn enormous strength from the depth of its lineup. The team’s bout of injuries has enabled many younger players to garner experience in competitive games. So far this season, the Fords are 8-8-2; they
While the Inter-Ac title is out of reach, the Fords aim to clinch the PAISAA title this next week. On Friday, November 3rd, the Fords faced Germantown Friends School in the first round of the PAISSA tournament. An overtime goal by Fifth Former Griffin Wada resulted in a 1-0 victory for the Fords. The Fords will face off against Episcopal Academy on Monday, November 6th in the PAISSA quarterfinals. Monday, however, will only be the first matchup against EA that week; the Fords will again battle the Churchmen on Saturday, November 11th: EA Day. Let’s travel back to the Fo rd s’ earlier encounter with the Churchmen this season. The team traveled down to Talen Energy Stadium, home of the Philadelphia Union. The field was pristine, the competition fierce, and the Fords ready. cont. pg. 5
are on track to finish third in the InterAc. In every game, however, “Whether it was Conestoga or South Kent, we haven’t felt like anybody has played better soccer than us,” said Coach Brady.
Ms. Kenna reflects on EA Day on pg. 10
MR. JIM ROESE
Dr. John Nagl cheers on the Fords at EA Day 2016.
BOBBY STRATTS ’18
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The Index - Satire
MATTHEW BAUMHOLTZ ’18 Dear Parents of Prospective Students, I write to you in acknowledgement of the difficult decision that you currently face. I’m aware of the many options that lay before you and, of course, the pressure and anxiety that come with making the best choice for your son’s education. According to last year’s data, 100% of our accepted but non-enrolled students ultimately
chose to attend The Haverford School. This led me to believe that parents thought Haverford was better in some way. This letter will focus on why your kid instead belongs at The Episcopal Academy. Academically, Episcopal is really strong. Haverford may have the most invested teachers, talented students, and a highly-rigorous curriculum, but we have new smart boards and
November 2017
EA’s admission pitch: November 11, 2017
iPads. If you’re looking for the most supportive environment for your son to learn and thrive in through his teenage years, you may be thinking Haverford is a no-brainer. I’m not gonna say that’s wrong, but I urge you to not judge Episcopal just by academic and communal standards because athletically, nobody compares to us. Haverford may be able to make an argument that they have better programs in squash, tennis,
basketball, football, ice hockey, water polo, swimming and diving, track and field, soccer, lacrosse, baseball, golf, and cross country. They may point to the fact, historically, that we have only had the sweater 11 years compared to Haverford’s 20. They may also point to the fact that we haven’t had the sweater in a decade. But, let me ask you this: if you know everything, how is Haverford’s bike polo team? Exactly, nonexistent. So, if you really want to choose a school based on academics, environment, and athletics, go ahead and choose Haverford. But if you want a fantastic, undefeated bike polo program and cold sweaterless winters, you know which place is for you. Sincerely, Episcopal Academy Admissions Office
If you’re looking for empty fields without athletes to fill them, Episcopal Academy is for you.
EPISCOPALACADEMY.ORG
PHOTO ART BY INDEX STAFF
Looking forward to service events BO BRADY ’21 Seniors Alex Ciardi, Eusha Hasan, and Zach Mattiola are once again leading the Rowan House Tutoring. They and many others have been traveling up to North Philly for a couple hours every Friday night. They teach and bond with younger children from the city. Volunteers do not have to attend every week, though they are suggested to come when they are available. Contact Alex Ciardi, Ms. Loos, or any other Service Board member if you are interested. The 16th Annual Buddy Walk was on October 1st. Participants enjoyed a fun-filled day among children with Down Syndrome. Participants had a amazing time interacting with the kids. Villanova hosted a great event with many exciting games. Along with students from Agnes Irwin, participants had a spooky day. Participants dressed
up and set up a trail to scare younger children. The money collection was substantial, and everyone had a great time. The trail in Gladwyne was a hot spot on October 21st. The Can Drive kicks off on November 6th. Can donations to those in need are expected of all students and would be greatly appreciated. Help collect, sort, and box cans for the Annual Can Drive during your free periods. Contact Miss Loos for information; it is a simple deed for a good cause. Students went to Episcopal’s campus this past weekend for PB and J Club. A combined effort from AIS, EA, and Haverford students resulted in the production of nearly 1000 sandwiches. Contact Matt Tucker or Samuel Turner about next month’s PB and J Club. Students from Haverford and Agnes Irwin participate in Empty Bowls biannually.
MS. DAWN BLAKE
The Index’s 2017-2018 Staff P.J. Rodden ’18, Samuel Turner ’18, Nick Chimicles ’19, Editors-in-Chief Neetish Sharma ’19, News Editor Eusha Hasan ’18, Features Editor Toby Ma ’20, Assistant Features Editor Will Henderson ’18, Opinions Editor John Comai ’18, Opnions Editor Grant Sterman ’18, Politics Editor Robert Esgro ’19, Assistant Politics Editor
Lleyton Winslow ’20, Head Web Editor Noah Rubien ’20, Web Editor T.J. Malone ’18, Web Editor Payton Hollway ’18, Web Editor Aditya Sardesai ’20, Web Editor
Gaspard Vadot ’18, Arts Editor Vincent Scauzzo ’20, Assistant Arts Editor Matt LaRocca ’18, Sports Editor Nick Pippis ’19, Assistant Sports Editor Ms. Alicia Evans, Faculty Advisor Bobby Stratts ’18, Staff Photographer Mr. Thomas Stambaugh, Faculty Advisor
All opinions and viewpoints expressed herein do not necessarily reflect those of The Index or the school. The Index is designed and produced digitally. Photographs may be retouched. Submissions and letters to the editors regarding any and all articles are welcomed at index@ haverford.org. The Index is a student-run publication of the Haverford School that does more than bring news: it provides the diverse perspectives of the Haverford student body. It is an outlet for student writers to take stands on issues they deem important. It chronicles the daily struggles and accomplishments of the Haverford community. The Index also provides a forum for discussion of pertinent issues, such as student culture, academic policy, and Haverford’s place in world affairs. The Index presents new ideas and aspires to influence constructive change. The Index, a member of the Columbia Scholastic Press Association, is composed on Mac OS X, using Adobe InDesign CS 2017. Its surveys are conducted via SurveyMonkey and are advertised on Facebook to current Haverford students. Graphic designs are created by Index staff via Canva. Southern Dutchess News prints 200-400 copies of each issue, and its editorial staff distributes them in the Upper School on the day of release. The Index serves the needs of a total school population of 1091 community members, consisting of 975 students and 116 faculty members. Contact The Index: 450 Lancaster Ave, Haverford, PA 19041 index@haverford.org Twitter: @Haverford_Index http://www.havindex.com/ (610) 642-3020 x. 1222 Volume LXXX, No. 3 - November 8, 2017
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The Index - Features
Football Fords reflect on anthem protests TOBY MA ’20 The current football season has been peppered with player protests during the national anthem, a time-honored American pregame ritual. Budding from former NFL player Colin Kaepernick’s refusal to stand for the national anthem last year, the protests have spread across almost every NFL team. These protests have sparked a divisive debate over honor and patriotism, with team owners and even the President himself weighing in on the matter. Due to the high amount of media coverage, the debate has diffused into the “semipermeable membrane” of the Haverford community, entering conversations between players and coaches. Fourth Former Kwaku Adubofour, who identifies as African American, is a member of the Haverford football, wrestling, and track and field teams. He believes the protests are effective in the national conversation of racial injustice. “I feel as if the protests are a really good way to draw attention to an issue most Americans who aren’t Black don’t really understand,” said Adubofour. “The act of protesting is supposed is a way to express disapproval or objection to something. This doesn’t work without making [someone] uncomfortable, upset, or sometimes angry… All protests are ‘disrespectful’ and disturb the peace; that’s just the nature of a protest.” Sixth Former Tyler Campbell, another African American football player, agrees with Adubofour’s sentiment. “I think black players kneeling during the anthem is good because [there are] professional athletes choosing to use their platform to take a stance and bring awareness to something that affects them as African Americans and the African American community as a whole,” Campbell said. “The act of kneeling or any form of peaceful protesting is completely allowed because it is merely exercising one’s First Amendment rights, and it in no way disrupts from the actual playing of the game,” Campbell said. “[It] is a sign of respect and solidarity; it is common to kneel in sporting events when a player is injured or in places of worship like church; how could this be disrespectful?” Associate Athletic Director and Head Football
