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by Sophie Torres ('27) After a long day for the South Brunswick Viking Marching Band—one that was followed by a grand celebration—they won a first-place victory at the Ludwig-Musser Classic Competition in Metlife Stadium. The band gave a phenomenal performance on October 7 at 10:45 PM. It would have been assumed that they would be struggling with exhaustion due to the freezing weather that night, but instead, it was quite the opposite. A mixture of adrenaline and determination to perform one of the best shows of the season gave the band a purposeful energy. There were many remarkable bands that day, but in the end, it came down to two: South Brunswick High School and their long-time rival, North Penn High School. Finally, the South Brunswick High School Marching Band heard the winning score being called on the stadium’s loudspeaker: “And in first place, with 81.60 points, that is 81.6 points… South Brunswick High School Marching Band!” Finally, as the night was starting to seep into the early morning of Sunday, October 8, the South Brunswick Viking Marching Band triumphed with the “Best Color Guard” trophy, “Best Visual” trophy, and First Place trophy over their heads. The South Brunswick Viking Marching Band (SBVMB) has prepared their show—Purification—since June. The SBVMB is led by their directors, Mr. TJ Brungard and Mr. Joshua Oldham, next to the drum majors, seniors Ved Lakshminarayanan, Brian Colquist, and Ashwina Agarwal. The theme of the band’s show is to symbolize the marvelous wonders of the earth’s oceans, and the underlying dangers of pollution if people continue to destroy it. The “Best Color Guard” trophy especially was held in very high regard by the SBHS band.  SBVMB’s color guard director Ms. Lorin Acure describes how the color guard’s role on the field contributes to the performance: “The color guard has worked really, really hard, and they came out and had a fantastic show! What was really, really special about MetLife for the color guard is that was when they started to put a performance factor into their choreography. I saw the heads come up, the shoulders go back, the chests open up, and that really puts a little something special into their performance,” she said. On another note, the “Best Visual” trophy was awarded by USBands as a way to congratulate the beauty of the props which were hand-painted to depict the ocean. The Ludwig-Musser Classic is a competition for skilled, accomplished, and experienced high school marching bands, and it is easy to say that the SBHS Marching Band qualifies for all of these. This is not the first time the band has accomplished an important achievement. From 2013 up till last year, 2022, the band has remained the first-place champion of the New Jersey State Championships. From 2013 to 2016, they have also won second place in the US Bands National Championship. During 2014, the marching band was invited to the Super Bowl XLVIII Pregame and Halftime to assist on the field, and this year the band was invited to perform for the halftime show of the first ever Black Friday NFL game, Jets vs. Dolphins. Freshman flutist, Siri Tarigopula, spoke of her reaction to the first-place victory. She said, “I felt so happy! There was this warmness inside of me, and I couldn’t describe the feeling because you wouldn’t know if you weren’t there. It was awesome! You know, we weren’t expecting first place. We went in there expecting last place, but we got first place, which was really shocking to a lot of us, and so many of us cried.” On the other side of the marching band spectrum, senior drum major and bass clarinetist, Ashwina Agarwal, also emphasized her emotions as she and the other drum majors were handed the trophy. She said, “It was crazy! I was literally crying. It was the first win of the SBVMB at a recognized level in such a long time… I stayed kind of professional, but I was literally losing it. When we got back to the whole band… we were so proud… I was crying, I was just so proud of everyone. I’m glad the way the season turned out.” Senior baritone saxophonist, Chase Yetter, explained his honest thoughts on how the band improved and changed versus last year. He believed it was important to think highly of the future of SBVMB, and many other senior marching band musicians shared the same opinion. Yetter commented on the victory, saying, “After last year’s loss where we placed fifth out of five, it was a good way to come back in this season and prove that we were not the band last year. Some people left that needed to go, some people joined that made it greater… I like the direction the band is going. I can only see it getting better from here.” The results of that night proved themselves. South Brunswick had known the value of timely commitment and pride in their music, but now it had been established in their work. The South Brunswick Viking Marching Band came home, satisfied with their work.

