Ryan: 95-57 (62.5%)
Holden: 90-62 (59.2%)
Clucko: 89-63 (58.6%)
Bryan: 83-61 (57.6%)
Zander: 73-55 (57.0%)
Alex: 85-67 (55.9%)

Who will make it to the finale? Will it be Ryan Smith, the Web Editor-in-Chief and runner-up last year who appears to have a comfortable lead on the competition? Will Holden McGinnis, the Science and Technology editor and sole junior in the group, make his second year in the competition one to remember? Can Bryan Ellis, school president, stage a comeback and rule supreme not just over the student body but over the experts as well? Will Zander Levit’s years of Harriton football experience give him an inside edge come crunch time? Is Alex Settle, last year’s champion and resident Sports Editor, merely pulling a Tim Tebow and waiting for the last possible moment to make his move? Or will it be Clucko the Chicken, who by some miracle enters the final week of competition with a chance to take down his human counterparts? Let’s advance to the picks and find out:

NFL:

Ravens (13-4) at Patriots (14-3)
Ryan: Patriots
Holden: Patriots
Clucko: Patriots
Bryan: Ravens
Zander: Ravens
Alex: Patriots

Giants (11-7) at 49ers (14-3)
Ryan: Giants
Holden: 49ers
Clucko: 49ers
Bryan: Giants
Zander: 49ers
Alex: 49ers

NCAAB:

#5 Missouri (17-1) at #3 Baylor (17-1)
Ryan: Baylor
Holden: Baylor
Clucko: Baylor
Bryan: Baylor
Zander: Baylor
Alex: Baylor

NBA:

Lakers (10-6) at Magic (10-4)
Ryan: Magic
Holden: Lakers
Clucko: Lakers
Bryan: Magic
Zander: Magic
Alex: Lakers

76ers (11-4) at Heat (10-4)
Ryan: Heat
Holden: Heat
Clucko: Heat
Bryan: 76ers
Zander: 76ers
Alex: 76ers

NHL:

Rangers (62 pts) at Bruins (61 pts)
Ryan: Rangers
Holden: Rangers
Clucko: Rangers
Bryan: Bruins
Zander: Rangers
Alex: Rangers

Hurricanes (42 pts) at Islanders (42 pts)
Ryan: Hurricanes
Holden: Islanders
Clucko: Islanders
Bryan: Hurricanes
Zander: Hurricanes
Alex: Islanders

Avalanche (52 pts) at Kings (56 pts)
Ryan: Kings
Holden: Kings
Clucko: Avalanche
Bryan: Avalanche
Zander: Avalanche
Alex: Avalanche

In the 1970s and 80s when schools were revealed to have recruiting practices that were not allowed within the confines of the NCAA and for giving football players passing grades without earning them, Paterno helped Penn State stand out as a school that these infractions didn’t apply to. He has held his students to a high standard in both grades and moral character.

So when the Sandusky Scandal was discovered and Paterno was accused of allegedly playing a role in covering it up, the country was shocked and many were outraged. Paterno offered to resign at the end of the season, but was fired instead along with school president Graham Spanier late on a Wednesday night.

This is where the school was wrong. When something of this magnitude happens people should be held accountable, and if the allegations are true then Paterno deserves blame. Despite telling the Athletic Director of the allegations he had heard regarding Jerry Sandusky, Paterno could have and should have done more. At the same time, under current Pennsylvania laws, Paterno did nothing illegal. Obviously an offense does not have to be criminal for there to be cause for termination, but what Paterno has contributed to the University means he deserves some respect and dignity.

With all that he has given to Penn State, Paterno has earned the right to end his career somewhat on his own terms. He was proposing a compromise when he offered to resign at the end of the season. For what he has done for the university over the past 60 years this offense, which is, again, non-criminal, is not a reason for him to be unceremoniously dismissed in the middle of the night after he had offered Penn State a solution to his portion of the problem. He should have been able to finish the season and his tremendous career with some dignity. What Penn State did was a mistake that will possibly forever shadow the legacy of a legend.

Harriton Hockey was left with a large hole at goalie after last year. Max Meyers, now a sophomore, switched to defense from goalie. Graeffe chose to leave Lower Merion, the
more established program, and come to the developing Harriton program and fill a position that had been a weakness for the team from its inception. It is a decision that has greatly helped the hockey program.

A key aspect of the team is the chemistry among teammates. Defenseman Max Cohen and forward
Henry Fountain have both commented on how well the team, particularly the sophomore class, works together.

Cohen stated, “Most of us have been playing together for five years, so we have good chemistry with each other.”

Perhaps no connection is greater between teammates then that of blood. Brothers Devon and Rhye Thomas are two of the more talented players of the team. With Junior Rhye at center and Sophomore Devon at forward, the duo has made the 1st line a major strength for the team.
The brothers also are part of one of Harriton’s methods of scoring. The duo, along with Fountain makes up the main portion of the power play. They create a critical part of the team’s attack.

On December 1st Harriton suffered a tough 7-0 loss to Lower Merion. Despite the loss, team members took the positives out of the game and looked optimistically towards the future “LM wanted the game more,” said Fountain, “They came out to win and they did. Our team just has to come more prepared next time. LM is not a team to be taken lightly.” Cohen said, “We were off that night; we’ll get them next time.”

The Harriton Boy’s future looks bright beyond the season with sophomores Thomas, Cohen, Fountain, Meyers, and Forward Brad Klein. Freshmen Charlie Akerblom and Jordan Abrams have been a welcome addition to the team.

