The WRSC has made very important changes to the process of their upcoming class Olympics.

Originally the WRSC planned on having trials after school  for the six events they are sponsoring: trivia tournament, art contest, math bee, free throw contest, Jenga contest and spelling bee.  The top competitors from each grade would then compete in the finials of the  Olympics during the last week of May.

Now all events for the Olympics will be held after school during the last week of May. There will no longer be trials for the events, just finals. At these finals one competitor will be crowned the winner in each event.

On Tuesday May 28th the Trivia contest will be held in the Auditorium and all art work for the art contest should be submitted to the WRSC. On Wednesday May 29th the free throw contest will be held in the Gymnasium and the Math bee will be held in the auditorium. On May 30th the Jenga contest will be held in the Gym and the spelling bee will be in the auditorium. The annual WRSC ice cream social will be held on Friday May 31st, where Olympic champions will be honored.  Woodlandstock, where bands and solo artists will preform,   will be held after school that day as well.

“By combining trials and finals the Olympics will be much more efficient and faster,” said Senator Mary Vlamis, who is co-running the event with Senator Lindsay Rodorigo.

There are slots still available in some of the Olympic events. If you are still interested in participating in the games stop by the WRSC office located on the second floor next to room 235.

Blankets for Kids

Each year the Interact club makes blankets for different organizations that help with kids. The Interact club gets all the volunteers together and makes tie blankets. “The tie blankets are a relatively easy craft that warms the hearts of the children we donate them to,” said  member, Casey Stevens. Casey and her mom have been the leaders of this club putting many hours in. The club is a community service based group,  that does all types of  service in order to help others.

The tradition of the creating blankets came from the woodland alumni, Rachel Conti. As a senior in the interact club they have to come up with a new community service idea for the club to do. Rachel’s original idea was to make and bring the blankets to the Ronald McDonald house. The Interact club continues to make the blankets each year but changes the location and organization at which they are donated to. Giving other children in different situations a chance for a moment of happiness.

This event has turned into one of the bigger community service activities they do, drawing in other students who are not normally involved in the club to help.

Stevens said,  ”Giving the kids the blankets puts the biggest smile on [our] face.”

Winning one NVL Championship is always an obstacle. Winning two back-to-back titles is even more of a challenge. But winning three consecutive titles… it’s a feat that not many can take on– except for the Woodland Boys Tennis Team. This season the team is looking to clinch their third NVL title and go undefeated in the NVL for the third year in a row. And they’re looking to expand their success even further into states this season.

Currently, the team is 15-1, having faced only one loss from an out-of-league-team, East Catholic. In the NVL, the team has been able to sweep the majority of the teams with their starting lineup consisting of Kyle Beynor (1), Steve Pec (2), Matt Murphy (3), Patrick Dietz (4), Nick Rioux (5), and Chris Zmuda (6). The starting lineup for the Hawks has remained the strongest in the NVL, but this season, the boys are looking to make this lineup one of the strongest in the state. And just recently, the Hawks proved that they may have the ability to do just this.

Last year, the team faced off against Lewis Mills, an out-of-league team. And unfortunately, the Hawks were handed their first loss that season with Lewis Mills beating them with an overall score of 2-3. This year, however, things had changed and the team was prepared to take on a more difficult challenge. Well-conditioned and practiced, the team faced off against Lewis Mills on May 7, 2013.

Senior Captain Kyle Beynor defeated Trevor Robinson in two sets, 7-5, 7-6. Senior Captain Matt Murphy went on to bring another win home for the Hawks defeating Bill Bentley in a three set match, 6-3, 6-7, 10-6. The doubles team of senior captain Patrick Dietz and senior Nick Rioux defeated Lewis Mills 6-0, 6-1. And the doubles team of Chris Zmuda and Mike Ventimiglia walked away with the final win for the Hawks going 6-1, 6-3.

Overall the team walked away with a 4-1 win and Coach Jim Amato added that he could not have asked for more out of the team.

