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The Student News Site of Harvard-Westlake School

The Harvard-Westlake Chronicle

The Student News Site of Harvard-Westlake School

The Harvard-Westlake Chronicle

The Student News Site of Harvard-Westlake School

The Harvard-Westlake Chronicle

Leo Saperstein, Presentation Managing Editor

All content by Leo Saperstein

Hodgkins promoted to varsity

Leo Saperstein
August 29, 2022

The field hockey team began off-season training for its first match of the 2022-2023 fall season against Huntington Beach High School on Aug. 25. During the 2021-2022 fall season, the squad finished...

HANDS UP: Swimmer Ronald Dalmacio ’22 gestures to the sidelins after winning first place in the Division I 50-meter freestyle after swimming a 20.08-second race, winning by a margin of .25-seconds. Dalmacio lead the boys swimming and diving team to a 5-1 in Mission League competition.

Swimming and diving teams succeed in CIF competition and Mission League tournament

Leo Saperstein
May 27, 2022

The boys and girls swimming and diving teams completed their seasons with 7-1 and 6-0 overall records, respectively. The girls team won every event at the Mission League Finals on April 29, and...

Goldie Grube '23 and Ella Goldberg '23 pose in jean clothing they wore in honor of Denim Day on April 27.

Community participates in Denim Day

Leo Saperstein
April 30, 2022

Members of the community participated in Denim Day to raise awareness of sexual violence April 27. Denim Day, meant to combat victim-blaming, takes place annually during the last week of April, which is...

Students participating in the GLSEN Day of Silence were encouraged to remain silent unless their teachers addressed the day in class.

Community participates in GLSEN Day of Silence

Leo Saperstein
April 25, 2022

Students and faculty observed the the Gay, Lesbian and Straight Education Network (GLSEN) Day of Silence on April 22. Throughout the day, participating community members chose to be silent in protest of...

BREAKOUT PLAYER: Attacker Beckett Lee ’24 cradles the ball before a 5-4 overtime win against Crespi Carmelite High School on March 16.

Lacrosse wins consecutive games

Leo Saperstein
March 24, 2022

The lacrosse team defeated Crespi Carmelite High School 5-4 in its first Mission League game of the season March 15, recovering from its 12-11 loss to Sierra Canyon High School on March 8. The team went...

Thompson prepares a shot during a U-20 USWNT practice for the Confederation of North, Central America and Caribbean Association Football (CONCACAF) Women’s Championship.

Alyssa Thompson competes with U-20 USWNT

Leo Saperstein
March 24, 2022

Alyssa Thompson ’23, forward for the Under-20 (U-20) United States Women’s National Team (USWNT), defeated Mexico 2-0 in the Confederation of North, Central America and Caribbean Association Football...

LAUNCHING IT: Sam Pulaski ’24 practices shot put March 15. The team defeated Crespi Carmelite High School 65-34 in its second meet.

Track and field competes in Mission League meets

Leo Saperstein and Paul Kurgan
March 23, 2022

The boys track and field team lost 72-54 to Notre Dame High School, and the girls team won 81-46, in its third league meet of the season, improving its overall record to 2-1. The squad won its first two...

Boys basketball loses to Sierra Canyon High School in a CIF State Open Division playoff game

Leo Saperstein
March 7, 2022

The boys basketball team lost to Sierra Canyon High School 72-55 in a California Interscholastic Federation (CIF) State Open Division playoff game March 5. The game concluded the squad’s 25-3 season...

Singles and doubles player Andrew Kurgan '24 returns a serve during a practice. The team will face Chaminade College Preparatory High School in its first Mission League game of the season March. 8.

Boys tennis defeats Fountain Valley High School

Leo Saperstein
March 3, 2022

The boys tennis team defeated Fountain Valley High School 13-5 in its third match of the season March 3. The squad won the first two games of the season, including an 18-0 victory in the season opener...

FRESHMAN STARS: Freshmen Gemma Ozturk '25 and Victoria Pugh '25 walk back from across the field to rejoin the team after scoring a goal to put the team up 4-0 Jan. 19 against Flintridge Sacred Heart Academy.

