High school’s end will mark a brand new beginning for a Penn Manor girl basketball player, Alicia Ygarza.
Ygarza, the team’s leading scorer, has recently signed with Eastern Mennonite University to play basketball. Her sister, Bianca Ygarza, is currently in her sophomore year playing for the Division III school. The sisters are ecstatic to play with one another again, and together share high hopes for Alicia’s decision to sign with the school.
Alicia Ygarza signs with Eastern Mennonite University. File photo
“I can’t wait to go next year, because she’ll have my back,” said Alicia about her sister.
Alicia said she plans to work hard in preparation for the competition that comes along with playing at a college level.
“You and me are going to go ham this summer, and I’m going to prepare you for college ball, don’t worry,” Bianca once said to Alicia.
Bianca, one of Eastern Mennonite’s most dominant players, was awarded player of the week Nov. 28 to Dec. 4, 2011. Bianca has led the Royals to a 18-3 record, and in 26 games Bianca has played a total of 14.5 minutes per game, and averages 6.8 points a game. Bianca will be a great mentor for her younger sister as she progresses through her athletic career.
During their high school years together, the sisters played very well as teammates. They gave each other the confidence and encouragement they needed to be successful in the sport.
“On the court our chemistry will be great. We’ve played together for so many years, we have the same style of play,” Alicia said. “We’re both aggressive, and we’re both scorers.”
Together, the two expect to be a big part of Eastern Mennonite’s 2012-2013 women’s basketball team.
“I’m going to get you the freshmen of the year award,” Bianca has said to Alicia.
Besides the sport, Alicia is very excited to room with her sister at EMU. She will be juggling a promising singing career, along with her major in broadcast journalism. Alicia also plans to travel to Washington D.C. for internships throughout the year.
“It can’t be expelled,” Goss said of the annoying disability that has plagued his social life and his confidence, “It can only get better.”
He has been undergoing speech therapy classes since he and his family became aware of his disorder. His parents took him to classes in his elementary school and other classes by professionals like psychologists, but discovered there is no cure for a stutter except improvement over time.
“My mom thinks I stutter because she took Tylenol when she was pregnant with me,” said Goss with a serious tone.
Bobby Goss deals with a struggle. Photo by Richard Schulz
The real cause of his disorder is unknown, but started when he was two. He was not born with the speech delay.
He said other kids made fun of his stutter and that affected him when he was younger.
After ten years of being bullied for what he can’t control, he has learned to just brush it off. Goss said even people he didn’t know would make crude comments to him. Thankfully he has a lot of support from friends and family.
“It gets bad when he’s nervous,” said one of Goss’ long-time friend, Ryan Flexman. “I’ve teased him as a friend, but stuck up for him when he needed it.”
In eighth grade, Goss was assigned to do a speech in front of his music class. He asked the teacher to do the speech in private so he wouldn’t have to risk ridicule by his peers.
Since choosing a private speech and receiving help over the years, Goss has done public speeches aloud. He still gets nervous during speeches but not as bad as before.
The saying “absence makes the heart grow fonder,” has been put to the test with two Penn Manor graduates.
Gretta Williams and her fiancé Luis Cruz have been high school sweethearts since they first met in chemistry class in 2008. They’ve been together ever since and had big plans to move in together after high school and go to college. Those plans were interrupted last May when Cruz announced to Williams he would be leaving in a month to serve his country.
“I was upset at first and worried about what would happen to us and how our relationship would change,” said Williams. “After he left I was excited and proud of him for choosing to do what he did.”
Cruz enlisted in the Air Force in 2011 and is currently stationed in Texas, thousands of miles away from Williams living at home in Mountville, PA.
Williams Visiting Cruz in Texas
“The distance is hard at times because he’s worried about me and what I’m doing and sometimes there are small pointless arguments,” recalled Williams. “But him being away makes us stronger and does make us communicate more and show love more because we don’t see each other everyday.”
But not everything remained smooth.
The distance and stress caught up to the young couple not too long ago when they reached their breaking point. Cruz and William’s available hours to communicate conflicted and sometimes they don’t get to talk for days.
