The WarriorNiskayuna High School June 5, 2012 Volume 38, Issue 31

a student-run publication since 1974, now weekly

Inside this issue...Bollywood better understood,page 6

Boys tennis finishes strong,page 7

Ways to go green this summer,page 4

Hirota-Morris says goodbyeArticle by OliviA cOx

interview by FlOrA MAO news

After fourteen years of teaching at the high school, RosemaryHiro-ta-Morris, one of the most beloved teachers, has decided to retire. Mrs. Hirota-Morris has touched the lives of many students, and is remembered by many as one of their favorite teachers.

Mrs. Hirota-Morris has taught a plethora of classes at the high school. Her expertise in history ranges from AP World History, AP Geography, to both Regents and Honors ninth and tenth grade Global History.

Not only were her lectures interesting, but the life les-sons learned in her classes will be remembered by many.

Below is a brief interview with Mrs. Hirota-Morris, con-ducted by sophomore Flora Mao:

What has been your fa-vorite part about teach-i n g a t N i s k a y u n a ?

The students, hands down!What do you think you’ll

miss the most about us? Your energy, enthusiasm

and boundless energy. It has helped to keep me young.

What are your p lans f o r y o u r r e t i r e m e n t ?

My husband and I are planning on biking around Maine for one week in the summer followed by an extended eastern Mediterranean cruise in October. Beyond that I’m

studying to be a fitness instructor.What has been your favorite

time period to teach about? Anything related to the Silk Road and the rise of Japan, of course!

Do you have any specific memory about Niskayuna that you’ll treasure forever?

All the years advising Multicultur-al Society and Model UN and those

Warrior Photo/Olivia Cox‘SO LONG, FAREWELL’: Mrs. Hirota-Morris is excited to move onto another stage in her life, but she will be missed by many.

conferences in Montreal & NYC.How did you get into

teaching in the first place?Having worked in the private

sector for a number of years and having children of our own, I felt that working as an educator was more rewarding and enriching than anything else that I had done. I have never regretted that decision.

While walking past Mrs. Hirota-Morris’ classroom, you will not only hear an intellectual discus-sion about the current economic predicament of Greece, but also laughter. She has the ability to make even the most dull topics stimulating, that is the telltale sign of an amazing teacher.

Not only is Mrs. Hirota-Morris’ known for her wonderful teach-ing, but also for her fashion. Every day she wears an amaz-ing outfit. Sophomore Madison McPartlon said, “I always won-der what Mrs. Hirota-Morris is going to wear when I walk into AP World. She always has an adorable pair of shoes on!”

Mrs. Hirota-Morris is more than just an amazing teacher, she is a role model. Senior Tim Rice expressed his respect for Mrs. Hirota-Morris by saying, “Every person has that moment where they are pushed to reach a potential they didn’t not know they had, and every person has that person who makes them realize this potential. For me, AP World History was that moment and Mrs. Hirota-Morris was that person.” Both students, faculty and staff will miss Mrs. Hirota-Morris, she has been a vital part in the education of many stu-dents who have attended the high school. Enjoy your retire-ment, Mrs. Hirota-Morris, you have earned every moment of it!

Election day at the high schoolby Abby Andrews And AnnA lOchte

news

Friday, May25 was a stressful morning for the brave students running for Student Council and Student Congress positions. An extended homeroom was held and each grade headed off to various places around the school to hear their classmates deliver speeches. The lucky freshmen were comfort-ably seated in the auditorium, while sophomores and juniors were split into the two gyms.

In preparation for the elec-tions, candidates put posters up throughout the school and also created Facebook pages to promote themselves. Posters with unicorns, muscle men, and the alphabet floated around the school. On the day of the elec-tion, candidates handed out candy or pens hoping to bribe voters into voting for them.

Students in every grade com-peted for positions on the Stu-dent Congress, a group that has representatives from every class. Student Congress approves fun-draisers and other activities in addition to being active in commu-nity service efforts. Sophomores Sarah Beitch, Suman Padhi, and junior Joshua Korn ran for presi-dent. Beitch’s speech referenced her past experiences with student government, while Padhi cited his qualifying characteristics and wished best of luck to other candidates. Korn presented a very creative rhyme for his speech.

