Player Profile: Sabrina (Beeny) Brown

TYLER STARR '10


Sabrina Brown, known as Beeny by her friends, has helped lead the Girls Varsity Field hockey to an excellent start to the season. She has been on the varsity team for the past three years and has high hopes for her final field hockey season at Beaver.

TS: When did you start playing this sport?
SB: Freshman year

TS: What position do you play at Beaver?
SB: Center Mid

TS: When did you start to become the player you are today?
SB: The way I play has pretty much always been sprinting to the ball. I am naturally a sprinter, so I have always played this way. Right now my stick skills are not that good, but the coaches this year are really helping me with that this year.

TS: Are you playing field hockey outside of school?
SB: No

TS: Is this your favorite sport to play?
SB: No, this is my second favorite. My first is lacrosse.

TS: Is this your favorite spectator sport?
SB: Yes, I like watching men play. I watched men’s field hockey in the Olympics and it is a whole different game.

TS: Is there a particular Beaver alum that you play similar to you?
SB: Molly Swain.

TS: Who has been the most influential coach, player, or parent during field hockey career?
SB: My freshman year coach Jen. She coached my freshman and sophomore year at Beaver for field hockey and lacrosse. She was probably the best coach I ever had.

TS: Do you see this sport in your future in any way?
SB: I might play in college as a walk on. I am not good enough to get recruited but I am definitely going to try and play because I like playing field hockey.

TS: Do you have any goals, as captain, for the field hockey team this year?
SB: Yes, I want to have a 70% winning record, so winning a little more than half. We have playing well so far, so hopefully this happens.

Some tough upcoming games include matches against Newton Country Day and Dana Hall. The Varsity Field Hockey team definitely has their work cut out for them. With help from a passionate team captain and midfielder, Beeny Brown, we hope that the team achieves greatness.
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Flirting With First

STEPHANIE GRAY '09


The Red Sox still have their minds set on winning the AL East championship, and so long as they “play a good game” and beat the Cleveland Indians in the upcoming four game series, I think they could do it. The Sox seem to be making a good comeback after losing Manny Ramirez mid season and they have played pretty well in the weeks since then.
But even though the team has put themselves back together and played some good games, they are not cemented in first place. Currently they are down a game and a half and have been fighting with the Tampa Bay Rays for first place. The Rays and the Sox have been jumping ahead of one another, and then falling back, creating a roller coaster ride for fans everywhere. The Rays currently hold first place by a game and a half, but that could all change in one day if the Sox win and the Rays lose. I am confident that the Sox can take it all the way, yet again. We have built up a great team in the past couple of years, and with stars like Josh Beckett, Jason Varitek, David Ortiz, and Jacobe Ellesbury, we have potential to bring home another set of rings in the 2008 World Series.

On a different note, as we end the regular season, I feel it is of the utmost importance that we say farewell to Yankee stadium, regardless of what team you support. It is always sad to see such a rich historical park go, but it won’t be forgotten. The new Yankee Stadium will have a historical feel to it once pieces of the old stadium are moved in and preserved for future baseball generations.
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Manny Being...Pedro?

STEPHANIE GRAY '09


For the second time in the recent years, I find myself caught in a love hate-relationship with one of my favorite Baseball players. After losing Pedro at the end of the 2004 season, I was devastated. Pedro was, at one time, the heart and soul of the team.
He was the one joking around in the dugout and in the locker rooms to keep the team’s spirits up. I will never forget that Pedro, because that is the player I fell in love with, not the Pedro that was in it for the money and glory. But the feeling of personal loss I felt when Pedro left was nothing compared to when I realized that Manny was not going to be around anymore, or at least he wouldn’t be playing with the Red Sox. Manny, like Pedro was formerly the player that others turned to when they needed to laugh. He was the goofy, smiling, extremely talented (in a seemingly accidental way) player that people watched and revered. Whether he was on the field, or in the dugout, Manny was always in the spotlight. What he brought to the team was priceless, because he brought more than just talent. Manny brought back the meaning of Baseball; to play a great game and to have a good time doing it. For this, I will always remember him. In my mind, Manny will always be Manny, and nothing he says or does will taint that memory. There are too many players in today’s society that play for the money, and have lost the old-time meaning of Baseball. Part of the reason why I love the Red Sox so much, is because they haven’t forgotten what Baseball is all about, like so many have, and they play as a team. People don’t play for the Red Sox, they play with the Red Sox, and that makes all the difference.
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GIRLS VARSITY SOCCER BEATS BERWICK

GABBY GUTMAN '11

On September 24, the 2008 BCDS girl’s varsity soccer team played an unbelievable game against Berwick Academy. Coming into the came the team was 0-3 and was extremely motivated to win. Within the first 25 minutes Olivia Dynan scored the first goal of the season. At that moment everyone was so excited, and wanted to keep the lead.
There was great playing all around the field. The defense was preventing the opponents from shooting, but when they did get a shot Ibbie Yardley, our goalie, was saving everything. There were many shots taken but at the end of the first half the score remained 1-0. Anticipating that the other team would come out strong at the beginning of the second half, we did the same. Trying as much as possible to keep the ball out of our side we succeeded in not letting in any goals.
There were many shots taken on both sides of the field but at the end of the game we won 1-0. This was the first win for BCDS girl’s varsity soccer in 2 years, and everyone was thrilled to announce it. We hope our season continues with a few more wins, and are very happy that all the hard work we have put in so far had begun to pay off.
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Field Hockey: Season Preview

JEHANE SAMAHA '09


The field hockey team has been making great progress this year. With the additions of some great new players to the team, as well as the new coaches Jen Ryan and Emily Tansey, the team is ready and excited to have a successful season.