“The Lewis Mills Match is becoming one of the most anticipated matches of the season,” said Amato, “and this year we had prepared for Lewis Mills long before we ever saw Lewis Mills.”

After walking away with a win over the team that had beat them last year, the team has set their expectations even higher for the remainder of the season. They know that they can spread their success and better the team that they currently are.

With only four matches left of the season before the NVL and state tournaments begin, the Hawks are beginning to adjust their lineup for maximum success in the future.

“We have been working on switching our guys over to who would play primarily singles to doubles to get those doubles teams more experience.  Normally, we reserve the doubles spots for the J.V. players to get them experience on the courts,” stated Amato. “But now we are going to use the doubles teams so that they could go on and win medals and go further into states. Our single players are warming up to get ready to go into NVL’s and win gold and silver medals.”

Beynor will be competing at number one singles for the Hawks in the singles NVL tournament with Murphy at number two. The two are looking to get both the gold and silver metals. Dietz and Pec will be competing for the gold in the doubles tournament at number one doubles. At number two doubles, Zmuda and Rioux will be looking to clinch the silver medal.

As for the state tournament, Amato added the team’s ultimate goal is to qualify as many players into the quarter rounds of the state tournaments and to have at least one player compete in state opens and go all-state for the first time in Woodland Tennis History.

“A state title would be wonderful, icing on the cake, but each team and each athlete has to challenge themselves to get as far they can in the state tournament,” said Amato.

The team will continue to prepare itself for both tournaments in the next couple of weeks. Together, the Hawks are focused on winning their third NVL title, receiving as many NVL medals as possible, and qualifying every member of the team into the state tournament. The Boys will play their final Woodland Match against Wolcott on May 17.

Each November in the week leading up to Thanksgiving, the Woodland Regional Student Council holds their biggest events of the    year–Spirit Week and Homecoming.

After that week, the WRSC usually focuses on more service based activities and less on school spirit. However, this year that is about to change.

“The WRSC has been looking for a good way to continue  spirit activities throughout the year,” said WRSC advisor, Chris Tomlin.

In hopes to do this class of 2016 Senators, Mary Vlamis and Lindsay Rodorigo decided to hold a Class Olympics competition.

“Students from all grade levels will compete in trial rounds for six different competitions,” said Vlamis. “They have a choice of a Jenga competition, a free throw contest, a math contest, a spelling bee, a trivia contest and a visual art expression contest.”

After all the trials are completed the top boy and girl from each grade, and  in each category, will compete against each other during the last week of May.

“The finals will be held during advisory on May 28, 29 and 30^th,” said Rodrigo. “The top boy and girl in each category will be honored with a medal and recognized at the annual ice cream social held in June.”

The WRSC hopes that the Olympics will be a good event to bring the student body together at the end of the school year and Tomlin said, “I’m hoping that the Olympics will become a new school tradition that encourages school spirit.”

Last season, the Woodland Girls Tennis Team struggled to come together. After ending the season with eight wins and nine losses, the girls were determined to make this season a winning one. And just about a little halfway through the 2013 season, the Hawks have maintained a perfect record.

This season the Hawks are using their experience to their advantage. Last year’s lineup consisted of three juniors and six sophomores– making them one of the youngest teams in the NVL. But since the Hawks did not graduate seniors like the rest of the NVL, they easily had an advantage over the rest.

“Last year a big part of the season was working on team chemistry, team commodity, and the team adjusting to a new coach and me adjusting to new players,” said Jess DeGennaro, Woodland Girls Tennis Coach, “I think last year was more of a learning year for everyone where I think this year it’s more about setting goals and winning–having the desire to win.”

The season started off strong for the girls. Within the first three weeks, the girls defeated St.Paul, who beat the Hawks four times last season. They took down the prior NVL Champs, Watertown, with a final score of 5-2 and then went on to crush Seymour with a score of 6-1.