Sophomore Bel Mesbahi ran

unopposed for the position of vice president, along with sophomore Sarah Eads who ran unopposed as well, for the position of sec-retary. Freshman Danielle Rice, sophomore Tiernan Foley, and junior James Hannas all ran for the position of treasurer. All of the candidates’ speeches listed rea-sons why they would be a good per-son for the position of treasurer.

Foley stated, “I have money in my pocket so I should be a treasurer.”

With his convincing speech Foley gained many supporters who were willing to vote for him. Sophomore Mike Sise stated, “I loved it [the speech], he’s the best.”

The Class of 2014 presidential candidates for Student Council

were David Etkin, Kevin Duffy, Fallon Jung, and Danielle Skufka. Most speeches hit upon the same topics such as fundraising for prom, and planning for prom, and some more prom, though Duffy brought up his involvement with the Obama campaign and meeting Hillary Clinton as well as working with the British Prime Minister.

Running for vice president was

Warrior Photo / Katherine QuinnCOMPETING FOR VICTORY: Students hung posters in Crossroads as part of their campaigns for Student Congress and Student Council.

Looking for something fun to do this weekend?

Check out some of the Capital Region’s finest short films produced by students in Mr. Honicki’s Studio in Video Class. WHAT: The eleventh annual SHORT CUTS: a video celebration of over 25 short film

showcasing student talent.WHEN: Sunday, June 3rd, at 7 pmWHERE: GE Theater at Proctors A number of the featured films have been recognized at the Rod Serling Film Festival, the Peo-

ple’s Pixel Project, the Capital Region Media Arts Festival, and Westport Youth Film Festival.

Don’t miss out on these amazing films!

2 The WarriorNews June 5, 2012

Laura Donavan, new to the stu-dent government scene, and Jack-ie Bodmer, who was class presi-dent during her freshman year.

Alicia Bernson ran unopposed for the position of historian but was unfortunately unable to present her speech. The posi-tions of treasurer and secretary

were left open and are to be filled by the candidates who did not win their desired positions.

“All the speeches were really good and creative. Candidates showed worthiness of being in Student Congress or Student Council. The two themes of ev-eryone’s speech seemed to be a willingness to make sure prom is the best and stating they will be the voice of reason for the high school. Trying to run for Student Congress seems to be a lot of work. Trying to get people to say they will vote for you; trying to get people to actually go vote and, toughest of all, public speaking, espe-cially when it’s in front of all your classmates,” stated one student.

The winners of the Student Congress election for the 2012-2013 school year are Sarah Beitch as president, Bel Mesbahi as vice president, Sarah Eads as secretary and historian has yet to be appointed. The class of 2013 Student Council repre-sentatives include Andrea Wade as president, Junia George as Vice President, and Marianna O’Brien as Historian. The 2014 representatives are Fallon Jung as president, Laura Donovan as vice president, Jackie Bodmer as secretary, and Danielle Skufka as treasurer. Representing the 2015 student council are Lauren Litz as president, Rachel Padula and Madison Schmitt as vice presi-dent, Mimi Curro for treasurer, Meghan Stevenson as secretary and Cindy Zhao as historian.

3June 5, 2012The Warrior News

Yearbook’s release met with praise by hAnnAh hAMiltOn

news

These last weeks of the school year are bittersweet. The weather is warm, and students anxiously await the end of classes so that they can leave for two months of relaxation. Procrastination reaches an all-time high, and lunch is eaten out in the sun. Even thunderstorms are wel-comed in hopes that a destruc-tive bolt of lightning may bring about a cancellation of final exams. Seniors count down the weeks, days, and even hours until graduation, excited for col-lege and what lays beyond. While

underclassmen just can’t wait to reach that point in their own lives.

But hiding behind all the ex-citement is a sense of sadness. For some, the end of the year will bring the end of long friend-ships. Those fantastic senior athletes may never step out onto a field again, and musicians may never strum another cord. Each summer brings endings as well as beginnings. In a way, these are the crossroads of our lives.

To remind Niskayuna students of their high school years, the Crossroads has put together yet another beautiful yearbook for the 2011-2012 school year. Filled

with pictures, quotes and mottos, this year’s “Crossroads” truly cap-tures the spirit of the senior class and the rest of the student body.

As always, the year book was dedicated to a teacher. This year’s issue honored Russell McDowell, the beloved English teacher and advisor for the school newspaper. Mr. McDowell is well deserving of the title, as he has always encour-aged hard work and scholarship in all areas of academia as well as the arts. Furthermore, he has inspired a love of learning among students here at Niskayuna.

