It was Fri. Feb. 10 and like any other Friday, students and staff members hurried home as they looked forward to the upcoming weekend.  However, at 7 p.m. something brought some ‘Stoga students and teachers back to school, specifically to the main lobby.  There, the students and advisers from the Literary Magazine hosted Inkwell.

According to art editor and junior Katherine Connolly, Inkwell is sponsored by the Folio, another name for the Literary Magazine which is published at the end of every year.

“[Inkwell is] like a mini coffee shop inside Conestoga and it takes place in the main lobby,” Connolly said.  “We have food.  We sell some of our [Literary Magazines] here.  We have student bands perform.  It is just a very chill place where people can come and hang out.  You can draw on the table cloths with crayons and markers.”

The purpose of Inkwell is not only to increase awareness for litmag, but also provide a place for students to have their creativity in the spotlight said literary editor and senior Allison Murdoch.  Murdoch said that at Inkwell, students are welcome to perform songs and cite poetry, for example.

“The litmag does not have really much of a presence in the school as we’d like,” Murdoch said.  “So, we really want to A: get the name out, B: spread art because we have music, we have poetry and we sell the Literary Magazine here and C: just raise revenue for the Literary Magazine so we can publish more and maybe get some kind of quarterly or something free out so we can spread the image a little.”

Litmag may not have the presence it wants but Murdoch hopes that the opportunities it offers will change this.  Murdoch believes that litmag is beneficial for any creative writer or artist.

“I think it’s really great because it offers a place for all the students who are really passionate about literature and writing to have an open space,” Murdoch said.  “All of our work that we submit is anonymous so we can have constructive criticism and everyone can get really great feedback from fellow writer for their work.”

The Literary Magazine allows many types of works to be submitted such as art, photography, poetry, short stories, creative essays, plays and skits.

Once litmag receives the works, “Every days one, two and three, we get together during [eighth period] and then we critique any submissions we get,” said editor and senior Kevin Liu.

Once the submissions are critiqued, the staff decides if the works qualify or not to be in the Folio.

This process is something Connolly enjoys being a part of and engaging in.  Connolly also shares a great passion for writing.

“I love how we are a little artsy writer community,” Connolly said.  “Our advisers are really awesome.  I love the things we get to do.  I really just love writing and I love art and I love photography.  That’s what I want to do with my life.  I want to major in creative writing.  It’s very special to me and I have been on [the Literary Magazine since freshman year].”

Brittany Roker can be reached at broker@stoganews.com.

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Conestoga’s Academic Competition Team competed in the 2012 Chester County Academic Competition semifinals, held at the Chester County Intermediate Unit on Feb. 10. Varsity placed second (105 points), losing to Devon Preparatory School (110) but beating Kennet High School, which finished in third with 75 points. Junior Varsity took third place (60) behind Unionville High School (110) and Devon (70). Both JV and Varsity had undefeated records and were seeded first before the playoffs began.

“In JV, we were missing one of our keystone players, so we didn’t perform to our fullest,” sophomore Kanishka Rao said. “But we had a lot of fun with it and a great experience. I just feel bad for varsity, because they worked really hard—they’ve done a great job but just got unlucky in the end.”

Buzzers malfunctioned in both JV and varsity’s matches, and a question was disputed in the varsity match. Senior Chris Davis said he was upset that the final results had been controversial.

“I really don’t have any words to describe it,” Davis said. “We gave it everything that we had and more—we’ve been practicing a lot. Last year, we had a similar experience because the buzzers failed. This year, we were hoping to put that behind us, but it just seemed like everything started going wrong again.”

Though Conestoga’s season is over, sophomore Manasvi Ramanujam said she learned from the previous four matches.

“Maybe we didn’t go to the finals, but we learned a lot over the season,” Ramanujam said. “I’ve learned team cooperation and a lot about the world in general.”

Rao said he would move on from the loss and focus on the future of the team.

“In the end, it’s all up to chance,” Rao said. “You can just control how well you prepare—you can’t control the performance. We prepared hard and performed to our best.”

Suproteem Sarkar can be reached at ssarkar@stoganews.com.

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The Conestoga math team defeated Marple Newtown High School on Feb. 9 in the fourth match of its 2011-12 season. Varsity added to its undefeated record with a score of 59-12 and junior varsity won 51-12.

