NFL Week 11 Recap

Michael Janora and Alex Walinski
Staff Writers

The week 11 Recap for the NFL was business as usual for some teams as they continued their winning streaks through week 11. The steelers Still remain at the top of the league at 9-0 after they walked through the Jaguars winning 27-3 in a landslide victory. Divisional opponent Bengals had a rough week as Rookie/LSU superstar went down with a gruesome knee injury as he was carted off the field. The injury was later described to be season-ending and will require major surgery.  The Bengals ended up losing that game 20-9 following Antonio Gibsons 98 yard run play for the score. The Cardinals- Seahawks went head to head in a big divisional game both going into it with the same records. The Cardinals couldn’t quite edge it out as they fell 28-21. A Carlos Dunlap game-ending sack and a Carlos Hyde touchdown proved to be the two key plays Seattle needed to solidify the victory. As the tight NFC West battle continues the Rams ended up pulling out the win against the Buccaneers as Tom Brady threw a late-game Interception to close the game. Jared Goff had three touchdown passes and Robert Woods and Cooper Kupp each had 100-plus receiving yards in the win. Rams are battling their hard schedule upcoming to end the regular season. Turning things to the NFC East the dog fight continues as the Giants, Eagles, Cowboys, and The Football team all have similar records despite their losing records. The divisional leader eagles couldn’t pull out the win as the Browns discovered holes in the Eagles run defense causing Nick Chubb to rush for Over 100 yards on the ground. The Birds struggled to find running room with second-year back Miles Sanders as he only gained 66 yards on the ground. QB Carson Wentz continues to find himself in deep waters as his performance has yet to impress coach Doug Peterson so far this season. Divisional rival Cowboys rose to victory over the Vikings as QB Andy Dalton lead the team with 3 touchdown passes and RB Ezekial Elliot Ran for 103 yards on the ground. The Cowboys gain ground with this victory moving to 3-7 in the losing NFC East. A surprising win took place as the Packers fell to the Colts in overtime as the Colts were down 14 points at the half but surged back to win the game in overtime by a Blankenship field goal to win the game. The Colts and Packers both Improve to 7-3 going into week 12. An NFC South Matchup between the New Orleans Saints and the Atlanta Falcons took place with a new look at quarterback for the saints as Tyson Hill got granted the start following the injury of veteran Drew Brees. Hill Had a great stat line against a weak Atlanta defense as he ran for 2 touchdowns and threw for 233 yards. Atlanta struggled to put up any points as they put up a low 9 points falling 24-9. In the AFC West, the Cheifs faced off with the Raiders in a divisional showdown between 2 rivals. Patrick Mahomes led the Chiefs to a win on a game-winning touchdown drive that saw him throw the game-winning touchdown pass to Travis Kelce in the final seconds against the Raiders. Mahomes and the Cheifs got their revenge to stay at one loss on the season. The Panthers shut out the Lions 20-0 in a blowout win moving Carolina to 4-7. P.J. Walker was 24-for-34 with 258 passing yards and a touchdown pass filling in for Teddy Bridgewater in the Panther’s win. Lastly, the Chargers just carried out the victory against the losing jets as New York becomes the first team to be eliminated from playoff contention. Rookie QB Justin Herbert threw 3 TD passes securing the 34-28 win.

The Eagles open the year under a dark cloud

Charlie Honer
Staff Writer

The Eagles season so far has been less than ideal. Starting off the season 1-4-1 is not the best beginning for a fairly recent Super Bowl winner. The Eagles have been hit with a dark cloud of injuries the last couple of years including this one. Multiple positions are down to backups and for some, they have even taken people off the practice squad.
  They started the year with a 27-17 loss to the Washington football team. Carson Wentz came out and threw for 270 yards, 2 touchdown passes, and 2 interceptions. They had no running game and Washington won in a 17-0 comeback. In week 2, they played the Rams and lost that one 37-19. They would tie against the Bengals the next week with a score of 23-23.
  They would get their first win in week 4 against the 49ers with a score of 25-20. Carson Wentz only threw for 193 yards, 1 touchdown, 1 interception. There was virtually no running game, and this game was won by the defense. They would go on to lose the next two weeks to the Steelers (38-29) and the Ravens (30-28).
Over the course of the next two weeks the Eagles would play two different divisional games against the Giants and the Cowboys, in the NFC East it's anyone's game. Week 7 they played the Giants where they just barely got away with a win, winning 22-21. The next week they played the Cowboys. This game was a battle for the top spot in the NFC East, except it wasn’t much of a battle. The Eagles had their share of mishaps but pulled away to win 23-9.
  The first half of the season isn't going too well. Even though the Eagles are at the top of the NFC East that title won’t help them in the playoffs playing better teams. We can only hope that they get it together over the next couple of weeks.

Lions Football Hopes to Make Huge Statement Week 1 against Upper Moreland

Will Albano and Christopher Kolen

Staff Writers

One year ago, the New Hope-Solebury Lions football team took the field against Upper Moreland for the first time. They had hopes and aspirations of being nothing short of spectacular with an abundant amount of starters returning on both sides of the ball. One of the most important starters and best players on the field was New Hope Quarterback Philip Weinseimer. Philip’s accolades his sophomore year were the stepping stones to an even greater junior year. His stats were 2,109 total yards and 27 total touchdowns He was unanimously named BAL MVP. As NFL legend Barry Sanders said though: “Football has a weird way of humbling you. Just as you think you're on top you get brought back down.”

In Philip’s first game last season he tragically broke his ankle in the first quarter. Unfortunately, the injury woes didn't stop there. Star Defensive End and Center Connor Fitzgerald also went down in the same game with an ankle injury that kept him sidelined most of the season. With their two best players out, the Lions found it tough to piece together wins with their most heartbreaking loss to Upper Moreland losing 21 to 0.

