Dec. 23, 2008

A win is a win.

That's the way St. Benedict's has to look at how things wound up on the final day of the Kreul Classic in Ft. Lauderdale.

The Gray Bees missed their first nine shots, and it didn't get much better after that. But the all important last shot, a driving layup by Aaron Brown with 9.2 seconds left, found its mark to give St. Benedict's a 53-52 over a stubborn Dillard squad from the host state in the championship game.

Brown's heroics were set up after Dillard made one-of-two from the line with 19 seconds left to take a 52-51 lead. Tristan Thompson pulled down the rebound after the second missed shot from the charity stripe and fed a streaking Brown, who didn't hesitate while driving to the bucket for the winning hoop.

Dillard had one last chance to win the game, but a harried shot from inside the lane missed the mark just before the final buzzer sounded.

The Gray Bees (7-0) looked as though they may pull away with this one after taking their first lead of the game, 35-32, at the end of the third quarter on a three-pointer by Steve Frankoski. But after scoring the first two buckets of the fourth quarter on layups by Brown and Myck Kabongo, Dillard began hitting some treys and the game was nip-and-tuck the rest of the way.

Brown finished the contest with 10 points, while Thompson and Kabongo led the Gray Bees with a dozen points each.

The St. Benedict's wrestling team also got off to a slow start yesterday, but, unlike the hoopsters, coach Mike DiPiano's troops managed to pull away by the end and cruise to a relatively easy victory, 48-24, over Clifton in Dalton Gym.

"We gave a good effort," said coach Mike DiPiano. "Our upper weights did a solid job getting us back in the match after we got behind and we kept it going once we got the lead.

After falling behind 18-3, the Gray Bees won nine of the final 10 bouts to seal its fifth victory of the season.

Turtgogtokh Luvsandorj started the run with a pin in 2:20 at 160 pounds and Chris Dowdy completed it with another in 3:18 in the final bout at 130 pounds.

Xavier Vassell (215 pounds), Riad Abu-Smail (HWT), Zach Jacobs (119) and Rob Ranalli (125) also recorded falls for the Gray Bees. Jacobs recorded the quickest pin of the day by locking in a cradle and decking Ahmad Obeidallah in 36 seconds.

Dec. 20, 2008

Despite crowning only one individual champion, the Gray Bees wrestling team still managed to grab of piece of the team championship Saturday night at the Kearny Invitational.

Turtgogtokh Luvsandorj scored the lone title with a technical fall in the championship bout, which allowed the Gray Bees to pull into a first-place standoff with St. Joseph of Montvale. Both teams scored 129 points.

The key to St. Benedict's point total was the fact that 11 of coach Mike DiPiano's wrestlers each won at least one bout in the 18-team tournament.

"We didn't wrestle great - not even good - and still won the tournament," said DiPiano. "It just shows how good this team can be."

The lone consistent, thus far for the Gray Bees, has been Luvsandorj. The reigning Prep All-American, who won the Caruso Invitational title at St. Benedict's, claimed his second crown by besting Dan McDermott of St. Joseph in the final, 25-10, for a technical fall in 5:50 at 160 pounds.

Luvsandorj, who was voted the tournament's Outstanding Wrestler, was not only the lone champion, he was the solitary finalist. Xavier Vassell was the only one of six wrestlers to win his consolation match when he placed third at 215 pounds. Rob Ranalli (125 pounds), Chris Dowdy (130), Naeem Boucher (135), Jeff Johnson (171) and Riad Abu-Smail (HWT) all placed fourth. Bobby Bah lost his first match, but came back to win his next three to place fifth at 152 pounds.

"We are still making a lot of basic mistakes," DiPiano said. "It will be addressed in training and will be better the next time we compete."

The basketball team continued to dominate the opposition, especially in the first quarters, in the Kreul Classic in Fort Lauderdale, Fl. After posting an 82-52 victory over Florida's Cardinal Gibbons in first round on Friday night, the Gray Bees exploded out of the gate again on Saturday and cruised to an 84-59 triumph over another foe from the Sunshine State, St. Thomas Aquinas, in the quarterfinals.

Coach Dan Hurley's club busted open a 30-14 lead in the first quarter against St. Thomas behind senior Tamir Jackson. The Rice-bound shooting guard scored 18 of his 25 points in the opening stanza, and connected on all four of his three-point attempts.

It was reminiscent of Friday night when the Gray Bees shot a staggering 20-of-24 in the first half while opening up a 49-29 led over Cardinal Gibbons. The only misses before intermission came from beyond the three-point arch.

Tristan Thompson added 23 points and eight rebounds against St. Thomas, while Steve Frankoski hit four treys to finish with 12 points and Mike Poole contributed with nine rebounds.

St. Benedict's state Prep championship soccer and cross country teams were recently honored by The Star-Ledger during All-Star week.

The cross-country team, which won its fourth straight state Prep title, had Matt Jensen and Jared Mason on the All-Prep First Team. Garland Miller was a Second Team pick, while Daniel Gaspar and Sergio Wilcher each were Third Team selections.

The Drama Guild proved it can put on a terrific show with its performance of Frank Galati's adaptation of the John Steinbeck novel, The Grapes of Wrath on Nov. 20-23.

The first striking innovation of the production was its unique seating arrangement. The seats were elevated on the sides of the stage, making the performance more intimate and realistic. The large auditorium became smaller with the audience sitting up on stage allowing the actors to be easily heard.

The story is set in the 1930s in the Oklahoma Dust Bowl. The play began with preacher Jim Casey, played by Dylan Knox, recounting his loss of faith in God and mankind - a theme featured throughout the play.

The strongest part of the play was the acting. Nigil Whyte, Roger Rose, Elliot Hyppolite were excellent in the roles of Tom, Ma, and Pa Joad - a family down on its luck and migrating to California for work.

Amir LaSure gets a nod for his two minor roles, the eccentric Grandpa Joad and Floyd Knowles. The narrator, Jerome Burwell, also did a great job telescoping the long journey in words. Unfortunately, some actors did not enunciate clearly and loudly, which made it impossible to understand them, even in such an intimate setting.

The set was masterful in its simplicity as it was primarily a makeshift truck. And some touches, like the excellent banjo and guitar music, made the play feel like Depression-era Oklahoma.

The audience was compelled and interested most of the time. The performance played to full houses almost every night and the audience remained quiet and respectful throughout the majority of the performances. They truly felt the pain of the desperate and luckless Joad family. If you couldn't see The Grapes of Wrath, you really missed out.

--By Newton Portorreal '11

Dec. 7, 2008

The St. Benedict's wrestling team came into the Caruso Invitational with a plenty of question marks, especially after graduating four of last year's All-Americans.

Coach Mike DiPiano got some much-needed answers in the way of "grit" when the Gray Bees did better than last season by placing second in the season-opening event at Dalton Gym.

"This is a totally different team from last year. We are going to have to fight for every point this year," said DiPiano. "We may not bring home as many medalists per tournament, but if we fight and work harder than our opponents collectively, we can do well."

St. Benedict's actually took home more medals than a year ago - 10 wrestlers placed in the top 3 - and placed one spot higher with its runner-up finish to Maryland's McDonogh in the team standings. St. Benedict's finished with 211 points, 37 1/2 behind McDonogh.

The Gray Bees received expected victories from senior Turtgotokh Luvsandorj, the lone returning All-American, and junior Rob Ranalli at 160 and 125 pounds, respectively. The Gray Bees also got runner-up efforts from Naeem Boucher (135) and Riad Abu-Smail (Hwt.).

DiPiano's club got a huge boost from Xavier Vassell, who brought home a gold medal at 215 pounds.

Vassell, a senior who bided his time wrestling behind Olushola Brown the last couple years, proved he's ready to assume the mantle at 215 pounds by posting three pins. He built a 6-0 lead before posting a fall over McDonogh's Roman Braglio in the final.

"I lost every match I wrestled in this tournament last year," Vassell said. "To come back a year later and win the whole thing is a really big way to start the year. I never stopped wrestling after last year ended and I hope this just shows all my hard work is paying off."

Vassell wasn't the only improved wrestler in the lineup. Ranalli and Luvsandorj each captured the championship trophy after placing second a year ago. But DiPiano was especially pleased when five wrestlers - Matt Aaron (112), Zach Jacobs (119), Ochirbat Byanjargal (145), Jeff Johnson (171) and Isiah Cromwell (189) - came back from losses to place third in the tournament.

"Wrestling back after a loss is not an easy thing to do, and we scored a lot of team points in our wrestleback matches," DiPiano said. "Tournaments can be won by wrestling back hard. We need to take today's performances and use them as a stepping stone for the future."

The Basketball team posted a pair of victories over the weekend in the Marshall County Hoopfest in Benton, Ky. The Gray Bees, ranked No. 4 in the nation by ESPN, posted a 72-56 victory over Provine of Mississippi on Friday night before coming back on Saturday and beating No. 23, Whitney Young of Illinois, by a 69-55 margin.

On Friday, junior forward Tristan Thompson scored 18 points and hauled down 12 rebounds, while sophomore point guard Myck Kabongo registered 11 points and Lamar Patterson added 10.

The Gray Bees jumped on Provine early with a high-pressure game, scoring eight points off turnovers that led to a 24-12 first quarter showing. St. Benedict's never looked back. Thompson and Tamir Jackson scored seven points apiece and Mike Poole chipped in with six during the uprising.

St. Benedict's also built up a double-digit lead in the early going Saturday night against Whitney Young. But, unlike Friday, the Gray Bees couldn't sustain the edge.

Hurley's club built a 53-37 lead through three quarters, but Whitney Young closed the gap to 58-54 with only 2:15 left in the game.

The Gray Bees (3-0), however, closed the game with an 11-1 run. Patterson started the uprising with a nice drive to the hoop and Thompson ended it with a thunderous dunk off a put back with only 15 seconds left.