“That time was tough because he takes classes third shift, so I’m sleeping. But when I’m up during the day, he’s either catching up on sleep or in training,” added Williams. “Weekends got really boring without him and everything caught up to me and I hit my breaking point, but we pulled through it.”
Now the couple talks almost everyday and things are getting easier. Although, talking is not enough for Williams. Williams is currently in college and has a part-time job. Williams’ parents are helping her save money to visit Cruz in Texas. However, most of those fiscal responsibilities lie with Williams herself.
“Plane tickets are extremely expensive so I don’t get to see him as much as I would like, but that’s just something I have to accept if I want things to work out,” said Williams.
The silver lining in this whole experience is that the couple will receive valuable benefits because of Cruz’s military service. They can fly anywhere in the world free, health insurance is only 85 cents a month, Cruz is eligible to work for the president, discounted hotels, food, and Cruz’s schooling is absolutely free. If he were to choose to not attend post-secondary school, the money would be saved for his children’s schooling.
“The benefits are beyond amazing and they will help us out so much in our future life together,” recalled Williams. “Things like this just continuously give me reasons to only think of this whole experience as something positive.”
Williams plans to spend the upcoming Valentine’s day with her fiancé in Texas. She will continue to take everything day by day but in this story, love conquers all.
As a regular kid, Schulz achieves good grades and has made good friends. But one thing he hasn’t been so good at, is his driving.
Schulz has had his license for only 10 months and he’s had two near death experiences in that time.
About six months ago, Schulz was driving himself and two friends to a party, and before the blink of an eye, he drove head on into a tree.
“After it all happened, we were stunned and the pain finally hit when we got out of the car,” Schulz said.
“I quickly called 911 as I was laying on the grass,” Schulz recalled.
Richard Schulz Penn Manor junior. Photo by Daulton Parmer
His Lexus totaled, spitting out blood, arms and face burned, and stomach ripped open from the force of the seat belt, Schulz was like a crumpled ken dog.
Yet, he survived.
Schulz all bloodied up, laid on the ground as his friends tried to put him at ease. They however did not receive a scratch.
“I’m so thankful my friends didn’t get hurt because of my stupidity,” Schulz said.
Schulz was rushed to the hospital and his family was also on their way. He wasn’t focused on how badly he was injured, he was scared to see the reaction of his parents.
“I was just hoping to God I wasn’t going to get grounded,” he said.
Three months later there was a second accident that would rush Schulz to the hospital.
“This time it wasn’t my fault,” Schulz said.
Schulz was coming back from his girlfriend’s house, driving a lot more carefully than before. Waiting at a red light, as it turned green, he pulled away. But just like that, a speeder didn’t have time for the light and sideswiped Schulz. He was rushed to the hospital again.
“I don’t remember too much from that accident, I hurt my head very badly that night,” Schulz said.
Schulz has fully recovered from all of the injuries, and is looking forward to the future.
He’s back to playing basketball and soccer, and continuing his passion in photography.
“I’ve learned to take driving a lot more seriously and to all other drivers out there, don’t think it couldn’t happen to you,” Schulz said.
To Brad Snyder, a junior at Penn Manor High School, baseball is more than just a game using a bat and a ball, it’s his life.
In addition to baseball, Snyder likes to play and watch sports, play video games, lift weights, and hang with friends. His plan for after high school includes attending college to major in sports management and possibly play baseball.
Currently Snyder participates in Penn Manor’s recreational basketball league until baseball starts. He has been playing baseball since he was 6 years old. However, playing baseball and watching it on T.V. is not enough for Snyder, which is why one of his “bucket-list” goals in life is to visit all 30 Major League Baseball stadiums.
“I love baseball and it’s a cool way to see the country,” said Snyder.
To some people, traveling around the country to visit all 30 MLB ballparks would be a complete waste of time, but to Snyder it is worth it. To pass time while traveling, Snyder plays games or listens to music on his iPod while admiring the landscape of each state that he passes through.
“I like the sight-seeing throughout the week, but I always look forward to the game the most,” said Snyder.
