Under the bright lights of the PIHL All-Star game, three student-athletes from GS proved their talent amongst other Class A athletes.
Three GS hockey student athletes were selected to play in the PIHL All Star game. These student-athletes worked tirelessly all year to be able to earn their places in the game.
“This season my goal was to gain more confidence on the ice to be able to play in the All-Star game,” sophomore Cooper Outly said.
The PIHL All Star game combined top hockey players from Class A to showcase their talents together. The mixture of schools provided intense competition and advanced skill to the hockey game. All-Star athletes from all Class A schools created a thrilling environment with their impressive skills and talent.
The All Star players after their game (pictured left to right: Cooper Outly, Luke Dieter and Jacob Fink.)
Photo Courtesy: Luke Dieter
“I was most excited to play with [Jacob] Fink out of anyone,” junior Luke Dieter said. “We play on the same team, but not on the same line, so being on the same line as him was awesome, especially when we scored the two goals for the team.”
On Dec. 19, 2024, student-athletes were informed about the selection process through the Trib newspaper. The selection process took place at Robert Morris University and all coaches were responsible for voting and nominating the players. After the selection, the coaches and team were informed of the players who were named All-Stars. The selected athletes played on Sunday, Jan. 26.
“I was in my basement stick handling and shooting pucks when I found out,” sophomore Jacob Fink said. “I was grateful and honored to represent the school and score two goals for the All-Star team.”
GS had a very successful year last year with a record of 13-5-1. All three All-Star players were contributors last season. With 10 seniors graduating in 2024, returning players faced the challenge of stepping up to fill the void and continue their winning tradition.
“It was very special to have the opportunity to play and it was special seeing past teammates get selected,” Dieter said.
This season, GS is a young team, with many players getting their first taste of Varsity experience. The coaching staff has shifted slightly and brought new energy into the team.
“All three of them have a lot of individual skill, but without the help of the team they’re really nothing,” Business Teacher and Coach Mr. Tyler Brinton said. “It’s helpful when there’s a whole team around them that they can feed off of.”
The young team at GS is looking at the future with All-Star players gaining experience with potential collegiate opportunities. The All-Star games serve as important exposure for the considerations of collegiate level hockey.
“I think this game was a big stepping stone to lead me to a future in hockey,” Fink said.
Donald Trump has recently taken office and officially claimed his spot as 47th U.S. president.
Students throughout GS were asked how they feel about his presidency and what they would like to see from Trump over the next four years.
“He has a past of being a good businessman, but I don’t believe he’s going to do well as a politician this time around,” senior Ksena Spencer said. “I can’t say I necessarily agree with his ideas.”
Ksena Spencer
Photo by: Adison Poole
“Based on what I’ve seen so far it seems he appears to be on somewhat of a power trip,” senior James Hugus said. “I’m hoping that streak doesn’t continue and harm his presidency. If prices drop in the next few years, I’ll be happy with it, though”
James Hugus
Photo by: Adison Poole
“I think he’s going to do terrible and bring down the country, considering the fact there are a bunch of economists out there saying his plans are absolutely terrible,” senior Gracie Susick said. “I also feel that he’s getting into too much with deporting people, and he is creating more and more issues with other countries”
Gracie Susick
Photo by: Adison Poole
“I think he’s going to be a good president because from what I see he is attempting to make things equal so that no one feels privileged,” junior Noah Dudek said. “He seems like he wants to make things equal for everyone instead of lifting certain people up over others.”
Noah Dudek
Photo by: Adison Poole
“I don’t even feel like he should’ve have been able to run again in the first place,” freshman Nico Hardaway said. “I mean he was convicted of a felony, and I think that’s plenty reason enough why he shouldn’t be allowed in office.”
Nico Hardaway
Photo by: Adison Poole
“I think Donald Trump is doing a good thing by encouraging people to come to the country legally,” sophomore Casey Shwartz said. “He didn’t say they couldn’t come, he just wanted people to do it the right way.”