Thompson led the balanced scoring attack, pacing four playing in double figures with 22 points. Jackson had 16 points, Kabongo had 12 and Gilvydas Biruta had 12 points and 10 rebounds. Biruta got his first extended playing time of the year since suffering a preseason ankle injury.

Whitney Young's 6-3 guard Marcus Jordan, son of Michael Jordan, scored 12 points in the game. But unlike his dad, Marcus' showboat dunk in the first quarter missed its mark when the ball clang off the back of the rim and led to a break by St. Benedict's.

--By Ron Jandoli

Nov. 23, 2008

St. Benedict's was treated to another visit by an Olympian on Friday, while some of the greatest writers to ever pen a story about such athletes, lent some advice later in the day to aspiring scribes from the school newspaper.

Steve Mocco, who, in 1997 at St. Benedict's, began building his scholastic career as one of the greatest wrestlers in New Jersey history, cancelled his flight back home to Iowa for chance to return to the place he first enrolled as an eighth grader. He was a member of Team USA that recently competed in Beijing, China during the Summer Olympics.

While that was going on, Noreen Connolly took a couple of her students from The Benedict News - Emery Ahoua and Ramaad Williams - up to Wayne and William Paterson University to take in a lecture by three of the best sportswriters/columnists in America - Frank Deford, Mike Lupica and Selena Roberts.

Nov. 14, 2008

Dr. Robert Curvin was one of the most prominent Civil Rights activists in New Jersey over 40 years ago. The advocacy group he led - Congress of Racial Equality (CORE) - and those like it are part of the reason so many minorities have the opportunities that weren't available when he was a younger.

But he also believes the youth of today needs to continue that push in making the world a better place.

"Everyone needs to look around them and find ways to help the change continue," he said. "We all, in our own sphere, can do that by changing the quality of life around us for the better."

Dr. Curvin was on hand to convey his message to the students at St. Benedict's on Friday in Conlin Auditorium. The students in Richard Lorenzo's Newark Studies Program are currently working on the plight of advocacy groups and their impact on change; as well as studying about the recent election of Barak Obama as the 44th President of the United States.

Change is something a younger Curvin fought for before, during and after the Newark Riots - a memory that still resonates strongly with him. He saw firsthand the tension erupt around him when the riots started and continued for five days in the city streets back in July of '67. Despite all the carnage, Curvin, who was the Essex County founder and leader of CORE, had the wherewithal to continue toward his plight for the group's beliefs - to apply the principles of nonviolence as a tactic against segregation.

Curvin helped CORE in its fight against New Jersey Bell and a number of other major companies that discriminated. He was right in the middle of picketers and saw numerous friends arrested and punished fighting for their convictions.

"I'd like to think what I did back then was somehow tied into all the progress we've made and continue to make. Our journey needs to continue to be a successful one."

Dr. Curvin implied that his crusade reached a pinnacle on Nov. 4 when Mr. Obama was elected into the White House, calling the victory, "the most significant in the last 100 years."

He likens the campaign of the President-elect to that of the Civil Rights Movement back in the 60s. Only in this movement - blacks, whites and everyone in between - has joined as a united front for change.

He also reiterated the words he penned so eloquently in The Star-Ledger a few days earlier that "all black parents can hold out to their children the powerful lesson of accomplishment that based on intelligence, hard work and perseverance, one can aspire to anything, to any job in any profession.

"Obama can inspire a lot of people - 'If he can do it, so can I.' This one person did what we didn't think possible when I was younger," said Dr. Curvin, who pointed out that race played a part in his vote, but also noted that he didn't support the Rev. Jesse Jackson in his presidential run.

Talking about Mr. Obama elicits a sense of accomplishment for Dr. Curvin - making it sound as if maybe this one achievement alone made his plight all the more worthwhile.

"The election represents a long journey of change," said the soft-spoken Curvin. "But it doesn't mean that it stops here. There's a lot of work to be done."

--By Ron Jandoli

Manny Alvarez, our much loved head of maintenance, died Nov. 13 at Raritan Bay Hospital.

Head of maintenance barely begins to describe the work Manny did at St. Benedict's Prep and Newark Abbey. He came to us in March 1992 through a connection with the Frankoski family and worked day in and day out sorting out just about any problem anywhere on the property. If something was broken - from doorstops to boilers, Manny could fix it. And if he couldn't, he could find someone who could - and always for a price that was well below what the contractor thought he should get.

Assistant Headmaster, Mike Scanlan, who worked with Manny for many years overseeing every aspect of the physical plant and was his close friend, said, "He did the kind of job so that we didn't really know everything he did until he stopped doing it. That speaks to how many little things he just did because they needed to be done. He was very good at staying on the myriad of little things."

Manny was also an invaluable part of the renovation planning eight years ago; he planned and made the arrangements with contractors for big jobs like roof repairs. He kept on top of the numerous working parts of our facility to see to it that they were fixed before they had a major breakdown.

Taking care of everything about the physical plant was Manny's passion, but so was taking care of whatever we - his friends and colleagues - needed. That meant he jumped our cars when we had a dead battery, opened our rooms when we got locked out, made our keys (and remade them when we lost them). When anything broke or didn't work, the first words out of our mouths were, "Call Manny."

Former student and current teacher, David Rodriguez, was the cause of many calls to Manny. "During my four years as a student here, I gave Manny plenty of work to do; from replacing broken glass in the HAB, to stopping the water flow from water pipes I broke," he said. "From the minute he met me, obviously because I had broken something, he gave me the nickname 'Revoltoso', which in Spanish means menace."

The two had a special bond, not just because David broke so many things but also because Manny, like David, was a "Gallego," someone who came from the northwest part of Spain, and knew David's father from living or socializing in the old Ironbound Section.

Manny's skill at his work and his willingness to take on even the messiest task, was not only what made him such a beloved person here. Manny was a gentleman. He was calm and courtly and treated everyone with respect and kindness. If he was angry or impatient, he never showed it to any of us.

It seemed as if he didn't know how to complain. After he was diagnosed with cancer about two years ago, he underwent chemotherapy and he still would show up here and greet you with a tip of his baseball cap and a big smile.

Jim McKerry, who like Mike, spent many hours of the day working with Manny, said Manny is irreplaceable. "I just miss him - he was good friend." And he indicated that he and Manny shared a special language. "You know," he said in his unmistakable Scottish burr, "sometimes people didn't understand Manny or understand me but we always understood each other." Turning to one of the students, Jim said, "Say a wee prayer for Manny."

We know that Manny is at peace with his creator. And his family - his wife and daughters and grandchildren and his family here at St. Benedict's are left to mourn him. But perhaps now is the time to yet again "call Manny" and ask him to "say a wee prayer" for us.

--By Noreen Connolly

November 2008

Brother Patrick Winbush, O.S.B., the Director of Vocations here at St. Benedict's, will be honored Saturday as one of the first recipients of the Bishop Joseph A. Francis Award.

The Award, given in honor of the first African American Auxiliary Bishop in the Archdiocese of Newark, will be presented to Br. Patrick at a luncheon for him and four others beginning immediately after a noon Mass at the Cathedral Basilica of the Sacred Heart.

Bishop Joseph A. Francis, who served as the Auxiliary Bishop in Newark from 1975 until just before his death in 1997, was a great friend and supporter of the community that encompasses Newark Abbey.

"I'm honored and humbled," said Br. Patrick, "but I'm also surprised to receive this honor at such a young age." Br. Patrick, 28, is being honored by the Office of Black Catholic Ministry for making a difference in the lives of those he ministers, especially the youth of St. Benedict's and beyond.

"In this day and age when all of our young people are looking up to celebrities and, many times, getting the wrong message, its extraordinary that they have a role model such as Br. Patrick," said Sister Patricia Lucas, Director of the Office of Black Catholic Ministry, who is the organizer of this event. "He is someone who symbolizes what we are looking for."

Br. Patrick, who entered the Benedictine Monks at age 18 in 1999 and professed Solemn Vows before Abbot Melvin in 2005, established the Fishers of Men vocation discernment group at St. Benedict's. He also handles a variety of other "jobs" outside the walls of the Abbey and the Archdiocese of Newark, extending his vocation programs in the Dioceses of Paterson, Metuchen, New York and Brooklyn.

In May, Br. Patrick was appointed to the Vocation Council of the Archdiocese of New York and also serves on the Black Religious Committee for the National Religious Vocation Conference.

October 2008

The first Newark Urban Education Conference was recently held with a number of quality speakers and presenters who helped plant a seed for future communication between educators and the like from the city and beyond.

And it all unfolded at St. Benedict's

"This is a great opportunity for educators and people who promote education in our city to come together and create a dialog that can help our young people grow up," said St. Benedict's Headmaster Fr. Edwin Leahy. "We are at the beginning of something here that can translate into something much bigger in the future."

The Conference's goal was focused on bringing Newark's community of middle and high school educators together to share "best practices" and think together about how to improve opportunities for young people in Newark.

"The program is exciting as it brings together educators in Newark - public and private, elementary through college," said Dr. Tom McCabe, a history professor from Rutgers-Newark. "It's always great to learn what other people are doing, especially those just around the corner or down the block."

Dr. Joshua Aronson, an associate professor of psychology and education at New York University, was the keynote speaker. Aronson, an author who's internationally known for his research on minority achievement, gave a provocative slide show on stereotypes and their misconceptions. He showed that typical theories of stereotypes can be swayed depending on the circumstances and psychological factors concerning things such as standardized testing and other determining methods.

Aronson's lecture/speech was followed by a presentation by Dr. Clement Price, a Professor of History and Director of the Institute on Ethnicity, Culture and the Modern Experience at Rutgers University-Newark. He gave a qualified account on the recent hiring of Newark's new Superintendent, Dr. Clifford Janey. Price Chaired the search committee put together by Governor John Corzine, which included Fr. Edwin.