One year later, Philip Weinseimer is back and better than ever, proof being a 4.6 - 40 in the Lions combine. He also has some nice players around him this year starting with senior running back Joe Capriotti. A first team BAL running back last year, Capriotti will look to build off a strong junior season. Most important to Phil and Joe's success this year is the offensive line, and it all starts with Charlie Honer A.K.A “The Bodyguard.” Charlie's 6’3, 260 pound frame matched with his quickness makes him one of the best tackles in the Suburban One League. He will be paired with senior guard Tanner Richmond. Tanner has been consistent in proving he can compete with any player that matches up in front of him.

One the defensive side, the Lions want to be quick and fly over the field this year and it starts with their secondary. Dylan Hildebrandt was thrown into the fire his sophomore year and, although challenging, he quickly grew as a player. The linebackers are led by middle linebacker Jude Hutkin. Jude’s instincts of a ball hawk and while laying phenomenal hits have been on display for years and hopefully does it again this year.

When talking to Lions players, the common theme is that they are hungry and very anxious to return to the field. When asked how much this first game means to him senior guard Dan Flavin said, “It means a lot to us, last year we played these guys (Upper Moreland) to start off the season and they got the best of us. I promise you we are not going to let that happen this year.”

After watching a few practices during preseason, their intensity as a team is evident. Even in practice reps players have been giving every play their best, and they definitely want the season to start off with a win. Senior guard Tanner Richmond had this to say about how important a Week One win is, “It's very important, especially with a shortened season because every game matters for playoffs. And a Week One win builds confidence and sets the tone for the rest of the season.”

The NH/S Lions vs. Upper Moreland will be held without fans on Friday Night at 7 p.m. All games will be live streamed on NFHS network and teams will have individual recorder’s filming. Best of luck to the Lions. Seize the Day!!

The baseball season we lost

Adam Aquaro
Staff Writer

Going into this year many on the team thought this was the year where the team was going to have the most fun. A trip to Florida and a very well bonded team had the players and coaches excited. But, on March 13, “Picture Day,” the team heard the announcement. After school activities would be suspended for two weeks. The reaction from the team varied by player. Some thought that it would really only be two weeks, others thought a little more, and few speculated the season would be gone.
  Now, the talent of the baseball team definitely wasn’t at its highest point after losing seven senior starters last year, but the bond of the players was as close as it’s ever been. Most people looked forward to the 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. workouts on Monday and Wednesday nights because hanging out with the team was fun even with the time of the practice. This bond really showed some of the players how fun Florida was going to be. The last trip for the seniors to spend with their team while playing the game they love, messing around in the hotel, and the beach with other players and coaches. Giving the chance for upperclassmen to mess with underclassmen in a friendly and funny way. These experiences were all thrown out the window on March 15 when the trip was officially canceled.
  The team feels for the seniors and will miss them on the field next year. Cam Mertz was shooting for the stars this year to really show his talent. By just missing BAL 1st team and batting just below .500 last season, the whole team believed that he would surpass both. Justin Horak was going to start at 3rd base and aim for his best season yet going out in his senior year. Cole Davis would start at 1st base for the second year in a row and look to be a leader on the team and would aim for at least 2nd team all BAL. Deven Smith has already proven what his talent is and was looking to polish it off with a great season this year. Ben Koeppen joined the team this year, looking to play the sport he grew up playing in his last year of high school. Ben was embraced as soon as he joined the team and everyone was happy to have him around. Tom Vieridias was looking to get on the mound for his final year as a high school player. The team misses the season, and they will miss their seniors next year.

Major League Baseball plans shortened season due to COVID-19 crisis

Garett Hoffmann and Jake Saxton
Staff Writer

Due to COVID-19, the sports world has been wondering whether the NBA and NHL playoffs will happen. There is a lot of speculation about how the NFL’s season will look and if it will start in September. However, one sport that seems to be flying under the radar is baseball.
  Many experts inside the Major League Baseball are predicting that they will be cutting the season in half, from 162 games to 82. The league may also create schedules that prevent teams from traveling all over the country and Canada to play the Toronto Blue Jays. Instead they will have divisional restraints to keep teams in certain regions to prevent outbreaks of COVID-19.
  Many readers may be asking how will this new schedule be created? The answer is simple. Henry and Holly Stephenson, who have been creating MLB schedules since 1984 and 2004, respectively, explained that computers, with the right algorithms, will be able to do it in about five minutes. The teams will stay in their divisions. For example, the teams in the NL West consist of the Dodgers, Giants, Diamondbacks, Rockies and Padres. Three out of the five teams are from California whereas the Diamondbacks are from Arizona and the Rockies from Colorado. Even though the Colorado club is the farthest away, they will still play their division rivals. As of right now the closest sport that will be ready to get back on the ball during this crisis is Major League Baseball.

