Sayreville War Memorial High School - Quo Vadis Yearbook (Parlin, NJ)

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On January 28, 1986, at 11:37:15 A.M., the United States Space Shuttle Challenger exploded in mid-aid with its external tank and solid-rocket boosters. The millions of pieces of debris scattered 30 miles southeast of Cape Canaveral. The external tank, carrying nearly half a million gallons of liquid hydrogen and oxgen demolished the 51-L mission and the seven crew members. The two solid- rocket boosters escaped the fireball but were later destroyed to avoid endanger- ing any populated areas. What was to be the mission to carry the first civilian into space turned into a disaster. Christa McAuliffe, who was selected from 11,000 applicants, was to teach classes from the shuttle to students on Earth via satellite. This was planned to promote interest in space colonization for future generations. Students watching the launch of the mission that was to carry the first teacher into space, instead witnessed the savage destruction of their heroine. President Reagan formed a committee to study the cause of the destruction and postponed any future flights until the situation had been completely analyzed. The President also honored the Challenger Seven, Francis R. Scobee, Michael J. Smith, Judith A. Resnik, Ellison S. Onizuka, Ronald E. McNair, Gregory B. Jarvis, and Christa Me Auliffe, as national heroes. NASA plans to drop a wreath into the Atlantic Ocean at 11:37:15 am every year, in memory of those who had perished in the Challenger explosion. Taking their cue from last year's world champion Olympics of the Mind team, Music Maestro, the members of this year’s OM team worked very hard to try to receive similiar honors. For the first time in Sayreville High’s history, all four of the Olympics of the Mind teams went on to compete in the state competitions held in Glass- boro. The teams were well-prepared for the stiff competition, however. In the locals, three teams: Treasure Hunters, Technocrats, and Bridging the Gap, took first place while the Great Art Lives team won second place. Ranatra Fuscas for high creativ- ity were awarded to every member of the structure team as well as being- given to Ko-chien Chang and Mike Mitrosky for their programming abili- ties. At the region a Is, the Treasure Hunter and Bridging the Gap teams took first place. The entire structure team once again received Ranatra Fuscas. Second place was awarded to the Great Art Lives and Technocrat teams. Flash back, if you can, to the vision of yourself as a ninth grader. A majority of you are now flipping through the countless pages of memories stored in your mind, and are focusing your con- centration on one place: Sayreville’s good old Junior High. This was the place where “naive and defenseless” seventh graders dared to share the hallways with the “experienced and domineering” freshmen. This will all change next year when the ninth- graders come “down” to the high school. Several changes — some good, some bad — did take place in preparation for the arrival of the freshmen next year. Rooms were altered and changes had to be made in course scheduling. Yet, everyone pitched in, in order to make the transition from a three year to a four year high school a smooth one. A series of devastating earthquakes rumbled through Mexico City in September and the death toll was in the thousands. Few in the metropol- itan area of 18 million escaped the effects of the first quake, which registered 8.1 on the Richter scale; or the second quake, which measured 7.5. The entire world shared in the loss felt by the Mexicans and grieved with them.

