Spring 2013: In This Issue

Please be sure to check out all of the articles featured in this issue of the Silver Scroll.

Teacher of the Year Maggie Strauser
Sterling junior, Hope Oje, Receives Humanitarian Award  - Hope Oje
Sterling Media Center to Undergo Renovations
Book Worth a Look: Summer Reading Suggestions - Chelsea Korn
Sterling's Knight of Art - Devin Tabor
American Idol: The Real Deal - Dana Gavin
Sterling's Got Talent - Sophia Vicari
Korean War Vets Visit the Castle - Shaniyla Johnson
Human Rights Leadership Conference- Brian Mahadeo
Spring Sports Review 2013 - Lam Nguyen and Tommy Sheehan
Movie Review: Star Trek - Ethan Craik
Movie Review: Fast 6 - Ethan Craik
Album Review: Daft Punk Random Access Memories- Matt Rosser
Editorial: Staring at the Audience 3 - Sophia Vicari
Editorial: Being Original- Chelsea Korn
Spring Poetry Sample - Chris Lemasney, Paige Glenn, Emily Strauser

Mr. Manlove is Sterling's 2012-2013 Teacher of the Year!

By Maggie Strauser

           Every year, a single teacher is chosen among others as the Teacher of the Year. It’s a huge honor, since being Teacher of the Year means that a teacher’s hard work is recognized from their teaching to the compassion and love of teaching they have.

From left to right: Mr. Redman, Mrs. Considine,
Teacher of Year Mr. Manlove, Mr. Napoleon, Mr. Spaventa

Mr. Scott Manlove, the quirky English teacher that nearly the entire school knows, was awarded the Teacher of The Year award for the 2012-2013 school year. He hadn't expected it, and was completely surprised. He recalled it to me as being like a parade.

When asked how he felt about winning the award, Mr. Manlove readily replied, "I was very shocked because I feel as though I'm not very deserving of it." However, anyone who knows this humorous teacher would know that he's one of the best candidates for the spotlight this year! He's a hardworking, dedicated teacher who loves what he does. He thoroughly enjoys that the school lets him be himself, and he's happy to teach the students here at Sterling.

I also asked him whether or not he enjoyed the massive amount of attention that he's gotten since the announcement, and he answered that, while he doesn't particularly enjoy being the center of attention, he's extremely honored to be teacher of the year.

Mr. Manlove, 2012-2013 Teacher of the Year

When asked if he had any words of wisdom or advice that he lives by, he answered, "A good laugh or a long nap can cure everything." And I certainly don't disagree!

Mr. Manlove's final statement about the whole ordeal was: "I'm fully appreciative of everyone's effort, kind words, and thoughts." Congratulations, Mr. Manlove!

Sterling junior, Hope Oje, Receives Humanitarian Award

Submitted by Mrs. Llewellyn

Hope Oje, member of the Sterling World Culture Club has been notified by the Goodwin Holocaust Museum and Education Center in Cherry Hill that she is a recipient of Richard C. Goodwin-Josiah DuBois Humanitarian Award in the amount of $1,000. The competition was open to all high school students that participate in clubs or activities that express tolerance, humanitarianism, and respect for all.  

Hope Oje, grade 11, Humanitarian Award winner

Hope is involved in Social Studies Seminar, Interact Club, and World Culture Club here at Sterling High School, and is a true humanitarian.  She participates in these service clubs because she believes in helping others. Her favorite public speaker Dr. Michael Fowlin said that there is a difference between doing what you are supposed to do and doing what you need to do. Hope believes one person can make a difference and if we can change our lives and change the way we see others, we can change the world for the better.

Hope Oje will be honored on June 26, 2013 at 7:00 p.m. at the Annual Holocaust Education Center Reception at the JCC in Cherry Hill.  