By Reya Gajara (‘27) A teacher of the deaf is a type of special education teacher who works specifically with deaf children. There are various responsibilities associated with this career. Teacher of the Deaf Mrs. Deirdre Moran of South Brunswick schools said, “[I teach] kids with hearing aids and… teachers how their student's hearing impairment needs to be accommodated and how the FM system works. On that note, I order and keep track of the FM systems and the parts. I email teachers to make sure everything is going well… I also talk to audiologists to make sure that I am ordering the right device or part for that child. Also, for kids who have difficulty with hearing, I try to get them hearing aids.” To become a deaf teacher, four years in special education are required to get a bachelor’s degree. Most schools, mainly public schools, require a form of certification while others, such as private schools, do not. For example, Columbia University offers a program to become a teacher of the deaf. The average tuition cost to obtain a degree from the Teacher College for Deaf & Hard of Hearing is approximately $63,040 annually. Audiology and child development are some of the course topics often associated with the program. Some courses include Introduction to Special Education, Language and Literacy for the DHH (Deaf and Hard of Hearing), Language Development for the DHH, and American Sign Language. Having great communication, critical thinking, and organizational skills are vital for this career. Teachers must be able to keep track of each of their student’s data and accommodations as well as be able to analyze student behavior and performance. Not only must they have great communication skills with students, but it is also essential with parents to make sure the parents are doing their best for their child’s auditory and language development. They must also be able to work effectively with other people since they are constantly working with other staff members, families, and children. “For me, I have always loved working with kids. You know I work with kids from preschool all the way up to twelfth grade. They always brighten my day,” said Moran. Teachers commonly work for 10 months of the year in order to accommodate the typical school year schedule, but some others may work all year round. According to salary.com, the average salary of a deaf teacher in the state of New Jersey ranges from $44,124 to $59,150 per year. It truly depends on their responsibilities and their employment schedule. Every teacher of the deaf has different ways of teaching and has different duties. Teachers of the deaf are often needed in education, specifically in schools, as there seems to be a teacher shortage. Unemployment rates from 2017 have increased from 1.41 percent to 2.16 percent. As of 2016, there were over 480,000 deaf teachers and a projected growth of eight percent by 2026. To be a teacher of the deaf is a unique, but fulfilling career. There are a variety of aspects of the job and it requires being a very social, patient, and organized person. They make a lasting impact on a child’s life who is deaf or hard of hearing.

by Harshitha Vijayshankar ('26) Giving back to the community is integral to the development of character. It fosters life-long skills like critical thinking, stress management, and networking.  Meducate (@meducate.corp) is made up of tenth-grade students from SBHS, Princeton High School, and West Windsor Plainsboro North. It is a nonprofit organization meant to combine an interest in healthcare with a desire to serve the community. As the name suggests, Meducate educates individuals on health-related topics, such as preventative care and general wellness practices. The organization aims to empower individuals to take control of their health and improve their quality of life on a large scale. Meducate consists of a board of nine individuals: President—Shivali Pandya (SBHS ‘26), Vice President—Emma Liu (PHS ‘26), Secretary—Nandita Konduru (SBHS ‘26), and Treasurer—Sandra Liu (WWP ‘26), just as most groups do. Pandya said, “One thing that makes Meducate unique is its inclusion of Directors of Outreach, [SBHS sophomores] Arielle Tu and Anikt Kale, who contact individuals who can share their experiences with different conditions and illnesses and inspire those going through something similar.” Meducate also includes Directors of Research, SBHS sophomores Devna Ashok and Vibikshyu Ananthu, who are responsible for fact-checking all of the information the organization presents; misinformation is dangerous and can have consequences, so these individuals play a critical role. In addition, Meducate also has a Director of Technology, whose name is SBHS sophomore Adhithi Uppalapati. All of the members believe that Meducate’s board is very cohesive and works well together, bouncing ideas off one another and sharing unique, fresh insights that allow Meducate to stand out from its competition. Meducate tries to align its events and activities with a medical theme relating to the month. For example, in September, Meducate visited an assisted living home in Princeton. Members not only had the opportunity to interact and bond with the facility’s residents, but they were also able to share a presentation about Alzheimer’s in correspondence with World Alzheimer’s Day, which takes place on September 21. Additionally, Meducate had the opportunity to spread awareness about Breast Cancer through Homefront (@homefrontnj), a non-profit organization committed to supporting military families, in honor of Breast Cancer Awareness Month. Meducate also aims to hold various fundraisers in the future and raise money for important causes. Overall, members see Meducate as a promising initiative. It currently has 253 followers on Instagram. It is based in New Jersey, but the goal is to expand it nationally and collaborate with various prominent organizations and figures to spread awareness about different health conditions and ensure individuals are informed.

