2015-2016 Sports Round Up

By Devin Munroe '16

The school year of 2015-2016 has been one of great success for the Severn Admirals. Of the 30 varsity and junior-varsity teams that compete throughout the year, several teams have had tremendous individual and team accolades. The fall started off strong as the varsity men’s soccer team defeated Boys Latin in the championship to win their second MIAA B Conference title in a row. The JV men’s soccer team followed in the varsity’s footsteps as they won their conference as well. The Cross Country team completed their notorious half marathon with three runners, Neel Lakhanpal, Archer Willauer, and Camryn Rosen, taking on the daring task of completing an entire marathon. The varsity women’s tennis second in the very competitive A conference. Even when the Admirals thought that the fall season could not get more exciting, the football team came out on Halloween and beat St. Mary’s for the first time in 9 years. 

The winter season was able to carry on the wave of athletic success in the Severn community. The boy’s varsity basketball team finished with 19-10 record and made it to the semi-finals of their conference for the first time in four years. The varsity girl’s basketball team also had an incredible season as they received the #1 seed in the conference and made it to the championship of their division. Maddie McDaniel made school history as she broke her 1,000^th point and, by the end of the season, held the school record for most points scored and rebounds. The wrestling team also proved to be a major force in their conference as they became the B conference state champs.

Even though the spring season is still in progress, there have already been monumental successes. The varsity men’s lacrosse team started off their season strong with two in-conference wins over Gilman and Mount St. Joe’s. The win over Gilman was the first time in 25 years that the Admirals had come out on top of the Greyhounds. The boy’s team has followed their two in-conference wins with very close games against some of the top-ranked teams in the nation. With the rivalry game against St. Mary’s on May 6, the Admirals are vying for a playoff spot. The girl’s varsity team has had one of their best seasons in decades as they coined the number three title in their division, the highest ranking they have had in nine years. The Lady Admirals will play their first playoff game on Tuesday, May 10. Men’s varsity tennis continues to be a force in their conference as they stand 6-0. The varsity baseball team has also had a strong season, as they remain a dominant opponent in their conference. 

As the year comes to an end, it is incredible to look back on all the success that have been achieved on the field, in the pool, on the wrestling mat, and on the track. Severn athletes have made outstanding impacts in their respective conferences. All this success could not come about without the support and encouragement of the coaches, athletic trainers, and parents. The Admirals have brought a great name to Severn this year, and hopefully the upcoming school year will be filled with the same amount of hard work and accomplishments!

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Ask The Admiral! Beware of Spring Fever.

Dear Admiral, 

How do I stay away from Spring Fever?

*********************************************************************************

Springtime is always the best time of the school year! It seems like just about everyone is playing a spring sport, looking forward to the warmer weather, and buying a refreshing Italian-ice at Rita’s. With all of the outside distractions beginning to take a toll on us, we can’t let spring fever get to our heads and forget about what’s most important: SCHOOLWORK. 

With the plentiful snow days and extended spring break, it seems that many of our assignments and tests have just been pushed further and further back-- until now. This first week back from break has been stressful on all of us and doesn’t seem to be letting up. 

If you are feeling overwhelmed while doing your homework, take breaks and maybe exercise outside or simply grab a snack from the pantry. These tricks have been proven to relieve stress, focusing on something more lighthearted and fun. Although, when giving your brain its needed breaks, make sure you are also giving yourself enough time to complete your work as well. 

I know seniors are already catching spring fever, but for the rest of us, we need to try our best to stay motivated for the “final push” of the third quarter and keep that same motivation alive until the end of the year! 

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The French Exchange

By: Carley Thorne '17

After a long two weeks in which many Severn students were either relaxing on the beaches of Mexico or skiing down black diamonds in Utah, fifteen families are preparing their homes for the weeks after spring break. 

These small few will act as guides and hosts to the French exchange students traveling on the eight and a half hour flight from Brest, France to JFK in Washington, D.C. 

Elizabeth Grund, sophomore and returning guide for the French exchange program, says that she joined because it was not only an opportunity to expand her language skills outside of the classroom, but also a great way for her to learn about other cultures without having to travel outside the States. “I loved how excited the all of the students were about everyday American things, like fast food, things that I take for granted.” 