"To bring people in such as Dr. Price and Dr. Aronson just says something about Newark and says something about us in wanting to put something like this together," said Fr. Edwin, who gave a tremendous amount of praise to Solomon Fleckman, Dean of Faculty at St. Benedict's who spearheaded the NUEC.

The series of "best practices" workshops where conducted in classrooms at St. Benedict's by teachers throughout Newark's public, charter and independent schools. Aside from a number of quality presenters from the host school, other participants came from the Newark Board of Education, North Star Academy, KIPP Schools, Oliver Street School, Rutgers-Newark, St. Peter's College and Teach for America to name a few.

There were also a number of representatives from various groups in the city, including the Upward Bound program at NJIT, the Victoria Foundation, the Newark Museum, the North Ward/Robert Treat and Chris the King.

"I wasn't necessarily drawn to the conference as a professor. I just wanted to support something new and needed," said McCabe, a administrator and assistant soccer coach at St. Benedict's. "I hope it grows into a big event on Newark's educational calendar when colleagues across the city can meet, exchange ideas and learn from one another."

Fleckman gave a huge "Thank You!" to all the presenters at the Conference, especially his colleagues and alumni from St. Benedict's: Glenn Cassidy, Dr. Lopez, Fr. Albert, Ivan Lamourt, Pam Wye, Pat Flynn, Tony Carnahan, Kevon Chisolm, Jermaine Monk, Lorraine Elias and Dr. Wolf. They all made large sacrifices in the midst of everything else they were doing to put together and deliver engaging presentations.

Oct. 21, 2008

As an Olympic champion who has soared to celebrity status, Cullen Jones could have easily forgotten where he came from.

But he can't.

"This is the place where I learned how to be who I am today," said Jones, who made his first trip back to St. Benedict's since winning Olympic Gold in Beijing.

Before a standing-room-only crowd and to chants of "U-S-A" and "Cullen," Jones was on hand Tuesday to give a little piece of himself back to his alma mater and the students who came to admire his accomplishments - and his Gold Medal.

"It's insane," Jones said of all the attention he received prior to entering Colin Auditorium for an assembly in his honor. "I just want them (students) to know that I was one of them not too long ago and make them realize nothing is impossible."

The 24-year-old Jones, who helped the United States 4x100-meter relay team win gold medal and shatter the world record in one of the most memorable events in Summer Olympics history in Beijing, told the students at every turn to "Dream Big," which has become his own personal motto since graduating from St. Benedict's in 2002.

Despite being tugged on and pulled in every direction and signing autographs from the time he stepped into the school in the morning until he left in the early evening, Jones remained as humble as the day he left The Hive. He even joined the water polo team in the pool for a late afternoon practice.

"Some of the life lesson's I learned came directly from this place and they'll stick with me forever," said Jones, who gave an empathic "No!" when asked if he thought he could have become an Olympic champion had he not attended St. Benedict's.

"St. Benedict's is as much a part of my success as anything I've done," he said. "Sure, there were 16 years of training and endless hours in the pool, but anything I ever accomplished is in one way or another related to this place."

Fr. Edwin, long-time Headmaster and mentor to Jones, made a point on mentioning that Jones' father, Ron, and mother, Debra, had a great deal to do with the molding their son's disposition as anyone. Ron Jones died of cancer when his son was only 16 years of age.

Many of the students were wondering why Jones signed his autograph with the number 41 underneath. It's a tribute to his father, an avid basketball player who wore the number during his playing days. Cullen also pays homage to his father with a tattoo on his back of a large cross with a sun, representing his father's strength, with "Jones 41" inscribed inside.

His former coach, Glenn Cassidy, Director of Student Services at St. Benedict's, was beaming with pride while chauffeuring his former pupil from one function to another, including numerous television and print interviews, throughout the day. Jones even told the kids at water polo practice, "Listen to Cass. He knows what he's talking about. I'm proof."

"I always knew Cullen as down to earth and a humble guy," said Cassidy, who, himself, got choked up when Jones reaped praise upon his former coach. "At every turn, he just showed how grounded he remains and I think his faith and upbringing has a lot to do with that. It was just incredible to watch the way he interacted with all the kids."

In a day and age when high-priced athletes have egos bigger than their paychecks, Cullen Jones was a welcomed relief. And, through-and-through - more than he may have even realized before the celebration - Jones remains part of the Gray Bees family forever.

"I can't explain how happy I am to be back here," said Jones. "I feel like I'm home now."

Oct. 27, 2008

When Rick Jacobs took over the coaching reigns at St. Benedict's in 1985, he just wanted to establish a solid program, one that could eventually contend for a state title.

He could never have envisioned what has transpired over the last 24 years.

Jacobs has done more than just contend for a state championship - he has captured a staggering 21 in all, including 19 straight. His teams have reeled in an unprecedented six National Championships while creating a venerable who's who of former players that have gone on to grace national and professional teams worldwide.

"I came here with a purpose to coach high school soccer," Jacobs recalled. "That was it - to build a program the school could be proud of.

"Obviously, it has become much more than a team or a program for me. It's about this place, St. Benedict's, and the history that came with it before I got here and will continue on long after I leave. It's about stability and prosperity; and I'd like to think what we built here reflects what the school is all about."

And it's not always about soccer.

Jacobs may not always show it in the public eye - as some of his sideline rants may attest - but he cares about his players with compassion unlike any other high school coach. He's a friend, confidant, counselor and even a surrogate father to most of the players who walk into his life.

He's a coach that has been responsible for teaching his players a lesson in life.

"I think, above all, Rick's understands being a coach is only part of his job. His influence on kids' lives goes way beyond soccer," said one of Jacobs' former players Claudio Reyna, a 1990 graduate of St. Benedict's, who was labeled as the greatest scholastic player New Jersey has ever produced before distinguishing himself as the best American to ever grace the pitch. "He wants his players to be good kids and understands what it takes to do that. He has been a long time friend, mentor and adviser."

When Jacobs takes the field at 5:30 p.m. late Wednesday afternoon, he will be in search of victory No. 500. If his team gets past Hun in the Prep A semifinals, Jacobs will become the seventh coach in New Jersey history to have ever reached that milestone.

"The significance of 500 will probably be one that I remember the guys who I first meet here and every guy who's had a chance to come through here since then," Jacobs said. "It's about them and what they have accomplished. Not me."

Five hundred victories - it's quite a feat if you consider the numbers. Jacobs, in 24 years, has left the field only 25 times as the losing coach. His 499-25-13 ledger gives him, by far, the highest winning percentage (.929) of any coach in America.

"More than anything else, I think it speaks volumes for staying the course and continuing to do things a certain way and pushing the ceiling to be as good as we can be every year," said Jacobs. "I think the thing I'm most proud of is that we've set the bar so high every year to chase perfection and caught excellence. We've asked so much around here and the kids have always answered the bell."

Jacobs has seen a lot happen over the years. His immediately family, besides his players, has grown to include his wife, Teresa, his 16-year-old son, Zach, and 12-year-old twin daughters, Samantha and Alexandra. He feels it all has allowed him to become a better listener and communicator with all those involved.

"I know I'm not the same as I was over 20 years ago. Hopefully I'm different in a better way," he said. "There's a perspective that comes with age. There's a view of the game and a view of the kids that comes with experience that you just don't have when you're younger. It's a wisdom of time I think hopefully I've gotten some of that wisdom in terms of how to treat the kids and let them understand that they need to have the respect for everyone around them."

Asked if he's surprised by his achievements, Jacobs said, "I'd be a fool if I thought I could have accomplished this."

How much does the 54-year-old have left?

"I told Father (Edwin) when I give him the program back, he was going be proud to where it was. I wasn't actually thinking we'd still be talking about it 24 years later," Jacobs said. "Right now, it's about being successful the rest of this season and then it'll give me a chance to look back at it like I do every season. I'm still excited about the prospects of next year and I'll keep going as long as the excitement is there."

--By Ron Jandoli

Oct. 25, 2008

Coach Rick Jacobs wouldn't have it any other way.

St. Benedict's must win Wednesday to keeps its drive for a 20th straight state championship alive. A victory over Hun in the state Prep A semifinals would also be the 500th in Jacobs' 24-year career.

"The fact that it's an elimination game - why shouldn't it be?" said Jacobs. "We've played in so many big games over the years; this one should be no different. My hope is that the kids will focus on trying to get through this and take care of it - if they know?"

Of course they know their coach is in search of a milestone victory.

"It's a pleasure to be on the team that has a chance to be part of history," said junior midfielder Bonny Londono, "but we have to be ready to play and take it like another game and not let anything else get in our way."

The team did just that in getting victory 499 for Jacobs, posting a 6-0 victory over Vernon on Saturday. Playing in a deluge at NJIT, the Gray Bees received a goal and an assist from Pedro Santos, Walter Rodriguez and Marc Cintron.

Santos and Jossimar Sanchez scored in the first seven minutes to ignite a six-goal first half for the Gray Bees. Cintron, Rodriguez, Luis Bejarano and John Martinez capped the first half uprising, the largest single half explosion by the Gray Bees (17-1) this year.

The victory raised Jacobs' career mark to 499-25-13 and the quest for 500 will commence at 5:30 late Wednesday afternoon at NJIT.

Oct. 22, 2008

If only they were all this easy.

Coach Rick Jacobs picked up career victory No. 498 on Wednesday when St. Benedict's rolled to an easy, 7-0, victory over Pennsylvania's Penn Charter at Stevens Tech in Hoboken.

Jacobs, who owns the highest winning percentage of any coach in America, raised his 24-year record to 498-25-13 and will look for victory 499 on Saturday against Vernon. Game time is 3:30 p.m. at NJIT.

