Author: Penn Points Staff

Penn Manor Football 2010

From freshmen to varsity. Must be nice.

Well, nice for some of this year’s sophomores – seven to be exact – who are moving from freshmen level football last year right into varsity to fill 24 empty roster spots.

Those 24 spots used to belong to last year’s seniors.

That’s right, only 40 percent of Penn Manor’s football team is returning from last year’s record-breaking season. While coach Todd Mealy has some inexperience to worry about, he also has something to look forward to.

“This sophomore class may be the most successful class around,” Mealy pointed out.

Todd Mealy Penn Manor head football coach

One guy in particular in that sophomore class is 5’10” – 160 lb. Adam Sahd, brother of former player Austin Sahd who graduated last year. The younger Sahd will be replacing P.J. Rehm, a three-year varsity starter who also graduated a year ago.

Sahd has experienced the Friday night lights before, when a helmet-to-helmet hit detoured Rehm to an unfamiliar place – the sidelines.

Wanting to be careful with his starting quarterback before last year’s playoffs, the choice was easy for Coach Mealy. While Rehm got stuck at a red light, all Sahd saw was green – the green, green grass of Chryst Field at Biemesderfer Stadium

Sahd led the team to a 36-35 victory that day against Cedar Crest which gave  the Penn Manor team home-field advantage for their first district playoff game.

Freshman Sahd led the Comets to victory during 2009 season

There’s surely going to be some tension and some nerves in the air while Sahd and the team’s seven other sophomores take the varsity stage on Friday night at Solanco.

“There’s a lot of butterflies,” Mealy said. He added that they will have to “play with confidence” and “limit mistakes.”

Mealy recalled an inspiring instance that relates to Penn Manor’s challenges this year.  It’s the story about starting running back in 2007, Carl Christmas.

It was Christmas’ first game starting at varsity and on that night it was obvious that he had his own butterflies fluttering around in his stomach.  He fumbled not once or twice, not three, but four times in that game.

Christmas took that bad game and strove to get better and better as the season went on and prove to the head coach that he was worth the starting position.

He went above and beyond – literally.  He ran all the way to the top spot in rushing for section one that year.

Mealy uses stories like Christmas’ to keep an optimistic approach to the season. There will be a couple fumbles, maybe some interceptions and dropped passes, but maybe there’s another Christmas coming around other than the 25th of December this year.

It’s possible that he’ll be one of the seven sophomores making the leap to the varsity level this upcoming season.

Penn Manor’s first test is against Solanco at their home field this Friday night. While they are no pushover, Mealy didn’t have them on his list of teams Penn Manor may have to worry about.

Wilson and Manheim Township were on his list, along with his sleeper team, McCaskey.

Mealy, a former coach in the city school district, said that McCaskey will be the “best group of athletes” they will face this season.

Demetrius Dixon will start as wide receiver for the Comets this year. Photo courtesy of Rivals.com

Coming off their second straight school record-breaking season of 10-3 (previous school record was 9-3 in ’08) and a visit to the first round of states, Mealy is expecting his young guys to step up and his varsity veterans to stay consistent.

Penn Manor’s “seasoned,” as Mealy called them,  linebacking core of Garret Young, Ande Olson, and Teon Lee are all returning from last year. Also, if Mealy chose one guy to be in the spotlight, someone who he says is the “best wide receiver around,” would be three-year starter, Demetrius Dixon, who will be a nice big target for the sophomore quarterback at 6’2.”

Amateurs and veterans alike will be showing off their stuff this 2010 season which could go either way considering all the seniors who departed for college.

To check out Penn Manor football, go to their recently created website, http://www.pennmanorcometsfootball.com/index.php. From roster to schedule to apparel, you can find it all there.

And for a first-person account of “training camp” check out this story:

https://www.pennpoints.net/?p=5838

By Alex Geli

Friends Plus Art Equal First Friday

Art is located everywhere you look, shops are open later, people mill around the art galleries and the numerous shops. This happens every first Friday in Lancaster City.