Casey Swartz
Photo by: Adison Poole
“I believe Kamala Harris and Donald Trump would’ve been equal no matter who ended up in office,” junior Maxwell Vargovich. “I believe Trump is going to take our country down a bad path.”
Maxwell Vargovich
Photo by: Adison Poole
“I think he has the right ideas to be a good president but maybe not the right choice at the moment with everything else going on in the world,” junior Kasey Baxter said. “Due to his most recent actions, I’m not so sure about him, but I guess time will tell.”
Kasey Baxter
Photo by: Adison Poole
“I think he’s a great guy and I’m glad we elected Trump instead of Kamala Harris,” sophomore Samuel Vassar said. “I agree with a lot of his ideas, and I think he’s going to lower prices.”
Bear Frye and Samuel Vassar
Photo by: Adison Poole
“I think Donald Trump is going to be a good president because of his personality and the way that he thinks about everyone,” senior Bear Frye said. “He has talked about his support for African Americans multiple times and how he wants to help them. He also explained that he doesn’t want to stop the immigrants from coming in but encourage them to come over legally. I know he will rebuild the wall for things to be great again.”
“I think he’s taking us backwards on lot of things that past presidents have put in place,” senior Alexxus Reynolds said. “He keeps attempting to change things, such as issues from the 1900s. Things I feel most people have forgot about or moved on from he goes back to just to undo. I just don’t understand how we can make America great again if America was never great to begin with.”
TikTok has been the number one app in the AppStore for many years, but coming Jan. 19, that may change.
A TikTok ban is poised to take effect in the United States later this month. There is speculation that the app will remain on phones but eventually become unusable. Most teenagers around America are outraged.
A screenshot of the top entertainment apps in the app store.
“I think the ban is pretty stupid,” junior Alex Swatchick said. “People are worried that China is getting our data, but from what I have seen, I doubt that China is getting anything important.”
There are multiple reasons why TikTok is being banned; the main reason is that it could be a security risk. With TikTok shop taking off this past year, many are worried about personal information being leaked or stolen.
“As someone who doesn’t frequently watch the news, it seems to be my only way to keep up with current events that are happening in the world,” senior Sabrina Kasic said.
While many teens do get their information from the app, some of it can be questionable and it is often hard to separate right from wrong.
Some adults are happy about the change, as social media can be harmful to young people.
“The TikTok ban is positive because it will give students one less distraction,” Child Development teacher Dr. Tiffany Smietana-Lysell said. “I know that TikTok is used a lot during their free time, actually all the time.”
While TikTok does have many negative qualities, it also has some positive ones.
“The TikTok banning will impact our generation greatly because it has become a space that most of the world has and [we] can see people of all different backgrounds,” Kasic said. “When people don’t have this, they might not feel as connected.”
TikTok has also given a lot of small businesses a chance to branch out to the world and make them more successful.
“So many people use TikTok for not only entertainment, but also marketing and sales,” Swatchick said. “Many people would lose out on sales or even lose their business in total.”
The ban might have some negative effects on people economically, but it could have some positive effects on the way students handle their free time better by decreasing the time they spend swiping.
“I do not see it having a major impact on this generation or future generations,” Dr. Smietana-Lysell said. “There will always be new apps developed and new trends to follow, so the absence of TikTok will eventually just be a minor event in the past.”
Although the new year often brings hope and good fortune, 2025 began with tragedy for many in two major U.S. cities.
In the early morning hours of Jan. 1, a crowd of celebrating citizens in New Orleans, Louisiana were faced with the headlights of an oncoming truck and eventually the barrel of a gun. Only a few hours later, bystanders at the Trump International Hotel in Las Vegas, Nevada witnessed an explosion from within a Tesla Cybertruck.
The street signs on the corner of Bourbon Street where the attack took place.
Photo courtesy: Adobe Stock Photos
Only three hours after midnight, there were 14 victims killed and at least 33 others were injured when Shamsud-din Jabbar drove a pickup truck loaded with improvised explosive devices (IEDs) into a crowd on the sidewalk of Bourbon Street in the French Quarter.
