16th Oct2009

Lane Football fails to defend City Title

By Nader Ihmoud

Lane had to play mistake-free football on a chilly October 16 night to avoid losing. Multiple mistakes and poor offensive execution, however, lead to a woeful 14-0 loss to Simeon.

Lane’s defense kept the team in the game for the first three quarters, holding Simeon to one score. However, Simeon quarterback Robert Gregory delivered the final blow to begin the fourth with a 40-yard touchdown pass to make it a two-touchdown advantage.

This was too much for Lane’s offense to overcome, which had already been struggling. Lane failed to convert any first downs in the first three quarters beginning the game with four three and outs, and a fumble by Lane quarterback Tyler Routhier, Div. 170. Routhier had zero pass attempts in the first half, not throwing his first pass until the fourth quarter.

Lane’s game plan clearly was to get its running game going, but in the first half Simeon’s defense penetrated the line on almost every play leaving running back Thaddeus Scott, Div. 032, with no room to run. He only had three carries of over five yards.

“If you do not block you are not going to be successful (offensively), said Coach Rio.

“I think we would have won with a spread offense,” said Scott who thought that spreading defenders off the line would have opened more running lanes.

Lane’s defense worked hard to cause three turnovers: two interceptions and a fumble recovery. The first interception came in the second quarter, and was returned 25 yards to Lane’s 47-yard line by Jake Polszczuk, Div. 042.

During the next offensive drive, however, the offense gave the ball back on the first play when a fumble occurred on the center to quarterback exchange.

A night before Friday’s big game, Lane’s starting center, Jonathan Acevedo, Div. 021, was involved in a car accident and injured his back. His playing time was limited, and he did not play at all in the first half.

Both field position and time of possession were dominated by Simeon. The short field allowed Simeon to control the pace of the game, and helped them to march down the field late in the first quarter. Gregory completed an easy eight-yard pass for the first score of the game.

The Simeon quarterback gave the Lane defense trouble with both his arm and legs. Along with his two touchdown passes, he also overcame some long third and fourth down conversions by running.

Late in the fourth quarter, Routhier desperately threw a pass down field that was intercepted. On the next drive, former starting quarterback, Jake Pieuruccini, Div. 040, was put in the game in an attempt to revive Lane’s offense.

“(Pieuruccini) came (into the game) with swagger,” said Scott, “He gave us life.”

The game was too far out of reach by then, however.

Lane’s quarterback situation was up in the air during the week leading up to the team’s first round of the playoff game against Hubbard. According to Rio, the two players split reps at practice.

Pieruccini was given the start, but the team still suffered a 33-0 loss, putting an end to a disappointing 4-5 season for last year’s city champs. Lane will not participate in this year’s state playoffs for the first time since the mid 1990s.

Category : Sports
16th Oct2009

Chicago loses bid for 2016 Olympic games

By Gabrielle Williams

October 2 was an eventful day for Lane Tech because it was the 2009-2010 Pep Rally and Homecoming. But it was also an important day for Chicago as it was in the bid to be host city for the 2016 Olympic and Paralympic Games.

Running against Chicago were the cities of Rio de Janeiro, Madrid, and Tokyo. The winner of host city was announced in Copenhagen, Denmark, and to the dismay of many Americans, Chicago was not chosen for the 2016 Olympic Games. Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, was the winner. Many Chicagoans voiced their opinions on the choice.

“I do not think it [Rio de Janeiro] was a better choice because they are already hosting the 2014 World Cup, and it brings questions as to whether the city can cope with two global events within 2 years,” said Luis Bautista, Div. 024.

Many Lane students thought it would be a neat experience to have the Olympics right in their own city and were disappointed when Chicago lost the bid.

In addition to the general excitement the Olympics would have brought, many thought it would have also stimulated Chicago’s failing economy. An economic impact analysis drafted by Chicago’s Olympic Board estimated $13.7 billion would have come into Chicago during the Olympic Games. Also an estimated 172,000 jobs would have been created by construction and other events needed between now and 2016 in preparation for the Olympics.

“Since people were hoping for those jobs I think it will lower Chicagoans moral. But we are tough and people will search for other means of support,” said Ms. Gholston, English teacher.

Some of the things that Chicago could have looked forward to if it had won the bid would have been an 8 km Olympic Ring centered near downtown Lake Shore Drive close to the city’s historic parks, as well as an Olympic Village with shops, restaurants and hotels. The Olympic Ring would have added to the iconic skyline on Lake Michigan and would have symbolized the theme of the 2016 Olympics: Uniting All Humanity.

