The only thing standing in our way right now can be summed up in one word: senioritis.  A baffling concept to every freshman, (“How can you just not have energy to do any work anymore?”), seniors have been using this term for years.  But it has now become completely evident that this is not just an excuse used to rationalize doing nothing.  It is real.  In simple terms, we have already been accepted to all of our colleges, and have now officially chosen where we will be attending school next year.  So, what is the point to trying anymore?

But senioritis goes beyond this.  It is the actual inability to focus on any amount of school work for even two minutes straight.  It is how, when you look at your homework, you suddenly have no energy to even pick up a pencil.  It is procrastination on steroids.  Exhibit A: This article was supposed to be written at the beginning of April… and I just did it now….

Thankfully, we have the entire summer to regain our ambition so that we can succeed in college and in the rest of our lives.

For as long as we can each remember, all we have wanted to do is grow up… and now that we are there, it’s frightening.  The daunting reality of our future is beginning, and for the first time ever, we will be going our separate ways.  The entire thing is bittersweet.  Going to a new place and starting a new chapter in our lives is exciting and wonderful.  But it is also sad that we will be leaving behind our homes, our families, and our friends.  This is the time of year when one of the most talked about topics is the past… high school memories, fifth grade inside jokes, middle school band concerts….  All of these events, and this town as a whole, have shaped us into who we are today; successful young individuals with the ability to do anything.

So as we leave Mansfield High School in the next month, we should be thankful for each other and the opportunities Mansfield has given us, hopeful for exciting futures, and confident that we can do anything.

Peace out. Seniors ’13.

Boys' Tennis

5/13 at  Taunton   Won 5-0.

#1 Singles: Eric Sun (M) def. Matt Beauleau (T) 6-2, 6-0
#2 Singles: Jon Sirota def. (M) def. Luke Beauleau (T) 6-2, 6-3
#3 Singles: Jake Cavicchi (M) def. John Garcia (T) 6-3, 6-3
1st Doubles: TJ Redznak/John Menz (M) def. Bobby Ambrose/Sam Tully (T) 6-1, 6-2
2nd Doubles: Matt Medeiros/Jackson Peters (M) def. Pat
McAndrews/Marshall Tate (T) 6-3, 5-7, 7-2 TB

5/7/13 at Attleboro   Won 4-1

#1 Singles: Eric Sun (M) def. Matt Forest (A) 6-3, 6-1
#2 Singles: Brian Lussier (A) def. Jon Sirota (M), 6-3, 6-4
#3 Singles: Jake Cavicchi (M) def. Anil Makesh (A) 7-6 (7-5), 6-2
1st Doubles: TJ Redznak/John Menz (M) def. Samir Yusuf/Brent Proulx (A) 7-5, 6-2
2nd Doubles: Matt Medeiros/Tomek Nowakowski (M) def. Eric Carey/Saquib
Chaudhery (A) 6-0, 6-0
Info by Coach Belastock

Girls’ Track

On Tuesday, girls track defeated Taunton, securing the Hockomock
League Dual Meet Title with a 5-0 record.
Caitlin Finnerty won the 100m while Molly Shield placed third, Julia
Jones won the 200m followed by Lauren Waters in second, and Mikaila
Amerantes and Rachel Stier placed first and second in the 400m. Kelsey
Ferreira and Crysta Pepicelli placed in the 100m hurdles, while Crysta
Pepicelli and Jen Kemp placed in the 400m hurdles.
Emily Sarkisian and Lindsey Bjorkman placed second and third in the
800m, while Sami Carey, Lindsey Goulet and Kelly McGee swept the mile.
Patricia Murphy and Kaitlyn Bongarzone earned their first varsity
points in the 2 mile.
Kaylene Prior came in third in the shot put, while Hannah Haleudeth
was second in the discus. Colleen Debold, Sarah Mullahy and Molly
Keohane swept the high jump, while Mikaila Amerantes placed second in
long jump and Caitlin Finnerty and Marissa Horn placed in triple jump.
The team finishes up the dual meet season this Tuesday against Sharon,
and will compete at the Hockomock League Championship Meet next
Sunday.
Info by Kelly McGee

Boys'Tennis

4/24 away vs. No. Attleboro - Mansfield won 4-1

#1 Singles: Eric Sun (M) def. Anthony Rinaldi (NA) 7-6 (11-9), 6-0
#2 Singles: Ethan Reddington (NA) def. Jon Sirota (M), 6-1, 6-4
#3 Singles: Jake Cavicchi (M) def. Kumail Alikhan (NA) 6-3, 6-2

