Author Archives: The Advocate Online

SPORTS: Sophomore Marini Makes Impact On Law Volleyball Team

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Sophomore Sammy Marini (Photo courtesy Sammy Marini)

By Gabby Rodriguez – Staff Reporter

Sophomore Sammy Marini is already making an impact on the 2025 volleyball team.

Marini recently joined the varsity squad and immediately found her spot on the court.

“She has been a versatile player on JV – willing to jump into any position needed,” Head Coach Ms. Loch said. “This year her defensive skills has earned her a spot playing back row for varsity.”

Marini is a highly self-motivated and driven player who will continue to improve throughout the rest of her high school career.

“My personal goal this season is to get better at serving and receiving,” Marini said.  “That is something I tend to struggle with as a player, and a struggle we have as a team.”

Senior Captain Maddie Benedetti plays in the back row with Marini often and helped her adjust to the new level of play on varsity.

“She adjusted to playing at the varsity level very quickly and effortlessly,” Benedetti said. “She is a very important part of the team, not only for her skill, but her energy too.”

Junior Jocelyn Larracuente plays on the back row with Marini and loves the energy she brings to the team. Every time she steps on the court, she helps the team chemistry by bringing the fun into playing.

“Sammy helps with everything as she plays all around, stepping up and doing whatever she is needed to do,” Larracuente said. “She gives off a positive attitude towards the team and gives everyone the confidence to keep going and keep pushing.” 

Others also have faith in her continuing to improve every year because of her work ethic and open mind to advice.

“Sammy is hardworking and hustles on the court,” Loch said. “She is coachable and strives to utilize feedback to improve skills.” 

In her first year on varsity, Marini was quickly welcomed by her peers, especially by her back row mates Beneidetti and Larracuente.

“The girls hype me up so much when I make good saves or have an ace,” Marini said. “In the back row, Maddy, Jocelyn, and I all have jokes or handshakes we do before each point.” 

Although Marini is only a sophomore, she is already setting a good example for the freshmen. She is served as a mentor to freshman Misha Patel.

“She made me feel included right away and is always there to answer my questions or give me advice,” Patel said. “She encourages me during practices and games, which has really helped me adjust and feel more confident.”

As for the team, Marini and the Law volleyball squad are trying their hardest to make States and get as far as they can in the postseason.

“A team goal for this season is definitely to make States,” Marini said. “We have been reaching for this goal since the beginning of the season and are trying hard to make it possible.”

NEWS: Madame Evans Inspires Students To Love French Language, Culture

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Madame Evans (Photo courtesy Breana Aquino)

By Breana Aquino – Staff Reporter

The one and only French teacher at Law, Madame Evans, is ready to take on the new school year.

Madame Evans has begun her fourth year at Law, teaching various French Language and Culture classes.

“I’ve been teaching here for 33 years, and this school is BY FAR the greatest place I’ve ever worked,” Evans said. “I love the students, my colleagues, the administration, the staff, the building, my classroom… everything.”

Evans began teaching at Law in 2022 yet she only taught first period and was at Foran for the rest of the day. As of this school year, she currently teaches French 1, 2, 3, 4, and a combined French 5, AP, and ECE class.

Despite being the only French teacher at Law, for the many years she has been teaching, she has always been the only French teacher wherever she worked.

“Since French programs tend to be smaller, it’s common to only have one teacher teaching all five, and sometimes six, classes,” Evans said.

Law Principal Mr. Darcy praised Evans for her teaching prowess.

“Her work ethic is second to none,” Darcy said. “She is a life-long learner who works on her craft each day for the betterment of her students and our school.”

Other staff at Law, like Evans’ fellow language teachers, agree that she is a great addition to the school community.

“Not only are we colleagues at work, but I consider her a great friend,” Spanish teacher Mr. McPartland said. “She is a dedicated teacher, and I truly value the positive energy and ideas she brings to our department.”

Both Evans and McPartland have created a working relationship built on mutual respect and collaboration.

In addition to teaching French at Law, Evans is also the advisor for the French Club.

“French Club is an awesome opportunity for all Law students, not just French students, to make friends and have fun making crafts, watching French-language movies, listening to French-language music, and eating yummy food,” Evans said. “It’s a cozy place for students to share their love of the French language and French culture.”

Senior French Club President Delaney Hanley is excited to work with Evans in both French Club and the AP French class she is taking this year.

“She’s a very understanding teacher, and is always there to support her students,” Hanley said. “I’ve been her student every year that we’ve been at Law, and I’m happy to have gotten so involved with French here.”

Aside from working with Evans in class, Hanley has many aspirations for French Club.

“This year in French Club, we’re going to do a lot more fundraising,” Hanley said. “Our major plan is to save up money for a trip in the spring.”

With a trip in mind, Hanley also wants to make French Club more prominent in the Law community.

“I’d also like to make the club more known throughout the Law community, by appearing on the news more, and holding more events,” Hanley said. “Any means to grow the club with devoted members.”

Evans’ students admire her cheerful personality and teaching in general.

Sophomore Vanessa Messina took French 2 Honors last year as a freshman. She is currently taking French 3 Honors, continuing her French journey with Evans.

“Having Madame Evans as a teacher is a really fun experience,” sophomore Vanessa Messina said. “She is a great teacher and the way she has us learning with constant practice is really beneficial.”

NEWS: Law’s UNICEF Club Brings Awareness To Global Humanitarian Issues

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Law’s UNICEF Club is back for a second year. (Photo courtesy Doreen Lin)

By Alexandra Oliveira – Staff Reporter

Jonathan Law’s UNICEF Club is continuing strong after a successful first year.

The goal of the UNICEF Club is to bring awareness to global issues, specifically ones impacting children in humanitarian crises. The club has many upcoming events that educate others while doing it in a fun way.

“For October, we’re doing Trick-or-Treat for UNICEF, where members collect small change donations using those TOT UNICEF boxes,” Junior President Doreen Lin said. “And in November, we’re planning a clothing or food drive to support people in need.”

The UNICEF Club’s officers are hoping to gain more members to help bring awareness to their cause.

“My main goal is to raise awareness about global issues impacting children and to take meaningful action through advocacy, fundraising, and education,” Junior Officer Anushka Vajrala said. “I also want to grow our membership this year, and increase participation in volunteer events so that more students can contribute to UNICEF’s mission of protecting children’s rights worldwide.” 

The club meets biweekly on Tuesdays after school in Room 79.

Due to the fact that the club was founded late in the last school year, there weren’t many events. Still, the club raised about $300 from a bake sale. 

“I’d like to continue spreading awareness through more fundraisers,” Vajrala said. “Definitely want to do more bake sales, information tables, attend more meetings, and overall just more volunteering.”

Joining UNICEF provides volunteer hours from the fundraisers and community activities.

“Most of our events count toward the 200 hours you need to graduate with distinction, and a lot of people want that graduation cord,” Lin said.

As a newer club, the officers and members of UNICEF take the lead to make long-lasting traditions at Jonathan Law.

“I have always enjoyed advising new clubs at Law, and UNICEF is no different,” UNICEF Advisor Mr. Evanko said. “It is very student-run; our officers and student members have done so much work already, and I am really proud of them.”

The UNICEF Club stands out due to its focus on international issues rather than just those concerning Jonathan Law or the United States.

“I am excited to help children in need locally and globally,” junior member Avery Oliveira said.

The UNICEF Club helps to empower high school students to advocate for children’s rights and well-being.

“I wanted to make a positive impact on others, and I like the idea of helping the community,” freshman member Mya Corris said.

EDITORIAL: Is It Time To Get Rid Of Political Parties?

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(Photo courtesy Stanford University)

By Anwita Puttam – News Editor

On January 6, 2021, there was a major attack on the U.S Capitol in Washington, D.C. On September 10, 2025, 31-year old Republican political activist Charlie Kirk was shot dead at a campus event at Utah Valley University by 22-year-old Tyler Robinson.

The cause of these events? Political division.

The creation of the two most well-known U.S. political parties, the Democratic Party and Republican Party, happened in 1792. In current politics, they are used as a way to express which ideologies a person might follow. People will declare they are a part of a certain party as a way to show which side they support during the election. During each election, ever since the 19th century, the two closest contestants have always been a Republican and a Democrat.

While the political parties have such a major impact on our election system, were they ever a good idea to begin with?

In 1796, during George Washington’s farewell speech, he talked about many of his concerns about the New Republic, one of them being political parties. He explained how he believed that causing a divide between the people through politics would only end badly. He feared that if political parties had a rise, corrupt men would use this as an opportunity to seize power from the people as well as create the trend of “spirited revenge.” Nonetheless the people of the U.S chose to ignore his warnings, which all led us to this.

In 2022, a study showed that 54% of Democrats and 62% of Republicans had a hatred towards the other party. Many also believed that the opposing side is “uneducated” and “immoral.” Multiple disputes have happened in person and online. People get harassed and berated just because of what side they associate with. The entire creation of these two parties was due to conflicts and disagreements. 

And it’s not only in the U.S.

The government in France is going through a major crisis. The president, Emmanuel Macron, has now fired his second Prime Minister in his two-year term and is looking for a new one. The reason behind this? The conflicts of political parties happening between the far right and far left. These two parties have banded together, all for the sake of bringing down Macron’s own political party. The country is now in a hectic state, being unable to please both sides of the parties.

What is the point of all this? What was the point of creating these parties that show such hatred and corrupt behavior to each other? Why did we choose to ignore the words of our founding fathers? What was the reason for these segregations? What was the point? 

The entire concept of dividing people because of their ideologies has caused outrage throughout society. People get harassed and attacked just because they have a different set of opinions. There has been zero public benefit; it only causes the people to argue, fight, or become violent.

We put our trust into things that cause us, as people, to fall apart. Creating this sense of separation has done nothing but hurt the people following it. People should be allowed to convey their opinions without feeling like they might get shot the next day. As people, we need to realize that we should settle for division just because of our own differences.

LIFE AFTER LAW: Catching Up With Class Of 2025 Graduate Ella Franzman

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Class of 2025 graduate Ella Franzman (Photo courtesy @ACCNetwork)

By Courtney Russo – Social Media Editor-In-Chief

Jonathan Law Class of 2025 graduate Ella Franzman recently started her freshman year at Syracuse University.

Franzman is attending the S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications and is looking to pursue a career in broadcast journalism, with a focus on sports media. She has enjoyed a smooth transition into college socially and academically.

“So far, my college experience has been incredible,” Franzman said. “I’ve built a great group of friends who make life a lot less stressful and way more fun. I’ve also met so many supportive people, whether it’s through the ACC Network, a professor or advisor through Newhouse, or simply a classmate in geography.”

During her time at Law, Franzman was the Editor-In-Chief of The Advocate and gained social media experience by running the Jonathan Law Athletics account. Now, she has taken that experience to Syracuse.

“Currently, I work with ACC Network at Syracuse, where we are the only school in the nation to provide live pregame, halftime, and postgame shows that are 100% student-run,” Franzman said. “There, I have had the opportunity to shadow many different positions, one that I have gotten involved with a lot more is creating content for our social media, @newhousesportssu. On that account, we work to create content that promotes our live productions, highlights behind-the-scenes work from filming and directing to on-air coverage, shares exclusive interviews, and so much more. I also serve as one of three social media interns for the Club Men’s Basketball team.”

In addition, Franzman is a staff member at WAER, Syracuse’s public radio station (88.3 FM). It is one of the few college radio stations that sends student broadcasters on the road to cover every Syracuse football and men’s basketball game, both home and away.

Franzman has worked on bettering her downtime management and improving her scheduling.