Media Center to Undergo Renovations

By Emily Strauser, Editor-in-Chief

Sterling's media center main room is ready to under renovations
Photo credit: Emily Strauser

                         Sterling’s media center is going to change. Mr. Ferraro, the new librarian, is planning to update and remodel our media center experience in the 2013-2014 school year.
 
                        Say “goodbye” to the old, DMV feel of the media center; Mr. Ferraro is going to make it more like a Barnes & Nobles. He says there will be a new study area and a hangout area. The study area will be in the corner of the media center by the main computer lab, and it will be a more formal setting that can fit up to three or four people. The hangout area will be like an informal study area, and it will be found in between bookshelves. This area will fit more students, and there will be more comfy chairs and possibly couches. A map of the new layout can be found drawn on the whiteboard behind Mr. Ferraro’s desk in front of the main computer lab.

                          Mr. Ferraro also plans to advertise new books in the media center on the announcements. At least one day a week will be “New Book Day,” where the library’s latest additions will be featured on Channel 19’s Sterling Knightline.
                          The library isn’t the only part of the media center that’s going to change. The computer labs will have a modification or two as well. All of the computers in Annex 1 will be replaced with Macs that can also be used as PCs. When students start up the Macs, they can choose to use either the Mac or the Windows platform. The Mac platform would be used for media projects, and the Windows platform would be used for the usual student work like essays. Mr. Ferraro says that it’s for the benefit of the students, and he wants all students to be able to “create media projects” outside of class. The only computers capable of this right now are the Macs in Room 402 and Room 201.

Sterling's Annex 1 computer lab
Photo credit: Emily Strauser



                          When asked about other changes Mr. Ferraro wishes to make, he said that he was “barraged by ideas,” and it depends on the amount of space he has. Some ideas that he has still need approval from the Board of Education. He says he’s open to suggestions that any student has for the changing media center, but he can’t promise anything. He encourages students to come see him with ideas.

Book Worth a Look: Summer Reading Suggestions

By Chelsea Korn

Summer is a great time to go to the beach, catch up with friends, be with family, and just have a great time. With no school, many of us are left with a lot of free time. Sometimes though, this free time is a thinly disguised formula for boredom, and we end up wasting our time sleeping in super late or vegetating on the computer. This summer, if you find yourself dying of boredom, don’t waste your precious summer doing nothing! Read a book! The only way reading can be boring or dull is if you haven’t found the right book for you. So take a look at this list, and see if you can find a title that catches your attention.

1)      The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants by Ann Brashares

This is a great read for summer, because the story follows four best friends as they share their very first summer apart. When Carmen, Lena, Tibby, and Bridget discover a pair of magical jeans that fit them all perfectly on the eve of their first summer apart, they know it was fate. Told in alternating points of view, the book tells a unique story of how four girls learn to be together, even when they are apart. It’s also a four-part series, so if you like the first novel, check out the other three as well. I’d recommend this book to girls who are interested in finding a read that is funny yet poignant, both serious and lighthearted, and is about love, loss, travel, family, finding yourself, and friendship.

2)       Beautiful Creatures by Kami Garcia and Margaret Stohl—Beautiful Creatures is a fantasy-romance novel but with a twist—it’s written from the point of view of a boy, Ethan Wate, who falls in love with the mysterious new girl, Lena, in his unchanging, small Southern town. Ethan learns the secret Lena is keeping, as well as a whole new side of his hometown and the people he thought he knew best. I’d recommend this book for both girls AND boys who are looking for an extremely original story with many twists and great characters. Like the Sisterhood, Beautiful Creatures is the first novel in a series that can keep you reading all summer long. The movie adaptation was also just released this February if you’re looking for new movies to watch this summer too.