The incident has been determined as a premeditated domestic terrorist attack. Jabbar was a 42-year-old U.S. Army veteran from Texas who showed no concerning behaviors to family or friends before the attack. He did, however, visit and surveil the area at least two times using Meta smart glasses to record in the months leading up to the attack. In videos posted online, he pledged his support to the foreign terrorist organization ISIS, and a corresponding flag was recovered from the vehicle.
In addition to the IEDs in the truck, Jabbar planted two coolers containing IEDs on nearby streets that did not detonate. After stopping the truck, he stepped out of the vehicle wielding a gun and was eventually killed in a shootout with police officers. Two officers were injured.
It was later discovered that he set fire to a rented Airbnb in a suspected attempt to destroy evidence.
He rented the Ford F-150 Lightning from a car rental platform called Turo, a service that allows owners to rent directly to customers, similarly to Airbnb.
The Tesla Cybertruck used in the Las Vegas explosion was also rented through Turo, but investigations found no connection. Turo claimed they background check all users and neither individual raised any red flags.
A Tesla Cybertruck similar to the one used in the explosion.
Photo courtesy: Adobe Stock Photos
“The use of a vehicle [for violence] has become commonplace and it’s honestly terrifying,” Law and Economics teacher Mr. Mark Zahorchak said.
37-year-old U.S. Army Green Beret Matthew Livelsberger ended his own life by gunshot just before the detonation of explosives inside the rented Cybertruck. At least seven injuries were sustained by bystanders, but no one was severely injured. There was also effectively no damage to the building as the steel body of the vehicle contained the majority of the explosion.
Letters and audio recordings of Livelsberger prior to the attack state the intent was to provide a “wake up call” to the public. He expressed support of president-elect Donald Trump, Tesla CEO Elon Musk and others involved with the Trump campaign. He held disdain for diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives, income equality, and the rising issue of homelessness. Investigations revealed his use of ChatGPT to research and plan the attack, which had not previously been seen in major criminal investigations.
Coming right at the start of the new year and just before Trump’s inauguration, the increase in national—and even international—conflict has created a social and political landscape brimming with negativity.
Mr. Zahorchak stated that there is “simply no place” for politically motivated violence, and that it was “obviously un-American.”
In recent years, there has been an uptick in political violence on a larger scale, from school shootings to assassination attempts, and even wars. Predictably, this has caused an increase in worry around the globe.
“Yes, it concerns me,” social studies teacher Mrs. Beth Simone said. “I do sometimes question: are things worse now or am I just more aware?”
Tragically, the future likely holds an increase in these events.
“The idea of someone harming someone for political reasons is something I can unfortunately see increasing because we live in a volatile time,” Zahorchak shared.
Both Mrs. Simone and Zahorchak shared that it changes how they approach situations with their families, around crowds and at big events.
Although these events were important news, many students were unaware they even happened or missed most details.
“I just knew that there was a car involved, and it ran into a crowd, and there was a football game cancelled because of it,” sophomore Aiden Jackson said.
The cancellation of the Sugar Bowl 2025 game in New Orleans was the most common knowledge shared by students and staff.
Several, including Jackson, cited family and friends as their initial source for the information.
Others, like Zahorchak, first saw it on social media before researching on news sites.
Recently, more and more people find news on social media sites just as it happens. Although this can be beneficial for some, it can also over-stress and drown out other relevant events.
“It’s a sort of diffusion of information,” Simone explained. “There’s so much going on and being shared everywhere that we don’t know what’s important. Big picture, I don’t think it’s truly possible for anyone to stay informed at this point.”
While both Jabbar and Livelsberger were politically motivated, it has been determined that they were working alone, and their messages have not seemed to influence others yet.
“As far as using these events to send a message—that is ineffective,” Simone said. “Because there is so much happening, it won’t have much of an effect. We cannot control the narrative—it happens so often that people won’t know your name.”
Many Americans are desensitized to tragedies that happen outside of their community, and this can cause a disconnect in the population.
“We can still believe in each other, but it does concern me that it takes an event hitting home to realize that,” Simone said. “We tend to trust our neighbors, and we tend to be willing to help each other.”