If the Gray Bees get past Vernon, Jacobs will attempt to become the seventh coach in New Jersey history to reach the 500-victory plateau in the state Prep A Tournament semifinals against Hun at 5:30 p.m. on Wednesday, Oct. 29, at NJIT.

In Jacobs' latest victory, Beau Gordon scored twice, Pedro Santos had a goal and two assists and Victor Daza scored a goal and contributed an assist for St. Benedict's (16-1), which struck for five goals in the first half against Penn Carter. Walter Rodriguez scored his team-leading 12th goal of the year, while Jossimar Sanchez added his third and Naeem Boucher scored his first of the campaign.

Oct. 20, 2008

GREENVILLE, Del. - St. Benedict's Rick Jacobs, who has the highest winning percentage of any coach in the nation, moved to within three of career triumph No. 500 Monday night when the Gray Bees posted a 2-1 victory over Salesianum at DuPont High School.

Jacobs, who, in his 24th year at the helm, has a career ledger of 497-25-13, will attempt to gain victory 498 at 4 p.m. tomorrow against Penn Charter at Stevens Tech in Hoboken. The Gray Bees will then face Vernon 3:30 Saturday at NJIT and, if all goes accordingly, Jacobs will be shooting to become the seventh coach in state history with 500 victories in the state Prep semifinals on Oct. 29.

On Monday night, Victor Daza matched his season total with two goals when St. Benedict's (15-1) won its 15th game against only one defeat. Daza opened the scoring when he one-timed a shot off a cross by Marc Cintron in the 17th minute. The Gray Bees built a two-goal cushion just 90 seconds into the second half. Daza held off a defender after corralling a header that was flicked on by Pedro Santos and fired a low shot under the goalkeeper. Salesianum (8-3-2) cut the lead in half on Chaz Wilson's 53rd-minute goal, but goalkeeper Brandon Paul made the one-goal spread stand by making an outstanding save later in the match on another shot by Wilson.

Notes: The Gray Bees may squeeze in a makeup game against Hudson Catholic by the end of this week. If that is the case, Saturday's match against Vernon may become the one in which Jacobs chases history. Check back periodically for any scheduling updates.

The 16th St. Benedict's Prep/Newark International Soccer Cup had its official kickoff on Columbus Day before a large public gathering at the Prudential Center.

A press conference, which was put together jointly by St. Benedict's and the New Jersey Ironmen, not only promoted the soccer tournament on Nov. 3-10, but was bolstered by a visit from "Survivor: Africa" winner Ethan Zohn, a former assistant coach a FDU. Zohn was in town promoting his Grassroot Soccer United Dribble, a 550-mile journey with a soccer ball at his feet that started in Boston and will end in Washington D.C. to raise awareness and money to fight HIV/AIDS in Africa.

"It's great to be here with the all the young people in Newark and the soccer players from St. Benedict's," said Zohn, as he spoke to the audience at The Rock. "It's really important what we are doing and using soccer is a great way to help achieve our success."

The press conference was also attended by Newark Councilman Oscar James, who was so impressed with St. Benedict's appeal on the city, he plans on setting aside a day for Gray Bees and its International Cup during tournament week - either at City Hall and/or during a reception at the Prudential Center on Friday, Nov. 7.

Also on hand promoting the International Cup, besides some of the St. Benedict's players and coach Rick Jacobs, were Fr. Edwin and soccer great and St. Benedict's alumnus Claudio Reyna, who drew just as much or even more attention than the "Survivor" star when people realized he was in attendance. The tournament proper will include six-time National Champion St. Benedict's, the Under-18 clubs from Chelsea FC (England) and the National Teams from Mexico and Trinidad & Tobago. All games will be played at NJIT's Lubetkin Field.

In a special project that combined painting with community service, the Art students from St. Benedict’s created an unique mural for the Mount Carmel School and Preschool over the Summer.

Katharine Thornton, Director of Mount Carmel – wife of Paul Thornton '63, VP of Development at St. Benedict’s – was looking to embellish the walls of Mount Carmel's new location in the old St. Valentine's School on Hoover Avenue in Bloomfield. She reached out to Pam Wye-Hunsinger, Chair of the Art Department at St. Benedict’s, and came up with a splendid project.

In the midst of Mount Carmel’s move from their long-time Newark location into the more spacious former Catholic school in Bloomfield, the St. Benedict’s students transformed the plain white walls of the school into a work of art.

But prior to lifting their first brush, the St. Benedict’s students studied about the challenges facing the Mount Carmel preschoolers - particularly along the spectrum of autism - to better understand the needs of the children. Wye-Hunsinger, guided her students in their design of an "Alphabet Mural" that covered the two walls of a corridor that spans the length of the school.

Since many of the children do not have language skills, Katharine Thornton and the speech therapists at the school recommended that each letter be accompanied by an object familiar to the children: A is for Apple, B is for Birds, C is for Cake, D is for Dog.... The Art students kept their designs simple – all the letters were done in the same clear style and were located at the eye level of small children. The paintings of everyday objects had happy associations (I is for Ice Cream...) and were painted in bright colors.

St. Benedict's students rose to the challenge and not only created engaging designs but completed the painting of the entire alphabet mural in time for the end of First Term and the return of the Mount Carmel preschoolers for the start of their new school year.

The student muralists were: Raymond Arriagada, Juan Carlos DeJesus, Chris Dowdy, Wilfrid Hilaire, Okhumale Igetei, Love Mansuy, Idris Mitchell, Robert Reddick, Ricardo Reyes and Ishmael Solomon.

The St. Benedict's water polo team got an inauspicious start to the weekend. Playing without its seniors, the Gray Bees dropped a 7-5 decision on Friday to a Trinity (N.Y.) team it defeated earlier in the year.

The troubles continued for coach Glenn Cassidy's club on Saturday, but not in the pool. The Gray Bees, scheduled to play three games in the Viking Tournament at Perkiomen Valley, was regulated to two after a blowout of their van's tire on the way to the tournament in Collegeville, Pa. St. Benedict's missed its first game against Reading, Pa., but, once in the pool, Cassidy's club defeated the Perkiomen JV, 14-11, and Upper Merion, 11-2.

Mike Ciocola and Juan Carlos Dejesus each deposited five goals during the team's fifth victory of the season against Perkiomen. Dejesus produced a hat trick to spark and decisive verdict over Upper Merion on Saturday night. Goalies Yomi Onadipe and Jared Pietz combined for 18 saves when St. Benedict's raised its record to 6-11.

Sept. 2008

Some of the nation's top collegiate minds joined the legendary Hubie Brown in putting together another memorable Garden State Coaches Clinic before a capacity crowd at St. Benedict's Prep on Sept. 26.

The Fourth Annual Clinic drew over 500 coaches from as far away as California and the National Team of India to be part of the action in the HAB Gym. The guest speakers/clinicians, besides Brown, a Hall of Famer, included coaches Rick Barnes of Texas, Bob Huggins of West Virginia, Vance Walberg of UMass and Bill Self, coach of the reigning NCAA champion Kansas.

"I've probably been to 50 or so clinics in my career and this is always by far the best clinic as far as coming away with usable information," said Brian Chapman, an assistant boy's basketball coach at Cranford High, one of the earliest stomping grounds in Hubie Brown's illustrious coaching career.

"It has to be the highlight for any coach in New Jersey to have something like this in our own backyard," Chapman added. "The quality of coaches they have here each year is just outstanding. You can't beat it."

St. Benedict's coach Dan Hurley and Dan McLaughlin, '70, are the brainchildren of the Clinic, which has quickly become the second largest fundraising event at the school.

"Right out of the gate this was successful and it has grown to become one of the hottest commodities in the country," said McLaughlin, a member of the St. Benedict's Board of Trustees and a self-proclaimed basketball nut. "You get good speakers that people want to hear - from national championship coaches to some of the best tactical guys in the country - is what draws people here every year."

For the most part, the faculty and staff at the school - aside from the tireless efforts of the coordinators Mary Hauck and Candace Bradsher - the Clinic went about without much fanfare from inside the St. Benedict's community, aside from a passing glance from the students as they migrated in and out of classes past the gym.

But, while coaches from throughout the state and beyond ascended to pick up a number of pointers from top-flight coaches, there was one student who had a particular interest in the proceedings.

St. Benedict's blue-chip prospect Tristan Thompson, who's listed as the No. 5 rated player in America for the Class of 2010, got a first-hand look at how his future college coach conducts his drills. Thompson, a 6-9, 200-pound power forward, gave a verbal commitment to attend Texas last year and will play for Barnes in two years.

"It's good to see him come here and be a part of something like this," Thompson, a junior, said. "I was really interested in seeing his philosophy at work. I consider it an honor to be able to see all the coaches who came here and just being in their presence was unbelievable."

Although Barnes had a special appeal for Thompson, most of those who attend each year are treated to basketball genius when listening to Brown. The 75-year-old basketball prophet, a former collegiate and NBA coach and a premiere television analyst, has been a staple of the Garden State Coaches Clinic since the beginning.

"I just love teaching," stated Brown, a Jerseyan himself, who grew up in Elizabeth and graduated from St. Mary of the Assumption High School. "The fact that St. Benedict's asked me on board, it's been an honor and a pleasure coming here. This has always been a famous place in my mind, not just in sports, but for the quality of education. I respect that tremendously."

Brown is expected to be a big part of the Clinic as it moves forward. Hurley and McLaughlin have already attracted some of the biggest names the game has to offer, including the last two national championship coaches in Self and Billy Donovan of Florida, as well as Duke's Mike Krzyzewski, Connecticut's Jim Calhoun, Louisville's Rick Pitino, Syracuse's Jim Boeheim, Memphis' John Calipari, the New Jersey Nets' Lawrence Franks and many more.