Girls soccer completes league season

Leo Saperstein
February 19, 2022

The girls soccer team finished its Mission League season with consecutive wins against Flintridge Sacred Heart Academy and Immaculate Heart High School on Feb. 2 and Feb. 3, with scores of 4-0 and 5-0,...

JUMPMAN: Power-forward Landon Lewis ’22 extends his arm above the rim as he jumps up for a dunk in the match against Mater Dei High School in the first round of CIF open division playoffs. The Wolverines won 67-45.

Basketball plays in CIF

Leo Saperstein
February 17, 2022

The boys basketball team defeated Mater Dei High School 67-45 in the first game of the CIF SS Open Division Playoffs on Feb. 11. In the regular season, the team won its fourth consecutive Mission League...

On Ted Slavin Field, forward Victoria Pugh '25 lines up with a defender and prepares for a goal kick in a game against Flintridge Sacred Heart Academy on Jan. 19.

Girls soccer wins fourth consecutive game

Leo Saperstein
January 22, 2022

The girls soccer team defeated Chaminade High School 3-0 Jan. 21, moving the team’s league record to 4-0. The squad scored once in the first half and twice in the second, while preventing the Chaminade...

Zooming Back Online

Zooming Back Online

Leo Saperstein, Assistant Sports Editor
January 20, 2022

When broken down to their core components, in-person and online instruction are not so different. Both challenge student engagement, retention and curiosity. After the shock of returning to in-person school,...

Sprinter and jumper Zane Danton '22 cheers as he completes a triple jump in a meet against Crespi Carmelite High School.

Senior athletes reflect back on their time as teammates

Leo Saperstein, Assistant Sports Editor
January 19, 2022

As an eighth grader at Noble Charter Middle School, Dahnte Russell ’22 sat on the bleachers in Taper Gym, watching the boys basketball team compete against St. Francis High School. When Russell caught...

ROAD RUNNER: Left-back Ollin DeAntonio ’22 dribbles past a defender in boys soccer’s match against Crespi Carmelite School on Jan. 14. The team won the game 6-0, with goals from Josh Barnavon ’24, Alejandro Lombard ’23, Wilson Federman ’24, Patrick Yeh ’23 and Theo Ottoson ’25. The team currently has a 9-3-3 overall record and a 4-1-1 league record.

[Photo] Soccer defeats Loyola

ROAD RUNNER: Left-back Ollin DeAntonio ’22 dribbles past a defender in boys soccer’s match against Crespi Carmelite School on Jan. 14. The team won the game 6-0, with goals from Josh Barnavon ’24,...

Milo Kiddugavu '22 receives the ball at the boys soccer game against Crossroads High School, where the team won 3-0.

Boys soccer team defeats Crossroads High School

Leo Saperstein
December 20, 2021

The boys soccer team defeated Crossroads High School 3-1, Culver City High School 3-0 and Beverly Hills High School 1-0 on Dec. 6, Dec. 8 and Dec. 10, respectively, after losing the first game of the season...

MANAGING MASTERS: Sports Section Editor Maxine Zuriff  ’22 and News Section Editor Josh Silbermann ’22 are two of the boys basketball team’s managers. Zuriff and Silbermann fulfill their managerial duties by recording the statistics of each player, controlling the scoreboard, resetting the shot clock during games and helping the program’s coaches set up practices drills.

A Manager’s World: The Sideline Story

Charlie Seymour and Leo Saperstein
December 17, 2021

Manu Markman ’23 spent his freshman year perched atop the school bleachers, recording footage of the boys JV Soccer games for the team to review in practices. One year later, Markman stepped onto the...

MAKING PLAYS: Guard Cubin Molzen ’22 looks across the court at his teammates during a preaseason practice in Taper Gym on Nov. 10.

Basketball squad stays undefeated in tournament

Paul Kurgan and Leo Saperstein
December 16, 2021

The boys basketball team won first place in the Marantha Rose City Tournament on Dec. 4. The team finished with an overall record of 4-0 at the tournament, moving its overall season record to 8-0.  The...

Girls soccer beats Santa Ynez High School in first game of the season

Leo Saperstein
December 2, 2021

The girls soccer team defeated Santa Ynez High School 3-2 in its first game of the season Dec. 1. The squad finished last season 18-0 and beat Pacifica High School to become the 2021 California Interscholastic...