The Hawks have been able to defeat teams by such large gaps because they are strong in both their singles and doubles– which is something they have not seen in many other teams. If one team has stronger singles than the Hawks, the Hawks can rely on their doubles teams to get the wins that they need to clinch a match. For the singles lineup, the girls have junior Julia Lawton at number one singles, junior Rachel Mariano at number two, junior Lauren Tompkins at three, and junior Salma Shitia at four. The silver medalist NVL competitors, senior tri-captain Liz Martin and junior Hope Gavigan, start at number one doubles for the Hawks. Senior tri-captain Emily Rioux and junior Ayah Galal start at number two doubles. And senior tri-captain Jesse Erickson and sophomore Erica Boccuzzi start at three doubles for the Hawks.

“Woodland Girls Tennis team has both strong singles and doubles teams,” said number two doubles teammate Ayah Galal,”a lot of teams, like Holy Cross, have strong singles but we have both.”

So far this season, the Holy Cross Crusaders have been the most challenging opponents. It was the match of the unbeaten until the Hawks swiped their perfect record in their match on April 24, 2013. Although they beat them 5-2, the match was closer than it looked. Individual matches were close, but the Hawks were able to walk away with close matches. Holy Cross was an obstacle and even though the Hawks are undefeated, they are not perfect. DeGennaro added that there are still things they need to work on.

“Now that we are halfway through this season, a crucial point, I think the pressure of being undefeated is affecting our game. Our weaknesses are coming out,” said DeGennaro,  ”Our players are worried about losing, about the record, and it’s affecting their play. And because tennis is a mental sport, it has a big impact on how we play.”

Maintaining the undefeated record can be pressuring, but DeGennaro is looking to help her team past the challenge and is looking to improve to for the next biggest feat: the NVL tournament.

The team will have about two weeks to prepare themselves for the tournament and if they want to win, they will have to work even harder.

“We can’t stay status quo, we can’t be satisfied with the way we’re staying, we need to constantly be improving if we want a chance at the NVL title because I know other teams and other plays have improved,” stated DeGennaro,  ”We can’t play how we’re playing now and expect to win the title and go undefeated.”

With nine wins and zero losses, the team has qualified for the state tournament. In the next couple of weeks, the Hawks are looking to clinch the Copper Division Title along with the NVL title. But this week, the team will be preparing themselves to play the teams in their toughest teams in their division again including St. Paul, Watertown, and Seymour. NVL’s will take place on May, 16, 2013 and the finals will take place on May, 18, 2013. The girls are hoping to be in the tournament and take the NVL title the same way they did three years ago. If they continue to improve, nothing should stand in their way.

Monday boys baseball has a game against Naugatuck at home. On Wednesday they face Holy Cross at home and on Friday and they face Sacred Heart away.

Monday girls softball faces Naugatuck home. On Wednesday they face Holy Cross away and on Friday they face Sacred Heart home.

Boys and Girls tennis have matches on Monday, Wednesday, and Thursday.

Monday after school the Student Council is holding there Earth Day Cleanup at Matthies Park. The chess club will be holding their tournament after school in room 231.

On Tuesday there is Woodland for Women Worldwide meeting. Juniors in National Honor Society will also meet after school. AP signups will also take place in the library.

On Wednesday there will also be AP signups to take place in the library.

By: Katie Drewry

“Will you go to prom with me?”

A fairly simple question on the surface. One phase, one punctuation mark.

Yet, this question is not as simple as it seems. It is the most extravagant invitation to the most extravagant high school event of the school year.

And this prom season asking that  “simple” question has become more creative than ever before.

It all started in early February, four months before the May 10^th prom, when senior boys began racking their brains for ways to ask that special girl to prom.

Steve Baeder  decided that he wanted to ask his date to prom formally and in a way that would be sure to make her day a little bit better.

“I decided to decorate her locker early in the morning, so when she came into school it would the first thing she saw,” said Baeder. “Usually everyone’s in a bad mood in the morning, so I figured surprising her in the morning would brighten her day.”

Baeder’s date, Kim Thrasher, responded exactly the way Baeder had hoped.

“I was just really excited when I opened my locker,” said Thrasher.

Although Thrasher was overjoyed with the way she was asked to prom, she said that would have accepted an invitation to prom any way she was asked.