From Pink Pilates Princess users to Boujee Football Rap users, students listened to hours and hours of music to get through 2024.
To end every year streaming services put out a “wrapped” which is made up of the users’ top artists, top songs and the number of minutes listened.
Students were eager to share their stats and talk about their favorite artists of the year.
“My top artists were Ariana Grande, SZA and Billie Eilish,” senior Greg Paravate said.
Artists varied from student to student, even teachers shared their music taste from the year.
“My top artist was Khruangbin, they make very chill music,” Math teacher Mr. Al Toret said.
Mr. Toret’s top five songs on Apple Music.
Photo courtesy: Mr. Al Toret
Spotify and Apple also released data from every user overall. This includes top artists from the year which would make Taylor Swift 2024’s Global Top Artist.
Following the top artists, users were able to see their total minutes spent listening to music in 2024.
“Overall, I had about 30,000 minutes listened,” Paravate said.
Other users only listened occasionally or used the music as background noise.
“I had 15,218 minutes because I only really listen when I’m driving,” junior Andrew Lehnhardt said.
Lehnhardt’s top Spotify artists and songs.
Photo courtesy: Andrew Lehnhardt
While these streaming services do provide several different pieces of information and stats for their users, many spoke of the things they wish they could see more of or what they would change if it was up to them.
“I’d want to see what song or songs I skipped the most throughout the year,” Lehnhardt said. “That way I’d know what songs I should probably take off my playlist.”
Students also wanted to see the minutes they listened to divided up into each playlist and how long they spent with each.
“I would really like to see stats on how long or often I listened to each of my playlists,” Paravate said.
While both streaming services release the users’ “stats,” many believe that the wrapped isn’t completely accurate.
“Most of my top artists didn’t shock me,” Mr. Toret said. “However, my fourth artist felt wrong. I don’t think I listened to her nearly that much.”
Many users claimed to have a few artists or songs in their wrapped that felt a little off, but for the most part felt like what they saw made sense.
“Some of them were shocking, but for the most part I guess it made sense,” Toret said.
The start of the second semester brings a lot of change to the halls of GS.
One of the most prominent changes is the students’ classes. With semester one classes ending, students will get a fresh start in their semester two classes.
“I like the change,” senior Oakley Decker said. “I always liked the different classes from the first half to the second.”
It’s common for students to grow tired of their classes after being in the same environment for so long. The second semester gives students a chance to trade out classes they may not find enjoyment in anymore for new ones.
Blanca Grillo and Rocco Himes pose with their second semester schedules.
Photo By: Quinn Isenberg
“I’m happy because I didn’t really like my classes,” senior Samantha Hanawalt said. “So, I want to go into the second semester.”
Despite the fresh start, students may find themselves losing their motivation for school throughout the second semester. Instead of letting this get the best of them, wise students find ways to keep themselves engaged.
“To keep myself motivated I do stuff after school, like Speech and Debate and band,” freshman Luke Johnson said.
Others find themselves motivated by the opportunity to do well in their new classes.
“I’m more motivated for the second semester because I feel like it’s a second chance at getting the grades I want to get and didn’t during the first semester,” sophomore Daliza Sanchez said.
New classes also give students the opportunity to do better than they did in the first semester. Students can walk into these classes with a clean slate and apply the knowledge they took from the last semester into the new one.
“I learned new ways to study that work better for my particular learning style,” Sanchez said.
The second semester also proves to be beneficial to teachers. It gives them a chance to try new methods with different groups of students to see what works best.
“The really nice thing is that I can reflect upon experiences that I had in the fall because how the students reacted to different tactics is still fresh in my mind,” math teacher Mr. Al Toret said. “I can modify them if they didn’t work or reuse them if they did.”
To some the second semester simply means they’re one semester closer to the end of the year. However, it is important to take things slow and make the most of the new semester by taking advantage of every opportunity that comes their way.
“Savor your time here rather than wish it away,” Mr. Toret said.
As the new year rolls in, resolutions and goals are being made for success.