"There's always a challenge to get the top-notch coaches, but they are usually willing to come without question as long as they are available," McLaughlin said. "I think as long as we keep hosting it, people will continue to be breaking down the door to be part of it."

Oct. 1, 2008

The St. Benedict’s soccer team, despite giving up its first goals of the year, built a comfortable lead and rolled to its 10th success in as many outings this season with a 4-2 victory over Germantown Academy on Wednesday in Fort Washington, Pa.

Walter Rodriguez scored the only goal in the first half before Marc Cintron and Bonny Londono scored after the break to give the Gray Bees a 3-0 cushion 11 minutes into the second half. Londono capped the three-goal surge by connecting on his second goal of the year, which came off a direct kick from 35 yards out.

A slight lapse led to the two goals for Germantown (8-2-2). The first came off and errant punt by the goalkeeper Carlos Suarez and the second occurred off a scramble in front to cut the lead to 3-2 in the 64th minute. The Gray Bees, however, sealed the outcome when Rodriguez converted a header off a cross from Marc Cintron with just a little over 11 minutes left.

“Certainly we’re upset about letting in the goals,” said assistant coach Jim Wandling. “But at the end of the day, we’re concerned most about getting the victory.”

The cross country team ran in the Passaic County Coaches Invitational at Garret Mountain last weekend and, once again, received a strong effort from its newcomers. Danny Gasper finished sixth with a time of 11:45.58 and Miles Clark wound up 16th (12:26.92) over the 2.25 mile course in the freshman race.

In the 5K varsity race, Garland Miller placed 18th (14:45.83), three spots ahead of Mikolaj Mika (17:58.97).

The water polo team was also in action over the weekend, competing at the Beast of the East Tournament in Pennsylvania. The Gray Bees won two of five matches over two days, besting Calvert Hall, 19-6, and Mechanicsburg, 16-13. Coach Glenn Cassidy’s club also lost a couple close matches – 16-12 to Germantown and 14-13 to Wyoming Valley. In the Mechanicsburg victory, Juan Carlos Dejesus led the charge with four goals , while Spencer Vespole and Harquan Rasberry each produced a hat trick.

Sept. 20, 2008

Despite missing a number of players and maneuvering through constant lineup changes, the St. Benedict's soccer team is showing more cohesiveness every time it takes the field.

Saturday was a prime example. With two key starters still sidelined with injuries and another moved up top, the Gray Bees put forth a dominating, 4-0, victory over Pennsylvania's Central Dauphin in Harrisburg, Pa.

Walter Rodriguez scored twice and assisted on another to help the team remain perfect after five games.

“We had great preparation for this game," said coach Rick Jacobs, who took his team to Pennsylvania the night before the game to avoid the three-hour bus ride the day of noon-time game. “We got after (Central Dauphin) early and stayed that way for the most part. I was very pleased with the effort."

The Gray Bees, playing for the second straight game without Jossimar Sanchez and third straight minus J.P. Rosero, was the beneficiary of an own goal for the second straight outing. This time it opened the scoring when Victor Daza drove a low serve across the goal mouth that was deflected into the goal in the seventh minute.

Marc Cintron, who was moved from the midfield into an attacking role in the second half of a 3-0 victory over Blair in the last game, stayed up top this time around. The move seems to be paying off - not only for the technically sound Cintron, but for Rodriguez as well.

The two veterans of the team, each in their fourth year, combined for the second goal when Rodriguez found Cintron at the far post with a cross and a header to make the score 2-0 in the 17th minute. Rodriguez then was sent in alone on goal off a beautiful through ball by Wagner Podroso and slipped the shot past the keeper during injury time, just before the half expired.

Rodriguez also capped the scoring for his first multiple-goal game of the year off a feed from Daza with only a minute left in the contest.

“I feel comfortable with the other guys I've been playing with up front, but Marc and I have more experience together and that helps out a lot," Rodriguez said. “I just know where he's gonna be and he's gonna know where I am."

Jacobs also has been pleased with the committed, total-team defensive effort by his club. Brandon Paul picked up his fourth shutout (he didn't play against Blair) and his frontmen, Bryan Gallego, Mike Stalker and Jon Sandoval, were outstanding. So was the play of Bonny London, the junior who has filled in at defensive center midfielder in the absence of Sanchez.

“The defense was just rock solid," Jacobs said. “Our positioning and decision making was right on - we really kind of punished them for 80 minutes and that's what I was really impressed with more than anything else.

The freshmen on the cross-country team, namely Jared Mason, continue to show that St. Benedict's future on the course and track is very bright. Mason, “looked very fit and under control," according to coach Marty Hannon, in the New Jersey Catholic Track Conference's Bernie Magee Class Meet at Warninaco Park.

Mason won the Freshman Race, set at 3,500 meters, in 11:52.9 - the best time in at least the last decade - and beat out the other 301 runners in the race. As a team, the Gray Bees finished sixth with 206 points. Asides from Mason, Danny Gaspar also posted a top 10 finish with a ninth place finish in a time of 12:50.4. Miles Clark (70th), Kolonji Foster (94th), Justin Nwadiozor (95th), Kendall Kirkland and Kenyon Wright rounded out the runners that competed for St. Benedict's.

Garland Miller came home with a medal in the sophomore race, placing 14th.

“All of these young kids competed so well," said Hannon. “It shows great hope for the future for many years to come."

Sept. 16, 2008

Most schools stress the importance of getting students involved. But St. Benedict's may have just taken it to a new level in landing the latest leaders of the Music Department, Dr. Jeremy Fletcher and David Fitzpatrick.

Fletcher, the new director of instrumental music, and Fitzpatrick, the head of the vocal program, were each persuaded the join the St. Benedict's staff after consultations with students - not administrators - of the music program here at St. Benedict's.

“The interview process here has been the most unique I've ever had," said Fletcher, an accomplished performer - most notably on the saxophone - and educator. “Having the kids interview me during the process definitely sold me on the school. Seeing their dedication to the program is something that every teacher loves and something I can work with right away. That was what swayed my decision more than anything else."

Fitzpatrick, a New Jersey native, who graduated from Rancocas Valley High School before attending the prestigious Westminster Choir College in Princeton, had a number of job offers on the table and was unsure about his workplace - until his sojourn with the students.

“Meeting the students? That was pretty much the turning point for me," Fitzpatrick said. “After I spoke with them during my interview process, that made me realize this is the place I need to be."

The students who were so persuasive - Kendall St. Ange, Chris Lowe, Phillmon R. McFadden, Jr., Aaron Walker, Onaje Smartt, Tyler Rice and Jeff Williams - did so because of their passion for music. They wanted to be mentored as they had been under the tutelage of recently departed staffers Peter Holsberg and Russell Marsh.

“It was pretty difficult when both our teachers left," said Smartt, a percussionist. “But we were glad to be part of the method involved getting the new people in here. We wanted to show them how much we care about the program here and wanted to continue doing what we've been doing under the other teachers."

Williams, a senior, feels that, although he learned a great deal from Marsh and Holsberg, having new leaders may only enhance the students capabilities.

“We wanted to show them that we were dedicated to the program and let them know that we're willing to learn new things," said Williams. “Even with it being so early, they are already opening new doors for us in music theory and things like that."

Fitzpatrick was the one who really needed to be coaxed. Besides having other job offers, he was across the country in Arizona.

“If you would have told me I would be back in New Jersey again, I would have said ‘No way!' Especially being so far away at the time," admitted Fitzpatrick, who earned his Masters Degree in Choral Conducting at Arizona State. “But the whole experience of getting to know the guys first was kind of amazing. They wanted to know who I was opposed to what my musical talents are. They got inside of me, which I found very interesting."

This type of informal interviewing process - bringing in students to help lure prospective teachers into The Hive - may become a staple of the hiring procedure instead of a one-time deal.

“This is the first time we've ever tried something like this," said Dean of Faculty Solomon Fleckman, “but it went so well, I'd like to try it again in the future."

--By Ron Jandoli

Sept. 13, 2008

If this is supposed to be one of the most important seasons in the history of the St. Benedict's soccer program under coach Rick Jacobs, then Saturday night's game against Millburn was perhaps the biggest game in the so-called make-or-break year.

It was Millburn, after all, which handed the Gray Bees its first loss of 2007 and sent Jacobs' club on a downward spiral it could never recover from.

Lightning, however, wouldn't strike twice as Jacobs' team took a huge step in what it hopes to be a redemption year with a 2-0 victory over the Millers before a boisterous crowd of 1,500 under the lights in Millburn.

“It's a game that we felt so horrible about for an entire year," said Jacobs referring to last season's 1-0 setback to Millburn on opening day. “It sent us on a terrible spin for whatever reason. But tonight, we righted ourselves."

St. Benedict's (2-0), although up, didn't seal the outcome until 34 ticks were left on the clock. Clinging to a 1-0 lead - thanks to an outstanding save from goalkeeper Brandon Paul - the Gray Bees' Branko Dugalic one-timed a shot off a corner kick by Victor Daza that found the back of the net with authority.

Until that point, there were some anxious moments for the St. Benedict's faithful. None of these as nerve-wracking as when a Millburn attacker found himself alone in front with only Paul to beat. But the senior captain snared the shot with a cat-like dive to his left with only 8:36 left in the contest to preserve the one-goal cushion.

“We didn't ask him to do much for us tonight," Jacobs said of his goalkeeper. “But he did what we needed him to do in order for us to win."

The Gray Bees opened the scoring on J.P. Rosero's dazzling goal in the 27th minute. Rosero, despite being draped by two defenders, went horizontal to convert a diving header off a cross by Walter Rodriguez. Rosero, a much-maligned figure a year ago, has scored the game-winner in each of the first two games.