“College has been a big shift from the structured routine I had in high school,” Franzman said. “In high school, my days were very predictable and structured. I would go to school, then a club meeting, followed by swim or basketball practice, which gave me a sense of comfort and organization.”

Now, Franzman has to adjust to a schedule with more breaks in it. 

“While the weather is still nice, I’ve started taking advantage of that time to sit outside in the quad or at a coffee shop to get some work done,” Franzman said. “This has helped me adjust to the more flexible schedule and made the transition a little easier and more enjoyable.”

One piece of advice Franzman wants the Class of 2026 to follow is to enjoy every moment.

“Time truly flies by during your senior year, so don’t wish for November to come faster or count down the days to graduation too quickly,” Franzman said. “Soak in the little things. For a lot of you, you’ve known your classmates since kindergarten or middle school, and there’s a real comfort in that familiarity, so appreciate it while it lasts.”

LIFE AFTER LAW: Catching Up With Class Of 2025 Graduate Cesar Mendez

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Class of 2025 graduate Cesar Mendez (Photo courtesy Cesar Mendez)

By Yeiden Nieves and Logan Mullarkey – Sports Editors

Jonathan Law Class of 2025 graduate Cesar Mendez is now a freshman at Southern Connecticut State University in New Haven where he is majoring in Elementary Education.

Mendez had a busy schedule at Law as a member of the varsity football team and track and field team. Mendez has continued to stay focused on succeeding in his academics.

“Throughout college, my mindset has been to make sure that your school work and homework gets done first,” Mendez said. “All the other extracurricular activities come after because you need good grades to stay at school.”

A normal day for Mendez consists of waking up around 8 a.m. and heading to his first class at either 9 or 9:30 a.m. On Monday and Wednesday, he’ll have another class from 12-3 p.m. and then a class from 5-6 p.m. Every other day of the week, he finishes class at 11 a.m.

In between his classes, he makes sure to stay in touch with his family.

“Seeing my family is still very important to me,” Mendez said. “I see them very often and being able to be with them while being in college is very cool.”

Mendez emphasized the importance of getting involved in high school and in the community.

“One piece of advice I would give to high school students is to get involved,” Mendez said. “It’s very important to make connections with as many people as you can.”

LIFE AFTER LAW: Catching Up With Class Of 2025 Graduate Riley Lapham 

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Class of 2025 graduate Riley Lapham (Photo courtesy Riley Lapham)

By Aislyn McKernan and Madi Black – Social Media Editors-in-Chief

Jonathan Law Class of 2025 graduate Riley Lapham recently started her freshman year at Eastern Connecticut State University, where she is majoring in Pre-Early Elementary Education and Sociology. 

Lapham has had a great transition into her college life. She has adjusted well to her new social and academic lifestyle.

“I’ve adjusted better than I thought and it’s a lot less scary than it seems,” Lapham said. “I was worried about missing home, but I’m so busy it’s hard to have time to miss everything.”

Eastern has had a lot of opportunities for Lapham, and she has been enjoying college so far.

“My favorite part about college is meeting new people and having the opportunity to try new things without any judgment,” Lapham said. 

Lapham has been enjoying her new freedom and lifestyle at college.

“The biggest difference from high school is that the responsibility is on you,” Lapham said. “There’s no one making sure that you get all your work in, so you have to take accountability for your own achievements.”

While happy in her new environment, Lapham still misses home and Law.

“The most difficult change for me has been being away from my family and friends,” Lapham said. “I miss my Law family – the swim and dive team, band, and track team. I also miss the teachers who made school feel like home.”

EDITORIAL: Charlie Kirk Coverage Highlights Dangerous Trend In Today’s Media

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(Photo collage courtesy Harshitha Kothapalli)

By Harshitha Kothapalli – Editor-in-Chief 

On September 10, 2025, at 12:23 p.m., an American right-wing political activist, Charlie Kirk, was fatally shot while addressing an audience on the campus of Utah Valley University in Orem, Utah. On September 10, 2025, at around 12:24 p.m., local dispatch received a report of a school shooting taking place at Evergreen High School in Evergreen, Colorado, where three students were taken to the hospital in critical condition. On September 10, 2025, Chandra Mouli Nagamallaiah was attacked with a machete by his co-worker, eventually being beheaded in front of his wife and child, over an argument about a broken washing machine. On August 22, 2025, at 9:50 p.m., Iryna Zarutska was fatally stabbed, unprovoked, on a light rail train in Charlotte, North Carolina, where she was killed just moments after texting her boyfriend that she was on her way home. 

The following data has been roughly calculated by the Foundation for Civic Advocacy and Security (FCAS) about media coverage over various large news corporations such as CNN, Fox News, The New York Times, The Washington Post, and more. They found:

1,200 media posts for the Colorado school shooting.

300 media posts for the Ukrainian woman stabbing.

50 media posts for the Indian man beheaded. 

Over 26 million media posts for Charlie Kirk’s assassination. 

The question is, why? Why is there such a vast disparity in the media coverage between all of these tragedies? Why were the students at Evergreen overshadowed, although the events happened within a singular minute? Was Chandra not as eye-catching for the headlines? Iryna? What about the 900 students and faculty who said their goodbyes as they heard the 20 rounds being fired by their very own classmate? What about DeMartravion “Trey” Reed and Cory Zukatis, who were hanged to death in Mississippi? Would the racially-motivated violence imitating the Jim Crow era not generate enough hits?

Charlie Kirk’s assassination was an awful tragedy, and a rude awakening to the vast amount of gun and political violence in today’s world. But so were Melissa Hortman, a  Minnesota lawmaker, and her husband, Mark, who were shot in their homes on June 14, 2025. Chances are, the majority of you didn’t even know about the Hortmans. Before people even get the opportunity to become ignorant, the media is doing it for them. From the seizing of the White House press pool to defunding non-profit news organizations such as NPR and PBS to the suspension of Jimmy Kimmel Live, we’re slowly watching the biased corruption of every media source.

We are actively being failed as a society by the inaccurate media coverage that we witness daily, and most of us don’t even realize it. It is our duty to educate ourselves, to research, to read, to listen, to learn, but how can we do this when the correct resources aren’t even available to us?

NEWS: Williams Joins Jonathan Law Faculty As New Special Education Teacher

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Law Special Education teacher Mrs. Williams (Photo courtesy Madi Black)

By Madi Black – Social Media Editor-in-Chief 

Jonathan Law welcomed a new Special Education teacher this year, Ms. Willams. 

Wiilliams previously at Parsons and at the Academy in Milford before joining the Law community. 

“Before starting here at Law, I worked first at the Academy in Milford and then at Parsons,” Williams said. “This will be my 11th year as a teacher in the district.”

Williams is looking forward to the school year ahead with her new coworkers.

“I am loving Law so far,” Williams said. “Everyone has been so welcoming and helpful, I can’t thank them enough.”  

One of her students, senior Zach McWaters, is grateful to have her as a teacher and loves how she’s making the class fun. 

“I love how Ms. Williams takes us out in the community,” McWaters said. “We’ve already had so much fun and did so much. She’s the best.”

Williams can’t wait to see what all of her students can do. She loves meeting her new coworkers too.

“I am excited to get out in the community with the LAW PGTA (Post Graduate Transition Academy),” Williams said. “I also love getting to know the staff and students at Law better. It;’s like one big family here.”

NEWS: Milford Public Schools Block Student YouTube Access For New School Year

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(Photo courtesy youtube.com)

By Adrian Vitale – Social Media Editor

The Milford Public School District recently blocked YouTube on students’ school-issued devices.

The YouTube ban was issued due to safety and privacy concerns, according to Law Principal Mr. Darcy.

“First, Google has changed their policies and now require parental consent for YouTube use for anyone under the age of 18,” Darcy said. “This would be very difficult for any school to manage safely. In general, YouTube and other sites can be valuable in education in given circumstances so staff still have the ability to use YouTube videos in their Google Classroom along with their classrooms when it’s applicable and appropriate.”

Law English teacher Ms. Smuniewski had mixed feelings about the ban.

“I think that the district’s decision to ban YouTube on student Chromebooks is bittersweet,” Smuniewski said. “While students are sometimes distracted by YouTube, I’ve also seen many use it to their advantage (examples: learning more about a specific topic, watching instructions on how to do something, watching experts in the field talk about their subject, etc).”

While students can not access YouTube on their own, teachers do have the option to upload YouTube links to Google Classroom. All YouTube videos on Google Classroom can be viewed in school.

“The YouTube ban doesn’t really affect us as teachers since we can still post school approved videos from YouTube through Google Classroom,” Chemistry teacher Mrs. Turcotte said.

Students had different opinions about the YouTube ban. Many students enjoyed the open access they previously had to YouTube on school-issued devices. 

“I no longer have access to some of the helpful resources I had on YouTube, like helpful videos with math or science,” sophomore Sean Sula said.

Sophomore Vincenzo Mannino said he previously has used YouTube for homework help.

“I enjoyed the easy access to YouTube as a student for helpful material,” Mannino said. “Though as long as you listen and take notes in class to check back over, it shouldn’t be too big of an issue.”

NEWS: Law Says “Bienvenidos” To New Spanish Teacher Van Peck

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Law Spanish teacher Mrs. Van Peck (Photo courtesy Ava Grippo)

By Ava Grippo – Entertainment Editor

Mrs. Van Peck is a new Spanish teacher at Jonathan Law. 

This is Van Peck’s eighth year teaching and she came to Law from a small charter school in Bridgeport. 

Van Peck is excited to be working at Law. She said the school gives off strong family vibes and the teachers and students are both very welcoming. 

“My hopes for the school year are to create some great connections with the staff and students. I look forward to being a part of the family community here at Law,” Van Peck said.

Van Peck also shares her goals for the 2025-2026 school year.

“My goals for this school year are to spread positivity and my love for the Spanish language and culture,” Van Peck said.

Van Peck encourages students to say “Hola” to her in the halls. She would also love some restaurant recommendations in Milford.

SPORTS: Law Boys Soccer Team Ready For 2025 Fall Season

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The Law boys soccer team kicked off its 2025 season. (Photo courtesy yearbookavenue.com)

By Logan Mullarkey – Sports Editor

The boys soccer team kicked off their season on September 3 against Lyman hall and is excited for their upcoming season.

The Lawmen are led by captains Tyler Stankevich, Maxwell Moller, Aarush Katyal, and Cole Alogna. Their next game will be Thursday, September 11 against Notre Dame West Haven here at Lawmen Stadium. 

Law lost two close games to start the year, but plans on using these early challenges as fuel to push harder for the rest of the season.

“I know we have the talent to turn things around,” junior Tyler Stankevich said. “If we stay ready and keep our energy high, we can compete with anyone we go against.”

Head coach Mr. Gruber is also confident that the early setbacks will prepare the team for the battles ahead.

“Our league is usually tough, but these tough games help us improve,” Gruber said. “The more pressure we face now, the more prepared we’ll be for later in the season.”

The players have been working hard since preseason to build chemistry and strengthen their style of play.

“We’ve put in a lot of hours together, and I feel like we’re starting to click,” junior Maxwell Moller said. “We just need to stay sharp in practice so that it shows in our games.”

The team also has younger players stepping into bigger roles after last year’s graduating seniors moved on.

“It’s been awesome to see the younger guys step up,” junior Cole Alogna said. “They’re bringing energy and effort every day, and that’s exactly what we need to be successful this season.”

Thee Lawmen are optimistic that they can grow into a dangerous team as the season progresses.

“I’m excited to see how this group develops,” Gruber said. “They have the right attitude, and I believe if they stick together, they can achieve something special this year.”