This past summer Snyder went to the baseball field in Philadelphia, Pittsburgh and Atlanta. On top of seeing these three marvelous stadiums he also got to see four landmarks in Atlanta, the World of Coke, Stone Mountain, the Centennial Olympic Park, and the place where CNN is shot.
“Baseball was my dad and grandpa’s favorite sport,” said Snyder.
So it’s no coincidence that their love of the game would become Snyder’s.
All of us have a person in our life that influences us or gets us involved in a hobby during our lifetime, whether it be your mom, dad, brother, sister, relative, or friend. Snyder’s was his dad and grandpa. They encouraged his love for baseball at an early age.
“Baseball means a lot to me. It’s one of the biggest things in my life right now,” said Snyder. “I will do anything I can to improve my skills.”
Penn Manor junior, Brad Snyder. Photo by Maria Vita.
“My favorite stadium so far is the Pirates because it is a smaller stadium, so you seem closer to the action and there is a great view of the city skyline,” Snyder said.
“I enjoy the trips as much as he does,” says Eric Snyder, Snyder’s younger brother, “I look up to him as a role model on and off the field.”
Snyder’s love for baseball is an inspiration to the rest of his team. When teammates see Snyder working hard in the weight room or during practice, they pick up the intensity, too.
Baseball is America’s past-time — something that Snyder agrees with one hundred percent.
“Through this experience, I’ve got to visit cities all over the country and have gotten to see the diverse cultures around the country,” said Snyder.
Snyder hopes to take a vacation to see the new stadium in Miami, and the Pirates stadium again over this upcoming summer.
According to WGAL, sweetheart photos are becoming very popular this Valentine’s Day, and they’re making woman feel like superstars.
“Some women are slipping on something slinky and getting their picture taken for their sweetheart this year,” wrote WGAL.
A cute Valentine’s Day teddy bear, courtesy of squidoo.com
“Most girls want roses and a teddy bear, but I just want to spend time with my boyfriend,” said Penn Manor student Kaitlin Hotchkiss, who has been with her boyfriend for three months.
“Time is more special to me than him spending money on me,” said Hotchkiss.
Hotchkiss seems too good to be true, because for some people like Nicole Harnish, they would love to have at least one flower given to them on Valentine’s Day.
“My boyfriend won’t do anything extravagant for me, he’ll keep things more simple. But all I want is flowers, at least one rose,” said Harnish, who’s been with her boyfriend for over a year.
According to www.womansday.com, “Men account for 73 percent of Valentine’s Day flower sales.”
“All I want for Valentine’s day is a guy that’ll take care of me and treat me right,” said Kelsea Lynn, a single Penn Manor student.
A couple dancing together on Valentine’s Day, courtesy of blog.do501.com
“I’ve always wanted flowers and chocolates on Valentine’s Day but have never gotten them,” said Lynn.
Since many girls would be satisfied with flowers, or a night to relax. What is it that boys want for Valentine’s Day?
Although Valentine’s Day gifts for men range from video games, clothes, tools, sports gear, a treat to dinner, and even the accessories such as wallets, cell phones, deodorant, chargers or something small.
Here at Penn Manor the big hit seems to be candy or chocolate of some sort.
Some students say they would like a home cooked meal, which saves money over going out to dinner. However, it’s the meaning that counts.
“I would want a gift card or something useful,” said Aaron Lugo, a junior at Penn Manor.
Ryan Dicamillo, a senior at Penn Manor said, “I would want a home cooked meal and an all-you-can-eat dessert buffet afterward.”
“A nice bottle of cologne,” said Nick Young, a junior at Penn Manor.
Ian Toomey, a senior at Penn Manor, wants a homemade meal and cake for his Valentine’s Day.
Dylan Weber a senior at Penn Manor said, “I would like some chocolate or a card with something meaningful.”
It seems the boys and girls at Penn Manor are alike and would enjoy some of the same meaningful items for Valentine’s Day.
In 1946, David Lombardo started the family-owned restaurant “Lombardo’s” in Lancaster City. Since then, it has been a tradition in the Lombardo family to pass down the ownership from generation to generation.
But it’s a tradition in which Alex Lombardo – who is next in line-is not interested in, but he doesn’t want to tell his family just yet.