Known over the last couple years as First Friday, art is showcased in stores, galleries and even cafes where people can sit and enjoy a nice cup of coffee while looking at the art work.

It is also common place to see students enjoying the culture.  Many teens from Penn Manor look forward to the first Friday of every month when they can toss their backpacks and sports equipment for a taste of the arts downtown.

Sophomore Karla Mylin said, “ I go (to first Friday) because I like seeing all the art work and hanging out with my friends.”

It’s certainly more educational than going to the movies, or partying on the weekends.

The artwork is always different and there are usually themes for the Friday night. There is often music and impromptu theatrical performances and other things going on around the city.

The first time Mylin went she said she thought it was fun but also a little crazy because of all the different kinds of artwork.

Although the art can always be seen in the many art galleries located in Lancaster city not just during First Friday but during regular business hours, patrons say the crowded streets and festive atmosphere make First Friday more fun than regular shopping.

The next First Friday event is scheduled for September 3.  Take a girlfriend, boyfriend, family member or even go solo and enjoy a beautiful night in a beautiful city that we call home.

By Sam Valentin

Oodles of Noodles!

Break it up, cut open the bag, dump into a bowl and add water then put into the microwave for a couple minutes. Any college student who has run out of mom’s home cookin’ knows what this is about. Ramen Noodles.

College students love Ramen noodles because they’re quick and easy to make. Ramen noodles are more than just food though, there’s many things one can do with a pack of Ramen noodles.

Ramens Beef Flavored Noodles.

There are websites out there proclaiming many original uses for Ramen noodles.

Although one, http://blisstree.com/live/50-things-to-do-with-ramen-noodles/ deals mostly with recipes, there are many more that have crazy innovations for the crunch starch. And Penn Manor students have their own crazy suggestions.

Want to build a house, looking to remodel your room? You can surely do that with Ramen noodles. Break up the noodles and use them to decorate a class project. You could even add food coloring to the noodles to make them look more presentable. Stand the Ramen noodles up like dominoes and watch them fall to the ground.

There’s even a better idea.. HOW ABOUT A RAMEN NOODLE FIGHT? Sound a little painful doesn’t it? Imagine the pain of getting some noodle in your eyeball. Sounds like a blast to me.

“I would have a Ramen Noodle fight inside a house because they’ll stick to the walls like spaghetti,”  said sophomore Michael Schneider.

Surely there’s more interesting things one can do with Ramen Noodles, kids at Penn Manor sure do have a very crazy imagination. A couple of the students thought up some good ideas.

“I would make a wig with the noodles, guitar strings, a jump rope, use the noodles as floss, throw them on the ground and wait for someone to slip on them, use the broth to make broth popsicles and you could even make a noodle monster!” Proclaimed Justin Herr a Junior at Penn Manor.

Ramen Noodle Monster Photo by Gabby Myers
Ramen Noodle Monster! Photo by Gabby Myers

“You could use the noodles as a bungie cord, you could make sillybands, best friend bracelets, lassos,party streamers and possibly a raft made out of uncooked Ramen noodles, that would be awesome!” Exclaimed Josh Herr.

“I would make a shirt of out them,” said Bobby Lawrence.

The average person wouldn’t think of half of these ideas, are Penn Manor students going mad?

You can eat em, you can create with em, you can do anything with them. Ramen Noodles.

By Gabby Myers

Graphic Designers Represent Penn Manor Well

By Zeke Sensenig-

The tech and art programs at Penn Manor were well represented again at the Pennsylvania State Computer Fair.

Ryan Krause and Faith Walauskas, two juniors from Penn Manor high school, both competed at the PA State Computer Fair.

Krause was entered in computer animation, while Walauskas was entered in graphic design.

Both Krause and Walauskas went to the regional computer fair and placed first place in their respective competitions.

“At the regional computer fair, I had immediately noticed that the competition was not as thick as I had hoped. In other words, I figured i’d walk away with something right off the bat. But I never expected first,” said Walauskas.

In other words, Penn Manor has two extremely talented graphic designers, that have a more than bright future ahead.

While Krause was entered in the animation portion of the competition, he is an aspiring graphic designer and plans to attend college for this.

