By Luke Ventola & Brett Thomas Staff Writer, Editor-in-Chief

Construction noises and blocked hallways have become a commonplace at MC recently, and the state of construction has come a very long way. Mr. Cacciapuoti, the director of facilities, states that tentative plans for the construction started around the Spring of 2016, and designs were ready by the Fall of 2017. Construction started in late May and early June of 2017. The finished new wings of the school will be completed near the second week of February, 2018.

New administration offices, a teacher lounge, and printer room are parts of the construction plan that have already been completed. However, much has yet to be done in the process completing building plans. As far as the Malden Catholic School for Girls campus is concerned, it will be located in the area stretching from room 111 to the old Brother Gilbert fireplace room. The girls will have a separate entrance; however, they will be able to enter through the main foyer. Mr. Cacciapuoti expects most girls to enter through the main entrance. This new

segment will boast multiple classrooms, a multi-purpose room, a learning commons, a completely-glass hallway, and an improved courtyard. The classrooms will range in size to accommodate anywhere from ten to thirty students. Mr. Cacciapuoti says, “the classrooms will be comparable. The technology will also be comparable.” The multi-purpose room will be located in the area which was the Brother Gilbert fireplace room. This room will be designed for activities such as eating lunch. Furthermore, the new learning commons is set to connect with the current learning commons via the highly conspicuous white box located in the far right corner. The overall feel and purpose of the new learning commons will be very similar to the existing one. The new hallway will be a flashy and modern update to the MC campus. Located on the far side of the courtyard, it will have a slight, modern curvature encased by glass walls. The finishing touch to the additions will be the courtyard. Promising to be as good, if not better, than the old, the new courtyard will boast, a large circular patio, a rock wall for sitting, and more grass than the old courtyard. On a completely different note,

male students will never again be able to pass through the stretch of the hallway by room 111 that is currently blocked, as it will be a permanent part of the other campus.

Observing the changes and construction, Senior Erick Harkness states, “The noises in the library are obnoxious, and I hope that they will not persist throughout the year. Removing access to the hallway that connects the library to the 108 corridor makes getting to the science labs, guidance offices, and most classrooms on the second floor a time-consuming and inconvenient endeavour.” Senior Ryan Hanna also states that noises in the library are a “nuisance.” However, most of the students and teachers alike are looking forward to the final product. Sophomore Niko Sofronas is “looking forward to the new girl’s school to see an influx in diversity. There will be more opportunities available for extracurricular activities for both schools.”

Clearly, we will have to cope with construction noises for the rest of the year, but all good things must come at a cost. These changes will most likely improve the MC campus as well as generate interest in the school.

C ry s ta l 9 9Malden Catholic High School – A Xaverian Sponsored School – 99 Crystal St., Malden, MA 02148

New Look, Same School?

In this issue...

- Historical National Honor Society Elections - Construction Updates- Student Council Plans

for the Year - Current Movies

Reviews - Local Sports

Round-Up- Bike Epidemic

Above: The courtyard and hallway during construction

Photos Courtsey of Kyle Borick, Brianna Robbins

Opin iOnsOpinions 2 November 2017

Crystal 99 Student Newspaper

Malden Catholic High School99 Crystal Street

Malden, Massachusetts 02148(781) 322-3098

editors-iN-ChiefBrett Thomas

Vincent Swierk

maNagiNg editorPatrick donnelly

editorsRyan DonnellyBenjamin Mawn

Mike BonoJames Mawn

Donovan LafontaineZack RobinsonConnor BondCarson tullyKyle BorickNate Frye

staff WritersLuke Ventola

Angelo CarboneShawn Maloney

Alex MitsopoulosNguyen Le

Jarid MasielJack Stone

Dylan TamagnaSteve ValenteDeclan jones

Jared WardwellNavid Chowdhury

Shawn MorrowNick Scarpello

Andreas SofronasRobert Curreri

Paul Ventura

faCulty advisersMr. Christopher Cleary

Ms. Brianna Robbins These opinions do not rep-

resent the views of Malden Catholic as an institution

Reporting on current events and publishing student opinion, we at the Crystal 99 hope to inform, challenge, and entertain our readers, and allow students an outlet to communicate

with their peers.

If you would like to contribute to the paper, submit an article, or offer your suggestions, contact any editor or

Mr. Cleary or Ms. Robbins.

To place an advertisement in the Crystal 99, contact:

Christopher Cleary clearyc@mal-dencatholic.org

The Crystal 99 is published by School Publications Company.

By: Luke VentolaStaff WriterApple has recently made some ground shaking releases in new products: the iPhone 8 and the iPhone X. There has been some discussion as to the difference between both products. Did Apple skip the number system and come out with the iPhone X to lure foolhardy, loyal customers into making an economically unsound purchase? Or, did Apple really intend on making a genuinely quality product with a fair price in relation to the features offered in the device and what is available on the market?For starters, the iPhone 8 is $699.00 and the iPhone X boasts a $999.00 price tag, the most expensive iPhone in history. What makes the iPhone X so expensive? Some brand new features of the iPhone X and iPhone 8 include a higher resolution display, improved charging and battery performance, facial recognition, sleeker design, and improved processing. The OLED display promises to be the best available when it is released. This improvement has the best pixel density and is top of its class in power density by far. In contrast, the iPhone 8 possesses a very similar display to the iPhone 7, which by no means is

poor. The LCD screen is perfectly adequate, but for those who are tech aficionados, a slight betterment of display may not be enough to satiate them. The battery charging and battery life has been improved in all categories. Wireless charging is a new feature of both models, following a trend set originally by Samsung. In addition, the rate of charging has been drastically increased, each capable of charging up to 50% battery life in just 30 minutes. The sleeker and more compact design, compared to the size of the screen is also a step up for the iPhone X. Because the iPhone X has virtually no borders, it is able to have a larger screen in a cellular device that is nearly identical in size of the iPhone 8. The shape of the 8 is not too much of a deviation from the previous 6 and 7 models. As far as the new facial recognition goes, much has yet to be determined. For example, Apple has claimed that changes in facial appearance such as glasses, a beard, and others will not interfere with the compatibility of the new feature. Nonetheless, skeptics have found this claim hard to believe. Facial recognition has been advertised as a positive feature, but it could prove to be a negative as the iPhone X does

not have a home button, making fingerprint identification impossible. For processing, the iPhone X and iPhone 8 have three and two gigabytes of ram respectively. Because of the higher resolution display of the X, the extra ram is necessary to deliver adequate processing speed. However, surprise! The processing speeds are the same. The iPhone X and 8 have clearly been a subject of much talk in recent days, and for warranted reason as well. It is logical to think that the iPhone X may be an ill-advised purchase, as the only real differences that it exhibits from the iPhone 8 are facial recognition, a significantly better display, and overall improved physical design. However, many do not see the worth that an extra $300 will get them and will choose to purchase the more monetarily practical iPhone 8. Still, others will bide their time and opt to use their iPhone 6 until their battery starts to die at sixty percent and then purchase the newest product when their dinosaur is ready to implode. What is crystal clear is the fact that Apple has made a choice that will certainly maximize their profit by offering a option for the tech-crazed and money-concerned customer.

Believe The Hype: New iPhones?

By: Benjamin MawnOpinions EditorTwenty-six years have passed since the end of the Cold War, and since then, the world has changed, but some of the same elements from the Cold War still exist today. For example, the United States finds itself in a nuclear weapons face-off with a country threatening to destroy the free world. In 1991, the enemy was the Soviet Union, but in 2017, the enemy is North Korea, led by a delusional, murdering rocket man, Kim Jong Un. Ronald Reagan led the United States to peace with the Soviets, even though the war ended under George H.W. Bush. Now, the United States is under the leadership of a Reagan-like leader, President Donald Trump. Whatever either country does during the conflict will change the course of history forever, and the earth will feel the impacts for decades to come. Kim Jong Un was raised in North Korea and attended school in Switzerland before he attended Kim Il-Sung Military University (named after his grandfather.) Since Kim Jong Un was young, he was

connected to the leaders in charge of the communist regime. In, 2010 Kim Jong Un was being trained to succeed his father, Kim Jong Il; and Kim was a favorite of his father, since he reminded his father of himself. Then in 2011, when Kim’s father died, he took control of the North Korean regime. From that point on, Kim started his radical changes to the government and many senior officials were out of a job after a couple of months into the switch. Kim’s brother died in Malaysia due to being poisoned. The United States needs to show off their military strength by testing missiles and maybe detonating a bomb on an uninhabited island to show the world the United States of America is not afraid. After the US illustrates its military prowess, the government needs to blockade North Korea, so no supplies enter North Korea, so the North Korean government has to provide food they have grown themselves to their people. Hopefully, the naval blockade will starve the Korean people enough to cause a revolt against the crazy dictator. If the

North Koreans do not revolt or create a civil war, the United States will have to take direct action against Kim. Sources have told Fox News the dictator is paranoid the United States will try to kill him in the same way the US killed Osama Bin Laden. However, if such methods fail, North Korea is going to fire a missile at the United States or one of our allies. If Kim Jong Un does launch a projectile, he will only have fifteen minutes to live, as the US will have him and his country wiped off the face of the earth. More likely than not, South Korea will be affected by this, which is a great tragedy, but to keep the United States and its citizens safe, the price is worth it.I want to make it extremely clear that bombing North Korea is the last resort the US should take against North Korea. I have trust in President Trump to make the correct decisions in a time of crisis and confidence in the United States military, the best in the world, to carry out his orders. At the end of the day, as citizens of this great country, we must support our president and our military to achieve peace no matter what the US has to accomplish.