By Saanvi Patwari (‘26) Many young adult, adult, middle grade, and picture books are being challenged and removed from many school libraries across the country. Opponents say that banning books is a form of censorship, and people go as far as burning books, which was popular in Nazi Germany during World War Ⅱ for cultural, political, and religious reasons. Books that are banned around the country today include topics such as sexuality, profanity, drug use, violence and racism among others. SBHS librarian, Mrs. Lisa Manganello, enforces the “mirrors, windows, and doors” policy when speaking about banned books to her students. This policy is a metaphor that allows students to “build empathy and understanding for other people” through their personal experiences or through character experiences that students engage with. She believes that students should be exposed to all types of conflicts in books, and the librarians here at SBHS strive to provide a wide range of books that are challenged and are not. The American Library Association is a library organization that provides accurate descriptive statistics related to book banning and encourages students across the nation to interact and get involved with issues related to literacy. One remark the ALA provides is that parents are the group of people who ban books the most. Mrs. Manganello said, “[The] American Library Association is very good at collecting data that really shows a picture of what book challenges look like in this country.” South Brunswick itself hasn’t seen many book challenges, which South Brunswick librarians like Mrs. Manganello consider lucky. The SBHS library website dedicated a page related to Banned Book Week, which was the week of October first to October seventh. The page includes multiple resources to educate students about banned books. One of the posters on the page shows the top 13 most recent banned books in 2022 including Gender Queer by Maia Kobabe, Flamer by Mike Curato, Looking for Alaska by John Green, The Perks of Being a Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky, and A Court of Mist and Fury by Sarah J. Maas. During Banned Books Week, students are heavily encouraged to participate and support the challenged books in the country. Mrs. Lisa Manganello said that she “encourage[s] people to think outside of their reading box…because there is a lot of comfort you can find in a book, especially in the complicated world we live in.” During Banned Book Week, classes are brought into the library where they are taught about the importance of the week along with viewing attractive visuals and displays. Anyone can participate in Banned Books Week throughout the year and can visit the SBHS librarians for more information about banned books or clarification on any questions they may have.

by Harivallabhi Ganapathy ('24) With the leaves changing color comes the new academic school year. It’s a hard year for everyone in high school, freshmen settling into a new school or seniors starting their college applications. To the surprise and dismay of many, on June 29 the Supreme Court ruled that affirmative action is unconstitutional. In reaction to the decision, guidance counselor Ms. Anastasia Marcella said, “I think it’s definitely going to be detrimental to some students, overall, maybe not immediately, but eventually. It’s definitely going to become increasingly difficult for some students of certain minorities to be accepted into certain elite colleges.” To understand how this is going to affect college admissions in the future, especially for the Class of 2024, future college students and parents need to understand what affirmative action is. Affirmative action stemmed from the civil rights movement in the 1960s, where considering a student’s background such as race, sex, or national origin became a factor in deciding to admit an applicant. This policy was implemented to increase educational opportunities for underrepresented groups. Many of the schools that engage in affirmative action are selective colleges because they recognize that there is unequal access to education/opportunities in America. Sophomore and spokesperson of the Black Onyx club Petralyn Yeboah-Manson said, “College applications are hard enough as a student. But the disparities among minority groups specifically pertaining to Black people and people with disabilities in the college application process are far too great and Affirmative Action, in part, aided those minority groups. So seeing that justice for my people in terms of equal access to education was the perfect step in the right direction of a very long path to true equality.” Affirmative action has always played a role in college admissions and applications. Until the June ruling, race could be considered along with standard criteria like academic records, GPA, extracurriculars, etc. This was mainly because proponents felt that there would be many benefits to having a diverse student body on campus. At selective colleges like Ivy Leaguesespecially, race would be a factor that would give applicants a push into the admitted pile. “I see it taking counselors, students, and families more time through the planning process to develop the college list so that it could be a comprehensive list so that we can still have a balance of schools,” said Ms. Marcella. According to an article by USnews.com, many adults have felt that affirmative action was not needed. In the article, there is a mention of a survey taken in 2019 by Pew Research Center, 73% of American adults said colleges should not consider race in college admissions. The same survey was taken four years later, in 2023, and the responses were mostly split in half, one side saying colleges should consider race in their applications, another side saying they shouldn’t, with about 16% of the responses saying they're not sure. Manson differed and added, “I think that affirmative action is needed. We as a country have yet to reach a point of equality among all demographics of people. The only way to get to equality is through equity. I think that Affirmative Action in part helps the disparity in equity levels among all demographics present in America.” In some colleges, in Florida for example, where affirmative action has been banned for years, they automatically admit a certain percentage (usually the top 10%) of a high school’s graduating class. This policy usually does increase racial diversity in the college but a lot of people of color with families don’t move to states with banned affirmative action. “Those schools aren’t considering other things. What about the quality of the student? What about the personality of the student? What about the special talents of the student? What about the integrity of the student,” Ms. Marcella continued, “You know, you aren’t getting all of that by admitting the top 10% of the class.” Instead of the policy written above, colleges will likely use the methods that Towson University in Maryland has been using for years to enroll more students of color. Some of these methods include going test-optional, focusing on high-minority areas in the state, and having resources to help with the transition from high school to college. These methods did gain Towson University more students than expected. The Biden administration also encourages these methods, including a few others like considering how much the applicant’s race means to them by their essay or for students on campus, having more race-centered clubs, according to PBS. College admission is always hard for seniors every year, but for some of this year’s seniors, this small disadvantage could change their whole application. As her final piece of advice, Ms. Marcella advised the Class of 2024, “Look at college as an experience of a lifetime to have all of these wonderful experiences and opportunities. Along with that, you want to make connections as well.”