INTEL CHEN ’19
Coach Michael Murphy disagrees with his players’ opinions. Although he believes that protest is necessary for democracy, he does not believe that the national anthem is the correct platform. “I personally am not in favor of NFL players, or any players for that matter, kneeling, sitting, etc., during the national anthem,” said Coach Murphy, “However, that does not mean that I don’t believe in the right to do so. College and high school players have the right to protest if they choose. I just personally disagree with the choice of the anthem/flag as the medium.” “To me,” Mr. Murphy said, “the flag and the anthem are representative of the Constitution and values that this country was founded upon and exists on currently, the principles and values that represent rights, freedoms, and liberty for all people, and to me that is not flawed. I would just rather see people protest in a different or more directed way, at the level where the injustices are
occurring.” Despite the questions concerning the validity of protesting during the national anthem, Campbell and Adubofour both agree that the protests work to spur positive change. “The protests have drawn so much attention that NFL players and owners are meeting to discuss trying to use the owners’ money and influence to enact change,” said Adubofour. “This interview itself is evident of this [the effectiveness of protests],” Campbell said. “The protesting has made national news headlines and magazine covers; it’s impossible to miss.” Adubofour also noted that NFL players are also doing much more beyond protesting to advance their cause. “NFL players are not only taking knees,” said Adubofour, “But are speaking to their local officials and police departments to try and better the situation.” Coach Murphy agrees with Adubofour’s point,
November 2017
acknowledging that “more of the players (NFL players specifically) are actively getting involved in working to advance the areas where there are inequalities and being proactive in working toward solutions.” Thus far, the football team and Coach Murphy have clearly articulated their personal opinions on the topic, and they have reached an agreement on how a player should protest if he so chooses. “As a school and team, we discussed this and requested that anyone who would prefer to not stand during the anthem… could remain in the locker room during the playing of the national anthem,” said Coach Murphy. According to Adubofour, two members of the football team have decided to practice this right. “They [The players and Coach Murphy] discussed taking a knee with our coach, and our coach gave us an option to read an excerpt from the Constitution…or stay in the locker room until the anthem finished.” If a Haverford athlete in football or another sport decided to kneel during the national anthem, Adubofour and Campbell both contend that the reaction from the Haverford community would be divisive. “[The protest] would probably create lots of discussion,” said Adubofour. “Some of [which] would be heated…The community would probably be split into two parts, the supporters and the opposers.” “I doubt the Haverford community would support a player in any sport kneeling for the anthem,” Campbell said. “Much of the community is uninformed about the racism that exists in this country today and how it affects so many minorities on a daily basis.” Coach Murphy still believes that the national anthem, while the subject of an intense debate today, can also become a point of reconciliation. “I am saddened by the fact that we are so divided as a nation at this time,” Coach Murphy told the football team. “I see the respectful, civil disagreement and debate on various issues as vital to our democracy and what makes this country great, but to me the ceremony of standing together during the playing of the national anthem should be a symbol to the rest of the world… While we disagree on many things, we are together on being American citizens and the principles inherent in that.”
MR. JIM ROESE
The Fords and Coach Murphy during the national anthem at EA Day 2016.
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The Index - Sports
November 2017
Harriers “healthy and fresh”
Merhige’s secret: generosity
GRANT STERMAN ’18
VINCENT SCAUZZO ’20
The cross country team has enjoyed much Tim Lengel ’07 said, “These success this season. Finishing with a dual other races have been like meet record of 2-1-1 and a 2nd place finish mini EA Days. They have at Inter-Acs, they are in a great position to been preparation for what’s continue their winning streak on EA Day. In going to go on. A lot of cross addition to their rigorous training, the cross country is just visualization: country team has used their tight-knit bond sitting by yourself for 10 to push themselves towards victory. As Sixth minutes and thinking ‘Okay Form Captain Mark Gregory said, “At the what’s it gonna be like beginning of the season all the at mile 2 when I’m captains agreed the best way already tired.’ These for the team to do well was to guys know the EA foster strong relationships course. So a lot between the team of it is thinking members. It is very through these difficult to run things.” alone, and for In a sport where the past few years we have won our meets w i t h p a c k running, we agreed that if we build a good s t a y i n g relationship between concentrated and the team we all will calm are key, EA Day run much faster.” has the potential to throw Despite their some runners off their overall success, game. Merhige said, “The the team’s previous crowd is always a unique races against EA factor on EA Day. Cross have not been the easiest. country is not exactly After a contentious tie in their dual the most spectator-friendly meet, a solid win at Inter-Acs, then sport, so we don’t race in front a surprising loss at States, the team of our classmates very often. has put in extra preparation within The key to this is staying calm these final weeks to ensure a win on at the start, and not taking Saturday. Captain Will Merhige the race out too fast.” At the sums up this year’s Haverford-EA end of the day, EA Day always rivalry: “I think if we race a healthy and seems to bring the best out fresh top 7 on EA Day, we have a very strong of the Haverford runners. chance of coming out on top. We suffered Whether it be because of from injury and sickness issues at States, so the momentous nature of that result is a bit misleading. Either way, the occasion or because it it should be a great race. In the three is the last race of the season, races against EA, we have tied, won, every runner will be pouring and lost.” his heart into the race. Coach Captain Gregory said, “There Lengel said, “It’s a very big moment is a very solid chance we will beat for our guys. Every race you’re wearing EA, but there is no room for error. that Haverford H on your chest and you’re Their team is nearly as fast as representing your school, and that’s a special ours, and we need for all of thing you don’t get to do very often. What makes our runners, including EA Day special is the tradition; it’s the biggest the younger guys, to crowd we get all year.” As Haverford goes for its perform well.” tenth straight EA Day victory, cross country will Because of the close be an exciting and hopefully victorious race for level between the two teams, the Fords. the Fords have strategized for the unique circumstances A.J. Sanford ’21 kicks to the finish against SCHA on September 26. that EA Day brings. Coach