1st Doubles: TJ Redznak/John Menz (M) def. Mukundh Nair/Mitchell Dyer
(NA) 3-6, 7-6 (7-2), 6-1
2nd Doubles: Matt Medeiros/Tomek Nowakowski (M) def. Brian
Brigham/Connor Roberts (NA) 3-6, 6-4, 6-2

4/29 home vs. Sharon - Sharon won 5-0

#1 Singles: Peter Hu (S) def. Eric Sun (M) 6-2, 6-3
#2 Singles: Jake Steinberg (S) def. Jon Sirota (M) 6-1, 6-0
#3 Singles: Josh Dobbin (S) def. Jake Cavicchi (M) 6-2, 6-0

1st Doubles: David Adler/Richard Shen (S) def. TJ Redznak/John Menz (M) 6-0, 6-1
2nd Doubles: Grant Barron/Max Crooks (S) def. Matt Medeiros/Tomek
Nowakowski (M) 6-2, 6-1

5/1 away vs. Stoughton - Mansfield won 5-0

#1 Singles: Eric Sun (M) def. Jalen Joseph (S) 6-0, 6-1
#2 Singles: Jon Sirota (M), def. Mike Holmes (S) 6-2, 6-0
#3 Singles: Jake Cavicchi (M) def. Zach Monahan (S) 6-3, 6-4

1st Doubles: TJ Redznak/John Menz (M) def. Sheldon Oliveira/Cris
Oliveira (S) 4-6-6-2, 6-1
2nd Doubles: Matt Medeiros/Tomek Nowakowski (M) def. Adam Potter/James
Comeau (S) 6-0, 6-1

5/3 home vs. Canton - Mansfield won 4-1

#1 Singles: Eric Sun (M) def. Sam Riemer (C) 6-2, 6-0
#2 Singles: Andrew Sulkola (C) def. Jon Sirota (M), 6-2, 7-6 (7-5)
#3 Singles: Jake Cavicchi (M) def. John Garafalo (C) 6-3, 6-2

1st Doubles: TJ Redznak/John Menz (M) Andrew Barkowski/Luke Schepter
(C) 6-0, 6-3
2nd Doubles: Matt Medeiros/Tomek Nowakowski (M) def. Dylan Wong/Nate
Maltz (C) 7-6 (7-5), 6-2

5/6 Home vs. King Philip - King Philip won 4-1

#1 Singles: Eric Sun (M) def. Matt Nicholson (KP) 7-5, 3-6, 6-4
#2 Singles: Kevin Williamson (KP) def. Jon Sirota (M), 6-3, 3-6, 7-5
#3 Singles: Marek Zdziesynski (KP) def. Jake Cavicchi (M) , 1-6, 6-0, 7-5

1st Doubles: Nick Baraiolo/Jason Trudeau (KP) def. TJ Redznak/John
Menz (M), 6-4, 6-2
2nd Doubles: Paul Brescia/Nathan Gee (KP) def. Matt Medeiros/Tomek
Nowakowski (M) 6-2, 7-5
Info by Coach Gary Belastock

Damira whirled around and glared at Cora.

“What is your problem?”, she nearly seethed.

Cora looked at her innocently. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

Damira huffed, “You’re supposed to be helping me search for Sasha, not wave your sword through everything you want!”

Cora flipped his hair to the side and shook his hair, “I fight, I don’t get on my hands and knees and look for someone. I don’t even know what he looks like! Besides, you’re the girl, you do the dirty work and I’ll protect you should you need it.”

“Says the guy I threw to the ground earlier.” She responded

The colors his face grew entertained her immensely. “I let you win! I was seeing if you fought like a Water Clan warrior! I am one of the best swordsmen alive!”

“That is a joke. You were terrified.”

“It is a skill to make the enemy let their guard down.”

“Are you sure it was a skill?”, she asked. “You looked pretty pathetic.”

Cora gasped, “Take that back!”

Damira smirked, “Come on Hakioa, Kyla it’s time to go. “

The siblings nodded and raced after her, leaving Cora angrily fuming to himself.

                                                    *   *   *   *   *   *  *

Dazami sighed and looked at the twins’ worried expression.

“I’m sure they’re fine. They’ll be back soon.” She reassured them.

Aelisa smiled, “I’m sure you’re right. I just can’t help but worry. We just lost a lot of our family and our home; I just cannot lose them as well.”

Asweti nodded and took Aelisa’s hand and squeezed it.

Dazami smiled. “Let’s wait a couple more minutes before we go after them.”

Aelisa and Asweti nodded. The wind was getting stronger and the three of them huddled closer to keep warm.

Aelisa suddenly lifted her head, “I hear something.” She said pointing at a random direction.

The other two followed her finger.

“Demion? Hikaria? Zali? Is that you?” Dazami asked.

No answer.