Students and teachers had several different thoughts on why they think Chicago lost the bid.

“I think we lost because they [Olympic Committee] were worried about the gangs in Chicago and the safety and security of the athletes,” said English teacher Mr. Logalbo. “And it’s such a big city. I think those were the two main reasons. Maybe because we went into it too arrogant thinking we were going to win.”

The crime rate in Chicago may not be the best, but statistically Rio de Janeiro actually holds a higher rate of criminal activities than Chicago.

“Chicago lost because it was the favorite one to win,” said Luis Bautista. “People representing other nations knew that they were going to have to eliminate Chicago first if they wanted to give another city the chance to win. If Chicago was not eliminated early, chances are it would have won.”

It is true that Rio de Janeiro will also be hosting the 2014 World Cup in addition to the 2016 Olympic and Paralympic Games.

“Brazil is a developing country. It is going in the right direction, but it won’t be as developed as the U.S in 2016. They’re getting the 2014 World Cup as well so that’s not fair either,” said Caleb Albo, Div. 055.

Others think Brazil will do a fine job with the Olympics.

“I do think it was a good choice because it will bring newness to their country. Their capacity to hold such a large event is also more advantageous than ours,” Gholston said.

Lane students and Chicagoans alike are concerned about the city’s economy now that the Olympics will not be held here. But not all the economic news is bad.

“It’s really hit or miss. If the Olympics had come a lot of people would have lost their homes,” LoGalbo said. “It’s kind of just pick your poison. People would have benefited from the job production. But everyone’s struggling.”

“Since people were hoping for those jobs I think it will lower Chicagoans moral. But we are tough and people will search for other means of support,” said Ms. Gholston, English teacher.

Some of the things that Chicago could have looked forward to if it had won the bid would have been an 8 km Olympic Ring centered near downtown Lake Shore Drive close to the city’s historic parks, as well as an Olympic Village with shops, restaurants and hotels. The Olympic Ring would have added to the iconic skyline on Lake Michigan and would have symbolized the theme of the 2016 Olympics: Uniting All Humanity.

Students and teachers had several different thoughts on why they think Chicago lost the bid.

“I think we lost because they [Olympic Committee] were worried about the gangs in Chicago and the safety and security of the athletes,” said English teacher Mr. Logalbo. “And it’s such a big city. I think those were the two main reasons. Maybe because we went into it too arrogant thinking we were going to win.”

The crime rate in Chicago may not be the best, but statistically Rio de Janeiro actually holds a higher rate of criminal activities than Chicago.

“Chicago lost because it was the favorite one to win,” said Luis Bautista. “People representing other nations knew that they were going to have to eliminate Chicago first if they wanted to give another city the chance to win. If Chicago was not eliminated early, chances are it would have won.”

It is true that Rio de Janeiro will also be hosting the 2014 World Cup in addition to the 2016 Olympic and Paralympic Games.

“Brazil is a developing country. It is going in the right direction, but it won’t be as developed as the U.S in 2016. They’re getting the 2014 World Cup as well so that’s not fair either,” said Caleb Albo, Div. 055.

Others think Brazil will do a fine job with the Olympics.

“I do think it was a good choice because it will bring newness to their country. Their capacity to hold such a large event is also more advantageous than ours,” Gholston said.

Lane students and Chicagoans alike are concerned about the city’s economy now that the Olympics will not be held here. But not all the economic news is bad.

“It’s really hit or miss. If the Olympics had come a lot of people would have lost their homes,” LoGalbo said. “It’s kind of just pick your poison. People would have benefited from the job production. But everyone’s struggling.”

Category : News
16th Oct2009

Commit to Courage Ceremony honors WWII veteran

By Caitlyn Kolakowski

Medal of Honor recipient, Colonel Walter Joseph Marm, Jr., was honored Thursday, Sept. 16, at Lane’s Commit to Courage ceremony in the auditorium.

Marm is a retired colonel who served in the Vietnam War. During a charge against an enemy bunker he was shot in the face and his jaw was wired shut until it healed.

Marm came to Lane because the city was hosting an event for all surviving Medal of Honor recipients. For one day, these recipients went to schools to share their stories. The event included a video featuring past recipients of the medal telling their stories, ROTC color guard presentation, a welcome from Dr. LoBosco, an introduction by Colonel Kochheiser, and a speech by Colonel Marm.

Colonel Marm’s speech included words of encouragement for Lane students.