The crowd goes wild! Will Merhige wins again! Winning is not something uncommon to Merhige, the fastest runner on the cross country team. Whether at a big invitational or a dual meet, he is always pursuing first place. Merhige joined cross country in his sophomore year. He initially ran to fill a sports requirement and to have fun because his brother and captain at that time, Peter Merhige ’16, assured him he would enjoy himself. Cross-country coach Mr. Tim Lengel ’07 said, “When Will joined the team, he was very much a JV guy. He was not terribly fast. He worked hard and he was a great guy, but he didn’t quite have the success he wanted, so to Will’s enormous credit he followed Coach Long’s training packet over the summer.” During sophomore year, Merhige’s best time was around 20:40 for the 5K race, a respectable time for a JV athlete. Merhige transformed himself from an average JV runner to one of the biggest assets to the cross country team. During his junior year, the cross country team was the best it had been in fifteen years. W i n n i n g both Inter-Acs and EA Day, the team was indeed very successful, and Will, running mid-seventeen minute 5Ks, contributed to those wins. “In the past years, I definitely looked up to the captains, (Charlie) Scales and (Anthony) Calvelli,” said Merhige. “So if there is one thing I can do I just hope that through working hard every day I can maybe inspire one of the younger guys that the improvement is achievable. No matter how fast you are now, you can work over the summer and you can work through the school year and you can get those times down.” What motivated Merhige to get where he is now? “There was always that goal of winning EA Day. Fall sports have a certain allure because of EA Day. Being a Lifer and going to that rally and seeing the captains go off and speak in the gym and going to the Day, seeing
MR. JIM ROESE
guys ten years older than you running or playing soccer or football, there was always that goal of competing on EA Day,” said Merhige. Will had played soccer prior to running cross country in middle school and Third Form year, but he lost interest. ‘I would not do it in middle school, just because I really enjoyed soccer in middle school and I would not just do it because I was good at it, I would do it because I enjoy it, but I do wish that I had started freshman year and taken it seriously sophomore year. I also wish I had run track all three seasons for all years of high school,” said Merhige. Sixth Form Co-Captain Mark Gregory believes Will changed over the years you have run with him. He said, “Will did not care about cross country in sophomore year. He would run 22 (minutes 5Ks) casually. But then, over the summer, he got serious about it and decided he wanted to actually train over the summer.” That next year, Merhige ran harder than pretty much anyone on the entire team and dropped five minutes off his time. Merhige and Gregory have both led the team well. Gregory said, “Will has been fun. He is always trying to make the team better. He is more of a lead-by-example kind of guy. He may not always scream and shout and tell everyone what to do, but he is always displaying the right kind of example.” This season, by once again following the summer training packet, Merhige managed to advance himself even more. So much so that most often he runs separately from the rest of the team. “For much of the season he has been doing doubles,” said Coach Lengel, “running in the morning by himself and then coming to practice and running as well. We often say it is much easier to work together and to make each other better. Will does not really have that luxury because he is so excellent. He in some ways has the harder task of doing this all pushing himself when there is no one else around.” Coach Lengel and Gregory have nothing but positive remarks and gratitude when it comes to the impact Merhige has had on the team. Coach Lengel said, “Honestly, I would thank him for being a great captain. He was a pretty quiet sophomore and he has turned into a great leader, a generous captain, a guy who leads by example. He’s turned into a really fine young man and an example for the younger guys on the team. That’s the highest compliment I can give.” Merhige will be attending and running for Amherst College next year, and we wish him the best of luck this weekend and beyond. Will Merhige ’18 leads the Fords to victory in a 15-45 win over SCHA on September 26.
MR. JIM ROESE
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The Index - Sports
November 2017
INTEL CHEN ‘19
Will Baltrus ’18 watches from afar as his team works their way up the field.
The Fords soccer team experienced an unfortunate loss this season: Sixth Former Will Baltrus, starting goalie, will not play on EA Day due to an injury. While playing against the Hill School last month, Baltrus tore his PCL when colliding with a striker, requiring 20 doublethreaded stitches. “A PCL tear takes about eight weeks to fully rehabilitate, so my doctor told me that I cannot train or play until then,” Baltrus said. During games, Baltrus was the voice of the team, overseeing the field and directing players. “He was the loudest and most aware,” said Sixth Former Emilio Fink. “His tenacity to attack the ball whenever his net was threatened exemplified how the team had to play. He was the captain on the pitch, controlling and maintaining the energy of the team.” At first, the team was shaken from losing their starting goalie, a captain, and friend on the field. “Having Baltrus not on the field is a
set back. As a three-year member of the varsity soccer team, he brought a sense of leadership and intelligence in certain game situations, which he compiled over the past couple years,” said Sixth Former Bobby Stratts, who now substitutes as goalie along with Fourth Former William Boyes. Losing Baltrus certainly hit the team hard; however, he continuously makes an effort to boost morale during practice. His keen eye and well-versed soccer background have made Baltrus a mentor for the younger players. Still vocal on the sidelines, he always shares snippets of advice, including tips to Stratts and Boyes during goalkeeper warm ups. Stratts said, “He tries to not only help me as the person filling in his shoes, but the entire team to be better. He always notices when things are going well and when they are not.” Baltrus has appeared at every single game after his injury, continuing to fill his leadership role; he still directs players just as he did while goalkeeping. “His leadership never
dies throughout any game or any situation,” Stratts said. With Baltrus’ full-fledged support, the team has bounced back. The team uses his injury to galvanize their final push towards the end of the season, culminating in EA Day. The players on the soccer squad are confident that they will win the EA Day soccer game. “While our record in the Inter-Ac is mediocre, we have shown that we can beat any team,” said Fifth Former Nick BrillEdwards. “On top of this, we had the privilege to play EA at Talen Energy Stadium earlier this year, in which we may have only tied, but
Brady’s boys, cont. Walking into the professional stadium was “surreal,” said Gravina. “We dominated the game and Niklas Golz had a great goal, but we gave up a last-minute goal again; it went to overtime, and we couldn’t put it in the back of the net.”
certainly played well enough to beat EA.” Baltrus can only help so much on the sidelines, but he is still confident that Haverford will beat EA in soccer. “Bobby and Will have done a phenomenal job in between the sticks in my absence,” said Baltrus. Rest assured, the net is in good hands, even without Baltrus on the field. Baltrus encourages his teammates to seize the moment on EA day. “It provides a chance to show our superiority in comradery and our ability to perform in the spotlight,” Baltrus said. Although his presence on the field is greatly missed, Baltrus’ uplifting spirit will hopefully propel the Fords Soccer Team to victory against EA.
Nick Brill-Edwards ‘19 strides out against Conestoga on September 22.
Last-minute goals, however, also show the Fords’ impressive potential to clinch the PAISAA Championship and EA Day this week. Calvelli said, “Our confidence to play every single game giving any team in the country a good game
the next
has been our greatest strength so far.” This is exactly the attitude Fords will embody over this week. Tying EA at Talen Energy
Coach Brady fires up the team during half-time against Conestoga.
INTEL CHEN ‘19
Stadium has motivated the team to finish their season on a high note. “As my potentially last time on the field playing for Haverford, it would mean the world to win on EA Day,” said Gravina.
INTEL CHEN ‘19
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The Index - Sports
November 2017
MR. JIM ROESE
Matej Sekulic ’20 looks for an open shot against Pennington on September 22.