Casey Boldt, a junior here at Severn School, said that one of her favorite things about the French exchange was seeing how her student reacted to everyday norms that she didn’t think twice about. “My student was surprised how early we ate dinner and went to bed, in France they eat dinner around ten o’clock.” Casey’s also liked meeting people from around the world and finding out that they aren’t very different from us. 

So this week in school, keep an eye out in the hallways for our foreign travelers and maybe even ask them a few questions about their home-life in Brest, you never know what you might learn.

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A New Leaf

By: Annie Mott '16

When April rolls around, everyone on the Severn campus is excited about two things: warm weather, and Prom (and, if you're a senior, the fact that this is your last month of high school -- ever). With flowers blooming and prom dress registries booming, the last thing on anyone's mind is Wednesday, April 22nd. Or, as it is more widely known, Earth Day. 

Earth Day, born out of a response to a ravaging oil spill in 1969 in California, has been a remarkable testament to the changing attitude towards the environment in the last 50 years. Just five decades ago, we Americans were sucking up lead gas like we were dehydrated marathoners, pouring smoke into the atmosphere from factories with little regard for consequences, and marring the Earth's surface irrevocably with deforestation and displacement of wildlife. Populations of species decreased at a rate never before seen, and to this day 16,928 species are still faced with the threat of extinction, while 785 species are extinct. 

Earth Day has come to represent America, and the world as a whole, turning over a new leaf (so to speak) and starting the modern environmental movement. 

This year, Severn School is taking full advantage of Earth Day, turning it into an "Earth Week," with a separate activity for each day to make the school more aware of the environment and what is being done to combat the effects of pollution in our ecosystem. 

Specific details of each activity will not be revealed until April 10, during a Morning Meeting presentation, but each day will be something new and different than what we have seen in past years.
For those students who have not yet completed their service-learning hours, a service opportunity over that weekend may prove to be exactly what you're looking for. 

The Earth Week festivities will prove to be a fun way to celebrate and protect our Earth, as well as a showcase for a new, greener, Severn School. 

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The Adventures of Agent Sot; Chapter 9: The Kleindog

By: Zachary Rosen '16

      The Victor-wolf has brown fur with black streaks running through it. He creeps around and leaps, but Sot jumps and kicks him in the throat, landing with a backwards barrel roll. She never realized she’d be using Krav Maga to fight oversized dogs. “Now would be a good time to fire at them. If we keep kicking them, their parents will sue us.”

      “It takes a minute for it to warm up. Keep them at bay,” Klein replies.

       The assumed Jordan-wolf, with sand colored fur and red spots, starts to creep forward. Sot picks up a chair and starts beating his head with it. He yelps and jumps back. “I would like, just once, to have a normal day here,” Sot sighs. Klein snorts.

       Klein’s cure gun finishes warming and he begins firing. Victor and Jordan go down. Their bodies start convulsing as their bones shift and bodies twist. In seconds, they are once again teenagers, dressed in maroon singlets. Two down, one to go.

       Perreten leaps onto the figure of Klein before he can fire a third time. His jaws clamp around his arm and Klein grunts, trying to force him off. He twists the gun around and fires, catching the Tyler-beast on the back of his head. He detaches, collapsing on the floor, slowly transforming. Klein drops the gun and falls onto the floor. Sot runs to him. “Klein! Klein! Josh?!” She shakes him but he doesn’t move. Darkness spreads in veins from his wounded arm up the rest of his body. Klein convulses, throwing Sot ten feet. She sees stars and blinks, looking back at her infected friend. In his place is a jet black Pomeranian, growling violently. Sot notices someone running towards her out the corner of her eye. The Kleindog leaps, but is kicked to the side with a yelp by the unknown being. Sot crawls towards the cure-gun and shoots at the tiny animal, breathing a sigh of relief.

       She looks back and gasps. It is the image of Howes, one of the many sad ghosts doomed to walk the haunted halls of Severn for eternity. He smiles wanly and fades into oblivion.

                                                                              ---

       The school is empty as the clock strikes midnight. Faint moonlight filters through the window into the otherwise dark Creeden Commons. Slowly, steadily, a figure lowers from the ceiling suspended by steel wire. His shiny baldness glimmers in the moon’s rays. He swabs a small dab of blood from the carpet. Gvozden chuckles, returning to the ceiling.

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The Life and Times of Agent Sot; Chapter 8: The Dog Days

By: Zachary Rosen '16

      “What do you mean that was Victor Martinez?!” Ms. Sot tears some fabric from her sleeve and makes a tourniquet with it. In a few moments the bleeding stops. 