Akerblom came in with years of hockey experience and has been a great acquisition as a defenseman. Abrams is in his first year of hockey but Fountain says, “he [Abrams] is picking up the game rapidly.”

It’s an exciting time to be a hockey fan at Harriton High School. Going from not having a team to call your own only two years ago to now having a potential playoff contender is sure to stir up interest in the team.

In spite of the rapidly improving team, Harriton Hockey has yet to see any real support, outside of the Lower Merion game. Fountain hopes to see, “more dedication from Harriton students to come out and support their high school’s hockey game.”

At this point Harriton Boys Ice Hockey looks to have a very promising future. Fans should be excited at the very quick turn around the team has had from only a year ago. With improvements in goal and building chemistry, Harriton looks to have a promising season ahead of them and budding youth gives Harriton a good

Ryan: 86-42 (67%)
Holden: 81-47 (63%)
Zander: 64-40 (62%)
Bryan: 73-47 (61%)
Clucko: 77-51 (60%)
Alex: 74-54 (58%)

And, without further ado, here are the week’s selections.

NFL:
Bengals (9-7) at Texans (10-6)
Ryan: Bengals
Holden: Texans
Zander: Bengals
Bryan: Texans
Clucko: Bengals
Alex: Texans

Lions (10-6) at Saints (13-3)
Ryan: Saints
Holden: Saints
Zander: Saints
Bryan: Saints
Clucko: Saints
Alex: Saints

Falcons (10-6) at Giants (9-7)
Ryan: Falcons
Holden: Falcons
Zander: Falcons
Bryan: Giants
Clucko: Falcons
Alex: Falcons

Steelers (12-4) at Broncos (8-8)
Ryan: Steelers
Holden: Steelers
Zander: Broncos
Bryan: Steelers
Clucko: Steelers
Alex: Broncos

NCAAF:
#8 Kansas State (10-2) vs. #6 Arkansas (10-2)
Ryan: Arkansas
Holden: Arkansas
Zander: Arkansas
Bryan: Arkansas
Clucko: Arkansas
Alex: Kansas State

#2 Alabama (11-1) vs. #1 LSU (13-0)
Ryan: LSU
Holden: LSU
Zander: LSU
Bryan: LSU
Clucko: Alabama
Alex: LSU

NCAAB:
#6 Missouri (13-0) at #22 Kansas State (11-1)
Ryan: Missouri
Holden: Missouri
Zander: Missouri
Bryan: Missouri
Clucko: Missouri
Alex: Kansas State

NBA:
Bulls (4-1) at Hawks (4-1)
Ryan: Bulls
Holden: Bulls
Zander: Bulls
Bryan: Bulls
Clucko: Bulls
Alex: Bulls

(Merry Christmas, everyone!)

Itay Levy, Senior, Boys Basketball: Giving the Rams a dominating post presence they sorely needed, Itay has played a key role in his squad’s impressive 4-0 start. Not only was he named the MVP of the season-opening Southern Lehigh tournament, but he’s also provided the new-look Rams with a a senior leader to rally around once they hit the teeth of their Central League schedule.

Moira Lavelle, Senior, Swimming: Moira made quite the splash in her first three meets, not only winning the 200 free in her first shot, but also leading a brigade of Rams who qualified for Districts. She is not only one of only two swimmers to qualify in an individual event, but she also captained the team to their first win of the season against Lower Moreland.

Ian Ragin, Junior, Indoor Track: Ian earned the indoor track team’s first medal of the season on Saturday, earning fifth place in the 60 meter dash. As the season progresses, he will have a real shot at running a state qualifying time, either in an individual event or on a relay.

Katie Melvin, Sophomore, Girls Basketball: It hasn’t been easy for Katie and the Rams lately, but she’s given them a spark with several double-digit point efforts in the early going.

Congratulations to not only these four, but also all Rams student-athletes. Keep checking in to see who gets nominated each week of the winter season.

That question doesn’t seem nearly as ludicrous now as it did then. After a few years of deep runs in the District tournament, the Rams look poised to make a splash in the Central League in 2011. Fresh off a 4-0 start and backed with unprecedented support from the Herd, this could be the year that Harriton finally busts into the upper half of the league standings.

It would have been tough for even a diehard Rams fan to predict such an impressive start this season. This year’s team was fairly young and unproven entering the winter, but they returned a few key starters from last year’s squad, including junior guard Matt Sherman. Sherman has developed into a bona fide leader on this new-look team, most recently contributing 24 points in a Friday night road victory over Radnor. After emerging as champions of the Southern Lehigh tournament, the Rams now stand at 4-0 (2-0 in league play) and seem destined to improve by leaps and bounds over last season’s 12-11 (7-8) mark.

What’s different this year? It’s difficult to say. Rappaport has done a great job the fast few seasons, slowly creeping Harriton up the Central League standings ever since they joined and making deep runs in the District tournament every year. The most obvious change has to be the fan support– never before has the Herd flocked to basketball games and provided support for the team like they have been so far this season. The emergence of experienced players like senior Itay Levy, who was named MVP at Southern Lehigh, hasn’t hurt either.

True, the Rams had a similar quick start before hitting the teeth of their schedule last season, and yes, there are many, many dates with Central League powerhouses before the season is out, but it’s difficult to imagine a more encouraging start in 2011. With a game against Haverford next, a team that the Rams defeated 54-39 last year, the potential is there to open 5-0. From there on out, anything is possible– including a finish near the top of the league standings. And that’s not even taking into account the postseason District and State tournaments.