Emma Cordes

This year, the Phoenixville Phantom Baseball team had a successful season. With starting pitcher junior Jake Waller out for the season due to a broken foot, juniors Devon Landis and Jeremy Burgess stepped up to the challenge. “With mental game help from The Dog (Mike Matson), the season went well,” said Landis. “I felt myself improving and learning after every game we played. It doesn’t matter what sport it is, The Dog knows how to win.” Varsity’s record this season was 8-10, while JV’s record was 6-10 overall. Owen J. Roberts beat Methacton for the Pac 10 Title.

The Phantoms’ most memorable game this season was against one of the team’s toughest opponents, Boyertown. The Phantoms won the 10 inning game 4 – 3, showing just how much effort and teamwork they possess. “That game was epic,” commented Landis. “We were tied for so long then finally won; it was the first time we beat them in eight years! It was just a good overall feeling.”

In order to be a successful team, you need to be led by outstanding coaches. Leading the Phantoms through their victories is head coach Jack Sturgeon, who completed his 13th year of coaching. Varsity assistant coaches Mr. Huston as well as JV head coach Scott Smiley have both been coaching for about five years. “The staff is really pleased with the youth on our team. This year we only had two seniors,” stated coach Smiley. “As a team, we were able to stick together and work together and we were able to win some close games, which I think shows a lot about our team.”

The varsity team’s pitchers included juniors Devon Landis, Jeremy Burgess and Gary Moses. Catching for the team was junior Derek (Ducky) Ryan and sophomore Tommy Romano played shortstop. At first base was senior John Wieland, at second base junior Cal Milano, and playing third base was Jeremy Burgess. Helping out in the outfield was senior Andrew Ewing, with junior Matt Cohen in left field and junior Sam McQuiston in right field. “The team really worked together,” stated senior John Wieland. “We’ve learned from games throughout the season what works and what doesn’t and we just went out there and gave our all every game, just like Mike Matson would.”

Your browser may not support display of this image.Your browser may not support display of this image.Your browser may not support display of this image.Your browser may not support display of this image. The success the baseball team had this year was a combination of good teamwork, leadership and toughness they displayed all season. With the season over, the underclassmen can expect nothing but success for the future. “I was happy with the overall outcome of the season,” said Smiley. “Now the only thing to do is look forward for next year.” Congratulations on a successful season boys and although I will not be managing the team next year, I know you guys will continue to work hard and play hard!

By: Rebecca McCulloch, Grade 12

Your browser may not support display of this image. With the school year winding down, all of the students are preparing for summer, but the seniors are planning for something a little different. Unlike for all of the other students who will return next year, the end of senior year is the end of high school and marks the beginning of the rest of our lives. When we graduate on June 12th ,we will no longer be the Phoenixville Phantoms. Some of us will be the Penn State Nittany Lions, West Chester Rams, Kutztown Golden Bears, Bloomsburg Huskies, University of Delaware Blue Hens, Saint Joe’s Hawks, etc. And after that, some of us will go on to become doctors, lawyers, teachers, engineers, and burn-outs…well, hopefully not. There are so many things to look forward to, but there is also a lot to leave behind. Although we might all complain about Phoenixville, when it comes down to it, we’re all going to miss it.

The Good.

Graduating high school is an exciting time. Everyone is getting ready for summer and college. There is so much to get excited about when thinking about college: independence, roommates, dorms, classes, parties, clubs, sports, and more. Gaining your independence is probably one of the most exciting things about college. No more parents nagging, “Where are you going?”, “What time will you be home?”, “Who’s driving?”, or “Where are you really going?” College offers the freedom to do whatever you want, whenever you want.

Then there is the whole roommate situation. There are two options: room with someone you know or have a roommate selected at random. Either way, it offers the opportunity to get close to someone you already know or to meet someone new. Personally, I think that choosing a roommate at random is part of the college experience. It’s exciting to leave it up to chance.

Another great thing about college is choosing your classes. College is so different from high school because you get to major in the classes you are interested in. Also, each semester students only have to manage four to five classes, whereas in high school we have seven classes at a time. It gives students the ability to focus on each class rather than juggling too many at a time.

But honestly, what every senior is thinking about are parties, sports, and clubs. College has so many opportunities to get involved it’s kind of hard not to. Whether you’re joining a frat or sorority, playing for a sports team, singing in the choir, or just rooting for the basketball team, you’re bound to get involved in some way.