Actions Speak Louder Than Words: Force is Necessary

November 2017 opiNioNs 3Crystal 99

North Korea is a dangerous and unpredictable nation, governed by a man who wants power. Kim Jong Un is the Chairman of the Workers’ Party of Korea and he is the Supreme Leader of North Korea. He governs the nation and only deals with China as a foreign trade partner. Kim Jong Un leaves his country isolated from the entire rest of the world. Donald Trump, to say the least, is unpredictable as well, but he is very powerful because the United States of America is the “nation of all nations.” North Korea’s only desire is to gain power, and they believe that threatening the biggest power on earth will make attention for them, and hopefully, make them powerful. The easiest way to fend off North Korean threats is by dealing directly with

the Chinese. China is, for a lack of a better term, the overseer

of North Korea. North Korea will not do anything that the Chinese tell them not to do, because North Korea needs China more than China needs North Korea. If tensions rise between the United States and North Korea, nuclear warfare is not the answer. The first procedure for Trump and his administration should be to consult China, and demand that they punish North Korea if they prepare for war. China could refuse to trade with North Korea, causing them to be economically worthless, or they could threaten to bomb them if North Korea attacks American soil. It is so important for America to consult with China before

tensions overheat because if China sides with America, North Korea will not engage in conflict. In the unlikely event that North Korea launches missiles at America, every single American ally will engage in war with North Korea, but War is not what we want to resort to. America can stop the fury before it arises, by demanding that China renounce its relations to North Korea if any intolerable events occur. Nuclear war would ruin earth, and it would be a problem that would take trillions of dollars and decades to fix. Trump and America should take the big step of consulting China before relations get out of hand.

Look To China for North Korean SolutionBy: Carson TullySports Editor

So here we are again, faced with yet another mass shooting. Approximately 600 people were injured and 58 people were killed as a result of the latest mass shooting in Las Vegas. Most people cannot fathom the pure, undiluted pain and grief that has, and will always be, with the family and friends of those who were lost. Losing loved ones to a violent crime is one of the worst ways to lose someone. Unlike someone with a chronic medical illness, a violent death affords no time to prepare the family and friends for that shock. Now in no way am I degrading the suffering in a more chronic case because I, from several personal experiences, understand all too well the pain experienced in that regard. The horror inflicted by this mass shooting, and all gun-related deaths, is too great for anyone to comprehend who has not personally experienced it, and the temptation to just wallow in that immediate aftermath can be overwhelming; however, that cannot be allowed to happen.After a shooting, the boilerplate response from public figures, politicians especially, is to walk out to the podium of a press conference and offer “thoughts and prayers” to those families affected, and that’s very nice, but I am at my wit’s end with that response. Thoughts and prayers? That’s all that can be done to curb gun violence in this country? Soon after the shooting the Pulse nightclub in Orlando, Senator Marco Rubio (R-Florida) noted in an interview that “this could have happened anywhere in the world, unfortunately, today was Orlando’s turn.” So that’s it? Mass shootings are just an unavoidable occurrence that families will just have to deal with because it was their “turn?” To put this into perspective, imagine that, in the face of rising rates of cancer diagnoses in the US, research oncologists and bioengineers put down their lab equipment and gave up their goals for attaining a cure for cancer. Instead, they would offer their thoughts and prayers to cancer patients and their families. Would we accept that? I certainly hope not. Well wishes are lovely, but the time for wishes is over. We need real action and real results. We need to stand up and start finding solutions to this more and more frequently occurring problem. After all, prayers, without works, are dead. There seems to be this overarching thought among those opposed to gun control that it has never worked, does not work, and will never work. These statements are

patently false. In 1996, Port Arthur in Australia endured the worst gun massacre in the nation’s history. I m m e d i a t e l y after that event, the conservative government in Australia led by Prime Minister John Howard, leader of the Australian Liberal Party (a right-wing party, despite the name), began enacting very stringent gun control regulations and programs, such as a massive gun buyback program. These new policies had dramatic effects on gun-related violence in the Commonwealth. Gun-related homicide decreased by 47%, while gun-related suicides fell by about 50%. These are real results affected by real policies, and conservative policies at that. Change to a brighter, safer future is possible. Maybe Australia was a little too radical though. Sure, the buyback program was effective, but the US has never taken any preventative action to that extent. Instead, the government could regulate guns in the same way that it regulates cars and other vehicles. Is that not reasonable? All guns owners should be required to go through an extensive gun safety training in a classroom setting. All gun owners must pass a test to measure their shooting abilities; if they pass, they get a license. All guns should have a serial number that is registered to a specific owner in a gun owner registry. All guns must meet strict manufacturing requirements to ensure increased safety whenever possible. If these policies were enacted, the US would see a substantial decrease in gun-related crimes and mass shootings; however, although these measures would most likely be very effective, they are still “bandage” regulations in that they only address the symptoms of a much deeper infection in American culture: our love of guns.Americans love guns to a self-destructive extent. Guns in this country represent the beauties of a free life, not the instruments used to take life. Americans perceive guns to be the guardian angels of American citizens, not the angel of death capable of ripping away children from their parents. Guns

are splashed across the scenes of every action movie that Hollywood creates, and, in those movies, guns are not just an object or an instrument. In movies, guns are nearly elevated to the position of a character whose role in the movie is necessary for the plot to continue. We not only let our children play with toy guns and pretend to shoot each other, we encourage it. Toy guns, of course, pale in comparison to the violent video games that children (of decreasing age) play. In these video games, points are awarded to players based on what they kill. Are we that naive enough to think that those games do not foster a casual attitude toward the serious issues of death and weapons in this nation, or are we just ignorant? None of these aspects may seem directly related to gun control, because they are not, but if we are ever going to get to the root of the gun problem in this country, we need to identify our root problems first. I understand that Americans like guns. In fact, they love guns. There is not even an inherent danger in that fact; however, there is an inherent danger in the fact that Americans are about ten times more likely to be killed by gun crimes than those in other developed countries. Some would argue that the benefits of self-defense provided by guns mitigate the high number of firearm-related murders, but a gun in the average American household, according to the FBI’s Supplemental Homicide Report, is far more likely to be used to commit suicide than to stop a dangerous intruder. If guns are so much more likely to end up taking innocent life instead of protecting it, why is this issue even up for debate? America has a gun problem that needs to be addressed. In the wake of another mass shooting, instead of offering thoughts and prayers, let’s offer solutions. Let’s offer changes. Let’s offer hope for a better, safer future.

Artwork Courtesy of Mike Bono

Gun Control: The Time Is Now

By: Jack StoneStaff Writer

OpiniOns 4 nOvember 2017Crystal99

By: Mike BonoNews Editor This is something we “kneed” to talk about. When I picked up the topic of the NFL “Take A Knee” movement back in mid-September, I thought this was something that would still be relevant in a month, but to the surprise of many, just like Colin Kaepernick’s career, this movement has died. But what happened to this important, inspiring, world changing act of protest? Oh, people started to understand how stupid it was. Seriously, did anyone really see this “take a knee” thing actually doing anything? The only person who has really done anything notable is Kapernick himself, but more on that later. But let’s look at how this all started, what players are actually “protesting,” and what I think about it all of this, shall we?I want to take you back to September 1st, 2016. A young Colin Kaepernick comes out to play his first 2016 preseason game, coming off an uninspiring three win season in 2015. As players complete their stretches and the San Francisco 49ers look to jump start their season with an early preseason win, the National Anthem plays. Every player stands and respects the red, white, and blue, except for one player, Colin Kaepernick. The stadium is outraged. After the game, Kaepernick had this to say: “I am not going to stand up to show pride in a flag for a country that oppresses black people and people of color . . . There are bodies in the street and people getting paid leave and getting away with murder.

Kap expressed that he would continue to protest until he saw change. And here it is folks, the birth of the “Take a Knee” movement.As Kap continues to kneel, other NFL players join in. For once, the NFL has someone they hate more than Tom Brady. The hatred of Kaep continues, but what does former Super Bowl quarterback Colin Kaepernick do to silence the haters? Colin Kaepernick had one of the worst seasons of his career with just one win. Fast Forward to the 2016-2017 off-season, and Kaepernick is without a job. Now, I’m not here to debate whether or not Colin Kaepernick is a good quarterback, nor am I here to debate if his numbers should get him a spot on an NFL team. But I’ll tell you right now why Colin Kaepernick doesn’t have a job: liability. Let’s use an allegory for this. Put yourself in the place of someone who’s buying a new car. You walk onto your local used car dealership, and look to buy a new Mazda CX 5, because you decided to get rid of your quality BMW. All of a sudden a second Mazda CX 5 is revealed to you exactly the same as the first. The only difference, you learn, is that the first one has some engine problems. See which one will you buy? The first one might be cheaper, but is it worth the struggle you’ll have with it? No, it’s not. This is why Colin Kaepernick doesn’t have a job. He is a liability. He won’t have a job until he puts aside this political activist act, stops bringing drama everywhere he goes, and focuses on football. I’m

all for using your fame as a tool to express your beliefs, but there’s a time and a place for that. It is not on the football field. Since we have some background on the “Take a Knee” movement, what’s going on with it today? Well, as previously stated, nothing really. The big week for this topic were Weeks 3 to 6 of the 2017 NFL season. I’d like to take a look at 3 instances, Two bad, one good. We’ll start with the bad. The Baltimore Ravens and Jacksonville Jaguars, two of the most irrelevant teams in the NFL, knelt for Continued on Page 5

Gun Control: UnconstitutionalBy: James Mawn News Editor Those informed on the debate over guns and gun control have probably heard the statistic that 33.5 thousand Americans die due to gun violence and the claim that gun control would have saved most, if not all, of those lives of people. However, they are completely wrong. First of all, the statistic that 33.5 thousand Americans die due to gun violence comes from a 2014 report from the Center for Disease Control (CDC). The stat is accurate but misleading. 33.5 thousand Americans were not murdered with guns. In fact, of the 33.5 thousand deaths, more than 21.3 thousand of those deaths were suicides, so they may have still happened by other means. The true statistic for the number of firearm related homicides from the CDC is only 11 thousand per year. Nevertheless, gun control advocates used the time after the Las Vegas Massacre, an attack carried out with rifles, to push their agenda. However, this case was an extreme outlier as, according to a 2014 report from the Crime Prevention Research Center, only 20% of mass public shootings involved any rifles at all. In fact, 68% of mass public shootings occurred using only handguns, almost all of which were available to be purchased legally and would not be restricted under “common sense” gun reform. Furthermore, the Crime Prevention Research Center reported that from January 1998 and December 2016, only 3.8% of mass shootings occurred in areas where guns were allowed.The only way to completely stop gun violence

would be to ban and to take away all guns. Even then, attacks would occur with other weapons like knives or even automobiles. This can be seen in England, where there have been strict gun bans; however, massacres still have occurred in London and all across Europe with knives and trucks. Also, many gun control activists do not recognize the importance of guns in self defense. For example, the National Rifle Association (NRA) reports guns are used in self defense in some capacity in 2.5 million instances per year.The Second Amendment is clear and concise, “A well regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed.” Samuel Adams said, “The Constitution shall never be construed to prevent the people of the United States, who are peaceable citizens, from keeping their own arms.” There are some on the left who argue that the Second Amendment only gives the right to form a well regulated militia approved by the government and that the amendment does not permit gun ownership by individuals. Once again, they are wrong. Also, if the amendment does not allow personal gun ownership, the militias mentioned could not be formed, for what is a militia without guns?Another common argument about the Second Amendment from the left is that it was only intended for muskets, not high capacity rifles that could fire multiple rounds per second. This argument is also completely false. To believe this argument, you would have to think that the