Boom of Bust? The Eagles make two questionable draft picks

Mike Borys and Connor Fitzgerald
Staff Writers

In previous years Eagles fans have been disappointed with the wide receiver position. Fans were certain that Alshon Jeffery, a previous Chicago Bear star would help out Carson Wentz. Jeffery has had mediocre seasons with the team. In the beginning of the season, Desean Jackson was looking great. Jackson ended up suffering a season-ending injury in just the second game. The Eagles selected wide receiver J.J. Arcega-Whiteside last year with the fifty-seventh overall pick. There were high hopes for the young player out of Stanford. Arcega-Whiteside did not perform nearly as well as fans wished. The young receiver only racked up ten receptions, 169 yards, and one touchdown. In this year’s draft, the receiver position was loaded with talent.
  The Eagles selected wide-receiver Jalen Reagor with the twenty-first pick. The ex-TCU star receiver was very excited to become an Eagle. Reagor has been known for his speed, being the 2nd fastest receiver in the draft. Reagor can either outrun defenders on a streak route, or out-jump defenders on a corner fade route. Many fans criticized the Eagles organization for this pick because some felt there were more talented receivers still available. At Texas Christian University, Reagor reeled in 148 receptions, 2248 yards, and 22 touchdowns. Hopefully, Carson Wentz and his new speedy receiver can hook up on many touchdowns this upcoming year.
  The Eagles second pick of the 2020 NFL draft was arguably the most controversial pick of the entire draft. For the 53rd pick in the draft they selected Jalen Hurts from The University of Oklahoma. The Eagles are in need of many players to fill starting roles and there is no doubt from current starting QB, Carson Wentz, that he will put on a show each game he plays. This left many people scratching their heads not understanding why the Eagles would pick a QB in the second round when they already have Wentz. Many believe that the Eagles will be running a double QB package similar to what the Saints use with Taysom Hill. There is also concern for the health of Carson Wentz after he suffered a serious concussion early in the 2019 playoff game. Wentz is young and has time to get healthy. The two quarterbacks will make a great package together.

NFL team facilities reopening with a 2020 season in sight

Parker Cane and Lear Asplundh
Staff Writers

Due to the coronavirus, the NFL season is up in the air. Like all sports, the coronavirus has put a halt to any further events and team activities. However, NFL team facilities are permitted to begin reopening starting as soon as this past Tuesday provided they meet certain criteria.
  NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell said team facilities are allowed to reopen provided that they do so under “governing state and local regulations, are in compliance with additional public health requirements in their jurisdiction, and have implemented the protocols that were developed by Dr. Sills and distributed to all clubs on May 6.” Goodell added that teams that do not meet those requirements by Tuesday “may reopen their facilities on the earliest date thereafter on which they are able to meet the criteria.”
  In the first phase of reopening, teams are not allowed to have more than 50 percent of staff in the facility, and the number cannot exceed 75 people. That total is for all club locations combined. No members of the coaching staff are permitted to return to the facility in order to “ensure equity among all 32 clubs.
  With facilities opening up for certain teams, hopefully the season can stay on track and open Sept. 10, 2020 with or without fans.

2020 Olympics postponed till 2021 due to coronavirus

Brendan O’Boyle
Staff Writer

COVID-19 has called for a rescheduling of just about every social gathering imaginable. With most professional sports canceled, people around the globe wondered what would happen with the Olympics. As of now, the 2020 Tokyo Olympic games will be postponed until July 23 of 2021 and the Paralympic games will start on August 24 of 2021. While the Olympics have been canceled before due to World War I, this will be the first time in history that the Olympic Games will be postponed to another year.
  The president of the International Paralympic Committee, Andrew Parsons, said that he feels good about the change: “The new dates provide certainty for the athletes, reassurance for the stakeholders and something to look forward to for the whole world.”
  It was decided by the Prime Minister of Japan Shinzo Abe and the leaders of the committee in charge of the Olympics, that the games would be a sort of “light at the end of the tunnel” for the world. They are hoping that the event will give everyone something to look forward to in these trying times and believe that canceling the event would have just caused more negative feelings. Andrew Parsons also said that he feels the games will be an even more joyous event when they do come around because of all the hardship the world has endured.
  “When the Paralympic Games do take place in Tokyo next year, they will be an extra-special display of humanity uniting as one, a global celebration of human resilience and a sensational showcase of sport,” Parsons said.
  The athletes planning on competing in the Olympic games took to social media to react to the news. Two-time Olympic diving medalist Tom Daley mentioned how he would be feeling the effects of being another year older when competing in 2021, but he feels that this is the right thing to do. Many athletes said the same thing while posting on Instagram and Twitter, but also offered words of encouragement, feeling that this is just a minor setback in the grand scheme of things.

NHL, MLB, NBA: COVID-19 crisis provides a dramatic and traumatic end to pro sports

Connor Fitzgerald and Michael Borys
Staff Writers
   
As each day in quarantine goes by, every national sports organization is suffering more and more from money loss as games are not being played. Currently, every spring sport has been postponed until further notice. Fall sports like the NFL have not been determined if their season will be played. Even though this sounds crazy to many, the reality of the pandemic not being cured by the fall is very realistic. Following the horrible news of sports seasons being cancelled, national sports organizations did not accept defeat from the virus by any means.
  So far, the MLB, NBA, and MMA have been pushing to continue their seasons in a modified manner in order to ensure the safety of all players, fighters, and staff of every organization. Some of these modifications include moving to a quarantined area that will just be open to these teams. No fans will be allowed at these events if they are permitted to take place.
  The MLB suggested a plan to fly each team and their staff to Arizona. Arizona is the home of a dozen baseball fields for spring training. These players would be under a restricted quarantine and must follow certain precautions to keep everyone there safe and healthy. Many players are unhappy with this because it would entail them not seeing their family or friends for months. The National Basketball Association has made it clear that no changes will be made to their season unless they gain access to the instant coronavirus tests. They are still in testing and will notify users within 15 minutes after they prick their blood if they are infected with the virus. The MMA is planning to host fights on a private island and it has been stated that the infrastructure for these fights are being built as we went to press.   