Reflecting on the past can show what worked, what didn’t and why. Understanding things that caused challenges and led to success can help set a more realistic goal.
“I don’t have many new year’s resolutions this year, but I do want to work on my procrastination,” senior Kylie Kolenc said.
Sometimes breaking goals down into smaller steps can keep people on track. Procrastination can be a leading factor in not completing goals. So, making checkpoints smaller can make it easier to see progress and stay motivated.
“My new year’s resolution is to stay active and try to work out more to make me stronger for dance,” sophomore Izabella Caruso said.
Izabella Caruso is captured mid-leap during a dance competition.
Photo courtesy: Izabella Caruso
Acknowledging that there might be situations that lead to setbacks is important so there can be a backup plan. Setbacks can be part of the process, so staying resilient and bouncing back is ideal.
For some people, writing down resolutions and goals so they can be visualized can be beneficial. They can be placed somewhere that is seen every day like a fridge or a desk.
“I plan to achieve them by maybe having a planner or something along the lines of that to help with deadlines,” Kolenc said.
For some, staying flexible can keep them more focused on the end goal. Regularly reviewing and adjusting goals can make it more realistic to achieve.
“I would like to connect more with my family and friends in 2025,” Science Teacher Mrs. Julie Firmstone said. “My motivation is that we never know when we won’t have that chance.”
Even celebrating the small things can keep motivation up. But other than individual things people do to keep themselves motivated, having a support system can go a long way.
“My motivation is my mom because she is my number one supporter and my team,” Caruso said. “I also think my dance teacher will help push me to be my best because all she has ever wanted was for her students to dance to their best ability.”
The people that surround a person can be the thing they need for success. Sometimes the smallest support can make a difference.
While continuing into 2025, staying motivated and on track is important for most and helps to create a more successful year.
“A retired teacher told me that it takes 21 days to form a habit, so I try to remind myself to keep up with something, so I am able to create the habit,” Mrs. Firmstone said.
Various business locations have been rapidly cleaning out in Greensburg.
Route 30’s Dick’s Sporting Goods, the South Greensburg Wendy’s restaurant and Greengate Center’s Big Lots have all been affected in recent months by poorly performing locations or filing for bankruptcy.
Dick’s Sporting Goods
Following the closing of its Route 30 location, the Westmoreland Mall is welcoming a Dick’s House of Sport into an anchor space in the mall that was previously occupied by Sears. Computer Science teacher Mr. Tyler Brinton believes the new store will be “great for the community.”
“It’ll be a really great place for kids to get sports gear, especially being in the mall,” Mr. Brinton said.
The House of Sport offers a more interactive experience for customers than a normal Dick’s Sporting Goods location; they are often larger than a Sporting Goods, with most locations, such as at Ross Park Mall, featuring golf simulators, spaces to practice sports and a 30-feet-tall rock wall. The store will also offer the expected athletic apparel and equipment.
The outside of the Greensburg Dick’s location after being shut down.
Photo By: Kerrick Shaw
Wendy’s and TGI Fridays
The Wendy’s restaurant located on South Main Street was one of over 100 U.S. restaurants closed in 2024 from failing to keep up with other spots. These closing sites will be balanced out by the opening of around 250 new restaurants across America.
The outside of the South Greensburg Wendy’s.
Photo By: Kerrick Shaw
“I was told we closed because our lease was up and we didn’t make enough to pay it,” Wendy’s employee, junior Nova Miller, said. “We’re all set at a new store now. They moved all of the employees at the South Greensburg one to the Wendy’s by the mall; we’ve basically combined stores.”
The restaurant chain TGI Fridays filed for bankruptcy in November, leaving the location in the Hempfield Square shopping plaza, surrounded by Texas Roadhouse and PetSmart, available for lease. TGI Fridays Inc. operates less than 40 locations in the U.S.
Big Lots
Big Lots, located in the Greengate Shopping Center, recently had their windows covered with everything-must-go signs. The discount furniture and home décor chain filed for bankruptcy in September of last year, however, its debts were just picked up by Gordon Brothers, a global assets company.