“Even if he just texted me I would have gone with him,” said Thrasher. “But, it was a really nice surprise.”

Stephanie Dumond, a senior who was on the receiving end of a creative prom invitation,  had a different opinion about being asked to prom.

“I told my boyfriend that I really wanted him to ask me to prom in a creative way because I knew he could come up with a good prom proposal,” said Dumond.

Dumond’s boyfriend, Anthony Scirpo, chose to hide a box of candy inside Dumond’s locker.

“There was a note on the box that said to open up my favorite candy,” said Dumond. “So I opened my favorite one and there was a note that said “Prom?” in it.”

Matt Gregis also decided to use his girlfriend, Becca Grabowski’s favorite food to ask her to prom.

“Becca was getting her nails done so I went in to the sushi place next door and ordered her favorite sushi,” said Gregis. “And I asked them to write “Prom?” on the plate with the sauce that the usually put on the sushi.”

Grabowski was really surprised when the waiter brought over their food.

“At first I was wondering why both our sushi was on one plate, but then they served it and I was so excited because I wasn’t expecting it,” said Grabowski.

For Greggis it was challenging to come up with a way to ask Grabowski to prom.

“I saw a bunch of different things so I wanted to do something completely different than everyone else,” said Greggis. “I chose to use sushi because it was unexpected and one of her favorite things.”

Ian Chamenko also wanted to ask his date, Amber Tolboe, to prom in a completely different way.

Since both he and Tolboe work at Hot Tamale Restaurant he chose to ask her to prom there.

“The staff at our work helped me set up a scavenger hunt all over the restaurant,” said Chamenko.

Tolboe had to find 8 card that were hidden in various places around the restaurant. Each card had one word on the front and a clue on the back.
“All the cards spelled out Amber will you go to prom with me,” said Chamenko. “I was hiding with the last card so when she got to the last card I was there holding flowers.”

To Chamenko, it was important to ask Tolboe to prom in a public setting.

“I knew it would be more fun in the crowded restaurant and she wouldn’t be able to say no in front of a lot of people,” said Chamenko.

Rahmi Rountree wanted to ask his date, Natalie Veneri, to prom in an exciting  and entertaining way too.

During half time of one of Rountree’s basketball games Rountree and four other boys took the court.

“I asked some of my friends to wear shirts that spelled out ‘Prom?’,” said Rountree. “They stood in front of the bleachers and I walked up the bleachers with flowers to ask her.”

Whether it is in front of a crowd at a sporting event or with a note in a locker it is the thought that counts.

On Sunday April 28th the Prospect Public Library will be be hosting a softball event sponsored by Woodland’s softball team. Woodland’s team will lead the kids in drills and practice and a possible scrimmage. The event is for boys and girls ages 6 to 12. The event will take place from 3 to 4 pm at Caplan Field on Route 69. The rain date is tentative for May 5th. Kids are asked to bring their own gloves the wiffle bats and balls will be supplied. To register for the event please call the Prospect Library at 2037583001 , stop in, or email libraryprospectad@yahoo.com. A permission slip will also need to be filled out for all those participating.

The Woodland Boys’ Baseball Team is looking for a fresh start this spring. They had a bit of a rough season last year, but the team believes that they have everything they need in store to be successful this year.

Last season the team had a 7-13 record, according to Head Varsity Coach Mike Kinglsey they are focused on improving that record.

“We lost a lot of close games,” said senior captain Dave Uhl. “Our defense was not as strong as it could have been, so we need to clean that up a little bit this season.”

With all the returning players that the Hawks have this season Kingsley and the other coaches see them having success.

“Dave Uhl, Anthony Scirpo, Anthony Ross, Nick Brown and Steve Baeder all have tremendous experience,” according to Kinglsey. “I think with their help this team will be successful.”

Being successful to the Hawks means having a fighting chance at an NVL title and to compete in the Class M State Tournament.

To make it to the State Tournament the boys need to win 8 games.

According to Uhl,

“We’re ready to do whatever we have to do to help the team win.”