The team kicked off the season with a 3-0 win in a scrimmage against Brimmer and May. Then, in an intense, evenly matched home game versus Portsmouth Abbey (one of the best teams in the league) the varsity team narrowly lost 0 to 1. On varsity, the player of the game was Riki Adams,í10. The JV team fared better, winning 2-0. This was followed with a harsh defeat by Pingree, in a fast-paced game on their incredibly short grass. Pingree beat the varsity team 5-0 and the JV team 3-0. On varsity, the player of the game was senior Jehane Samaha.

Most recently, the team played against LCA, always one of the most closely contested games of the season. The varsity game ended in a 1-1 tie. LCA scored on a break away at the end of the first half, and after dominating the majority of the game, Beaver scored with five minutes to go in the second half. Beaver dominated for the ten minutes of 7v7 overtime, but neither team scored. The JV team beat LCA decisively, with a 4-0 victory.
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On It With Offit: Canned by the Tuna

ADAM OFFIT '09


Dolphins 38-Patriots 13

Frosted Flakes, Special K, or the Dunkin Donuts Bacon and Egg Sandwich. I don’t know what the Miami Dolphins team had for breakfast Sunday morning, but whatever it was, the Patriots need to get some of it in their cafeteria ASAP.

The last time the Patriots lost a regular season game against the Dolphins was December 10, 2006. Since then, the Dolphins have gone 1-20 and the Patriots, 23-2. Even with the abrupt and devastating season loss of reigning MVP (not just NFL, but life in general) Tom Brady, nobody predicted Miami to come out as fired up as they did on Sunday. Dolphins quarterback Chad Pennington was nearly flawless with only 3 incompletions, while Ronnie Brown led the running game with 113 yards and four touchdowns. Brown had one run for 62 yards, which almost out gained the entire Patriots out-of-character-mediocrity rushing, of 67 yards, for the entire day.

Going into the season, many pundits thought Matt Cassel’s passing was so inaccurate that he couldn’t hit the side of a barn. That theory was proved itself when Cassel dumped the ball into the belly of linesman Randy Starks, Miami’s starting defensive end-weighing in at 305 pounds, standing 75 inches high. Along with his embarrassing interception, Cassel was sacked four times and led the Patriots offense to a miserable 28% 3rd down efficiency (4/14). It was a sad and ugly day all around at the Razor.

My MVP of the game: Not a lot of consistent performances by anyone in a white jersey on this particular Sunday. However, I was very pleased by the Special team efforts of Ellis Hobbs, who returned six kickoffs for 237 yards-an average of almost 40 yards per return. Hobbs also had two explosive run backs: a 50 yard return to open up the game and an 81 yard rumble to set up the patriots with good field position in the third quarter.

Up Next: Patriots head into the bye week at 2-1. The outcome can’t possibly be as bad as it was this week.
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BCDS Welcomes New Athletics Director: Coach Levin!

New athletic building......new athletic director.........definitely time for some investigation. We sent Emily Belowich '11 straight to the source. Meet Coach Levin!

EMILY BELOWICH '11

EB: What drew you to the athletic program at Beaver?

Coach Levin: I would definitely have to say the energy and enthusiasm behind the administration is what drew me to the Beaver athletic program. Having the opportunity to take this program to the next level is something that will take commitment, and I can see the dedication is beginning to show in many of the student athletes here at Beaver.

EB: So far, what do you like most about Beaver?
Coach Levin: No doubt, hands down, the kids. We have a great group of kids and I think the main thing is that we need to focus on setting high expectations. So far, these kids have demonstrated that they know how to do that. I find that I get personal satisfaction when guiding, helping, and inspiring these kids that want to achieve so much and invested so much of themselves into this program. “Treat a person as they are and they will remain as they are. Treat a person as they could be, and they will become what they should be.”

EB: What are your biggest challenges for the year and how do you plan to tackle them?

Coach Levin: Our biggest challenge for the year is to get everybody to understand the expectations. They are going to be set higher than what they have been in the past. Our emphasis this year will be to put in the effort and with effort (over time) comes success. If we can give it our all, that’s all we can do, and we can get the most out of that. We have to realize that every athletic honor is earned somehow. The smallest things make the difference—showing up to practice on-time, giving it your best, playing through adversity. If everyone does their best, that’s all we can ask for.