According to the Gordon Brothers press release, their purchasing of Big Lots Inc. will preserve the brand, keeping “hundreds of stores in operation and preventing thousands of layoffs.”
Variety Wholesalers, a company included in the transfer of Big Lots’ assets, will operate about 200 stores under the Big Lots brand. Gordon Brothers will provide real estate services to support the future of Big Lots and have just put new-to-market store leases up for sale across 47 states, not including PA meaning the Greengate Center space will remain closed.
GS Libarian Mrs. Carrie Vottero believes the closing of these businesses is due to the ever-growing use of electronics.
“I remember shopping a different way than how young people, and myself, shop today,” Mrs. Vottero said. “It’s bound to change; the world is changing. More things are continuously going electronic, like Amazon and DoorDash. That’s just how people shop now.”
The 2024 fall sports season held many challenges and successes for GS teams.
Fall sports include football, girls’ tennis, golf, boys’ soccer, girls’ soccer, boys’ cross country, girls’ cross country and volleyball.
FOOTBALL
The varsity football team had its best start since 1999.
“We did exactly what we wanted to do, coming out of the gate 4-0,” defensive coordinator Mr. Matthew Boe said.
The team finished 7-3 overall and 3-1 in conference play, placing fourth overall in the conference. Unfortunately, they lost in the first round of playoffs against the Avonworth Antelopes on Nov. 1.
After several difficult seasons, the seniors were very happy with their success.
GS clashes with members of the Valley High School football team.
Photo Courtesy: Brad Skero, Kryptic Media
“We’re kind of going out with a bang,” senior captain Cooper Dann said. “It feels good to win.”
This year, Dann was recognized for his efforts on and off the field. He was invited to be a part of the Steelers All-Peer Team, for which he will be honored at the Acrisure Stadium.
“He’s just a really good person,” Mr. Boe said. “I think it’s definitely earned.”
Boe explained that the return of several varsity starters, like Dann and fellow senior Kai Brunot, allowed the team to work from a better starting point.
For the game against Ligonier Valley on Sep. 30, Brunot was voted the PennLive state player of the week for his touchdown and 142 rushing yards. He received nearly 50% of the votes cast and contributed a lot to the team’s success.
Boe said that despite good plays like Brunot’s, there are a lot of things the team can improve on. He believes that the team can “absolutely control our destiny.”
He and Dann both expressed that the season held a lot of energy and optimism.
“Every single year, there’s an excitement for it,” Boe explained.
GIRLS’ TENNIS
Most of the team this fall was completely new to the sport.
The now graduated Class of 2024 filled six of seven varsity starters, leaving the team at a huge disadvantage this season.
They finished the season with a record of 1-10, but there was incredible improvement and individual successes.
“The record doesn’t indicate how much we progressed or how evenly matched the rounds were,” coach Mr. Christopher Gazze said.
Mr. Gazze went into the season with the hope of growth and improvement for the team to set up for next year.
“I feel like I learned a lot, and I ended up making really good friendships,” senior Anna Spigarelli said.
Spigarelli has been playing for three years and was a varsity starter this season.
Despite the record, the team is optimistic looking toward next year with the possibility of competing for playoffs.
“I think they have really good foundations,” Spigarelli shared about the underclassmen. “As long as they put in the work, they’ll do really well.”
GOLF
Having lost a large group of seniors last year, the season didn’t come with the highest expectations.
It was a welcome surprise when three freshmen made an incredible impact that led the team to an overall record of 9-6 with a section record of 8-4. Their section record resulted in third place in the section, only missing playoffs because of a loss in their final match against Mt. Pleasant.
One freshman in particular, captain Luke Sikora, was “a consistent contributor to the team,” according to coach Mr. Erik Doran.
Sikora, along with sophomore Bryce Ferace, qualified as individuals for WPIALs.
Only Sikora made the cut for finals, just missing the cut for round three. He tied for 18th, the cut for the round, but lost in the second playoff hole—resulting in a final placement of 19th.
“I didn’t play how I usually do, but it was fun,” Sikora explained.