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THE YEAR IN REVIEW It was an uphill climb, literally, at this year’s away band camp. No, it was not the summer sun nor the long hours of hard work that had made camp so diffi- cult for the members of the band, it was the one mile hike that had to be travelled three times a day straight up “Hernia Hill.” (And that doesn’t even include the downhill trips!) After many years of performing together, the members of the group Van Halen broke up. Former lead singer David Lee Roth enjoyed the success of his album, Crazy from the Heat and Eddie Van Halen regrouped with new lead singer, Sammy Hagar. The Bomber wrestling team earned a fifth place in both the Hunterdon Central Invitational Tournament and the Greater Middlesex Conference Tournament, as well as a third place finish in the District 20 Tournament. The team had five individuals place in the Districts and for the first time sent two individuals to the New Jersey State Tournament. Senior heavyweight Mike Bouchard accumulated a 23-3-1 record and 16 pins on his way to the States. Bouchard wrestled to first place finishes in both the Greater Middlesex Conference Tournament and the District 20 Tournament, and a second in the Regions. His accomplishments earned him first team honors on the All- Conference, All-Division, and Middlesex County Wrestling Coaches All-Star teams and his 66-8-1 career record is tops among Sayreville wrest- lers. Senior grappler Dan Armetta finished the season with a 20-8 record and second place in the Districts and third in the Region Tournaments. His 49-23-1 Career record left him with the second highest number of wins in Sayreville history, second only to Bouchard. He earned All-Conference, and Middlesex County Coaches All- Star honors in addition to qualifying for the State Tournament. Four prominent actors died in late 1985: Orson Welles, (top left) 70, of a heart attack; Lloyd Nolan, (top right) 83, after a battle with lung cancer; Rock Hudson, (bottom left) 59, after a battle with AIDS; Yul Brynner, (bottom right) 65, of cancer. The 1985-86 school year will be remembered as a false alarm. Throughout the winter months, students regularly marched, none too happily, outside after fifth period to the clang of the fire bell. The Chicago Bears, the NFL’s dominant team during the regular season, trounced the New England patriots 46-10 in Super Bowl XX. The 36 points was the largest margin of victory ever in Super Bowl history. The Bear’s defense held the Patriots to marginal yardage and forced touch- down-resulting fumbles. The Patriots’ offense hardly moved the football while the Bears constantly tore through New England’s defense. ‘24 Student Life

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THE YEAR IN REVIEW Sayreville students hoped to hear their school named as the winner in a contest held in the Tri-State Area. Students showed their school spirit as they tried to till out as many 3x5 cards as possible in the hope of winning a performance by Jon Bon Jovi at the school. Notecards, paper, etc. were filled out saying “92.3 K-Rock Bon Jovi,” and the name of the school. In the event of a win, not only would Jon Bon Jovi perform a concert at the victorious high school but the radio station would donate $5,000 to the school for its school activities. Unfortunately, after all the cards were counted, the victor was Collegiate High School in Passaic. In October, 1985, the Touchdown Club, a group of football parents, decided the football games needed some jazzing up. Presto! The Pep Squad was born! The purpose of the squad was to create enthusiasm and high spirits at football games. The members, including Kris Frasco, Kelly Koy, Rita Smith, and Lynn Buckler, supported the players by making banners, cheering, waving pom poms, and attending every game. Next year, the Pep Squad hopes to expand and bring more cheer to the football games. The Kansas City Royals won the 1985 World Series. Royals pitcher Bret Saberhagen embraces third baseman George Brett after pitching a five- hitter to give the Royals the World Series crown over the St. Louis Cardi- nals. Saberhagen, the winner of the two series games, was named the Most Valuable Player in the series. The 1985 World Series left the under- dog Kansas City Royals as baseballs World Champions. The Royals battered Cardinal pitchers while Kansas City pitchers Bret Saberhagen, Dan Quisenberry, and Charlie Leibrandt froze the Cardinals’ hitting attack. The Series started as expected with the Cardinals jumping to a quick lead three games to one. Kansas City beat the odds however, winning three straight including an 11-0 shelling in the seventh and final game. Visible in the Southern skies between late Sept. 85 and April 86 was Halley’s comet. It was named after Edmund Halley, a British astronomer who predicted its arrival in 1758. When the comet last visited the Earth (1910) its appearance created havoc. Panicking people screamed when its tail was visible over most of the sky and the light was bright enough to be seen in daylight. This year’s sighting, although not as apparent to the naked eye, was much more studied by scientists world-wide. Although the U.S. did not send a spacecraft to observe the comet closely, three foreign space faring agencies — the Soviet Union, the European Space Agency, and Japan — all studied Halley’s comet closely dur- ing its visit. Cincinatti Reds player-manager Peter Rose broke Ty Cobb’s career hit record in September. The historic No. 4,192 hit was a single to left field on a 2-1 pitch from San Diego Padres right hander Eric Show with one out in the bottom of the first inning.