3)      It’s Kind of a Funny Story by Ned Vizzini—It’s Kind of a Funny Story is a novel about the ambitious Craig Gilner, a New York City teen whose ambition and type-A personality is able to get him into a prestigious private school—where everything soon goes downhill. At his new school, Craig realizes he isn’t as brilliant as he once thought compared to his classmates, and as stress starts to overwhelm his world, Craig stops eating, sleeping…and one night tries to kill himself, getting him checked in a mental hospital. Author Ned Vizzini (who spent time in a psychiatric hospital himself) weaves a moving tale that although it’s about depression, is a very funny story. Anybody who is into the drama-comedy type genre should definitely pick up this book for the summer.

  

4)      The Mortal Instruments by Cassandra Clare—This is another series that starts off with the very popular book, City of Bones. City of Bones is the debut novel of the series, telling the story of Clary Fray, who when she witnesses a strange murder, gets whisked into the dangerous world of the Shadowhunters, warriors determined to rid the world of demons. An energetic story full of twists, turns, and suspense, The Mortal Instruments books are sure to keep your heart pumping as you dive into Clary’s fantastical world.

5)      Game of Thrones by George R. R. Martin—George R. R. Martin’s Game of Thrones series has been hailed a classic already, and is one of the most popular fantasy series of the generation. Starting with book one, A Song of Ice and Fire, the Game of Thrones series has several books, perfect to keep you busy during the summer and also has a television series based off of the books. This series is great for any fantasy lover who wants something a little more original and less formulaic.

6)      The Maze Runner by James Dashner—Imagine waking up one day and only knowing your name—and nothing else. This is what happens to Thomas in the novel The Maze Runner. When the doors of the lift Thomas is in opens, Thomas finds himself surrounded by the kids who live in the Glade, an open expanse surrounded by stone walls. Thomas isn’t an abnormality—the other kids expect him. But the next day, a girl arrives at the Glade—the first girl ever, and her surprising message changes everything. Full of suspense, The Maze Runner is a quick paced story for anybody who enjoys a mystery.

7)      The Diviners by Libba Bray—Another debut novel in a series, Libba Bray’s The Diviners takes place in 1920s New York City. Combining the genres of horror, mystery, fantasy, and historical fiction, The Diviners is a story of seventeen year old Evie O’Neil who, while staying with her Uncle Will in New York City, uses her unique powers to help solve the mystery of a diabolical killer loose in the city. This book is very unique because of all the different genres that influence it. There’s something for everybody in The Diviners, and it’s told in different points of view, both boys and girls, making The Diviners equally enticing for both genders.

8)      The Perks of Being a Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky—Perks is one of those novels that was a classic the moment it was published. Recently made into a movie directed and written by the author himself, this novel tells the struggles of a high school freshman named Charlie who is not only trying to survive high school, but also deal with his own past as well. When Charlie meets Sam and Patrick, two high school seniors who take Charlie under their wing, Charlie finally feels like he belongs somewhere. The Perks of Being a Wallflower is funny, relatable, poignant, sad, and very real. It’s a great read for anybody, especially those who don’t like extremely long books. Perks is one of those stories that stays with you forever.

Sterling's "Knight" of Art

By Devon Tabor

          

  Humanity has carved a very odd life for itself out of the rough-and-tumble world we were born into. We’re a strange creature, us Homo Sapien. Even our name, Homo Sapien, shows our beauty. The words Homo Sapien are two recycled words of a dead language, used in context for all people of the world. The words ‘Homo Sapien’ mean Wise Man, or Knowing Man. We’ve advanced for eons, and with that comes creativity. Some 40,000 years ago, in our earliest ancestors’ first days, we began painting scenes of life on cave walls. With that came a rocket that would propel humans for millennia.

Sterling's main gymnasium transformed in the art show

Let us, however, skip to present day life. Currently, the birds are chirping, the trees are green, and the world is verdant. This also marks the 36th annual Inter-District art show for Sterling High School. Give that a moment to sink in. For 36 years, our school has presented a grouping of some of New Jersey's finest art into a gymnasium. Our art show has watched the incorporation of Apple, the fall of the Soviet Union, and the election of this nation's first African American president. It's a long-standing tradition, a legacy, and we're very lucky to have it.