Krause did not place in animation, but he was one of five that was chosen for a scholarship to a Harrisburg university.

The Krause family is no stranger to the competition though, Ryan’s brother, Aaron Krause, placed fourth in the state competition when he attended Penn Manor.

“Now I know what I need to do for states next year to possibly place,” said Krause.

Walauskas was a strong catalyst in bringing the AP Studio Art class back to Penn Manor. Walauskas is the one who created the Facebook group that many of the Penn Manor student body joined.

Here is an article previously written about the AP art issue:

Some Sketchy News Hits the Art Department

“Actually, I do (representing the art department). Graphic design’s a tough and very competitive industry, or so I hear, and with this whole AP Art predicament, it makes Penn Manor look pretty bad art-wise. I feel what i’ve brought back to the school should make some sort of stand for the art department,” said Walauskas.

Faith ended up placing third for her grungy-feeling poster design; a design in which she got inspiration from her friend.

“The inspiration for the grungy feel of the piece was from my love of the Vietnam war and the 70’s in general. As well as one of my closets friends, Sidney Miller; the two divided faces in the piece are of hers and mine, representing the similar mindset we both share as friends. As for the term ‘Apple,’ that is an inside joke stating that she and I would one day form a band called Apple, and it would be the biggest thing. Many laughs,” said Walauskas.

Overall, the competition was a success for both the tech and art departments at Penn Manor, and also shined light on two very talented looking prospects in the graphic design field.

“I feel pretty good, I suppose. At first thought I didn’t even want to compete in the computer fair; ironically I had figured my stuff wasn’t good enough. All of this had snuck up on me.

By Zane Sensenig

You and Your Parents: The Shocking Similarities

The branches between your family tree might be tighter than you think.

Let’s admit it. We distance ourselves from everything that has to do with our parents from the way they dress, to the way they talk and even their interests in pop culture.

However, we’re mirroring our older generation in more ways than one without realizing it.

Some students reluctantly admitted to similarly acting like their parents.

“Some of the things I do or say really remind me of the things that my parents do,” said student Kelly Herr, “I think that I do kinda act like my mom when she was growing up.”

“[I’m] kinda [like my parents],” said student Meghan Miller.

But some students refused to agree.

“I would hope that I’m not [like my parents],” said student Halle Mosser.

Students like Mosser may find the proof shocking.

The Fads of Fashion

Your parents’ closets used to be filled with bell bottoms and polyester. We laugh now, but have you looked into your collection of the latest trends?

Our flannel trend compares to our parent's tie dye trend.

Flannel is the new tie dye. Almost every other student can be seen walking down the hallways wearing it during the Winter.

Take a second glance at your parent’s platform shoes – you might have a similar pair under your bed.

However, students complain about being nagged by their parents about what they have on before leaving the house.

“My dad yells at me when I wear jeans with holes,” said Miller.

“My mom hates the way a lot of girls dress now,” said Herr.

But when it comes down to it, we’re in the same position as the adults before us.

“[My parents] thought skirts were too short [as well]. They thought whatever trend was popular wasn’t going to last,” said Holly Astheimer.

Many of us scoff at the idea of mood rings being a trend for our parents, but what will our kids think when they find out the similar trend affecting us, or wearing animals as bracelets around our wrists, also known as Sillybandz.

So while the trends may look different, the type of styles show that we might not be as unique as we had once thought.

The Lights, The Music, The Gaga

If you turn on the radio, nine times out of ten, a Lady Gaga song will come on and everyone in the room starts to sing along of how they ‘want a bad romance’ or how you ‘can’t see their poker face.’

“Lady Gaga is one of today’s most fascinating singers because she’s different,” said student Shannon Nitroy.

Lady Gaga is always altering sounds, looks and fashion,  and is inspiring others along the way but she’s not the first superstar to have an ever-changing career.

Our older generation had its own Lady Gaga – the one and only, Madonna, who also had a huge impact on music in the ’80’s and 90’s.