Founding Fathers were so stupid that they could not fathom any advancement in weaponry at all. This argument is also debunked by the fact that during and before the writing of the Second Amendment, there were already high capacity, high rate of fire weapons. For example, the Belton flintlock rifle could fire up to twenty rounds in sixteen, ten, or five seconds. These rifles were demonstrated to the Continental Congress in 1777; therefore, the Founding Fathers were aware of these guns. Congress ordered 100 rifles for the army, but canceled the order when it found that they would have to pay too great a price. Another example is the Girandoni Air Rifle, which could hold and fire twenty rounds in one magazine. In addition, President Jefferson outfitted the Lewis and Clark Expedition with Girandoni Air Rifles.The framers of the Constitution expressly described the right of individuals to own and keep arms, even including canons. President Madison responded to a letter from a cargo ship asking if it was able to own canons for self defense. Madison responded that it was of course their right. If the ship was able to carry canons based upon the rights given by the Second Amendment, then citizens should be able to bear arms with high capacity and rate of fire.The gun control advocates on the left seek to destroy a right that our Founding Fathers believed was so important that they made it the Amendment following that allowing freedom of speech and religion. Gun control does not make us safer. It makes us more vulnerable to an attack.

NFL: Taking A Stand?

Artwork Courtesy of Tom Guo

November 2017 opiNioNs 5Crystal99

Cataluña: Spain’s Rebellious TeenagerBy: Ryan DonnellyOpinions Editor

These past few months have been an excitingly turbulent time in Spain. The regional unrest in Cataluña over independence had been slowly boiling and finally exploded this month. First, a little background. Cataluña is in the northeastern portion of Spain along the border with France. Barcelona, its capital and a key economic city, lies on the Mediterranean. The people of Cataluña have their own culture and language, so that a Madrileño, someone from Madrid, would have a hard time understanding someone from that region. Even dating back to the time of Spain’s greatest kings, like Ferdinand II, Philip II, and Carlos V, Cataluña had always resisted the crown’s authority. The only time Cataluña was fully subjugated was following the Spanish Civil War (1936-1939) when Francisco Franco established his fascist regime. Franco died in 1975, and Juan Carlos I, the grandson of the last king of Spain Alfonso XIII, assumed power to declare a new democracy in 1978. With the institution of a constitutional monarchy, the sentiment of a separate Cataluñan state renewed. Despite the fact that polls from earlier this year show that a slight majority of Cataluñans oppose independence, the reason it has gained momentum is because separatists won a majority in the 2015 parliament elections.

The key figures in this conflict, resembling the Spanish Civil War, are Mariano Rajoy, the Prime Minister (PM) of Spain, Charles Puigdemont, the President of Cataluña and Felipe VI, the King of Spain.

On October 1, the Cataluñan Parliament sanctioned a referendum on whether or not to declare independence. In the days leading up to the vote, Prime Minister Rajoy warned that there would be police actions should the vote occur. On the morning of October 1, national police officers in full riot gear dispersed throughout Cataluña to stop voting and to seize ballots. In spite of the threat, nearly 2.3 million Cataluñans (43% of the eligible voters) cast votes showing 90% in favor of independence (these numbers cannot be independently corroborated); however, nearly 750 people were injured as national

police clashed with Cataluñan regional police and voters in what has become one of the greatest tests to the fledgling democracy since its genesis. By the day’s end, Rajoy with the support of the courts, declared the vote and the results unconstitutional while Puigdemont was claiming victory and moving forward with motions for secession. Cataluñans were criticizing Madrid for interfering with the democratic process, and Madrileños were harshly accusing Cataluña of seditious acts.

On Oct. 10, the separatists drafted and signed a declaration of independence but did not ratify it. Then, Puigdemont faced an Oct. 19 deadline of whether or not to invoke the declaration. In the face of the possible secession, the Senate began taking measures to appropriate the use of Article 155 of the Constitution, which would empower PM Rajoy to suspend the Cataluñan government, send in the military, appoint a regional administrator, and sanction new elections. When the deadline arrived, Puigdemont addressed the Cataluñan Parliament, in which he seemingly offered Madrid a chance to negotiate, but then subsequently affirmed his intent to forge ahead with independence; he then sent a letter to the Spanish Parliament warning against the use of Article 155 and blaming Rajoy for worsening the situation. In response, Rajoy convened an emergency cabinet meeting where the use of Article 155 and the prosecution of Puigdemont and his advisors were discussed. After the meeting, Rajoy went before the Spanish Parliament and announced his intent “to defend the general interest of all Spaniards, among them the citizens of Cataluña, and to preserve the integrity of the Country and the Constitution.”

Another deadline was then set for Thursday, Oct. 26, which came and went with little action. However, Friday brought monumental idiotic actions: the Cataluñan Parliament voted 70-10, with 2 abstaining, in favor of secession, thus violating the Constitution. Even in Cataluña, there were tense moments leading up to the vote when Carlos Carrizosa, one of the most outspoken Cataluñans against independence, tore the independence resolution and accused Puigdemont of

fracturing Cataluña. Thousands gathered in Barcelona to celebrate the historic day, yet the day took a turn for the worse. The European Union (EU) was quick to denounce the move, and Madrid was swift and decisive in its actions. Just hours after the vote, the Senate approved the use of Article 155 by a 214-47 vote, and PM Rajoy suspended President Puigdemont and the democratically elected Cataluñan Parliament as well as the director general of the Cataluñan police. With Puigdemont and his government suspended, Rajoy sanctioned elections for Dec. 21 and appointed Soraya Sáenz de Santamaría, his deputy PM, as the regional administrator.

Friday night, King Felipe VI went on national television to denounce the move; he addressed the nation in Castellano, the dialect the rest of Spain uses. The weekend brought demonstrations against the Cataluñan blunder in both Madrid and Barcelona; in addition, many Cataluñans denounced the King’s speech and called for his abdication because, to them, his use of Castellano is a proverbial slap to the face. The coming days will be critical in the progression of this conflict.

Continued from Page 4 the playing of the National Anthem in London, yet stood for “God Save the Queen.” Wow, if you love London that much why don’t you just move there and make millions of dollars playing football in Lon….. oh wait, that’s right, you can only make millions of dollars playing football in America. Nice job. The Steelers showed their American pride by staying in the locker room for the National Anthem, and then, when former Army Ranger Alejandro Villanueva came out alone, making him “apologize” to the media. And now, finally the good. It pains me to say the only good came from one of my least favorite franchises across any sport, “America’s Team”, the Dallas Cowboys. Before the start of the Anthem, the Cowboys locked arms and knelt together, then stood for the playing. This was the perfect way to show that you are mad about

what is going on in our country but still show respect for the flag.

These are only a few examples of all the “protesting” that happened in the NFL from Week 3 to 6, and still a question I ask myself is, “What are they protesting?” I have the answer. NFL players are 1) still in mourning about Tuesday, November 8, 2016, and 2) these grown men can’t handle criticism from the President. While I, myself, don’t necessarily agree with the way Trump attacked the subject, are we really going to take our own knee and whine about the comments of the President? If your problem is your hatred for Donald Trump, before each game, read some Buzzfeed articles, or go to your local Costco and pick up Hillary Clinton’s new book. Don’t let your political views get in the way of presenting the great game we love. I believe that it is the right of every American to be able to

freely express their views and peacefully protest, but I also think it is even more important to respect the flag, and the men and women who ensure that you are able to be free and live in a world where you can play the game you love.

If you want to take a knee during the National Anthem, there is not a thing anyone can do to stop you. But, even though I have bashed him for the whole paper, let’s be a little bit more like Kaepernick in one aspect of all of this. Our proactiveness. We can knee as much as we want, and while that may raise awareness, it doesn’t actually do anything. If NFL players really want change for injustices in our society, they should donate part of their paycheck just as Kaepernick has done. Instead of complaining, do something. Instead of taking a knee, help.

Artwork Courtesy of Donovan Lafonataine

News 6 November 2017 NewsPark Dedicated In Honor Of Alex Vitale ’16

Opens In PeabodyBy Alex MitsopoulosStaff Writer

Two years ago, Malden Catholic lost a part of itself. We lost a piece of our community as well as our hearts. Alex Vitale, a senior in the class of 2016, died in a tragic car accident the night of October 25, 2015. The whole school was thrown into shock, and we mourned the brother that we had lost too soon. Today though, we have a new way to remember him, because the city of Peabody has dedicated a park in his honor.For some time now, a bill has been in the works to create apartments on Richartson Road, a street leading to Route 114. However, the neighborhood, saying they didn’t want the added traffic and disruption that this would cause, opposed this idea. This is where Councilor Ed Charest stepped in and proposed a park in the name of Alex Vitale be put there instead. Counselor Charest is a family friend of the Vitales,having coached Lindsay, Alex’s sister, in soccer

when she was younger. With the neighborhood and many others supporting the plan, nearly a year later, the park was unveiled to the public. A bench, made from the same materials used to create the benches in Arlington National Cemetery, was dedicated in the park to Alex. The park’s dedication ceremony to Alex was held on October 21, nearly two full years after his passing on October 25. When asked about the park, Mr. Smith said, “I thought it was a great ceremony put on by the city of Peabody, and the park will serve as a great reminder and way to honor Alex Vitale. Malden Catholic will keep them [the Vitale family] in our hearts and prayers and will be there to maintain the park and keep him in our memory.” MC students can expect many service opportunities at the park for years to come because Malden Catholic takes care of its own.

