My First and Last Year At Father Judge

Starting at a new school always brings many uncertainties. You are anxious to start but nervous when it’s time to begin. You think that everyone already has their friend groups and that you won't fit in coming into the school so late. In my case, this is what I felt like starting at a new school for my senior year.

Those who know me know that I started out my High School journey down at 17th and Girard attending St. Joseph’s Prep. When I came here and word got around, I was referred to as  “The Prep Transfer” by students and alumni.  People ask me every so often “So why did you transfer?” and I never gave a real specific answer. I would say one thing to one person, and something entirely different to another. The honest truth though is that I felt out of place. In a school full of kids coming from all parts of the tri-state area It is fairly difficult trying to stand out rather than blend in. Although I had great friends and many great relationships with teachers, staff, and coaches who to this day still shoot me a text,  I still felt out of place. This decision didn’t come easy either, it was what I wanted but it was a tough decision to leave behind what I had for three years. So after a few months of thinking and discussions with my parents, I finally decided Judge would be the place for me. 

My first experience being a part of Judge was before the school year started, out on the 95-degree Ramp playground turf with my football teammates. There, I met many great people who helped me get into the groove of things here and taught me the ways of a “Judge Guy.” From the first part of the year, my favorite memory had to have been the dominating Ryan win or my last Football game vs Lincoln. I couldn’t leave out playing against St. Joe's either and being able to see my old friends and coaches and taking pics with guys I spent a lot of time with. 

The second half of the year brought me to Lacrosse which was definitely a sport I never thought I would have played but a sport I enjoyed. I loved playing JV and running into severely undersized kids and laying them in the dirt. Senior night was definitely a top moment of the year for me being able to go out and play when the game mattered in front of my entire family. 

Inside the classroom, I feel like I learned a lot of valuable information I'll need for the next chapters of my life. I even fell in love with Psychology taught by Mrs. Ganley which is what I anticipate to major in when I attend Penn State Abington this fall. I enjoyed my English classes with Mr. Cahill, Religion with Mr. Poole, and both Business Law and Accounting with JD. 

Now we are here, as I write this a week before I graduate and conclude my High School experience, and after all of that, I can confidently say that I found where I belonged. If there is one thing I would have people take away from my experience, is to find what fits you and don’t change who you are for nobody. As a very famous person involved in our school once said “Be who you are, and be that well.” 

Andrew Wenger

1st Round, 9th Pick
The Philadelphia Eagles made an interesting choice in the 2023 draft by selecting Jalen Carter with the 9th pick in the 1st round. Carter is undoubtedly a talented athlete, but his selection was accompanied by controversy due to his involvement in a fatal car crash. The incident took place after a parade on January 14, celebrating the University of Georgia's national championship victory, and resulted in the tragic deaths of Devin Willock, Carter's teammate, and Chandler LeCroy, a recruiting analyst.

In the legal proceedings that followed, Carter pleaded no contest to two misdemeanor charges of reckless driving and racing. His attorney, Kim Stephens, released a statement confirming the plea and outlining the penalties imposed on Carter. These penalties included a $1,000 fine, 80 hours of community service and completion of a state-approved defensive driving course. It is important to note that Carter will not serve jail time, and he cannot face further charges in connection with the crash. The public was unaware of Carter's involvement in the incident until March 1 when he attended the N.F.L.'s scouting combine in Indianapolis. Following this event, he surrendered to the police in Athens-Clarke County to address the warrants issued against him for racing his Jeep Grand Cherokee Trackhawk against LeCroy's Ford Expedition.

The police report indicates that both vehicles were speeding and swerved into oncoming traffic, leading to the tragic collision in Athens, Ga. Furthermore, toxicology reports revealed that LeCroy was intoxicated at the time of the crash, shedding light on a contributing factor to the accident.

While some may argue that Jalen Carter should be judged for his involvement in this incident, I personally believe that he should not face unwarranted condemnation. It is crucial to remember that Carter was not at fault for the crash itself. Despite this unfortunate event, there is no denying his talent as a football player, and he has the potential to excel in the game.

Overall, the circumstances surrounding Jalen Carter's draft selection are undoubtedly sensitive and complex. It is important to approach this matter with empathy and a fair understanding of the facts. Carter's athletic ability should not be overshadowed by this tragic incident, and it remains to be seen how he will perform as a professional football player.

Mick Murray

Embiid’s Path to MVP

For the 2022-2023 NBA season, Philadelphia 76ers superstar center Joel Embiid was awarded the honor of MVP, but it didn’t come easy.  This season, Embiid posted a league-leading 33.1 points per game for a second consecutive year, along with 10.2 rebounds and 1.7 blocks per game.  Throughout the season, Embiid was one of the most dominant players on the floor, posing as a true two-way threat.  

The other two candidates for MVP were Milwaukee Bucks forward Giannis Antetekuompo and Denver Nuggets center Nikola Jokic, both of which have already won two MVP awards, with Jokic looking to capture his third straight.  Giannis averaged 31.1 points per game and 11.8 rebounds per game, and Jokic averaged 24.5 points, 11.8 rebounds, and 9.8 assists per game.  But despite these two other candidates displaying highly efficient statistics, it was Embiid, after placing second in the voting the last two years, who was able to take home the trophy.  

Shifting over to his childhood, Embiid was born in Yaounde, Cameroon to parents Thomas and Christine.  As a child, Embiid played soccer and volleyball and originally strove to be a professional volleyball player.  It wasn’t until Embiid was 15 that he started playing basketball, modeling his game after Hakeem Olajuwon.  

Once Embiid came to the U.S., he committed to playing college basketball at the University of Kansas.  Embiid only played as a Kansas Jayhawk for a single season before entering the 2014 NBA Draft, where he was selected to play for the 76ers with the 3rd overall pick, only behind Andrew Wiggins (Cavaliers) and Jabari Parker (Bucks).  

Throughout his career, Embiid was able to accumulate an all-rookie team, six all-star games, five all-NBA teams, and three all-defensive teams, before finally claiming his MVP, but this success did not continue in the playoffs, and the 76ers were eliminated by the Boston Celtics in game 7 of the eastern conference semi-finals.  

Simply, Joel Embiid went through many hardships to achieve such greatness; starting from humble beginnings, immigrating across continents, to being the best player in the NBA.  Embiid has had an exceptional career with Philadelphia, but the real question lies with: What is Embiid’s future look like on the 76ers, if any? 

Adam Fitzmartin