Alex Lombardo pondering his future plans. Photo credit by Brady Charles.
Now in 2012, a big decision needs to be made.
Lombardo, a senior at Penn Manor High School, will decide in the upcoming months, whether he will attend college for a business degree and keep his family tradition alive by running the restaurant, or will he decide to chase his own dream of becoming an engineer.
Growing up around the restaurant, Lombardo learned plenty of valuable lessons about running the restaurant. He said he has been trained to take over the business.
“I’ve been working as a bus boy at the restaurant [Lombardo’s] for three years now, and I grew up helping out around the restaurant,” said Lombardo.
“But I can already tell it’s not what I want to do for the rest of my life,” he said.
The decision now rests on the shoulders of the third generation, Alex Lombardo, who is quite unsure of his future right now.
“It’s a lot of pressure,” he said. “Part of me wants to take over the business, and I know my family would be happy if I would do that, but at the same time I’m just not sure if that’s what I want to do for the rest of my life. I would really like to be an engineer.”
Along with the benefits of great pay and not having a boss, the restaurant business can be very risky if the owner doesn’t make proper decisions. One day your business could be flying high, and the next day you could be shutting down.
According to a study done by Ohio State University, approximately 60 percent of restaurants shut down within their first three years of opening. Owning your own restaurant is very demanding, and requires a lot of time and effort from the owner.
“I’d have to give up a lot of nights and weekends if I took over the business, I’d rather have my nights and weekends for my down time,” said Lombardo. ” I really don’t like the stress the business would bring.”
“In the end it doesn’t matter what we think because it’s ultimately his decision,” said Alex’s father, Michael Lombardo, about his son’s uncertain goals.
Lombardo wants to go to Temple or Penn State University next fall, and wants to major in engineering, but only if he decides not to follow in the footsteps of the Lombardos of previous generations.
When the time is right, Lombardo will come to a decision.
High school junior Aaron Brown does something most kids his age would think is absurd. He asks his parents to ground him.
Brown is, in most respects, an average 17-year old boy. He plays on the school golf and baseball teams, as well as in Penn Manor’s recreational basketball league. In his free time, he focuses on his school work, plays video games and enjoys hanging out with his friends.
However, when video games begin to interfere with his school work or sports, he asks his parents to take them away.
To many, Brown’s solution to this common issue seems preposterous and unthinkable.
To his critics, he replied, “I’m not very self-motivated, it’s something I need to work on.”
Brown admits that at times he can be a video game addict and an hour of gaming can quickly turn into an entire evening, demolishing any opportunity to spend extra time on his school work. His courses include the likes of AP Calculus BC and Honors Physics. Most of his peers don’t see a lack of time for school work to be much of a concern.
“I’m hard working, organized and a good student. I take pride in getting good grades,” said Brown.
Aaron Brown, Penn Manor junior. Photo by Taylor Skelly.
While Brown insists he lacks self-motivation, he does display an admirable trait, self-discipline. Brown’s ability to recognize something holding him back from performing his best in school, in this case video games, allows him to stay focused on achieving a larger goal of his, playing either baseball or golf while attending Lebanon Valley College.
“It’s a good school and the right size for me,” said Brown, “It’s also in a good location. I don’t want to go too far away from home because I have a good relationship with my parents.”
“I have a lot of respect for him for taking his schoolwork so seriously, but most kids his age would think he’s ridiculous,” said Penn Manor junior Travis Wells.
Despite the chastising Brown receives from time to time, he says he plans on continuing to handle his video game problem the same way for the rest of his high school career.
“It works for me,” he said.
In college, Brown hopes to use what he is learning in high school to move past his current video game habits and prepare himself for a career as an actuary.
“I probably won’t even have an XBOX in college, so I won’t have any option but to hit the books,” said Brown.
For this junior, getting into a good college is more important than countless empty hours of video games.
Typically, people don’t realize what they have until it is taken away from them.
James Frese is like most people. He found a greater appreciation for the things he took for granted in life, once they were taken away.
Frese is currently a senior at Penn Manor High School, and a member of the Penn Manor Ice Hockey Club. He has played ice hockey since second grade.