Sharing the spotlight with Mr. McDowell are the seniors.

A great portion of the year book was reserved to the Class of 2012. Pictures of last year’s prom and Homecoming 2011 graced the pages, as well as individual shots of all the seniors who sat for them. Beneath each photo was a quote which the person being repre-sented found inspirational, funny, or related to. People being quoted ranged from President Barack Obama to poet William Shake-speare. It is shocking to look at older editions of the yearbook where these same students were freshmen, and to see the differ-ence not just in their physical ap-pearance, but in the expressions

on their faces. Many have cer-tainly grown and matured during their time here in the high school.

The “Senior Spotlight” featured students whom have stood out through the years for talents in all sorts of extracurriculars. Seniors Justin Picardi and Mia Gorla were portrayed in the spotlight, with brief profiles talking about their dedication to their sports and performances (respectively), and summaries of plans for the fu-ture. Another funny portion titled “Double Trouble” showed pictures of twins standing together, such as the Coynes and the Higgins.

Additionally to the sections focusing on the seniors were pages dedicated to clubs and sports. The diversity of extracurricular activi-ties which the high school has to offer its students was displayed in the yearbook, and just goes to show how much opportunity

has been presented to those of us willing to seize it. The great poet Horace once penned that fa-mous phrase “carpe diem,” which means seize the day. We’ve heard it in our studies and in movies such as “Dead Poet’s Society,” but it’s plain for all the world to see that as a school, many of us are living in the light of those words.

Another important section of

the yearbook is one the one that shows pictures of teachers along with some of their philosophies. The teachers here at Nisky are what really make the cake. They’re the flour, the sugar and the eggs. We, the students, are kind of like the frosting. When you put it all together and give it time to bake, you come out with one incred-ible dessert to show for it. Or at least a memorable yearbook.

The most fabulous part of the yearbook, if you ask this writer, is the blank pages at the end and beginning for friends to sign notes and signatures. What will make these books memorable, and worth the $65 cost of pur-chase down at Crossroads, are the personal touches of friends and teachers within the pages.

The yearbook may just seem like another high school practices, but it is so much more than

that. It is a way for people to re-member the days of their youth, and the people who helped them to become the person they will one day be. Maybe it is a little silly to make such a fuss about the yearbook, but then again, life’s a little silly, and you’ve got to be a little silly to live it. So consider buying a yearbook this spring, you won’t regret it.

Warrior Photo/Anna LochteREFLECTIONS ON THE PAST YEAR: Junior Chris Herman peruses the yearbook reflecting fondly upon memories of the past year.

Warrior Photo/Anna LochteAT A CROSSROADS: This year’s edition of the yearbook was met with much acclaim and enthusiasm.

G o g r e e n t h i s s u m m e r

EDITORIAL POLICIES

Letters to the editor are welcome from all members of the school community, and can be delivered toWarrior staff or sent via

email to: thewarrioropinion@gmail.com. The Warrior reserves the right to edit letters for grammar, length, and content.

Signed opinion articles express the opinions of their creators. Unsigned editorials represent the consensus of the paper’s edito-rial board, consisting of the Opinion section and the Editor-in-

Chief.

The op-ed pages are a forum for students’ opinions and ideas.

The WarriorNiskayuna High School, 1626 Balltown Road, Niskayuna, NY, 12309

http://www.nisk.k12.ny.us/nhs/warrior

For a one-year subscription to The Warrior, please send a check for $25.00 to: The Warrior, c/o Niskayuna High School, 1626 Balltown Road, Niskayuna, NY 12309.

4 The WarriorOpinion June 5, 2012

by tess wAlters

OpiniOn

It’s almost summertime. School is almost over. People are begin-ning to eat all their favorite sum-mer foods: Hamburgers, hot dogs, corn on the cob, watermelon, fresh vegetables, lemonade, and many other delicious things we love to eat and barbecue on a hot lazy summer day. Everywhere you look, people have that sum-mer glow; magazines claim to have the key to that perfect sum-mer body, and new dieting fads claim their victims as the nation turns its attention to the pool, the beach, and summer apparel.

It seems that summer is prime time to experiment: stress levels are down, and people actually have time to try new things. Want to go Green this summer? It can be a lot more fun than you think!