NBA on hold due to COVID-19

Will Kelley and Justin Horak
Staff Writers

As New Hope-Solebury closed down in-person learning for the remainder of the school year, NBA commissioner Adam Silver suspended the 2019-2020 season due to the coronavirus outbreak. The coronavirus outbreak has affected millions of people all over the world, and is spreading rapidly across the United States each and every day, claiming some 1,000 to 3,000 lives per day.
  Two All-Star players from the Utah Jazz, Ruby Gobert and Donavan Mitchell have tested positive for COVID-19. After the NBA found out that Gobert tested positive, they suspended the season four minutes later. Jazz guard Emanuel Mudiay also tested positive for the virus. Five teams have been quarantined already, and it looks like all 32 teams will be soon.
  On April 6, Commissioner Adam Silver said that he has told people in the NBA that there will be no way for the league to make a decision about when it can return until May at the earliest and probably not even then. Silver said repeatedly throughout the interview that part of his hesitancy to make any sort of prediction about when, or if, the NBA would return is how much things have changed since Silver initially brought the league to a halt on March 11 after Utah Jazz center Rudy Gobert tested positive for COVID-19 shortly before the Jazz were supposed to play in Oklahoma City against the Thunder.
  At the time the league shut down, it initially said it would be a 30-day hiatus. NBA players will receive their full checks when the next payday for most of them arrives on April 15, even though no games will have been played for more than a month at that point. The league and the National Basketball Players Association have been in talks for weeks about the status of salaries during the NBA’s shutdown. But it will unquestionably be far longer than that if it is able to return at all.
  Many NBA teams are united in hopes of encouraging the league office to push the date of the June 25 draft until no sooner than Aug. 1, sources told ESPN. For now, the NBA remains on commissioner Adam Silver’s timeline of May as the earliest that decisions on the remaining league calendar will start to be made, sources said.

COVID-19 Stops Sports Section in Local Newspapers

Ryan Viehweger

Copy Editor

I opened the local paper on Monday, March 16, 2020 to find no pages dedicated to sports whatsoever.  The paper usually has pages for opinions, general news, arts and entertainment, features, and to some people the most important aspect, the sports section.  The newspaper concept is well over a 150-year-old tradition informing the public about what is going on outside their individual households.  For several generations, this form of communication has progressed uninterrupted and without major issues.
  That was until the end of last week to the beginning of this week.  A sudden phenomenon took hold of public life, a virus called COVID-19.  The recent deadly strain originated in China and has made its way west, invading Europe, and hitting the Americas fiercely.  As the virus spread, government officials realized the absolute necessity to take charge of the situation by limiting large crowds through canceling public gatherings.  Suddenly, the virus really hit home and began impacting the everyday lives of Americans.
  Not only are places like restaurants and churches being shut down temporarily, but many large sporting events—even whole leagues—are being canceled for fears that people sitting close to each other in the stands may act as breeding grounds for the virus.  The highly anticipated March Madness season began the streak of mass cancelations, followed by soccer’s the Premier League, and the recently revamped XFL.  Additionally, some towns in America rely on a few events around the year to bring in revenue and tourism.  For instance, the St. Petersburg Grand Prix, an annual IndyCar race on Florida’s coast, was canceled, which was expected to bring in $50 million (WTSP) to the greater Tampa Bay area.
  The cancellations have extended onto college sports as well, and at the current time, there are virtually no major league sporting events happening that the public follows.  Thus, the papers have not been able to fill their sports section pages, since there are no sports to report about!  The frightening pandemic of coronavirus has taken what 63% (Gallup polls) Americans believe is their favorite part of life, sports, away from them.  Sports bring communities together and are a necessity to satisfy the natural competitive nature of humans.  To get back our favorite pastime, listen to government suggestions to limit the spread so that everyday American lives can be restored.

NHS Boys Lacrosse season cut short because of COVID-19

Parker Cane and Lear Asplundh
Staff Writers

New Hope-Solebury High School Boys Lacrosse was off to a great start with a new coach in their 2020 season. The boys started their season on March 1. Every Tuesday and Thursday, the team went to SMG to practice inside when it was rainy outside and to learn new and different plays. On March 12, players and students got the devastating news that school will be closed until March 29 due to COVID-19. Meaning, no after school sports or activities.
  The players were having such a great time getting back on the field and having a catch with each other, it was sad to see the program hit the pause button.
  The players are still doing drills inside their house and outside such as throwing against a wall and working out. Hopefully, this will soon all end and everyone can get back to school and play their favorite sports.
  Corona Virus has plagued the entire world. Within the United States, thousands of schools have shut down as a result, tarnishing all spring sports with it. For seniors, this is a huge blow whether it was to show your skills to college scouts or just playing for the joy the sport brings. Some high schools have even shut down for the rest of the year. This virus has resulted in some seniors losing memories people never forget such as senior prom and graduation. This virus has been a brutal blow to Americans and people across the world. We have to join together and fight against it.
  As we went to press, students were still out of school and supposed to get back to school on April 30.

COVID-19 cuts XFL season short leaving fans to wait for next season

Kel MacDowell & Roberto Escamilla

The brand new XFL kicked off on Saturday, Feb. 8, between the Seattle Dragons and the DC Defenders.  The Defenders won 31-19, in a well fought XFL opener. The XFL is a brand new, fan-first league that’s reimagining the game of football, and offering fans an opportunity to experience more access, action, and amusement. People ask, “Why are they launching the XFL?” The league’s answer was, “For the love of football. It’s as simple as that. For the Love of Football is why our coaches coach, players play, and why we invite new fans and the tried-and-true to be part of it all. If you’ve been a football fan all your life, you’ll love the XFL. If you’ve never been to a professional football game, you’ll love the XFL (our ticket prices are affordable and family-friendly!). What brings us all together is the love of America’s most popular sport and the desire to share more of it together” (XFL For the love of football page).
  The XFL’s website features links that redirect you to their brand new shop that allows you to purchase merchandise of your favorite team.  The league is quite competitive. Even the Buffalo Bills’ front office began observing the league in hopes of finding free agency opportunities. As the NFL season came to an end, the XFL took center stage for football fans. Although the XFL’s viewership dipped, the number of fans is growing and could make it an outstanding league.
  Unfortunately, the XFL suspended its season on March 15. A Seattle Dragons player tested positive for due to COVID-19. The league is closely monitoring the Dragons and all who have come into contact with them.