The Bad.

Although graduating and going to college has many perks, there are some downsides. A big one that most people struggle with is paying for college. Over the years college has gotten so expensive that it forces students to base their choice of college by their financial situation. With the current economic situation, many families are struggling to make ends meet and sending children off to college doesn’t make it any easier.

Also, leaving high school can be tough. Some students have become extremely involved and have to leave their teams or the clubs they have joined. It’s hard to say goodbye to teammates whom you have played with for up to four years. You get comfortable with your routine and you know the coaches, so leaving can be difficult. Also, students who have attended different sports games can no longer cheer on the Phoenixville Phantoms as a student at PAHS. Students have also become close with different teachers and administrators, and leaving can be sad.

Finally, a lot of responsibility comes with going to college. This includes paying for tuition, cooking, cleaning, doing laundry, etc. Although college is really exciting, with great opportunity comes responsibility.

The Ugly.

Possibly the hardest thing to do is to say goodbye to friends and family and start a new life. We all have that group of friends that is going to be nearly impossible to leave…those people that you can tell anything to and hang out with all the time. It’s nearly impossible to imagine yourself meeting new people that could ever compare with them. And for those of you who have to break off relationships, that can’t be easy. Saying goodbye to someone that you have been with for so long or even someone who you have just recently fallen for cannot be easy. And for those of you who are going to try to make a long distance relationship work…that won’t be easy either. Although it’s hard, leaving friends, family, and boyfriends/girlfriends we’ll all get through it. We will all go our separate ways and make new friends, but hopefully we will all come back to visit and keep in touch.

Graduation is a big step in everyone’s life and with it comes the good, the bad, and the ugly. Hopefully, we will all graduate, have a great summer, and then start the rest of our lives. It’s going to be hard to say goodbye, but college is going to be a great experience and we’re all going to have a lot of fun. Congratulations class of 2009!

Kathleen Pellegrino

Phoenixville Boys’ Tennis has come a long way since the Pac-10 first started in 1985-1986. Since then the team had a 196 winning streak in the Pac-10 and were Pac- 10 champions every year since, but this year suffered a Pac- 10 loss to Methacton. This is Methacton’s first season in the Pac-10 league. Phoenixville also lost to them last year in a non-league match. The team got a little down because of the loss, but Coach Scoda (and mayor of Phoenixville) was still very proud of the team. He said, “I look back at this team and I think that 196 wins in a row is a great accomplishment.” Coach Scoda has been coaching tennis in Phoenixville for 46 years. His assistant coaches are Mr. Zittel and volunteer Mr. Curley. Former PAHS student and tennis star Wanzell Flemming also volunteered time to lead the team to success.

Despite the breaking of their streak, this season went very well for the tennis team. They finished 7-1 in the Pac-10, 2-2 in the non league, and 1-1 at districts, putting them at 10 -4 overall. Unfortunately, due to the rainy weather the team was not able to play a few of their matches. They usually play about 14 matches, but only played 12 (not counting district matches).

The eight senior players rotated as the team captains; John Reading played at 2nd singles, Yusuf Brown and Steve Ng played at 1st doubles, Mike Reeves and Adam Leggieri were at 2nd doubles, Kyle Taylor and James Churgai were at 3rd doubles, and Kyle Eldridge played at 4th doubles. Not only were the seniors the leaders of the team, but some of the underclassmen acted as leaders as well. Steve Tassone at 1st singles won the Pac-10 Singles Championship. Mike Potts was solid at third singles. At the Boyertown match John McInally, who usually played at 4th doubles, was able to step up into third singles as a replacement and win his match. Freshman Doug Reeves also played in a few varsity matches.

Steve Tassone and John Reading finished 2nd at Pac-10 doubles behind Methacton. They qualified for district doubles, as did Yusuf Brown and Steve Ng, who went undefeated in the league at first doubles. In districts the team beat Octorara 5-0 but lost to Lower Moreland 2-3 in the semifinals. Steve Tassone reached the semifinals of district singles. John Reading and Steve Tassone got to the final of district doubles, almost making it to states.

Sadly, the team will lose eight key players to graduation. The seniors provided some advice to the returning players. Kyle Taylor said, “Looking back on tennis I’ve realized that you can’t just go out there and play, you have to put in the extra work and practice a lot. And make sure that at every moment you’re trying your hardest.” Mike Reeves said, “Take your time in a match, be focused and listen to what the coaches have to say.”