Approaching EA Day with a record of 14-7, water polo looks to win on EA Day for the second consecutive year. Although the Fords failed to achieve their ultimate goal of winning the InterAc, they grew as a team and as men under the guidance and leadership from Head Coach Kevin Van Such. With a strong Sixth Form class leading the way, the Fords won a key league game against Germantown Academy on October 31st. “It put our team
back on the right track,” said Sixth Former Captain Matthew LaRocca. Without the guidance of these captains and the extraordinary coaching staff, this win, along with many others, would have never been possible. “Senior leadership has been terrific. Despite being an eighth grader, I feel like I have been on the team for years,” said Second Former, Jake LaRocca. Episcopal Academy, who fell to Haverford in their first encounter, looks to avenge their loss last year on EA Day. The Fords need to be ready to
play on November 11th, since a win is essential to retain the sweater for another year. “EA will come out hungry when we play them on EA Day. They have some strong players and will put up a fight,” said Fourth Former David Gobora. Haverford’s matchup against Episcopal will surely be a game a fan does not want to miss. It will be a tough game for both sides and could determine which school walks away with the sweater. Either team could prove victorious; it is simply a matter of which team fights harder to win. With
such great senior leadership and a magnificent coaching staff, the Fords have a great chance to win on EA Day.
Biddle credits Coach Van Such and Assistant Coach Sean Hansen for his development. “Coach Van Such and Hansen has been teaching me the basics skills and giving me plenty of opportunities to actually play the game throughout the year,” said Biddle. Biddle also credits Goalie Coach Bodle for his progress. While Coach Bodle is not around as much as the other coaches, Bodle’s impact has been just as tremendous. “Coach Bodle has helped me develop more advanced goalie skills. He has given me packets with different goalie techniques and styles,” Biddle said. The Fords have a 13-7 record so far, qualifying for the Beast of the East Flight 2 Championship.
Despite the team’s winning record with Biddle in the net, he still struggles to live up to Tricolli’s legacy. “It’s been tough living up to M.J.’s legacy. He was the best goalie in the Inter-Ac last year. There are times where I wish M.J. was there to step in and save the day but thankfully the team as a whole has filled that role.” Of all the games on the 2017 Haverford Water Polo schedule, none is more appealing to Biddle then EA Day. “It’s always been a dream of mine to play on EA Day, and I now have the opportunity. It’s also the last game I’ll play with the current seniors. They have made my experience awesome and memorable, so it will be nice to get,
hopefully, one more win with them.”
Biddle rules from the net MATT LAROCCA ‘18 Last year, the water polo team finished with a 17-9 record, one of the best in school history. Highlights of the season include finishing fourth at the prestigious Easterns tournament and beating Penn Charter in their pool for the first time in history. The team’s former backbone was starting goalie M.J. Tricolli. Tricolli finished as a firstteam Inter-Ac selection and was named MVP of the team. After Tricolli graduated this past June, Head Coach Kevin Van Such selected Fifth Former Nick Biddle in hopes of bringing in similar success as their starting goalie. As the season has progressed, Biddle has only grown stronger as a team player and as a goalie.
Nick Biddle ’19 reaches out to save an oncoming shot against Pennington.
MR. JIM ROESE
T.J. Brooks ’18 takes a shot against Brunswick on September 22.
MR. JIM ROESE
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The Index - Sports
November 2017
Gridiron Fords ready to rebound against Churchmen MATT MIGNUCCI ’20
One of the most significant challenges and also one of the most hyped events of EA Day is the classic Haverford vs. EA football game. Last year the Fords won the football game in a nail-biting thriller with a tight 21-19 victory that went down to the wire, and this year will likely be similar. Unlike previous seasons, Ford’s Football has not been getting the results that they have been hoping for, but with a league game coming up this Saturday against SCHA, and the long-awaited EA game the following week, there is a lot that can change for the Fords in the coming weeks. With all of the hype and emotion surrounding EA Day, it can be easy to get distracted and lose focus while on the field and while practicing. “When you play in a rivalry game the emotion is high, but that is more about the build-up, and early going in the game, then things settle in, and it just becomes a football game. Usually, the team who can execute and remain consistent throughout the game wins … For the players I always encourage them to embrace this type of atmosphere, enjoy it and remember it. It is so much fun to be a part of and something that they remember forever,” said Head Coach Murphy. Since the Ford’s have not had the best season so far, Coach Murphy said, “Football is a tough game that is unique in the sense that you only play once a week, ten games a season. In between each game is a full week of hard, mentally and physically draining practice, which can be monotonous at times. I am not sure that we embraced that as much this season as some of our recent teams have. It is a tough game, played by tough people, and you have to love that grind.” With some crucial games coming up in the Ford’s schedule, Coach Murphy is aware of the changes that need to be made to finish the season strong. “I need to do a much better job as the Head Coach of this football team. We will be taking a long, hard look at a lot of things this coming offseason so that we are finding ways of fixing what the problems were this year. My immediate focus is on winning the EA day game. It is one of those games that no matter what the records are, there is a huge satisfaction in winning this game. I’d like to see this year’s team go out with a memory of a win at EA.” Despite the lackluster results, the players remain optimistic going into the final stretch of
their season. Fourth Former D’Amico Massimo Amici said, “Even though this h a s n’t been the season we were hoping for, I think
Germantown Academy and Springside Chestnut Hill Academy. Their only Inter-Ac loss was to the first seed team, Malvern Prep. Despite a season o f adversity, Coach Murphy and the team have shown the determination and resilience to finish out strong. The Fords are more prepared than before and are ready to take on Episcopal in their final showcase on EA Day.
there are still positive and negative things we can take away from this season. I think the way we stood together as a team and always gave our 100% effort was great to see. I think we lacked a little leadership on the team and that was shown after our non-league games and also into the league games. Right now, the team is just trying to focus on finishing out the season strong and especially winning on EA Day. If this season has taught us anything, it has been never to underestimate any team and to always prepare for every game like it is against the best team.” Episcopal’s team has been solid this year, with a 5-3 record and notable wins over
INDEX STAFF
Nate Whittaker ’19 on top of a GA opponent.
MR. JIM ROESE
Gerber’s perspective behind the line ADAM SALVAGGIO ’19 For the last three years, Haverford football has cherished the talent from former quarterbacks Kevin Carter and Tommy Toal. It is now Fifth Former Ben Gerber’s opportunity to fill their role. Toal and Carter boasted an undefeated record against EA, a feat that Gerber hopes to replicate with a key win on EA Day. “Sitting behind Tommy has helped me a lot in being the starter. Watching him showed me how to lead the team. I was lucky to be able to learn from him for my first two years,” said Gerber. Gerber was aware of the immense task ahead and the challenges that he would face going into this season. “Playing at the varsity level everyone is faster and every play develops faster which takes some getting used to.” Gerber was quick to credit the coaching staff and long hours of film for guiding him through this adjustment. “Coach Murphy and the rest of the offensive coaches have helped me immensely. Each week we spend hours watching the opposing defenses.” The new face of Haverford football has not had the smoothest transition into his role. The season is off to a rocky start with a tough out-of-conference schedule producing a 1-7 start. Imhotep Charter, the strongest of these opponents, gave Haverford the most struggle. Gerber, however, was not phased by the stiff competition, throwing two touchdowns as the Fords fell 42-14. Despite the poor results, the game provided confidence for Gerber. “The Imhotep game was big for me. It proved I can be successful against even the toughest competition.” Gerber was adamant that their losing record will not affect their motivation going into the final weeks of the season. “Our team has tried to keep a positive attitude going into every week and focus on playing for the pride of our school.” The fact that this is expected to be the closest EA day in years only motivates the team and Gerber more. “This game obviously receives a lot more hype, and it can means a lot more to the team.”
A huge win over EA would put a positive spin on a difficult season for the Fords. For Gerber,
it would keep him on track to repeat the success that Carter and Toal created.