NHS Lions 2020 baseball roster looks very strong

Adam Aquaro
Staff Writer
After a great 2019, season there have been a lot of changes to the Lions’ roster. Seven starters graduated last year and left the team with plenty of open spots that players from every class could fill. First base and shortstop are the only positions with returning starters. The first baseman, Cole Davis, is returning for his senior year and is looking to make a splash this year with continued devotion and leadership. Cam Mertz is the returning senior shortstop who is a four year varsity player. Mertz is looking to bat above .500 and get at least 1st team BAL. But, from pitcher all the way outfield, there have been changes.
The ace on the mound this year will be Deven Smith. Smith is a returning senior that pitched in the district game that sent the lions to the championship. Deven is a great leader and a fantastic competitor who will give his best on the mound. Other pitchers will be Junior Liam Griffith, sophomore Josh Shiller, junior Michael Janora(Mike J) and junior Jason Kloss. AJ Oakes will also make a run for a spot in the rotation, and will be looking to get time in the outfield this season. Liam and Josh both play first and are a presence at the plate. Mike J can play second base if not needed on the mound or just needed at second.  Jason Kloss is a utility player and can pretty much play anywhere on the field. That includes at the plate as well after hitting 2 round trippers last year. Tom Vierdias is a senior looking to make his mark on the mound this year after joining the squad last season. The starting catcher this year will be sophomore Kyle Campbell.  Kyle Campbell is easily one of the hardest working players on the team, andhas even worked on his left-side hitting during the off-season. Emerging as one of the best players on the team, Campbell, will be a threat this year and years to come after that. Other catchers will be juniors Joe Meixler and Jason Kloss.  Meixler is a first year player who has really improved over the off-season. As a very well rounded player, Jason Kloss can play anywhere on the field, and will also come in handy as the backup catcher. will most likely be the backup catcher if we need him but will play somewhere else on the field as an everyday player.
Moving onto infield, at second base will be junior Adam Aquaro. This will be his first year as a varsity starter and is looking to make a difference on the team this year. He and Mertz are appearing to be the best middle infielders in the BAL. At third, and completing the infield, will be senior Justin Horak. Horak is a hard working player and a great teammate. He is loved by all the coaches and all the players and truly brings the team together. Matt Jermyn has impressed this winter and is also working on his strength getting in the weight room and bettering himself. Matt Spadavecchia is an up and coming first baseman. Otherwise known as Spads, Spods, and even Spodes, Matty is a teammate everyone loves.
The outfield is still undecided and positions will be fought for in March. Every player has a shot, let’s get to know them. Ben Koeppen is a first year player.  It is his senior year and made the great decision to join the team. Ben is scary fast and is looking to take the center field position. Ben is a great teammate and everyone is happy to have him on the team. Junior Ian Mendola is looking to take the right field spot. Ian has been working hard on his swing and his strength in the weight room. The team is dominated by sophomores in numbers and some of them are looking to play in the outfield.  Mason Scall can play anywhere in the outfield and is looking to help the team in any way he can. Mason has a presence at the plate and has a lion’s agility.  Justin Lehman can play many positions on the field but is looking to play outfield for varsity this year. The utility player Jason Kloss will also make a run for a starting outfield spot. His bat will help him on the way. AJ Oakes, as mentioned earlier, is another player looking to earn a spot. It is safe to say that March will be an intense month in the outfield.
There are four freshmen this year: Nate Wiseman, Saul Carmenini, Johnny Wilson, and Matt Rickert. Wiseman is a middle infielder who shows great promise for the future. He has great work ethic and a game that all players in the team can see as special. Carmenini is an infielder who also shows great promise. Saul will also look to pitch this year for JV and better his game for his future years on the team. Johnny Wilson is looking to help his team in any way he can this year and the years following. Wilson has promise and looks to be a player with great potential by starting with getting a new glove). Rickert is an infielder with great work ethic. Matt works all the way throughout the two hour practices in the gym and is looking to get 1% better everyday. The freshmen are the future of the team and will keep the team in good hands.
The returning coaches will be Tony Vlahovic, Len Lehman and Coach Miz. Coach Chiodo helped out in the winter and improved each individual player’s game. He was a dedicated and fun coach to have around. Coach Vlahovic is looking to add to his already fantastic resume, and after making the district finals last year, he is looking to go even further this year. Coach Lehman saw his oldest son graduate last year as one of the best players on the Lions last year. This year he’ll look to boost the JV squad’s performance and develop the young players in the system. Coach Miz is the third base coach and is the primary BP pitcher for the team. The team loves Coach Miz and are happy to have him in the organization. Jake Saxton is the manager and keeps the book during the season. Jake is informed and passionate about the game and loves keeping score and tracking stats of the players. The players have fun with Jake and wouldn’t pick anyone else to be their manager. This season will be fun and see the team dominate.