Tennis is a year round sport. Just because the season ends at the end of May doesn’t mean tennis is over. To have experience you have to play a lot. There’s no better time to get ready for next season than right now. A lot of the players will be a part of the Mr. Scoda’s Summer Tennis Program that takes place here at the school. (See Mr. Zittel to sign up!) Coach Scoda hopes the boys (and girls) get a lot of time to play in the summer and don’t put down their rackets.

Next season definitely seems promising with the commitment that the team shows. Two returning juniors will remain the singles players, with Steve Tassone at first and Mike Potts at second. Beyond that, the team has some tough shoes to fill and some rebuilding to do. As for this season, great job boys! Now it’s time to start a new streak of wins!

By: Ryan Tigro

The Girls’ 2009 Softball season continues the long line of success they have had in years past. Finishing the regular season with a 10-9 record (9-9 PAC-10), the girls moved on to face Saint Basil in the District playoffs. After winning 2-0, they played top-seeded Nazareth . After their impressive playoff stint last year and the return of key players, the girls look to make it far in the district and even state competition.

Senior leadership provided the team with a competitive edge. Seniors Ruth Jasienski, Kacie Nemeth, and Miranda Peto, along with juniors Molly Ferguson, Lauren Granese, and Katie Kelly held down key roles on the team. Senior Captain Ruth Jasienski, a softball veteran of thirteen years, was particularly pleased with the season. “There were a lot of ups and downs. Beating Boyertown [one of the top teams and a AAAA school] and just the senior experience was very gratifying,” Ruth recalled of the season. Ruth is going on to Towson University next year and is considering playing softball there.

The team has veteran coach and former PAHS teacher Coach Bogus, who has been coaching softball for 20 years, along with assistant coach, Coach Devlin, to be grateful for a successful organization.

There are plenty of things that the Girls’ Softball team is thankful for, even though they were consistently hindered by rainy days and indoor practice, as well as many injuries to players and the lack of a junior varsity team to provide depth. There was also a hole with the loss of Coach McLaughlin who moved on to be head coach for Perkiomen Valley. Despite all the setbacks, the girls made the best of the season. Be sure to congratulate the girls on a great season.

What are your feelings on the season?

I feel that the season went very well for having such a small and young team. It probably could have been a little better had we a little less injuries, but overall it was pretty good. Myself personally, I had a good season head to head in the pac-10 but it wasn't my most stellar season and it didn't quite live up to my expectations. Districts was a bummer too.

Positives?

There were alot of positives mainly getting to run with my close friends and being able to watch the team develop.

Plans for next year?

I'll be attending Shippensburg University majoring in either exercise science or some sort of engineering. I will be running there also with the opportunity to recieve a scholarship

By Charles Hanlon

On May 17, the Greater Philadelphia Cappies Award Gala took place. For those of you not familiar with the Cappies, they are a group of high school students that review local high school theater productions. At the end of the year, the Cappies nominate the best plays in the area for awards. For such a small school, such as PAHS, in the second largest Cappies organization in North America, to even be nominated is an honor.

However, the Cappies nominated Phoenixville for eight Cappie awards, including Best Production. As part of this nomination, Phoenixville students had to perform a “trailer,” in movie terms, of their play Twelfth Night. After several rehearsals, run-throughs, and a pizza dinner, the Phoenixville nominees got their chance to walk down the red carpet.

This year, of the 8 Cappie nominations, Phoenixville’s Twelfth Night received one award. Owen Howsen took home the Cappie award for Best Featured Actor in a Play. Those roaming the halls can view the Cappie award in the display case outside of Frau Tavani’s room in the main hallway.

As Owen accepted the award, he thanked his friends, family, Mr. Porter, and most of all the cast and crew of Twelfth Night. As he returned to his seat, he was swarmed by his fellow students as they hugged and congratulated him.

As always, the Cappies would not exist without the aid of student critics. Students interested in becoming Cappies should talk with Frau Tavani. With your help, next year’s Cappies can be the best ever!

By Jacob Unson

Of all the students who will graduate this year, special note should be paid to one who would’ve graduated along with her peers had her life not been tragically cut short. Dana Marie Carr, a second grade student in Schuylkill Elementary, was involved in a fatal auto accident in 1999. Those who knew her also remember that she had her heart set on becoming a teacher.