Ben Gerber ’19 lines up against Penn Charter.
MR. JIM ROESE
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The Index - Sports
November 2017
Golfers swing for one last victory at EA DANIEL CHOW ‘20 feels pressure, but it’s the way that people handle that pressure that separates the good golfers from the great golfers. It’s the same game and the same course-the risks are just higher,” said Baker. On EA Day, Baker will be pairing up with Fifth Former David Hurly, another exceptional player on the team. Leading the team with the most individual wins, Hurly’s consistency has been phenomenal. Finishing second in the overall Inter-Ac rankings this year and winning the InterAc tournament at Blue Stone, Hurly will be a key player in the EA Day showdown. The team’s numerous talented players and its passionate drive makes Haverford a truly intimidating opponent for EA to face. The Fords are looking forward to the match on November 12th, as they yearn for yet another chance to crush the EA golf team. While they have already claimed victory in the Inter-Ac, defeating their rivals on EA day carries great weight. The match will surely be great for both teams, as it will be the culmination of long hours of practice and preparation and an opportunity for one of the rival teams to come out on top to prove themselves as superior. Although Haverford beat EA last
year, EA’s golf
team should not be disregarded. EA is still one of the top teams in the league and also performs at a high level. Their senior class is full of skilled individuals that will not falter easily, as they are very passionate for the longing taste of victory. Haverford’s dominance over the regular season should put minds to ease. If the Fords continue their stellar performance, They are bound to come home with yet another golf victory on EA Day.
MR. JIM ROESE
Charlie Baker ’20 lines up at Sunnybrook Golf Course on September 18.
to Buo ne n ZI M M fo oco ER ’2 r e re 1 xc s el ets le nc e
After winning the Inter-Ac Championship this season over EA by a total of five wins, The golf team is looking to outperform EA once again in their upcoming EA Day match. Recently, the team took on EA during the Haverford Cup, a head-to-head tournament spanning across three days. Haverford took home the victory, despite a close score, and hopes it stands as a statement to their high level of play, especially, against the rival, EA. The team is lead by Sixth Formers Tyler Roland and Cal Buonocore, and coached by Mr. Costin, Mr. Upton, and Mr. Cloran. The golf team has been looking forward to defeating their long-time rivals once again during this year’s EA Day. The crucial impact of these leadership roles can be seen in the team’s amazing work ethic, specifically, their tireless hours of preparation during the season. During the regular season, Haverford participates in six Inter-Ac tournaments against the other five teams in the league. Each team hosts a tournament at their home course once, and after the course of a long and arduous day, each team’s top six scores are totaled and compared. This fall season, Haverford won four out of the six tournaments, with EA winning the other two. The Fords have been said to be the strongest in quite a while, with a unique combination of veteran players and young talent. For Fourth Former Charlie Baker, this means a significant amount of pressure on EA Day. Having finished in second place in the Inter-Ac Individual Championship, a strokeplay competition between the twenty four best players in the Inter-Ac, Baker has proven himself as a valuable member of the team. His precision and skill on the greens placed him on top of the leaderboards during the final Inter-Ac tournament, where he tied with a senior from Penn Charter for first place with a score of 34, an astounding seven strokes under the average for the tournament. As a Fourth Former, Baker will be playing on EA Day for only his second time. “Everyone
TY
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Most people who think of golf imagine the preppy polo shirts and the laborious four hours of lugging a bag over one’s shoulder. Nail biters and golf are not usually synonymous, but in this year’s Haverford-EA day competition, the stakes are high. Every hole could be a turn of events, leading to a victory or defeat, setting the tone for the competitions to follow. One of the student-athletes at the helm of a vital event in EA day is Sixth Former and Co-Captain Cal Buonocore. Cal has maintained a consistent and steady stream of low scores, shooting just a few over par in nearly every one of his matches. These scores placed him in the top two or three more often than not. His presence provides leadership to his fellow teammates on and off the golf course. Varsity Coach Gui Costin said, “[Cal] is a very mature young man, who is thoughtful, responsive, consistent with his attitude as he is the same after shooting a 34 or a 40, a complete team player who brings everyone along and only speaks positively about his teammates.” Cal Buonocore sets the tone for his teammates and could be the deciding factor of the EA day golf event. With the right preparation and Cal’s leadership, Coach Costin thinks Haverford will be able come out on top on EA Day.
Cal Buonocore ’18 takes a swing at Sunnybrook Golf Course on September 18.
MR. JIM ROESE
INDEX STAFF
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The Index - Features
November 2017
Student fan section poised to return in force against EA EUSHA HASAN ’18
In September, Coach Michael Murphy sent a mass email to the upper school, bringing disheartening news: Haverford was not recognized in the sixteen-best student sections in southeastern Pennsylvania among independent schools, whereas long-time rivals EA and Malvern Prep made the cut. He urged students to “step up our game when its comes to supporting our teams,” calling on the Fieldhouse Phanatic to start the movement. Coach Murphy’s email prompts a difficult question for the Haverford community: What has happened with the student fan section, and what can the student body do to turn the tide back to Haverford’s glory days? In past years, the student section at games was packed with students of all forms, looking to enjoy the night with their brothers as they faced competitors across the Inter-Ac; however, attendance at games has dropped drastically this year. “The sports attendance at Haverford this year has been good, but not at all to its full potential, Fourth Former Matt Mignucci said. “Last year we had a lot more students showing out for the sporting events, and this year there haven’t been as many students coming to the games.” What could be causing attendance to diminish? According to Coach Murphy, “Many of our students are involved in other extracurricular activities when teams are playing. If you look at the best turnouts that I see around the Inter-Ac
and other leagues, they are at night games, when only one game in the school is being played. Unfortunately we don’t have that option.” Sixth Former Samuel Turner mentions a temporary, Sixth Form-specific issue. “[Attendance] lowers because of [college] applications,” Turner said. “When students finish applications, they will go [to games] more because they will likely miss high school games.” Sixth Former Ryan Sanfilippo sheds light on a more logistical issue. “I definitely think that it would help to have football games on Friday night rather than Saturday afternoon,” he said. Luckily these issues are not permanent, otherwise senior attendance would be deficient throughout the whole school year. Sixth Former Will Yoh believes seniors must start setting an example for younger students. “When people hear [seniors] are going, they themselves are more likely to go,” Yoh said. Once the issues Sanfilippo raised are resolved, more seniors should show up at games, hopefully driving underclassmen to attend. Fortunately, the Fieldhouse Phanatic has taken the initiative to promote higher attendance at games. In addition to his regular “pump-up” announcements for sporting events in the fan section Facebook group, he has also organized tailgates with fellow seniors. “For home football games, we have had student-led tailgates in the
red lot which have been successful in attracting more students and giving us a chance to bond,” the Fieldhouse Phanatic said. Mignucci believes the Fieldhouse Phanatic has been successful making people excited to attend games, particularly underclassmen. “He has done a great job getting everyone hype this year,” Mignucci said. “There’s also been tailgating and awesome themes throughout the year, so as long as students stay informed and are encouraged to show out, I think they will.” Other students have also brainstormed methods to motivate students to attend games. Fifth Former Sam Gavula said, “There could be some sort of incentive, like a form competition for a dress down day at the end of the sports seasons.” However, the Fieldhouse Phanatic disagrees, commenting, “There’s no way to force students to come to games; it’s as simple as that. But hopefully bringing awareness to the lack of support for our teams will give everyone a wake up call to show out to the games.” Mr. Green, a proponent of establishing “norms,” would more than likely agree with the Fieldhouse Phanatic’s sentiment. Regardless of how much attendance suffers, sports have and will always be integral to life at Haverford. “Haverford wants to produce wellrounded kids,” Deck said, “I think watching the plays, seeing the art exhibits, participating
Fans cheering on the Fords at a soccer game versus Conestoga.