“I put a lot of pressure on myself last year and didn't come through like I should have," admitted Rosero. “I'm much more confident now and ready to fight all year."

The cross-country team proved it will once again by a force to be reckoned with this year, despite losing All-American Brandon Jarrett, who is now at Harvard.

Coach Marty Hannon's squad took the season opening Newark Academy Invitational in Livingston by besting Pingry, 64-70. Pingry is favored to win a state title.

Senior Matt Jensen ignited the total team effort by placing fifth with a time of 16:28. The underclassmen, including three promising freshmen, provided the lift coach Marty Hannon was looking for from his youngsters the entire preseason.

Freshman Jared Mason finished in 12th place in 17:07, just three seconds ahead of the next finisher and teammate, Garland Miller, a sophomore. Two more freshman, Sergio Wilcher (16th place in 17:25) and Daniel Gaspar (18th-17:38) were followed across the finish line by senior Mikolaj Mika (22nd-17:47).

“Before the meet, the team talked about our strengths and the fact that we had seven runners that are running very tightly in time and that is what it takes to be successful in cross-country," said Hannon. “Everyone ran very well, (even) though the freshmen were nervous about their first-ever high school cross-country meet. A great team effort and very balanced performance from a very young team."

The water polo team looked strong out of the gate Friday, building a, 6-0, first quarter lead against Pingry. But the well went dry, with the team scoring only one goal the rest of the way and the Gray Bees dropped an 8-7 verdict in Martinsville.

Coach Glenn Cassidy's club, however, rebounded on Saturday and beat Mechanicsburg, 18-12, in Pennsylvania. Harquan Rasberry scored five goals, while Thomas Conte scored four times. Rasberry and Conti each scored twice and Gionvanni Urquilla and Courtney Mosley each had one when the Gray Bees opened another big lead in the first quarter, 6-1. This time they held on though, as goalies Jared Pietz and Yoni Onadipe split the time in net and combined for 12 saves.

The Gray Bees had another match later Saturday and bowed to Haverford, 17-11. Rasberry again led the assault for St. Benedict's (1-2) with four goals and Spencer Vespole chipped in with three.

By Ron Jandoli

Sept. 1, 2008

Tony Carnahan isn’t what you’d call an avid rider.

In fact, he didn’t even own a bike until May.

Yet, Carnahan led a group of family and friends on a 100-mile journey through the suburbs of Philadelphia on Aug. 24 for a fight that truly hits home for the Director of College Guidance at St. Benedict’s – cancer awareness.

Carnahan and nine of his closest allies, including former St. Benedict’s mentors, Tom McCabe and Marc Onion, formed Team Vitality to take part in the LIVESTRONG Challenge. The Century Ride is the signature event for the Lance Armstrong Foundation.

But what started out a leisurely ride to help battle the fight against cancer, quickly turned into an emotional rollercoaster of reflection for Carnahan.

“The first 40 miles or so, I just took off from the group and was thinking a lot about the people who go through the trials of this disease,” Carnahan said. “I thought about what I went through and how much all the people around you go through in this battle. It got very emotional and I expended a lot of energy.”

It’s easy to see why the ride was so poignant for Carnahan.

He is only two years removed from hearing the dreaded words from his doctor that he had cancer. Just two days before his 32nd birthday – and while preparing for a wedding less than two months away – he underwent surgery to remove the malignancy.

“When you hear cancer, you think of disbelief and the worse will come of it,” recalled Carnahan. “But I did some pretty quick research and I came to realize I was gonna overcome it.”

Following the surgery, Carnahan underwent radiation treatment. One of the chemotherapy sessions came only two days after his Sept. 30, 2006 wedding to his bride, Megan – when most “Just Married” couples are celebrating their honeymoon.

“It was pretty tough on me, but I was putting Megan through a lot,” said Carnahan. “Here’s a woman preparing for her wedding and this happens. But she’s been my rock through it all. She went through every chemo session, every doctors appointment and was always there when I needed a lift.”

Carnahan, whose cancer was caught early in Stage 1, finished chemo that December and he and Megan finally got to enjoy their honeymoon in the Spring of ’07. He has been cancer free since and his wife is currently pregnant with their first child. When asked if he knows or is going to find out the gender of his baby beforehand, Carnahan quipped, “I figure if cancer can surprise me, so can a baby.”

Carnahan, who’s been active in the American Cancer Society events, decided to take part in his first LIVESTRONG Challenge because he, like Lance Armstrong, suffered from testicular cancer. The Lance Armstrong Foundation inspires and empowers people affected by cancer. The LAF believes that unity is strength, knowledge is power and attitude is everything.

“The reason I got drawn to the LAF was because of what (Armstrong) went through. It was easy for me to identify,” explained Carnahan, who drew inspiration from all of Armstrong’s books on surviving cancer. “His book(s) really got me through some tough times.”

Carnahan and Team Vitality – besides the early reflection by the leader himself – stayed and strayed together, for the most part, during their 100-mile trek through the “burbs” of Philly. One of the riders and more experienced peddlers of the group, Tom McCabe, said he and Carnahan “probably did about 103 miles” because of his miscalculation and wrong turn during a stint in the route.

All the members of Carnahan’s team who embarked on the journey donning their red bike jerseys, made it to the finish line together; 7-plus hours after the excursion had started. Team Vitality raised $6,550 of the $3 million that was taken in from the event for the LAF.

“It was just a surreal day. Just hearing all the stories from the other people what they went through was really touching,” said the 34-year-old Carnahan, who just went for a routine check-up with his doctor last week and remains cancer free. “All the support I got from the riders on our team has just been overwhelming. I can’t thank them enough.”

The emotion of the day grabbed all the riders of Team Vitality, including McCabe, Carnahan’s predecessor as Director of College Guidance at St. Benedict’s.

“The lasting impression was at mile 99,” explained McCabe, who, like Carnahan, doubled as assistant soccer coach during his stint here, “We all re-grouped and followed Tony across the finish line – a red line of friends and family riding toward others they love. Tony grabbed two yellow roses, one for his mom and the other for his expectant wife. I learned a lot (that) Sunday, but the most important lesson I learned is that cycling is a family sport.”

As for his future prognosis, Carnahan is confident.

“I caught it early and the survival rate for my type is over 90-percent,” he said. “My life hasn’t really changed a ton. Just my overall outlook – I live for the moment. I was one of the lucky ones.”

--By Ron Jandoli

Aug. 28, 2008

A recent trip to lower Manhattan for a visit to the Wall Street Journal by the students of The Benedict News offered more than just a tour of a newspaper’s inner workings.

Sure, there was the typical site of a newsroom – endless cubicles occupied by various employees tirelessly peering at their computer screens as another deadline awaits.

But this trip was much more than the mundane, day-to-day operations of the world’s leading business publication.

It was a lesson in life and the hard work it takes to achieve success.

The very accommodating lecturers from the WSJ staff – from journalists Teri Agins and Sam Walker to design specialists Susan McDermott and Paul Antonson – each gave incredible insight and sound advice to the wide-eyed scribes of the student newspaper.

“You need to be sophisticated on how the world works,” said Agins, the senior writer of fashion for the Journal’s special sections. “When you have a better understanding on how things work, you’ll have a better understanding in life.”

Agins, who also authored a book “The End of Fashion: The Mass Marketing of the Clothing Business,” gave her poignant remarks in the WSJ conference room. The 54-year-old veteran also spoke about the business in which she has made a living, the last 24 of which has been at the paper located adjacent to the World Trade Center site.

“It’s not about the money,” she said. “It’ about getting to the truth. As a reporter, we have skills that most people don’t. We can write and we can analyze. But you have to ask the questions – most people will tell you anything. Knowledge is power and what we write matters. So make sure you do the research – you have to check and double check your sources.”

McDermott, a design editor, says her job as layout specialist for the Weekend Journal section of the paper, is part of every day life for each one of us.

“Design plays into your life in many ways. You’re making choices – what tie you wear, what car you drive – they are all part of your design,” said McDermott, who toiled in a smaller market in Staten Island before landing her dream job. “If you want something bad enough, you have to work really hard to achieve it. Everybody loves working here.”

One of the 11 students on hand, Amir Malcolm, was especially impressed with McDermott’s main tool, a PC with In-Design installed as the layout software for the paper. It’s the same program used to design The Benedict News.

“It was incredible to learn that we use the same program as a paper as huge as The Wall Street Journal (a world-wide daily circulation of more than 2 million),” said Malcolm, a junior. “It was really interesting to learn what goes on in a newspaper.”

The students were also treated to the interactive side of the paper where Antonson puts his artistry to use. Drawings and caricatures don’t get as much credit in the newspaper world as a whole, but are an integral part of its heartbeat. Antonson’s job as an Interactive Artist is mainly used for the WSJ’s online edition, but his creations do get some play in the print edition.

“A lot of people don’t realize how much goes into the drawings,” said Malcolm. “I thought it’s done by a computer when it’s actually done by a person.”

Then there was Walker, an editor who gave the students a compelling look at the sports side of the WSJ. In fact, he explained why a paper chiefly built for the business community would cater to the sports world.

“It was to bring more new readers to the paper,” Walker explained of the Journal’s expansion to include sports over the last decade. “We’re here to cover it a different way – the business in sports. Your job, like most journalists, is to figure out a ‘sticky’ story – listen to what people are saying and challenge yourself to got out there and make the story interesting.”

Some students even drew inspiration from the speakers and may aspire to be journalists beyond The Benedict News. “It really sparked my interest in pursuing journalism as a career,” said senior Dylan Knox. “The people were very supportive and even offered to guide me in college searches for schools with great journalism programs. It was a great experience.”

Senior Santiago Naranjo knows there is a lot of hard work to succeed in the field.

“I believe that the journalism world is whatever someone makes of it,” said Naranjo. “Some of the greatest experiences could be obtained there, but all depending on how the person drives the job.”