SPORTS: Junior Captain Stankevich Steps Up As Leader For Law Boys Soccer Team

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Junior Tyler Stankevich (Photo courtesy Tyler Stankevich)

By Connor Ryan – News Editor

The Law boys soccer team had a great season last year, making it into the State playoffs.

This year, they’re aiming to go even further with a strong group of returning players and new leaders stepping up.

One of those leaders is Junior Captain Tyler Stankevich. Stankevich was a big part of last season’s success and has become even more important this year.

Coaches and teammates respect him for both his skill and leadership.

“Tyler was chosen a captain by his coaches and has done a good job this year leading by example,” Head Coach Mr. Gruber said. “Tyler is a very skilled soccer player and is an integral part of our attack and success this year.”

Stankevich has high hopes for the season. He wants the team to reach the playoffs again and is especially looking forward to the big rivalry game against Foran.

“My goal for this season is to qualify for the playoffs and make a solid run,” Stankevich said. “I also hope to beat Foran in the town rivalry game.”

Senior captain Aarush Katyal said Stankevich does more than just play well – he also helps his teammates by staying positive and encouraging them during tough times.

“He brings talent and his friendliness to the team, he talks to his teammates and listens to the things they are struggling with on the field,” Katyal said. “As a junior captain, he does a great job of helping his team push through in tough situations.”

Stankevich also plays strong defense and constantly pressures the other team, something his teammates really appreciate.

“So far in the last few years, he has consistently created pressure against every team we have played,” Junior Captain Cole Alogna said.

One of Stankevich’s goals this season is to be a more successful player on the offensive side of the field.

“This season we expect Tyler to be one of our standout players on offense and for him to score goals.” Moller said. “Tyler helps the team be successful with his playmaking ability and hard work”

With Stankevich leading the way, the Law boys soccer team is hoping for another strong season—and maybe an even deeper playoff run.

SPORTS: Boys Cross Country Team Starts Off New Season With Fresh Goals

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The Law boys cross country team recently started its fall season. (Photo courtesy @ep.prodz)

By Matthew Sanchez – Social Media Editor

The Jonathan Law boys cross country team is off and running.

With so many promising underclassmen, along with the leadership of the newly appointed captains, cross country is set to have a great season. The boys already had their first meet at Wesleyan, where many runners set personal records and goals for the future. 

“The team is a close group of athletes who support each other to improve,” Head Coach Mr. Beler said. “We have a great combination of new or returning athletes. We have great leaders such as David Lickteig, Matthew Montini, Carter Rosiak, and Pierce Marini. Our main goal is to bring home the Milford Road Runners Championship.”

Beler has great confidence in his runners and has many goals set for this season. 

“My senior PR goals have slightly changed due to my hamstring injury last track season,” Senior Captain David Lickteig said. “During our first meet this year at Wesleyan University, I ran a 21-minute 5K. I’m hoping to keep my times under 20 minutes and to hopefully get lower 19-minute 5k runs this season.”

Junior Captain Matthew Montini said the team will do its best to replace last year’s seniors.

“We did have a lot of seniors leave last year; in fact our varsity team was composed of almost entirely seniors last year,” Montini said. “However, with so much new talent coming to the team whether that be freshmen or older guys coming to track or even current guys getting better than what they were last year. Considering that we already beat Branford in our first meet, we can expect a great season this year.” 

Junior Carter Rosiak said he enjoys the process of try to get better. 

“My favorite part is definitely the improvement,” said Rosiak. “It gets harder the more you improve, but that feeling when you persevere through it and getting to that new PR makes you feel stronger each time. My goal this season is to break 20 minutes on the 5K.”

Freshman Jaishan Siva said the team is very close and always pulls for one another.

“I like how we improve and get better as a team,” Siva said. “We all like to help and motivate each other on our workouts.”

NEWS: Hawie Joins Jonathan Law Faculty As New Culinary Teacher

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Law Culinary teacher Ms. Hawie (Photo courtesy Madi Black)

By Madi Black – Social Media Editor in Chief 

Jonathan Law welcomed a new Culinary teacher this year, Ms. Hawie. 

Hawie had been teaching at Harborside Middle School and is looking forward to joining a new community and lifestyle. 

“Before coming to Law, I taught Social Studies at Harborside,” Hawie said. “Teaching at a new school means I’m doing a lot of learning right now, but it’s really exciting.”

Hawie is adjusting to :aw and is looking forward to the school year ahead with her new coworkers and new students. 

“I’m loving Law so far – every single staff member has been so welcoming and helpful,” Hawie said. “The students are great and there’s a real feeling of community here.”

One of her students, sophomore Grace French, is grateful to have her as a new teacher and loves how she’s fitting in. 

“I love how Ms. Hawie teaches,” French said. “You would never know that it was her first year if you just walked in the room, she adjusted so well and so fast.”

Hawie can’t wait to see all the after school events at Law and can’t wait to share some of her favorite things with her new students. 

“I’m looking forward to sharing some of my favorite recipes with my students and seeing them take pride in what they create in the kitchen,” Hawie said. “I also can’t wait to see the JLHS Drama performance of ‘Harry Potter and the Cursed Child,’ because I’ve been a big fan of the Harry Potter series since the very beginning. I’m just excited to get to know new people, watch the students learn and grow, and be part of all the positive things happening here.”

NEWS: Duggan Excited To Join Law As New Social Worker

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Jonathan Law Social Worker Mrs. Duggan (Photo courtesy Ava Grippo)

By Ava Grippo – Entertainment Editor

Mrs. Duggan is the new Social Worker at Jonathan Law. 

Duggan came to Law from Guilford High School, where she was working as a Community Social Worker. She is also a Guilford High School graduate. 

Duggan said that she is enjoying working at Jonathan Law and that teachers and students have been incredibly welcoming. She believes that Law is a great community to be a part of due to the positive energy and welcoming environment. 

Duggan hopes that she will be able to help students and collaborate with other teachers. 

“My biggest hope is to build positive connections with both students and staff,” Duggan said. “I want to be someone students can rely on and staff can easily collaborate with. I also hope to help create an environment where everyone feels supported and encouraged.”

Duggan shared her goals for the year as the new Social Worker. 

“My goal is to meet students where they are and better understand what works best for them,” Duggan said. “I want to provide support that benefits both students and families whether that means helping set goals, working through challenges, or connecting them with resources. My focus is on being consistent and approachable so students at Law feel supported.”

SPORTS: Law Girls XC Team Heads To Starting Line For Fall Season

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The Law girls cross country team recently began its fall season. (Photo courtesy @JackieRivera)

By Taylor Mola – Social Media Editor

The Law girls cross country team is already off to a strong start this fall.

The team had its first meet on September 2 at Wesleyan University. They went against the top-ranked girls team in that state, Mercy.

“They have been putting in a lot of miles during the off-season, preparing them for a great upcoming season,” Coach Beler said. ”The girls had a great opener meet to start off. They were the top finishers in the first race, and the first finisher for our team was sophomore Emma Heinmiller.”

Heinmiller was proud of her performance in the season-opening race.

“I didn’t expect to do that good, but I put my full effort in and tried my best, not caring about how I placed,” Heinmiller said. “This is my first year doing cross country I ran during the summer to just start running and then decided to do it as a sport.”

Leading the team are two senior captains, Sophia Wang and Dulce-Paz Gomez

“This is my fourth year on the girls cross country team, and I have run varsity all four years, demonstrating my dedication and commitment to the sport, I love being involved with my team as we have weekly meets and team pasta parties,” Wang said. “As a captain this year I felt prepared as I have gained a lot of experience from my previous captains, and time on the team, I consider myself a good leader as I make sure my team is up to date on all team events, and I make sure everyone feels involved and a part of the team.”

When last season ended, the team graduated several seniors and is now excited to see how some of the underclassmen perform and what they will bring to the team.

Junior Jackie Rivera, is ready to see how the rest of the season plays out and is hoping for the team to do well at their big meet of the year – the Milford City Championships.

“This season, I’m excited for the Milford Championships,” Rivera said. “It’s a meet where the cross country teams in Milford compete to win, and the winner of the meet gets a trophy and bragging rights for the year. We got super close last year but missed it by a bit, so this year we really want to try and get there.”

As the season goes on, the team will help push each other to their best for the outcome of a great season.

“We all grow together and run together,” sophomore Sophia Tovar said. “Even if some are faster than others, we still all help each other to get faster.”

SPORTS: Law Cheer Team Prepares For Football Games, Competition Season

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The Jonathan Law cheer team is ready for the fall season. (Photo courtesy @jlawcheer)

By Abigail Merenda – Sports Editor 

With the start of the new school year comes with the start of a new season of cheerleading at Jonathan Law. 

Head Coach Morgan Colombo has high expectations for the upcoming season. 

“A goal this season to place Top 5 at States,” Colombosaid. “As an even bigger goal is to make it to Regionals, by placing at states. We not only are coed this year, but we also will be having two teams represent Law on the competition mat this year. We are super excited to announce that we will not only have a varsity competition team, but a junior varsity competition team as welll. The team is looking great already and we are excited for a great year ahead.”

The team already has a busy schedule planned.

“We have a football game coming up on September 12th away against Lyman Hall,” Junior Captain Madelynn Nash said. “We also have our Pink Out T-shirt fundraiser going on now.” 

Senior Captain Charlotte Baldieri is excited for the football season to start. 

“This season I am very excited for our home football games,” Baldieri said. “I am a senior this year so these will be my last ones and our team has worked extra hard for a fun halftime routine.”

Senior Captain Jordyn Torres is preparing for competition season later this year. 

“This cheer season I’m excited to return back to comps,” Torres said. “I’m even more excited because we are in a new division.” 

Senior Mckenzie Forsythe is excited to see how everyone grows this season. 

“This season I am excited to see how we grow being back in the Co-Ed division,” Forsythe said. “Also, I am excited to see everyone gain more confidence in their skills and a really well bonded team.”

SPORTS: Senior Captain Gargiulo Ready To Help Lead Law Girls Soccer Team

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Senior Captain Fiorella Gargiulo (Photo courtesy Alivia Bogart)

By Logan Thomas – Entertainment Editor

Senior Captain Fiorella Gargiulo is looking to lead the Jonathan Law girls soccer team to another appearance in the SCC and State Tournaments.

Gargiulo has high expectations for this upcoming season. She has multiple goals she is planning to accomplish to help the team succeed.

“This season, we are strong in our skill and speed, so I expect a hard, yet well-matched schedule, as a number one seed,” Gargiulo said. “As captain, my number one goal is to instill confidence in my teammates, we are still learning the game and always improving, so it’s important to support my teammates and give them a shoulder to lean on.”

Gargiulo has strong leadership skills that are on display both on and off the field. 

“Fiorella is an incredible player and captain, she always leads by example, whether that is putting in 100% effort at practice or getting the girls to get hyped on bus rides, she is always looking to improve herself and her teammates, while still just having fun,” Head Coach Mrs Francisco said. “ Over the years, she has developed emotionally, physically, and tactically, she has always been an aggressive player – taking out the captain on Day 1 of tryouts when she was a freshman – and she has continued to get stronger, more confident, and more composed as a player. She has also learned the importance of rest and nutrition. 

Gargiulo has helped lead the girls’ soccer team to multiple state and SCC appearances. She plays a significant role on the team and always strives for excellence. 

“Fiorella has helped the team by always bringing a positive attitude and making sure everyone is hype before games, she also always makes sure her teammates are calm during games and focused during practice,” junior Emily Vella said. “Fiorella shows her leadership skills on the field through her high work ethic and her communication with her teammates.”

Gargiulo’s leadership and maturity is evident during games and at practice.