“Dazami, I don’t think it’s them.” Asweti whimpered.

                                                  *   *   *   *   *   *  *

Demion sighed, he really hated the wild. It was annoying and dirty. Not fit for a prince. Unused to nature, he had already gotten caught in the bushes at least ten times if not more.

“I should be getting back, now which way did I come from? I was sure Hikaria and my precious brother Zalion would follow after me to make sure I was okay. It’s not like them to just leave me to run off alone when we are off in an unknown place.” Demion rambled.

“You know talking to yourself is the first sign of insanity.” A small voice from behind him sounded.

Demion whirled around to face his possible attacker only to find no one there.

“Over here dimwit.” The voice said, this time to his left.

Demion followed the voice and his eyes fell on a small boy who looked to be starving and exhausted. Slowly, as if not to frighten the boy, he approached. To his surprise the boy came right up to him and held up his hands as if ordering Demion to pick him up.

Demion, unsure what to do, kneeled in front of the boy, “Hello there, my name is Demion. What’s your name?”

“Sasha,” the boy replied.

“Well Sasha, what’s a young boy such as yourself doing alone in the forest?” Demion asked. “Where are your parents?”

Sasha glared at Demion, “My parents are dead and I am not alone, I was with my sister. We kind of lost each other.”

“And you need help to find her?” Demion realized.

“Yes, I absolutely despise being in this weak- um, I mean she protects me and I miss her.” He smiled innocently.

Demion did not question further, “Well I do not know where I am so I don’t know how much help I would be.”

“I don’t care, I’m sleepy! Carry me so I can rest.” Sasha demanded.

“You’re a bossy little boy.” Demion murmured as he lifted Sasha and rested him on his hip.

“What did you say?”

“Nothing.”

                                                    *   *   *   *   *   *  *

I gave the doors another tug, ignoring Hikaria completely.

“Angel, watch out.” Again with the nickname. And why Angel? I was far from an angel.

In an instant I found myself on the ground, Hikaria was on top of me. I pushed him off to see an arrow lodged in his left eye. It didn’t look deep but there was a lot of blood.

“Hikaria! Are you okay?” I asked frantically as he painfully removed the arrow from his eye and covered it with his hand.

“I’m fine, thankfully the arrow did not go really deep.” He forced out before wincing in pain.

“It’s my fault; I shouldn’t have tried to open the door. Was it a booby trap?”

“Yes, it looks like one. But I don’t blame you.” Hikaria said as he closed his eyes and fell limp into my arms.

“Hikaria,” I cried.

“Don’t cry Angel.”

I yanked my head up and looked at Hikaria but he was still asleep. So who…?

The next thing was a blur. All I remember was a sharp pain in the back of my head, and then blackness.

                                                       *   *   *   *   *   *  *

“Zali come play with us! We need one more player.” A cheerful voice said.

Five year old Prince Zalion Angel Jazimera looked up from the book he was reading “Okay.”

Demion Alec Jazimera tossed Zalion Angel the ball and laughed happily as the younger boy caught it.

“I don’t see what’s so fun about this game. It’s just tossing and catching a ball.”  Alika Lily Jazimera frowned. Her twin Ramisa Bella Jazimera nodded.

“You’re a girl so you wouldn’t understand.” Hikaria Demetrius Jazimera stated.

“What does being a far better gender have to do with anything?” Swalia Jane Jazimera asked causing the girls to start giggling.

“What? Boys are better! Girls have cooties!” Jaxin Jones Jazimera argued standing on a chair to make his three year old body look taller. Below him stood the two year old twins Aelisa Rosalina Jazimera and Asweti Jackson Jazimera fighting over a set of blocks.

“Guys, Mommy told us not to fight.” Zalion Angel said.

“Zali is right. Mommy doesn’t like it when we fight.” Hikaria Demetrius said.

“Well Mommy isn’t here so I’m in charge and I say we can do whatever we want.” Swalia Jane said.

“What makes you in charge? I’m the heir to Daddy’s throne, I should be in charge. Daddy said so.”  Demion Alec said.

“Well I’m the oldest!” Swalia Jane argued. “Mommy said I was to keep an eye on you.”

“Swali? When’s lunch?” Ramisa Bella asked.

“How would I know? Ask the servants!” Swalia Jane said.

“But you said that you were in charge.” Alika Lily pointed out.

“Miss. Lyfia!” Swalia Jane called.

A pretty lady with green eyes and dark hair in a maid outfit entered followed by a little girl that looked a lot like her holding a duster.

“Hi Dazami! Wanna play with us?” Hikaria Demetrius asked.

“Hikaria, Mommy said we aren’t allowed to play with the servants.” Ramisa Bella said.

“You called?” Miss. Lyfia asked as she tried to ignore the hurt look on her daughters face.