      Klein hands her a vial and a needle. “He didn’t bite you or anything?” Sot shakes her head. “This will prevent you from getting rabies or anything like what infected him.” Gritting her teeth, Sot stabs into her stomach and breathes in. She looks at Klein expectantly. “There is an unexplainable rash of outbreaks amongst the wrestling team. They’re all turning into werewolves. We think it’s pathogenic. That vial should prevent you from being infected.”

      “How is that even possible?"

      “It’s probably a top secret, fast acting retro-viral enhancement created by the French Secret Service for biological warfare. An unnamed agent passed it along to us during the French Exchange. It’s been hidden in a high security refrigeration unit in the Chemistry department for use during the Severn-Saints game. The unit was compromised and passed onto a member of the wrestling team, who in turn spread it from person to person. There were seven infected total. Using an emergency cure, we’ve been able to secretly take out four of them. Victor, Tyler Perreten, and Jordan Leiken are still out roaming the halls.” Klein takes out his cellphone, which starts to beep. “I got a tracking device on Victor. He’s in the Creeden Commons. We better head out.

      “Is it really safe that there is a trio of werewolves roaming the halls and the students don’t know?”

      “They didn’t know when the History and English departments accidentally started a nuclear war, but that turned out ok.”

      “Isn’t that what really happened at Chernobyl!?” 

     “Touché. Let’s go.” The two start sprinting and in minutes they are in the Creeden Commons, all but abandoned except for a violent canine thrashing in the center. Klein pulls a fog gun out of his coat and the barrel starts to spin.

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Orioles Preseason

AP Photo, 2013

By: A.J. Gersh '15

Orioles fans, get ready...Baseball season is just around the corner! The Birds open their 2015 campaign on Monday, April 6th in Tampa Bay. Buck Showalter's team is looking to repeat their American League East title after winning the division by a whopping twelve games and finishing with a 96-66 record in 2014.

However, this task is more simply said than done. The Orioles have lost some crucial players this offseason. Most notably, Andrew Miller, perhaps the team's most reliable bullpen arm last season, signed a 4-year, $36 million contract with the rival New York Yankees and Nelson Cruz, the AL home run leader of 2014, signed a 4-year $57 million dollar deal with Seattle.

There are also a few big questions heading into the season. Will Matt Wieters be able to stay healthy and produce at a level similar to his first month of last season (>.300 BA)? Can Manny Machado recover from two knee surgeries in two consecutive seasons? Will Steve Pearce be able to replicate his power numbers in 2015 (21 HR)? Is Chris Davis really capable of hitting anywhere near the 53 home runs he slammed in 2013? Is the Orioles pitching rotation actually reliable enough to win the division again, or was last year's squad simply hot at the right time?

All of these questions will begin to be answered on April 6th. So, if you want to see a playoff team compete in the toughest division in baseball, tune into MASN on Opening Day!

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Big Fish Recap!

By: Ben Carsley '18

Now that we have returned from a refreshing spring break, let us shortly recap the Water Street Players' musical, Big Fish. 

It may surprise some of you to know that no less than a week after the curtains closed on the fall play, The Illusion, rehearsal for Big Fish began. After auditions, the cast began work on blocking the show, memorizing lines, working dance numbers and, of course, singing. 

At this breakneck rate, the cast quickly became masters of song, dance, and comedic stilt walking. After working night and day, the cast and crew of Big Fish were at last prepared to open for their adoring fans. 

For those few who did not attend the show, here's a quick synopsis: Edward Bloom (played by AJ Gersh '15) loves to tell stories... a lot. He tells his son, Will Bloom, (played by Adam Needle '16) tall tales about his life. Edward tells Will of a mysterious witch (played by Ella Green), his best friend the giant (played by Jack Maniscalco '15), and a host of other hilarious characters. Will at first embraces these stories in his youth, but as he grows he becomes skeptical of his father and feels as if he doesn't really know who he is. Will thinks his father tells him these stories to hide the truth. Edward is then diagnosed with cancer and Will tries to spend time with his father to find the truth behind the stories. Can Edward and Will become close once again? Is Edward hiding a dark secret? Will Jack Maniscalco fall off his stilts? If you want the answers to those questions you should of come to the show! 

On one hand this show is a serious drama between a father and son in modern times. On the other hand it's a quirky, upbeat comedy as Will and Edward reminisce back to the days when Will was younger. I heard rave reviews from everyone who saw it. 