by Hiranmayi Ganapathy ('24) On October 4, the Amnesty International Club offered tea in the library throughout the day to support Banned Book Week, which highlights various topics such as LGBTQ+, Modern Slavery, Anti-Police Rhetoric, Black Lives Matter, Racial Discrimination, Gun Violence, Women's Rights, and Sexual Assault among others. Books consisting of such topics are banned by some schools today due to various reasons, mainly being that they are not “appropriate.” As this event was for Banned Book Week, it is important to be aware of this issue. Amnesty International’s website states, “Banning books may be an attempt to protect certain values or beliefs, but it ultimately is a challenge to freedom of expression and limits our understanding of the world and our ability to think critically.” Additionally, Viking Television Network (VTN) recently aired the club’s current trending video with roughly one thousand views which showed several pictures of SBHS students and staff holding the sign titled, “I read banned books”. Senior Aarushi Rajesh, PR Coordinator of Amnesty International said “I didn’t make the video however I did hear it took 1 - 2 hours!” Some books highlighted were Ghost Boys by Jewell Parker Rhodes, Flamer by Mike Curator, Nineteen Minutes by Jodi Picoult, Sold by Patricia McCormick, and The Bluest Eye by Toni Morrison, many of which are very well known and appreciated by readers today. Each book and genre presented corresponded to the different flavors of teas provided. Flamer by Mike Curator represented the LGBTQ + community, with its tea flavor being Citrus Tea. Sold by Patricia McCormick represented Modern Slavery and the tea was English Breakfast. Ghost Boys by Jewell Parker Rhodes represented Anti - Police Rhetoric and Black Lives Matter and Racial Discrimination and the tea was Wild Berry Zinger Herbal Tea (the most popular flavor). Nineteen Minutes by Jodi Picoult represented Gun Violence and the tea was Tension Tamer. The Bluest Eye by Toni Morrison represented Women’s Rights and Sexual Assault and the tea was Black Cherry Berry. “We wanted to cover a variety of reasons why these books were banned and each of the books had a different focus and those topics are all campaigns of Amnesty and each book was paired with a general cause that amnesty supports,” said the Amnesty International Club Advisor Ms. Marisol Ciccone. Supporters say books should not be banned because they give insight to what is happening around the world. They can be informative and help understand the problems that this world faces. The topics are sensitive and people react differently to each one. These books affect people in different ways. The librarians of South Brunswick High School started working with Amnesty two years ago after they has attended a similar library tea and were interested in having tea in this library to showcase a topic about which they were passionate.