New Location, Same Great Ministry

Photo courtesy of Alex Mitsopoulos

Historic NHS ElectionBy Brett ThomasEditor-in-Chief

If only we had an electoral college! Malden Catholic’s Brother Gilbert Chapter of National Honor Society has had a historical election. Students already in the chapter could run for president, vice-president, secretary, and trea-surer. Francis Ronayne and Nick Guerriero are the new secretary and treasurer, respectively, but there was a two-way tie for president and vice-president. Navid Chowdhury and Ryan Donnelly split the votes for president, while Connor Bond and Angelo Carbone tied for vice-president. After looking through the record books, Mrs. Lee, the faculty advisor, informed the chapter members after school about the two ties. Previously, there had only been ties for one position in Malden Catholic’s history. A re-election was held the next week. Navid Chowdhury and Connor Bond emerged victorious for president and vice-president, respectively. The two runner-ups are Senior Officers, a new position created this year. The Executive Board is now responsible for orga-nizing events and collections throughout the year. Secretary Francis Ronayne is “looking for-ward to the year.” He believes the officers have all of the necessary skills required to have a fantastic year. Senior Jack Stone is “confident in the Executive Board’s ability to lead the chapter to a brighter future.”

By Kyle BorickPhoto Editor

This year, Campus Ministry has a new location: Room 215, Mr. Pinabell’s former classroom. Inside, though, nothing has changed. You will still find Mrs. Driscoll and Mr. Driscoll there, while Br. Tom spends most of his time in the cafeteria. So far, Campus Ministry has continued its Wednesday meetings, Wednesday morning rosary, and first Friday masses. Their first drive of the year was collecting baby clothes for the children of single mothers. Future events will include a trip to the Xaverian Brothers House in Danvers and Lancer Spirit Life on Wednesday, November 1. There is also a trip, on Saturday, November 18, to the Greater Boston Food Bank, which now requires $10. If any student is interested in being a Eucharistic minister, they can see Mrs. Driscoll for more information and training. As the year goes on, students going to Jamaica will work on completing their requirements to fulfill missionary work. One of the most significant changes to MC this year is the loss of the Chapel due to construction; now, students can find the Tabernacle and prayer room across the hall from Mr. Hickey’s room, Room 204. Students and staff are welcome to go inside, as always, and are encouraged to be part of adoration when offered. Even though Campus Ministry has experienced changes this school year, it remains a spot to participate in many service opportunities and socialize with friends. Photo Courtesy of Vincent Swierk

November 2017 News 7

Notable Alumni: Rich CorrealeBy Vincent SwierkEditor-in-Chief

I had the pleasure of interviewing Rich Correale an Alumni of Malden Catholic and now the Detective Sergeant of the Narcotics Unit of the Malden Police Department.

Growing up in Malden, young Rich Correale never really thought about becoming a police officer in his home city. As the years went by, he eventually found Malden Catholic. While here, he was a three-season athlete participating in football, track, and baseball. Asking him if there were any important lessons he learned from MC, he answered with one word: teamwork. He elaborated, saying “My time in high school taught me how to work with others and it gave me the tools to do this effectively. This idea of teamwork and what I learned from my time in high school helped me immensely in my current career.” Rich graduated from MC in 1990 and decided that his next home would be Boston University. His time at BU gave him the idea of becoming a police officer. He describes taking a Criminal Justice class and instantly falling in love with it. After taking this step towards a major, Mr. Correale graduated from BU and came

right back home to the Malden PD. Working hard throughout the years, he became closer to the city of Malden, as well as the brothers and sisters beside him in his line of duty. When asked what the favorite part of his job was he replied, “Working with the guys and girls beside me, I love everyone that I work with. I truly enjoy doing my job.” Naturally, after this question was answered, I moved onto the next one. Strangely, as I began to talk, I was interrupted, “We are currently doing surveillance on a car, can you hold on one second?” After about thirty seconds of passing time, he began to talk again. Keeping on the topic of his job, I asked what the toughest part of his occupation was. He described to me that being in the drug unit required a lot of time. His phone is always on and at any moment, he could get important call that would bring him back into work. When saying this, I heard no complaint in his voice. This was just part of the job that he loved. Outside of work, Rich is still a part of MC and loves coaching hockey. As a coach for the Greater Boston Vipers, Mr. Correale has one of our own on his team.

Coach Correale says that Ryan Noonan is “a great player with true love and passion for the game.” Having been asked if he had recently been in the school and still remembered some of his favorite teachers, he responded, “Yes, Ms. Lee was definitely one of my favorites.” When talking to me about Mr. Correale, Ms. Lee said, “Rich was great, he was a wonderful student involved in all aspects of school life. Even now he continues to be a presence in the Malden Catholic community.” Rich is only one great example of how MC prepares young men for fulfilling careers. This school has stayed with him throughout his whole life.

Yellow And Green Bikes: Just A Fad Or Here To Stay?By James Mawn & Nate FryeNews Editor & Photo EditorOn the way to school,

many Malden Catholic students have noticed a plethora of green and yellow bikes lining the streets of Malden. These bikes are part of the new bike sharing programs Ofo and LimeBike. Unlike other bike-sharing programs that consist of massive bike docks, Ofo and LimeBike both allow riders to pick up and drop off bikes wherever they want. To use a bike, a rider can simply download the programs’ respective apps, scan the bike’s QR code, and pay using a credit card. The programs each cost $1 per hour, and the first ride in which you use Ofo and LimeBike is free. The city of Malden is pioneering the use of station-free bike-sharing and is piloting these innovative programs through the end of the year to give them a test run.

Ofo started in 2014, with its first bike sharing program in Beijing, China, and is relatively new to the United States, having arrived on our shores in 2016. LimeBike is much newer and was founded in California in June of this year. Both companies strive to help reduce humans’ carbon footprint. In fact, these new bike-sharing programs are so popular that even some Malden Catholic students have taken advantage of them. Eduardo Oliveira, a Malden Catholic freshman, a resident of Malden, says “it is a very convenient way to get to school instead of walking.”

By Ryan DonnellyOpinions Editor Over the years, we have seen the departure of some of the best. Most recently, the school has suffered the losses of accomplished teachers such as Mr. Ghiloni, Mr. Bosco, Mr. Pokorny, Mrs. Imondi, and Mrs. Richards. In years past, we have seen the departures of the likes of Mr. Schneider, Mr. Francini, Mrs. Jacobs, Mr. Kaufman, and Mr. Arsnow. All of these teachers were well-liked and respected; their absence is still felt. Mrs. Imondi had been booping around MC for 30 years, and she is the most animated and bizarre math teacher I have ever had. She was one of a kind, but she regrettably killed the boards, hung up her Louisville slugger, and booped back to the ranch. To some, Mr. Bosco may have seemed intimidating, especially when he would push his desk toward you, but he was one of the most devoted and caring teachers in the school. He would always find some way to relate words because he was a self-proclaimed “word nerd.” Had it not been for Mr. Pokorny, a majority of AP US History students would not have done the reading. He lived by the saying, “you gotta do the reading.” The week he returned after he had his double knee replacement, he stood on a chair to write something on the board; he fell off the chair. He poked his head up and said, “we got a man down.”Mr. Kaufman was a card to say the least. I first met him when he was a math teacher during one of the HSPT prep classes. He informed us that if we removed the prep book from the room, snipers would be waiting on the roof to take us out. Everyone giggled, and then he said in a low voice, “they go for the gigglers first.” Mr. Ghiloni was the music program at MC; he was also a freshman theology teacher. Without him, the music program would have been literally nonexistent. His door was always open, and he is one of the most able and knowledgeable pianists I have ever met. Though, I never understood why he did not like Beethoven. His experience and skill on the piano at mass is greatly missed.

Malden Catholic Bids Farewell To Some Of Its Most Loved Teachers

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Photo Courtsey Vincent Swierk

Rich Correale on the right.Photo Courtesy of Mr. Smith

News 8 November 2017

On Sunday, October 8, Erick Harkness finished his Eagle Project, the last big step in becoming

an Eagle Scout in the Boy Scouts of America. Erick had been planning his Eagle Project for over a year and completed it with some help from friends, family members, and students and faculty from Malden Catholic. His Eagle Project involved multiple trails in Lynn Woods. He planned to mark the trails and get specific data on them that can be offered to people who want to know more. His ultimate goal is to have records and statistics of the trails in Lynn Woods. The statistics would include the following: length of the trails, the width of the trails, and the slope of the trails.The Eagle Project consisted of several small projects put together. One part of the Eagle project

measured the trails. Malden Catholic’s own Navid Choudhury, Donovan LaFontaine, and Ryan Hanna helped with the measuring and the marking of the trails. Every 50 feet, the markers would put down a flag. With the flags placed, the second part of the project commenced. The trail width was measured next. By using a tape measure, the width was measured at every flag from one side to another. As the width was being measured, the slope was calculated as well. Two teams of two measured out the slope of the trail by finding how level the trail was from flag to flag. One team that included MC Senior Jack Stone used a clinometer to measure the trail grade every 50 ft. Once the trails were all measured, they were raked and covered with dirt to cover the exposed rocks and roots on the trail. Malden Catholic’s Dr. Adair helped with the heavy lifting of the dirt. The final touches of the project are doing the averages of the measurements and signing the trail papers. Once all his paperwork is completed and signed, Erick will receive his rank as an Eagle Scout.

After seven years of hard work and dedication, Ethan Davis was named an Eagle Scout this past June. Participating as a member of Troop 53 in his hometown of Swampscott, Ethan completed arguably the hardest project possible for attaining the title of Eagle Scout; he located the veterans in a local cemetery and marked their grave sites on a map so that the town could locate them more easily. His Eagle Court of Honor occurred earlier this year in September, enabling him to truly realize the impressive nature of his achievement. Being an Eagle Scout has taught Ethan several valuable lessons, which he hopes to keep with him as he prepares for college. Asked about what being an Eagle Scout has done for him, Ethan said, “I’ve learned so much about myself and how to be my best self because of scouting and the rigorous process that I went through. However hard it was, the things I learned far outweigh the difficulty of that process.” All of Ethan’s family and friends are extremely proud of him for his accomplishment.A number of other Malden Catholic students, such as Dante DeLorenzo and Alex Mitsopoulos, have attained or are in the process of attaining Eagle Scout status, so stay tuned for more updates.

