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New leaders drive golf team

By ADAM KAYE ‘17

Looking at the golf team’s roster this year, several new and unfamiliar names jump out. This is because this year’s Saint Ignatius Varsity Golf team is tasked with replacing a total of 11 seniors from last year’s 4th Place State Team. While the names and faces have changed, the goal still remains the same: to win states.

With this very new team, a new set of leaders have emerged, including Michael McCaffrey ‘18, Jake Moraca ‘19, and Hunter Rinkus ‘17. Filling out the next spots are an incredibly competitive group of young, talented golfers. The next three spots of the top six are separated by less than half a stroke in their average scores. This competitiveness from top to bottom is very important to Coach Becker, who has years of experience building state championship worthy teams. Nobody’s spot is guaranteed this year, as there has been constant rotation amongst the varsity team. Some of the players who have been rotating through the team have been Angelo Corna ‘17, Andrew Kaye ‘20, Owen Bilardo ‘18, John Klym ‘19, and Ryan Grabowski ‘18.

Coach Becker is also incredibly excited about the incoming class of freshman, the Class of 2020, which he believes “has the talent to be very special.” The class has alreaGolf16dy proven its talent with 4 freshmen in the top 12 spots of the varsity team. The star freshmen from this class, Andrew Kaye, Ross Williamson, KJ Ripich, and Connor Warns, hope to replicate the incredible success of the Class of 2016 that they are replacing.

The lowest round of the year, a 70 at Redtail Country Club, has come from Michael McCaffrey, the team leader in average score. This team will continue to improve with scores like this, as well as with the continued development of this young lineup. This team has the talent and depth to advance to and compete for a state championship this year, which began with a 3rd place finish at Sectionals on October 3rd at Legacy Golf Course in Avon Lake. Michael McCaffrey again led the team with an impressive 73. Solid scores from Andrew Kaye, 79, Hunter Rinkus, 81, and Jake Moraca and Ross Williamson, who both shot 85, helped the team’s performance. The team will play next at Districts on October 10th at Pine Hills Golf Club, with a chance to qualify for the State Tournament on the line.

2016 NFL Mock Draft

By Reilly Casey

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1Los Angeles Rams- Jared Goff, QB, California

Last week the Rams made a historic trade to acquire the first overall pick. They sure did give up a lot to move up(2 first round picks, 2 second round picks, and 2 third round picks) and I can’t picture them selecting any other position besides Quarterback. The question that they have to answer: Goff or Wentz?

2Philadelphia Eagles- Carson Wentz, QB, North Dakota State

Another trade just went down this week between the Eagles and the Browns. Eagles get No. 2 overall and Browns get No. 8 overall and more. Eagles already said they were drafting a QB, it’s just whichever QB falls to them.

3San Diego Chargers- Jalen Ramsey, CB/S, Florida State

San Diego took a huge loss when Eric Weddle, Safety, left in Free Agency. Jalen Ramsey could be the guy to replace him. Ramsey is extremely flexible and could play either S or CB.

4Dallas Cowboys- Myles Jack, OLB, UCLA

Jack did not play a single snap for the Bruins this past year, as he is coming off of a serious knee surgery. His upside is incredible, but you have to keep in mind his injury status. Jerry Jones could be the man to take the risk of taking him at No. 4.

5Jacksonville Jaguars- DeForest Buckner, DE/DT, Oregon

Jacksonville was one of the worst teams in the league, last year, at rushing the Quarterback. Their division is loaded with great Quarterbacks like Andrew Luck, Marcus Mariota, and Brock Osweiler. Buckner pairing up with Malik Jackson could be very dangerous.

6Baltimore Ravens- Laremy Tunsil, OT, Ole Miss

Every draft has a player that is eligible to be the 1st overall pick, but drops because of team needs. Example from last year, Leonard Williams(No. 1 overall player) fell all the way to the 6th pick in the draft. Laremy Tunsil could be the guy to drop. Ravens are in need of an OT after Kelechi Osemele left in Free Agency.