You're first greeted by the sheer amount of art work that is put in to this show. Pieces from all grades are put in. We see everything from the drawings of a first grader to the pictures of an alumnus. Then, you begin to think of the amount of planning that must have gone into making this work. Having briefly helped set up, it was stunning to see Mrs. Morgan, Ms. Maskaly and Ms. McTague coordinate the student helpers to move the pieces. "You see one mistake, then it's multiplied by a thousand" I overheard Mrs. Morgan say when she noticed a piece of tape out of line. You can see why. There's an art in the show itself, seeing how precise and perfect everything is laid out unto you. The room has a flow, a sort-of catch that draws you in further and further until you have to look at everything, elsewise having felt unsatisfied.

As always, the show went without a hitch. Many people from our five towns came out to see our community’s art. Parents seem genuinely interested in their kid’s art, and you can see it in the quality of the work our students produce. In my opinion, our school has some of the finest art I’ve ever seen. You could walk through the panels of our finest artists and see the passion that went into the work. All of this excitement is for awards in Painting, Drawing, Mixed Media, 3-D Design, 2-D Design, Sculpture, Printmaking, Ceramics, Art I, Computer Graphics I, Computer Graphics II, Photography, and Best All-Around. That’s 13 categories, and each has at least 4 awards. A lot of people got awards this year!

As someone who helped set up the show, I felt a special bond with how the show turned out. I’ve been in Sterling’s Art Program for all 4 years of my high school career, and have helped set up for the last 2 years. It’s truly amazing. Everyone that won an award definitely deserved it. As an award winner, it’s a great honor. I was selected to create this year’s Board of Education Art Commission piece, an honor which has befallen 34 students before me. It was titled “Global Iconographies”, and I had great pleasure in working on it. It displayed how icons can transcend language, and will one day work in tandem with our written words to unify humanity. It had its own space in the show, and will be hung in Sterling to grace its halls forever.

Devin Tabor's "Global Iconographies"

            Once again, the class of 2015 was selling refreshments in the foyer for their prom and promenade costs. The Band was also selling baked goods from 6 to 9. The Silver Tones, as always, put on an amazing show for all who came. Every year I’ve seen them they’ve been amazing. The Anime club was there, showing the finer points of Japanese culture, and impressed everyone who watched.

            In essence, and as I’ve said in this article many times, I am proud of what this has become and I hope to come here and visit the art show for years to come. I’m constantly awestruck at how our school can come together for something as simple as an art show. There are, of course, students who could care less about drawings, sculptures, or anything someone creates. Many people, however, enjoy this as much as I do, and that’s why our art teachers have kept working this hard for so long. There’s this stigma of a starving artist in our culture, since art is seen as something that’s dead. We look at a Da Vinci, a De Chirico, or a Renoir, and it’s something that’s an institution. They were the past masters. No-one can beat them, so why try? Why, you ask? Because art evolves, it changes. We don’t see great artists anymore, but it’s because the institution of art has changed drastically. We need to show the next generation that we can still be imaginative, and we need to show the current generations that art is still the beautiful thing that it’s been for the last 40,000 years. The art show does this for us. We’re 5 little towns in the 3rd smallest state in the nation, yet it makes a huge difference. This year is no exception, and that doesn’t cease to astonish me.

Idol: The Real Deal and the Breakdown

By Dana Gavin

Fox’s American Idol debuted in 2002. When watching American Idol, we are given the impression that if you have a good voice you too can make it to instant fame. However, the more popular the show has gotten, the less attainable the dream has become. On TV they show a shot of everyone lined up outside leading us to believe they will all be going in to see the famed three judges. This doesn’t happen until months later though. There are three preliminary rounds to get through before receiving a ticket to actually audition, on TV, for another golden ticket to Hollywood. There are many other hidden secrets to what American Idol actually is. How do I know? Personal experience.