EB: What are your short and long term goals for the athletic program?

Coach Levin: Our short term goals are again, to increase the expectations. We also want to learn how to be competitive with every game and understand that competition is healthy. Our long term goals are definitely to have success, spread out in all of our sports, not just in the sports teams that have been particularly successful in the past. We are really looking towards becoming “Triple Threat” at Beaver: success in the academics, arts, and athletics.


EB: What drew you into athletics professionally? Who were your early influences?

Coach Levin: If I wasn’t coaching or running a camp, I was a guest speaker. I always wanted to be on television, which I was later on in my life. While I was in the television field, I was traveling. When my daughter was born, traveling became harder, which drew me towards coaching. I enjoyed making differences in young peoples’ lives, such as coaches inspired me as a student-athlete. Sports were and still are a part of me, and I would have to say my main influence in basketball was the head women’s basketball coach at Holy Cross, Togo Palazzi. I get a lot of my coaching techniques from the way that he used to coach me, and I’ve realized that as he has inspired me, inspiring others has become just as important.

EB: When you played basketball, what were the highlights of your career?

Coach Levin: As an individual player, scoring 2, 253 points at Holy Cross was my biggest highlight. Another individual highlight was scoring 1,150 points at Newton North High School because I was the first person to do that. I was also the first to receive a full athletic scholarship to Holy Cross. Looking back, it couldn’t have been possible without my coaches and my inspiration. As a team, the biggest highlights were beating our biggest rivals like Boston College, and in general, just the satisfying feeling that I had actually been part of the transition in improving the basketball program at HC. As a coach the Worcester Academy Class A championship is the most memorable because of 3 minutes and 12 seconds. We were down by 9 points and came back to win by 5. It was a moment in time that will stick with me for a lifetime.

EB: As a young basketball player, what motivated you to strive to do well?

Coach Levin: Genetics and my parents. Growing up, I wanted to be in the Olympics as a track star. I actually did pretty well in my high school career—I placed in the top 10 at my state championship. But I soon fell in love with basketball and in fact, in 1984, I was invited to try out in Colorado and made it to the top 40. I was satisfied because I knew I had done my best and I had given it my all. Athletics are a part of who I am; most people I know are connected through athletics whether it be coaches, players, teammates, coworkers, etc. I really want to help inspire those kids that need inspiration.

EB: Can you talk a little bit about your professional experiences up to this point? How will these experiences help you be successful at Beaver?

Coach Levin: I have been fortunate to have had many exciting careers that shape who I am today as a person. I was a sports reporter on television for many years. I worked on the PGA Tour as a TV producer and I traveled a lot. Later on, I started a business with Donna Orender, current president of the WNBA. We had a video production company and worked on the PGA and LPGA Tour for a while. I also owned my own video production company and I ran a lot of basketball camps around the area. Not long after that, Worcester Academy came along and I worked in the development office there, while I coached the girl’s varsity basketball team. Working at Worcester Academy led me to become the newly appointed Athletics Director at BCDS. I would say that all of these experiences have been incredible. It was particularly interesting to see everything what the players don’t see, “behind-the-scenes” if you will. As a player, I was so used to focusing on what was right in front of me but when I went behind-the-scenes, I learned about the video production, finances, and everything else that goes into the productions and is put on for the public. I also learned how hard people had worked for me when I was a player!

EB: What advice would you give to student athletes at Beaver?

Coach Levin: Do your best. Give it everything you have when you are out on the courts, fields, golf course, classroom or stage, etc. No one ever said it was easy to maintain success, but it’s the attitude—the little things that make the difference. Most importantly, have fun. You have to know that you can have fun out there, work hard and win all at the same time. Just enjoy it!

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Player Profile: Lily Moore

TYLER STARR '10


During summer play, Lily Moore reinjured her shins which have caused her to miss some of the Girls Varsity Soccer team’s season. Lily, as a junior, is one of the captains on the team. Even though she cannot play, Lily is consistently helping her teammates get better at the great game of soccer.


TS: When did you start to play this sport?
LM: I started playing this sport when I was five. Originally, I started playing when I was three, but they kicked me off the team because I didn’t pass the ball. They said it was better for me to wait until I was a little older, so I started playing again when I was five.

TS: What position would you player for Beaver if you weren’t hurt?
LM: Striker.

TS: When did you start to become the player you are today?
LM: Probably when I was eight and I started playing seriously. I tried out for a travel team, and I started playing for the Bolts (a club soccer team).

TS: Are you playing this sport outside of school, and if so what team?
LM: Not right now. I will be playing on a Newton travel team in the spring. I used to play for the Bolts.

TS: Is this your favorite sport to play?
LM: Definitely.

TS: Is this your favorite spectator sport?
LM: No, I like to watch tennis.

TS: If you could play for a professional soccer team, what team would you play for?
LM: The United States Women’s National Team.