“Continue to work and study hard. You are never done. If you take one step at a time, you will succeed,” Marm said. “You can be anything you want to be. Going to new places makes you appreciate where you come.”

Last year, certain English classes were asked to write essays about the Medal of Honor for a competition. First place winner, Taylor Person, Div. 181, received a $1,000 check. Second place went to Shane Donahue, Div. 276, and third to Alicia Walker, Div. 162. They were honored at the event.

JROTC, led by Colonel Kochheiser, helped run the event.

“[This event] was a service learning project that we had started in March. We were learning about the Medal of Honor,” said Colonel Kochheiser. “We read through and assembled the book of essays.”

The book was a compilation of the students’ essays about the Medal of Honor and featured the top three winning essays. It was presented to Colonel Marm during the event as a gift.

Overall, the administration and staff were pleased with the event.

“I was so proud of Lane and the welcome that we gave Colonel Marm,” said LoBosco. “It was the single most complimented event we have had [this year].”

“The reaction that I saw from the kids was great,” said Colonel Kochheiser. “Even though he was not that great of a speaker, the kids looked past that. It gave them a whole new perspective.”

Students also had positive things to say about the assembly.

“Colonel Marm was just a man from a small community in North Carolina but he was honored with the medal,” said Cadet Captain Sreeruppa Dey, Div. 025. “This shows me that anyone can be a hero.”

“I learned that people like him are not made up. They actually exist,” said Tina Leszkiewicz, Div. 048.

Teachers also noticed the impact the event had on students.

“It is impressive for the kids to actually see a Medal of Honor winner in person and to see that he is not a big superhero,” said Colonel Kochheiser. “This brought home the fact that he was human because the kids were able to see him and even touch him for that matter.”

Even students who did not enjoy the event as much claimed it was a worthwhile ceremony.

“The assembly was not that exciting, but really it wasn’t for us to enjoy so much as it was for us to honor an American hero,” said Ingrid Hagan-Richardson, Div. 042.

Student groups other than JROTC helped out in the event.

“I sang in the advanced mixed choir for the congressional medal of honor assembly. We sang the national anthem and the armed forces songs,” said Hagan-Richardson.

“I participated in the event because I was asked to play with the band as a part of it. The songs I played with the band were: ‘God Bless America’ and ‘America the Beautiful’,” said Leszkiewicz. “I enjoyed the fact that I was allowed to be a part of it.”

Category : News
16th Oct2009

Upcoming play showcases problems of post-war family

By Tempestt Daniel

Lane’s fall play All My Sons will debut on Nov. 10, and run through Nov. 14.

All My Sons portrays a family that struggles through lies, denial, death, and post-war trauma as they deal with the loss of the eldest son, Larry. The mother, Kate, is in denial over his death, while the father, Joe, values his business above all else. Along the way, the remaining son, Chris, decides to forge his own path and act on his love for his childhood friend, Ann Deever.

“It’s almost as complicated as a soap opera,” said the director Ms. Meacham, English teacher and Slam Poetry coach at Lane. “A man puts [business] before his country [and] before his family and friends.”

“[The play] is [complicated]. The characters have very high highs, and very low lows. There is really no in between,” said Ana Lovric, Div.267, who plays Kate.

To prepare for the play, student actors have been rehearsing every day from 3-6pm.

Rey Bautista, Div. 038, who is playing the character of Joe, said that he and his fellow cast members do more than just practice their lines.

“We do meditations, we do vocals, and tongue-twisters,” he said.

Some cast members admit that the long rehearsals have been grueling, despite their excitement for opening night.

“Rehearsals can be long and tiring, but a joke here and there can lighten up the mood,” said Ben Palmer, Div. 283, who plays Chris Keller.

Palmer said that the rehearsals are a learning experience, and they push cast members to follow their instincts. Cast members agree that rehearsals are necessary because the play is so complex.

“This is my first play at Lane, but from what I saw in the Laramie Project, we have a knack for choosing challenging topics,” Palmer said.

Despite the complexity of All My Sons, cast members believe it is a good play for Lane students to see.

“I think [the play’s message] still applies now. It’s a family drama [and] I think it’s important for us to see other people as humans who make mistakes,” said Meacham.

“The play is good for Lane students because it teaches strength of family and how above all, you need to be there for one another,” said Lovric.

Even though the cast admits that the play is a difficult one to perform, Meacham said that she is certain that they will be ready for their debut.

Category : A & E, News
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