By Saesha Bhat ('24) Any article written, news broadcasted, or media posted was possibly crafted by a journalist. After so many transformations within the last 100 years, journalism has blended into many careers across the world, making it still an in-demand job. Think about one of the biggest platforms today: social media. Influencing has recently become one of the most popular jobs of the 21st century and the new way people get their news. But the core of journalism, which is to deliver objective and relevant news to the public no matter the audience or public opinion, has never changed. At South Brunswick High School, journalism is an elective students can take as semester courses. Starting off with Journalism I, students learn the basics of journalism from interviewing to ethics and news values. These acquired skills are then used to craft their first article.. From them on, students spend class time working on articles for the South Brunswick High School student newspaper, The Viking Vibe . Article writing continues throughout Internet & Newspaper Journalism semester courses (II-VII), giving students ample time to perfect their journalistic writing skills while also simulating the experience of being a journalist. Journalism teacher and advisor for the Viking Vibe, Mr. Andrew Loh, has taught journalism for the past 23 years. After getting no candidates to teach the class, Loh agreed to take charge, even though he was wary of the issues regarding “freedom of the press.” With time came confidence and through Mr. Loh’s leadership, the Viking Vibe has been able to persevere through many changes.. “I love how [journalism class] is differentiated and independent. It can really empower students to pursue what they are passionate about and what matters to them. It gives them the ability to really communicate what they are trying to say succinctly and accurately…People in journalism learn that less is more. Say what you need to say in as few words as possible. People have a huge problem in thinking that the more words you speak, the stronger their voice is. That’s not necessarily true. It’s actually if you speak them effectively or write them effectively. That determines the strength of your voice, and journalism will teach you that for any subject area,” Mr. Loh explained. As the world evolves, so does journalism, but the conversation of its impending death begs the question of why to even continue teaching it. To Mr. Loh, global and local events or issues would never have the publicity they do today without the aid of journalists. Holding people accountable for their mistakes or unethical behavior or focusing on problems only a niche of individuals would experience allows the world to continue to be aware, especially in a time of major social media usage and tense political climates. Although journalism is evolving, it will continue to be relevant for those who seek out information. Mr. Loh said, “We are a student-led and driven. I didn’t ask to bring back the print paper edition [of the newspaper]. The students, after we came back from COVID, who wanted to have this print edition asked for it and published it on their own initiative. Your generation is coming to me and asking for a hard copy of the newspaper…There is still a place for hard copy and when there is no hard copy, there is internet journalism, and the two can work very well together.” Journalists embody certain characteristics that embellish their writing and working skills. Apart from being passionate, Mr. Loh describes having to be “comfortable with being uncomfortable” as situations may put students in a tenuous position. However, the difference between a good journalist and a great one is those who persevere through those awkward moments, knowing that the objective is to get the facts and understand the subject thoroughly. Senior Harivallabhi Ganapathy, Co-Editor-in-Chief of the Viking Vibe and student of the journalism class, has also experienced such situations in her four years of experience. She joined the class and club as a freshman, going through the stages of being a writer to editor and now Co-Editor-in-Chief alongside this reporter. Initially interested, Ganapathy was inspired to become a member after learning of the print edition, which had ended due to the COVID outbreak. Three years later, the print edition is now coming back, and Ganapathy is excited to finally see her articles published in print. She said, “When I first joined, [the articles] were all online, which was fine, but a print newspaper is something you can actually hold in your hands like those that used to be dropped in your hands at your home. I think that is so cool, being published in the newspaper, and amazing that we are bringing it back!” Journalism holds a place for all students no matter how much experience they have. From article writing to interviewing and making connections, it is truly a well-rounded subject that will help any individual develop skills applicable to any careers beyond journalism. If you are interested in joining the club, contact Mr. Loh or come to club meetings every Thursday in A204. If you are interested in joining journalism classes for a semester or even a full year, contact Mr. Loh or talk to your counselor.

By: Viren Abroal and Om Bhaskar (‘27) On September 28, the South Brunswick Board of Education’s public comment section of their regular meetings at Crossroads North Middle School attracted many concerned residents. This was due to the discontinuation of courtesy busing in areas within two miles of elementary and middle schools and two-and-a-half miles of South Brunswick High School. The change, which was made for the 2023-2024 school year, resulted in dissatisfaction between the Board and several residents due to the inconvenience it poses to some parents since their children now either take longer to come home, or the parents must pick them up themselves. There is also an alleged danger it poses to children from the “busy” roads with passing vehicles they must walk near. For the past few Board of Education meetings, these concerns have been repeatedly brought up to the board members. While the Board has taken steps to address some of the issues that bother some South Brunswick residents, the push for reinstatement of courtesy busing continues. “As you are taking your own time through this process, there are kids who are boarding the buses at 522, which is a very high speed road,” said South Brunswick Resident Mr. Vivek Kumar, who is running to be elected for the Board himself this November. Mr. Suman Podder also had worries about County Road 522, where his children are normally picked up by their rerouted bus. Mr. Podder reported the road had cars rushing by every time his children entered their school bus. Still another resident of South Brunswick, Ms. Venita Balani, referenced a petition created in favor of the reinstatement of courtesy buses. The petition was created by resident Mr. Mukesh Bhatt, who was also present at the Board Meeting. “...You have 1,040 people who signed a petition; that's a voice from your community, from your residents, that they want this,” Ms. Balani said. By the end of the public comments segment of the meeting, the Superintendent of South Brunswick schools Mr. Scott Feder responded to some points brought up by the residents. Regarding 2,000 students who were attached to hazardous routes, Mr. Feder stated that students who have to cross certain pathways determined to be dangerous will not be losing their buses in the future. “So the question about the future, with those 2,000 other students, in all cases, all of those students are attached to hazardous routes, things like crossing certain pathways and such. So those are determined to be hazardous routes as a result of that, there is no plan to reduce further busing related to hazardous routes of any kind,” Mr. Feder said. The conflict over courtesy busing in South Brunswick has been ongoing over multiple meetings, and dissipation of momentum for bringing it back doesn’t seem to be occurring any time soon. Further discussion regarding the school district budget was also held in the Crossroads North Middle School auditorium on October 12.