Is Lady Gaga our generation's Madonna? Photo from kingsofar.com

“Madonna adopted a new persona for every album,” said Thea Andrews, a former correspondent of music for Entertainment Tonight, “Gaga does it for every song, every big performance.”

Madonna and Lady Gaga are arguably the biggest pop stars of the former and the current generation respectively.

Many adults saw Madonna’s songs – such as ‘Like a Virgin’ or ‘Papa Don’t Preach’ as provocative and controversial.

Lady Gaga is no stranger to controversy as well, but it may prove that a little bit of controversy makes for a lot of success.

But today, the same ones who were followers of Madonna are now anti-Gaga.

“My dad thinks [today’s music like Lady Gaga] is crap,” said Miller.

But just like how some of us have sneaked ‘Like a Prayer’ onto our iPods, some of our parents have their guilty pleasures as well.

“My mom listens to Lady Gaga,” said Herr, “She sings the wrong words, but she listens.”

More Surprising Similarities

Long hair was cool in the ’70’s and has had it’s fair share of time in the spotlight during our lives.

Long hair was both popular in the past and today. Photo from media.com

Our parents lived through a strongly opposed Vietnam War, and now, we our currently watching a similar War in Iraq.

Both generations have had their share of natural disasters – In 1970, an earthquake in Peru left 700,000 people homeless, while the 2010 earthquake in Haiti left about 1.5 million people homeless.

The older generation worked hard to land onto the Moon – now we watch as our astronauts attempt to explore Mars – and further.

One of the greatest hurricanes ever, Hurricane Agnes, occurred in 1972, which has been challenged by the 2005 Hurricane Katrina as one of the most costly hurricanes ever.

Different But The Same

Yes, we are our parents.

We have their DNA, their chromosomes and the same genetics, but until we’re about 30, we will probably do anything we can to distance ourselves from them.

Still, our fashion trends, our music and the events that we witness prove one small thing.

We’re more alike than we know, or at least, want to admit.

By Mike Nitroy

Penn Manor Rocket Team Beats the World!

Yesterday, the country.  Today the world!

Penn Manor’s illustrious rocket team headed to London last week with high hopes – that they would be able to top their amazing win in national competition with success in the international contest.

And they did it.

Against teams from England and France, Penn Manor seniors Jordan Franssen, Brendan Stoeckl, Nate Bernhardt and Tyler Funk, led by physics teacher Brian Osmolinski, flew their rockets the closest to the competition goal of flying 825 feet with a total air time of 40 to 50 seconds.

“We are so excited that we won,” said team member Brendan Stoeckl, in the online publication NewsBlaze. “We succeeded because of practice, good data analysis and teamwork.”

The competition was held in Great Britain at the Farnborough International Air Show.

The four-member team from Penn Manor High School in Millersville, PA posted the best score to win the international fly-off.  Horsforth School in Leeds, England placed second. The French team was unable to launch its rocket due to technical problems.

Two months ago, Penn Manor High School’s rocketry club placed first in the national Team America Rocketry Challenge which they won by  flying their rocket without breaking the raw egg inside.

The students began their rocket design early this year with a mantra of keeping it simple but making it efficient in design.

The recent graduates said they began designing the rocket in the fall and building it in January and February.

Osmolinski said Penn Manor remains one of the few area schools with a rocketry club, which includes six teams in the middle and high school and said the district has been successful because the kids figure out what decisions need to be made and work needs to be done.

The international rocketry challenge is the culmination of three separate competitions: the Team America Rocketry Challenge (TARC), UKAYRoC and the French Rocketry Challenge. Each contest brings together teams of middle and high school students to design, build and launch model rockets. This year the challenge was to launch a rocket that reaches an altitude of 825 feet, stays aloft for 40-45 seconds and returns a raw egg unbroken. As part of their score, teams also had to give an eight minute presentation on their rocket design to a panel of international judges.

Sponsored by the Aerospace Industries Association and the National Association of Rocketry in the U.S.; ADS, Tri Polus Ltd, Space Connections and the Royal Aeronautical Society in the UK; and GIFAS and Planete Sciences in France, the programs are designed to encourage students to pursue careers in aerospace.