Notes: The trip was put together by Benedict News adviser Noreen Connolly, whose relationship with WSJ writer/editor and Newark native, Barbara Martinez, led to the day-long event. Martinez, who has been to St. Benedict’s numerous times since Connolly became Adviser of school’s newspaper 10 years ago, is a strong advocate of scholastic initiatives and arranged all the particulars for the day. The Students involved in the day’s session besides Malcolm, Knox and Naranjo were Steven Abalo, Brendan Coble, Spenser Vespole, Ramaad Williams, Marion Wilson, Nick Yulan, Jose Santamaria and Jorge Estrella.

--By Ron Jandoli

July 2008

With cameras flashing, reporters jotting down notes and an assembly of important guests, Claudio Reyna’s emotional July 16 announcement of retirement looked like that of any other superstar athlete.

Except, he made his announcement here, at the home of the Gray Bees, where Reyna’s illustrious career began to take shape.

“I had the option of Giants Stadium or at the Red Bulls (complex),” said Reyna, a 1990 graduate of St. Benedict’s, who became one of the most decorated players in U.S. history. “The perfect place to have the conference was at St. Benedict’s. It’s like my second home.”

Claudio launched his soccer career here in 1987.

“By 1985-86 we had good program,” recalled Jacobs. “In 1987, I got a phone call from his father that he wanted to play here.”

Reyna transferred from Jonathan Dayton High School in Springfield to St. Benedict’s and, as they say, the rest is history.

In his three years in a Gray Bees’ uniform, Reyna helped to lead the team to a 66-0 record. This was a team packed with future professional players including Gregg Berhalter and Petter Villegas.

Claudio’s leadership began to attract national attention. During his senior year, he was named Gatorade National Player of the Year and was the only soccer player selected twice as Parade Magazine’s National High School Player of the Year (1989 and ’90). He was later tabbed as The Player of the 20th Century in New Jersey.

After St. Benedict’s, his stature as the best player in the nation continued to grow at the University of Virginia. He led the Cavaliers to three successive NCAA Championships.

After UVA, he made the unusual leap to play professional soccer in Europe. American players rarely played in Europe then, so Claudio was an exception. He really had to prove himself.

“When I first started to play in Europe, it was at a time American players were laughed at,” said Reyna, who smashed that moniker by being named among the best players in Germany and also obtaining the captain’s arm band twice overseas.

After 14 years playing professional soccer abroad on such European sides such as Bayer Leverkusen, Rangers, Sunderland and Manchester City , he returned home in 2007 to play in the MLS with the New York Red Bulls.

Plagued by injuries suffered during his European stint, he played few games for the Red Bulls. During his time recovering from a disc injury in 2008, thoughts of retirement began to trickle in.

“It came to me a few weeks back, I made the decision after talking to my wife and family,” he said.

Now having retired from professional soccer, he plans to direct his time to other matters.

“I’ve been asked to be on the Board of Trustees at St. Benedict’s,” said Reyna, who was appointed to the St. Benedict’s board back in December. “I will also stay involved with Red Bulls and focus on my foundation.”

He recently started The Claudio Reyna Foundation with business partner Emory Plitt with an enormous amount of support from Jacobs, Headmaster Fr. Edwin Leahy and St. Benedict’s. The foundation will focus on bringing top-level soccer personnel to inner city youths. One of their first tasks is to start an academy-like operation at St. Benedict’s, which will be open to the city residents.

As the press conference was wrapping up, Claudio was asked how he felt about his retirement.

“Today is a really happy day, I don’t know why I’m crying.”

--By Kwasi Agyemang '08

As Claudio Reyna finished off the round of questions reporters asked, here are few some words people had to say about him:

“I knew he was going to be special, but even I didn’t think it would get to this. Playing in four World Cups, Captain on the U.S National team and 12 years in Europe , I would’ve never seen that.”

- St. Benedicts Head Soccer Coach, Rick Jacobs.

- Red Bulls Sporting Director, Jeff Agoos

- MLS Commissioner, Don Garber

July 2008

Former St. Benedict’s athletes Cullen Jones and Steve Mocco are currently preparing for the Beijing Olympics as members of the U.S. team in swimming and wrestling, respectively.

Marty Williams Jr. has his sites set on the Olympics too – just not as soon as the aforementioned Gray Bees stars. His best chance will come in four more years – in 2012 when the quadrennial event is staged in London.

Williams, who became the first New Jersey fencer to win four state Prep titles before receiving his diploma from St. Benedict’s last month, took a huge step in realizing his ultimate goal by capturing a national fencing championship over the July 4th weekend in California.

Williams, who is headed to Sacred Heart University in Connecticut, won the Junior title in the United States Fencing Association Summer National Championships on Sunday, July 6, at the San Jose Convention Center.

“I really can’t put it into words how this feels,” said Williams, who won his first national tournament after coming close numerous times. “I’ve waited a long time for this. Now I know I can win at this level and that gives me a great deal of confidence for the future.”

Williams’ immediate future includes heading to Sacred Heart where he will compete on an NCAA Division 1 level. His college coach, Dr. Thomas Vrabel, was on hand to witness his prized recruit performing at the national level and was, naturally, thrilled with the outcome.

“It was a very exciting tournament to say the least. Marty was a very serious and focused young man who performed at a very high level,” Dr. Vrabel said. “We are very pleased to have someone of his national and international ability on board at Sacred Heart.”

Williams, whose fencing prowess has taken him to events throughout the world, came into the Summer Nationals ranked sixth in the USFA Junior point standings. He cruised through the pool round of Sabre competition and gained the No. 1 seed heading into the Direct Elimination, championship round. He earned the top spot by racking up 30 touches against only six in the opening sector.

In the direct elimination portion of the event, Williams sailed through the first two rounds before taking out Avery Zuk of Indiana, the No. 2 ranked fencer in the point standings, in the quarterfinals, 15-12.

Fellow New Jerseyan, Aleksander Ochocki, was eliminated by Williams in the semifinals, 15-11, before the St. Benedict’s star took on Daryl Homer of New York in the final. Homer came into the Summer Nationals as the No. 1 ranked fencer in the USFA point standings.

Williams, however, was unfazed and realized his national title by recording his 15th touch to post a 15-13 verdict. It’s a title he’s been dreaming about since finishing second two years ago in the Summer Nationals.

Williams said he was driven to excel in this event after watching members of the current Olympic Fencing Team compete in the Las Vegas Grad Prix two weeks earlier.

“It inspired me a lot and made me realize that if I can keep working hard and listening to my coaches someday I can be an Olympian,” said Williams. “I’m not that far away from those guys and can be there in no time if I just keep performing at this level.”

July 2008

Claudio Reyna has wanted for some time to give something back through the game that has given him so much in life.

The opportunity has finally presented itself.

Reyna, who has enjoyed immense success in soccer since graduating St. Benedict’s in 1991 – he was even lauded by his peers as one of top 25 players in the German Bundesliga – last month launched the Claudio Reyna Foundation.

Reyna’s foundation is designed to help kids in the inner-city and other disadvantaged areas through soccer. But it will be much more than kids just “kicking a ball.” The program, with infrastructures already established at St. Benedict’s and Brooklyn, will aid children through education, health and well-being – both physically and mentally.

“We’re really excited. Helping kids is something I’ve always wanted to be part of and this will give me a hands-on opportunity to achieve something that is close to my heart,” said Reyna, who came back to the metropolitan area in 2007 after spending 13 years playing abroad in Europe. “Being back home and allows me to put my name on something I feel strongly about. Soccer helped me so much in my life. I just think its time to give something back.”

The Claudio Reyna Foundation, a non-profit organization, is already in the process of building a base to create and fund soccer clubs. St. Benedict’s will be a big part in helping kick-start this initiative through its soccer-friendly confines and has the full support of headmaster Fr. Edwin Leahy and coach Rick Jacobs, a member of the foundation’s board.

“I think it’s terrific that he still has St. Benedict’s in his overall awareness. I wish I had more guys of his generation thinking about us,” said Fr. Edwin. “He is bringing awareness to the inner city; something St. Benedict’s has been committed to for quite some time. He sees a need and goes out and makes it happen. That’s what makes Claudio Reyna so special. I’m glad he’s one of us.”

Reyna, a former captain of the U.S. National Team, is pleased to have his alma mater on board. It’s the place where his career started to take shape and its players, himself included, who ignited the juggernaut which is now St. Benedict’s soccer. Reyna played on the first Gray Bees team (1990) that captured the initial of six national championships by going 25-0, which was then a state record for victories. St. Benedict’s, incidentally, was undefeated (66-0) during Reyna’s three-year tenure in a St. Benedict’s uniform.

“St. Benedict’s played a huge role in the beginning for me and it’s just a win-win situation. Newark is exactly the type of atmosphere we’re looking to target and I couldn’t think of a better place than here,” said Reyna, who’s also a member of the St. Benedict’s Board of Trustees. “It will offer a place for kids to come and play soccer or have their school worked monitored.”

Reyna’s goal is to have an academy-type operation run in inner-cities across America and beyond. And, like his career has evolved as one of the best midfielders the U.S. has ever produced, he plans and being right in the middle of all the action for his foundation, not just a namesake.

“This is something I’m passionate about and will stay part of and keep my stamp on – not just for the soccer side either. I want to be involved in the ‘life’ part of it for the kids too,” said the soon-to-be 35-year-old Reyna, who resides in Bedford, N.Y. with his wife and three children. He is currently under contract with the Red Bulls.

“When you get on in your life and career, you start looking back and thinking of ways you can help. I had people help me and was able to make it and by using my name, now hopefully, I can make a difference helping someone in the inner city.”