7San Francisco 49ers- Joey Bosa, DE, Ohio State

The 49ers were arguably one of the worst teams in the NFL last year. I don’t know how they got 5 wins. They were 29th in the league at stopping the run and defending the pass game wasn’t much better. They need a guy who can stop the run and rush the Quarterback. Joey Bosa is that guy who can instantly help the 49ers.

8Cleveland Browns(Projected Trade to Dolphins)- Ezekiel Elliott, RB, Ohio State

The Browns acquire this pick from the Eagles, but I really think they trade this pick again. Once the Dolphins realize that Elliott is still on the board, I truly think they move up to get him. He was a dynamic playmaker and the sky’s the limit for him.

9Tampa Bay Buccaneers- Vernon Hargreaves, CB, Florida

The Bucs picked up Brent Grimes in free agency, which is a good pick up, but they need someone to match up with him on the other side. Hargreaves could be a great option to stop Cam Newton, Drew Brees, and Matt Ryan in the NFC South.

10New York Giants- Shaq Lawson, DE, Clemson

Defensive end is one of the Giant’s many needs. Giants could OL, but that would be investing a lot of money into the OL after picking Ereck Flowers in last year’s draft.

11Chicago Bears- A’Shawn Robinson, DE/DT, Alabama

The Bears struggled against the run last season, giving up an average of 120.9 yards per game. They could go OL because Jay Cutler is getting older, but I do think they go defense. They need someone next to Eddie Goldman to help stop the run. Robinson could be the hero in the Windy City.

12New Orleans Saints- Leonard Floyd, OLB, Georgia

No doubt in my mind that the Saints go defense. They were almost dead last in every defensive category. I would shocked if the Saints go anywhere but defense. Floyd will help pressure the QBs in the NFC South, which is loaded with Quarterbacks.

13Miami Dolphins(Projected Trade to Browns)- Laquon Treadwell, WR, Ole Miss

This is the pick the Browns would receive in my projected trade. Cleveland’s receiving corps needs to be upgraded. They probably won’t have Josh Gordon this coming season and the Dwayne Bowe experiment turned out terrible.

14Oakland Raiders- Reggie Ragland, ILB, Alabama

The Raiders did a great job in free agency. They added stud OLB Bruce Irvin to their defense. Ragland would be a great addition to add inside. Oakland seems to be headed in the right direction.

15Tennessee Titans- Jack Conklin, OT, Michigan State

Tennessee fell all the way down to the 15th pick after last week’s trade with the Rams. They could’ve grabbed their guy at No. 1, but they can still grab him here. Conklin will protect Mariota, after Mariota was one of the most sacked QBs last season.

16Detroit Lions- Ronnie Stanley, OT, Notre Dame

About 2 months ago, Stanley was predicted to be a Top 10 pick, maybe even Top 5. Many scouts have questioned his strength and his love for the game. Stanley’s talent is too good to pass by at No. 16.

17Atlanta Falcons- Darron Lee, OLB, Ohio State

Falcons selected Vic Beasley last year who did pretty well for their defense. Pairing Beasley up with Lee could be a scary sight for their opponents. Lee would help the Falcon’s struggling defense immediately.

18Indianapolis Colts- Eli Apple, CB, Ohio State

The Colts are coming off of an extremely disappointing year. They were expected to be contenders for the AFC title and didn’t even make the playoffs. Their defense really struggled. Apple would be an upgrade to the secondary.

19Buffalo Bills- Kevin Dodd, DE, Clemson

During Free Agency, the Bills cut Mario Williams because he had a huge contract and wasn’t producing. A great Defensive End can easily be obtained with this pick. Dodd could transform the Bill’s defense, even as a rookie.