“Based on today’s competition, the future of our industry is looking pretty bright,” said Marion Blakey, president and CEO of AIA in the News Blaze. “The level of enthusiasm of the participants is phenomenal, and each team deserves congratulations for winning their home competition and inspiring other students.”

AIA created the Team America Rocketry Challenge in 2003 to celebrate the centennial of flight and to generate interest in aerospace careers among young people. The success of the program encouraged UK aerospace industry leaders to create the UKAYRoC in 2007 with similar goals in mind. Last year at the 2009 Paris Airshow, France announced they would compete as well in the international rocketry challenge.

By Penn Points staff writers

Comet Softball Players Recap Their Season

With eight wins and eleven loses some might say that the Comets softball record wasn’t anything to write home about, but the players say they had more fun than ever.

Varsity third baseman, Brittany Wright said, “I had a lot of fun this season, we managed to squeeze in eight wins which isn’t bad because our softball teams past records aren’t exactly great, we should have won a few more though”

Wright’s most memorable moment of the season was when the team “ten run rolled Catholic.”

She said it was the first time in ten years they had accomplished that..

Saying the final goodbyes to all the senior players and captains during senior night was another of Wright’s unforgettable moments in softball.

Kirsten Bechtold, a senior first baseman who is going to be attending Penn State University, and is considering playing softball there, but isn’t sure.

“It is a great possibility,” said Bechtold.

Although their record was not the best, all in all the girls still had fun, including a great senior night where the girls got to thank their coaches and parents for paying their respect by coming out and supporting the teams, and thanking the senior girls for their leadership.

Kendra Keuper pitcher for softball.

“Capping a fun filled season off with a cake and silly string fight was fun too!” said Bechtold.

Third baseman, Lauren Gerlach, a former sophomore on the junior varsity team enjoyed watching and cheering on the varsity players and is looking forward to joining this year’s varsity girls season.

“Kirsten was a great member to the girl’s team,” said Gerlach.  “She really seemed like she had a good bond with the whole team and really knew how to pick everyone up from an upsetting game with great words of wisdom.”

These Comets know how to accept the fact that it’s not always about winning, it’s about having fun.

“I’d have to say losing to Township was pretty devastating.  We should have played better, we definitely could have won if we hadn’t been overly confident in our skills. It’s the little mistakes that add up and cost you a game,” said Bechtold.

“The biggest thing I think our team needs to work on is our team work.  The more we work as a unit the better we play,” said Wright.

“They had a good season and it will be a hard job for our coaches to find replacements for the amazing seniors we’re losing,” said Gerlach.

By Kayla Pagan

MLB Replay Must be Changed

Another blown call,  another reason for Major League Baseball to extend their replay ability.

On June 2,  the MLB replay system cost young Detroit Tigers pitcher Armando Galarraga a chance to be in the history books by throwing a perfect game, when first base umpire Jim Joyce made a bad call on what should have been the last out of a perfect game.

Nobody is perfect, I don’t blame Joyce for costing Galarraga a perfect game, I blame the MLB replay system.

A blown call in MLB also blows a perfect pitching game.

Ask Lancaster Barnstormer’s manager and former major league player Tom Herr or Danny Cox for another example of a bad call that could have been overturned by replay, and they would say in the 1985 World Series when a missed call in the ninth inning of game six cost their Cardinals the game, and according to Herr, the World Series.

With the Cardinals leading 1-0 in the ninth inning, a similar misfortune to the Galarraga play occurred, and once again the first base umpire arguably cost somebody a chance from being in the history books.

The ump called the runner safe, although television replay showed the runner was out by half a step. The Cardinals went on to lose the game 2-1, and then lost the series the next game.

“We know because of that call we ended up losing that game,” said Cox.
 The only way to make sure all the calls made are the right calls is by extending the MLB replay system.

Bud Selig must fix the MLB replay system

MLB Commissioner Bud Selig needs to propose a system  like the NFL, where each team has the option to challenge two calls a game. This would ensure that the game changing plays are called right, and the game would not be delayed too much.