Rev. John T. Browne, O.S.B.’47 died on June 7, 2008. An accomplished musician who is best remembered for teaching instrumental music here and sharing with his students his passionate love for jazz, Fr. John’s memory was honored at his funeral Mass by one of his favorite students, Gary Dial’72, also a professional jazz pianist and professor of music. After accompanying Patricia Flynn H’95 who sang Panis Angelicus, Gary segued into an impromptu tribute to Fr. John with a beautiful jazz improvisation on that traditional Latin hymn: A fitting tribute to this fine monk, priest, musician, teacher and friend.

June 2008

There’s an old adage among alumni both young and old stating that you can leave St. Benedict’s, but St. Benedict’s never leaves you.

Even those who have lost touch with brethren from their days at St. Benedict’s eventually find themselves talking again about their home-away-from-home on High Street – now known as Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd.

Such is the case for Bill McNamara.

McNamara, like many graduates from “other” high schools, lost touch with his alma mater after leaving St. Benedict’s in 1956. He went on to become an established businessman, moving from New Jersey to California and back.

He eventually settled in Richmond, Tex., in 1993 and hadn’t heard much from his classmates until the impending 50-year reunion in 2006. McNamara, however, was too ill to attend the reunion. He suffered from atrial fibrillation, an irregular heartbeat that kept him primarily confined to his home.

That’s when McNamara finally came to fully understand the fraternity that is St. Benedict’s.

Numerous classmates, lead by Mark Mauriello, rallied around McNamara, who was so weak, he couldn’t walk across a room or talk on the phone for more than a short period before losing his breath.

“He was literally just waiting there for the angel of death. He didn’t want to go for the operation that would help him,” said Mauriello. “I got all the guys from ’56 together and said we have to start a building a bridge to this guy and get him going.”

Low-and-behold, the St. Benedict’s spirit paved the way for McNamara. After four operations – the last coming in February – McNamara is up and about again. So much so that, on Friday, June 13, he was back on New Jersey soil surrounded by a number of his classmates and many others who came together for the Senior Alumni Luncheon at The Breakers Restaurant in Spring Lake.

Among those in attendance, aside from McNamara, who drove all the way from his Houston suburb just for this event, were Charles Manger, Henry Lubben and Hugh Gallagher. Manger, from the class of ’31, and Lubben, ’32, were the oldest St. Benedict’s grads who attended the event. Gallagher, of California, traveled the furthest to be on hand with his classmates of ‘49, which had the most attendees at the annual gathering, which drew in excess of 100 participants.

“I had guys calling me every week, every day,” recalled an emotional McNamara of the outpouring of support he received from his fellow classmates. “It’s hard for me to even talk about it now because of how unbelievably kind everyone was.”

McNamara, whose business, among other things, helps design and produce championship rings, including those for the New Jersey Devils, the Dallas Cowboys and the Florida Marlins, will never forget the pledge of support he received from his peers from so long ago.

“I can’t thank them enough. There were guys I haven’t talked to in years and after two minutes, I felt like we were right back in the cafeteria at St. Benedict’s,” said the former Marine. “St. Benedict’s is a special place and not everybody can make it. It builds character and all these men here are all about character.”

Mauriello couldn’t agree more.

“Our connection is that we’re Benedict’s alumni. That’s all it takes to pull us together,” said Mauriello, who owns a waste disposal company. “It chokes you up talking about it, but St. Benedict’s taught us to be stand up guys. That’s what we’re all about and that’s what makes us such a tight-knit group.”

--Story By Ron Jandoli
--Photos By Stephanie Baker

June 2008

There’s always pomp and circumstance surrounding graduation.

But the Class of 2008 at St. Benedict’s had a little more grandeur than most of its predecessors.

Headmaster Fr. Edwin Leahy even went out of his way to praise the 134th graduating class by extolling their leadership – calling it “one of the best classes” that has ever walked the halls at 520.

The praise heaped upon the 100 or so who walked down the aisles of Colin Auditorium on Sunday, June 1, was a just reward for a job well-done. And the person chiefly responsible for Fr. Edwin’s approval was the leader of the entire senior class, Dan Sheehan.

Three nights prior to the commencement exercise, Sheehan was lauded as St. Benedict’s 2008 Presidential Award winner. The award was presented before a packed house at the school when nearly everyone who was to be graduated a few days later showed up to have their named called at the annual dinner honoring the senior class.

“I was shocked when they called my name,” said Sheehan, the 63rd Presidential Award winner. “When they were calling out all the nominees, I kept thinking to myself that every one of them could be the winner – there were so many guys just as qualified. Just to have my name recognized with some of the other winners is just really an honor.”

Sheehan joins the likes of Paul Thornton (’63), Tom Leahy (’77), Glenn Cassidy (’90), Mike DiPiano Jr. (’95), Rafael Sanchez (’96), David Carlo (’99) and Rich Molina (’06) – former Presidential Award winners who have come back to their alma mater as a staff or faculty member. Thornton, a two-sport standout and Valedictorian of the Class of ’63, who went on to Harvard and is now the esteemed Vice President of Development at St. Benedict’s, presented Sheehan as the latest award winner.

“Dan must be one of the most balanced – in the range of his contributions and activities, and in his demeanor and personal skills – of any of our Senior Group Leaders and Presidential Award winners,” Thornton said. “He seems to have handled both the very public and the ‘behind the scenes’ demands of this very challenging Senior Leader position about as well as anyone ever has, with conviction, grace and notable modesty.”

Sheehan felt as honored about being named the award winner as he was being named the Senior Group leader last year, explaining, once again, that any number of his peers could have been named. But they weren’t, he was – and rightfully so.

“This wasn’t about me, it was about the entire class always stepping up to get the job done,” Sheehan said. “That's what allowed our class to get recognized. It wasn't one guy leading, it wasn't even seven guys. It was 100 guys always watching each others back.

“I could delegate things to a group leader or even someone else in the class. There was always someone there to help at anytime with anything. I’m definitely proud of this class and to be recognized as a member of the class of 2008. It will be something I'll always remember.”

Sheehan owned a 3.69 grade point average, which ranked sixth in his class. Aside from being Senior Group leader, he also played the leading role in a number of plays as a four-year member of the Drama Guild, while also juggling duties in baseball, The Benedict News, Student Alumni Association, Honor Code Committee, Trail Commander and Overnight Counselor.

He also had the added pressure of having his mother, Noreen Connolly, English teacher and Adviser of The Benedict News, on the faculty at his high school.

“I can't imagine what it's like having your mother teach at your school - but he handled it with grace,” Ms. Connolly said. “I am glad to have the chance to say how immensely proud I am of Dan. He handled the year with dignity and integrity. I will miss him and the whole class very much.”

Sheehan, who is headed to Boston College to study History, gave the farewell address at commencement. His poignant, yet lighthearted speech was preceded by remarks of his fellow classmates and co-valedictorians, Zack Rosen and Melvin Lara.

Rosen came to St. Benedict’s as a senior and decided to stay and extra year to, as he said, “make up for lost time” after suffering a severe elbow injury while at Colonia High School in Middlesex County. He honed his basketball skills under coach Dan Hurley and continued to hit the books, finishing with an 3.97 grade point average. He is headed to the Ivy League and the University of Pennsylvania.

“My parents thought I was crazy,” said Rosen of wanting to spend an extra year of high school instead of heading to college. “It turned out to be the best thing that ever happened to me. My two years at St. Benedict’s Prep proved to be a life altering experience. It’s here that I learned how to care – my community, my teachers, my family. I discovered that it is about being the best you can possibly be on a daily basis in an attempt to realize your potential.”

Lara, who is also Ivy League-bound while headed to Lehigh, also felt St. Benedict’s taught him life’s lessons and ones that will be used long after his days at The Hive.

“St. Benedict’s has given me so much. I could thank them a lifetime and that wouldn’t be enough to return the favor,” said Lara, who credited his mother for steering him toward St. Benedict’s. “Colleges won’t be ready for us (graduates), not the other way around. St. Benedict’s has prepared us to succeed.”

Success and his formula to achieve it was the main theme of the Commencement Address given by Charlie Cawley, who was also on hand to celebrate the 50-year anniversary of his graduating class of 1958. The CEO of a Fortune 500 company, Cawley told graduates to believe in themselves, make excellent habits, have the right attitude and “be careful who you run with” by making the appropriate associations. He also told them to continually write down their ideas and keep pursuing their dreams.

“People will tell you there is nothing better than success, but no one tells you what success is for you. It’s up to you to figure out. Start today,” said Cawley, who, last month, had the freshman building renamed in his family’s honor for all of their generosity and devotion to the school.

Sheehan summed up his experiences of the last four years.

“When I think of high school, I don’t think about St. Benedict’s. When I think of home, community, friendships and loyalty, that’s when I think of what this school has given me and my classmates,” Sheehan said. “There's something about Benedict’s that you can't really describe. It's given me lessons that I could never thank them enough for and I’m going to do whatever I can in my future to make sure kids get the opportunity that I had.”

--By Ron Jandoli

May 2008

Suffice to say, the trek along the Appalachian Trail – a tradition started at St. Benedict’s 35 year’s ago by Headmaster Fr. Edwin Leahy – is no walk in the park.

Just ask members of the United States Naval Academy.

“This has to rank at the top or very near as far as hardships go just because of the role we played,” said Midshipman Antoinette Carter, a rising senior at the U.S. Naval Academy. “It’s one thing to go through a hardship and being expressive, but to keep it all inside makes it much tougher.”

Carter had to keep a stiff upper lip because she was one of six Midshipmen on an internship to help sharpen their leadership skills during the St. Benedict’s Backpack Project. The project, a 50-mile hike along the Appalachian Trail from lower Sussex County to the Delaware Water Gap, is the last challenge for freshmen to qualify for "full status" as members of the St. Benedict's community.