20New York Jets- Paxton Lynch, QB, Memphis

Ryan Fitzpatrick, also known as the “Amish Rifle”, did an amazing job for them last year, but he’s 33 years old. Plus, Fitzpatrick and the Jets are far apart on contract talks. Lynch would be a great pick for the Jets here. Geno Smith is still on the team, but is still a bum. They need to get a young QB and Lynch could be the guy.

21Washington Redskins- Jarran Reed, DT, Alabama

The Redskins lost Terrance Knighton in Free Agency and even with him were terrible at stopping the run. Reed’s speciality at Alabama was stopping the run and could easily translate that to the NFL.

22Houston Texans- Corey Coleman, WR, Baylor

The Texans did a great in free agency by adding Brock Osweiler and Lamar Miller. They already have DeAndre Hopkins, but they are missing a true slot receiver. Coleman is an electrifying player which could really spark the Texans offense.

23Minnesota Vikings- Will Fuller, WR, Notre Dame

Teddy Bridgewater has shown improvement over his two years in Minnesota. Even if his receivers are average at best. His number one target going into next year is Stefon Diggs after the Vikings decided to part ways with Mike Wallace. Fuller is a true deep threat with his 4.31 speed and that’s what the Vikings need.

24Cincinnati Bengals- Josh Doctson, WR, TCU

The Bengals were not winners in free agency, as they lost two of their best WRs, Mohamed Sanu and Marvin Jones. Doctson would immediately fill that hole. Teams wouldn’t know how to match up against AJ Green and Josh Doctson at the same time. This would be a great pick for Cincinnati.

25Pittsburgh Steelers- William Jackson III, CB, Houston

Pittsburgh’s secondary has been atrocious the last few seasons. Jackson will instantly help this ripped up secondary. He will be paired up with William Gay, who is mediocre at best.

26Seattle Seahawks- Robert Nkemdiche, DT, Ole Miss

Nkemdiche is an absolute freak. Though he is a little undersized, he can do almost anything. He does have some off the field concerns unfortunately. The Seahawks can afford to take a risk on a beast like this. He will come with a lot of baggage though.

27Green Bay Packers- Sheldon Rankins, DT, Louisville

After the retirement of B.J. Raji, the Packers will be looking for a new run stuffer. Rankins could possibly be the first defensive tackle taken off the board, but I think his size could turn some people off. He’s only 6’1” and he’s under 300 pounds. That’s smaller than your average interior defensive lineman.

28Kansas City Chiefs- Artie Burns, CB, Miami(FL)

The Chiefs scored big time when they drafted Marcus Peters, CB, in last year’s draft. He was amazing as a rookie and won Defensive Rookie of the Year. The Chiefs did lose Sean Smith in free agency so he could be replaced with this pick.

29Arizona Cardinals- Mackensie Alexander, CB, Clemson

Yes the Cardinals do have Patrick Peterson, but the other side was exposed during the playoffs. Alexander is a terrific player and was originally thought to be a Top 20 selection. He is rumored to have “personality issues” and many GMs won’t take that risk. Cardinals took a risk on Tyrann Mathieu in 2013 and looked how that turned out.

30Carolina Panthers- Taylor Decker, OT, Ohio State

Panthers are in real need of an OT to protect Cam Newton. Their OL did not produce well in the Super Bowl. Depending on who falls to them, I can see them going CB. Josh Norman is now a free agent after Carolina rescinded the Franchise Tag.

31Denver Broncos- Cody Whitehair, OG, Kansas State

Denver lost Peyton Manning to retirement and lost Brock Osweiler in free agency. Their starting QB right now? Mark Sanchez. As you already know he is not reliable at all. The Broncos will rely heavily on the run game, so they have to improve the OL. Adding Whitehair would be a great addition to the trenches.

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Restaurant Review: Johnny Mango World Cafe and Bar

By Adam Kaye ‘17

Johnny Mango World Cafe and Bar

3120 Bridge Avenue
www.jmango.com
Price: $$
5 out of 5 paws

Johnny Mango isn’t your typical restaurant. It’s a trendy, upward spot that breaks from the norm. It fits into a common trend in the Ohio City area, where restaurants tend to represent the wide variation of cultures available in Ohio City. The island feel at Johnny Mango’s definitely fits in with this norm. I, for one, felt rejuvenated when I entered the restaurant.