“Fiorella has been a great asset to our team, on the field and off,” junior Talia Hagan said. “Her leadership, coordination, and organization have helped a lot this year. Not only with planning and team bonding, but simple stuff like what to wear on game day, I think this will really help us later in the season, once we get really busy with two games a week.”

SPORTS: Law Girls Soccer Team Looks To Make Return To Postseason

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(Photo courtesy Fiorella Gargiulo)

By Brady O’Neil – News Editor

The Jonathan Law Girls Soccer team is ready to make an impact in the SCC this year.

Even though the coaching staff and many of the players remain the same, new expectations come up at the beginning of every season.

“I have very high expectations for the team this year,” Head Coach Mrs. Fransisco said. “I expect the girls to stay healthy and focused on our team goals. I also expect Emily to break the all-time goals scored record very soon.”

A new set of captains are ready to lead and control the dynamic of the team. This work started over the summer, with hours of hard work dedicated to getting better.

“Over the summer, we put a major focus on conditioning and individualized drills to build up our skills,” Senior Captain Layla Alogna said. “To help us get even more touches on the ball, our summer league coach hosted extra practices in preparation for the season.”

The team is determined to have a successful season and battle through a difficult SCC schedule.

“As captains, we will do our best to keep morale high in every situation,” said Senior Captain Molly Croce. “We want everyone to feel like a part of our family and have an enjoyable time while also realizing when we need to lock in. As long as we stay positive, I hope everyone can build that team chemistry.”

With the team’s previous success, they are going into this year with big goals for themselves. 

“The expectations for this upcoming season are to make SCCs and make it to the second round of states,” Senior Captain Avery Moulton said. “We all want to push each other to be the best and work hard in practice. Everyone should communicate, support each other, and show respect on and off the field. We are all going to play with effort, discipline, and have good sportsmanship to help us succeed together.”

Law lost some players to graduation last year, but several new additions to the team seem promising. The returning players are also ready to step up this season.

“We lost three starters from last year,” Gargiulo said. “And while they were very beneficial to our lineup, we have girls who are devoted and ready to step up to fill those holes.”

NEWS: Law’s Class Of 2029 Ready, Excited To Start High School Experience

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Members of Law’s Class of 2029 are ready to begin their high school experience. (Photo courtesy Anwita Puttam)

By Anwita Puttam – News Editor 

The newest group of Jonathan Law freshmen recently began the first few steps of their high school lives. 

Members of the Class of 2029 are learning how to navigate themselves through high school, exploring different opportunities that surround them.

Law Principal Mr. Darcy has some advice for the newest members of our school.

“I’ve had a chance to be in classrooms, lunches and in class meetings with our 9th graders and I’m thrilled they are part of our JLHS family,” Darcy said. “They seem happy, supportive and engaged in our classrooms and I’m excited to see what the next four years will bring.”

Other teachers at Law agreed with Darcy’s statement about the freshman and said they are a very enthusiastic group of kids.

“They’re a really friendly, enthusiastic group, and I’m excited to get to know them better,” English teacher Mrs. Anderson said. “Everything is already off to a great start—I think it’s going to be a fantastic year.”

Darcy said it is important for freshman to try to get involved in the Law community.

“My advice is to get involved,” Darcy said. “Join a club, play an instrument, join Drama, or play a sport. The more involved you are in your school community, the more connected you are and the better you perform academically as well.”

Many of the freshmen have taken this advice, or are planning on following it in their future days at Jonathan Law. Most have joined clubs and sports, or are planning on trying them out and joining our extracurricular groups.

“I do like the teachers; they’re pretty nice and they don’t give much work for now at least,” Freshman Nina Hernandez said. “I like my cross country team. They’re all super nice and welcoming” 

The staff and students at Law have also helped make the freshman feel welcomed and comfortable in this new school. The people around them have helped his new group of highs choolers feel like Law is a safe environment.

“Every single student is so welcoming and all the teachers are so friendly,” freshman Vanessa Chen said. “On my first day of school, I immediately felt so welcomed and comfortable by everyone around me.”

Freshman Yunxi Ren agreed with Chen.

“So far Jonathan Law has been an amazing school for me,” Ren said. “The students here have been very helpful and nice.”

NEWS: Jonathan Law Athletes Kick Off Fall Season With Female Athletics Clinic

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Jonathan Law fall athletes recently participated in a Female Athletics Clinic (Photo courtesy Fiorella Gargiulo)

By Cora Aitkenhead – News Editor

Jonathan Law’s female student-athletes held an Athletic Clinic this summer to introduce incoming freshman to each of the fall sports Law has to offer. 

Law fall sports for females consist of: Soccer, Volleyball, Cross Country, and Swim and Dive. Organized by senior Girls Soccer Captain Fiorella Gargiulo, the event walked through a small activity for each sport that would give them a feel for what drills, stretches, workouts, that sport contains during the season. 

“The freshman girls got to experience each fall sport, no commitment, to get a taste of what type of player they envision themselves to be,” Gargiulo said. “Even committed upperclassmen got to see what a practice may look like for a sport they have never played before, which allowed them to get a deeper understanding and appreciation for our peers that may not be our teammates.”

For cross country, the freshmen were each paired up with an upperclassmen to go for a quick run. For soccer, freshmen were walked through a few drills focusing on footwork as well as finishing and scoring goals. 

For swim and dive, the group of girls sat in a circle and swim captains ran the group through a small workout that they do. For volleyball, the group headed to the gym to do some passing drills. 

“It was a great day to get our feet wet, so to speak, by getting a taste of every sport,” freshman Olivia DeSimone said. 

The upperclassmen running this event have shown great commitment to their sports over the last two to three years, but have also become great role models and friends to the incoming players. 

“The upperclassman created and led each activity,” Law Girls Soccer Coach Mrs. Francisco said. “They had to think of the level of the athletes participating, what would be a fun and engaging activity and how to best implement them.” 

The freshman not only learned a little bit about new sports, but learned why being a part of a team – especially at Law – is a special opportunity. 

“It really stuck in my mind that high school sports are so much more than just practicing and playing the game,” DeSimone said,.“It’s community, building relationships with people, and finding a group that you can be a part of because there’s something for everyone here at Law.”

Junior Alivia Bogert spoke on how her experience with Law sports had led to more involvement, friendships, and even potential opportunities even past what Law has to offer. 

“Law female sports is a great way to connect with the school,” Bogert said. “You can make so many new friends, and there are many sports scholarships if you want to play past the high school level.”

To conclude the event, the upperclassmen opened the floor allowing for questions, and spoke of what each team likes to do for team bonding, practices after school, and any other information important to the sport. 

SPORTS: Law Football Team Eyes Return To State Tournament

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(Photo courtesy Fiorella Gargiulo)

By Fiorella Gargiulo – Social Media Editor

The Jonathan Law football team is drawing up game plans and getting ready to face the Lyman Hall Trojans in its season opener on September 12 at 6:30 p.m. 

Last season, Law ended the regular season 6-4, culminating a 3-0 win on Thanksgiving against rival Foran. 

“There are many things that are important to focus on this season such as preparing our players to be in the best position possible and have them prepared for Friday nights but the most important thing I focus on is having our players represent the black and gold proudly in school, in the community, at home, and on the field,” Head Coach Ryan Pearson said.

Returning Senior Captain and Linebacker Nicholas Cosmas is excited and ready to lead the team once again.

“I want to work on the competitiveness of our team,” Cosmas said. “We have a tough schedule, and I want our guys to step up the competitiveness so we can compete with these tough teams.”

Junior Matthew Witteman plans on guiding the team, both as captain and as starting quarterback.

“As a quarterback, one of the most important things is being on the same page as all of your wide receivers,” Witteman said. “As captain, I want to help lead our team to a successful season.”

After being bested 48-13 at Brookfield in the State Tournament last year, the team is dedicated to keeping focus and demonstrating all the work that has been put into the offseason.

“I plan on trying to be the best leader I can, trying to push everyone to their max, and just trying to have as much fun as we can so my last year as a senior can be a good, fun year, and it starts with Cosmas, Witteman, and me leading,” Senior Captain and right guard Jack Lefevre said. 

This season, Law will host Xavier, Killingly, Branford, East Haven, and Hamden.

The annual Thanksgiving game will take place at Foran, where Law plans on keeping the Thanksgiving Trophy at Law for the 5th year in a row. 

“I think we’re going to have to watch lots a film on them,” sophomore wide receiver Reid Moulton said. “I think we also need to focus during practice in the two weeks preparing, and I think we also need to prepare mentally.”

NEWS: Law Welcomes New History Teacher Mrs. Bradford

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Law History teacher Mrs. Bradford (Photo courtesy Henry Smith)

By Henry Smith – Sports Editor 

Mrs. Bradford joined the Law community this year as a new History teacher.

Bradford is teaching Modern World history and AP Macroeconomics. She comes to Law from Foran High School where she taught Humanities and Model UN.

“My transition to Law has been relatively smooth except for figuring out where classrooms are,” Bradford said. “I feel a little like a freshman.”

Bradford’s arrival to law has been met with excitement from Law Principal Mr. Darcy.

“When I first met Mrs. Bradford I could easily see that she was kind, caring and passionate about her job,” Darcy said. “All of those attributes will allow her to have a lasting impact in the Law community.”

Bradford hopes to help students do their very best and learn along with her students.

“My goals for this year are to help my students do their very best and learn AP Macro (my first year!) along with my students,” Bradford said. “I am looking forward to getting to know everyone better as the year progresses.”

Law has been a very welcoming and positive environment to Bradford.

“I really like the vibe of Law,” Bradford said. “Everyone seems really friendly – staff, students, and teachers. It does feel like a family.”

As the year goes on, Bradford hopes to grow alongside her students and make a lasting impact on Law.

NEWS: Jonathan Law Key Club Strives To Serve Local Community

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The Jonathan Law Key Club (Photo courtesy Kayla Markowitz)

By Dylan Gaillard – Sports Editor 

Key Club is one of the most popular clubs at Jonathan Law.

The community-service-based club has many goals for the 2025-2026 school year.

“Key Club is an international high school community service program,” Senior District Bulletin Editor for New England Harshitha Kothapalli said. “There are many different levels to Key Club, such as Divisional, District, and International.”

Kothapalli said the club is aiming to increase membership and to continue to serve the community as the year progresses.

“One of my personal goals is to publish five editions of the district publication, The YanKey,” Kothapalli said. “As a club as a whole, our goals are to increase our membership, raise money for different charities like Camp Sunshine, and incorporate service projects into our club meetings.”

Key Club is open to anyone who attends Jonathan Law High School.

“Our first meeting is Wednesday, September 10, in the TLC at 7 p.m.,” Senior President Kayla Markowitz said. “Everyone is welcome to join us.”

Key Club is hosting many fun and exciting events during this school year.

“I’m most excited for the annual Kickball Tournament that all students can participate in,” Senior Treasurer David Guery said. “That is always fun to watch and host.”

Members said that Key Club has endless benefits.

“Currently, I am a member of Key Club, filling in many of the open positions and volunteering opportunities,” sophomore Yusuf Genc said. “The hours you get from this volunteer work are really beneficial for graduation, it stacks up every year, and also helping the community and boosting the future is a win for me.”

Key Club also has new events that they are hosting this year. 

“We would also love to plan more service projects like Trick or Treat for UNICEF,” Markowitz said. “We are hoping to start a new event this year, which would be a Walk-a-Thon for Camp sunshine.”

DECON is one of the main events that the club attends at the end of the year.

“DECON is a conference where we congregate with all the other key clubs in the New England Bermudan district,” Guery said. “They teach you leadership, and you are also awarded for your club’s accomplishments from the past year.”

The main goal of Key Club is to build community – at Law and beyond.