           At about four o’ clock in the morning, I peeled myself out of the motel bed and started to get ready for what was thought would be the most exciting day of my life. As I ran the iron through my hair, foolish memories and wishful thinking began to fill my mind. In the half hour that I was primping I even practiced my “interview” with Ryan Seacrest. At 4:30 am sharp after donning my special audition outfit and making sure I had all legal documents required to audition, it was time.

       We were in Pittsburg, PA at the only logical place to hold over 12,000 people; Heinz Field stadium, the home of the Steelers. A wrist band with the American Idol logo stamped on it was required to even gain entrance into the parking lot past security. The night before, we received instructions to be there 5 a.m. on audition day. I arrived on time and along with 12,000 others, was ready to get the ball rolling. Going in to the process, most assume they’ll have to do some monkeying around for the cameras. After all this is not just a talent show; it’s a ‘reality’ show.

        After hours of camera men going back and forth over the massive crowd, and young guys and girls alike trying to throw themselves into the shot, the line started to move. When moving forward we were told to go quickly and that if we found any patrons sleeping to wake them up immediately. If you get trampled, it’s your own fault. There were ambulances and cop cars outside the stadium just for this reason. There was even a young lady who was carried out on a stretcher because her neck was stepped on a few hundred times due to not waking up when they open the gates.

         Before entrance, a search is required.  Fox warned us and made it clear in writing that we were not allowed to wear logos, bring food, stereos, hibachi grills (still a bit confused by that one), sleeping bags, pillows, weapons, or large bags. When cleared to go inside, it is presumed that the auditions will begin. We were all given sections and once seated a surplus of camera men entered. They threw us a large American Flag to hold in the air so there’d be a clear shot of it. We were then told to sing “Firework” by Katy Perry over and over until the producers were satisfied. Ryan Seacrest arrived shortly after and it was time to act as the mega host’s background as he did his takes for TV, no auditions yet.

        After what felt like a century, the long morning was coming to an end and auditions were beginning. There were 10 tents set up with one to three judges in each. Contestants audition in groups of four at a time, and were given approximately ten seconds to sing a song of their choice. Be careful though with choice of song, many were turned away simply because the judges were tired of hearing the same song over and over. They have no mercy. There are two exits, (one leading to the next round, the other out of the stadium) and many rows of people in between. When you’re there it is obvious what the show does. There are lines broken up into two categories. One being the actual good singers, and the other being ‘blooper material’ (the terrible singers and of course the ridiculously costumed). When trying out, one has to have to sign a legal document stating that you are not misrepresenting yourself in any way, shape, or form in order to get to the next round. What you are today, you better be the day you audition on TV.

        My faith in the show was lost when the girl next to me was ushered through (without even auditioning) only because of her utterly obscene outfit. I knew American Idol was a “reality” TV show, but I didn’t quite get it until that moment. At almost 7 pm, my section was up next to sing. The snarky guards and producers freed us from our spot and sarcastically wished us luck, knowing what a long shot it was. One judge was in the tent when I got there, and I went first. She had a slight smile, nothing crazy though. After the four of us gave our best renditions of our songs, we were told we were “good but just young”. We were thanked for coming and told to exit on the left. All hope was lost when our wrist brands were cut and the dream was no longer alive

Sterling's Got Talent

By Sophia Vicari

Singing, dancing, solving a Rubik’s Cube—Sterling has it all!

This year’s talent show was held on Wednesday, May 1^st, and raised money for Project Graduation.  Mrs.  Eppright and Mr. Kelsey organized a show-stopping night, with 21 acts including the singing talents of junior Tommy Connolly and the singing-and-cup-playing talents of freshman Maggie Strauser.  Maggie did a show-stopping mash up while playing a beat with a cup.  “I was completely blown away by the show and how amazing everyone was,” said Strauser.  “Just wait ‘til next year!”