However, Frese was not entirely sure if he would be physically ready to play this season with Penn Manor.
In September of Frese’s sophomore year in high school, he found himself in discomfort on a family vacation.
“I woke up with an odd leg pain, and I didn’t know why because the days before I didn’t do anything active that would cause soreness or pain,” said Frese.
Frese went to his doctor’s for a diagnosis, and after numerous tests over the next five months, he got his diagnosis.
“I was scared about the situation leading up to my diagnosis,” recalled Frese. “The doctors had no idea what it was.”
Frese was diagnosed with spondyloarthritis. Spondyloarthritis starts in the spine, with symptoms of inflammation and stiffness. The inflammation and soreness can spread to the arms and legs.
In Frese’s case, he experiences significant pain in both of his heels and in his right knee.
“There’s a very slim population in the world that has spondyloarthritis, and each person has inflammation in different areas, so that’s why the doctors were so unsure,” said Frese.
There is no cure for the condition and Frese was told that it was unlikely that he would make a full recovery.
As a result of the diagnosis and the amount of inflammation at the time, he did not return to the game of ice hockey his sophomore and junior year.
James Frese (left) enjoys one of his personal pastimes, hunting. Photo taken by Braden Kruger.
Frese did not go through rehab for the condition, since rehab cannot do anything to help the pain or inflammation that comes with spondyloarthritis. The only method of easing some of the pain was to take anti-inflammatory medication.
By the time his senior year arrived, he finally had the physical capability to play hockey again. At the same time however, his symptoms were not completely absent.
At the beginning of the year, Frese made the decision to take the ice once again.
“It was pretty much if I wanted to play, I could. I knew my limitations,” Frese said. “Luckily, I was good enough to play this year.”
He returned to the Comets in full force. Frese tallied three goals and six assists on the blue line, for a total of nine points. His point total is second most among defensemen on the team.
Senior Comet netminder, Braden Kruger, also relies heavily on the defensive play of Frese in front of him.
“He’s been a major help to me as the goalie and the entire team,” said Kruger. ‘He blocks so many shots which helps me majorly and he is one of our best defenseman.”
Kruger is also a good friend to Frese off the ice and recognizes the magnitude of the decision that Frese had to make before the season began.
“I’m sure it was a tough decision on playing again or not since his injury took a lot out of him. It shows that he is a determined as a person and a player to come play again,” said Kruger.
Frese said the whole experience has taught him that even the young cannot take life for granted.
“I look at life a lot differently now and I realized that overnight, it’s possible for your entire life to cartwheel,” Frese said.”Playing ice hockey this year has really brought my attitude around now that I actually look forward to things that I enjoy doing, so it really means a lot to me to be healthy enough to play.”
With eight years of acting experience and thirteen productions under her belt, senior Courtney Jacobs is ready to graduate and take on college, committing to an acting major.
Since age 10 Jacobs has known theater was something she wanted to do. Jacobs admits starting theater camp at age 10 at the Fulton Theater was a big step in making her who she is today. She will always remember that her passion for theater started close to home.
“My Nanny and Poppy met and fell in love in the show Oklahoma. Growing up in their house they were always singing show tunes,” Jacobs recalled, “My Nan taught me songs from all of the classics and I fell in love with them,”
Jacobs’ family played a tremendous part in why she is so dedicated to and has such a love for the arts.
“My mom was in theater growing up, and my dad has been in a band since high school. I was lucky enough to grow up in a musical family.”
Courtney Jacobs. Photo by Austin Hess
Since Jacobs was brought up in a “musical family” and started acting when she was 10, one has to wonder how starting theater so young has affected her acting now as a seventeen year old.
“I’m glad that I started when I was 10, because it really helped me build confidence and become proud of my performing abilities. I don’t get as nervous because of it.”
Every summer, the Fulton runs a summer camp for kids ages 10 to 16 called Broadway Jr., where kids spend three weeks auditioning and practicing for a show that they perform at the end of the program. Jacobs has been in numerous Broadway Jr. courses.