Multicultural Club: Imbracing DiversityBy Nguyen LeContributing WriterAmong the vast amount of clubs and extracurriculars at Malden Catholic, the Multi-Cultural Club stands out. Historically, the celebration of cultural diversity at Malden Catholic has been an area needing improvement. Any student could see need for better representation for the ethnic minorities that make up a significant and growing part of the school. This gave rise to the Multi-Cultural Club. When asked about the purpose of the club, senior Navid Chowdhury, a two year member of the club, stated “I, along with my fellow Senior classmates, felt the need to embrace culturalism in MC, because this is something that Malden Catholic has not fully acknowledged in the past and is important in the world today.” Fortunately, the club is adequately fulfilling the need for representation at our school.But what exactly does the club do? It celebrates the striking diversity of backgrounds and cultures that make up the student body. Run by Mr. Moran, the club of roughly 25 members meets biweekly to discuss various aspects of culture. Discussions can include a variety of topics, ranging from serious aspects, such as racial divides in society, to less serious aspects such as food and clothing. An example of an activity that the group conducted was explained by senior member Zachary Robinson. “We first watched a video on the importance of not putting individuals into boxes. Then we had 6 boxes and discussed how we usually put certain individuals in boxes or categories, like sports, arts, smart kids, or towns. We finished by discussing the importance of seeing individuals as themselves without their boxes.” This is just one of the many ways the group works to create a more culturally accepting community. Regardless of the discussion, the club allows for students who may feel underrepresented to voice their opinions and experiences through their unique cultural perspectives.

Malden Catholic Students Granted “Eagle Scout” Status By Zachary Robinson & Connor BondArts Editor & Sports Editor

Malden Catholic Introduces New SealBy James MawnNews Editor On September 15, a new edition of the Lancer Ledger was sent out. Near the top of the Ledger was a call to help our friends from Houston who had performed at MC last spring. The message was headed by the seals of Strake Jesuit, Malden Catholic, and St. Agnes Academy. However, students and parents were surprised by a new configuration of the MC seal. The traditional shield had been exchanged for a brand new one, bearing a new more straightforward design. The shield contains our school name, our motto, our founding year, and two interlocking lances. According to Mr. Robert Gregory, the new Director of Marketing and Communication, the new seal will come to replace every semblance of the classic shield, but if you are concerned whether the foyer is going to be ripped up, don’t worry! The seal in the main foyer will be staying for a while, so the school will still be accessible from the front door, for now: “Something like that will probably stay a little bit longer just because there is some real historic value” Nevertheless, some of the school’s publications are going to be using the new seal immediately, and, starting this year, documents like the mass programs and the diplomas will be changed. Why would the administration replace the seal of our school dating back decades? Mr. Gregory cited the beliefs of the administration and the board of trustees, who decided that the rebranding of Malden Catholic called for a new, streamlined design for our school shield. Containing both elements of our school’s history and elements of a fresh and simple design, the shield, according to Mr. Gregory, “is a design that links the past and the future.”

Photo Courtesy Malden Catholic

Photo Courtesy Erick Harkness

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November 2017 News 9

Student Council

By: Angelo Carbone & Shawn MaloneyStaff Writers

As president, I feel as though I am obligated to keep the student body informed about the student council’s activities. This year, we have an extremely competent capable student council that is looking forward to doing as much as possible for our school.

Before I get into everything we have done and are planning on doing, I would like to introduce you all to the new structure of the student council. Before this year, the elected officials would meet once every Tuesday morning for 15 minutes. It was challenging for a group of people who met 15 minutes a week to get much done. So, this year, we have implemented a new and improved structured government.

At the top of the government is the President. He acts as the overseer of all events and as a lesion between the student body and the administration. Under him is the elected officials, such as Vice President, Secretary, Treasurer, and the Sophomore and Junior Representatives. Under them, there are three separate branches: Athletics and Activities Committee, Spiritual and Cultural Life Committee, and the Publicity Committee. These committees meet separately throughout each week and report back to the group meetings on Tuesdays. With this new structure of the meetings, the group has been more efficient.

Firstly, on October 20, we held our annual fall tailgate. We believe that the event was a great success. The varsity football team did not play their best game afterward, but the fanbase was there to cheer them on after enjoying some free cheeseburgers and hotdogs. During events like these, we really get to see how great of a community we have here at Malden Catholic. Currently, we are in the works of planning a “town hall” type event. We often struggle to find out what exactly the student body wants us to do, which is why we believe the town hall will be a great success. If any student, no matter what grade, is interested in submitting an idea to the student council, the student may attend the “town hall” and tell us directly. No matter how crazy the idea may seem, feel free to bring it to our attention, because we are always open to ideas. The student council has found some success with innovative ideas in the past, so do not hold back. Although we do not have a definite date set just yet, I ask you to listen to the announcements for updates. If you are unable to attend this event, for any reason, you can also approach any member of student council at any time.

Thirdly, student council asks everyone reading this article to follow @MCStudentCNCL on Twitter. This is the student council’s primary method of communication with the student body. We post polls, updates, and information on our twitter. The page is ineffective without a large number of students

following it. Have your voice more clearly heard and represented by following @MCStudentCNCL on Twitter.

Next, we ask that the all students download the free MC Athletics app from the App Store. Students can earn points by attending MC sporting events. The students then can redeem their points for different prizes. Some of the prizes include a slice of pizza, an MC athletics shirt, an MC baseball hat, or a free TAG day. Also, whoever has the most points at the end of the season will be recognized as the Fan of the Season. Download the app as soon as you can to start earning your points.

Looking further into the future, the student council asks all students to leave November 5 open on your calendars. The last open house was a success thanks to the help of many MC students, but we are not done yet. The next open house will be Sunday, November 5, and we ask you to participate in some way. Ask a teacher if he or she needs help, or ask Ms. Robbins or Mr. Creeden if they need help with tours. Find a way to get involved. Open houses are also great ways to get started on your community service hours.

The External Affairs Department has asked the student council to help spread the word about the Student Giving Campaign. This year, the External Affairs Department has a goal of 100% participation from the student body, which would require the students to give something to the school as a donation. The recommended fee for Freshmen and Sophomores is $5, for Juniors is $10, and for Seniors is $20. There will be scheduled collection days in the near future, so keep an eye out for those days. Give anything you can, and you can help the External Affairs Department achieve their goal.

Lastly, I must inform you there will be no more school dances. Last year was the first year in MC’s history that the student council lost money hosting a dance, and the events proved to be a liability disaster. We do not want students to fret. The student council will be sure to come up with new ways of bringing the school community together, and we will try our best to meet the needs and demands of every student at MC. We are here for you. If you have an idea or opinion on the way something is going in the school, let us know. We are here listening and willing to try and find some way to fix it.

Your Student Council:

President: Angelo Carbone

Vice President: Tom Guo

Treasurer: Nick Guerriero

Secratary: Kyle Holme

Junior Representatives: - Nick Scarpello - Nathan Frye

Sophomore Representatives: - Circo Carbone - Owen Kearans

Athletic/Activities Chairs:- Ryan Noonan- Declan Jones

Cultural/Spiritual Chairs: - Benjamin Mawn - Nahom Daniel

Pubicity Chair: -BrettThomas

Photo Courtesy Brianna Robbins

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A Message From Our President

ArtsArts 10 November 2017

By: Navid ChowdhuryStaff Writer

The Drama Program is getting ready for the annual December show, and this year Brother Ron intends to produce a rendition of The Doctor in Spite of Himself by Molière. The play follows a man named Sganarelle, an abusive drunkard, and his wife Martine. Martine seeks revenge against her husband by spreading rumors that he is a doctor. She says that the only way for Sganarelle to admit he is a doctor is by beating him up.

As patients begin to visit Sganarelle and thrash him, he begins to believe he truly is a doctor. For the rehearsal process, the cast has been experimenting with each of the scenes; each member has been assigned a role in the play and has been discovering new things about their characters and where the comedy is in every scene. Ryan Donohue, one of the seniors, highlighted on the rehearsal process: “I learned that I have to over-exaggerate things and make my character seem more like a cartoon in order to fit the comedic style of this production.” With the direction of Brother Ron, the cast are destined to put on an amazing show.

The team is back in action with both returning and new members. Current senior, Zachary Robinson is playing the lead in this year’s play, Sganarelle. He has been an actor since his Freshman Year and has played several parts throughout his MC career, such as Tajomaru from Rashomon and the Father from Eurydice. His great efforts have been recognized through multiple Malden Catholic Distinguished Actor awards and a METG Drama Fest Distinguished Actor award in 2017.

Donovan Lafontaine, another senior in the program, returns as the stage manager for the crew. Donovan has contributed to the Drama club with his technical and acting ability since sophomore year. He played the part of Rolando in Location 3 and The Nasty Interesting Man/Lord of the Underworld from Eurydice. His excellent performance in Eurydice also earned him a Malden Catholic Distinguished Actor Award. When he is not on stage, he is working hard behind scenes, designing and building the set.

Andrew Hill, another returning senior as well, has also been acting at MC since freshman year, playing several parts in The 39 Steps and being one of the stones in Eurydice. His performance

gained him a Distinguished Actor Award from Drama Fest 2017 as well as Malden Catholic.

Ryan Donohue makes his return as well. He has been in the Drama Club since sophomore year, performing as the Monk in Rashomon and also a stone in Eurydice which granted him the title of Distinguished Actor at Dramafest 2017.

With senior Erick Harkness on lights, the cast and crew will shine once again with their excellent production.

By: Stephen ValenteStaff Writer

The Malden Catholic Music program is still going strong after losing some key members of last year’s group, including its faculty leader, Mr. Ghiloni, who made the program what it is today, and senior leaders such as Steve

Cardarelli and Will Riley. However, the music program is still as strong as ever, if not stronger. The new faculty leader Mr. Surat has been consistently working to revitalize the program. Many senior singers including Zachary Robinson and Navid Chowdhury have proudly

continued the tradition at Malden Catholic by singing loudly and proudly at masses. For the instrument ensemble, the program consists of senior pianist Ryan Donnelly, along with the guitarist trio: senior Donovan Lafontaine, junior Alex Donis, and Mr. Surat. They have worked diligently to memorize songs, play the music, and sing along to the words.