One of the restaurant’s biggest pros is the wonderful service. When I entered Johnny Mango, I was greeted by friendly workers. They seemed to truly enjoy their job and welcomed me in with open arms. The servers were on time and ran a smooth operation. I was served with a smile. Great service is often overlooked, but their service was incredible. It’s rare that service is this good at a restaurant.

The service and environment weren’t the only things that stuck out to me. The food at Johnny Mango is very good, and the pricing is even better. Most restaurants the size of Johnny Mango overprice their food items. However, Johnny Mango keeps the costs feasible, making it an incredible option for a student on a low budget.

Overall, Johnny Mango is highly recommended, and is a very worthwhile trip for anyone looking for an island siesta. The only thing missing was a parking lot, as I didn’t like parking in the street. This doesn’t hurt the ranking of Johnny’s but it would be a welcome addition.

Music Reviews: Logic and David Bowie

By Joe Rosalina ‘17

The Incredible True Storythe incredible true story
Logic
After releasing his first successful album, Under Pressure, in 2014, hip hop artist Logic followed up with his sophomore album, The Incredible True Story, on November 13th, 2015. Logic dropped his first mixtape in 2010 and built himself up from there, with so much success that he went on tour before making his official debut with his first album.

Now on his second album, Logic is still pretty underrated and not yet a household name. However, if he keeps putting up albums like The Incredible True Story he’ll get there pretty quick. At one point, The Incredible True Story was ranked the number one hip-hop album in the country, selling over 135,000 copies in the first week.

The music in the album is set one hundred years in the future, but goes back in time to a 90’s vibe in Young Jesus, and even samples Kanye’s Amazing in the beginning of his track Contact. He sounds smooth throughout the album, and his entire album is a narrative. Basically, it’s straight fire, and I would definitely recommend listening because Logic is about to turn up in the next few years.

Blackstarblackstar
David Bowie
The album Blackstar was released on January 8th, 2016, on David Bowie’s birthday and two days before his death. His final album, Blackstar is the end of a career that included iconic songs, albums, and performances that always managed to connect with the generations that heard his music.

In Blackstar, Bowie combines elements of jazz, drama, and current music in most of his songs. What remains most impressive about Blackstar, however, is Bowie’s ability to tell a story through his music that reflects the drama included in his music and his life. All around, this album was great considering it is the last album David Bowie will ever release. Even though it was his last album, he yet again picked up a different style, this time going with a jazz influence that shapes another fantastic album.

Pun of the Week #28

Bonjour!!!! Hola!!!! Aloha!!!!

John/Juan/Jean here for Puns of the Week #28!!!!! (:
Proud to say that this has been an amazingly awesome World Languages Week! So to celebrate it, here is a Language themed pun!!!! (:
Pun:
What do you call a Mexican gummy bear? ……………………… A delici-oso
Tres bon!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Ten un excelente fin de semana!

 

John/Juan/Jean Heisterkamp ’16

Valve’s Steam Controller does the job, but does not start a revolution

The Steam Controller, Valve’s first venture into hardware, is available for $49.99, about the price of a PS4 or Xbox One controller.

BY BRENDAN O’DONNELL ‘16

2 years after announcement, Valve has finally released the Steam Controller for PC. It was announced as being a controller that could merge the power of the mouse and keyboard with the ease of use of a normal controller. But how revolutionary is it? I purchased one to find out.

The Steam Controller, Valve’s first venture into hardware, is available for $49.99, about the price of a PS4 or Xbox One controller.
The Steam Controller, Valve’s first venture into hardware, is available for $49.99, about the price of a PS4 or Xbox One controller.

