Boys All-Stars

The Advocate staff selected the following athletes for our Senior Sports All-Star Team.

***

Peter P.

(Football, Track)

A two sport captain, he was SWC Champ in javelin back in 2004, voted N.H. Register Athlete of the Week, and placed 5th in Class MM and 11th at the State Open in track as a junior. His senior year, he was the Shelton Invitational MVP and was undefeated in javelin all season, earning All-State honors. In football he was All-State Honorable Mention, two time All-Hammonasset, and All-SCC with 105 tackles, leading a young squad to a city championship and a quality season.

Jake N.

(Wrestling)

A two year wrestler and captain, he had 43 wins with only 5 losses. He finished 3rd in the competitive SCC at 189 lbs., was seeded as the #1 contender at the Class M Tournament in his weight class, and finished 6th at states. He placed in every tournament wrestled, was 2006 Centaur Woodstock Tournament Champion, and was undefeated in dual meet competition. He was also N.H. Register Athlete of the Week, and will wrestle at Norwich University, a nationally ranked top 10 D-II program.

Matt A.

(Football, Track)

Matt A. was one of the best punters in the state, receiving All-State and All-SCC football honors for his punting and defensive skills. Matt was team MVP in 2006 and received the Unsung Hero Award two years running. He was also the Track MVP in 2005, Hammonasset Division Champion in long jump, and will continue playing football at Wesley College.

Brandon E.

(Baseball)

Senior Captain Brandon E. was a three year starter at second and first base for the varsity squad. Brandon E. traveled with the varsity team his freshman year during the playoffs and earned a role on the team the following year as starting second basemen. His senior year Edo was named captain and committed zero defensive errors. He also led the team with a .421 batting average with 7 doubles and 7 RBI’s. Brandon E. earned All-SCC honors for his offensive and defensive talents. Brandon E. is hoping to play ball for the University of New Haven as a walk-on next season.

Bret N.

(Wrestling)

With a season record of 34 wins and 11 losses, Bret N. earned All-SCC honors by advancing to the championship finals of the SCC Tournament at 145 lbs. He was on the state rankings list until the end of the season, and placed 2nd at the Centaur Woodstock Tournament. A two year captain, he helped lead the team to a 27-7 record, breaking the school record for team wins in a single season. He hopes to continue wrestling in the Marine Corps as part of the Marine Base Teams.

Ross H.

(Hockey, Golf)

A three year captain, Hemming was 1st Team Div. II All-State, 1st Team Div. II All-Conference, and was a News Channel 12 Scholar Athlete. Additionally, he made the CT Post All-Area Team, was NH Register and Hartford Courant All-State Honorable Mention, and was team MVP. Hemming had 10 goals and 21 assists and led the team to a state tournament appearance.

Sean S.

(Baseball)

Senior Captain, known as “Shrek”, traveled with the varsity team during the playoffs as a freshman and earned a starting position as a catcher when he was a sophomore. He continued to be the team’s number one catcher through his senior year. He threw out a majority of the kids attempting to steal on him with a .820 average of throwing people out. Sherrick’s cannon for an arm and brick wall blocking ability helped him be the leader his team and pitchers needed.

Dave B.

(Basketball)

A senior Captain, Dave B. averaged 14 points a game to earn All-SCC honors. He was also a first team Hammonasset Division player who assisted in a state playoff appearance in 2005, the first in nearly a decade.

Bruce B.

(Soccer, Track)

A four year starter on the soccer team and a captain senior year, Bruce B. was a strong part of the defense and was named to the All SWC/SCC Academic Teams. In track he had the second fastest 4X4 time in school history, won the division title in that event, and was undefeated in that event during the SCC regular season.

Chris B.

(Track and Field)

Chris B. set the 110 hurdles record of 14.8 seconds. He was the Connecticut Post Athlete of the Week and New Haven Register Athlete of the Week with Honorable Mention. He is the Hammonasset Division champion in the 110 hurdles and he scored in the 300 hurdles. Chris B. also scored the fastest 200 meter time in school history of 22.7 seconds and set the Shelton Invitational 100 meter hurdles record with 15.1 seconds, having a phenomenal season capped off with his earning All-State honors.

Girls All-Stars

***

Emma H.

(Volleyball, Basketball, Track)

A four year starter at guard, triple threat athlete, and two sport captain, Emma H. was selected team MVP two years running in basketball and was also two time N.H. Register and CT Post Athlete of the Week, as well as a member of both their All-Area teams. A News Channel 12 Scholar Athlete and CT Post MVP, she amassed over 1,300 points in her career, earning All-State First Team honors her senior year and All-State Honorable Mention honors her sophomore and junior years. She averaged over 20 points, 8 rebounds, and 5 assists per game and will continue her basketball career at Bloomfield College. In track, she earned All-SCC honors and currently holds the school record in the javelin event.