The personnel and the songs have changed significantly in the past year, but the music program as a whole has worked tirelessly to perfect each and every song, so that they can lead the entire school at every mass. Senior Zachary Robinson had this to say about about the status of the music program, “Compared to last years music program, I think the music program has improved. I hope in the future, that the program focuses on other songs and not solely on the mass alone.” Students outside the music program were asked of their opinion as a whole and how they are enjoying mass. Senior

varsity soccer player Tanner Cohen had this to say about the program: ”I think they do a great job during mass, getting the rest of the school involved and having enthusiasm while singing the songs.” The music program this year has the full support of the entire school, and they will continue the good work they have been doing to make the music program great again.

The Resurrection of the Music Program

Mr. Surat, above, the New head of the school’s improved music program. Photo Courtesy of Vincent Swierk

The music ministry program performing at the Mass of the Holy Spirit.Photo Courtsey of Brianna Robbins.

The Actors working on a scene from The Doctor In spite of Himself.

Photo Courtesy of Br. Ron Santoro

The Doctor Is In-Sane!: Checkup With The Drama Club

November 2017 Crystal 99 Arts 11

By: Zachary RobinsonCo-Arts Editor

The 2017 version of It is one of the biggest movies of the year. However, success does not necessarily signify a great movie. It does a lot of things right, but there are some flaws that causes the boat to sink.

The story of It follows the Losers Club, a group of teens that are bullied and isolated at school, which causes them to stick together and form a group to empower themselves. Each member of the club has a troubled past which helps bring them together. The new member of the group, a girl named Beverly, joins the boys as they try to uncover the mystery of Derry, the disappearance of several children. Bill, the oldest and the leader of the Losers Club, initiates the investigation after his younger brother goes missing. Throughout their adventure, each child encounters Pennywise, a very creepy clown with an appetite for scared children; his main form of trapping the kids is by manipulating his image to reflect each of the teens’ many fears. By the end of the movie, the teens learn to conquer their fears in order to defeat Pennywise.

Andy Muschietti, the director of It, does a great job in forming the world of Derry. Each character’s interactions with one another create a deeper level of understanding of the characters. I wish we learned more about the characters’ backstories rather than just knowing about the characters’ fears. The only character we come close to learning a bit about is Beverly. I especially would have loved to learn more about the main bully of the movie, such as his motives for targeting the Losers Club and why he is so sadistic while tormenting these kids. Although there is a scene that hints that his relationship with his father had affected him, that alone could not have been enough to push him to become the clearly troubled bully he is in the movie.

The teens do an excellent job in portraying their characters. Child actors tend to struggle with making strong and believable characters, but the writing and the acting together accurately depict teens. As well as the believability of the characters, each kid is very likable, causing the audience to actually care about them when they are put in danger. In addition, the comedy of the movie is one of the best things in It. Each kid is quite funny, which creates great conversations and interactions between them. Finn Wolfhard’s character in particular, Richie, is hilarious as he plays the comic relief of the movie.

The theme of child imagination and exploration is beautifully used in the movie. The more the teens try to go up against Pennywise, the more their own imaginations are used against them, which is a very cool dynamic in the film. Each character encounters Pennywise due to their own want for exploration, an innocent trait of children which becomes their downfalls. This

also highlights how well Muschietti uses the theme of manipulation in the movie as well. Pennywise’s ability to transform into the kids’ biggest fears is a wonderful example of this. Pennywise himself is also a great antagonist in the movie. Bill Skarsgård’s performance as Pennywise excellently demonstrates an evil and powerful entity that shapeshifts, twists, turns, and contorts like a great performing clown with some scary tricks up his sleeves. His voice is very strange and creepy, which makes me wonder how he lures kids in the first place. However, Pennywise’s lack of an explanation makes his character more terrifying due to the fear of the unknown.

Although the movie has quite a few positives, It does have some major and minor flaws. First, the horror aspect of the film was quite disappointing. The movie was advertised as a scary movie, so the fact that the movie was not scary furthers my disappointment with It. The use of CGI (computer generated imagery) for Pennywise ruined his terrifying image, causing him to be less of a monster and more of a computer image. Scenes in which Pennywise is clearly supposed to be scary, turn out to be quite comedic due to some of his computerized movements. For example, he dashes at one of the kids in a very funny way due to way he shakes and sprints toward the kid. The times that the movie does horror very well is when the element of horror is subtle. When the kids watch as their fears become reality, horror is used effectively; however, these scenes are obviously outnumbered by the amount of times that CGI Pennywise is onscreen. I wished that Bill Skarsgård had been allowed to actually play Pennywise more, instead of a computer doing it for him.

The movie also falls into trap that most horror films tend to do; the idea that loud noises equals scary. Jumpscares can be used well in movies, but sadly in It, they fall short. This overused movie trope is unfortunately used in It anytime Pennywise appears or when something scary happens. Most of the time there is little to no buildup for each scare but

rather a quick cut to reveal Pennywise with a loud noise to accompany him. Instead of being scared by what you are seeing, you are rather startled by the loud noise that the movie creates, which kills the movie. One scene, however, is done very well due to the use of fearful tension and a great reveal of the monster. I wished that there were more scenes like this with the proper horror buildup, but unfortunately this is not the case. The idea of fear is done wonderfully, but the execution of it falls flat. The atmosphere is supposed to be scary, but the movie resorts to letting audio alone startle the audience.

The second problem with this film is the use of cliches to tell the story. Every movie uses cliches, however, It uses them to push the plot forward, which shows us the lack of originality in the movie. For example, the main way for Pennywise to get the children is by getting them one by one. The kids understand this, but still tend to wander off by themselves, which allows Pennywise to get them. Why? I am not to sure how to answer that question. The characters also split up due to an argument only to be reunited very shortly after. This cliche in movies tries to convey that the characters are becoming more disconnected, but they always seem to resolve this conflict among themselves almost immediately, making the idea of splitting up pointless. The only reason that the group is reunited is because Beverly is taken by Pennywise, ultimately turning the movie into a “save the girl” film rather than an “unravel the mystery” film.

In addition, the love triangle in the movie seems forced. I understand the love triangle is a key feature in the book; however, the movie portrayal seems more forced than natural. Beverly, the only girl of the group, becomes more of the “pretty girl” love interest of the movie rather than “one of the boys” like the movie was trying to suggest. If the movie developed the love triangle a little further, the theme of love would not have been as forced. The love in the movie is so cliche as well. For example, Beverly is saved by a “true love’s kiss,” which is a ridiculous movie cliche that did not work for the film.

Overall, It is an interesting and dynamic thriller that tells the story of friendship, love, and overcoming one’s fear. Although the horror aspect and the storytelling of the film falls a little short, the great dialogue, expert world and character building, and phenomenal acting keep the movie afloat. I would recommend It for anyone looking for a good movie with great characters, a lot of comedy, and a great monster.

7.5/10

Review: It is Somewhat Lit

Artwork Courtesy of Ryan Keleti

If you like films,

shows, or music, Come write an article for the next edition! Meetings are every Tuesday in

Room 101. Come Stop By!

Arts 12 Crystal 99 November 2017

By: Alex MitsopoulosStaff Writer

The time is finally upon us. A Justice League movie is happening, so we’re finally going to get to see all our favorite DC heroes fight side by side on the big screen: Wonder Woman, Batman, Cyborg, The Flash, Aquaman, and maybe Superman? Probably. However, Green Lantern won’t be there; Shazam won’t be there either, and Martian Manhunter is also missing. This means we are not really getting as much of a Justice League movie as we thought. Why is that?

Well, it’s because of how DC has approached the creation of their movie universe. The best thing we can compare the DCEU (D.C. Expanded Universe) to is the MCU (Marvel Cinematic Universe). It wouldn’t be fair to compare them at their current states, because the DCEU kicked off in 2013, while the MCU has been beating the box office into submission since 2008, so we should look at how they launched their respective franchises. Marvel made Iron Man in 2008 and it catapulted comic book movies to the forefront of cinema. It was a complete box office boom, making $585 million. However, the secret isn’t in the main movie; it’s in the post-credits scene. After the credits, a man with an eye patch shows up in Tony Stark’s house, and the only words he says that matter are “Avengers Initiative”. These two words, spoken by a character whose name we aren’t even given yet, created an entire universe. These two words were a promise to fans that we would see the rest of the Avengers eventually. In one movie, using only two words, Marvel created a franchise.

In comparison, how did Man of Steel launch the DCEU? That’s where the movie fell short. There was no reference to the Justice League or its members, and no creation of a world. Instead, the next thing we saw from the franchise was Batman v Superman, a story which the comics took years and years to set up. The story may have been a poor choice, how they used it to establish a universe was much worse. Their strategy was to have Wonder Woman, a

character shoehorned into the movie to begin with, look through some low quality videos on her computer that showed her a few Justice League members.

What? They really thought that was the best course of action to introduce some of the most beloved characters in all of comics? Marvel gave every Avenger at least one full movie before they made their team up movie. This got everyone on the same page and established a solid universe to which the Avengers could take place. DC has only had Man of Steel, BvS, Suicide Squad, and Wonder Woman so far. That puts only a third of the Justice League on the big screen before the actual Justice League movie. Those four films only have a movie and a half of good content in total. Don’t worry though, at least they showed us Bruce Wayne’s parents getting shot again. Honestly, I don’t know what we would’ve done

without that. All sarcasm aside, let’s go back to the stories

of each franchise. Marvel gave each of their heroes a movie of their own, and gave them all storylines which, in the grand scheme of things, weren’t very impactful. The bad guy would be defeated, and that would be it. This was repeated a few times until, eventually, we got to the next team up movie where the MCU’s main storyline, the one where Thanos is the looming presence of the post-credits, continues. What DC is doing is much different, and much more stupid. The best way I can describe it is that the executives at Warner Brothers are just spouting off iconic stories that people like, with absolutely

no regard for structure of a franchise story. Man of Steel was fine; its story wasn’t particularly important. Batman v Superman, based loosely on The Dark Knight Returns, is supposed to be set very late in Batman’s life, after a whole mess of things happen; however, none of these events happened in the movie or DCEU. The Flash movie, which has already changed directors five times and thrown away its original script entirely, is going to be Flashpoint, which is basically one of the most important stories in all of DC Comics. It is not a story that you do for your first solo outing with a character. Even the TV show waited until season 3 to address that story.