Some time after her passing, the Dana Marie Carr Memorial Fund was established to “award scholarships to two graduating high school students who demonstrate the same potential as Dana Marie did in her short life.” To this end, the annual ‘Run for Dana Marie’ foot race has been held over the past several years in Phoenixville. The most recent run was the 10th and final ‘Run For Dana Marie’ in Phoenixville history, at the end of which her family was presented with a sort of ‘yearbook’ that commemorated what would’ve been her graduation year, and the class she would’ve graduated with. Senior Maygan Henzie, a good friend of Dana Marie, explained that “the run is a special time for all of Phoenixville to get involved and show a unique family that we all truly care.”

Her friends remember her fondly, and regret that her life was taken so suddenly. Senior Lexi Condit, who was a Dana Marie Memorial Scholarship winner, stated “I remember Dana’s generosity! We would play Barbies for hours on end and she would always let me pick out my favorite ones of hers to borrow.” Maygan Henzie added, “Dana was my best friend; I remember things like buying the same shoes together or sitting with her [on the bus] on the way to school. Little things such as these will stay with me forever.” Senior Amy Osterhoudt said of Dana Marie, “She was always fun and happy and easy to get along with; it’s just a shame we didn’t get to know her better.”

Dana Marie’s younger brother, freshman Scott Carr, also offered his memories of his older sister:

“[Dana Marie] was 8 at the time, and I remember that she always played with me a lot… she was kind, she was loving, she shared a lot, she loved everyone… she was the perfect little girl.”

Scott also went on to mention other things his sister did, such as her active involvement in the Girl Scouts, and hanging out with her friends. In her short life, Dana Marie was a social butterfly who loved her friends and family very much, and received the same love in return.

So while Dana Marie Carr is no longer with us physically, her spirit lives on in the memories of her friends and family, and in the ambitions of students who follow in her footsteps.

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Dana Marie in second grade

Alexander Miller

This school year, Phoenixville Area High School was one of the recipients of the Pennsylvania Department of Education’s “Classrooms For the Future” grant. The PDE grant has been going on for three years now. PAHS applied and was accepted during the program’s third year of operation. Although PAHS only got half of the grant because of the volatile economy, it was still a good $158,000 and it was enough to make our science department a more technical learning environment.

Pennsylvania’s goal is to equip every classroom in public school as a classroom for the future. Each grant includes interactive whiteboards, projectors, laptop computers, and wireless access points. PASD had a choice of which equipment to purchase with the grant. They could’ve selected PC’s, however, they chose the Macbook by Apple Inc. PASD started using this technology with the science department because they are re-writing the science curriculum and it is great to write the curriculum around the new classroom technology. Not only did the PDE state grant provide great equipment at our disposal, they provided a new way to teach and learn for the both the educator and the student. Not only has this equipment allowed students to be more interactive with projects and assignments, it has allowed teachers to develop a new and exciting way of learning.

“The state did a great job of supporting the teachers with workshops, resources, trainers, online learning, and providing at least a part-time coaching position for the CFF grant at each school, ”stated Mr. Barron, PASD Instructional Technology Specialist and CFF Coach.

Phoenixville Area School District has also backed the grant by funding and providing internet access, wireless printing capabilities, and technical support. Apple Computer sent Eric Erb, an Apple “genius,” to train science teachers on the new Macbook. He showed the teachers Del.Icio.us, which is a social bookmarking site, and iTunes Music Library, which features educational videos, lessons, and ideas. Eric Erb also taught the teachers how to use iWeb, iPhoto, iMovie, KeyNote, and GarageBand. During in-service days the teachers have been getting computer lessons.

Mrs. Spear, the science department chair, loves the new Classroom For the Future. She said, “I love it. I can change my instruction and have a more student-centered classroom. Instead of just teaching from a textbook, I am teaching from the internet.” Mrs. Spear also stated, “Students have more ways to show me they’ve learned the material, whether it is through iPhoto, or iWeb!”

Phoenixville High School students have used the internet and iWeb to construct curriculum-based web sites on watersheds via iWeb. I also got to experience the useful and productive Classroom For the Future technology. During Biology we were given a podcasting assignment and we utilized the Mac program GarageBand. It was a very interesting a fun project to complete.

I personally feel that this grant will help all of us learn in a more creative and more interesting way. If you love technology, taking a science course next year would be your best bet! Not only do you learn the material in the class you are taking, you get to learn how to use a Mac, and learn how to utilize all of the productivity programs installed on the Macbooks.