Easy ways to go Green this Summer: f f

1. Get a Reusable Water Bottle.As the temperatures rise,

people need to drink more water to prevent dehydration. Luck-ily, there are tons of cool water bottles you can get, and they’re pretty inexpensive! If you get a reusable water bottle you’re not only saving a lot of plastic water bottles from going into landfills, you’re customizing your sum-mer. You can get reusable water bottles at many stores, such as old navy, target, and most sport-ing goods retailers. Look for a brand that benefits a charity organization, like Matt Damon’s co-founded organization Water.Org, which has created limited edition, environmentally friendly

metal bottles for $24.95. 100% of the profits go to the charity, which brings life-saving clean water to third world countries.

2. Eat Less Meat. f Believe it or not, the major-

ity of the carbon-dioxide, (the infamous greenhouse gas), is released by farm animals….and

their bodily wastes. So, you can bike everywhere all summer if you’d like, or you can cut the meat basically out of your diet for the summer. It’ll have basically the same impact. But the animals will thank you if you choose the latter.

3. Plant a Garden. Not only are gardens beautiful,

they are also excellent for the environment. Plants use carbon dioxide as part of photosynthesis, and as deforestation has expo-nentially increased over the last century, there have been fewer

plants to combat the increase in the atmosphere’s carbon dioxide levels. You can plant all sorts of vegetation, and it’s really satisfy-ing to grow your own food. With the proper tools, a small garden is not difficult to manage. If you don’t have a place for a garden at your house, many towns have

community garden programs, where you can sign up for time to work in return for an amount of the food or flowers grown.

4. Join a Crop Share Farm.A Crop Share Farm is a farm,

usually organic, which offers specific amounts of their crops in exchange for either direct pay-ment or hours of labor. There are even farms which offer meat or eggs, and will send you informa-tion about the living standards of the animals, which tend to be much, much higher than animals

Editor-in-Chief:Eunu SongOlivia Jaquith

News:Olivia Cox, EditorAnna Lochte, EditorKatherine Quinn, EditorAlex Whisenhunt, Asst

Opinion:Alison Xu, EditorJoe Parisi, EditorMiles Tepper, EditorSara Bobok, AsstEntertainment:Sophie Kemp, EditorCynthia Zhao, Asst

Advisers: James Edgar Russell McDowell

Sports:Christopher Herman, EditorAniket Tolpadi, EditorMichael Sise, EditorSuman Padhi, AsstMagazine:Alisha Desai, EditorSwati Mehrotra, EditorSanjukta Dutta, EditorStephanie Acquario, AsstSarah Beitch, Asst

Additional Staff:Junia George, Copy EditorEmerson Wells, Copy EditorElizabeth Patt, Copy EditorLex Alston, Graphics EditorOlivia Hess, Distribution Manager

who are forced to live in factory farms. A number of these farms donate their undesignated or unsold crops to local factories.

5. Try to Walk or Bike. fIt may be difficult, particularly

depending on where you live, but taking an alternate mode of transportation can be very

rewarding. Not only will you feel good about your efforts, but you will also be able to exercise to help you reach your desired summer beach body! If you can’t walk or bike, carpooling is also an excel-lent way to try and ‘be green.’

6. Support Local Farmers.You can go to a farmers’

market, such as the Troy Waterfront Farmer’s Market, or go to a specialty store, such as the Honest Weight Food Co-op in Albany. These stores specialize in high quality foods that are often not only organic, but also locally grown. Animals have been raised in healthier and much better conditions than their factory farmed relatives. Farmer’s

markets are fun to go to, and often have local musicians per-forming, as well as treats such as gelato and other specialty foods.

If you take away anything from this article, I hope that it is how easy and fun going green can be. Not only is it morally uplifting, but going green can also be a fun activity your whole family can take part in, and it’s an excellent way to not only protect the envi-ronment, but also improve your health and be a part of an eco-friendly community. f

Warrior Art / Sara Bobok

5June 5, 2012The Warrior Opinion

ALL OPINIONS expressed on the op-ed pages represent the indi-vidual viewpoints of their authors. The content does not necessarily represent the views of The War-rior, the high school, the school district, or the Board of Education.

by MAggie JOrdAn

OpiniOn

On the eve of graduation, se-niors prepare to transition from the safety of childhood into the vast unknown, where we will face innumerable changes. I have at-tended Niskayuna schools for the past thirteen years of my life, and my sisters another eight before me. This is the only home I have ever known, but I am ready to leave it all behind. I write now both to my fellow graduating classmates, with whom I face the mysterious changes rapidly approaching, and to the underclassmen, who, while still residing within the comfort of the known, also face the changes promised by a new year.