                “It was the biggest show we’ve ever had!” said an enthusiastic Mr. Kelsey.  The night had everything from duets to dancing, with senior Camille Peruto winning first place again for her amazing singing and songwriting skills.  Freshmen Elise Adcock and Nick DiMattia won second place with their singing and guitar playing and juniors Chelsea Korn and Sophia Vicari won third place with their singing and dancing skills.  I do not envy the judges, for there were so many talented acts that evening.

“What most impressed me was a wide variety of talents and interests from our performers.  The quality of the show was better than any I’ve ever been a part of beforehand,” said Mr. Kelsey.   The night proved that there must be something in the water in the Sterling district, for Sterling has some pretty talented students!

Korean War Vets Visit the Castle

By Shaniyla Johnson

The Korean War was a civil war due to the Democratic South and Communist North trying to spread their form of government throughout the nation. This bloody battle lasted from 1950 to 1953 resulting in an agreement that stated that the two regions couldn't engage in war for a certain period of time.

On April 30^th, 2013, during first and second block, six gentlemen from the Korean War Veterans Association (KWVA) spoke to the students in attendance about their experience in the Korean War. While dressed in attire from the war, they shared information about their careers after the war and even brought equipment from the war.

Several students stated that the Veterans told stories about the harsh conditions of the war. Freshmen Nick Balterra and Joe Klingenberg stated that “The War Vets gave the citizens cigarettes and candy to stay at their homes during the war. They told a story about how they helped a group of people and camped in their house. The next day when they woke up, the people that they helped were dead. The Veterans used their helmets for everything, from washing to cooking.”

Many people were affected by this presentation. SNSI of the Navy Knights JROTC program, Commander Humphreys stated, “It gave me a greater appreciation of the hardships these gentlemen went through at a very early age, how willing they were to sacrifice and put their lives on the line to protect the freedoms of our country we all enjoy today. We should all be truly thankful for all of our veterans in the armed service.”

These types of presentations are all that we have nowadays to remember the history of our world. Even though we have the Internet and many other sources nothing is better than first-hand experience. I would like to thank the Korean War Veterans Association and everyone who made this presentation possible.

Goodwin Youth Leadership Conference Teaches Important Lesson

By Brian Mahadeo

          Sterling High School hosted the 4^th annual Goodwin Youth Leadership Conference on Thursday April 25^th in its state of the art Media Center.  Over 60 students from St. Joseph High School in Hammonton, Bishop Eustace and Sterling collaborated to develop ways to prevent hate and intolerance in their communities through the study of historical and contemporary incidents of Genocide and human rights violations from the Holocaust of World War II up to the present Civil War in Syria.  Incidents such as the prevalence of global Human Trafficking were also studied and discussed.  Guest speakers included Simon Birnbaum, a survivor of Auschwitz and Buchenwald, Arthur Seltzer, a US Army soldier involved in the liberation of the camps, Dr. Jerry Ehrlich, of Doctors without Borders who documented the genocide in Darfur by smuggling the art work of children out of the country, and Dr. Paul Winkler, Executive Director of the NJ State Commission of Holocaust Education.  Dr. Winkler presented Mrs. Michelle Llewellyn, a Sterling High School World Language teacher, with the Axelrod Family Award for excellence in teaching tolerance.   The event was coordinated by Mr. John Gardiner, Assistant Curriculum Director and Social Studies Teacher at Sterling High School, Mr. Bill Hocker, Global Studies Teacher form St. Joe’s and Ms. Suzy Eulyer, the Amnesty International Advisor from Bishop Eustace.



            Mrs. Michelle Llewellyn, Axelrod Family Award winner, with from l to r :

                                   Mr. John Gardiner, Dr. Paul Winkler, Mr. Arthur Seltzer,

                                  Mr. Simon Birnbaum  and Mrs. Helen Kirschbaum of the

              Goodwin Holocaust Museum and Education Center of the Delaware Valley.