To start off, the controller felt a little weird. The touchpads didn’t really make sense at first and I was irritated by haptic feedback (which can be turned off). However, as I used it more, I got used to them pretty quick- ly. Now, I feel that I am more accurate with this than a controller, though not as much as the standard mouse and keyboard that I typically use.

Valve has clearly put a lot of time into the de- sign of the controller, in both the hardware and software section. With 2 extra buttons, a usable keyboard, and full integration with the Steam software that runs PC games, the controller is surprisingly useful in many gam- ing situations. I found it easy to use in some games that typically require the mouse and keyboard, such as Civilization V and Fallout 4. However, other games, such as Terraria and Counter-Strike: Global Offensive, did not work well with the controller.

Another feature of the controller that I liked is its general use style. While it is made to work in the Steam platform only, it has some default bindings that make it very usable in general web browsing activities. While I certainly wouldn’t type an Arko essay with it, I found it satisfactory to use for watch- ing videos and general internet browsing – something that would work well if the PC is connected to a TV.

The Steam Controller is part of Valve’s vision for a “Steam Universe” – where everything entertainment related runs on the Steam platform. The Steam Controller is certainly a good start to this model, but I think that there could be some improvements on the touchpads before I would consider switch- ing entirely to this. For its purpose, though, the Steam Controller does the job. Just re- member that it only works with PCs.

The Steam Controller fills a niche of users who want to have both the power of a PC and the finesse of a console. Is it possible to have both? I don’t think that it is, to be honest. The PC is great for finding the most power in gaming. Only with a PC can you run a game in 4k or at above 60 fps, for example. However, a PC capable of such feats costs so much more than a console to make (PS4s go for about $300 these days and have about the power of a $500 computer) and is more likely to encounter problems. You can use the PC with a TV, but many PC games are designed to be played at a desk. A console is the easiest way to game with the least initial investment, though game collectors will be interested in the PC’s lower prices.

Is the Steam Controller able to bring the console experience to the power of a PC? I don’t think so. But it is a basic step that is being made to join the best parts of both. Combined with other initiatives such as Steam Machines, Valve may finally be able to capture the console market as well. Only time will tell if they will succeed.

Rating: It might be the beginning of some- thing big, but it isn’t yet game changing.

Movie Reviews: The Revenant & Pride and Prejudice and Zombies

BY CONNOR HOLDEN ‘16

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2. The Revenant


Directed by Alejandro Gonzalez Inarritu, 2015
The Revenant is undoubtedly a competent movie and impressive in its scope, but all the acclaim that it has received is largely undeserved. It seems that in the face of The Revenant’s visual appeal, strenuous shooting conditions, and the spurious claim that it is based on true events, critics and audiences alike have chosen to ignore that this movie tells its story lacking any nuance.

The Revenant masquerades as an exploration of human survival and the darker impulses of man while in reality possessing no sophistication. It is unable to move beyond pointing out that disgusting things happen and makes no attempt to explore the ramifications of these horrors on its characters.

Furthermore, Leonardo DiCaprio as protagonist Hugh Glass does not give an Oscar worthy performance. The real impressive performance of The Revenant is Tom Hardy who is almost unrecognizable in his performance as the ruthless trapper that only cares for himself.

Alejandro Inarritu is a genuinely talented director and plenty of the cinematography is quite impressive if only a little bit lifeless. If you must see The Revenant keep in mind that all of its artistic flourish is just a façade hiding the trap DiCaprio and Inarritu have set to secure his Oscar and a mainstream breakthrough respectively.

Rating: Just see it once

1. Pride and Prejudice and Zombies


Directed by Burr Steers, 2016
Zombies are terrible, not just as a plague but also as a cultural phenomenon. Pride and Prejudice and Zombies is a joke that might have been funny once as an observation about how vapid zombie movies and Hollywood have become, but actually making a book and movie that is just Pride and Prejudice with added zombie fight scenes and allusions to the infection forced into the original text is beyond pathetic.