in community service opportunities, and watching athletic events helps develop that well-roundedness.” Gavula agreed, adding, “It is great to see your friends doing what they love on the field, court, and pool, where they can be themselves.” From an adult’s perspective, Coach Murphy reminds students that the athletic culture at Haverford is ephemeral, so students should seize the opportunity to attend games when they can. “Whenever we see alumni come back, they always talk about playing in front of crazy crowds, or being at games where the crowd was crazy and loud. Those are the experiences that you cannot recreate later in life -- so take advantage of them now … More and more our world is becoming self focused, and this is a chance to be part of a group enjoying something together.” The sports culture at Haverford has certainly shifted, but the issue is not irreversible: if seniors step up (hopefully by second semester) and rally the whole school around Haverford’s vibrant sports culture, then Haverford will be restored back to its glory days. Hopefully Haverford will be nominated next year as a top-16 section student among southeastern Pennsylvania independent schools.
INTEL CHEN ’19
Fords flashback: EA Day 1988 GASPARD VADOT ’18 On Friday, November 11, 1988, the Episcopal Academy came to Haverford’s campus on Lancaster Avenue with a blue and maroon sweater. By the end of the day, the Churchmice had lost sight of the stripes on the sleeves of the sweater for the first time. On that day, a tradition of victory begun for the Fords, a tradition that is still alive today and has been for the past decade. Haverford’s football rivalry with the Episcopal Academy, which turns 128 years old this year, has long been a part of fall competitions at Haverford, along with soccer beginning in 1910. The winner of the game, of course, earned bragging rights. In 1980, the two schools decided that it was time to reinvent EA Day: it was time for the Era of the Sweater to begin. Since 1980, the crosscountry, soccer and football teams have competed in the fall, fighting to take home the Sweater, a sewn composition of a blue EA sweater and a maroon Haverford sweater. It took Haverford eight years to bring the sweater home. From 1980 to 1986, the sweater remained at Episcopal. In 1987, there was hope for a Haverford win, but the competitions of the second weekend of November ended in a disappointing tie. All eyes were on 1988 to prevent the Churchmice from using any more white thread on the sweater. Back then, the cross-country meet against Episcopal usually happened earlier in the year, so the Fords would get a taste of what was coming based on the result of that meet. Haverford’s runners demolished the meek Churchmice with a score of 15-42 for the second year in a row, despite a long streak of losses in past years. At this point, excitement grew as the boys knew that great things were coming; the sweater would soon find a new home. The entire school was counting down the
days to November 11, as increasing excitement filled the halls of the school every day. The 1989 Haligoluk reported that in the days leading up to the games, phrases were being used such as “Sweep EA!” and “Can EA!” and, for the first time, the Fords truly believed it. EA Day 1988 finally arrived on a windy November day, bringing the two rivals together on Haverford’s campus to watch the two soccer teams battle it out. The “Tattamen,” named after Haverford’s soccer coach Mr. Joe Tatta, played on November 11 with a successful season behind them. Senior captains Fran Jacobs, Jay Dixon, and Tyler Bell led the team to a second-place finish in the Inter-Ac League, ending the season ranked 19th in Southeastern Pennsylvania. They had already beaten Episcopal 2-1 earlier in the season and were looking to repeat this feat on EA Day. In an unforgettable game, the Fords shut out Episcopal 2-0, and clinched the win for Haverford, allowing the sweater to sit in Wilson Hall for the first time ever. With the sweater safely where it belonged, the focus shifted to the football game, with a hope to sweep the Churchmice. The football team had gotten a new staff that year, and the season had shown that, while the Fords had been unable to beat the three other Inter-Ac teams, they were a team built on spirit and willpower They never gave up. In all of their games, their second-half efforts showed that even when they were outmatched, they held their heads high in determination and always showed their will to win. Going into EA Day that year, the football team knew that they had not won a single game against Episcopal in the last ten years. They had a goal: fight to end that streak; fight for the honor of the team and fight for the honor of the school.
Bill Yoh, a senior captain on the team of the graduating class of 1989, remembers that “The football game [at EA Day] was a back-and-forth affair.” The team fought bravely. Down 0-7 in the first quarter, they brought the game to a tie at halftime. The third quarter ended with Episcopal up 21-7. With twelve minutes remaining, the Fords’ offense and defense rallied, and they began to close the two-touchdown gap to a nail-biting score of 14-21 with just a few minutes left of play. In the end, Yoh recalls, “Haverford scored the tying touchdown late in the fourth quarter on a long bomb to my fellow senior Doug Brunt.” The team’s 21-21 tie ended Episcopal football’s win streak, and started one for Haverford that would last for years. Indeed, November 11th, 1988 was a dreadful day for Episcopal’s streaks. The sweater was, for the first time in its history, in the hands of the Fords. The striped sweater has gone back and forth between the two campuses in the 29 years since EA Day 1988 (albeit it has spent most of those years on Haverford soil). After last year’s sweep, the sweater is still on on Haverford’s campus, keeping us warm, just like it did in 1988. Episcopal might look back to 1988 as we did, and they might remember visiting Haverford’s campus only to lose their longest streak with the sweater. They might even think that when we visit their campus they might have a chance to end the longest winning streak the sweater has ever seen. Unfortunately for the Churchmice, the biggest lesson that can be learned from EA Day 1988 is that Haverford wins. The sweater is where it belongs, and it is here to stay, for this year and many years to come.
1989 HALIGOLUK
Haverford’s “Tattamen” celebrating win over EA.
1989 HALIGOLUK
Jack MacMullan ’89 advancing on EA Day.
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The Index - Opinions
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Ms. Kenna finds something special about EA Day MS. BROOKE KENNA As an outsider looking in for the first time experiencing EA Day/week, I remember having an undeniably visceral reaction to Haverford’s most memorable tradition that played out in three basic questions. First, what is an “EA”? (I went to a public school far enough away and seriously didn’t know). Second, to which sweater is everyone referring? And third, and probably most troubling, why is my boss dressed as a mime and throwing a mouse head covered in ketchup into the crowd in Centennial Hall? I guess the real third question was what the actual heck did I get myself into. Don’t get me wrong: I have been a part of some very memorable groups of fans. Let’s start with the obvious: I love where I went to university, a place some of you might have heard me mention once or twice. That said, Penn State pride breeds what some refer to as a cult, and others, like me, believe it is a community that loves its teams and itself so much that we flock diligently westward into an otherwise unremarkable small town each fall, like geese on their annual sojourn to warmer climates. Even before that, in a small town forty-five minutes away from Haverford, we still love our tradition. I grew up near the Hill School, in a place where there were, statistically, more cows than people. But nothing beat the crisp spring afternoons that turned into the hot summer nights when we would drag our grills out from hibernation and throw sizzling hot dogs and juicy cheeseburgers into the flames as we cheered on our Legion baseball teams, screaming at the umps for calls and huddling together in solidarity. I’ve seen lots of things at sporting events. But a mouse head? Really? So, back to my initial concern: that I am a fan, I think, is pretty evident, but what the heck did I get myself into at Haverford? It turns out that I was diving headfirst into the one of the best opportunities of my life.