TS: Is there a particular professional soccer player who plays in a similar fashion as you?
LM: My favorite player is Christine Lilly who I met when I was in second grade. And I actually got to have a private session with her and learn some of her moves. She is the captain of the United States Women’s National Team and plays striker. On her team they call her “Iron Woman”.

TS: Who has been the most influential family member, coach, or player in your soccer career?
LM: The most influential coach was my coach on my Newton team named Errol Smerkel. And he was the reason I switched from playing Bolts to Newton travel. I liked Errol better as a coach than my Bolts coach. Aril played on the Nigerian national team and was the captain on the team for three years.

TS: Do you see soccer in your future in anyway?
LM: I hope so, if my shins get better. It is all up to what my body can take.

TS: Do you have any goals for the team this year?
LM: Trying our hardest and putting every ounce of energy on the field that we can. I think this year is really a building year for us, especially our fitness level.

Best of luck to Lily in the upcoming weeks, and let us hope she has a quick recovery so we get a chance to see her play this fall.
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Mr. Touchdown- Waiver Students

SEBBY SMITH '11

Few know what a “sports waiver” is, and even fewer know about the students who have them here at Beaver. A waiver allows students to get credit for an afterschool activity outside of school for the term. Usually students apply for a waiver because they have an outside of school commitment that interferes with afterschool activities. This column exposes the hidden waiver students here at BCDS.
The weekend is a time for fun, parties, and other social events. Friday nights and Saturdays are occupied with friends and family enjoying each other’s company doing a number of activities. Sunday, on the other hand is usually spent preparing and resting for the long week ahead and relaxing. But for one student in the Beaver community, relaxation is the last thing on his mind when Sunday morning rolls in.


Kendall Dardy-Jones wakes up early each fall Sunday and suits up to play an exhilarating game of football. Kendall is one of the few students who has a waiver this term, which allows him to be fully committed to his favorite sport. Kendall has been given a waiver each fall to play football, but this year is different for Kendall, and he is working harder than ever before to make his football dream a reality.
Kendall Dardy-Jones is a quick and agile sophomore. He is around five foot six inches and 125 pounds; despite his size he is still very strong. He also participates in school athletics; Kendall is a talented point guard who was a leading scorer on the thirds basketball team last year. He aspires to become a large part of the varsity basketball team in the coming years; you can find him in the gym each day taking practice shots and honing his skills. He is also one of the most talented young lacrosse players at Beaver, and will be an asset to the team this year.
Kendall is undoubtedly a proficient athlete, but his abilities did not come from pure talent. Kendall is die-hard dedicated. He has always done little things to become stronger and faster than his competition on game day. Each day he performs drills, does exercises and runs. His determination and persistent work has increased his strength and improved his speed tremendously.
But this year Kendall is taking his training and his game to the next level working out daily and putting in his greatest amount of effort to improve his skills both on and off the football field. Kendall is the starting running back for the 2008 Boston Bangals football team. He has worked vigorously because he is determined to help his team make it to the playoffs, something he has never experienced in his still-young career. Kendall has a long year ahead of him, but he is confident in his skills and sure his team is capable of fighting their way into the state playoffs. Until then, we can only wait until Sunday.
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Player Profile: Gabe Reich

TYLER STARR '10

The player profile section of the newspaper is a great way to learn more about BCDS athletes. The players featured in this section will be asked the same ten questions about the sport they play at Beaver.

The first player profile is of Gabe Reich. Gabe is a senior and has been a captain of varsity soccer for the past two year. Through his leadership and skills, he plans on leading the Boys Varsity Soccer team to a winning season this fall.

TS: When did you start playing soccer?
GR: I started playing soccer when I was four years old. My dad would pass me the ball and I would kick it back to him in the air. TS: What position do you play for Beaver?
GR: I play sweeper at the moment, but I could also be playing striker, center mid, or outside mid.

TS: When did you start to become the player you are today?
GR: Ever since I started being a leader on my Brookline travel team in seventh grade where I would play with the eighth graders, I would always have an important role on the team.

TS: Are you playing this sport outside of school, if so what team?
GR: At the moment I am not on a team, but I am looking to join one for the spring.

TS: Is this your favorite sport to play?
GR: Yes, this is the only sport I play.

TS: Is this your favorite spectator sport?
GR: Yes, I enjoy watching the English league and the Italian league.

TS: What professional soccer team would you play for if you had the choice?
GR: Manchester United.

TS: Is there a particular professional athlete that plays in a similar fashion as you?
GR: Yes, Gattuso on AC Milan.

TS: Who has been the most influential coach, player, or family member on your soccer career?
GR: My parents who started my career when I was four.

TS: Do you see this sport in your future in any way?
GR: Yes, I plan on playing in college. Right now, I am hoping to play on Wheaton next fall.

