The Series Finale

Two years ago, I was given the opportunity to write this column. The rules were simple. The column had to be about sports and relevant to Stuyvesant. (I figured that I had to start my bid for world-domination somewhere.)

My loyal readers—all three of you—might have noticed an evolution in the content and style of this column that has in many ways matched the development of its author.

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Student Athletes Wanted

The consequences of childhood obesity are becoming increasingly dire. Mission: Readiness, a bi-partisan group of retired military leaders, revealed in its report, “Ready, Willing, and Unable to Serve,” that a lack of physical fitness is one of the largest factors preventing youth from joining the military. Given the circumstances, a new emphasis should be placed on athletics in public …

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West Point: The Road Less Traveled

… a sport, and then be back in the dorm thirty minutes before calling it a day. And yet, for senior Shaliya Dehipawala, and Stuyvesant alumni Robert Chung (’08) and Rachel Kim (’09) the United States Military Academy at West Point is and was a dream destination.

Dehipawala, who is currently applying to West Point, said, “I don’t think there is any better way to pay back the service of prior veterans than with my own service.”

Patriotism is not the only driving force for …

Sports Across the Curriculum

Forget Boston, Los Angeles and Dallas. New York City is the best sports city in the country.

As New Yorkers, Stuyvesant students have grown up with access to more major professional sports teams than other high school students all over the country. The Yankees, Mets, Rangers and Knicks all play in the city. The Jets and Giants play in New Jersey, but officially represent New York in the …

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Runaway Love

Somebody once told me, “Never room with your high school friends in college. If you do, you will not be friends by the end of the year.” The assumption is that all of the not-so-endearing quirks that usually go unnoticed are pushed front and center when two friends live together. Even though I understood the logic, I remained skeptical.

For a week in August, the Stuyvesant Boys’ Cross …

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The Silent Giant

Stuyvesant’s claim to fame is its reputation as one of the top academic high schools in the country. Its strongest teams are all academic: math, chess, Speech and Debate. However, hidden behind the many academic accolades, Stuyvesant’s athletic program has been one of the best in the Public School Athletic League (PSAL).

Stuyvesant claimed three PSAL City Championships this year: boys’ …

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A Date With Death

An epidemic swept throughout Stuyvesant on Tuesday, April 2, 2009: Seniors were rushing to get to class on time.

The administration knew something was afoot and it searched for a reason for this phenomenon. On Friday April 3, Principal Stanley Teitel announced that anybody playing the game known as Assassin would face punishment.

The premise of the game is simple. Each player is given the …

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A Traveler’s Guide to West Street

West Street gives Stuyvesant athletes a direct route to Pier 40. It runs between the West Side Highway and the Hudson River, During the course of a school year, Stuyvesant’s boys’ track team (in total) runs several thousand miles over this stretch of pavement.

Running up West Street, the first things I notice are the cyclists whizzing by. The bike path is only a few yards wide. Runners and …

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Fantasy Meets Reality

It’s early November, and Stuyvesant’s Fantasy Football players are beginning to prepare for the Fantasy post-season. For them, the question is not whether to take the SAT or ACT. It’s if they should pick Aaron Rodgers or Brett Favre as their quarterback.

As some Stuyvesant fantasy sports fans may soon learn, not every NFL player is destined for the fantasy playoffs. Draft Dallas QB Tony …

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The Method to My Madness

Superstitions are an important part of athletics. No two professional basketball players prepare for free throws the same way. Each baseball slugger has his own habits at the plate. Every athlete has their own routine.

As a track athlete, after every breakthrough performance, I take note of my surroundings. Everything from diet to the color of my socks must be repeated. Likewise, all aspects …

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