“First of all, the people you can meet are just amazing, it’s a fun space where you can meet new people,” Genc said. “The warm community key club offers is just unbelievable, and you never know whose story you will see next.”

NEWS: Law’s SAVE Promise Club Raises Awareness About Student Mental Health

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Law’s SAVE Promise Club (Photo courtesy @JLHSSave)

By Molly Lynch – Editor-In-Chief

The SAVE Promise Club held its first meeting of the new school year on September 8 after school in Room 125.

The goal of the SAVE Promise Club is to empower youth to take a role in increasing school safety and violence prevention.The club has many exciting events coming up that bring a fun way to raise awareness on violence prevention and mental health.

“Some events we are planning on doing is a SAVE x Morgan’s Message Football game theme,” Senior President Sarah McCann said. “We would like to educate the school on how SAVE and Morgan’s Message are major mental health organizations, specifically Morgan’s Message with athlete mental health and what better place to spread the message than a football game.”

Mrs. Bregoli, one of Law’s special education teachers, is SAVE’s new Advisor this year.

“I wanted to take over as Advisor this year because I believe every kid should have someone to turn to, whether that’s a friend, teacher or trusted adult in the building,” Bregoli said. “No one should ever feel alone and I want to help spread our positive, friendly supportive mission to our community.”

Joining SAVE helps spread awareness about the global issue of mental health.

“People should join the club because it is a great way to spread awareness about mental health and it is such an important topic worldwide,” Senior Vice President Melissa Servas said.

The club goes on numerous field trips and hopes to create lifelong memories for its members.

“Some of my favorite memories are going to the Save Summit in Philadelphia and the hot cocoa carts we do every year,” junior Aislyn McKernan said.

SAVE Promise Clubs around the world come together to help provide a safe and inclusive environment for students and members of the Law community.

“The club works with organizations across the school, state, and nation that have a positive impact on students here at JLHS,” Law Principal Mr. Darcy said. “The club provides a safe, supportive and inclusive environment for every student and member of our school community.”

NEWS: Health Teacher Mr. Sweeney Teaches Students Skills For Life

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Law Health and Safety teacher Mr. Sweeney (Photo courtesy Sebastian Beltran)

By Sebastian Beltran – Social Media Editor  

Jonathan Law Health and Safety teacher Mr. Sweeney teaches students how to think about their futures and make the correct decisions.

For more than 25 years, Sweeney has been teaching Health and Safety at Law. In his classroom, students don’t just learn facts for a test; they learn lessons they can carry into their futures.

“I chose to teach Health and Safety because I believe it provides students with the knowledge and skills that have the most immediate and lifelong impact,” Sweeney said. “Health education equips young people to make informed decisions about their physical, mental, and social well-being—choices that affect their daily lives both inside and outside of school.”

Sweeney said that he hopes his students learn lessons in Health and Safety that extend past the classroom.

“For me, it’s about more than just covering topics; it’s about empowering students to take responsibility for themselves, to recognize the importance of prevention, and to build habits that promote resilience and success,” Sweeney said. “Health and Safety also opens the door to important conversations about relationships, self-awareness, goal-setting, and making safe decisions that help students develop confidence and life skills.”

In class, Sweeney also talks about his life and teaches students how to make the best decisions. He believes that by talking about these important issues, students can better prepare for the challenges of adulthood.

Students in his classes agree that the lessons go beyond and really connect to their lives.

“Mr. Sweeney teaches us about things we will actually need after high school, like how to handle stress and make smart choices,” senior Jack Lefevre said. “It makes me feel more prepared for real life, not just school.

Sweeney hopes that each student leaves his class with something that makes positive decisions in their life – not just in high school, but throughout their lives.

“Mr. Sweeney always finds a way to connect what we learn in class to real life,” senior Samuel Porzelt said.  He wants us to think about our choices and how they will affect our future.

By focusing on skills such as decision-making, goal-setting, and life-saving techniques like CPR, he continues to give students the tools they need to succeed in high school, in their personal lives, and in the future.

“The most important skill by far is the CPR AED unit, because it provides first aid and life saving techniques,” Sweeney said.

SPORTS: Jonathan Law Volleyball Team Setting Up For 2025 Fall Season

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(Photo courtesy @jlhsvolleyball)

By Yeiden Nieves – Sports Editor

The Jonathan Law volleyball team is ready to pick it right back up for the 2025 season.

In the past three seasons, Law has made the CIAC State Tournament twice. They are looking to return to the playoffs this year after finishing 3-15 last season.

“We have a lot of talent on our roster,” Senior Captain Madison Benedetti said. “I think we need to focus on building our chemistry on court and bringing the family bond that we have off the court into our playing.”

Law opened up their season on September 2 against West Haven. They face a tough SCC schedule consisting of cross-town rivals Foran and Daniel Hand.

The team is led by three senior captains: Benedetti, Nadia Nuzzo, and Lily Pleimann.

“Over the years they have shown sportsmanship, excitement and dedication to the team,” Head Coach Ms. Loch said. “They are supportive of their teammates and have always been helpful to the underclassmen. They continue to lead the team this year and show all these characteristics.”

The team graduated seven seniors: Addy Barber, Ellie Coddington, Julia Ryan, Alex Fino, Haley Stroffolino, Hannah Engel, and Quinn Shane. The team is excited to see how the underclassmen will step up and fill their roles.

“There are many underclassmen capable of filling the spots left behind,” Nuzzo said. “(Sophomore) Sammy Marini was pulled up as a swinger this season and has done an amazing job playing back row so far and (sophomore) Hazel Yilmaz was also pulled up as a swinger and has stepped into the roles of playing back row, setting and hitting so far on the varsity court.”

The team has spent good time during the offseason preparing for the current season. They spent time practicing with Foran and scrimmaging teams to work on team chemistry.

“We had conditioning twice a week along with open gyms at night for anyone from Foran or Law,” Pleimann said. “We also had a summer league where we scrimmaged other high schools that we play during the season.”

The Lawmen are eager to continue the season and look to compete for a spot in the Class L playoffs.

“I’m most looking forward to getting to play with the upperclassmen more and getting to compete on varsity to help us reach our goals this season,” Sammy Marini said.

NEWS: The Morning Briefing Back In Production For New School Year

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Yeiden Nieves and Harshitha Kothapalli hosted the first episode of The Morning Briefing on September 8. (Photo courtesy youtube,com)

By Aislyn McKernan – Social Media Editor-in-Chief 

The Morning Briefing aired its first episode of the year on September 8. 

Law’s morning news show serves as a daily report for all things happening in Law. It is a way for students to learn more about Law and keep updated on upcoming events.

“I would tell the freshmen class to watch the news daily because it has important information to help them get involved in the Law community,” Advisor Ms. Kelly said. “It also usually includes hilarious and incredible content created by our seniors that should inspire them to be on the news one day.” 

The Morning Briefing features announcements about events, clubs, lunches, activities, dances, and more. Each episode also features interviews and other student-produced stories and projects.

The show is produced live daily by Law’s Broadcast Journalism class. It also stars different seniors each day. 

“I wanted to take Broadcast this year because I think it’s a great way to produce content that really gives people an idea of all the great things going on at Law,” senior Kayla Markowitz said. 

Kelly and the Broadcast class have many goals for this year.

“One of my goals for the year is to highlight more content on the morning news,” Kelly said. “I want to help promote all of our incredible clubs and get our students involved.”

Senior Harshitha Kothapalli said the class is already brainstorming several new ideas for the show.

“Our goals for the Morning Briefing this year are for it to be a place that students can rely on for important information while also creating a sense of community at Law,“ Kothapalli said. “From recording ‘Man-On-The-Street’ videos to promoting our sports teams, it should be inviting students to get more involved.”

SPORTS : Law Girls Swim & Dive Team Jumps Into Fall Season

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The Law girls swim and dive team recently opened its fall season. (Photo courtesy @jlhsswim_dive)

By Dani Kotansky – News Editor 

The Jonathan Law girls swim and dive team began their season against Hamden on September 4.

The team, led by captains Kayla Markowitz, Melissa Servas, and Sarah McCann, will look to have a strong season with the addition of four new freshmen. The team finished with a 9-4 record in 2024. 

“Success is not about having a huge improvement in a single day but more importantly about the progress made over time,” Servas said.

Servas is looking to not only lead the team, but to ensure everyone has a great experience as part of the team. 

“Some responsibilities as captain are simply to promote a positive environment and support teammates when needed,” Servas said.  “I help with scheduling and keeping things organized so we can have a great season filled with fun memories!”

McCann is ready to make her last season her best season. 

“My goal for this season is to probably go under 6 minutes in my 500 freestyle and under 26 seconds in my 50 freestyle,” McCann said. “That is my biggest goal but my overall goal is to just have a great season.”

Law will have its first home meet September 8 against Mercy. 

The team will also participate in several events this season to raise money for causes like cancer awareness. Sophomore Zoe Browne is looking forward to these special days.

“I’m excited for our Senior Night and Lion Heart, which is our Breast Cancer Awareness Fundraiser,” Browne said. “Our seniors are working so hard and they deserve their recognition.”

Freshman Teagan Liphardt has been welcomed by the upperclassmen for her first swim season. 

“The upperclassmen have helped me by fixing my form, being super supportive and welcoming, and after practice we have all gone out as a team to get food and that has helped us bond a lot more,” Liphardt said. “But just in general they are so nice and such sweet people.”

Aislyn McKernan, a junior, has been working on improving different skills leading up to this season. 

“I’m trying to improve my breaststroke and butterfly to do some more odd events but I usually compete in 50 and 100 free,” McKernan said.

Overall, the team is looking forward to a season filled with fun and positivity. 

“Don’t forget some days you may not feel your best but keeping a positive mindset and attitude makes a huge difference,” McCann said. 

NEWS: Spanish Teacher Mrs. Morazzini Enjoying Her First Year At Law

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Law Spanish teacher Mrs. Morazzini (Photo courtesy Mrs. Morazzini)

By Courtney Russo – Social Media Editor-in-Chief

Jonathan Law welcomed a new Spanish teacher this year, Mrs. Morazzini.

Morazzini first taught at Foran High School for 14 years. Then, she pursued opportunities in Stratford at Bunnell High School. Most recently, she taught at North Haven High School in North Haven. 

Morazzini is adapting nicely to the change to Law.

“My first few days at Law have been amazing,” Morazzini said. “The staff and students have been extremely welcoming and I am so happy to be here. It feels like home already.”

Morazzini currently teaches AP Spanish, Spanish 3 L1, and Spanish 3 L2. She has noticed how welcoming Law has made her feel.

“What stands out the most at Law is the community of students, teachers, and administrators,” Morazzini said. “The energy here is unique and special.”

Law staff have gone out of their way to make Morazzini feel welcome and at home. Morazzini said that the staff have welcomed her with smiles and hugs. She has worked with some of her colleagues at different schools once before and is now honored to be able to work with them again.

In her free time, Morazzini enjoys spending time with her husband (Law Science teacher Mr. Morazzini) and their three children, cooking, going to the beach, or enjoying her garden that is filled with hydrangeas.

Sophomore Dylan Gaillard enjoys having Morazzini as a teacher this year.

“I have really enjoyed the class so far this year,” Gaillard said. “ Every class is very engaging and fun.”

In high school, Morazzini was in the Marching Band and was the Clarinet Section Leader and Band President. 

NEWS: Jonathan Law Welcomes Suson To History Department

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History teacher Ms. Suson (Photo by Courtney Russo)

By Courtney Russo – Social Media Editor-in-Chief

Jonathan Law is excited to welcome a new History teacher, Ms. Suson. 