“Make us food.” Swalia Jane requested.

“Dinner is almost ready; surely your parents would want you to wait.”

“Fine, you may leave.” Swalia Jane said turning back to Ramisa Bella. “You heard her, you have to wait.”

Zalion Angel pouted as he looked at the bouncy ball in his hands. “I thought we were going to play ball together.”

Hikaria Demetrius turned away from the sad look on Dazami’s face and smiled at Zalion Angel, “We are playing ball! Pass it over here!”

                                                     *   *   *   *   *   *  *

Hikaria shook his head, where did that memory come from? He barely remembered anything that happened before his 10^th birthday.

It wasn’t like anything important happened on that day. But it was one of the rare days that he and his brothers and sisters all played with each other without Mother or Father there.

They were all so innocent and hadn’t yet been corrupted by Father.

He opened his eyes and found him staring at black. Where am I?

He tried to remember the last thing that happened but his mind came up blank. Turning his head he saw another boy. This boy had blond hair and blue eyes, he looked familiar. Where had he seen this boy before?

That’s it! The vision.

The boy, what was his name?

What did they call him?

Zali?

No…

That wasn’t quite right…

However, on to more important matters. Where was he? How did he get here? Why couldn’t he open his left eye?

He reached up to touch where his left eye was and was unable to. Something was covering it. A bandage.

What happened to his eye?

Why couldn’t he remember anything?

He has eight brothers and sisters. Right?

His brother was sleeping on a table next to him. But why?

That flashback was a part of his past. It must be, why else would he remember it?

He must be rich if he had servants, right?

What did the girl call him?

Hikaria.

That was his name, right?

It must be.

Looking at his brother he noticed red seeping on the pillow beneath the blond hair, staining the gold locks a vibrant red color.

“Good, you’re up.” A soft voice had Hikaria turning his head.

A small dark haired boy looked at him with dark green eyes.

“Who…?” Hikaria forced out.

“My name is Sielle. You are Demetrius.” The boy said.

Demetrius? That must be a joke, he was sure his name was Hikaria. Maybe he wasn’t the boy in his flashback; it must have just been a dream.

Demetrius looked at the blond boy beside him.

“That is Angel.” Sielle answered as if reading his mind.

Demetrius looked at Sielle questioningly.

“I will come get you when you are in better shape. For now get some rest.” Sielle said before handing Demetrius a vial full of clear liquid. “Drink this.”

Demetrius took the vial and swallowed the content without a second thought.

Blackness.

The JV team will host Attleboro on Wednesday, May 8th.

Info by Coach Martin

Girls’ Track

The girls’ track team improved to a 4-0 record with a 98-38 win over King Philip on
Tuesday, April 30th  with several personal-best performances.
Mansfield placed first in all three sprinting events, as Lauren Waters
won the 100m, Abby Broyles won the 200m, and Mikaila Amerantes won the 400m. Maddie Oldow placed in both the 200m and 400m, while Meg
Chemburkar placed third in the 100m. Kelsey Ferreira returned from an
injury to win the 100m hurdles, with Sabrina Pray placing second.
Julia Jones won the 400m hurdles with a personal best time of 66.8,
while Crysta Pepicelli took second.                                                                     
In the 800m, Lindsey Goulet passed King Philip within the last fifty
meters to win with a personal best time of 2:22, while Katie Rowe took
8 seconds off of her time to place second. Emily Sarkisian placed
second in the mile with a personal best of 5:32, with Kelly McGee
placing third, while Sami Carey and Morgan Debolt placed 1st and 3rd
in the two-mile.
Mansfield swept both the Javelin, led by Jennie McCarthy, and the Long
Jump, led by Marissa Horn, while Colleen Debold won the high jump and
Caitlin Finnerty won the Triple Jump. Debold and Hannah Haleudeth
placed second and third in the Discus, while Sarah Iandoli and Brianna
Johnson placed in the shot put.
The team will travel to Taunton on May 7th for our next dual meet.

Info by Kelly McGee

JV Baseball

The Junior Varsity baseball team improved to 9 and 3 with their victory over Stoughton on Wednesday, May 1st. Evan Kershaw pitched five innings for the Hornets to pick up the win while Matt Carafa led the offensive charge with four hits.  The team will travel to Canon on Friday, May 3rd.

Info by Coach Martin

The Junior Varsity baseball team improved to 8 and 3 with their victory over Sharon High on Monday, April 29th. Matt Needle pitched six innings for the Hornets to earn the win, while Evan Blake led the offense with three hits.

The Junior Varsity team will host Stoughton on Wednesday, May 1st.

Info by Coach Martin

We want to thank eveyone who participated in the contest.