Junior Ary Swamanathan said the win will help ‘Stoga’s chances of taking home the league trophy.

“We beat Marple Newtown for the second time this season to extend our undefeated streak to four wins,” Swamanathan said. “We look to be contending for the league title.”

The team held its first 2012 practice in January. Coach Vincent Russo said the team’s speed has improved since the season began.

“Two weeks ago, we had a practice,” Russo said. “I think that’s been helping us this year. It’s been keeping us relaxed as well as confident both before and during the match.”

The team will host Delaware County Christian School on March 1. Junior Connie Yang said she looks forward to finishing the season strong.

“I hope that in the future we will continue our success and our season will go as planned,” Yang said. “Hopefully, we’ll keep up our winning record for the rest of the season.”

Suproteem Sarkar can be reached at ssarkar@stoganews.com.

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New York residents celebrate the Giant's fourth Super Bowl title. Luke Rafferty/The SPOKE

Photos by Luke Rafferty, Managing Editor

The New York Giants won Super Bowl XLVI on Feb. 5, defeating the New England Patriots 21-17 in what became their fourth Super Bowl title. The team, which includes 2006 Conestoga graduate Mark Herzlich, held a celebratory parade in New York City on Feb. 7, which included a large float riding through the streets of New York.

Luke Rafferty can be reached at lrafferty@stoganews.com.

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In his first victory in the Republican presidential race since winning the Iowa caucus on Jan. 3, former Pennsylvania Rep. Rick Santorum won the caucuses of Minnesota and Colorado on Feb. 7, as well as the Missouri primary. However, since the latter was nonbinding, none of the candidates received any delegates, but instead will after Missouri’s March 17 caucus.

Santorum had a strong showing in all three states, winning Missouri with 138,597 votes and 55.2 percent to second-place former Massachusetts governor Mitt Romney’s 25.3 percent. In Minnesota, he earned 21,392 votes and 44.9 percent of the vote. Texas Rep. Ron Paul won 13,228 votes and 27.1 percent, while Romney won 8,222 votes and 16.9 percent. Newt Gingrich did not fare so well, only winning 5,272 votes (10.8 percent). So far, Santorum is estimated to have won 37 out of 40 delegates, although this number will change after state conventions and calculations.

In Colorado, which Romney was expected to do well in after he won more than sixty percent of the vote in 2008, Santorum also performed well, capturing 26,614 votes and 40.3 percent of the vote to Romney’s 23,012 and 34.9 percent. Gingrich took third with 8,445 votes (12.8 percent), and Paul came in last with 7,759 votes (11.8 percent). Although delegate values are nonbinding approximations from the AP, so far, Santorum has 18 and Romney has 9 out of the 36 available delegates.

Romney retained his lead in the race despite his losses and now has 94 delegates. Santorum’s victories propelled him to a relatively close second place with 71, while Gingrich has 29 delegates and Paul is in last with 8.

The ongoing Maine caucuses conclude Feb. 11, and the candidates next face off in Michigan and Arizona on Feb. 28.

Lavi Ben-Dor can be reached at lbendor@stoganews.com.

Editor’s Note: This report has been modified to reflect finalized vote counts for Minnesota and estimated delegate totals for Minnesota, Colorado and overall.

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As a die-hard, “I bleed green” Philadelphia Eagles fan, it was my worst nightmare come true–having to watch the New York Giants play the New England Patriots in the Super Bowl. Even worse, was that I had to suffer through a Giants 21-17 win and Eli Manning winning the Most Valuable Player award.

As a loyal “birds” fan and a true Philly girl, I was initially upset because I have been programmed to hate the Giants and their quarterback. But as the initial anger wore off, I let the more unbiased football fan in me take over.

The Giants winning the Super Bowl illuminates both the strengths and weaknesses of the National Football League (NFL). On one hand, it proves that every play makes a difference. The 8-8 Denver Broncos, the 13-3 Patriots, the 9-7 Giants, the 12-4 Pittsburgh Steelers and the 15-1 Green Bay Packers have the same shot at victory once the playoffs get started.