The only constant in life is change. There are all kinds of change: ideological, geographic, familial, within friendships, within oneself. Some are wel-come; many are forced upon the begrudging subject. I’ll be the first to admit that I do not like change, nor do I handle it well. So why, then, am I so eager to embrace an entirely new life, that necessarily promises an endless number of changes? Because after seventeen years, I’m ready to leave Niskayuna behind. I look around this town, and I don’t feel the safety of famil-iarity; change is all around.

That’s not to say I will leave and never look back—qui t e the contrary. I will miss my f ami l y and close friends dearly. I have also had a great number of teachers who are unbe-lievably dedicated to their profes-sion, who have taught me lessons with endless applications outside the classroom. To list them here would be a disservice to each in-dividual. But to those who have helped me on my journey, thank you for all that you’ve done, and

for all that you continue to do. Suffice it to say that it is possible for a teacher to make a difference, as so many of you have for me.

One teacher in particular ir-revocably changed the course of my life. My sixth grade English teacher, Michael Pletman, in addition to basic grammar and

essay writing skills, taught us the importance of respect, charity, and integrity. His maxim, “make your mark,” has stuck with me all these years, and now, as I prepare to leave Niskayuna behind at last, it is just as meaningful as when I was a terrified sixth grader on the first day of middle school.

“Making your mark” means to change something for the better, so that when you leave—a class-room, the school, the town, this

life— it is a better place because of you. Each day offers a new op-portunity to “make your mark” in a different way. It doesn’t have to be through grand charitable ges-tures; you can “make your mark” by smiling at someone who is hav-ing a hard time, standing up for a friend, or doing what you know

is right, even when it’s difficult. As we go through the motions of

our last few days as high school-ers, pause to think: what legacy do we leave behind? How have we “made our mark” on this school, and our fellow classmates? Of all the regrets I have from my high school years, most are the re-

sult of a failure to act. I wish I had done more to change this school for the better, rather than passively accepting nega-tive change as “just the way things are.” But there is no sense in looking back.

Fortunately, in just a few short months, seniors will arrive on new campuses across the country, with the opportunity to start over and right old wrongs.

Underclassmen, consider what you want your legacy to be. On your graduation day, the high school will necessarily be a dif-ferent place than the one we are leaving to you. If there is anything I’ve learned in the past four years, it’s that change is inevitable. But there’s a catch to that—it doesn’t have to be a bad thing. Instead of having your life change for the worse while you are powerless to resist, you can be a vehicle for change yourself. Force a change for the better.

So to my classmates: as we move forward, yes, there will be changes. But we are not simply subject to the whims of chance; we have the power to “make our mark” in a new way every day. And to those we leave behind: follow our example for what we’ve done well and learn from our mistakes. Don’t fight change, fight with it. That’s the only way you stand to win.

At last, here’s to the Class of 2012: we’ve grown up together, but now it’s time to move on.

Where you go from here is up to you. g

Where do we go from here?

“Don’t fight change, Fight

with it.”

“consider what you want

your legAcy to be.”

FAst OpiniOns!FrOM the grAduAting clAss

OF 2012

“i’M gOing tO be reAlly sAd tO be leAving All OF My Friends, but i AM lOOking

FOrwArd tO stArting A new liFe in the city.” --ingA bAgepAlli

“unless yOu gO tO prisOn, liFe will rArely prOvide A

tiMe FOr yOu tO spend FOur cOnsecutive yeArs in the sAMe plAce with the sAMe

peOple. never thOugh, will liFFe prOvide As greAt A

tiMe As this. high schOOl’s been greAt, And i wOuldn’t

trAde Any OF it FOr the wOrld. well, MAybe trig, but Other thAn thAt, nO.”

--tiM rice

“i AM lOOking FOrwArd tO stArting My new liFe in the

Middle OF nOwhere.”--dAniel ZhAO

“i AM certAintly gOing tO Miss the peOple here, but i AM lOOking FOrwArd tO

stArting this next chApter OF My liFe.”