          Attending the Holocaust, Genocide and 21^st Century Human Rights Conference on April 25, 2013 was a life changing event. Not only has genocide and the violation of human rights been a problem in the past, but even in today’s time we find it making an existence. It’s very evident that the Holocaust, Rwanda killings, and international human trafficking haven’t been enough to teach the world a lesson.



            During the 21^st century the Darfur genocide, Syrian revolution and other forms of human trafficking are very similar to older tragedies. In Darfur, Africa a militia group called the Janjaweed raids villages, steals valuables, and then rapes all the women, as well killing countless others. Their government goes on as if their country is doing fine, but thanks to insiders a lot of evidence shows that it is the total opposite over there. These people need help but no one is really at their aid. When will they be able to feel free again? About 19 years ago Rwanda went through the same things, and even before that Europe was facing the Holocaust. Both of these genocides had the same story, help was needed but no one helped. The U.S. turned its back to refugees from Europe, and Bill Clinton turned the other cheek while Rwanda was suffering. Later he claimed that it was the biggest mistake of his life.

 

            There’s this pattern of events over time. Countries go through problems beyond their control, and nobody feels that it’s their responsibility to help. Even in today’s society people see someone in need or in danger and just keep it moving. My mother taught me that wrong is wrong and that right is right, so when you see someone in need of help it’s only right to help. Maybe if the U.S. had helped out Rwanda and the Jewish refugees, the damage would have never been so severe.

            To sum up, genocides don’t start with a huge bombing or gun shots. They start when people see a problem and don’t do a thing to fix it. They start when that student in the hallway gets bullied and no one wants to help. Or, when that woman’s abusive husband beats her and the neighbors witness it but don’t call the cops. The best way to stop genocide is to speak up, lend a helping hand, and do the right thing.

Spring Sports Review 2013

 By Tom Sheehan and Lam Nguyen

Lacrosse

Sterling's varsity Lacrosse Team

                The girl’s lacrosse team, coached by Michelle Clayborn, had a good season this year, finishing with a record of 9-9. Mrs. Clayborn is helped by Coach Locastro (the assistant coach) and several volunteer coaches: Mr. Clayborn, Coach Ehret, and Coach Stine. The team had many impressive individual achievements. Courtney O’Neill, Jenna Scully, and Brianna Romasky were all named Second Team All Conference, and Tori Shinkowitz was named First Team All Conference. With 367 career goals, Tori became the all time leading goal scorer in South Jersey, and the second leading goal scorer in New Jersey history. The team was led by six talented seniors, four of whom will be continuing their lacrosse careers in college. The lacrosse team has improved greatly over the past season, and the team hopes to continue its progress going into next year. The team was bumped into a different division this year, which meant the girls had to face much tougher competition. Despite the team’s youth, the girls handled the competition very well.

                A typical day at practice involves working on the fundamentals of the game (throwing, catching, defensive positioning, shooting, etc.) and conditioning. After that, the girls go over strategies for the upcoming games, and then the practice usually ends with another round of conditioning. The team is very young, which is a great advantage. The girls will have a lot of time to improve and reach their full potential. Congratulations to the team for a great season, and good luck to the seniors in their future!

Tennis             

Sterling's varsity tennis team

   Despite a tough season for the boy’s tennis team, there were many notable individual performances. The head coach is Rob Atene. Mr. McCullough returned for his 5^th year of coaching, and they were assisted by rookie coach Wayne Peiffer, who played 4 years of tennis for Sterling. The boys ended the season with a record of 5-13. The team was led by seniors Adam Carter and Danny Sheehan, as well as junior Joseph “Large Cat” Gant.  The 1^st Doubles Team of Adam Carter (12^th) and Chris Tran (10^th) were extremely consistent, holding their own against “top ten” competition. Also, the three singles players (Joe Gant, Justin Guadagno, and Danny Sheehan) competed and played well every day. Last but not least, Logan Wolfhope was commended for “holding down the fort” all year at 2^nd doubles.