What makes football and the NFL unique compared to many other professional sports is that each round of the playoffs consists of just one game rather than a series to determine who moves on. With a smaller number of games per season and one game per round of playoffs, football is a sport where anything can happen, anyone can win and comebacks are always in the cards. The Giants’ victory this past Sunday only proves that it is anyone’s title for the taking. The Giants won when it counted and they truly outplayed the Patriots when it counted.

At the same time, I struggle with the Giants’ victory, because looking at their regular season, I think it is clear that they were not the best team this year. They were only able to beat the Eagles, who clearly struggled, once out of two match-ups. And though the 8-8 Broncos had momentum into the playoffs, they had the same record as the Eagles, who fell short of the playoffs.

It is difficult to accept the Giants as the best team in the country when there were other teams that I enjoyed watching more, that played better more of the time and that seemed like better teams.

But then again, they didn’t win when it counted. The Giants’ Super Bowl win is both confusing and inspiring to a true football fan.

In addition to being an Eagles fan and a general football fan, I associate as a part of the ’Stoga community that finds pride in that fact. Witnessing the game in which Mark Herzlich, a 2006 Conestoga graduate who won a battle with cancer since graduating, got his first (hopefully of many) Super Bowl ring ignited my Conestoga pride. He beat cancer. He was strong and inspiring. He continues to work to be a winner, and he is.

Ultimately, I have to respect the Giants’ win, as much as the Eagles fan is not completely sold on any team but the Eagles’ victory. And I want to recognize the huge amount of Conestoga pride that we should all feel in the brave, strong Herzlich and his wonderful accomplishment in helping his team win the ultimate football victory.

Laura Weiss can be reached at lweiss@stoganews.com.

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Photos by Lavi Ben-Dor, Convergence Editor

Students have been hard at work constructing and painting the set of "Titanic." Lavi Ben-Dor/The SPOKE

A large part of the work on the set of the upcoming spring musical, “Titanic,” has been completed by building and painting teams. The musical, which will be performed from Feb. 29-March 3, focuses on the events leading up to and during the infamous shipwreck, which coincidentally occurred one hundred years ago on April 14, 1912. The large cast, some of whom portray actual people on the ship when it sunk, as well as the pit orchestra, have been working over the past several months to ensure that they are represent the shipwreck as accurately as possible.

Lavi Ben-Dor can be reached at lbendor@stoganews.com.

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On Feb. 4, former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney won the Nevada caucuses with 50.1 percent of the vote (16,486 votes), and will carry 14 of the state’s 24 delegates to the Republican National Convention in August. Romney has won his second straight double-digit victory in the Republican race, after winning the Florida primary on Jan. 31.

Former House Speaker Newt Gingrich finished in second place, with 21.1 percent of the vote (6,956 votes, 6 delegates) and Texas Rep. Ron Paul took third with 18.8 percent (6,175 votes, 5 delegates). Former Pennsylvania Sen. Rick Santorum placed fourth with 10 percent of the vote (3,277 votes, 3 delegates).

Romney now leads the Republican race with 85 delegates, in front of Gingrich, who has 29. Santorum is in third with 16 delegates, and Paul is fourth with eight.

According to CBS entrance poll data, 46 percent of voters identifying themselves as “very conservative” voted for Romney, as opposed to 25 percent that voted for Gingrich. Nevada is the first contest that Romney has won among such voters.

Romney also won Nevada in 2008, but the third place finisher, Arizona Sen. John McCain, went on to win the nomination.

The next two contests in the 2012 presidential race will be the Colorado and Minnesota caucuses on Feb. 7. Missouri will also hold a primary on Feb. 7, but delegates from the state will not be determined until the caucuses on March 17.

Suproteem Sarkar can be reached at ssarkar@stoganews.com.

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By Tracy Cook, Senior Staff Reporter

Storified by tmcook23

Mon, Feb 06 2012 18:30:34 ·
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Giants win Super Bowl XLVI

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Eli Manning and the New York Giants defeat Tom Brady and the Boston Patriots, 21-17.