Since beginning the camp, Jacobs has been involved in the shows Guys and Dolls, Honk!, Thoroughly Modern Millie, The Phantom Tollbooth, Pirates of Penzance and Annie. Being involved in each show has provided Jacobs with a fun and unique learning experience. She has contributed many great traits to Penn Manor Productions and will use those traits throughout the rest of her career.
Jacobs says that in each show she uses a different acting technique.
Moving forward from her six shows at the Fulton, Jacobs has starred in seven Penn Manor Productions: Little Shop of Horrors, Check Please, Curtains, Is He Dead?, The Music Man, Dracula and this year’s spring musical, Seussical. Seussical, simply known as “Seuss!” by many of the cast members, will be Jacobs’ last show at Penn Manor before she graduates.
Little Shop of Horrors was the Penn Manor production Jacobs made her freshman year.
“Making my first show my freshman year really boosted my confidence and helped me to believe in myself and my ability more,” Jacobs said.
After finishing Little Shop, Jacobs auditioned for the 2009 spring production Beauty and the Beast but wasn’t chosen for the cast.
“Although I wasn’t cast in Beauty and the Beast, that was kind of a lesson in itself – not making a show. It taught me to never be disappointed or bitter because you just weren’t right for something, and not to doubt myself, but to improve instead,” she said.
That is what makes Jacobs so bright, she is positive and adds positive energy to any environment. Since Jacobs did not make the show, she joined the publicity crew, which will make her future brighter and more informed in marketing.
After her first year of high school and two finished shows, Jacobs went on to be in the next six Penn Manor productions.
“I applied to Point Park, DeSales, Frostburg and Fairleigh Dickinson Universities. I have been accepted to all four,” she said.
Before getting to the real college auditions, she decided to compete in the acting categories of this years annual Pennsylvania State Thespian Conference to earn scholarship money. Not only has Conference provided theater scholarship opportunities for Jacobs, it has given her the most positive theater experience she could have ever asked for.
“It’s honestly the most amazing thing in the entire world. I have gathered so much knowledge, information, opportunities, and friendships from that wonderful place. I performed in an individual event for dialog my junior year, and had a scholarship audition during my senior year. A representative from each of my colleges mentioned sat in on my audition, and that is the reason that I’ve received my scholarships,” she said. “The people and experiences are life changing, and it’s the most fun I’ve ever had.”
After all this is through, she is excited to begin college and get even more experience in her life long ambition. But how do you choose where to go when you have so many options?
“I was given an $8,000 a year acting scholarship to Point Park and a $10,500 a year scholarship to Fairleigh Dickinson. I’ve dropped Frostburg from my choices, but I have my scholarship audition at DeSales on Feb. 11,” Jacobs said happily.
With so many things going through her head about college, she cannot help but think about the ups, downs, nerves, and leaving the friends shes had the past 4 years of her acting career after graduation.
“I’m excited to wake up ever day and do what I love. I’m excited to grow as an actress, and learn from people better than me. I’m nervous for the audition processes, and living with someone I don’t know. Mostly, I’m just excited to show other people what I can do, and get better at it. It’s scary going into a talent based profession because there’s so much competition, but it’s going to be amazing.” she said. “I have made every single one of my best friends through a show or musical performance. They’re the best people. You become so close when you’re in a cast because you get to see each person express themselves, and you’re forced to get comfortable with each other in order for the show to be successful. Theater hasn’t taken a toll on my social life because theater is my social life.”
With practicing and performing Seussical, having her final State Thespian Conference this year, graduation and moving on to a great college experience, Jacobs certainly seems prepared to tackle anything that comes her way in the future. Looking back four years and seven shows, was she certain this was how her life was going to unfold her senior year?
That answer is yes.
Jacobs knew that with her determination, passion, and ability, she was going to succeed at anything she set out to do.
“I have always known what I’ve wanted to do with my life, but High School is what really made me sure of it. I thought that maybe I’d end up doing it, but I never knew if I was ‘good enough to make it.’ When I hit the stage, I know where I’m supposed to be,” she said.
“I honestly would not change anything. I am so happy that people pushed me to audition for that scholarship at conference, and I’m thankful for everyone who has taught me things along the way. I have loved the parts I’ve play in each show, and I’m excited to be involved for the rest of my life,” said Jacobs.