This year, Suson is teaching U.S. History L2, History Through Film, and World History. Suson said her first days at Law have already made her feel at home.

“It’s been like a happy reunion running into students I once taught before,” Suson said. “The building is a bit of a maze for me, but teachers, staff, and students have gone out of their way to help me.”

Before Law, Suson taught sixth grade at Harborside Middle School for 11 years, and then moved to West Shore, where she taught for another 10 years. 

Sophomore Abbi Leydon shared how she’s loving Suson’s teaching strategies. 

“As a teacher, she is super sweet,” Leydon said. “When we do notes or work, she goes over everything fully so everyone understands it.”

Suson notices that she gets a lot of smiles throughout the day at Law. The staff and students constantly help and care for each other, which makes her feel very welcomed.

“My colleagues have been checking up on me since the summer, asking how I’ve been doing and offering their support,” Suson said. “The kindness has been overwhelming in the best way.”

Suson said teaching is something she truly loves, and she feels so lucky to share her passion with others.

Outside of teaching, Suson loves learning, exploring, and researching. She loves being creative and exploring new places.

NEWS: An Interview With Law Principal Mr. Darcy About The 2025-2026 School Year

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Law Principal Mr. Darcy (Photo courtesy Kayla Markowitz)

By Kayla Markowitz – Editor-in-Chief 

The 2025-2026 school year has kicked off and Jonathan Law Principal Mr. Darcy is ready to have another great year. Editor-in-Chief Kayla Markowitz interviewed Darcy about the upcoming year. 

Kayla Markowitz: What are you most looking forward to this school year?

Mr. Darcy: All the events like Homecoming, Sophomore Ring Dance, Junior Cotillion, Prom, all the home games, all the pep rallies. All the fun student events we have throughout the year. 

KM: What are your thoughts on the new teachers starting this year?

MD: The great thing about all of them is that their character matches exactly what we’re looking for here at Law. They will always put students first, make strong personal connections with students, and have a kind, open mind to new ideas. 

KM: How do you think your last four years went and what are some things you want to improve on this year?

MD: One thing is Golf Pants Fridays. I think I have done a good job hearing from the students, but I always want to keep working on making sure I am listening to the students’ voice and making sure school policies impact the students in a positive way. 

KM: What is your advice to the new freshman?

MD: Get involved. Stay involved. That is the number one thing I say to all students because the more things you are a part of, whether that’s clubs, sports, Drama, the more connected you will be with the school, and the better you will do academically. 

KM: Do you have any advice to give to our seniors?

MD: Senior year can become very overwhelming. Not only are you working on schoolwork and activities, you’re also planning your future. My overall advice is to try to stay in the moment and not lose sight of your current life. Don’t let senior year fly by. Make that connection. Join that club. 

KM: What does it mean to you to be a Lawman?

MD: No matter what your life is like outside of Jonathan Law High School, no matter what your background is, no matter what your family life may be like, coming together every day and creating a close-knit, warm, loving community is what makes a true Lawman. 

5 QUESTIONS WITH…Senior Matthew Berendt About His Law Track Career

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Senior Matthew Berendt (Photo courtesy Jackie Rivera)

By Matthew Sanchez – Staff Reporter

Senior Matthew Berendt has competed in outdoor track, indoor track, and cross country during his four years at Jonathan Law. His main events are the 800M and the mile. Advocate Staff Reporter Matthew Sanchez interviewed Berendt about his track career.

Matthew Sanchez: What is your favorite event for track and why?

Matthew Berendt: My favorite track event is the mile because I feel like it is the perfect combination of speed and distance, and the challenges that come with balancing both.

MS: What are your plans after high school academically?

MB: After high school, I will be attending Worcester Polytechnic Institute in the fall where I will be majoring in Computer Science.

MS: What are your plans after high school for track?

MB: I plan on continuing my participation in running by participating in road races and joining WPI’s running club.

MS: What made you do track and field for high school?

MB: I decided to join track in my freshman year after participating in cross country in the fall. The cross country community is very welcoming and supportive, which led me to continue running in high school.

MS: Do you have any words of inspiration for future runners? 

MB: Some words of inspiration I have is to not compare yourself to others. Everyone progresses at their own pace, and you should focus on your own personal achievements first.

NEWS: Social Worker Meyer-Farrell Retires After 25 Years At Jonathan Law

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Mrs. Meyer-Farrell is retiring after 25 years at Law. (Photo courtesy @jlawadvocate)

By Molly Lynch and Ava Grippo – News Editors

Beloved Social Worker Mrs. Meyer-Farrell is retiring after 25 years at Jonathan Law.

Meyer-Farrell, who is moving to North Carolina, has made countless contributions to the school community and will be greatly missed. Throughout her time at Law, she has made an impact on hundreds of students.

“My favorite part about working at Law is the students that I have gotten to get to know through the years  and working on the SEL committee,” Meyer-Farrell said. “I’ll miss all the people who have become my friends.”

Law Principal Mr. Darcy said that Meyer-Ferrell’s contributions to the Law community were wide-ranging.

“She helped students prepare for being in school, in classes, and prepared them for the experiences that come to you as a high school student and beyond,” Darcy said. “A Social Worker impacts all students in so many different ways that the public may not see or experience.”

Dean of Students Mr. Ragaini described some of the many ways Meyer-Farrell helped students at Law. 

“Mrs. Meyer-Farrell has always been there, always showing up for students in ways big and small,” Ragaini said. “Whether they needed someone to talk to, help navigating challenges, or just a calm presence, she provided it all.”

Assistant Principal Mrs. Farotti shared what she will miss most about Meyer-Farrell when she retires.

“I’ll miss working with her everyday,” Farotti said. “She was always a team player and was willing to problem solve anything that came up. She always put in the extra effort when making sure her students were well taken care of. She has always brought a special way of thinking. She brought in a different perspective.”

SPORTS: Junior Captain Doyle Leads By Example For Law Softball Team

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Junior Captain Charlotte Doyle (Photo courtesy @shot.by.jul)

By Brady O’Neil – Staff Reporter

Junior Charlotte Doyle was one of the key players behind the success of the Jonathan Law softball team this season.

Doyle worked tirelessly in the offseason with several individual and team goals in mind.

“My goals for the year were to bat .450 and hit a homerun,” Doyle said. “I was able to achieve both of those goals, and I’m really happy my hard work has paid off.”

Doyle has been leading by example all season long, not just with her performance at the plate but also with how she carries herself at practices and games. 

“Our goal as a team is to make it as far as possible into the State Tournament,” Doyle said. “We have the talent to do so, and I am excited to see what we do.”

That confidence comes from months of hard work and preparation. The team has been focused on the little things, knowing that those details make a big difference in winning.

“We have been working hard to get to where we are, taking practices very seriously and honing in on the small things,” said Doyle. “This is key in winning games this postseason.”

Her teammates also see her as someone who brings everyone together and keeps the team motivated during tough moments.

“Charlotte is a great leader,” sophomore Julia Scibek said. “She cares about this team very much and cares about every single girl on the team. She has a lot of passion and determination for this game and spreads that passion across our team.”

Junior Sophia Scarpa agreed.

“I’ve played with Charlotte for a long time, and seeing her thrive on this team and become a leader has been fun to watch and be a part of,” Scarpa.

Junior Sunny Scarpa said that Doyle’s leadership is at its best when the team needs her most.

“Charlotte is a great leader and is a great example of what a Lawman looks like,” Scarpa. “Her work ethic brings the entire team up, and her leadership keeps us in check when needed.”

SPORTS: Law Girls Track Team Crosses Finish Line Of Spring Season

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(Photo courtesy @JLHSTrack)

By Yeiden Nieves and Logan Mullarkey – Sports Editors

The Jonathan Law girls track team is looking to end its season on a high note and is preparing every day for States.

The girls’ 4x100M team placed 4th at SCC Finals with all the relay teams qualifying for Class MM States.

“We strengthened our team chemistry, which helped change our team dynamic,” Junior Captain Avery Moulton said. “Along with Coach Corriveau’s coaching, we made sure to make practices more competitive and intense to be able to push each other and ourselves to be our best.”

Sophomore Emily Vella participates in the 100M, 200M, 4x100M, and 4x400M and qualified for States in all of them.

“My main goal for the season is to make it to State Opens and win the whole thing,” Vella said. “I also believe our 4x100M team has a real chance to medal at States this year.”

Sophomore Talia Hagan is confident in the team’s capabilities and believes they can make a deep run in States this year. 

“I’m proud with how far the team has worked,” Hagan said. “We’ve come so far and there’s no slowing down now.”

Junior Captain Charlotte Baldieri has also played a big role in being a mentor to the underclassmen. 

“Being a leader to the underclassmen is definitely a big part of Law track,” Baldieri said. “Making sure the underclassmen know what to do and how to practice helps everything run much smoother.”

Junior Molly Croce is a member of the 4x100M relay team. Croce qualified for States and SCCs in the 100M, 200M, and 4x100M relay.

“My favorite part of the season was running the 4x100M at SCC Championships,” Croce said.

NEWS: Physics Teacher Mr. Stanton Bids Farewell To Jonathan Law After 29 Years

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Mr. Stanton is retiring after 29 years at Law. (Photo courtesy Harshitha Kothapalli)

By Harshitha Kothapalli – Editor-in-Chief 

Mr. Stanton, beloved Physics teacher and long-time mentor, is retiring this year after 29 years of dedication to Jonathan Law High School.

Known for his engaging lessons and boundless energy, Stanton has impacted generations of students and staff. Since arriving at Law in 1996, his ability to teach anything from complex physics concepts to simple life lessons has made him a favorite among students and faculty.

“Mr. Stanton’s ability to connect and build positive relationships with students is what sets him apart,” Principal Mr. Darcy said. “He has a personality that draws students into his classroom activities. He’s supportive, has a great sense of humor, and is probably the most active person on staff. He’s always on the move, doing something meaningful for his students or our school.”

Stanton began his teaching journey in 1991 at a school in Stamford before finding his forever home at Law. In addition to his teaching, he played a major role in the Science Club, supporting students alongside Ms. Turcotte and, more recently, Ms. Gagnon. 

“Our kids have done really well over the years, and it has been very satisfying to share in their successes,” Stanton said. “In the classroom, I think it’s just knowing that I have been a positive influence on students, that someone took away something that is helping them today … that’s a very satisfying thing to think.”

To many students, though, it’s not just what Stanton taught, it’s how he made them feel. 

“Mr. Stanton has helped me so much since I’ve come to Law,” junior Rose O’Connell said. “His constant support and guidance have truly inspired me. I will miss his brilliant blend of wisdom and wit, his way of turning even the most complex physics concepts into life lessons, all while making you laugh.”

Stanton reflects on his time at Law with deep gratitude, knowing he’s made an impact. He’ll miss the buzz of daily school life, the students, the faculty, and yes, even the intensity of it all.

“Everything and all of you,” he said when asked what he’ll miss most. “Maybe not some of the paperwork and meetings, but it’s been a tremendous experience here.”

After retirement, Stanton looks forward to trying new things – advice he also hopes to pass on to the next generation.

“First, each of us needs to realize that we have value and that we can do absolutely amazing things if we really want to,” he said. “Second, if we keep trying, we can accomplish really difficult things. And finally, please remember, it is never too late to go and try something new. That’s what I did when I came here, and it’s what I will be doing next.”

Stanton leaves behind a legacy of not just academic excellence but of inspiration, kindness, and a contagious passion for learning. His presence at Law will be forever missed, but never forgotten. 

SPORTS: Four Seniors Wrap Up Successful Law Girls Tennis Careers

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Seniors Carol Jiang, Lasya Pydipati, Brianna Madelung, and Kacey Pagaduan (Photo courtesy yearbookavenue.com)

By Dani Kotansky and Cora Aitkenhead – Staff Reporters 

The senior members of the Jonathan Law girls tennis team recently finished their final spring season.