BOBBY STRATTS ’18
Ms. Brooke Kenna teaches Spanish in the Upper School.
I am still learning how to be a better teacher and person from the students, faculty, and administration at Haverford every single day. What’s amazing about Haverford is that it has a pesky habit of making you be the best you can possibly be, and few experiences have made that more evident than on EA Day and the week leading up to it. I look around and see my students and colleagues going above and beyond, leaving everything they have on the field, the trail, the pool, EVERYWHERE, and it inspires me. This place makes me a better teacher, coach, and mentor, for sure, but it also makes me a better person just by association. So, what about EA Day? For all of the amaz-
ing groups I have been fortunate enough to have been a part of, Haverford is one of a kind. Once you sign up for this place, if you are willing to put yourself out there, and if you are willing to throw the proverbial mouse head into the crowd, you are part of the group, part of the family. Now I find myself in the stands, proudly sporting my maroon and gold, cheering loudly with both colleagues and students alike. Standing on the crosscountry course with the leaves falling all around the Haverford College campus; sharing a cup of hot cocoa with a student in my classroom to get out of the cold for a minute; talking to alums who come back and appreciate the school for its great opportunities, even if they weren’t realized until
after graduation; feeling like my heart is nearly going to burst with pride because boys are succeeding both in the classroom and outside—that’s Haverford. Haverford, its sweater (answered question #2—check!), and everything that happens both in the classroom and out is bigger and better than I ever could have imagined. I consider myself lucky to have found my way into the community, especially during the EA Day celebrations, and I can’t imagine ever leaving this place, or this feeling, behind.
Fords look towards a tradition of victory ROBERT ESGRO ’19 Is this Haverford’s last consecutive EA Day win? Let’s look at each individual sport before observing EA Day as a whole. The first game of EA Day will be the golf match at Merion East. Storming into EA Day with a 5-2 record, the Fords will compete well against the Churchmen. Haverford defeated EA when they competed in mid-October, and key golfer Peter Garno believes that the success will continue: “The match will be a good one, but the team feels confident heading into EA Day.” Despite EA having strong golfers, Garno said, “The team looks to continue the tradition of getting the first win on EA Day and doing their part in keeping the sweater.” The Haverford student body has almost overwhelming faith in the golf team. In a recent poll, 99% of the student body expects the golf team to win on EA Day. After golf comes cross country. With a successful season record of 3-1-1 and strong showing at the Inter-Ac Championship, the team heads into EA Day confidently. Led by Inter-Ac Coach of the Year Tim Lengel ’07, the JV squad won the 2017 JV Inter-Ac title, while Varsity took second in their division. The Fords defeated the Churchmen at the Inter-Ac Championship. However, the two squads did tie at their only dual meet of the season, leaving room to question how the Fords will perform on EA Day. Sixth Former Captain James Ives has no doubt in his mind. Ives said, “Although this meet will be closer than either Inter-Acs or States, we can still step on some mice.” Ives’s optimism is a microcosm of the entire school’s: a recent poll of the student body suggests that almost 9 of every 10 Upper School students believe the cross country team will win on EA Day. Rolling into Burke Natatorium after the cross country race ends is the water polo team. After
another winning season with a 17-7 record, the water polo team is 2-0 against the Churchmen this season, dominating them 12-5 in August and 14-4 in October. These strong performances have led to high morale on the team. Fifth Former J.R. Leitz said, “Based on the last games against EA, the Fords have a strong chance of winning. I am confident that our guys will get an easy win.” The student body agrees; in a recent survey, the Aquatic Fords have a 96% chance of winning on EA Day. After the water polo game ends, our attention will turn to the soccer field. The soccer team has completed another successful season, and with a record of 8-8-2, Sixth Former Jackson Spahr is certain that the success will continue: “Coming into EA Day this year, I’ve never been more confident that our soccer team is going to blow the pants off of EA’s team,” Spahr said. “I believe our team is more athletic and physical than EA, and come November 10, we are going to out-compete EA.” Sixth Former goalie Bobby Stratts said, “As possibly the last game of the season, you can expect a battle of pure effort and skill between the two teams.” With EA having a chance to win the Inter-Ac, he said, “We look not only to spoil that but also to spoil their chances of winning on EA Day.” Both players predict shutout victories. Spahr and Stratts are not alone in their beliefs: polling suggests that a relatively high 89% of the Upper School has confidence in the soccer team on EA Day. The last game of the day is football. With their only win of the season against West Catholic in October, the Fords are 1-7 coming into EA Day. Confidence in the team, as a result of their record, is low. Fifth Former Lineman Tyler McDonald understands the disappointment. He said, “The season has been rough. We’re 1-7 and that’s never
easy. There have been games,” McDonald said, “where we did not show up to play.” But McDonald is still confident in his team: “We’ve been fighting and working since June 9th. It will be close, but we will beat EA again this year.” The Upper School with a resounding 96% majority believes that the Fords will keep the sweater for a record-breaking tenth straight year. Every student, teacher and alumnus will need to show up to Episcopal Academy, with hopes to continue a tradition of excellence founded in 2007. The Sweater, safe in Wilson Hall.
Drs. Locke and Nagl at EA Day 2016.
WILL STAMBAUGH ‘27
MR. JIM ROESE
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The Index - Opinions
BIAGIO DESIMONE ’19
INDEX STAFF
A Fourth Former wakes up on a Wednesday morning. He then quickly devours Chef Henry’s pancakes. He realizes he has a major Algebra II test first period and a mile test in second period gym. He thinks to himself, “Which one of these examinations should I be worrying about more?” There has always existed a tension between student and athlete. Pressure is placed on high
WILLIAM HENDERSON ’18 If the Eagles beat the Cowboys every time the two teams played each other, I doubt there would still be a rivalry. After all, when one side consistently loses to another, the competition is just not that interesting. While Haverford’s rivalry with EA isn’t directly equivalent to professional sports, it is fair to draw parallels between our “rivalry” and any other. Haverford has won the coveted EA Day Sweater nine times in a row (and going on ten). Our male student body population — and therefore our pool of athletes — is much larger than EA’s. We have won the Heyward Cup for athletic superiority a record seventeen times. We are InterAc golf champions, cross country finished second in the Inter-Ac, and we have come off of several record-breaking years for football, soccer, and water polo. And Episcopal did not even win a single game in last year’s EA Day. In fact, in the last five years, EA’s fall sports teams have won just two Inter-Ac titles. The competition is just not that interesting, and EA is not our biggest rival. Rival teams inherently have similarities, and we clearly share very few with Episcopal. We do, however, share many with Malvern Prep: we have
school students to find areas in which they excel and can pursue in college. In which field is it more difficult to succeed: academics or athletics? The easy answer is that it depends on the individual. Much has to do with one’s genetics and family background. A solid percentage of one’s ability to perform well in athletics is
Is EA still our biggest rival? similar student bodies, similar athletic accomplishments (although Haverford’s are slightly better), and and comparable varsity teams. Pretty much none of that can be said for EA. More than that, Malvern has given Haverford athletes plenty of reason to have chips on their shoulders. From defeating Haverford teams in pursuit of Inter-Ac titles or“fouling” our players, there is a healthy animosity between the two schools. And, while every Haverford athlete wants to beat EA, every Haverford athlete hates losing to Malvern. I cannot remember the last time Haverford needed to defeat EA in order to win the league title. Malvern, it seems, is the only institution ever standing behind Haverford and an Inter-Ac title. While I am not saying “EA Day” should be changed to “Malvern Day,” our athletic superiority makes EA Day feel less serious. In fact, like many people, EA Day is one of my favorite Haverford traditions. But there is something about defeating Malvern that would trump beating EA. Perhaps, at one point in Haverford’s history, EA was our biggest rival. Now, however, we can no longer pretend that we would rather beat Episcopal Academy than Malvern Prep.