1. Tom Brady said in an interview before the game that if he had his choice, he’d want the ball in his hands in the last minutes of the game. He had the ball but didn’t get the outcome he was hoping for. The Patriots regained possession after a Giants touchdown with 57 seconds left in the game, but they weren’t able to convert on Brady’s endzone pass in the final five seconds.
2. The game started out in an unconventional way, with the first points on the board coming from a safety.
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   @Giants get 2 points after #Brady
   called for intentional grounding even though the pass was made 40 yards down field. Giants 1st & 10.

   Tracy Cook

   Sun, Feb 05 2012 18:45:53

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4. Shortly after, the Giants scored again.
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   #Patriots put 12 men out on defense, #Giants respond with a TD. NY leads Boston 9-0 with 3:23 left in the 1st quarter. #SB46

   Tracy Cook

   Wed, Feb 01 2012 17:25:08

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6. Later in the half, the Patriots regained possession on their own four yard line after an incomplete pass from Manning to Manningham on third and 11 forced the Giants to punt. Brady led his team down the field on a 96 yard drive, tying the record for the longest drive in Superbowl history.
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   #Patriots 12+ play drive continues. 2nd down, ball on the 2 yard line, 18 seconds left in the half.

   Tracy Cook

   Wed, Feb 01 2012 17:25:08

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   @Patriots score a TD & extra point w/ :08 left in 1st half. 96 yard drive ties for the longest drive in #SuperBowl history. #Pats lead 10-9.

   Tracy Cook

   Sun, Feb 05 2012 19:51:04

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9. In the second half, Brady went on to reach another Super Bowl record.
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    #TomBrady passes Joe Montana and creates new record for most consecutive completions in a #SuperBowl game with 16. #SB46

    Tracy Cook

    Sun, Feb 05 2012 20:50:41

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11. With about six minutes left in the third quarter, the Giants trailed 17-12. Toward the end of the quarter, the Patriots defense held their ground on third down, and New York’s offensive drive was stopped short of a touchdown.
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    @Giants once again unable to convert on 3rd down. #NY will settle for a field goal. #Patriots lead 17-15 with :35 left in 3rd quarter. #SB46

    Tracy Cook

    Sun, Feb 05 2012 20:58:40

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13. The Giants regained possession after a Patriots turnover, but yet again were unable to convert for points.
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    #Brady scrambles to avoid the sack but his long pass is intercepted by #Blackburn for the @Giants. First turnover of the game. #SB46

    Tracy Cook

    Sun, Feb 05 2012 21:06:26

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    No whistle on pass interference leads to yet another miss for the @Giants on 3rd down in #Patriots territory. #Giants forced to punt. #SB46

    Tracy Cook

    Sun, Feb 05 2012 21:23:51

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16. One of the biggest plays of the game came during a Giants drive in the fourth quarter. Giants quarterback Eli Manning connected with wide receiver Mario Manningham on a 38-yard pass.
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    Both feet were down in bounds, #Manningham makes the catch. Incredible play for the #Giants. #Patriots lose the challenge. #SB46

    Tracy Cook

    Sun, Feb 05 2012 21:37:22

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18. After that play, the Giants didn’t look back. After the two minute warning, Ahmad Bradshaw scored a touchdown for New York.
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    “He didn’t expect to see The Red Sea part” – @NBC commentator Al Michaels on #Giants touchdown. Giants lead 21-17 with 00:57 left. #SB46

    Tracy Cook

    Sun, Feb 05 2012 21:48:00

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20. With less than a minute left in the game, Brady had the ball for the final possession. Down by four, he would need a touchdown to pass the Giants on the scoreboard.
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    #Brady converts on 4th and 16. It’s not over till it’s over. #SB46

    Tracy Cook

    Wed, Feb 01 2012 17:25:08

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22. With five seconds left, Brady threw a long pass to endzone, but the pass was incomplete and the clock had expired. The New York Giants defeated the New England Patriots by a final score of 21-17 in Super Bowl XLVI. 
23. Manning was named Most Valuable Player of the game. This win marked the second time Eli Manning has defeated Tom Brady in a Super Bowl contest, and coincidentally, this time he won on his brother Peyton’s home field in Indianapolis.

    In addition, ’Stoga alumnus and New York Giants rookie linebacker Mark Herzlich earned his first Super Bowl ring. Giants fans or not, that’s something all ‘Stoga students can celebrate.

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Tracy Cook can be reached at tcook@stoganews.com.

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