This is not a funny movie. It is a cynical and calculated cash grab serving to both reinforce the notion people only want to watch films with name recognition and to appeal to people who think liking all things with zombies as some kind of quirky personality trait. It adds nothing to zombie films as a genre and has about as much thought put into it as an internet meme.

If you want to see a comedy zombie movie go check out the superb Shaun of the Dead or its quainter American brother Zombieland. For a movie about history and zombies somebody made because they loved both and weren’t just looking to make a quick buck Dead Snow 2 is a perfect example. Zombie films began as an outlet for exploring how people interact under insurmountable odds and an outlet for indulging audiences with scenes of justified violence against the vast mindless herds they both hate and feel kinship with. The genre has so much more narrative potential than this schlock.

Rating: Don’t waste your time 

Senioritis is ‘prevalent’ and ‘spreading’ at Ignatius, Pryatel, Deegan say

Seniors put their feet up during a free period. Photo Credit: Phil Massouh ‘16

BY KEVIN DEEGAN ‘16

Senior year is typically defined by a rigorous first semester, college acceptances, and finally a relaxing and carefree second semester. Students across the nation tend to say that these lazy second semester seniors have “senioritis.” Merriam-Webster defines senioritis as “an ebbing of motivation and effort by school seniors as evidenced by tardiness, absences, and lower grades.” But how prominent is senioritis at Saint Ignatius High School?

Take James Pryatel ‘16 for example. James has worked for 7 straight semesters, doing his homework, studying for tests, and paying attention in class. But after his admittance into various universities, James has changed his work ethic at school. “I rarely open my backpack at home ever since getting into college,” says James. He has begun doing more and more homework during his free periods the day that his assignments are due rather than finishing them up the night before.

Before school, James has begun reading the chapter summaries on Sparknotes instead of the actual chapters themselves. “I leave school immediately at 2:05 and I’m home around 2:25. From then, I watch Netflix until about 4:15 because my mom comes home from work at 4:20,” says James. James says that he then opens his bookbag and takes out random books to make it appear like he has been doing his homework for the past two hours. After a few minutes of “studying” while his mom is in the room, James usually goes to “work on his essay” in his basement, where he continues to watch more Netflix. Following dinner with his family, he spends the rest of his night watching the Cavs or Blue Jackets and then going to his bedroom at around 9:30.

I have a book sprawled out on my bed because I’m ‘reading’ but that’s just or when I hear my mom coming to my room.

James says, “I have a book sprawled out on my bed because I’m ‘reading’ but that’s just or when I hear my mom coming to my room.” To no surprise, James ends his nights with another couple hours of Netflix, usually finding himself falling asleep past midnight. “I will complain the next day at school how I’m too tired and don’t get enough sleep even though it’s 100% my fault,” admits James.

Although James is just one specific example of the effects of senioritis, it still seems to consume most second semester seniors. James and other seniors seem to believe that senioritis is not negatively affecting them. He states, “Everyone has it and it’s different for everyone. We’ve worked 3.5 years to this point, and majority of us are in college. Our grades are basically irrelevant as long as we don’t fail. I believe it’s what we are entitled to for our previous years of hard work. We go to a high school that challenges us everyday, and it’s nice to know that it’s not necessary to stress out over homework anymore.”

Seniors across Ignatius truly have begun to follow the mentality, “Due tomorrow, do tomorrow.”

Diplocats make an impact at ECMUN 2016

BY O’D ‘16

The St. Ignatius Model United Nations team traveled for the first time to Richmond, Indiana for the Earlham College Model UN Conference. At the conference, which took place on January 29th and 30th, 36 Ignatian delegates competed with over 300 students in debate. Delegates debated topics such as the refugee crisis, the legalization of drugs, and child marriage.