We look forward to see how Gabe performs during his last season at Beaver. Hopefully one day we will be wearing Reich Manchester United jerseys. Good luck to you Gabe in the up coming years!
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Girls Varsity Lacrosse Team Secures First Win in Three Seasons

SABRINA BROWN ‘09

With the season coming to an end, the Girls Varsity Lacrosse team pulled off their first victory of the season with a win against Berwick Academy on Wednesday the 7th. With goals from Sabrina Fiori ‘08, Maddy Kiefer ‘08, Laura Bulkeley ‘08, and Sabrina Brown ‘09, the team put Berwick to shame, ending the game with a score of 8-5. One of Beaver’s key players in this game was senior Lindsey Yudkoff, who stepped in as goalie. Originally a starting defender, Lindsey volunteered to play goalie when no one else offered, and she has improved immensely since she began playing just a few weeks ago. Although this past Wednesday was only Lindsey’s second game in goal, she excelled in the position and led the team to victory, letting in only four goals and saving eight. With help from new coaches Kristen Chiusano and Sarah Anderson, the team was able to win their first in-league game in three years. The team hopes this is an indication that the program is developing and that the new coaches will lead the team to even more wins in the coming years.

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Week of 4/23-4/25 Sports Wrap Up

TYLER STARR '10

Varsity Baseball
Last Wednesday, the team lost to LCA 12-2 at home. The game started out poorly for Beaver and they had a hard time coming back. On Friday, the team dug themselves a hole, by giving up early runs, which they could not get out of in their 15-0 loss against Landmark.

Varsity Softball
Softball had only one game last week which they won by the slaughter rule against Chapel Hill 17-2. This was their first win this season, bringing their record to 1-6. Kat Rosenthal (shown batting above) was also featured in this Sunday’s Boston Globe as one of the top 10 high school softball hitters in Massachusetts.

Ultimate Frisbee
The Frisbee team got their first two wins last week. On Wednesday, they beat Chapel Hill 15-3. The team, with terrific defense by Adam Offit and Charles Haverty, did not allow a single touchdown in the second half. The team continued their strong defense in their 21-0 win against Cambridge. Zach Dareshori and Noah Kulick, two of the three freshmen on the team, both had touchdowns.

Boys Varsity Lacrosse
The lacrosse team played one game last week which they lost to Chapel Hill 19-13. They were losing early on and could not turn the game around.

Girls Varsity Lacrosse
The girls lacrosse team last week went 0-2 with losses to Newton Country Day and Dana Hall. Sabrina Brown had a hat-trick in the first game and Maddy Kiefer also had a hat-trick in the second game.

Boys Varsity Tennis
The tennis team went 2-0 last week with wins against Portsmouth Abbey and Bancroft. Pierre Planche had an exciting win in the first match against Portsmouth Abbey where he came back after losing the first set 6-4 to win the next two sets 6-4 and 6-3. In its match against Bancroft, the team got its first sweep of the season with a 5-0 win.

Girls Varsity Tennis
The girls tennis team beat Portsmouth Abbey 3-2 last week to get their first win of the season. Melissa Lefkowitz, Sydney Hass, and Sara Marsh all won their matches.

Girls JV Tennis
JV tennis team had their third game last week in which they were swept, losing 0-5.


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BCDS Spring 2008 Sports Preview

TYLER STARR '10

Boys Varsity Tennis

Last Season: The '07 BCDS Varsity Boys Tennis team was very successful. It had four EIL All-stars, three of which are returning this season. They were co-champions of the EIL, and only lost one match.

Biggest Loss: Graham Loyd. He was not a huge loss, he is the only non-returning.

Biggest Gain: Time to improve. Over the past year, several of the tennis players have been getting better by going to tournaments, clinics, and taking lessons. Pierre Planche ’10 and Lukas Mead ’10, both EIL All-stars, told me that everyone has improved their games since last year.
Strength: The tennis team is still young. Three of the seven starting players are sophomores; one is the number one on the ladder.

Projected Record: 12-1. Almost undefeated last year, this year they are determined to learn minor mistakes and play another almost perfect season.

Girls Junior Varsity Tennis

Last Season: The 2007 season was a building year for Girls Junior Varsity Tennis team. There were many of new tennis players, who had never played tennis before. Though the team only had one win, Hayley Peck ’10 and Brook Marram ’10 both had strong seasons.

Biggest Loss: Peck and Marram. Some experts considered them the best on the team last year and this season they will most likely be moved up to the varsity team.

Biggest Gain: Freshmen. There is a plethora of new freshman on the team, including Nicole Penn and Kasjah Scarlett who are very talented players.

Strength: Depth. The team does not have one stand out player, but will have a strong line up every match.

Projected Record: 6-3. The team looks very strong this year, and will shock everyone with a over 500 average.

Boys Varsity Baseball

Last season: The varsity baseball team had a rough ‘07 season. They had talent but they did not win many games. The team had a lot of talented young players, but unfortunately did not have a successful season.

Biggest Loss: Lamarre Rey. He was the on of the team’s captains for this year and the main pitcher on the team. Rey is currently attending the Pingree school.

Biggest Gain: Freshmen. There are some skilled freshmen who joined the team this year. The best part about these freshmen is that they will only improve over the next three years.