by Manahil Zulfiqar ('26) The Eras Tour by Taylor Swift is one of the biggest tours of 2023 by far. The tour’s first leg started in March 2023 at Glendale, Arizona, and has been constantly breaking records, including having the most-attended concert performed by a female artist ever in the U.S., gaining much publicity from the media and fans. A reason that the tour is so huge is because it’s very special for Swift’s fanbase, the Swifties, especially for ones that have been supportive since her debut in 2006. The show is filled with performances from each of Swift’s 10 iconic eras, Taylor Swift (2006), Fearless (2008), Speak Now (2010), Red (2012), 1989 (2014), Reputation (2017), Lover (2019), Folklore (2020), Evermore (2020) and Midnights (2022). The outfits that fans wear to the show make the night special as well. Fans dress up in clothes that would represent an album/era, album colors/themes, etc. For example, for Swift’s “Reputation” album/era, fans mainly wore black because the theme of that album was black. This is also the first time Taylor went on tour after 5 years. Taylor’s last tour was the Reputation Stadium Tour, which ended back in 2018. In late 2019, Taylor released her 7th album “Lover” and was eventually going to have a tour named "Lover Fest." However, since Covid happened shortly after the tour was announced, Swift postponed the tour and then eventually had to cancel it. People still ask, however, what makes the show itself so good? Is it really worth all of this hype? Sophomore Emma Sava said, “The show itself was fun because it is genuinely such an amazing experience. Being surrounded by people who love your favorite person as much as you do was such an amazing time. The performance was incredible and she’s amazing live.” Swift also encouraged Swifties to make friendship bracelets and trade them at every show. The friendship bracelets reference a lyric in Swift’s song, “You’re on Your Own Kid.” In these friendship bracelets, fans would reference Swift’s songs, lyrics, and other things about her. Along with the friendship bracelets, Swift plays 2 surprise songs each night! These surprise songs bring more excitement to fans because they can get them thinking and making theories about what songs Swift will play. “My favorite part was the surprise songs because they were different every night, and everyone screamed them together when she started playing the songs,” said Emma. All in all, The Eras Tour is one of the best concert experiences that anyone can have. “It [the show] is such an amazing experience. I think everyone should get to experience it firsthand. It was so special and moving” said Emma.

by Amaris Devanesan and Hazel Mamania (‘24) The Greater Middlesex Conference (GMC) is a renowned and highly competitive sports conference that showcases the talent and dedication of student-athletes across Middlesex County. Within this dynamic sporting arena, the South Brunswick boys' soccer team carved a remarkable path to the finals. Before their face-off against the Monroe Falcons in the championship showdown, they confronted formidable competition in the semi-finals. In a defining match, they overcame South River with a convincing 2-0 victory, setting the stage for a thrilling finals showdown. With yellow cards (warnings for poor sportsmanship) galore, the GMC’s soccer finals was a rollercoaster of events. After an uneventful first half of the game, South Brunswick received a penalty kick nine minutes into the second quarter. Junior Aiden Chang, number 10, made the goal; however, the referee called a false start, making the Vikings kick again. Thankfully, Chang was able to score again without a problem. Unexpectedly, Monroe’s Joe Ishemi scored a free kick with less than ten minutes left, evening out the playing field. Ending with a 1-1 tie, the two teams had to go into overtime with a penalty kick shoot out. Both South Brunswick and Monroe missed their first two shots, raising the importance and intensity of the next few goals. Monroe’s goalie was able to block two of the Vikings’ shots, bringing the score to 2-1.The score advanced to 3-3 after Logan Rodgers successfully blocked one of Monroe's shots, but the Vikings ultimately met their demise after another missed shot and a final goal from Monroe. The final score was 5-4 in penalty kicks, and Monroe’s team finally redeemed itself after last year’s loss at the finals. Even though the Vikings did not win, players juniors Chris Gerbevac and Aiden Chang, along with senior Akshat Gupta, were chosen for the GMC All-Red division. Not only that, but Coach Chris Hayston was named GMC Boys’ Soccer Coach of the Year. As the final whistle echoes, South Brunswick's soccer team remains committed to its pursuit of excellence.This remarkable journey is a testament to their dedication, sportsmanship, and the spirit of competition in the GMC.