determined at birth. If a student comes from a family that predominantly strives in athletics and has athletic parents, this students will most likely find it easier to strive in athletics. The same goes for one who is born into a family that historically prides itself on academic achievement. Being born with these qualities, however, is only half of the answer. The other half depends on the student’s work ethic and his development in mind and body. The easy answer here would be that a 6’4” kid excels at athletics. But, this 6’4” boy may be better suited to excel in academics. So removing the genetics factor, which field is truly harder to excel in? Let’s take a random person and remove all physical attributes and genetic characteristics. It would be harder for this person to be more successful in academics than in athletics. The term “practice makes perfect” helps explain this phenomena. Through a dedicated training routine, this person could become a successful high school athlete. Endless repetition in a specific sport enable the eventual retention of solid skills.
November 2017 You could spend hours on hours practicing shooting and, eventually, you will be a good shooter; likewise, hours of working on physical strength will directly result an athlete’s strength. However, this does not apply for academics. Doing homework does not necessarily result in academic success. There are more determining factors within the academic realm than in the athletic realm. And in academics, you must excel not in one sport or specific field but rather six (English, History, Arts, Mathematics, Science, Language) to be considered successful. The academic pressures are also more intense. Academics are necessary for moving forward in life, into college, and into one’s career. Overall, it is more difficult to be an accelerated student than an accelerated athlete. The odds of our random person playing Division-I baseball is 7.1%, but the odds of this same kid getting into Stanford is just 4.8%. The Haverford student body agrees that the term “student-athlete” is the most relevant to the argument and that it is hard to excel in each. Balancing sports and studies is difficult, but when faced with the choice between which is more difficult, the majority of the student body would agree that academics are more difficult than athletics, according to a Facebook poll. Sports are extremely difficult, but school is even more rigorous.
The secret to our success VINCENT SCAUZZO ’21 It’s hard to not talk about Haverford without bringing up our athletic programs. Whether it’s football, soccer, or lacrosse, the region knows we dominate in sports. Our records surpass any other schools’ in the area in almost every contest. So why is Haverford athletically superior? Perhaps, it is the nature of the school. We are one of the only all-boys schools in the area, and that certainly shows in the way we interact with each other and the way we perform on the fields. In the hallways and on the fields, we are brothers: friendly punching in the shoulder, yelling at each other from across the room, and even occasionally cursing. None of these actions are necessarily bad; it’s just how brothers treat brothers. We even have the idea of brotherhood instilled in our minds, and you can’t have a brotherhood with girls at our school. This idea of brotherhood, always feeling comfortable, is the secret behind our athletic greatness. Each student has a bond with another student that they can share both in the classroom and out on the field. It is the bond of looking out for your fellow brother. Look at the recent records. We have more wins than every competing school in the Inter-Ac.
Haverford has not always been so athletically superior. When history teacher Mr. Tim Lengel ‘07 was a student, Haverford was pretty poor when it came to athletics. In 2007, Haverford seemed to flip the switch and begin the EA Day winning streak. “I think it has a lot to do with Coach Murphy coming and really setting the tone and a lot of the other coaches and everyone dedicating themselves to the task before them. There’s also a lot more school spirit these days. Back in my day, you sort of did your own thing. I would not go to a soccer game — that wasn’t an expectation of me, or a cultural norm that we had. Now, guys go to the plays, they support each other at the soccer game and cross country meets and there is a lot more outward school spirit,” Lengel said. Even if you look at other schools, the one school that is most competitive with us is Malvern, also all-boys. They, too, probably interact the same way we do and therefore produce similar (but still less successful) results. Haverford remains the superior athletic school, and if it continues its theme of brotherhood and the students continue their tremendous school spirit, Haverford’s streaks of success will also continue.
INDEX STAFF
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The Index - Arts/Outdex Many students at Haverford know about the annual EA Day Banner Competition: the large, colorful works of art on display in the community room and on Sabol Field every other year are simply too hard to miss. However, few are familiar with the history of the competition itself. Art Department Chair Mr. Chris Fox, who has taught at the school for decades, provided The Index with a brief history of the EA Day Banner competition. “The banner competition, as we know it, began about ten years ago when we moved into the new upper school,” recalled Mr. Fox, “For a few years, it had been an advisory competition where banners were painted on brown paper in a single advisory period. “As a result, they were horrible. As a Haverford art teacher and a painter myself, I was embarrassed by them.” So, in a true show of Haverford resiliency, Mr. Fox decided that he would do something about the banners: “Rather than just eliminate [the banners as a whole], we redesigned [the competition].” Mr. Fox feels that art helps preserve the memories of past EA Days and helps motivate current athletes, telling The Index, “What is nice about the banner competition is that there is a lasting artifact from each year’s EA Day competition. While the athletic teams have their W’s and L’s, mostly W’s these days!…all of the other EA Week activities become only memories… “The banners re-emerge every year,” Mr. Fox said, “and alumni back on campus for EA Day will be able to see their work from years before. The banners have become a part of Haverford history.” Mr. Fox not only increased the materials for the banners, but also limited how many banners can be created in order to produce the most creative banners of the highest quality. “Now we have canvas for the banners, better paint, and, at the most, two banners per form. And even then, we need to see a sketch of an idea MR. CHRIS FOX
Things more entertaining than an EA party: Bike polo Mr. Patrylak’s bridge matches Dr. Gottlieb’s smartboard quips DECA modeling competitions Saturday detentions Index meetings Sodexo gyros Hephaestus Society dinner
November 2017
agreed to by members of the class before beginning to paint,” he said. “This new practice has led to many impressive banners that show some real school spirit as well as some artistic merit.” Mr. Fox is impressed with how the banner competition has recovered from what it was ten years ago: “Each year it seems as though the bar gets raised.” Fifth Former Andrew D’Arcangelo strives to raise the bar every year in the banner competition. D’Arcangelo has painted a banner every year since Third Form, and says he has no intention of stopping. “The banner competition gives me a chance to express my school spirit while working with friends and poking fun at Episcopal Academy,” said D’Arcangelo, who will create a banner for the competition this year as well. D’Arcangelo enjoys the opportunity to put his artistic talents on display. “My favorite part of the competition is when we hang them all in Centennial Hall and everyone can see the hours of work that my friends and I put in,” D’Arcangelo said. Artists representing their respective forms will display their works during Haverford Spirit Week in front of the entire Upper School community. At this assembly, the Upper School will vote on which banner they deem most creative in terms of quality and humor. The winning form will have points added to their Spirit Week Score, and, in addition to points earned from other competitions, the form with the most points will win the Spirit Week Competition. The banner competition has cemented itself as an EA Day classic. From its humble beginnings a decade ago, it has morphed into an integral part of school spirit. Artists such as Mr. Fox and Andrew D’Arcangelo make it clear that the competition will thrive for generations of Haverford gentlemen to come.