--JOhn lindsAy

6 June 5, 2012 The WarriorEntertainment

R u g c u t t i n g i t a t S P A C

B o l l y w o o d h a s i t a l lAfter the release of the film

“Slumdog Millionaire” in 2008, the term “Bollywood” began to be casually thrown around to describe any movie surrounding Indian culture featuring flashy and colorful dance numbers. This, however, is a horrible mis-use of the word. Bollywood is the Hindi-speaking film industry based in Mumbai, India. There are many other, though less popular, film industries in India as well. So, yes, that means “Slumdog Millionaire,” “Bride and Prejudice,” and “The Cheetah Girls: One World” are not Bolly-wood films. Sorry to disappoint.

The first Bollywood film with sound was released in 1931. The “Golden Age” of Bollywood, which ranged from the 1940’s until the 1960’s, produced movies with plots heavy in romance and drama. The 1970’s were chock-full of action-packed movies with handsome, angry heroes. (Male

protagonist in Bollywood films are called “heroes”; females are “heroines.”) The 80’s and 90’s brought family-centered love sto-ries surrounding the sacred bond of marriage and how it relates to family matters. Modern Bolly-wood films still showcase romance as a hugely popular genre, but the 2000’s tried to diversify the indus-try with genres such as suspense, comedy, tragedy, and horror. It has also become common for films in this time to point out social issues in South Asian society.

It would be impossible to talk about Bollywood and ignore the most important component of the industry: the music. Almost every single Bollywood movie is a musical. When a movie is pro-moted, it usually promotes the songs and dancing sequences. This way, if the movie itself is horrible, it can still be a success if the music and dancing is good. Songs from Bollywood movies are extremely popular in South Asia and make up the most part of the

mainstream music there. Bol-lywood music encompasses end-less genres including traditional Indian music (which branches into many genres within itself), pop, hip-hop, rock, indie, and jazz. Some great soundtracks to check out are from the movies “Zindagi,” “Na Milegi Dobara,” “Agent Vinod,” “Aisha”, “Billu Barber,” “Dil Se,” and “Guru.”

Bollywood actors are generally expected to be talented dancers. However when it comes to singing, very rarely do Bollywood songs feature the actor’s own singing voice. The actors have “playback singers” to sing for them. Being a playback singer is actually a very respectable career, however, and these artists sometimes share equal fame with the actors.

Fans of Bollywood will always argue which actor is most leg-endary. Personally, I recommend seeing any movie starring Shah-rukh Khan, also known as “King Khan.” Other amazing actors and actresses of the Bollywood

by christine shAnnOn

entertAinMent

show will surely be packed, so make sure that you snag a ticket soon, for around $40.

Another first timer at SPAC will be Nickel-back on July 24. Although they are arguably not relevant anymore, fans will flock to hear frontman Chad Kreuger croon the sentimental, nostalgic hit “Photograph” while he expressive-ly shakes his hair. Senior Samantha Lubrant remarks, “Nickelback’s song ‘How You Remind Me’ brings me back to better, simpler times. You can guarantee that I will be in attendance at their show! I wouldn’t miss it for the world.”

While most students will be going to shows at the Saratoga Performing Arts Center, there are still other options for concerts in this area. Our capital region has an up-and-coming electronic scene, believe it or not, and if that’s your cup of tea, you’re going to want to be at Northern Lights in Clifton Park on June 16 to see glitch-hop producers NastyNasty and Eprom. This show would be great for someone looking to stuff their face with a more sophisticated bass.

If you’re looking for more of an “experi-ence,” Camp Bisco is always an option, which is a three-day electronica festival

held in Mariaville on July 12, 13, and 14. Headliners include many up-and-coming artists such as Crystal Castles, Big Boi, Skrillex, Daedelus, Bonbo and Bassnectar.

No matter what sort of music you like, or where you’re traveling to this summer to catch a show, I’m sure we we can all agree that the best formula to have an excellent summer is awe-some music, great weather and good company.

This summer, plan on cutting a rug, not just one rug, but many rugs, because for me, among other students, summer is a glorious time to attend concerts and practice your fancy footwork. As a self-proclaimed concert rat, I have been thinking about what shows to attend this summer since the winter. There is nothing better than getting together with a few friends on a warm sum-mer evening and seeing a band you really like, especially at an outdoor venue such as the nearby Saratoga Performing Arts Center.