by Rishita Nossam ('26) On September 29, South Brunswick High School hosted its annual Homecoming (HoCo) game. This year’s event was slightly different from years past, due to the rainy weather that met South Brunswick that night. During halftime, hundreds of students watching the football game poured into the annex gym, and seemed excited about all of the fun halftime events included in Homecoming. However, the football game continued outside, with the South Brunswick Vikings defeating the Monroe Township Falcons with a score of 21-0. The night, although it was a different experience, provided the student body with endless memories and ended in a huge victory for South Brunswick! This year, the Homecoming Theme was “Around the World.” Each grade’s Class Council set up floats that corresponded with their class’s country, which was voted on by each grade. Freshmen were Egypt, sophomores were France, juniors were Italy, and seniors were Greece. The Student Council encompassed all of these countries, representing the entire world. To show school spirit for each grade’s respective country, members of each grade wore colors that represented their country’s flag such as red, green, white, black, and blue. Each of the classes’ floats was also altered to adapt to the rainy weather, being displayed on tables in the annex gym. This change was unique, but worked out in the end. Members of Student Government were able to make full use of the table space to decorate, and their hard work and dedication was evident on Homecoming Night. Student Council Advisor Mrs. Harlee Olsen said, “[Having to do Homecoming indoors] definitely added another layer of preparation and shift, but this is something that we have had to do before, so we did have a little bit of experience of how to make this work. I don’t think we anticipated as many people coming inside as they did, but it was really great to see so many people excited about the halftime show, about seeing what the kids did, [about] seeing the Homecoming Court. So it was definitely a challenge, but I think every council handled it really well and was able to make their floats work.” For the Class of 2024, this Homecoming is a special one. Seniors will be parting with this tradition when they leave SBHS next June, making this year’s Homecoming one to remember. Specifically for twelve seniors, this Homecoming was different—rather than watching from the stands, these seniors made up the Homecoming Court, a beloved SBHS tradition. Halftime also occurred inside, and the crowing of a King and Queen was modified last minute to fit the demands of the unexpected weather. This year’s Court included twelve seniors, six girls and six boys, of which two were crowned as HoCo King and Queen at the end of halftime. This year’s nominees for HoCo queen were: Gianna Angermeier, Urja Dhami, Casey Jarvis, Anna Pham, Navika Sharma, and Sanvi Somayaji. As for the nominees for HoCo King, they were: Leon Chien, Nishan Datta, Braden Paulmenn, Matthew Pierre, Aiden Silva, and Kingyou Zhang. Throughout the week, SBHS students voted for Homecoming Queen and King, and the results were announced at the end of halftime, where Urja Dhami was crowned HoCo Queen and Aiden Silva was crowned HoCo King! Homecoming Queen and Senior Class President Urja Dhami said, “I didn’t think I was actually going to win, and when I heard my name get called, I was [really surprised about] what happened … I was just like, ‘Oh my God, I actually won.’ When everyone came up to me to congratulate me, it was so overwhelming but in a good way, so it was nice. … I’m really sad about [leaving Homecoming behind]. It’s like senior year is starting to hit now, so it’s sad, but I’m really happy that I made this Homecoming as memorable as it could be.” Throughout the week leading up to Homecoming, Student Council held a spirit week focused on the “Around the World” theme. The week’s outfit themes were: Airport Fit on Monday, Tacky Tourist on Tuesday, Class Color Day on Wednesday, and Class Country Color Day on the Friday of Homecoming. The class with the most Viking Spirit during the week was awarded the Spirit Cup at halftime as well, and as they have for the past four years, the Class of 2024 won again. They were presented with the trophy around the middle of halftime, maintaining their long and cherished record. Of working on HoCo behind-the-scenes, Student Council President Athira Kunnath said, “[Homecoming] was just a lot of last-minute preparations, but I think all of the Class Councils and Student Council were prepared enough to make quick changes at the last minute. I do really love being outside, but I also feel like this [this experience] gave people who came to watch a better look at the different floats and halftime overall.” This year’s Homecoming was truly one for the books. Students turned a challenge into something new and creative and were able to enjoy the event regardless of changes. The memorable event was a success, wrapping up the spirit week with an unforgettable experience and allowing students to unwind as they spent quality time with their friends. Although unique, this Homecoming will forever be remembered by the student body, as they await SBHS’s next event—the Winter Pep Rally!