Vanessa R.

(Volleyball, Softball)

A two sport captain in volleyball and softball, Vanessa R. established herself as one of the best players in the state in volleyball. A three year starter, she was part of the SWC Championship squad and made two Class M Finals appearances, earning All-State, All-SWC and All-SCC honors over her high school career. In softball, she led the team to consecutive state playoff appearances and was a major offensive threat, recording a batting average of over .400.



Kristen L.

(Soccer, Gymnastics, Track)

A three sport captain, Kristen not only participated in all 12 athletics seasons at Law, but also lettered in all of them. In gymnastics, she qualified for the state tournament all four years, and was part of the squad being named All-American three years in a row. In track, she qualified for the state tournament three years in a row and qualified for the state open by finishing 4th at states in the 4X100 relay.



Jess S.

(Soccer)

Jess S. was a two time Team MVP and four year letter winner. A senior captain, she also earned All-SCC honors.

Colleen S.

(Swimming, Tennis)

As a tennis captain, Colleen S. compiled a record of 10 wins and 2 losses in 2005 and qualified for the state opens. She qualified again this year to earn All-Hammonasset honors. Also a four year swimmer, she qualified for the state tournament as a sophomore.



Michelle M.

(Soccer, Tennis)

A captain and four-time letter winner, Michelle M. was All-SWC Honorable Mention in 2004, New Haven Register Athlete of the Week, was All-SCC in 2006 and 2X All-SCC Honorable Mention.

Amanda S.

(Swimming)

A four-year letter winner and captain, Sherbow set the school record in three relays and was a recipient of the sportsmanship and coach’s award, as well as being chosen for All-SCC and All-SCC Academic Team honors.

Sara C.

(X-C, Track)

A cross-country captain and three year varsity letter winner, Sara C. was selected to All-SCC Academic Team and was a coach’s award recipient. Recorded a personal best running time of 19:01 at Eisenhower Park.

Aislinn C.

(Volleyball, Track)

In track, Aislinn C. proved her skills by earning All-SCC honors and becoming the Hammonasset Division Champion for discus, averaging 79 ft. per throw. Additionally, she was a tri-captain and a four year letter winner in volleyball, helping the team to an SWC Championship and 2nd place finish in Class M in 2003, and another Class M finals appearance in 2004. She was selected to the All-Academic team and a coaches’ award reciepient. She will attend Stonehill College.

Ryan C.

Features/Entertainment Editor

In “The Da Vinci Code,” famed symbologist Robert Langdon, played by Tom Hanks, is summoned to the Louvre, a famous museum in France. The museum’s curator, Jacques Saunière (Jean-Pierre Marielle), has been murdered, and found with a pentagram on his chest, as well as suspicious message written on the floor near him. Langdon is brought in to try to make sense of these things – or so he thinks.

Unbeknownst to him, Robert Langdon is actually suspected of having committed the murder. The French police plan to bring him down, until unexpected help arrives. Sophie Neveu (Audrey Tautou), the granddaughter of Saunière, alerts Langdon to his immediate danger and attempts to lead him to safety – but not before the greatest mystery man has ever known begins to unfold.

Upon deciphering some scrambled clues that the dying Saunière left behind, the pair finds clues and tools that will lead them to the ultimate religious artifact: The Holy Grail. After their escape from the museum, and many other close calls and narrow escapes, Langdon and Neveu employ the help of Langdon’s old friend, Sir Leigh Teabing (Ian McKellen; “The Lord Of The Rings”), a knowledgeable historian.

Further information points to the idea that the Grail may not be a cup at all, as widely believed. Rather, it may be a person, and Jesus Christ’s wife at that. Through this marriage, they conceived a child and produced a bloodline that still exists today.

As the mystery unravels, Langdon and Neveu learn of the mysterious Pryory of Sion, the secretive organization that has kept the true secret about the Grail a secret for all time. The group known as Opus Dei, guided by the unidentified “teacher,” also attempts to ensure this, by stopping those involved before they can learn too much.

Murder, greed and deception all become key factors to prevent the world from learning the secret that would shake the church’s religious foundations and turn the religious world upside-down.

The supporting cast of ‘The Da Vinci Code’ includes Paul Bettany (“A Beautiful Mind,” “Master And Commander: The Far Side Of The World”) as the maniacal albino monk, Silas, Alfred Molina (“Spider-Man 2,” “Brough”) as Bishop Aringarosa, Jean Reno (“The Pink Panther”) as Captain Fache, Jean-Yves Berteloot as Remy, and Jürgen Prochnow (“Air Force One”) as André Vernet. Ron Howard (“Cinderella Man”) directs the film.