What Kobe left behind

Alex Walinski and Kyle Sullivan
Staff Writers

Kobe Bryant is one of the most well known basketball players and one of the best players to ever play the game. Recently, not only was the whole basketball world shocked by his passing, but the entire world was touched when the news spread. Kobe was known by almost everybody. He is the name said whenever a kid mimicked a 3-point shot as they threw a piece of paper into a trash can. He was not only a great basketball player, but an Oscar winner for best animated short film. Most importantly he was a great father and family figure.
  There are many stories that can be told about Kobe and his mamba mentality, but there were a few that really stuck out and showed what he left behind and taught to the younger generation. One story that showed everyone how Kobe feared no one and thought he could take anyone one-on-one. Kobe was new to the league and it was his first time playing against the league leader at that time, Michael Jordan. He was feared by almost all players and one of Kobe’s teammates was talking to him before the game. He asked Bryant “Want some advice?” because Kobe was matched up against Jordan that night. “Whatever you do, don’t look him in the eyes.” A grown man and teammate of Kobe was so afraid of what Jordan could do that he told him to not look into his eyes. Kobe looked at his teammate and responded “Excuse me.” He continued “I’m that too. Can’t look me in the eyes either.” Kobe was young and rather new to the league, and he walked around with that confidence, and he would back up how he played. Many kids want to be just like Kobe, and the attempt to have the same confidence that he had because that is a part of what helped him be a superstar.
  Kobe always wanted to be the best possible player that he could be so when he was in high school he thought to himself “What advantage can I give myself that would stand out over everyone else?” He came up with the solution to get up and work earlier. His first class started at 7:45 a.m. so he would arrive at the gym at 5 a.m. to get shots up. This is just one of many stories that shows how willing Kobe Bryant was to be great. He was  going to do whatever it took in order to be the best he could and at the end of his career he even mentioned how he was happy with what he did and was content to retire because he knew he gave basketball everything he had. He said there was nothing more he could have done to get better. He was alright with retiring because he felt like there was no one who outworked him and he let people know that they could not outwork him. He has kids look up to him and strive to get to his work ethic or at least as close as they can to how hard Kobe Bryant worked.
  While he was in his prime in the league, Kobe once had a game against another star named Jay Williams. Williams knew he was playing one of the most elite players in the league, if not the most elite player in the league. He showed up at 3 p.m. for a 7 p.m. game to get extra shots up. When he got there he heard a ball bouncing already. Unsurprisingly, that ball was being dribbled by the great Kobe Bryant who had shown up at 2 p.m prior for their 7 p.m. tip off.
  After Kobe had retired one of his major passions was to change the game of women’s basketball, and  he pursued in making a stand for women’s basketball. He started coaching his daughter Giana Bryant who was a 13-year-old phenom and had love for the game like her father. Kobe and his daughter worked on her craft day-in and day-out at their own Mamba Academy in California as Giana had Division 1 college basketball scouts already looking at her to be a part of their future. Giana had plans on attending UConn to pursue her basketball career. With the help from her father, she was the face of youth women’s basketball, and they continued to get others involved and grow the game.
  The early afternoon of Jan. 20 2020, Kobe Bryant’s chopper had crashed in the hills of Calabasas killing his daughter, numerous others and himself. When the news broke, it was too hard to take in and for a moment didn’t feel possible or real. Not only did Kobe pass away on this day, people’s lives changed forever.  One of the best basketball players, Kobe was a family man, an Oscar award winner, and an all-around role model who has been taken from the world too soon.
  In honor of Kobe and to continue his legacy, many players in the National Basketball League had changed their numbers from 8 or 24 on the night the Lakers retired his numbers 8 and 24, which will not be worn by purple and gold again. He was a role model for the younger generation and many still  strive to be like him in all aspects of life, which is why Kobe’s legacy will live on forever.

Flyers looked strong before NHL hit pause due to COVID-19; League hopes to resume play soon

Garrett Hoffmann and Jake Saxton
Staff Writers

Claude Giroux and the Philadelphia Flyers have been red hot this month of February as they now come down the home stretch with only 17 remaining games in the season. At the beginning of the month, the Flyers were a middle of the pack team in the metropolitan division fighting for a wild card spot and to make some noise. However, with the Flyers now on a six-game win streak, their longest of the season, they sit comfortably in holding down the second spot in the Metropolitan division and sit sixth in the league by overall point counts. But, this does not mean they can coast the rest of the way as Pittsburgh is right on their heels, having one point less than the Flyers do and they cannot discount the two surging Carolina and Columbus clubs who are looking to make their mark on the Metro as well. According to NBC Sports Philadelphia, the Flyers currently have one of the best home records in the NHL, along with the highest chance of winning the Stanley Cup (12.7%).
  You may be asking the question, “Well how the [heck] did this team become legitimate contenders if most of the same players are still on the team from a year ago?”
  The answer to this question is simply and undoubtedly Alain Vigneault. You may be familiar with this name because he coached the New York Rangers for five years. With the Rangers, AV has been to two Stanley Cups and has taken them to the playoffs every year except for one. He also coached Vancouver for seven years and took them to the Stanley Cup Finals as well. With the addition of a well-respected coach and a guy who knows how to get it done, the Flyers are hoping AV brings the same success to this team as he did with all the others.
  Flyers center, Kevin Hayes, has become one of the hot talks of this team. Hayes currently has 41 points in 66 games played. Aside from his scoring, Hayes is a well-rounded veteran who shows great leadership for the team. Hayes brings great positive energy in the locker room, which really makes it a joyful environment for the players. Along with Hayes, Flyers’ goaltender, Carter Hart, has stepped it up big this season. Hart currently has a .909 save percentage this season along with one of the best home records in the league, 18-2-2. With the Flyers coming down to the home stretch of the season, they hope to finish strong to clinch a commendable position in the playoffs.
  On March 12, the NHL hit the pause button on the season due to the COVID-19 crisis. The league still hopes to complete the season.

76ers slumping as the new year begins

Lear Asplundh
Staff Writer

Ending 2019 and shifting into the new year, the Philadelphia 76ers are off to a solid start. The team finished the year as the sixth seed in the Eastern Conference with a 23-13 record. However, the Sixers ended the year on a three game losing streak, stirring concern that the new starting lineup the Sixers acquired in the summer may not be working out.
  In the summer, the 76ers signed center Al Horford to a multi-year deal worth over 100 million dollars. This free agent signing looked to help Sixers star Joel Embiid for when he is worn out and needs rest. They also acquired shooting guard Josh Richardson from the Miami Heat in exchange for Jimmy Butler. He is a young, defensive-minded player that is a good two-way player. These players are both playing well, but not meeting the high expectations that many hoped they would achieve. This has led to them falling to the sixth seed after being the third seed last year. The Sixers are also hoping for Ben Simmons to be more aggressive as his point per game since he is at a career low of 14ppg. Simmons has made a three pointer this year, but the coaches and fans are encouraging him to shoot more often resulting in defenders guarding the perimeter rather than sagging off, helping the defense.
  Shifting into the new year, the Sixers hope to get back on track. After a convincing win on Christmas Day against the best team in the league, the Milwaukee Bucks, the Sixers and their fans hope they can get back to playing high level basketball again.