Strength: Fielding. There are plenty of gifted fielders on the team including infielders Shane Bourque ‘10 and Sam Packard ’08.

Projected Record: 9-6. The team has ten games scheduled for this year on upper-field. Due to fan support they should win almost every one. The team will be looking to prove themselves after last year’s upsetting season.

Girls Varsity Softball

Last season: The team had a challenging season last year with only one win. The team grew and learned from their hardships and should improve this year.

Biggest Loss: Dayo Oyedele ‘07. She was an overall strong athlete and a team player.

Biggest Gain: Coach Kaplan. Kaplan, as she told the upper school learned in a Wednesday Forum, played catcher in college. She has a lot of experience playing softball. She plans to share her valuable knowledge with the team this season.

Strength: Young, number of team members, lower field. The team is very young which will help them in the upcoming years. There are a lot of young women on the team this year which will keep the team rested. After last year’s construction fiasco, the team kicked Ultimate Frisbee off their turf this spring and will have Lower Field to play on this year.

Projected Record: 6-9. The team will have a rough slow start to the beginning of the season; out of their first six games, only one of them is home.

Boys Varsity Lacrosse

Last season: The team had an average record last year. They were only a par last year and they plan on being an elite team this year. Peter Jackson ‘07, and David Miller ’07 were last year’s captains.

Biggest Loss: Peter Jackson. He was one of the most skilled players on the team. Jackson was also the leader of their offense. Peter Jackson was the team’s leading goal scorer.

Biggest Gain: There is no single biggest gain known to the team other than experience. Players have been improving better throughout the last year by going to camps, and playing indoor lacrosse during the winter.

Strength: Defense. The defensemen on the team are excellent at playing their position. Jon Paul ’08 is a very devoted player to the team and has greatly improved his strength by wrestling in the winter. The goalies are also very good. Parker Barrell ’10 and Tory Fruciano ’09 are the goalies for the team and have been getting better since last season.

Projected Record: 9-5. The five seniors on the team are extremely devoted and want to prove themselves in their last year with Coach Brooks.

Girls Varsity Lacrosse

Last season: The ’07 season was a building year for the lacrosse team. They had no wins but improved consistently throughout the season.
Biggest Loss: Molly Swain. Swain was a exceptionally skillful player who was very devoted to the team.

Biggest Gain: Freshman. There is a new group of freshman to join that have joined the team this year. All of them are eager to play and will aid the team tremendously.

Strength: Communication. The team works very hard on communicating to each other during practices, which pays off in their games.

Projected Record: 5-7. With the help of a new coach, is expected to perform better than in the past.

Ultimate Frisbee

Last season: The ’07 season was a character building year for the Frisbee team. They only had two wins last year, but progressively got better throughout the season.

Biggest Loss: Will Knight ’07 and Josh Raab ‘07. Will Night was the tallest player on the team and scored the most out of all the players. Josh Raab was captain last year and used his leadership skills to teach the younger players how to play Frisbee.

Biggest Gain: Coach John Schatz and Chris Rush ‘08. Coach Schatz is a great athlete, and is teaching the team how to keep in shape. He coached cross country in the fall and brings some of his endurance building skills to the Frisbee team. With the loss of Will Knight, the team was without a “big man”. Rush has proven himself during preseason as the team’s newest “big man”. He has a large reach and can jump high as well. Rush is projected to have the most touch downs this year on the Frisbee team.

Strength: Heart. The Frisbee team plays with a lot of spirit. Adam Offit ’09 is one of the many devoted players who gives his all every practice and game.

Projected Record: 5-5. The team has a tough schedule playing Gann Academy twice. Based on last year’s final scores against the Gann team (losing by 10 touch downs) these two games will most likely be losses. The team is better than last years team, but will have a slow start because it will take the team a few games to learn how to function together due to limited practice space.

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Jacoby Ellsbury Traded to Yankees for Johnny Damon

JESSICA PENZIAS ‘08

At 8:00 this morning, reporters gathered at Fenway Park at the request of Red Sox general manager, Theo Epstein. Soon thereafter, Epstein took the podium and announced that, after considering input from both Terry Francona and the Red Sox owners, the team has resigned former Red Sox player Johnny Damon. Damon, who was traded to the Yankees immediately following the 2004 World Series victory of the Red Sox, has, of late, become an enemy to all members of Red Sox nation. In fact, when Damon returned to Fenway as a member of the Yankees in 2005, Red Sox fans threw money on the field to demonstrate their frustration with Damons’ greedy nature and lack of devotion to the Sox.

The news of the latest trade received a similar public reaction. Reporters flooded Epstein with questions and soon after the story was released to the public (at around 9 AM) crowds gathered outside Fenway Park. Outraged Bostonians, banded together with signs protesting the return of the despised center-fielder. At this time, Epstein returned to Fenway Park to address the concerns of the growing crowd. When he was asked about his decision, Epstein was recorded as stating, “Due to Coco Crisp’s injury, we have resigned Damon in an effort to rebuild our outfield.” He then went on to say, “Trading Jacoby Ellsbury was a necessary move for the Red Sox administration and we are excited to welcome back our former teammate.” A public outcry followed this statement and some fans even speculated that this trade may be reminiscent of the famous trade of Babe Ruth.


