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The Musical Review Trevor News February 20, 2015 Page 2 transitioned between these diverse roles, and always engaged the audience fully with his charismatic delivery and powerful stage presence. There were far too many noteworthy performances to give them all the attention they deserve: the powerful depiction of man and husband, by moving actors Alex Bejarano and James Angelino, the comedic and thoroughly enjoyable portrayal of Jack and his mother by Nathaniel Cohen and Melinda Vivado, and Jaden Sadenstein's captivating acting and singing performance as Little Red Riding Hood. There is one performance I feel the need to attempt to do justice to, as this person has been integral to so many Trevor performances and the performing arts department will not be the same without her: Amanda Briskin Wallace, in her usual form, displayed an innate power and presence in her role as the Witch. From her strong entrance to the raw emotion she displayed in the heartbreaking ballad Stay With Me, she reminded everyone in the audience of the incredible personality and voice that Trevor students have had the pleasure of witnessing the last four years. Her performance truly brought the show together and it was a pleasure to witness the brilliant culmination of such hard work and talent. In this vein, I would like to take note of all the seniors involved in the show. I have already mentioned the performances of Ms. Briskin Wallace and Mr. Mandel, B oth of Trevor's varsity basketball teams have experienced a good taste of the 2014-2015 season thus far, but many games remain between now and the end of the season, when the league playoffs will begin. After sitting down with Celeste Scott and Lyle Friess, head coaches of the girls' and boys' varsity basketball teams respectively, and receiving insight from both on team goals and expectations for the 2014-2015 season, it appears both squads are destined to succeed this year. "Our goal is to make it back to the league championship," Scott declared with a subtle conviction, when asked about the goals her basketball team hopes to accomplish this coming season. Given the success of her team last season, her confidence was justifiable. League champions for the 2013- 2014 season, the girls' varsity basketball team maintained an undefeated record at home and played exciting and smart basketball under the command of Scott and the leadership of then-seniors Melina Schmidt and Alexa Krieger. Scott's uncertainty regarding the challenges her team may face this season is greatly outmatched by her confidence in this year's squad, though she did mention the difficulty of repeating the performance put on by a 2013-2014 group dominated by seniors. This year's seniors have big shoes to fill left by Krieger and Schmidt's deep bench of seniors. This year, the team's starting five consists of four seniors–Alexi Donnelly (power forward), Sophia Panagiotopoulos (point guard), Sami Lyons (small forward), and Victoria Carnright (shooting guard), suggesting they can be trusted to perform just as well, if not better. The center, junior Jane MacKerron, is averaging over 20 points and 15 rebounds per game this season and at her current rate will graduate with over 1,000 points scored, making the defending NYCAL MVP a force to be reckoned with in the paint this season. Guards Lucy Sedlis and Sophia Flanagan, forwards Tori Krieger and Hannah Marshall, and center Bella Newman are all expected to contribute off the bench as well, bringing back a depth that was integral to last year's team's success. In their most recent game against Lycée Français de New York, the Dragons came out on top by double digits, with Donnelly scoring 24 and Panagiotopoulos scoring 14 points. Scott did not mention specific players in the team's quest to hoist the league trophy, but felt that their fundamental abilities would correspond with their place among rival schools, saying "I expect us to play as a team and be disciplined on the Trevor Basketball A new year means a new shot at the postseason for Trevor Varsity Basketball By Jack Hendon floor. We can beat anybody if we do that." basketball may include making good passes, keeping possession of the ball, and running the correct plays. Regarding the abilities and relevance of this year's group in the league, Panagiotopoulos also mentioned the importance of team chemistry: "our team this year works very well together. We know how to work together and we trust each other. I think that since we're a small school, we have to work hard to be a good team, and we all do. We come in on Saturdays to play together and we have a blast." This year's girls' varsity basketball team is slated to repeat as NYCAL Champions, with a mindset and an undefeated record in six league games that certainly make them a force to be reckoned with this season. Continued from Page 1 but I would be remiss if I did not bring attention to a stalwart of the performing arts department whose work does not always go properly acknowledged, Adam Kern. Mr. Kern is integral to every single performance that has taken place here in the past four years. The night of the last performance, he got in a biking accident on the way to the show. As such news spread in the audience, everyone was most concerned. However, Adam showed up that night to work the show and carry the day. His dedication to the arts and his fellow artists is unparalleled. Overall, the immense applause and standing ovation when the show ended were indicative of significant legacies of the upper classmen and the general success of the show. By the end of the show, songs had been sung, tales had been told, and the audience had been visibly moved by the experience. We shuffled out of the auditorium, and there was a spirit of connectedness in the air that became overwhelming as the actors entered the lobby. The cast and crew of Into the Woods succeeded brilliantly. They took us into the woods, tickled our senses, tested our hearts, challenged our minds, and led us out with that sense of connection and unity that makes art so invaluable. Disciplined basketball may include making good passes, keeping possession of the ball, and running the correct plays. Regarding the abilities and relevance of this year's group in the league, Panagiotopoulos also mentioned the importance of team chemistry: "our team this year works very well together. We know how to work together and we trust each other. I think that since we're a small school, we have to work hard to be a good team, and we all do. We come in on Saturdays to play together and we have a blast." This year's girls' varsity basketball team is slated to repeat as NYCAL Champions, with a mindset and an undefeated record in six league games that certainly make them a force to be reckoned with this season. The boys' varsity basketball team finished last season with unfinished business in the postseason, but this year's squad hopes to go above and beyond expectations, with a revamped starting five and impressive depth off the bench. Head coach Lyle Friess knows, however, that it will take a lot for his team to become relevant contenders in a fairly competitive division. "Every year, the basketball expectations are the same," he said. "Win the league championship, win the league playoffs, qualify for the state tournament. Our more meaningful goals are to be a group of good teammates, accountable decision makers, and selfless hard workers." Three sophomores, a junior, and a senior comprise this season's starting five. Justin Fishman (guard), Theo Biddle (guard/ forward), and Danny Roche (guard/forward) lead the charge of underclassmen. In addition, junior Alex Berk-Krauss (guard) and senior Jason Strongin (forward) return to their roles from last season in the hopes of bringing in a league championship title. Friess sees other key contributors in junior Niko Fredriksen (forward), sophomore Xander Schmidt (guard/forward), and senior Jacob Cohen (forward). The team's only freshman, Mark Lang (guard), is also expected to be a factor in Trevor's success on the court along with junior Michael Atkin, who has been studying at a semester school in Washington D.C. and is expected to return mid-season. Like Scott, Friess emphasizes the importance of smart basketball and teamwork, and has enforced study hall before practices on a weekly basis in order to ensure the team is not only catching up with work, but also bonding and learning to count on one another off the court as well as on it: "Trevor's team prides itself on being a defensive-minded, close-knit group and we stress decision-making and creativity within a structured team-oriented approach. We expect to win, but strive to make sure that all members of the team truly learn what it means to be a part of a team." Friess' approach is paying off, given the team's recent string of wins. When asked how the team can continue to succeed in the postseason, Coach Friess stated, "We have a very young team, and we look forward to learning more about ourselves as the season goes on and as we deal with more adversity. Our biggest challenges will be to find our voice and develop leadership." Update: Varsity Boys' Basketball finished the regular season with a record of 13-6, and Varsity Girls' Basketball finished their season with a record of 14-6. Both teams won their league championships as well. Justin Fishman and Jane MacKerron were named League MVPs, Alexi Donnelly and Sophia Panagiotopoulos made first team, and Jason Strongin made second team. Congratulations, Trevor Basketball! Photo by Emmett Smith Photo by Emmett Smith

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