Oskar Strong

Jake Saxton & Garrett Hoffman 

On Dec. 13, 2019, tragic news struck the Philadelphia Flyers organization and the entire NHL. The Flyers second year forward, who was leading the team in scoring, was diagnosed with Ewing’s Sarcoma, a rare form of bone cancer. Flyers general manager, Chuck Fletcher released a statement saying that Lindblom would be out the remainder of the season.

  Ewing Sarcoma is a cancer that develops in bones, joints, or soft tissue. It is most common in teens and young adults. Even though it's such a rare form of cancer, it's the second most common bone cancer in children. The Ewing Sarcoma disease reaches its peak popularity typically between the ages of 10-20, which makes 23-year-old Oskar Lindblom’s condition a little more rare than others.

  Throughout this sorrowful and shocking occurrence, Oskar has been receiving some much support from the fans and the entire hockey community. The hashtag that has been going around the hockey community is #Oskarstrong, and the Flyers have made shirts and have given them out to fans as well. Also after Oskar was diagnosed the team has been keeping up Oskars Jersey in the locker room. 

  Flyers Captain Claude Giroux stated to the media, “It’s not just us behind him, It’s the whole city.” This was another terrific gesture from the star or the team to one of the teams rising stars. 

  Hopefully, Oskar will be back on the ice next year, but as of right now we are all Oskar strong.      

NFL Postseason

Kel Macdowell

Staff Writer

The 2019 NFL regular season has been a long and hard fought season that has come to an end and the remaining teams are beginning to prepare for the playoffs. Meanwhile, teams like the Baltimore Ravens, Kansas City Chiefs, Green Bay Packers and San Francisco 49ers have an extra week to prepare as the rest of the teams get ready for Wild Card Weekend. The AFC matchups for this upcoming weekend are the Buffalo Bills playing the Houston Texans along with the New England Patriots up against the Tennessee Titans on January 4th. January 5th has action-packed games with Minnesota Vikings visiting the New Orleans Saints and the Philadelphia Eagles hosting the Seattle Seahawks. The winners of each game will move on to one of the four teams with a bye on Wild Card Weekend. Teams will have to get their offenses going from the start and their defenses to enter the game with a steady focus. Key players for wild card weekend in each matchup are Deshaun Watson for the Houston Texans, Stephon Gilmore for the New England Patriots, Michael Thomas for the New Orleans Saints, and Marshawn Lynch for the Seattle Seahawks. 

  Looking ahead of Wild Card Weekend, the first round bye superstars have a point to prove in their matchups. Regardless of whichever team is left, they will not have an easier path after this weekend. First round bye teams are star-studded and they all have players who can turn it on and become the difference maker. When these players are in the zone, there's no stopping them. The players are the ones to look out for. Patrick Mahomes who was the  2018 NFL MVP from the Kansas City Chiefs is ready to make a deep playoff run after a knee injury earlier this season. The next player is Lamar Jackson, 2019 NFL MVP front runner, from the Baltimore Ravens.For the 49ers, we have George Kittle who holds the record for most receiving yards in a season by a tight end. Finally there's Aaron Jones, who tied with Christian McCaffrey for most touchdowns in the regular season this year, for the Green Bay Packers.

  Roberto Escamilla contributed to this article. 

New Hope-Solebury’s Basketball Team Off to An Exciting Start

Alex Walinski and Kyle Sulliuvan 

Staff Writers 

The Lions started the year playing against two Five A schools in the Upper Moreland tip-off tournament. In their first game, they took down Upper Merion 53-42 with a strong defensive team performance and overall performance. The Lions won three of the four quarters, only losing the third quarter by one point. The Lions played their next game against another Five A school, almost doubling New Hope’s size in Upper Moreland. The beginning was a rocky start, but the Lions were able to recuperate as the game progressed.  In the end, they came up short by losing 55-41. Following strong performances out of Kyle Mclaughlin and Alex Walinski, having scored 14 and 21 points respectively over 30 minutes, the team could not follow through on the defensive end.  

The regular season continued with the first home game against the Bristol Warriors. The Lions had complete control throughout the entire game, winning all four quarters. Mike Borys had a strong defensive game with three steals and 10 points. Followed by Chris Keatings stellar performance 13 points and 8 rebounds. This allowed the New Hope Lions’ head coach Rick Fedele to go deep into the bench. Resting many of the starting key players of the team to help develop the skills of the subs as the long season played out. 

The next game was a Saturday evening at home facing the New Hope Lions and the Holy Ghost Prep Firebirds. This game had high attendance and was a close back and forth game as two great defensive teams battling for the lead in the league. The Lions were down three points with eight seconds to go and junior guard Alex Walinski came down and hit a deep heavily contested three pointer to send the game to overtime.The Lions controlled the lead in overtime and finished with a 50-48 win. Alex Walinski had an outstanding game with 20 points and six rebounds followed by a great performance by Junior Philip Weinsemimer with four fast break layups to go along with other baskets to total 17 points. This win put the Lions in first place in the league.

The most recent game was against Mast Charter Academy. The Lions headed into the game with a 3-1 record against Mass Charter’s 0-6 record. With a tie game in the first quarter of 12-12, the Lions took the lead and maintained a strong lead for the rest of the game. With a 30 point win for the Lions, this allowed them to clear the bench and rest the starters who have had some minor injuries.  It was a great experience for the young sophomore players, such as Charlie Albano and Justin Lehman, to get varsity playing playing time as they are the young talent which will take over the future of the team. Alex Walinski had 15 points in short outing along with Kyle Mclaughlin's 15 points orchestrating the offense at point guard, alongside senior Mike Borys who finished with 16 on the day. 