By Saesha Bhat ('24) SBHS is home to many football stars including Justin Shorter and Mohamed Sanu. Another one to make the list is SBHS alumni Jai Patel, who was picked to be the first-team placekicker for the Rutgers football team in early August. Patel played for the SBHS football team where he achieved significant goals such as 22 successful field goals and a perfect 78-78 on extra point attempts. These achievements earned him a name in the 2020 first team of the USA Today All-New Jersey team, dedicated to the best of the best in New Jersey’s high schools. But how did this all start for Patel? In a recent interview with The Daily Targum, Patel revealed that his interest in football dates back to elementary school where he played football and soccer. But when a kicker was needed for his football team, Patel left his soccer team to play as a full-time placekicker. With his family support and love for football, his success translated into his high-school football and college career, allowing him to be named Big Ten Special Teams Player of the Week this September. “I got into football after watching it every Sunday with my dad growing up. My main inspiration has been Justin Tucker. It means the world to me. It is a big part of my life, and I can’t imagine not having the opportunity to play it every day,” Patel said in an exclusive interview. Athletic Director for South Brunswick Middle and High Schools Mr. CJ Hendricks followed Patel throughout his football career, watching him transform from a mighty little football player into a professional. “I was able to see Jai at his middle school age…I just remembered being on the sideline, working an afterschool event, and this kid just kicking these bomb field goals and I was like, ‘Is this a high school kid that’s here?’ From talking with Coach [Raymond Bruce] Boehm and Coach [Jake] Rodriguez, they said, ‘Oh no, this is our kicker for the middle school team.’ And I got his name and said, ‘I’m gonna remember this kid.’ If he’s kicking thirty, forty-yard field goals in middle school, he’s gonna be pretty good for us when he gets to high school…He was a great kid and he comes from a great family. He was an awesome student-athlete and always with a smile on his face…So it always intrigued me to get to know him better,” he said. Though Mr. Hendricks has seen Patel play in the past at Rutgers’ SHI stadium in Piscataway, during a birthday trip to a University of Michigan football game this September, he got to see Patel play as a kicker against his favorite football team. To Hendricks, this experience was indescribable as he got to see Patel play in such a professional setting and in an environment that was always a “bucket-list” place for him to visit. He was able to arrange a meeting with Patel’s family after the game and took pictures with Patel to commemorate the moment. Hendricks mentioned, “It was also a little weird because when he kicked, I was rooting for him, but I’m all dressed in Michigan attire, so the people I was with were like ‘What’s up with this guy?”’ But as Hendricks was representing the South Brunswick community along with UMich attire in the stands, Patel was representing his South Brunswick community in his Rutgers uniform as well. For many, his accomplishments are the community’s accomplishments, and that pressure can be intense. But for Patel, the representation feels like an honor, something that is well-deserved after years of hard work. “I am proud of the accolades I have received, but also the friendships and relationships I have formed along the way. All of my coaches and teammates played such an important role in my success, but especially my best friends Joey, Brian, and Omar, as well as Coach [Joseph] Goerge's , Coach [James] Noebels, and Coach [John] Viotto. It feels amazing to represent my community and town, being at my local university. The pressure feels similar, even though I am playing at a much bigger stage now,” he said. Reaching a professional level like Patel’s does not come without dedication in high school and even college. It includes going to school and maintaining good grades, going to practice and games after school with intense energy, staying in shape and maintaining a healthy lifestyle and dealing with any personal issues that students face in high school and college. Patel recognizes the craziness of playing at the Big 10 level with the intense schedules and pressure-ridden games. While being an athlete opens opportunities to meet other people and dive deeper into a sport one is passionate about, it poses many challenges, mentally and physically, that can be too severe to experience at such a young age. However, community is the most important thing for student-athletes to experience within their teams and school environments as it not only brings comfort but can also remind them that they will always have somewhere where they can come back. Mr. Hendricks said, “We’ve had success. We’ve won championships. We’ve been in big tournaments, but I love that our coaches do a great job in making the kids feel connected to our school community. That Viking pride, that ‘Forever Vikings’ mentality that we are really trying to preach to help kids understand that even after their four years is done here, they can continue to be a part of this community, be a part of this athletic program…That is really our focus: to make the experience of our kids more enjoyable, the connections they make with their teammates and coaches are lifelong and not just for these four years that they are with us."