Jeff Lindholm ‘16 making his presence felt in committee Photo Credit: Peter Corrigan
Jeff Lindholm ‘16 making his presence felt in committee Photo Credit: Peter Corrigan

St. Ignatius delegates took top place in three of the thirteen committees. Charley Heintel ‘16 and John Jakubisin ‘18 won the UNICEF committee. Sam Watters ‘18 took home his third straight first place finish in the House of Representatives Committee on Foreign Affairs. Finally, Jeff Lindholm ‘16 and Peter Nichols ‘18 won best delegate in the General Assembly. Remarkably, Lindholm was able to win medalist with no preparation, taking place of an ill delegate.

According to Lindholm, years of experience provided him with the ability to win the conference without any research done. “I wouldn’t be able to do it without the three and a half years of experience that I have acquired. Back at Gannon University in 2012, I was terrified to speak. Now, I was able to passionately talk to the whole committee about the security council. I was being attacked on all cylinders, and this raised me up to the top.” Nevertheless, Lindholm was “stunned” when he found out about his victory.

Ignatius as a whole made a strong performance at the committee. Only awards for “Best Delegate” and “Most Improved” were offered. Ignatius took almost 25% of the awards for best delegate, despite making up about 12% of the committee. Most delegations were made up of two delegates, providing a different experience from the usual “one delegate per country” experience. This shows how well prepared our students are to succeed in new environments.

Some members of the Model UN team will be traveling to the Miami University Model UN conference in March, and a larger group will attend Cornell’s prestigious conference in April. If previous results are indicative of anything, the Model UN team will do very well in these committees, even though most delegates have not been to either one of these conferences before. The skills of our delegates combined with the preparations offered will enable them to do very well in the committees.


St. Ignatius sends seven seniors to Ivy Leagues ED, more to come

BY BRIAN MESSINA ‘16 and TOMMY NAPOLI ‘17

After the early action and early decision period of college notifications, Ignatius had seven students in the class of 2016 accepted into Ivy League schools. Of these students, two were accepted at Harvard, two at Yale, one at Princeton, one at Columbia, and one at Cornell. This is a historically high number for Ivy League acceptances for a single class at Saint Ignatius.

Getting into Ivy League schools is always very difficult, but the class of 2016 is very strong and hard-working. These schools spend a long time reviewing thousands of applications that are closely scrutinized by the admissions staff. They make a holistic review of each applicant, looking at grades, test scores, extracurricular activities, essays, and other factors. Accepted students have to be well-rounded and high-achieving at a bare minimum; most often they have to go above and beyond.

Some have attributed this number of acceptances to the success of the Day of Discernment for seniors on PSAT day. This senior workshop day not only allowed students to hear from professionals in whatever field they were interested in but also gave students the opportunity to seek help with the Common App and essay writing. One of the most helpful sessions was Mr. Fujimoto’s interview preparation session where students were instructed on how to dress, to send a thank-you to the interviewer, and to communicate effectively. Because of how stressful interviews are, this session helped many of these students in this process.

Of course, these students could not be where they are without the hard work of those in the College Counseling Department. Each of them has worked tirelessly to allow our students the chance to succeed when applying to colleges. Mrs. Gabor said, “We’ve established a really good relationship with the Ivy League schools over the past five years.” She also noted that the staff of these top schools has gotten to know our staff well, and that consistency and relationship has helped our students. Most of the top colleges know St. Ignatius very well.

Niko Apostolakis (Princeton) said, “I was ecstatic when I learned of my acceptance, and I am grateful for the many unique opportunities to serve and learn that Ignatius has offered me.”

Ivan Wolansky (Columbia) said, “For me, sitting there and seeing the words “accepted” was surreal…As for what this school has done for me, Ignatius made me realize that it’s not all about me. It’s about being there for others and doing all I can to make the world a better place.”

Several more students in the class of 2016 are waiting to hear back from Ivy League schools in April for regular decision. We wish these students the best of luck, and we hope that every student gets good news in the mail and chooses whichever school is the best fit for them.

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About The Eye

The Eye is the student-led publication of Saint Ignatius High School.

Editors-in-Chief: Kelly Coleman '23, Young Kim '23 & Aidan Oliss '23