Thanks to Mr. Giddings, Severn has enjoyed another great show and is looking forward to the next, The Lord of The Flies.

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Severn Varsity Girl’s High Preseason Hopes and Interview with Coach Sot

By: Devin Munroe '16

On February 20^th the Severn Varsity girl’s lacrosse team received some exciting news. According to the USA Today Super 25 Preseason Girls Lacrosse rankings Severn held the rank of number 4. This preseason ranking has been the highest in history and gives hope for a promising season after only losing to the number one ranked team McDonogh by one in the semi-final playoff game last year. The article stated the expected success is due to the return of several key players from last year. Seniors Caroline Steele and Hayley Norris are projected to lead the team this year on both ends of the game. After reading this article I decided to go to Coach Sotiropoulos to get her opinion on the article and her thoughts of the upcoming season.

DM: Do you see a difference in the level of play compared to past preseasons?

SOT: In the sense of basic stick skills I feel we are generally ahead of where we generally have been in the past. I have been impressed with the team’s fitness level so far.

DM: What components do you find most important for a team to be successful?

SOT: I think the most important is unselfishness. Great teams consist of players who love playing as a team and understand that no matter what they contribute as individuals the team is what matters most.

DM: Do you feel this team is capable of living up to their high expectations?

SOT: I feel we are capable of living up to these expectations. Although we should not care of what others expect but focus on exceeding the goals that we set for ourselves. 

DM: What made your team so successful last year?

SOT: Our success last year rooted from unselfish play. Every person out there did their job at practice and on game days. Also, the upperclassmen just loved to play, which made a huge difference.

DML What strengths do you think this years team strengths will have?

SOT: This year our strengths will be our speed in the midfield, quickness on attack, and a strong one-v one defense.

***

Make sure to follow the Severn Varsity girls lacrosse team this season!

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Patriots Prevail, Exploit Baltimore's Rocky Secondary

(AP Photo/Steven Senne)

By: A.J. Gersh '15

It was a game of back-and-forth offensive surges, all culminating in a thrilling battle of "who will make the least mistakes."

The hometown Baltimore Ravens jumped out to an early fourteen point first quarter lead off of Kamar Aiken's first career postseason touchdown reception and an incredible grab by veteran wideout Steve Smith, who separated from All-Pro Patriots DB Derrelle Revis in the end zone.

However, the scoring didn't stop there. Tom Brady and the pass-happy New England Patriots answered with fourteen points of their own, as the three-time champion quarterback scrambled into the end zone to end the first quarter and later found slot receiver Danny Amendola to even the score.

Baltimore came soaring right back, scoring yet another fourteen points-- two more passes from Joe Flacco to TE Owen Daniels and RB Justin Forsett.

Fourteen point surges sure seem to be the story of this game, as the Patriots, yet again, answered the Ravens offensive outburst and marched over Baltimore's secondary (which features an injured ex-superstar in Ladarius Webb, a cut Tampa Bay Buc in Rashaan Melvin, and a safety who seemingly couln't make a tackle in Matt Elam) for two more touchdown passes: the first to Rob Gronkowski, a monstrous target at tight end, and the second on a trick screen to Julian Edelman (an ex-college quarterback at Kent State University), who caught the ball in the backfield and flung a 51 yard bullet to Danny Amendola.

Ravens kicker Justin Tucker chipped in a 25 yard field goal to put the Ravens ahead 31-28 early in the fourth quarter, and coach John Harbaugh hoped for a defensive stop on the ensuing drive.

The Ravens defensive line, led by Terrell Suggs and Elvis Dumervil, known as one of the stingiest in the league, held their own, but yet again, Tom Brady was able to exploit the Ravens secondary (who were missing Jimmy Smith, their star in the defensive backfield) and connected with Brandon LaFell for a 23 yard touchdown.

Baltimore's next possession sealed their fate, as Joe Flacco was intercepted by Patriots safety Duron Harmon in the end zone with under two minutes remaining on the clock. Following a defensive stop by Baltimore and a punt from New England, Flacco hurled up a last-second desperation throw, which was knocked down by safety Devin McCourty, ending the Baltimore Ravens hopes of a miracle Super Bowl run.

The Patriots will face the Indianapolis Colts (24-13 winners against the Denver Broncos) next week in the AFC Championship.