This year’s seniors were Kacey Pagaduan, Carol Jiang, Brianna Madelung, and Lasya Pydipati. This quartet helped lead Law to a 14-5 record this season, anchoring the #1 and #2 doubles spots.

Head Coach Mr. Kulenych said that this year’s seniors will be remembered for their play on the court, their leadership off the court, and the unique paths they took to get to senior year.

“This group of seniors is special in so many ways but I will most remember them for their leadership and dedication to getting better every day,” Kulenych said. “None of them were on the team as freshmen, most were brand new to tennis when they joined, but they worked so hard every year and became some of the best players in our league. They are a testament to the power of hard work and determination.”

This group of seniors learned many valuable lessons from their time on the tennis team.

“The greatest thing I’ve learned from playing tennis at Law is to always put one hundred percent of your effort in during practice or games,” Jiang said. “Even if it’s not the best day and you get in your head while paying, your dedication and effort will carry you through the game.” 

Pagaduan embraced her role as a captain and said the team’s dynamics this year made everyone stronger.

“From the beginning, most of the new players were shy, but as the season went on, we saw their personalities shine out through tennis,” Pagaduan said. “As a team, we were able to grow closer with one another whether it would be after our away matches or simply cheering each other on.”

Although she only played tennis for two years, Madelung had a major influence on the team. She and Pagaduan were named Second Team All-SCC this season.

Madelung said she was able to achieve that honor through a supportive and passionate team environment. 

“The greatest thing I have learned is no matter how much experience you have you can always find a way to fit in and become a better player with the support of your teammates,” Madelung said. “Even if I felt behind, I always had someone I could reach out to by guiding me in the right direction.”

Pydipati said that tennis taught her many life lessons as well.

“No matter what the score is, every shot you take counts,” Pydipati said. “Even when a victory is unexpected, making sure you continue the match with determination and drive can lead to a successful outcome.”

SPORTS: Law Softball Team Begins Quest For State Championship

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(Photo courtesy @shotbyben)

By Madi Black – Social Media Editor

The Jonathan Law softball team finished the regular season with a record of 14-6, qualifying them for the SCC and State tournaments. 

The Law softball team has been led by four captains: seniors Haley Strofolino and Madyson Bull and juniors Emily Roos and Charlotte Doyle. 

“I’m excited to get the post-season started after having a very successful season this year,” Stroffolino said. “The rest of the girls are very excited and we are looking to go far in the State Tournament.”

Head Coach Ms. Blude is very proud of how the team is doing throughout the season and is optimistic about continuing it during the postseason. 

“The team is doing great this year on and off the field,” Blude said. “I have no doubt that this team can’t continue what they are doing now during the postseason.”

Law opened the Class L State Tournament with an 18-0 win over Naugatuck on June 2. Their next game is at St. Joseph’s on June 4.

Bull, who is committed to Saint Michael’s University in the fall, helped the Lawmen on the mound in one the team’s biggest wins this season against previously-undefeated Waterford. 

“One of my goals for myself is to pitch my best on the mound and help my team however I can,” Bull said. “My main goal for the team is to keep our energy up no matter what and to make it deep in the State Tournament.”

Freshman Gabby Rodriguez was a key contributor on offense for Law this season. Rodriguez said she enjoyed her first softball season. 

“My favorite part about joining the team is the friendships I have strengthened by being with my teammates all the time,” Rodriguez said. “I love that I joined a team where everyone is good friends with each other. I love playing in games with them, joking at practices, and going on car rides along with long bus rides with them.” 

5 QUESTIONS WITH… Sophomore Pierce Marini About The Law Boys Tennis Season

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Sophomore Pierce Marini (Photo courtesy Pierce Marini)

By Vaughn Kraynak – Staff Reporter

Sophomore Pierce Marini is a varsity starter for the Law boys tennis team. Advocate Staff Reporter Vaughn Kraynak interviewed Marini about his 2025 season. 

Kraynak: How did your season go?

Marini: Our season went well. I think the team and I all improved a lot. Nobody expected us to make SCCs after losing so many seniors but we played better than last year. 

VK: How do you think you improved this season?

PM: I think I improved my in-game decision making a lot during the season. It helped me play way better than I had previously been. 

VK: What was your favorite memory this season?

PM: My favorite memory from this season was when we beat Notre Dame-West Haven at our home courts. It showed how much our team had improved and proved that we could hang with the best. 

VK: What are you looking forward to for SCCs and States?

PM: I’m excited for the opportunity to play the best competition in the state now. I’m hoping the team can make a run and go deep as one of the lower seeds.

VK: What are you looking forward to in the future?

PM: I’m looking forward to seeing my teammates and the incoming freshmen next year to continue developing and making the team stronger every year. 

5 QUESTIONS WITH…Senior Julia Ryan About Her Internship At The Surgery Center Of Fairfield County

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Senior Julia Ryan (second from right) (Photo courtesy Julia Ryan)

By Connor Ryan – Staff Reporter

Julia Ryan is currently completing her Senior Internship. Advocate Staff Reporter Connor Ryan interviewed Ryan about her internship.

CR: Where are you interning?

JR: I am interning at the Surgical Center of Fairfield County. It is an outpatient center where patients go for specific procedures and surgeries.

CR: What are your day-to-day responsibilities?

JR: My day to day responsibilities mostly consist of shadowing the nurses and doctors and seeing what their schedule looks like. I spend time in pre op, post op (PACU), radiology, procedure rooms, sterilization and the operating room.

CR: How has your internship experience been so far?

JR: My internship experience has been very enjoyable and eye-opening as I get to do it with my friends Ellie, Alex, Eshanika, and another student from Amity.

CR: What valuable experience are you getting out of this internship?

JR: I am getting really good experience for my future career in nursing. As I learn more and more everyday I get a sense of what my life would be like after nursing school if I decide to work at an outpatient center as a PACU or OR nurse.

CR: What has been the best part of your internship so far?

JR: The best part of my internship has to be observing/scrubbing in on all of the surgeries. I have seen a wide variety of cases ranging from orthopedics, (example – a torn rotator cuff repair) to plastics, (example – breast implant removal).

SPORTS: Law Girls Tennis Team Wins 14 Matches, Qualifies For SCCs, States

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(Photo courtesy Courtney Russo)

By Aiden Ramos and Amilio Venditti – Staff Reporters 

The Jonathan Law girls tennis team recently completed an impressive spring by qualifying for the Class L State Tournament. 

Law finished the season 14-5 – the second-best regular season win total in school history. The team qualified for the SCC and State Tournaments, had win streaks of eight and five during the year, and earned key wins over North Haven and Sacred Heart Academy.

The team was led by senior captains Carol Jiang and Kacey Pagaduan and junior captain Harshitha Kothapalli. Law had four senior starters this year – Jiang, Pagaduan, Brianna Madelung, and Lasya Pydipati. 

Head Coach Mr. Kulenych said he was so proud of the team’s success this year, led by the upperclassmen.

“This group of seniors is so special because they had to work so hard for everything they accomplished over their careers,” Kulenych said. “None of them were on the team as freshmen and all of them were new to tennis when they joined, but they put in the work every season and and offseason to get better. They grew to be senior leaders and captains of our team and some of the best players in our league, and they are incredible examples for the underclassmen for how to carry themselves on and off the court.” 

Pagaduan, who was named with Madelung the All-SCC team for doubles, said the team’s chemistry and improvement became evident in both matches and practices.

“I believe that the team has grown tremendously skill-wise and socially,” Pagaduan said. “From the start of the season, half of the team was new. We were able to connect and bond with each other over time with tennis and we were able to have personalities come out. Another thing I saw was the hard work they put through the season. The team grew so much with their skill and it was clearly shown on the court.” 

Key singles players for Law this season were Kothapalli (1st singles), sophomore Courtney Russo (2nd singles), junior Siya Patil (3rd singles), and junior Rose O’Connell (4th singles). The team also posted an impressive doubles record all season thanks to the play of Pagaduan and Madelung (1st doubles), Jiang and Pydipati (2nd doubles), and freshmen Cora Aitkenhead and Isla McKeand (3rd doubles)

Jiang reflected on the challenges the team faced early on. She mentioned that adapting to a new lineup was tough, but perseverance helped them find their groove in the season.

“I think a big challenge that we faced this year was playing a completely new lineup compared to last year,” Jiang said. “The first few games, and including the practices before the season started, was all about figuring out how we function the best as a team, especially with so many new players joining the team. I helped by staying positive and just being a steady presence for everyone until we found our rhythm.” 

Kothapalli said that bonding moments were essential to building a good team. 

“Through little things like funny pre-game pep talks and dire post-game grubs, my fellow captains and I were able to lead a team that has truly become home over the last couple of months,” Kothapalli said. “Whether it was guiding the team by leading warmups or starting intense sing-alongs on every bus ride, I’m so happy and proud that I can call myself a captain of this team.” 

Madelung hopes her teammates remember the resilience they showed throughout the season. She thinks that unity and effort will continue to pay off in future matches and beyond. 

“I hope that my teammates take away from the season that no matter how difficult the challenges were, we can face them together and find our way to the top, as we showed multiple times in the season,” Madelung said. “If we can continue to put in the hard work, it will all pay off in the end.”

Kulenych said the team’s success this season was a result of their commitment to each other and their ability to work through the grind of a long season.

“I could not be prouder of the way our team competed and performed this season,” Kulenych said. “We had so many new faces on the team this year and didn’t have much varsity experience returning, but the girls showed the power of hard work and dedication. They embraced the grind early in the season and worked together to get better every day and that was the key to our success as a team this season.”

SPORTS: Senior Captain Savoie Completes Record-Breaking Golf Career

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Senior Captain Pete Savoie (Photo courtesy Pete Savoie)

By Dylan Gaillard and Connor Ryan – Staff Reporters

Senior Pete Savoie, the captain of the 2025 Jonathan Law golf team, led the Lawmen to a successful spring season.

“I believe the Law golf team performed well, finishing above .500 and remaining competitive within our division,” Savoie said. “Although we didn’t qualify for the State Tournament, we fought hard throughout the season and did not give up.”

Savoie has been a key player for the Law golf team for the past four years.

“Pete has been a four-year starter for the Law golf team,” Head Coach Mr. Maurutis said. “Since his freshman year, he immediately made a positive impact, and it was evident from day one that his passion and drive to become a great golfer.

Savoie put a lot of time and effort into preparing for the 2025 season.

“Almost every day leading up to the season, I was either at the range or on the course,” Savoie said. “Additionally, every Sunday, I met with my swing coach, Jerry Courville, to work on my game.”

Savoie is a very talented golfer, but that isn’t his best trait.

“Pete’s a captain because he is always supporting his teammates and helping them get to the next level,” senior Charlie Becker said. “Pete has helped me a lot throughout the season during big matches this season.”

Savoie helps the team by knowing his role on the team.

“Pete helps the team by giving a bunch of advice to new and even returning players,” senior Jack Distassio said. “He is always racking up the best scores every match to help us win.”

Savoie has impacted the team by welcoming new players of all different ages, proving why he was chosen to be a captain.

“Pete showed immediate love straight away when I made the team,” senior Connor Malin said. “He welcomed me and made me feel good about myself and everyone else on the team. He wouldn’t only help and support me, but also the underclassmen, and it definitely made them feel better about themselves because it did for me.”

Savoie shot 78 in the State Tournament his junior year, and this year, he broke the away match record, shooting par 36 at Alling Memorial Golf Club.