APRIL FOOLS!!!...Thank goodness!
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Advancements in Baseball: Not Always Beneficial

ZACK LEVANDOV '08

Beginning in the slums and alleys of New York City in the 19th century, baseball has risen to become America's favorite sport and one of the most successful athletic businesses. In the old days, many had to take long treks to the nearest professional ballpark. Today in Boston, all it takes is a short T ride or a quick car ride down Storrow Drive to Fenway Park.

Baseball has not only experienced beneficial changes, there have been numerous negative alterations as well. Fifty years ago, going to the ballpark was a unique and special experience. Baseball used to be an important social event: fans dressed up and went to games to gamble, to enjoy themselves with friends, and to bond with their families. Today, fans goes to games more casually, are less emotional, and their behavior is controlled with strict rules.

Furthermore, when baseball began, all stadiums had natural grass and seats piled up high, so close to the players that the fans could hear them talk and shout on the field. Today, stadiums are becoming fake and tacky. Fans are placed in domed, bowl-shaped parks where players meander about on artificial turf and view the game from such a far distance that the action on the field might as well be on small TV screen. Fans simply should not have to endure the flaws of such aesthetics and architecture.

To start off, the artificial surface must go. There should be nothing fake or artificial about baseball, least of all the grass. Baseball is America’s sport, so why should there be an artificial quality to it? Baseball, in its ideal, form is one of the most pure sports played today across the globe. It is a simple and laid-back game, requiring only a few friends, a ball and a stick. The odd shade of the artificial grass is a poor and unappealing counterfeit of green grass. Sitting around an artificial field is almost like sitting on a picnic blanket. Why gather around a carpet to enjoy peanuts, sodas, hotdogs, and the game when you could do the same thing without leaving the comfort of your own home?

Artificial turf also affects the game of baseball negatively for the players both physically and strategically. When the game is on the line and an outfielder has an opportunity to make a quick run towards the infield to catch a fly ball, what do they have to consider? Since artificial turf is harder and more abrasive than grass, the impact on the ground is going to feel like a collision with a cement wall, and a player risks a rug burn or a tear in his pants. Additionally, the away team has to consider the possible directions the ball can take when bouncing from the ground and how high it will soar over the outfielder’s head, since balls bounce less predictably off artificial turf than off natural grass.

Moving on, domes create a bland ambience for baseball. As human beings, we love sunlight and the warm feeling of the rays on our skin. Why play baseball inside when it was invented as an outdoor sport? Yes, it is true that domes protect the weather from ruining the field and the sun from shining in players’ eyes, but baseball should be a pastoral sport; players lope across the field, and a strong batter can send a ball seemingly far into the sky. Underneath a dome, it is all a different story. The game is sealed, players’ skin even appears unhealthy, and the ball is in danger of hitting a rafter. The sense of outdoor sport is completely taken away from the fan. Instead, fans are in a room.

Don’t you, as a fan, want to be outside and closer to the game while have the feeling of genuine baseball in front of you? One should have a desire to feel closer to the game instead of being forced to the back wall of a bowled stadium, like the remnants of unwanted cereal. Don't you, as a fan, want to be outside and close to the players? Don't you want the sun on your face and the wind to blow, while the players scamper across natural grass? I like hearing the ball slap the catcher’s mitt, and the shortstop shouting “I got it!” when the ball is popped up in the infield, which you can't hear when you're far from the game in a domed stadium, listening to air conditioning vents. In baseball, atmosphere is just as important as athletics and false environments should be eliminated.

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NHL Trade Deadline Passes

LUCAS JUDSON ‘13 (middle school)

Hi to all of you very few hockey fans at Beaver, or just someone reading something they saw. My name is Lucas Judson and I will make a weekly report about the NHL. As you may know, the trade deadline passed on February 26 and a few teams cashed in with some great players.

The Pittsburgh Penguins got Marian Hossa (f), another all-star to play alongside Evgeni Malkin (f), the current point leader. The defenseman Brian Campbell now plays for the San Jose Sharks. Brad Richards (f), who played with NHL great Martin St. Louis (f) and “St. Vincent” Lecavelier (f) on the Tampa Bay Lightning, is now playing for the Dallas Stars for Jussi Jokinen (f) and Mike Smith (g). Tampa Bay also picked up the goalie Karri Ramo. “Ollie” Kolzig (g) is back on the Washington Capitals and Garey Price (g) is now on the Minnesota Wild. Big surprise but Sergei Federov (f) is now playing with the Washington Capitols and Peter Forsberg (f) is back on the Colorado Avalanche. If you read this far I hope you enjoyed it and wait for more. Good bye.