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Horoscopes: January 11-17

By: Annie Mott '16

ARIES: Your mood will change often this week and you will feel unsatisfied. You'll lack consistency in your decisions and projects, and every draft of that essay you have to write seems wrong.

TAURUS: Your mind will be on point this week, answering questions with ease and speed in class. The week will seem to fly by, despite the obvious faulty school day that should have been a snow day.

GEMINI: It is probable that you will slip or fall in the walk between Creeden and the portables at least once this week. You've been unsteady on your feet for awhile and, despite the new boots policy, the winter weather makes walking up a slippery ramp rather difficult.

CANCER: You'll be rather grumpy this entire week-- whether it be from that not-so-great exam grade you just got back or having to continue adjusting to that earlier wake-up call. Being in school while it's snowing doesn't help things, either, but keep your head up and push through. 

LEO: You are actually excited to be back in school and to start the new semester. You're so chipper you actually start to irritate your less than positive friends, and the winter wonderland you're in only serves to make you more positive.

VIRGO: You are in the mood for a snowball fight with the weather outside. The last thing you want to do is be in school, and you take full advantage of the freedom they give you and go outside during free period and have a snowball fight.

LIBRA: You are satisfied with your exam grades, and not really stressing about the end of the semester. You are happy to start a new elective and try new things! Even being slightly annoyed at having to drive at 25 miles an hour on the highway cannot get you down.

SCORPIO: Having to drive on the snowy highway, you saw a car accident right in front of you, and it gave you a new outlook on life. You are reminded of your mortality and decide to stop procrastinating and to do the things you want to.

SAGITTARIUS: The winter is your favorite season! You can't wait to get out of school, unfortunately, at the regular time, but you can't wait to get your sled out and go down that big hill in your neighborhood. 

CAPRICORN: You probably aren't feeling quite a hundred percent today. The winter cold has given you a stuffy nose and a cough that you can't quite seem to shake. Take some cold medicine, and chances are you won't have to miss too much school.

AQUARIUS: Winter is just not your season. You'd much rather be on a beach on summer break than in a winter coat not having a snow day. The weekend can't come quick enough, and you are looking forward to sleeping in Saturday morning.

PISCES: Nothing can get to you this week. You had a pleasant winter break and are recharged and ready for the new semester. You don't even have trouble getting up in the morning without a delay and not even a half hour of traffic can get in your way. 

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Big Changes Coming Between U.S. and Cuba

Photo courtesy of "US News"

By: Neel Lakhanpal '16

On December 17th, President Obama made a historic announcement regarding the relations between Cuba and our country. He told Americans and Cubans that a lot of change was coming for the two nations, and that he has a vision of bringing normalcy back to our ties with the communist island. Obama was acting to change actions taken decades ago, when in late 1960, President John F. Kennedy signed a trade embargo against Cuba as a response to Cuba’s alignment with the USSR during the Cold War period. This embargo restricted all Cuban imports to the U.S. and strictly controlled US exports to Cuba. The goal in doing this was to punish the Cuban regime for oppressing its citizens and allying with communist Russia.

The government hasn’t changed, however, and the embargo has proved quite ineffective. The effects on the Cuban economy have been devastating ever since. Since the Cuban economy relied in many ways on exports to America, especially sugar and agricultural products, Cubans suffered immensely without being able to sell their goods to Americans. Today, despite Cuba’s normal relations with most other countries, the effects continue. Millions of Cubans live in poverty and the average Cuban makes just around $6,000 a year, roughly a tenth of what the average American makes in a year. Additionally, Cuba is one of just a handful of countries with which America has no diplomatic ties -- there isn’t even a Cuban embassy in Washington, D.C..

The President’s announcement looks to change all of that in the long term, to our and Cuba’s benefit. To start, he wants to establish a Cuban embassy in Washington and an American embassy in Havana, then lift the trade embargo. Down the road, the ultimate goal would be for a democratically elected government to take over in Cuba.

For Cuba, these actions would help in countless ways. More trade with the U.S. would mean more money for the people and a healthier economy, and U.S. businesses setting up shop in Cuba would help both economies. Car companies search to sell to 11 million Cubans, as do technology companies. Hotels and cruise lines hope to bring Americans to vacation on the vibrant tropical island, if eventually allowed. American companies could prosper, while adding money to the Cuban economy.