While in Strength and Conditioning class, Echo Caise ’24 is spotted by a teammate as he benchpresses.

Perfecting Performance

Leo Saperstein
November 21, 2021

As he sprinted around the track, Ollin DeAntonio ’22 felt the cold fog against his face as he ran another lap. All around, his teammates’ shoes softly pattered against the track, their exhausted breaths...

HOMECOMING HOCKEY: As the opposing team gets ready to defend the corner, right back Maddie Redmond '23 passes the ball during a match against Marina High School.

Field hockey wins Tournament of Champions

Leo Saperstein
November 17, 2021

Girls field hockey defeated Huntington Beach High School in the Tournament of Champions, winning its fourth consecutive CIF-equivalent championship Oct. 31. The team finished the fall season with a 14-2...

Football loses in first round of CIF-SS playoffs to Tahquitz High School

Leo Saperstein
November 8, 2021

The football team lost 56-33 in the first round of the CIF-SS playoffs to Tahquitz High School on Nov. 5. The loss ended the team's season and brought the squad's overall record to 5-6. The team led...

RUN IT BACK:  Surrounded by defenders, Mark Cho '22 weaves his way through the opposition, running the ball down the field in the team's 27-10 win against Mary Star of the Sea High School at Homecoming.

Football struggles after injuries diminish roster

Leo Saperstein
October 17, 2021

After opening the season with three wins, the football team lost three consecutive games to St. Genevieve High School, Pasadena High School and Burroughs High School. These losses came after injuries...

SENIOR FESTIVITIES: On Senior Night the team gathered on the golf course to celebrate is season. Captains Alexa Sen '22, Marine Degryse '22 and Sports Section Editor Maxine Zuriff '22 were gifted roses as a tradition.

Team participates in Mid-Season League Tournament

Leo Saperstein
October 16, 2021

With an overall record of 6-2, the girls golf team earned second place in the Mid-Season League Tournament, beating competitors Chaminade High School and Marlborough High School and losing to Notre Dame...

Before its match, the girls golf team prepares to face off against Notre Dame High School on the Encino Glen Golf Course

Girls golf team remains optimistic after narrow loss to Notre Dame High School

Leo Saperstein
September 16, 2021

The girls golf team took a narrow 171-178 loss to rival Notre Dame High School, bringing its league record to 1-1. While the team lost, it posted a low score, led by Ellie Koo ’24, who scored 33, three...

Holding the CIF SoCal State Championship trophy, the Thompson sisters pose for a photo after handling Pacifica High School 6-1

Thompson sisters receive Cal-Hi Sports player of the year awards

Leo Saperstein
September 12, 2021

Sisters Alyssa Thompson ’23 and Gisele Thompson ’24 were named state players of the year by Cal-Hi Sports after leading the girls soccer team to an 18-0 overall record during the 2020-2021 season. Alyssa...

Unfiltered

Unfiltered

Students reflect on their experiences as social media influencers and the consequences of internet fame.
Leo Saperstein
August 30, 2021

        Staring in the mirror, Irene Bae ’24 said she could not recognize herself behind her makeup and new clothes. As she looked down, her hands shot toward her phone,...

Gathering the troops: Pictured in black, new Girls Water Polo Program Head Jennifer Jamison leans over the pool during a time out to give feedback to players on her club team, Pride Water Polo Academy.

Athletic teams welcome two new program heads

Leo Saperstein
August 26, 2021

Jennifer Jamison The Athletic Department officially announced Jennifer Jamison as the new Girls Water Polo Program Head for the 2021-2022 winter season in a July 27 press release. Jamison served as an...

Novelist Jesmyn Ward (top left) speaks with Black Leadership and Culture Club (BLACC) leaders Sirus Wheaton ’19, Makeda Neavill ’21, Cameron Herring ’21 and Asian Students in Action (ASiA) member Neha Tummala ’23.

Award-winning novelist Jesmyn Ward discusses works with student body

Leo Saperstein
June 2, 2021

Two-time National Book Award winner Jesmyn Ward spoke to the community about her work in an event organized by the Upper School English Department on May 19. Ward’s visit began with a virtual meet-and-greet...

Panelists (Clockwise from top right) Stacy Messaye, Cory Booker, Laurie Levinson and Gabe Ramirez engage in discussion about the justice system.