Image from NHL.com
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A Look Back at the Varsity Volleyball Season

MARGARET GREGORY '10

The 2007-2008 Beaver Country Day School varsity volleyball season so far has been impressive compared to years past. Last year, varsity won two games and this year the team has doubled that record with four wins.

The team consists of six starting seniors, one junior, and two sophomores. The captain, Liz Cobb, is a leader both on and off the court, bringing laughs to practice and intensity to games. Additionally, Khadijah Gray has made over 25 kills and 73 attempts, making her the number one hitter on the team. She never lets a block go unblocked or leaves a hit un-hit. Every player has a sense of leadership and teamwork which makes varsity volleyball such an amazing team. “The team is so close it’s unbelievable, I have never been on a team where everyone is friends and gets along so well!” says Brooke Parker, a junior on the team.

The head coach, Aaron Montgomery, pushes the players every day in practice. He encourages them to try their hardest and to work as a team. Aaron also coaches at Northeastern University and is the assistant coach at Newbury College. His knowledge of the sport is extraordinary and he always has a fun drill for the team to try out every practice.

Come out and watch volleyball play in their last game of the season on February 20 at Chapel Hill at 4:30!
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Girl's Varsity Basketball hopes for a spot in the EIL tournament

LAURA BULKELEY '08

The start to the girl’s varsity basketball season at Beaver has been both trying and exciting. The first game against Berwick was a heartbreaker, when the girls lost by one point in the last few seconds. Though the girls suffered other losses, there have also been some exciting wins against Southfield and Bancroft. Dani Lubin Levy (’09) and Janaya Hart (’09) have led the team as junior captains.

Though the captains play a large role, other players such as Emily Belowich (’11) and Ibbie Yardley (’10) are regular starters and help the team with their high spirits and tough play. Their promise, along with a strong JV team, keeps hope for a strong program in the future. Already, Kasjah Scarlett (’11) has been brought up to varsity from JV and has had ample playing time. At the end of the year, the team will only lose three seniors, one of which has started in two games. Unfortunately, the team has begun to suffer due to injuries. Jessye Crawford (’08) and Kasjah Scarlett are both out due to hand injuries. Kasjah will be out for two weeks, and Jessye will be out for the rest of the season.

Though the team has gotten off to a rough start with a record of 4-9, there is still time to improve. The girls have beaten in-league Bancroft twice, showing that Beaver is a competitor and will hopefully grab a spot in the EIL tournament. The end of the season will surely be intense; come support the team on senior night this Friday at 3:30pm.

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Loss to Kansas Revealing for Boston College

DANA SPIGELMAN '08

Kansas’ post players produced 55 points including 25 from junkyard dog Darnell Jackson, who rarely scores far away from the basket. Kansas exposed BC all the way around. They were simply too weak and too slow in their defensive rotations to stop the tough Jackson and the polished Darrell Arthur. Kansas point guards routinely stood beyond the three-point line and lobbed alley-oops over the unaware BC defenders to their dominating big man. Al Skinner was simply out coached as Bill Self was able to time and again find the flaws in BC’s game plan. However, Skinner can only be blamed to a certain extent. BC showed their youth, committing 14 turnovers and making horrible decisions at every turn. Tyrese Rice committed six turnovers, unusual for the smart and instinctive point guard. Rakim Sanders was caught taking awful fade-away three pointers and Corey Raji seemed overly passive. It certainly got ugly in Conte Forum.

The young BC squad also showed their youth. Biko Paris was not bothered at all by the most intense pressure he will ever have to face, reversing his dribble and easing his way up the court against the intense Russell Robinson, Sherron Collins and Mario Chalmers. Rakim Sanders, while at first showing his youth, scored 14 points and led a minor second half surge with a barrage of threes and an electric put-back dunk. Through the first half Tyrese Rice also showed just how good he can be, dominating Kansas and keeping BC in the game as long as he could. Rice has a history of stepping up in big games against quality point guards, dating back to games against UNC, Georgetown and others over the past two years. Those strong spotlight performances can only be an indication of further success to come for the BC star.

With only a match up against a weak Robert Morris squad left, BC has just about finished off their non-conference schedule. In somewhat of a rebuilding year, the realistic goal for BC has become a NCAA tournament bid and they will have to play well now to achieve it. With a win over Robert Morris, BC will go into ACC play at 11-3 (1-0 inside the conference). With only the fifteen conference games left BC has a pretty easy conference schedule, facing Duke and Clemson each only once. The remaining games are against beatable teams and a 9-6 mark against the remaining schedule appears attainable. That would leave BC 20-9 with a 10-6 record in the ACC and a lock for the NCAA tournament. While this is attainable, it is still highly unlikely that the inconsistent, young Eagles could pull it off. They will need Rakim Sanders and Corey Raji to mature quickly, continued solid play from Biko Paris, Shamari Spears and Tyrelle Blair. Despite what anyone says, this is a solid BC team and one that nobody in the ACC is looking forward to playing. Although this year has the potential to turn for the worse, the future in Conte Forum is bright.

Image from: ESPN

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