For now, this doesn’t mean all that much for Americans without family ties to Cuba. For Cubans and Cuban-Americans, however, this is a very big deal. They are presented with realistic prospects for more prosperity and hopefully a less oppressive government. They look at this opportunity in awe and hope for a better future. In America, companies are enticed by this virtually untapped market lying just below Florida. And, eventually, all of us in Maryland might be hearing about someone’s recent vacation to Cuba, unthinkable two months ago

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2015 Musician in Residence: Preview

Photo by Lester Cohen

By: Tricia Oxford '16

Eric Hutchinson, this year's Dillon Moran Musician-In-Residence, was born on September 8, 1980 in Takoma Park, MD (about an hour away from Severn). He started playing guitar when he was 15! He moved to Boston to attend Emerson College and, four years after, he moved to L.A. Over the years, he has toured with various mainstream musicians, such as Joe Jackson, Jason Mraz, and One Republic. His most popular song “Rock & Roll” is off his first album, “Sounds Like This.”

Eric will be hosting songwriting sessions at Severn next Thursday, January 15th and will perform in Price Auditorium that night.

Watch the music video here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bm5TZX5hz3g

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5 New Things to try in 2015!

By: Tricia Oxford '16

1. Try listening to a podcast

One to try is "SERIAL!" It is a 12 episode podcast that follows Sarah Koenig as she uncovers the truth about a murder in Maryland 15 years ago. Start listening here: http://serialpodcast.org

2. Take up a new hobby

Try a creative project or a new sport/activity with some friends! By letting your brain take a break from all the homework and papers, your stress will drastically decrease! 

3. Go on more adventures

Take a road trip with friends, go on a hike, or explore a new restaurant in town! Create memories that you will remember for a long time.

4. Try to go a day without your phone

I understand this sounds ridiculous- especially with our generation- but try to spend a few hours of the day phone-less and focus more on what's happening in front of you, not on the latest tweet or post.

Need convincing? Watch this: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dRl8EIhrQjQ

5. Do something today that your future self will thank you for

Try sitting with someone new for lunch, going to extra help in a class that you are struggling in, or working on the paper a few nights before it's due, not the night before!

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Anne Arundel County Public Schools Remain Open Despite Dangerous Conditions

Two teens involved in a car crash in Pasadena earlier today. Photo by Chuck Cochran.

By: A.J. Gersh '15

This morning, many Severn School students arose to angry tweets and texts from friends as, despite a forecast of over 3 inches of snow, Anne Arundel County Public Schools made the "judgement call" to start schools at regular time this morning.

Over 142 snow-related accidents have been reported, many of which involved students attempting to promptly get to school via un-plowed highways and roads.

Some parents urged their children to stay home due to the drastically unsafe conditions. Many frustrated students arrived to school late, and nearly all of Severn's seniors either saw an accident on their drive in, or were nearly involved in one.

Let's face the facts: A.A.C.P.S. blew the call. 

This brings upon the "Deja Vu" effect, as in February of last year a very similar snowfall was treated with the same response.

Throughout the hallways of Creeden, "We should have been off today," "I can't believe schools weren't closed with these terrible roads," and "A.A.C.P.S. blew it again" have been three VERY popular sentences.

Due to the outrage of parents and students alike, many schools have begun to take action, most drastically Archbishop Spalding, who will now make weather-based decisions independently.

So, the next time moderate snow is in the forecast, A.A.C.P.S. must make the correct "judgement call," or Severn and other private schools in the area might choose to follow Spalding's footsteps to determine their own snowy fate.

Stay safe on the roads.

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Why You Are NOT Dying of Ebola.

By: Zak Rosen '16

Of the ten thousand reported cases of Ebola, 99.95% of them have happened in Africa. 4 have occurred in the United States. Almost 37 times as many people die of second hand smoke A DAY than have been infected in the US so far. You have a better chance of being hit by a car on your way to Severn.

Ebola is not very infectious. At all. Compared to small pox, SARS, the bubonic plague, or internet memes, it does not infect nearly as easily. You can stand next to an Ebola patient for hours an not be infected. If you are really frightened of Ebola, don’t become a doctor in a region where Ebola is a problem; medical personnel have some of the highest rates of infection (they are cleaning up the patients’ vomit after all).