Parent DEI Committee presents documentary followed by discussion with Senator Cory Booker

The Harvard-Westlake Parents Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Committee hosted a discussion of Ava DuVernay’s documentary “13th” featuring Senator Cory Booker and author of “Redeeming Justice”...

Community members participate in a breakout room discussion about nonpartisanship.

SLIDE leads social and racial discussion workshops at Community Time

Leo Saperstein
May 11, 2021

Student Leaders for Inclusion, Diversity and Equity (SLIDE), a collection of affinity group student leaders, hosted workshops to explore the intricacies of being a student activist during Community Flex...

ASiA Club Leaders present on APAH month and introduce video presentations.

ASiA celebrates Asian Pacific American Heritage Month at Community Flex Time

Fallon Dern and Leo Saperstein
May 6, 2021

The Asian Students in Action (ASiA) Club led an all-community celebration of Asian Pacific American Heritage (APAH) Month at Community Flex Time May 4. Club leaders Mia Shelton ’21, Chelsea Cho ’21,...

Reyto answers questions from event moderators (clockwise) Haley Rothbart '21 and Gracie Klein '21.

Holocaust survivor and author speaks on her journey at Community Flex Time

Leo Saperstein
April 25, 2021

Holocaust survivor and award-winning author Susanne Reyto detailed her experience as a child during World War II and answered questions about modern anti-Semitism in a Community Flex Time hosted by the...

Members of the Harvard-Westlake Student Alumni Association (HWSAA) listen to Ray Kim, Alyse Gellis and Sam deCastro Abeger speak about their experiences in the entertainment industry.

Alumni in entertainment share stories about their careers at HWSAA panel

Fallon Dern and Leo Saperstein
April 20, 2021

The Harvard Westlake Student Alumni Association (HWSAA) hosted an event for students to learn about the entertainment industry through a panel of alumni April 16. HWSAA leaders Mia Shelton '21 and Chelsea...

Prefect council hosts March Madness tournament

Natalie Cosgrove and Leo Saperstein
March 27, 2021

Prefect council announced an upper school March Madness bracket tournament for the ongoing National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) men's basketball tournament. Students participating in the tournament...

Students ate lunch socially distanced with their cohorts on the Upper Quad.

‘Back to the Future’: The Return to Campus

A sophomore staff writer reflects on his experience returning to campus for school since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Leo Saperstein
March 10, 2021

From the moment I stepped out of the car, I was greeted by multiple waves of friendly, unfamiliar adults who checked both my temperature and my status on various health and safety apps to ensure that I...

Teachers’ Tastes in Music

Leo Saperstein
March 3, 2021

Faculty members took time to reflect on music through their lives, both during COVID-19 and leading up to it, revealing what it has meant for them on a grander scale. Science Teacher and Coordinator...

Students perform at Multicultural Learning Center assemblies

Leo Saperstein
February 4, 2021

The Harvard-Westlake Outreach Performers (HWOP) club has transitioned to a virtual medium to accommodate for COVID-19 restrictions, performing for the first time this school year at online Multicultural...

Conservative PBS host Margaret Hoover and her husband, CNN Senior Political Analyst and registered independent John Avlon spoke to the school about open political dialogue Feb. 3.

PBS Host, CNN Senior Political Analyst speak to students about political disagreement

Leo Saperstein and Lucas Cohen-D'Arbeloff
February 4, 2021

Conservative PBS host Margaret Hoover and her husband, CNN Senior Political Analyst and registered independent John Avlon, spoke to the school about managing political polarization and how it relates...

 The first of the four 80-page sections were given to students at an on-campus drive-thru Jan. 23. 

Yearbook unveils new format

Claire Connor and Leo Saperstein
January 25, 2021

Volume 30 of Vox Populi, the school’s student-run yearbook, will consist of four separate books, each correlated to one school quarter. The first of the four 80-page sections were given to students...

“Man on the Moon III: The Chosen” Album Review

Leo Saperstein
January 20, 2021

Scott “Kid Cudi” Mescudi has released the highly anticipated Man on the Moon III: The Chosen. In his first addition to the "Man on the Moon" series in 10 years, Kid Cudi dives, once again, into...

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