This summer, SPAC has a lot of offer. Probably one of the most talked-about shows this season is The Club Paradise Tour which will feature Drake. He will be accompanied by J.Cole, Waka Flocka Flame, trap-house superstar Meek Mill, 2 Chainz, and French Montana. With a lineup of super-food rap-pers, people have been buzzing about the June 14 show. Junior Joe Annello said, “Drake is one of the most influential artists of our time. I can’t wait to see him live!” The

by bryce grAtes

entertAinMent

Movies: Rock of Ages, That’s My Boy

Music: Usher, Jimmy Fallon, Waka Flocka Flame

Books: Rapture (Fallen) #4 by Lauren Kate, Reunited by Hilary Weisman Graham

Video Games: Lollipop Chainsaw, iCarly: Groovie Foodie, Madagascar 3

Your Weekly Entertainment Fix

industry to check out are Saif Ali Khan, Madhuri Dixit, Pre-ity Zinta, Aishwarya Rai, Vidya Balan, Kajol, Amitabh Bach-chan, Akshay Kumar, Kareena Kapoor, and Rani Mukherjee.

If you are interested in seeing a Bollywood movie, you can oc-casionally catch one at a local mall. You also can buy these films at any Indian grocery store or you can watch some for free on YouTube or Hulu. For clas-sics, I would recommend “Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham,” “Kuch Kuch Hota Hai, Kal Ho Naa Ho,” “Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge,” and “Hum Aapke Hain Koun.” For more upbeat modern films, I would recommend “Love Aaj Kal,” “Jab We Met,” “Salaam Namaste,” “The Dirty Picture,” and “Om Shanti Om.” For tear-jerking and heart-warming dramas, I recommend films such as “3 Idiots” and “My Name is Khan.”

However, unless you are fluent in Hindi, make sure the film you are watching has English subtitles.

7June 5, 2012The Warrior Sports

Tennis season comes to a closeby Aniket tOlpAdi

spOrts

A couple weeks ago, the Boys Varsity Tennis season came to a rather disappointing end with a loss to Guilderland at Section-als. Coach Neal’s squad lost that match 6-3, ending what had been a pretty interesting season. Despite the unsatisfying finish to the season, there is much reason to be optimistic for the future success of the program.

By all accounts, this season ended up being a relatively or-dinary season for the Warriors, as the team performed at a level lower than that of previous years. The team this year was not nearly as dominant, losing matches to teams they have traditionally defeated, such as Burnt Hills and Saratoga. Despite all of this, they still defeated Guilderland in a regular season match this season, giving them hope entering that matchup in Sectionals. Fol-lowing a win against Schenectady in their first round matchup, Niskayuna simply did not have enough to take down Guilderland.

With the end of team Section-als, individual Sectionals rolled around, to which Niskayuna sent many quality players. Last year saw the expectations for this one set very high, as now-seniors Er-win Lin and Brendan Service took

second place in the Doubles Championships, the now-graduated Chris Frost won the Singles Championship, and Donny Dudley took fourth place in the Singles Champi-onship (before an tragic car accident took his life this past summer). The finishes this year were not nearly as impressive as those last year, but sopho-more Ned Feist and senior John Finn took third place in the Doubles Championships, earning themselves a trip to the State Competition. Be sure to wish the duo luck in their upcoming competition, as they look to perform well at States.

Seemingly, Niskayuna pe-rennially has very high quality singles players, but tends not to be nearly as strong with its doubles teams. That trend usually occurs at both the JV and Varsity levels, making it even more difficult to explain. Especially against the top opponents, such as Bethlehem and Shenende-howa, Niskayuna’s tennis team frequently has lost at least two of the three doubles matches, immediately putting them in a hole. Going forward, it will be important for the tennis teams to facilitate the development of quality doubles players in both the JV and Varsity teams, mak-

ing the team better as a result. Feist will return next season,

along with fellow sophomore and Sectionals participant Russell Santos. That duo will likely team up to take the first and second singles’ positions, giving next year’s team a solid foundation to build from. Despite the departure of seven seniors from the team this summer, there is plenty of youth behind that group that will help ease the loss of those players. In fact, based on the positions taken by the players this year,

the majority of the singles players next year figure to be underclassmen. With that sort of youth, the future is bright not just for next year, but even more so for the ones following it. Such is the nature of Niskayuna’s tennis program: one athlete leaves, another two capable replace-ments battle for the de-parted athlete’s old position.