Ebola is endemic to certain regions of Africa and was probably given to patient zero through bushmeat or exposure to an animal. The region is especially vulnerable to the spread of the disease because the infrastructure of some of these nations is not nearly as advanced as ours. We have the CDC, which is perfectly equipped to handle any diseased persons entering the United States. Sierra Leone, Guinea, and Liberia really need assistance. Some nations are helping them, but there is more to be done. If you really don’t want Ebola, don’t go to Sierra Leone, Guinea, or Liberia. If you really need to go, then don’t eat fruit bats. Simple stuff.

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Girl's Varsity Tennis Recap

From Left: Claire Harding '15 and Addie Hinton '16 at the Fall Athletic Awards Assembly

By: Addie Hinton '16

From the 20th to the 24th of October, girls varsity tennis had their end of the year tournament. With only one graduated senior, the team was expected to advance in the A Conference rankings. Finishing top three last year, Coach Cathy Officer was determined to take home the trophy. But with the standout schools of Bryn Mawr and McDonogh, along with Mt. De Sales moving up from the B Conference, there was plenty of competition. 

Under the leadership and motivational pep talks of Julianne Podoley and Claire Harding, the girls were able to pull out a winning season record, only losing twice to the powerhouses of Bryn Mawr and McDonogh. Each player would also end up being seeded top four in their bracket and everyone had the chance to win. 

Number one seed, Addie Hinton, would make it all the way to the semifinals, where she would meet the undefeated Bryn Mawr player, who would eventually go on to take the match and the tournament, only dropping a handful of games throughout the whole season. 

Number two singles, Priya Lakenhpal, would advance all the way to the finals, taking out Bryn Mawr's number two in a intense match along the way. In the finals, she would enter a battle against the player from McDonogh. Despite playing some of her best tennis, the opponent would win the match in straight sets. 

Ana Mann and Hannah Butler, our number one doubles team, had a tremendous win-lose record, earning the third seed in the tournament. Bryn Mawr would eventually take out the Sophomore duo in the quarterfinals. 

Julianne Podoley and Claire Harding were also seeded third in their two doubles bracket. After a three set match against Spalding, the Seniors were given no time to enjoy the win, for another marathon match against Bryn Mawr was awaiting them. Bryn Mawr would take them out in the semifinals, but Julianne and Claire finished their senior season with a fantastic record. 

Last, our third doubles of Christen Morrell and Audrey Cortes would finish the regular season undefeated, storming through every opponent they faced. In the finals, McDonogh would get the best of them and Christen and Audrey would finish second in the league.

Overall, the team had a great season, only losing twice in the regular season and every player being seeded top four in the end of the year tournament. 

McDonogh would lock in their victory with having a team in every one of the finals and Bryn Mawr would later claim second place. After two and a half hours, McDonogh defeated Mt. de Sales in three sets, securing third place for Severn School.

The team had a great record, only losing twice in the regular season. With only two graduating seniors, we hope to keep improving and to move up in the conference rankings. Under coach Officer and JV coach, Coach Clint, girl's Severn Tennis will strive to maintain their good standing in the A Conference rankings.

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The Illusion Cast Satire

From left: Lizzie Purnell '15 and Zach Rosen '16 in The Illusion

By Zak Rosen '16

As most of you know, The Illusion closed its curtains a couple of weeks ago. Below is my take on the cast:

The son (Jack Maniscalco): The James Bond of 1650‘s France. He’s handsome. He’s smart. He might be a psychopath. He’s got it all, but will he get the girl? 

The rival (AJ Gersh): A combination of wealthy and clingy. Incontrovertible evidence that the friend zone is... an illusion.

The love interest (Alana Sokoloff): She is approximately 10 times as interesting as anyone from twilight. This play should have been made into a 5 part movie series instead. Darn the cultural decay of modern society.

The maid (Paige Sachowitz): Wants to find the right man but is down on her luck. With out a doubt the only intelligent character in any of the illusions. She laughs at all them fools.

The old man (Zak Rosen): Boring angry old man who is incapable of emotion. He probably got no love as a child. Let’s hope he dies midway through the play.

The madman (Jimmy Dimondidis): Lovers include the Queen of Iceland, Elizabeth I, Marilyn Munroe, Empress Wu, Snooki, and Hillary Rodham Clinton. Objectively the funniest person in modern society.
The witch (Lizzie Purnell): The equivalent of Beyonce. Bow, peasants.

The father (Chris Nguyen): Angry, slightly younger old man. Only person more hated than the old man. 