He earned the WCCA Tournament Co-Champion title as well as the WPIAL AA Section 2 Champion title during the season.
“I’m excited for next year,” he said.
With many consistent players returning next year, the team hopes for another good season.
“Heading into next year, we are one of the favorites to make playoffs and win our section,” Mr. Doran said.
Sikora at the WCCA Tournament.
Photo by: Erik Doran
BOYS’ SOCCER
With many difficulties in a new section, the boys’ soccer team finished with a record of 3-17.
The season started with the loss of five varsity starters and a lot of uncertainty. Injuries constantly impacted the lineup, but the team still made many games closer than anticipated.
“[We] are learning that in order to play a complete match, we have to give maximum effort in practice as well as games,” coach Rich Christeleit explained.
Many players have improved individually, and the team put up a good fight in their new section.
“I think we’ve grown as a team,” junior captain Alex Swatchick said. “We’ll be looking forward to improving over the summer.”
GIRLS’ SOCCER
With a slow start to the season, the team pulled through with a 7-9 overall record and were 3-7 in section play.
Senior captain Alice Wilkinson said she was excited for her senior season but had been “hoping to do better.”
Much of the team, including Wilkinson, were optimistic about a shot at playoffs—which they fell just short of.
“We felt like we were in a good place to be successful,” coach Jess Melodia explained. “Over the last four years, the team has gotten stronger, faster and more resilient.”
Wilkinson expressed that regardless of game results, her favorite part was spending time with her team.
Most of the team share strong bonds that have only grown with them over the years. These connections have resulted in a lot of growth and success as a team.
Hopefully, in the next season it will pay off not only in team morale, but in their record as well.
“We are at a point where we are starting to consistently recognize the results of all the hard work we have put in,” Melodia said.
CROSS COUNTRY
Even with dwindling numbers, the cross country teams this season were very successful.
“It says a lot, to come out and have the record we have after losing who we lost,” coach Mr. Nathan Snider expressed.
The girls’ team had an overall record of 10-3, and the boys’ team had a record of 3-10.
With only four runners for the boys by the end of the season, they didn’t have enough to make a full team—their estimated record, if they would have had a fifth runner, is 9-4.
“It’s very disappointing to not be able to score as a team when you have four good runners,” Mr. Snider said.
The girls won the AA County title and placed 8th at WPIALs.
“We’ve had a lot of success this season,” senior Ksena Spencer said.
Senior captain Nick Reinhart had a positive outlook moving into the individual season.
Reinhart, along with fellow seniors Owen Noel and captain Regan Kerr, placed top 12 at the TSTCA Cross Country Championship Oct. 17 and advanced to the State Meet after qualifying at WPIALs.
Noel and Reinhart placed 80th and 90th respectively, out of 249 runners. Kerr placed 63rd out of 250 runners.
“It went well,” Reinhart said. “We all ran well, and it was definitely a good time.”
VOLLEYBALL
This season the team worked as hard as they could to see success—and it certainly paid off.
With an overall record of 15-4, they made it to the first round of the playoff season against Hampton on Oct. 23. Unfortunately, they were swept, losing the first three of five sets.
“These girls have worked so hard to get to this point,” coach Mrs. Rachel Brannigan said. “They showed up in the off season and show[ed] up at practice every day to work harder than the day before.”
They were excited for playoffs after placing second in the section.
“I have never been part of a team that has such an incredible bond and works so hard,” sophomore Patricia Redinger explained.
After placing last in the 2023 season, the success may be unexpected, but it was certainly earned.
“This is such an amazing group of girls all around,” Mrs. Brannigan said, “They lift each other up and work hard both on and off the court.”
—
As seasons end and new sports begin, school spirit at GS is one of the most important things for students to focus on.
“We have to continue to grow as a school [and] come together as a community to succeed,” Mr. Drake D’Angelo, Athletic Director, said.
One of the biggest murder cases of the late 1980s and 1990s has become a worldwide topic again in 2024.
Erik and Lyle Menendez shot and killed their parents, Jose and Kitty Menendez on August 20, 1989, in their Beverly Hills Mansion. But in 2024, their case has once again become very controversial.