Basically, DC is failing in every regard when it comes to building their cinematic universe, and the sad part is that they could have done so much better so easily. If they weren’t so terrified of Marvel, they would’ve taken the time to set up a franchise like their competitors did, the right way. Give each hero a movie. Introduce aspects like the Lantern Corps and Gods of Olympus, things that are important for more than just one character, in a natural and logical way. If they had just taken the time to think about how much time Marvel has left in their run, they could have realized an apparent truth: Marvel is going to run out of properties that people are willing to watch eventually, meaning that DC will eventually get the big screen attention that they want. However, if DC has a messy, incoherent, and frankly dumb cinematic universe, people just won’t watch it. They will have wasted their biggest opportunity. This makes me especially sad because I consider myself a DC guy, so seeing my favorite characters crash and burn because executives are just going for the quick cash pull really stings.

The Justice League should be kept in suspense until there is a universe in place to support it, but that isn’t happening so we’re getting it now. All you really need to know is as follows: Superman it definitely not dead, the people don’t hate him anymore for some reason, there will be more CGI than there are abs in the 300 movies, and don’t go in with even the lowest expectations.

Does The World Need The Justice League?

By: Declan JonesContributing Writer

The members of the Art Club are gearing up for another exciting and productive school year. Currently, students are beginning work on their “memory project”, in which they will make portraits of children from different locations around the world. Artists will need to be accurate for this project, and they can use any materials they wish, from acrylic paints to just plain pencil.

For 2017, the members have chosen to focus on the nation of Syria. Also, all students are invited to compete in the Scholastic Art and Writing Awards. The Awards will accept your

best, most original work for judgement. More than $300,000 worth of scholarship

money will be awarded this year so try your best! Both of these endeavors will conclude on December 15th. Presently, the club is looking for volunteers willing to assist at fall open houses.

This spring, the art club will be creating a mural concurrently with Malden High School and Mystic Valley Charter School. This project has been run for years between the three schools and is now a long-standing tradition. This year the design will be dedicated to the children’s author, Ed Emberley.

Finally, new ideas, projects, and workshops are all up to the members. This is the art club

after all, the member’s interests and initiatives drive the club!

Photo Courtesy of Donovan Lafontaine

Artwork Courtesy of Tom Guo

Painting The Way Into 2017

SoccerBy: Patrick Donnelly Managing Editor

The varsity soccer team set out this year looking to make another tournament appearance. The stout defense, led by senior captain Connor Bond, has stifled rival offenses with the help of Liam Barrett as the backbone in goal. The midfield has been led by senior captains Brett Thomas and Vincent Swierk while sophomore Alex Joyce stepped up at striker, contributing nine goals over the course of the season. With big wins against Catholic Memorial, Saugus, Bishop Fenwick, and New Mission. As well as a tie aganist Bishop Fenwick, the Lancers (4-11-3) will look forward to their first game in the playoffs.

GolfBy: Nick Scarpello Staff Writer

The Malden Catholic golf team is experiencing another successful campaign this fall season. With an overall record of 7-10, the Varsity team finished the regular season 7-4 in their division, qualifying for the tournament

for the second time in three years. Entering the MIAA North Sectional match on October 24th, the Lancers needed to finish in the top 20% of the 20 team field in order to qualify for states.

The team did just that, coming in fourth place and advancing to the next round. Lead by a strong core of eight seniors, the Lancers look to build on their success and continue to turn heads at their upcoming state tournament match. Some key victories for the team this year came in matches against St. Mary’s of Lynn, Catholic Memorial, and Winthrop High School.

Coached by Mr. Michael O’Connor and Mr. Matthew Highfill, the team experienced several memorable moments over the course of the season. However, there were two specific moments that especially stuck out in Coach O’Connor’s mind. The first was an outstanding hole-in-one, shot by sophomore Kyle Furey, against Catholic Memorial. The shot helped the Lancers secure a win against Catholic Memorial, and in doing so sent a statement to the many other teams Malden Catholic would face throughout the season.

The second was a remarkable performance by senior captain Brian Cannata, who shot a score of 32 in a nine-hole round against St. Mary’s of Lynn. “It was quite an impressive achievement,” said Coach O’Connor about his player’s performance.

Although the team is still looking to prove themselves as the season draws to a close, Coach O’Connor is already excited about the strength of the team for the years to come. “We have a lot of young faces who are ready to step up for the team next year. Dave Witowski, Lucas Dascoli, Matthew Bloom, Parker Bowen along with several other young faces will hold a prominent role for the team next fall,” said Coach O’Connor.

Both coaches were pleased with the varsity experience several of the sophomores and juniors received, as they believe their young players are fully capable of continuing the success of the program. The Malden Catholic golf team is wrapping up another successful season, and they hope to continue their winning tradition as this season draws to a close as well as in the many seasons to come.

Cross CountryBy: Shawn Morrow Staff Writer

With a new head coach, three senior captains, and plenty of talent, the Cross Country Team’s season has been historic. Winning their first meet in over four years, the Lancers downed Catholic Memorial under the leadership of captain Patrick Brown, the Lancer’s fastest runner. Brown has already qualified for the State Championship after a successful senior year. Boasting a time of under 19 minutes in most races, he is looking forward to the opportunity to represent MC later this month in the championships. Co-captains Noah Carlson and Derek Blanchard have also completed historic years and have achieved some of their best times. Seniors George Bidgood and Joseph Armstrong, as well as Junior Ian Brito provide depth in the talent pool. The Lancers have a solid foundation for future success as well.

S p o rt sFall Sports Recap

November 2017 Sports 13

Photo Coursey of Mark Donnelly

Photo Courtesy of Mark DonnellyPhoto Courtesy of Jarid Masiel

Photo Courtesy of Mark Donnelly

November 2017 Crystal 99 SportS 14

Football Review

A New Coach on the Course

By: Jared WardwellStaff Writer

Following the departure of Coach Kearney, MC looked to assistant coach Mr. Fitzgerald to step up and assume the role of head coach. Coach Fitzgerald, also known as Coach Fitz, has played a significant role on the cross country team over the past years. “After being the assistant coach for the past four years, I was excited to take over as the head coach. “Working with the Cross Country team is great. I love seeing the student athletes achieve their goals,” said Coach Fitzgerald.

Over the four years of assistant coaching, Coach Fitz has been single-handedly overseeing all of the team practices at MC every day. Now, Coach Fitz is able to make

his own decisions on on specific practices. “I had a lot of ideas for practices, scrimmages, and meets in the past,” Coach Fitz stated. “This year I get to make some of those ideas a reality. We scrimmaged Grafton High School for the first time this year, and we will likely have more scrimmages before the season ends. We also have incorporated more track work outs into our routine this season.” Coach Fitz also has had help from the assistant coaches, Coach O’Donnell and Coach Surat. “Brian O’Donnell and Eric Surat have been a huge help this season. Having three coaches to track progress, plan workouts, and provide insights is extremely beneficial. They have been working hard all season to help every athlete improve.” Not only has the accompaniment of two new assistant coaches and the coaching process, but Coach Fitz’s running experience has also been beneficial. “I run a lot on my own. I’ve run over 35 marathons and ultramarathons. I’ve also helped to train some friends to run races of various distances.”

With a new coaching staff and a new practice styles, the cross country team has already begun to feel the positive outcomes on the cross country course. This year the team snapped a seven year losing streak, winning its first Catholic Conference dual meet in seven years against Catholic Memorial. When asked what the team reaching this accomplishment meant to him, Coach Fitz replied, “I am happy for them. I love to see each athlete improve as the season progresses.”

“When I found out that Coach K was leaving last year, I knew that I wanted to stay involved with cross country,” said Coach Fitz. I have been working with the team for years, and I want to be here to help every athlete get better. The fact that the team has been consistently improving this season has been exciting.”

The success of this season shows the future is bright for the Cross Country Team with their new leader, Coach Fitz. With the season quickly progressing, the cross country team looks to attain success in the upcoming MSTCA Frank Mooney Invitational and the MIAA Championship. Coach Fitz and his team plan to use the fresh coaching, practice system, and skilled runners to continue improving and moving forward for the remainder of this season and many more to come.

Photo Courtesy of Carson Tully

Photo Courtesy of Mike Bono

Malden Catholic Mascot Is Alive!

By: Vincent SwierkEditor-in-Chief Editor

Malden Catholic’s iconic mascot is still alive! The Lancer Man was seen a couple weeks ago at one of Malden Catholic’s home football games. Our mascot was seen interacting with the fans, pumping them up and creating some noise. With the lack of a mascot last year, this year will surely be different. This positive MC student under the costume accepted the challenge and is said to be extremely ex-cited about the sporting events to come. Senior Donovan Lafontaine stated, “It is great to have the mascot back, it really changes the atmosphere of the games.” The resurrection of the Lancer Man is ex-citing news for all athletes. He’s one fan they know will always be rooting for them.

By: Carson TullySports Editor

After Week 8 of the Malden Catholic Football season, the Lancers’ playoff hopes are over. Malden Catholic (2-6) fell short of a playoff spot in the 2017-18 campaign, but with a young team, the Lancers will look to grow next season.

Malden Catholic opened the season against the 7th ranked Tewksbury High School. It was an impressive effort by the Lancers, but the team ultimately fell short by a final score of 21-18. Another loss followed, as Masconomet Regional High School bested the Lancers 24-6.

Malden Catholic picked up their first win of the season, by a final score of 30-24, over the high-scoring Cambridge High School. The next three games after this were all Catholic Conference matchups, and they all resulted in tough losses for the Lancers. Malden Catholic fell 42-6 to Boston College High School. Danny Abraham, running back for BC High and Harvard commit, made it very tough for the defense. Xaverian defeated Malden Catholic the following week, by a final score of 34-6. Then, it was Catholic Memorial, who surprisingly beat MC 35-0, who ended any playoff hopes that the Lancers had.

Malden Catholic grabbed their second win of the season against Beverly, by a final mark of 18-13. Now, the team will wait to see who they face in the following two weeks, but their Thanksgiving Day matchup is set, as the Lancers’ will take on Waltham High School at home on 11/22/17 at 6:00 PM.

The Lancers’ struggles came when mistakes were made by a young team. The key word is young. A majority of the varsity team was constructed of talented underclassmen, and with a majority of the squadron coming back for next years campaign, it is safe to expect Malden Catholic to make a postseason appearance next season.