“It was such a pleasure to coach a kid like Pete and we will miss him for sure,” Maurutis said. “He will be on to great things as he plays college golf at Springfield College next year.”

SPORTS: Boys Lacrosse Team Finishes Regular Season, Looks Ahead To Next Year

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(Photo courtesy @shotbyben)

By Kayla Markowitz – Editor-in-Chief 

The Jonathan Law boys lacrosse team finished up their regular season with a 5-11 record. 

The team was led by senior captains Tyler Davis and Evan Nash, who were key contributors to the team’s successes this season. 

“The season went well – I thought that we had some games where we played not up to our standards but there were also some games where we played above our standard,” Davis said. “I think that overall we had a fun and enjoyable season with some ups and downs.”

The players competed as hard as they could and left it all on the field. To Head Coach Frank Skawinski, coaching lacrosse is more than just teaching the game. 

“I love creating an atmosphere and sports culture where the team can be excited to come together, whether for games or practices or offseason training, and then be upset when it’s over. I want them to enjoy every aspect of this sport,” Skawinski said. “Teaching young men important values about life through lacrosse has always been one of my top priorities. I like finding ways to continue growing the lacrosse team on the Law side of town to be more recognized and competitive around the SCC and state. It’s a fun job because I’m always asking myself, my staff, and my team about what we can do better next year.”

This year, the team welcomed many new players and learned how to learn from their wins and losses to improve in the long run. 

“Some successes were the way we as a team would bounce back after a tough situation or loss, seeing it as a learning experience,” senior Tim Firla said.

The team is determined to rebuild and ready to work hard in the off-season to improve for next season. With many players returning with more experience next year, the team has high hopes for the future.

“I think a big goal going into next season is making states and having a lot of kids come to play for the team,” sophomore Alexander Konlian said.

NEWS: Lui Teaches Students Valuable Lessons About Civics, Government

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Mr. Lui (Photo courtesy Sebastian Beltran)

By Sebastian Beltran – Staff Reporter 

Mr. Lui teaches Civics and American Government and AP U.S. History at Jonathan Law.

But in his lessons he gives students real world knowledge they can use, like what to do when pulled over by the police and understanding their rights as citizens.

“I really enjoy teaching about political socialization – basically what influences the way people form their political beliefs,” Lui said. “It’s always a fun topic because students bring in such a wide range of opinions, whether they lean more conservative or liberal. Their personal stories and perspectives make the conversations way more meaningful.”

Lui teaches his students how to stay informed about the government, while helping them understand their role as citizens, especially in this age where politics and social media blend together.

“Because everything from TikTok to taxes involves the government in some way, students are growing up in a world with a lot of political division,” Lui said. “They need to understand how the system works so they can be informed”

Mr. Lui’s passion for teaching Civics comes from his personal interests and a desire to make a difference. 

“I’ve always liked history and politics,” Lui said. “Civics just felt like a good fit. Plus, I wanted to teach something that helps students understand their rights and responsibilities and how they can actually make a difference.”

Students said that Lui’s lessons are very relatable and memorable.

“One thing that really stuck with me in Mr. Lui’s class was about the importance of doing things the right way while still having fun and being creative,” junior Brian Gonzalez said. “He didn’t just teach me about Civics, he taught us how to think for ourselves, understand what we were learning, and enjoy the process. That balance between structure and creativity really made his class stand out.”

Lui tries to make his classes entertaining so that students better understand politics and the government. 

“I do my best to make the topics relatable,” Lui said. “It’s always fun teaching civics when there’s an election year. I also try to mix up the different types of activities we do in class.”

Lui’s Civics class is different from a typical government class.  

“Mr. Lui’s Civics class stands out because it teaches students practical skills, such as understanding their rights and how to act in real-life situations,” junior William Soda said. “He also makes the topics fun and easy to understand, including creative activities and encouraging open discussion. He also connects politics to everyday life, such as social media and taxes, helping students understand how the government affects them personally.”

5 QUESTIONS WITH…Mr. McPartland About Being Named Head Law Boys Basketball Coach

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Head Coach Mr. McPartland (Photo courtesy @shotbyben)

By Brady O’Neil – Staff Reporter

Mr. McPartland was recently promoted to Head Coach of the Jonathan Law boys basketball team. Advocate Staff Reporter Brady O’Neil interviewed McPartland about the 2025-2026 season.

BO: How does it feel to be named Head Coach of the Jonathan Law basketball team?

CM: It’s an incredible honor that I most definitely am not taking lightly. Coach Anderson has certainly left some big shoes to fill, but I am so thankful for everything I have learned under his tutelage. It is in large part because of having worked with him that I feel prepared to take on this new role. 

BO: What are your main goals for the program in your first year as Head Coach?

CM: Everyone’s goal is to be the “last team standing” at Mohegan Sun in March. However, we know for that to happen, we need to break that long-term goal down into bits and pieces. Ultimately, our goal is to focus on getting better every single day – to focus on the process, not the product. The more we focus on the end goal, the more we lose sight of what it’s all about. 

BO: What are you most excited about for this upcoming season?

CM: I am most excited about continuing to improve and strengthen the already strong relationships I have with the coaches and players. I believe this happens best by overcoming difficult citations and challenges together. As such,I look forward to the daily grind and to getting after it with the team. 

BO: Can you describe your coaching style or philosophy?

CM: On the court, I am a big believer in playing a fast-paced style of hoops – we are going to look to make things happen both offensively and defensively as opposed to waiting and seeing if they happen. We will continue to build upon the culture of accountability, discipline, hard work, and that “UBUNTU”, “I am because we are” mentality that Coach Anderson has established. I am looking forward to helping our student-athletes develop both on the court as players and off the court as humans, compete at a high level, and represent Law with pride 

BO: What impact do you hope to have on your players beyond basketball?

I hope that our players learn something from the game of basketball that will ultimately change their lives for the better. Whether that’s the importance of punctuality, doing the little things every single day, or the importance of having discipline in their lives, there are lessons we can all learn from having played sports that can be incredibly impactful. Most importantly, I hope our players know that I will always be there for them and that so much of life is about the relationships we have with others. 

SPORTS: Freshman Tepetl Emerging As One Of Law’s Top Distance Runners

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Freshman Marcos Tepetl (Photo courtesy Adrian Vitale)

By Adrian Vitale and Matthew Sanchez – Staff Reporters

Freshman Marcos Tepetl is an up-and-coming prospect for the Law track team. 

Tepetl’s specialty is long-distance running and he is hoping to improve his times as he continues the rest of his Law career. He primarily wants to work on his race stamina and maintaining tempo.  

Tepetl said he hopes to be able to help out the team any way he can.

“I really like the community in and around the team,” Tepetl said. “They helped me to improve running form and technique. I hope to be able to pay back the team with results eventually.”

Head Coach Mr. Beler has high hopes for Tepetl’s ability in long distance events.

“He has been developing into one of the team’s better 800M and mile runners,” Beler said. “He has a great mix of pace as well as stamina.”

Tepetl strives to put forward his best effort into the events he’s in, whether he’s just doing a simple practice of the event, or running it in a big meet.

“He’s a fantastic athlete and talent,” freshman Erik Borowski said. “He’s currently doing extremely well as a freshman, and I believe he has the qualities to be one of Law’s best track runners shortly.”

Tepetl’s teammates are impressed with his running ability and dedication to the sport.

“He is a great addition to the team,” freshman Mario Castro said. “He has great talent in the 800M and mile for a freshman.”

Tepetl is the also epitome of a student-athlete, showing it’s not just athletics that matter.

“Not only does Marcos have an incredible athletic ability by the focus with which he works in class is second to none,” Spanish teacher Mr. McPartland said. “He works well both individually and in groups, and really seems to prioritize his school work. It’s great to see a freshman with his work ethic.”

SPORTS: Freshman Gaillard Enjoys Successful First Season On Law Golf Team

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Sophomore Dylan Gaillard (Photo courtesy Dylan Gaillard)

By Reid Moulton and Logan Thomas – Staff Reporters

The Law golf season recently came to a successful close with the help of a freshman – Dylan Gaillard.

Gaillard said his first season on the golf team was an enjoyable one.

“It’s been a great experience,” Gaillard said. “It has been a really fun time playing a sport that I enjoy and the players and the coaches being very supportive and helpful. I want the team to qualify for States and for everyone to improve so we are better as a team for the next few years.”

As the season progressed, Gaillard improved as a player, according to Head Coach Mr. Maurutis.

“Dylan has made great progress this season,” Maurutis said. “He gained a lot of experience, played some great golf, and understands what it takes to compete at a high level, this exposure as a freshman will help Dylan as he progresses even more over the next few years and I’m excited to see him develop as a player. Dylan has the potential to be a great golfer and leader on this team, he was a great addition to our team playing mostly in the 5 and 6 spot and his etiquette, sportsmanship, and athletic ability is commendable and I look forward to coaching Dylan for the next three seasons.”

Senior Jack Distassio said that Gaillard had an immediate impact on the team.

“Dylan has helped the team a good amount, he brings an attitude needed for the team during our matches and practices,” Distassio said. “He’s improved a good amount since the beginning of the season, he has been more consistent with his drives and irons as the season went by, and has helped the team when needed because of his strong assets.”

Sophomore Tyler Stankevich said he was impressed by how much Gaillard improved throughout the season.

“Dylan has had great rounds during the season and has helped the team score in matches well,” Stankevich said. “He has gotten much better during the season by practicing correctly, even in his own time, which helped him get in the starting lineup.”

SPORTS: Sophomore Konlian Finishes 30-Point Season For Boys Lacrosse Team

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Sophomore Alex Konlian (Photo courtesy Ethan Panella)

By Henry Smith – Staff Reporter

Sophomore Alex Konlian helped the Law boys lacrosse team finish their season with a 5-11 record.

Konlian finished the season with 16 goals in 16 games. In addition to his scoring, he contributed 14 assists, making a large impact on the offensive side of the team.

“I feel like I had a lot of assists this season and was able to get the ball to everyone on the field,” Konlian said.

Despite Konlian’s individual success, he was disappointed that the team didn’t finish the year on a winning note.

“I don’t think the season went the way we wanted it to,” Konlian said. “We really shut down the last half of the season.”

One of Konlian’s standout performances came against Ledyard. He scored four goals and four assists, leading the team to victory 11-6.

As just a sophomore, Konlian is expected to be a key member of the team next season, bringing scoring vision, and experience to the offense.

“Alex played attack during his sophomore season, whereas he played midfield his freshman year,” Head Coach Frank Skawinski said. “Alex was able to challenge many opposing teams’ best defenders, opening the way for other players to have more scoring opportunities.”

Before the season, Konlian switched positions, allowing him to show his full offensive capabilities, creating mismatches and drawing teams top defenders. This opened space for other offensive players, elevating team play.

“Alex is a threat because of his quickness, stick skills, and lacrosse IQ,” Assistant Coach Manuel Rosales said. “His ability to dodge and draw slides sets up others to get open for shots on goal.”

Konlian’s advanced lacrosse IQ and presence on the field forces other teams to adjust their defensive strategies.

“Alex is a challenge for defenses because not only for drawing slides but if those are missed he gets open for shots on goal,” Rosales said. “His powerful shot and his ability will draw the best defenders from other teams to guard him, which take them out of their defensive scheme.”

Konlians impact isn’t just during games, but in practice, too. 

“Alex is very challenging to guard in practice,” sophomore Charlie Gombrewicz said. “ He challenges everyone on the defense, getting us better.”

His teammates said Konlian always kept a positive attitude.

“Even when things didn’t go our way during the season, Alex kept his energy up and didn’t stop competing,” sophomore Eli Frenandez said.

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