The brothers never denied that they were the ones to kill their parents, but they have said that their reasoning for killing their parents was self-defense after years of enduring emotional, physical and sexual abuse. At the time prosecutors argued that there was no evidence of molestation, and they were simply after their parents’ multimillion-dollar estate. But after 27 years, attorneys say there is surfacing evidence that might help the brothers prove that their side of the story is true.
“They deserve to be in jail, but I think there needs to be more attention brought to their mental state,” junior Isabella Sefchock said. “They clearly weren’t mentally stable when they committed the crimes, and they need to be going through intensive therapy.”
The Menendez brothers experienced two trials. The first trial in 1994 was ruled a mistrial due to a hung jury which led to the start of a second trial in 1996. The brothers were then convicted of first-degree murder. During the trial, the judge withheld most of the evidence about the brothers being sexually abused.
They are currently seeking a retrial, claiming that they have new evidence to prove their side of the story. Their attorneys say this evidence has not been presented to a jury and that it should be due to new understandings of how abuse impacts children.
“When you go through that kind of trauma it affects you so much,” junior Braden Poole said. “You can’t understand how that person thinks, acts and talks after being abused to that extent.”
The brothers’ reason for their proclaimed “self-defense” was that they thought their parents were going to kill them after they finally started standing up to them after years of being silenced.
“There is no doubt that what they were put through was terrible, but they were adults, and they could have gotten help instead of resorting to murder,” Sefchock said.
On September 19, 2024, Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story was released on Netflix. Although it quickly became popular, people have had a lot to say about whether it is necessarily true or not.
A screenshot of the Netflix series, Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story
“In a way I feel like it went after Lyle and made him seem like a stuck-up guy out of court and villainized him, especially when talking about what he did to Eric,” Poole said.
Many people on social media have said that they feel the show made the brothers look worse than they are. But others think it showed exactly what they were like.
“I think the show captured the awfulness of their actions,” Sefchock said. “In my opinion it was what the public needed to finally realize that the abuse still wasn’t a reason to kill their parents.”
On October 7, 2024, The Menendez Brothers was released. This is a documentary in which the brothers speak out about what life was like throughout the hearings and now in prison. Others such as jury members, psychologists and lawyers also speak out in this documentary.
“I think it is good for the people who want to hear about the story but without the entertainment aspect,” Poole said.
In the documentary the case is broken down from the night of the murders to the sentencing. The brothers explain what they were thinking and feeling and give insight on their side of things.
“For me, the documentary seemed like a way for them to continue defending their horrible actions,” Sefchock said. “At the end of the day, murder is murder.”
The brothers were separated from each other for more than 20 years until they were reunited at Donovan Correctional Facility in San Diego, where they remain incarcerated.
“I feel like separating them wasn’t fair,” Poole said. “They went through so much together and when they needed each other most they were ripped away from each other.”
The boys were separated because they were considered maximum security inmates. Prison officials also prefer to separate people who have committed crimes together.
“I think they needed to be separated,” Sefchock said. “I mean they planned murder together, so they clearly weren’t good influences on each other. They needed that time apart.”
The case has been particularly popular with younger generations. With young adults and teenagers being more active on social media, especially TikTok, they have been able to build communities of people who share their views.
Supporters of the brothers have created movements and are pushing for a retrial and for them to be released from prison.
“Going back to when this happened, abuse of all kinds wasn’t stuff that was talked about,” Poole said. “Gen Z has more of a broad knowledge and understanding on abuse and they sympathize with them because they were not heard.”
Now the brothers are 53 and 56 and although they are still in prison, they have found ways to pass time.
Erik has worked with terminally ill inmates, has become interested in studying medicine and has led classes about religion. Lyle has become interested in prison reform.
Both brothers have become interested in painting and have set up a plan to paint a mural on walls in their prison. They have also offered support and guidance to other victims of childhood abuse.
“They deserve a chance to be happy,” Poole said. “They should be able to live a life that isn’t a constant reminder of their past and parents. That can only happen if we set them free.”
The Lions' Den 