The Lions were off to a spectacular start with a 4-1 record and are hoping to become the face of the BAL this season and clinch their first league championship. The long three hour practices six days a week including over Thanksgiving break and Christmas Break had paid off great, resulting in the team's early success. The intangibles that go unnoticed on the scorebooks is what pushed the Lions over the top thus far. It is what is preached in practice and it pays off at game time. They don’t focus on outscoring teams, but rather prioritizing the defense and hustling, and the scoreboard has been in their favor due to this mindset.    Philip Weinsiemer, Mike Borys, Bryan Dougerty, Kyle Mclaughlin, Christian Keating, and Kyle Sullivan prove this mentality to achieve success for the Lions.

The Lions had four games over the winter Holiday Break against four tough schools. Starting off with a brutal loss to Christopher Dock losing 69-63. The Lions struggled defensively stopping the big guy inside the paint and the quick athletic guards. The following game was on the day before Christmas Eve, the Lions lost to Neshaminy by one point. They allowed the opposing team to shoot the three ball consistently hurt them and forced them to be trailing the entire game. On Dec. 27, the Lions continued their losing streak with a loss to William Tennent High School where the team was outplayed offensively. The team struggled with help across rotations and struggled to stop them on the defensive end.

This was the tipping point as the team had to come together and discuss how their early success has fallen off and what it was going to take to rejuvenate their success. With a good game plan the Lions faced Council Rock North on Dec. 28, in which they were down 10 points at half time. With a second half comeback they tied up with a few seconds left to send the game into overtime. With the clock ticking down, Alex Walinski dribbled down the court and finds Michael Les for a wide open layup as time expired to win the game. This was a game that moved the Lions back up in the rankings of the league.

The Lions played their next game against Church Farm where they handled business winning by 15 points. The game was close until the late third and fourth quarter where the team began to run away with the game when they dropped into a 3-2 zone defense and got consecutive stops and turned them into scores on the opposite end. 

The Lions then started a small road trip by traveling to Delaware county Christian where they played a solid team in the knights. The Lions held their own all game, but in the third quarter they shot 2-17 which killed them in the end. The Lions ended up receiving their fifth loss of the season, the second loss in league play, by a score of 57-49.

  This is the team’s last year in the BAL and they hope to end on top before they head off to Suburban 1 and face many schools much bigger schools which have more talented players to choose.

New Hope Baseball starts off the season

Ian Mendola and Adam Aquaro 

Staff Writers 

In recent months, the New Hope’s baseball team has kicked off the season with winter workouts. The team has been practicing in the middle school gym since November 7th from 7-9 pm on Mondays and Wednesdays every week. The team continues to work in the gym, building their team chemistry before they step foot on the field in the spring. Focusing on their hitting skills during the winter months will prep them for the spring training they will do in Florida.

Over Spring Break, the team will travel to Vero Beach Florida to help get their game up playing against good competition and getting as many reps as possible. Dodgertown, Florida is where the games will be held for the Varsity and Junior Varsity teams as well. The team will spend a week playing games, practicing, and bonding with each other to get to know the people they will be with for the next 6 months. The program will run 6 days a week and go for the rest of the year until June once the season starts.

Captains Cameron Mertz and Deven Smith will lead the team into the 2020 season. Mertz is a 4-year varsity shortstop looking forward to his best season yet. Last year the team felt he was snubbed from a first-team spot as he had an exceptional season batting just under .500 and being a leader on and off of the field.. His batting average was just below500 while hitting 2 round-trippers. Deven is a 4-year varsity pitcher looking forward to continuing  his success. Deven was also the starting striker for New Hope’s soccer team that made it to the state finals. A dedicated sportsman, Devon was key in making it to districts last year when he had a dominant pitching outing, and he hopes to continue the team even farther for the upcoming season. 

The boys are looking forward to the upcoming season and getting out onto the field as soon as possible. 

NFL Postseason

Roberto Escamilla 

Staff Writer

The 2019 NFL regular season has been a long and hard fought season that has come to an end and the remaining teams are beginning to prepare for the playoffs. Meanwhile, teams like the Baltimore Ravens, Kansas City Chiefs, Green Bay Packers and San Francisco 49ers have an extra week to prepare as the rest of the teams get ready for Wild Card Weekend. The AFC matchups for this upcoming weekend are the Buffalo Bills playing the Houston Texans along with the New England Patriots up against the Tennessee Titans on January 4th. January 5th has action-packed games with Minnesota Vikings visiting the New Orleans Saints and the Philadelphia Eagles hosting the Seattle Seahawks. The winners of each game will move on to one of the four teams with a bye on Wild Card Weekend. Teams will have to get their offenses going from the start and their defenses to enter the game with a steady focus. Key players for wild card weekend in each matchup are Deshaun Watson for the Houston Texans, Stephon Gilmore for the New England Patriots, Michael Thomas for the New Orleans Saints, and Marshawn Lynch for the Seattle Seahawks. 

Looking ahead of Wild Card Weekend, the first round bye superstars have a point to prove in their matchups. Regardless of whichever team is left, they will not have an easier path after this weekend. First round bye teams are star-studded and they all have players who can turn it on and become the difference maker. When these players are in the zone, there's no stopping them. The players are the ones to look out for. Patrick Mahomes who was the  2018 NFL MVP from the Kansas City Chiefs is ready to make a deep playoff run after a knee injury earlier this season. The next player is Lamar Jackson, 2019 NFL MVP front runner, from the Baltimore Ravens.For the 49ers, we have George Kittle who holds the record for most receiving yards in a season by a tight end. Finally there's Aaron Jones, who tied with Christian McCaffrey for most touchdowns in the regular season this year, for the Green Bay Packers.