“I think our season, while the record might not show it, was successful to this point. We have a youthful team and played a very tough schedule. I think that this was a good season to let our sophomores learn a lot and get ready to be extremely successful in the future.” - Michael Bono, Center, Class of 2018

“I feel like we could not reach our expectations based on the level of talent that we have on this team. Most of my problems were self-inflicted this season, so they can be corrected. I believe we have the best skill players in Division III, most of which are returning next year. Therefore I think if we are able to fix some of the mental errors from this season before the next season, it will be a much better outcome. The talent that this team has is top-notch, and next year, Malden Catholic Football will be very exciting to watch.” - Nguyen Lee, Linebacker, Class of 2018

November 2017 Crystal 99 SportS 15

By: Zachary RobinsonArts Editor Patrick Brown is a senior and one of the captains on the Cross Country team. Throughout his Malden Catholic career, he has shown off his spectacular talent for running cross country, and this year he broke his personal record by running a time of 17:21 at the Twilight invitational. Patrick Brown strives to improve himself everyday and shines as a leading role model for his teammates. Patrick has been running cross country since the 5th grade, falling in love with idea of running long distances. However, it was not until freshman year that Patrick Brown began taking his cross country career more seriously. He began running in and out of school in order to improve his stamina and speed. In addition to running, he started working out more to improve his legs’ muscle strength and agility, which boosted his overall speed for meets. By junior year, he was elected captain of the cross country team, and he continues to be a leading figure for the team. After high school, he has planned to continue his running career further in college. The top college on his radar is Xavier University, a college with an incredible record for cross country. He has also marked some goals he wants to achieve during his cross country career. “One of my main goals is to break 17, which pretty much means running a 5k (3.2 miles) in less than 17 minutes.” Patrick’s biggest influences in his career have been his parents and and his coach since freshman year, Mr. Fitzgerald. Patrick’s parents motivate him everyday to push himself to the limit. They also support him through his endeavors, by going to every meet to cheer him on and encourage him to do his best at every race. His parents have supported his cross country ever since he was young, and they do not plan on stopping. Coach Fitzgerald has been a role model for Patrick during his time at Malden Catholic. Mr. Fitzgerald has assisted Patrick in transforming over his four years, by advancing his cross country techniques through rigorous practices and workouts. He has helped Patrick to realize his true potential by pushing him more and more every practice. Mr. Fitzgerald has been impressed with Patrick’s efforts this year as well, especially as captain: “Pat leads by example. He always shows up to every practice ready to go!” said Coach Fitzgerald. He also highlighted how much Patrick has improved over his senior year, stating that Patrick had reduced his time by two minute in only one month. “With his overall consistency, I expect him to get even faster in the upcoming meets.” From freshman year to senior, Patrick’s stats have improved immensely. His personal record during his freshman year for the 5,000 meter run was 22:20 at the MC ‘Blue and Gold” meet. His time improved by almost four minutes in his sophomore year at the MSTCA Twilight Invitational, where he timed at 18:35.6. Junior year, he was able to shave off half a minute on his personal record at the same Twilight Invitational, where he clocked in at 18:07.2. Finally, this year he was able to make his personal record under 18 minutes, which is incredible achievement in his career. Over his four years, he has improved his time by five minutes, which shows his time and dedication he puts into cross country is paying off.

Running for Fun: Patrick Brown

Photo Courtesy of Kyle Borick

Has The Brady/Belichick Bubble Burst?By: Dylan TamagnaContributing Writer The Patriots struggles began when one of the Patriots most dynamic and crucial Patriots player, Julian Edelman, suffered a torn ACL during a non-contact play. Edelman suffer this injury during the Preseason Week 3 game against the Detroit Lions. Julian Edelman played a important role in the 2016-2017 season, playing all 16 games with 158 targets and 98 receptions. He had a total yard amount of 1106 and averaged 11 points, three yards per play. He is Quarterback Tom Brady’s number one target and without him, Brady now loses his number most reliable receiver. The Patriots struggled this season with a loss coming in the first game of the season against the Kansas City Chiefs. The Chiefs dominated this game in a 42-27 win over New England. Chiefs quarterback, Alex Smith, threw 368 yards and four touchdowns, leading Kansas City to the win. Chiefs’ rookie star Kareem Hunt, who would rush for three touchdowns and a total of 246 yards in his first ever NFL game, stole the show. Meanwhile, Tom Brady, the former Super Bowl MVP, threw for only 267 yards and no touchdowns. Brady only completed only 16 of his 36 attempts. The following week, the Patriots would travel down to New Orleans, where they faced Drew Brees and the New Orleans Saints. Tom Brady would throw for 447 yards on 30 for 39, and three touchdowns. The Patriots defense would allows Drew Brees

to throw for 356 yards on 27 for 45, and two touchdowns. The Patriots defense only recorded one sack, no interceptions, and no forced fumbles. Week 3 against the Patriots on the road in Houston would struggle against the Texans, led by rookie quarterback Deshaun Watson. Watson would go 22 for 33 with 301 total yards. He also would throw for two touchdowns and would get intercepted twice by New England’s defense. Interceptions for New England came from both Stephon Gilmore and Duron Harmon. Brady would throw for 378 yards on 25 for 35. He also threw for five touchdowns, one being in the last minute of the game. The Patriots mounted the game winning drive, by a final score of 36-33. New England would face Carolina in Week 4 of the NFL season. The Carolina Panthers, lead by 2015 MVP Cam Newton, would win the game by three points with the final score 33-30. Cam Newton played outstanding throwing for 316 yard on 20 for 29. He threw three touchdowns and only one interception. Tom Brady threw for 307 yards on 32 for 45. He threw for only two touchdowns and, once again, they could not establish the run. Only rushing for a total eight yards. The New England defensive player Stephon Gilmore did not play well and fans could say the lost game was put on his shoulders. On a third and eight with one minute left, Cam Newton threw an incomplete pass, but Gilmore was called for a hands to the face penalty, which ultimately lost them the game.

Bruins’ Youth Movement in Full SwingBy: Patrick DonnellyManaging Editor

The Boston Bruins have showcased a very young lineup this season, consisting of three rookies and six skaters in total under the age of 23. This group of rookies includes Charlie McAvoy, Anders Bjork, and Jake DeBrusk, while the rest of the youth group is brought up by Danton Heinen, Brandon Carlo, and David Pastrnak. It is important to realize that there will be growing pains for these young talents, as mistakes are all but guaranteed to come over the course of the season; however, the reward greatly outweighs the risk. Pastrnak, DeBrusk, and Bjork have provided explosive speed and flashy skill on offense as Heinen has provided solid two-way play coupled with serviceable production (two goals and three assists through five games). In terms of the defensemen of the bunch, Carlo has looked to continue to build on his outstanding rookie campaign from last year and has quietly done just that so far to start the season. As for McAvoy, he finds himself fully entrenched in the conversation for the Calder Trophy (Rookie of the Year) and has drawn lofty comparisons to Drew Doughty of the Los Angeles Kings for his big-bodied style of play along with his outstanding abilities with the puck. It will be interesting to see how this young group fairs over the course of a full 82 game schedule, but it has looked excellent so far.

LANCERS’ WRESTLINGBy: Brett ThomasEditor-in-Chief

Competing in the Doherty Gymnasium, the wrestling program looks to capitalize on the returning swath of talent. Seniors Will Tosi, Kevin Batting, Patrick Kilburn, and Nate Richards will be the leaders of the team. Tosi, a four year varsity wrestler, is looking forward to recovering in time for the season. Currently, he is in a cast due to an injury from football. The underclassmen will be looked upon to earn valuable points for the team. Currently, there are open mat practices in the gym. Anyone who is interested is welcome to attend.

LANCERS’ BASKETBALL By: Connor BondSports Editor

After the Lancers’ Basketball Squad (14-9) made it to the semifinals in the Division 2 North Tournament last year, the Lancers are looking forward to another successful season. With the departures of Michael Boyd, Jonah St. Claire, and Cam Kelly, there will be several opportunities for players to carve out new roles on the team. Meanwhile, the Lancers will face both familiar (Catholic Memorial, St. John’s Prep, Winthrop) and new (Lynn English, Swampscott) opponents. Chris MacDonald, Jack O’Brien, and Matt Amentola will be looked upon by coach Jim McCune as the leaders of the team. The team has plenty of young talent who will contribute to the team.

LANCERS’ INDOOR TRACKBy: Nathan FryePhoto Editor

Even with the graduation of Dante Egizi, and Cam Albert, the Lancers Indoor Track Team still has a strong core of talent to lead the team to success. Seniors Nick Guerriero, Garrett Fogerty, Navid Chowdhury, Kyle Holmes, and Patrick Brown will compete across all events. Guerriero looks to build on the foundation provided by the leaving seniors. “I hope to earn a new personal record in the 300 hundred meter dash and earn a school record by the end of this year,” said Junior Nathan Frye.

LANCERS’ ICE HOCKEYBy: RJ CurreriStaff Writer

With five Super 8 Championship wins in the past seven years, the Malden Catholic hockey team comes into every season with the same expectation: winning it all. After a devastating 2-1 loss in OT to last year’s champions Arlington High School, the team is fired up to begin the new season. When asked about the upcoming season, senior wing John Adragna shared his thoughts saying, “I expect the team to come back motivated more than ever, due to our loss in the semi-finals against Arlington. That hurt. I know everyone is ready to get back to practice and prepare for the season to start.” The team finished last year with an overall record of 19-4-1 and went 5-2 against Catholic Conference opponents, those two conference losses coming at the hands of Catholic Memorial and BC High. The team is itching for the season to start, especially the six returning seniors who have one more shot at the title.

LANCERS’ SWIMMINGBy: Brett Thomas Editor-in-Chief

The swim team will look to be in a rebuilding period this season, after the departures of Nick Napoli, Alex Phan, Fred Denisco, and John Corbett. Senior Joseph Armstrong and Junior Luke Ventola will be looked upon as the leaders of the team. Armstrong said” I’m ready and excited for this year.” He continued by saying, “there’s definitely a lot of potential in our current team, especially with the juniors and sophomores. I’m excited to see what type of freshman we pull in this year too,”said Armstrong. The team has several individuals who will have the opportunities to qualify for the state tournament.

November 2017 Crystal 99 SportS 16

S p o rt sWinter Sports Set for Success

Photo Courtesy of Malden Catholic

Photo Courtesy of David Sarno

Photo Courtesy of Dave Jarosz

Photo Courtesy of Patrick Kilburn