“The Da Vinci Code” seems to have gotten an undeserving bad rap. The film as a whole was quite enjoyable, however, a great deal of information is thrown at the viewer, which gets a little overwhelming at times. Still, one can understand the basic plot and premise of the film, even if they don’t completely understand every detail.

Perhaps some of the most confusing aspects of the film are the multiple groups. Remembering who is working for what group can be an agitating chore, especially as alliances always seem to be changing.

Certainly, the in-depth plot and all that goes along with it could be better understood if the viewer has previously read the novel The Da Vinci Code by Dan Brown. Unfortunately, at the same time, this rids the element of mystery, as the viewer would already know what happens. It is a case of the proverbial double-edged sword.

The actors’ performances, though called forced by some critics, were, in fact, respectable. The actors and actresses were compatible enough to provide believable relationships and oppositions.

Perhaps the most interesting performance was that of Paul Bettany as Silas. Bettany achieves a frightening and just plain weird performance, solidifying his character as one of the most memorable aspects of the film.

Out of five Curriers, “The Da Vinci Code” earns three and three quarters. Expectations for this movie were so high, that the movie could not possibly live up to its hype, and yet it put on a very respectable showing. Still, people seem to want to ridicule this movie and nitpick it, in order to find any faults they can.

The film is definitely recommended for those viewers who can process and retain a lot of information. Lack of this ability will find the viewer frustrated early on, and the pain won’t ease as the film goes on.

While it is true that there is plenty of action (enough to not feel constantly bombarded by religious beliefs), this is an intellectual film first, and an action film second.

Though many viewers haven’t been satisfied by the film, it is important to understand that it is quite difficult to convert such a book into a film, with regards to both content and time constraints. However, contrary to naysayers, the film pulls all of this off quite nicely.

“The Da Vinci Code” is rated PG-13 for coarse language, violence, light nudity, and light sexual content.

Ryan C. Rating (Out Of Five)

Stephen M.

Editorial Editor

It is hard to believe that it was three and a half years ago that I entered the halls of Jonathan Law High School as a young, impressionable freshman.

I came to high school hoping to gain a wealth of knowledge and meet new people, to be able to become more culturally and socially adept as I prepared to leave the confines of the Milford School System and a free education.

As this time draws to a close, my expectations listed above have been exceeded in every way imaginable.

Never did I expect in my wildest dreams to meet the variety of people I have at Law. Most have helped me in my pursuit of knowledge in some way or another, whether through sharing a textbook or lunchroom observation.

I came to Law with the expectation that afflicts many of the minds that enter this building as Harborside alumni; that our counterparts from West Shore were taught in a run-down school and that their environment reflected their education.

After four years of intense study, I have concluded that this is a myth that has spiraled out of control.

Truth be told, you can get a good education at any of the city’s three middle schools, regardless of the state of the facility or its location.

Furthermore, the myth that West Shore students are more unruly than Harborside students has also been proven untrue in the last four years. Simply put, ill-mannered students come from both schools, leading one to believe that it is not the schools’ problem regarding discipline and strength of education, resolution of this conflict requires intense individual examination of each pupil’s motive to be in school. Some people come to Law to learn, others don’t. This is seen every day as I walk to a generally filled-to-capacity In School Suspension room.

Aside from my fellow pupils, another key ingredient to the recipe for success at Law is the teachers.

These talented professionals have pushed me past what I thought were my intellectual limits, guiding me to uncharted territory and allowing me to navigate it with a high degree of success. It is my hope that these teachers continue to demand excellence from all students, despite the wishes of the students that the teachers cease and desist.

I tend to think of all experiences as being beneficial in one way or another. Some experiences, such as achieving a good grade on a test or a quiz, are examples of momentary benefits, as one must have demonstrated at some moment of time a level of mastery of course content.

The other, and unquestionably more important type of beneficial experience, is that which reaps a long term reward. These are most often accompanied by momentary frustration, leading one to devalue such an experience when it occurs.

However, it is these pursuits that will serve you most later on in life. The poor test grades, the classes you wish you never had to endure, along with the teachers you’d rather forget, will all play an increasingly important role in your life as you step out into the unknown.

It is these courses and teachers that have taught me about the most basic element to success in any form: survival. The ability to adapt to unfamiliar (and often unpleasant) situations is a key skill in high school and later on in life.

Unquestionably, I am excited to continue my educational journey when I enter college in late August of this year. For those wishing to be in my shoes, I caution you to slow down. These three and a half years have gone by far too fast.