                The team’s goals included beating every team in the conference except Haddonfield (#1) and Haddon Heights (#4). Also, the team wanted to improve every day and represent itself in “Sterling fashion.” The team completed all of its goals except for beating every team in the conference. A typical day of practice consists of conditioning, plyos, tennis drills, and match-play. The team has many young players, so they will consistently improve as long as they are dedicated to their training. And as they improve individually, their skills will carry over to the team’s success. Good luck to the boys next season and congratulations to Adam Carter and Danny Sheehan for great careers!

Girls Track

              The Sterling Girls Track & Field team enjoyed a historic season in 2013.  The team finished with a 10-1 record along with a plethora of individual accomplishments.  From the cold early days in March through the scorching afternoons in June, the girls worked hard to increase their overall fitness as well as hone their technical skills in their individual events.  The 2013 Girls Track & Field teams certainly reaped the benefits of their dedication and competitive effort.

Sterling's girls track team

                The team was led by captains Anyssa Sanchez, Ateera Wyatt, Brianna Kearse, Chanel Jenkins, and Ebony Felder.  Their leadership was seen the outstanding underclassman performers Juile Stratton, Candace Daywalt, Justine Thomas, Rachel Adamski along with many others.  The team was strong in virtually every event which was apparent in the All-Conference selection.  Achieving 1^st team All-Conference were Julie Stratton, Ateera Wyatt, Tyra Stachell, Chanel Jenkins, Anyssa Sanchez, and Alisha Singleton.  Achieving 2^nd team All-Conference was Rachel Adamski, Brianna Kearse, Candace Daywalt, and Ebony Felder.  Congratulations to the entire team on an incredible season!!

Baseball



Sterling's varsity baseball team



The 2013 Baseball team, led by Coach Hoffman, finished the year with a 17-8 record. The team reached the SJ Group 2 Semi-finals for the second consecutive year and the Camden County Tournament Semi-finals for the fourth consecutive year. The team also finished second in the Conference with a 12-4 record. Individually, the Silver Knights had 3 players make first team all-conference and 2 players make second team all-conference. There was also the rare accomplishment for one player. Junior Donovan Casey earned All-South Jersey Baseball honors and was selected to play on the Carpenter Cup team.

Boys Track



Sterling's boys track team



The Boys Track & Field team coasted to an undefeated 11-0 this season.  They enjoyed success as the Conference Champions.  Going into the season, the team wanted to go undefeated, win the Conference, and win Group II. They have accomplished all of these goals after winning Sectionals this past weekend by one point! We are very proud of Knights and wish them the best of luck in States and the Meet of Champs!  Coached by Mr. Shepherd and assisted by Mr. Stanko, Mr. Blumenstein, and Mr. Witter, the team worked together all season to achieve their accolades.  Senior Jimmy Daniels led by example, motivating the team throughout the season.  Senior Kalib Hawkins-Crump also led by example, rising to face every challenge that came his way.  However, the entire team deserves to be commended because like the great Aristotle said, “The Whole is Greater than the sum of its parts.”

Volleyball

                The Sterling Boys’ Volleyball Team has had another outstanding season with an impressive record of 21-2! The team was coached by Coach Dan Stuart and Coach Dan Howey and led by captains Junior, Erik Egan, and Senior, Jim Kaiser who are both great

Sterling's varsity Boys Volleyball Team

leaders. Going into the season the team wanted to win the division for the third year in a row and make the playoffs which they definitely accomplished. Juniors Erik Egan and Marvin Jones have been commended this season for making 1^st Team All-Conference and Seniors Joe Shutts and Jim Kaiser for making 2^nd Team All-Conference. Looking ahead to next year they feel like they will be very good because they are a young team that will only continue to get better. We are all very proud of the team this year.  Congratulations on a great season!

            

The Silver Scroll would also like to congratulate the Softball and Golf teams on great seasons!