Next year will also see an infusion of young talent from the JV team, which was com-petitive throughout the en-tire season. The introduction of eighth grader Jeff Martin,

freshman Noah Levine, Tim Molino, Sam Finn, and Jake Wick, as well as sophomores Joe Gleason

and Aniket Tolpadi will provide additional talent and depth.

As the varsity squad saw this season, team depth is imperative to overcome injuries. Lin sprained his ankle playing basketball prior to any matches, while Feist hurt him ankle in gym class. These injuries forced others on the team into action while aforementioned athletes were unable to play. As athletes move up in the lineup, it will be very important for this crop of JV players to replenish the depth while competing for playing time during matches.

As Niskayuna closes the book on the 2012 Boys Tennis Season, there is much to look forward to in the coming years, as the Warriors are set up for the long haul. We say goodbye to seven seniors this summer: Erwin Lin, Brendan Ser-vice, Vishnu Adi, Jacob Leighton, John Finn, Zak Valenza, and Zach Congress. Niskayuna is thankful to this terrific group of athletes for their contributions to the tennis program over the past few years. Best of luck to these individuals as they move on to college. Good luck to Fin and Feist as they progress to States as a doubles team. And finally, thank you to the team as a whole for what has been a very enjoyable season.

Photo Credit / Paul Buckowski SWINGING FOR THE ACE: Sophomore Russell Santos serves the ball during the Donny Dudley Memorial Day Tournament. The tournament was held this past week-end in honor of Donny Dudley, the former Niskayuna tennis player who unfortunately died this past summer.

Photo Credit / Paul Buckowski STAYING ALIVE: Freshman Nick Lau hits a backhand to keep the point moving

during a match at the Donny Dudley Memorial Day Tournament in Schenectady.

June 5, 2012 The WarriorSports

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Boys Lacrosse

5/21 vs. Bethlehem Won 24-5

5/23 vs. GuilderlandWon 16-3

5/26 vs. ShenWon 17-11

Baseball

5/29 vs. ShenLost 1-4

5/24 vs. CBAWon 7-2

Softball

5/24 vs. ColonieLost 0-13

5/23 vs. TroyWon 10-5

8

Don’t forget to recycle this issue when you finish reading it!

Nisky crew rows in New Jerseyby chris herMAn

spOrts

This past Memorial Day weekend, the Niskayuna rowing program exceeded the expectations set by both their opponents and their fans. The program qualified six boats for Nationals: a freshman girls’ eight, a senior girls’ eight, a junior girls’ eight, a freshman boys’ eight, a lightweight boys’ eight, and a senior boys’ quad. The unprecedented feat in Niskayuna crew history was a result of new coaching and a group of talented rowers.

This past year the program hired a new

coach, David Buckner, who took over for the girls. With years of experience in coach-ing philosophy, rowing , and conditioning he has been able to send a freshman group of girls to nationals as well as three other boats.

Coach Bender has led the boys to a success-ful run and admission of two boats to Nationals

in Camden, New Jersey. Bender has trained Olympic athletes of different sports and is certainly an expert in his craft. His expertise has given the team better physical fitness to compete and much better conditioning.

During the summer, boys and girls get together and work on ergs several times a week. In addition, they work out in the weight room. The rowers’ work ethic is without a doubt extremely consistent and great. By the end of the season the rowers were in truly tremendous physical shape and were in the best position to be successful.

At the National Regatta, howev-er, the program had a disappoint-ing showing in general. Despite the fact that making Nationals is a great accomplishment in and of itself, the boys and girls were un-happy with the outcome. With six boats representing the high school in New Jersey, only one boat made it past the first heat. The fresh-man girls represented the program all the way into the semi-finals, where they lost, albeit with pride. Rowers like Emily “The Rowing Machine” Steele led the charge through the fierce competition.

At the State Champonships, the girls’ senior eight almost did not qualify for Nationals, when in the final heat they placed seventh overall. However, two club boats had finished ahead of them and were not participants

in the NYSPHSAA, and thus the girls were admitted to Nationals as the fifth place boat. After States, junior Katy Mausert said, “I was so happy that I was a part of this year’s senior eight that made it to Nationals. Our success meant so much to me and I’m so proud of each and every one of our rowers.”

Photo Credit / James AzzarettiROW YOUR BOAT QUICKLY DOWN THE STREAM: The Niska-yuna girls get together after a semi-final appearance at Nationals in Camden, New Jersey. The girls represented the entire crew program with the most success in the entire program.