Even if both teams use each of their challenges it would only delay the game 10-15 minutes. That is not a long time to make sure the calls are the correct calls. If this replay system was in place now then, instead of everyone talking about Jim Joyce’s blown call, they would be talking about Armando Galarraga’s perfect game.

It is obvious that the MLB replay system must be expanded from just being able to review home runs or potential home runs. Players, umpires, and fans will sleep better at night knowing the correct calls were made for any close play.

The only way to stop cheating the people that make the MLB so great is to make sure the right calls are made by extending the MLB replay system.

By Cody Straub

Possible New School Sport

“We don’t play with balls,” said Henry Stewart, referring to a potential new sport at Penn Manor – Ultimate Frisbee.

The effort to make Frisbee into a recognized sport is being led by mostly seniors.

The team practices every Thursday  and the team welcomes anyone who is interested in joining the team.

“We play until we get too tired to move,” said senior Brendan Stoeckl.

The team has made a name for themselves after entering several tournaments and being invited to a few others, including a Solanco tournament.

The average practice for the team consists of a 10 versus 10 game against each other, getting ready for any competitions they might play.

“The biggest turnout we’ve had so far was 45 people,” said another senior.

So far it has been a struggle to make Frisbee an official school sport, mainly because the team consists of seniors who will be leaving this year.

“Frisbee deserves to be a school sport just as much as any other sport we have here,” added another senior from the team.

With the majority of the team already graduating, the remaining players hope enough students will turnout next year to help them make Frisbee official.

By Paul Slaugh

Student Pet Peeves: Favoritism

“It’s not my fault! My teacher hates me!”

Almost everyone has used this excuse when explaining a bad grade to their parents.

Are we lying when we say it though? Every high school has teachers who are known to have favorite students. They call on them more, they joke around with them or is it just the students’ perspective?

“For myself, It’s like a mirror reflection. If a student is friendly and nice, I’ll be friendly and nice. I say that on the first day of school” said math teacher Doug Kramer.

“I don’t think teachers do (have favorites). It’s just that students perceive it that way. If I ask a question and only one kid raises their hand every time, kids say ‘you only talk to this person’ and I’ll feel ‘well they’re the only one to call on,’” English teacher Holly Astheimer said.

But if teachers don’t really have favorites, why does it seem as if teachers like some students better than others?

Teachers help students in the classroom

“I have over 100 kids” said chorus director Melissa Telesco. “I know for me, there are certain students that I’m around longer and get to know more. So if one teacher is a coach outside of school, they might talk to one student more because they can connect with them on whatever sport they play.”

Sophomore Kristina Simon agrees.

“I think teachers have favorites because they might know that person more and have a stronger relationship with them. It’s not intentional. You might think a teacher doesn’t like you, but they really just don’t know you as well as other students,” Simon said.

However, not everyone thinks that teachers have favorites just based on common personality.

“I’ve never really been a favorite. I think people who get better grades and talk and contribute to the conversation are the favorites,” said sophomore Vicky Nase.

So maybe the teacher knows other students better, but doesn’t it sometimes seem like they dislike certain students, and never talk to them?

“I’d like to think that every teacher is nice and professional, but obviously they aren’t. So friends talk to each other and teachers get reputations of not being helpful, and then the students are already prejudiced of the teacher,” said Kramer.

“With a limited amount of time each day, it’s hard to know what everyone wants and is thinking, because I can’t get around to talk to everyone every day. That’s why, every so often, I like to give out note cards and chocolate bars to students so I still have some connection with them,” said Telesco.

But if a student is not the teacher’s pet, does that make them discouraged?

“If you don’t like the teacher, you don’t really want to participate. You won’t want to do what they ask you to do. You become lazy,” said freshman Jessica Hanner

“Sometimes a student might say on an evaluation, ‘You joked around more with so and so and never with me. That’s why I didn’t talk.’ but it’s just human nature to be drawn to the people who are outgoing and funny. I want to tell them ‘No, talk to me,” said Kramer.

So when it comes down to it, talk to your teachers. They really do want to help you.

By Lindsey Ostrum