The Amanuensis (Sam Agro): The most complex character in the play. His shoulders are heavy with the weight of his past, and his eyes reflect a deeper sadness the world has never seen. His mouth says little but his eyebrows say much. Ever since... the event, his life has never been the same. He seeks redemption, peace, and love. He is the true star of the illusion. Bae.

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"The Illusion"- Interview with Mr. Ron Giddings '99

Lizzie Purnell '15, A.J. Gersh '15, and
Jack Maniscalco '15
in "The Illusion"

By A.J. Gersh '15

Led by new theatre director Mr. Ron Giddings '99, the Water Street Players will be performing their adaptation of the hilarious comedy, "The Illusion," by Tony Kushner and Pierre Corneille. 

AJG: Mr. Giddings, what are your expectations for your first show directed at Severn?

RG: Perfection. I expect it to make a really big impact. I hope that we have a really high attendance why i wanted to do something that was fun. 

I am hoping it's not just Severn people coming to the show. I hope this sparks a lot more community involvement. 

It is a great piece of literature, so I hope the school faculty likes it. 

I don’t like to do shows that it's like, "Oh that is a high school version of that." I want to be at a professional level. I want people to go see "The Illusion" not "the watered-down high school version of The Illusion."

I think this will be an awesome production and not just a little high school version of the show.

AJG: Tell me a bit about the cast individually and as a whole. 

RG: So, what I really like about this cast, in particular, is that we have a wide range of experience. We go from people who have done every show in their severn career, to people who are in their first show; freshman to seniors- a good spread. 

There is definitely a family and ensemble feel to the whole thing, from the senior leadership to freshmen up and comers. 

Individually, I want everybody to give honest, relatable performances, that allows the audience to connect and love all of the characters for different reasons. 

The is the first show that seniors have done in a classical style, this allows them to have a full theatre experience at Severn. 

AJG: What are you bringing to Severn's theatre program this year? 

RG: 

- We're doing the theatre-goers trips to grow school wide interest in theatre. A couple weeks ago, we saw Amedaeus up at Center Stage in Baltimore. 

- I want more people seeing shows and that has a lot to do with show selection and marketing, so I am definitely trying to improve in those categories.

- I am trying to expand the Upper School curriculum to have more upper level theatre courses. 

- We are doing a full length show in fall AND spring, which is basically doubling the program. 

- I want to have an understudy performance/showcase (afternoon of the final show) a truncated version of the show, directed by a senior. All the understudies will have to go on and do a few scenes. 

AJG: As we wrap this up, do you have words to leave me with?

RG: "IT'S TIME FOR THE ARTS TO EXPLODE.” 

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Synopsis for The Illusion:

What are the real powers of sorcery? To alter? To define? To transport? Tony Kushner and Pierre Corneille before him go for all three, which is only part of the magic in Kushner's fanciful adaptation of Corneille's "The Illusion." 

Simply put, this is the tale of a rigid father, Pridamant (Zak Rosen '16), who, stricken with remorse for having provoked his son to flee the family home, searches out the magician Alcandre (Lizzie Purnell '15) in the hope that she will help him find out what happened to the wayward boy.  Alcandre does, and the ironic twist of the piece is that after several false starts, passionate re-enactments, comic delusions and confusions, the truth is revealed and Papa finds he doesn't like it. The lighthearted ending is a cynical but honest lesson in selective affection.  All the fun, however, is in getting there. "The Illusion" takes us into territory on which theater thrives: fantasy, witchcraft, transcended place and time.  The entire play happens in Alcandre's cave, a forbidding place, watched over by Alcandre's sinister amanuensis and where Pridamant watches on the sidelines while Alcandre leads him through reconstituted events in his son's life.  We watch the son fall in love with a woman above his station, kill one dandified suitor, fight a duel with another, marry the girl over her father's objections and the thwartings of her jealous maid. Truth or apparitions? We'll let you savor the surprises of the Corneille/Kushner ending. They're worth waiting for.

Starring Lizzie Purnell '15 and Zak Rosen '16, the play also features seniors Jack Maniscalco '15, Paige Sachwitz '15, AJ Gersh '15, and Chris Nguyen '15, as well as underclassmen Sam Agro '18, Alanna Sokoloff '16, and Jimmy Diamondidis '18.

So, there you have it, folks. Come out to Price Auditorium at 7PM from November 20-22 to see the Water Street Players' hilarious fall play!

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