A silence falls over the gym as Taylor Adair Heyward ‘26 steps up to the bars: her favorite event. She takes a deep breath, preparing herself to perform some of her hardest skills yet. Using her momentum, she spins and twists, moving around the bar before gracefully landing on the mat.
	
Heyward started doing gymnastics when she was just two years old. It was her uncle that first suggested she be put into gymnastics after noticing her high energy as a young child.
“My mom always tells me that I used to just run around a lot and jump on the counters” said Heyward, “So my uncle suggested that she put me in gymnastics”. 

Her dad, who was also a gymnast, became a big role model for her. Being able to look up to him and have his support through setbacks has helped her stay committed to gymnastics.

“[My dad] was a gymnast and he's always pushed me to do my best in the sport… he used to get hurt a lot in gymnastics, but he never gave up. And I feel like I also tend to get hurt a lot, and just like having him tell me about his experience, just tell me to push through [helped me],” said Heyward.

Heyward is now a level ten gymnast, a goal of hers ever since freshman year. In gymnastics, athletes advance through different levels after learning and mastering specific skills. Level ten is the highest level of gymnastics before advancing to college or “elite” levels, making it incredibly difficult to reach. 

Gymnastic’s many versatile events help Heyward to become a more well-rounded athlete in all aspects of strength, balance, and flexibility. Her preferred event is bars, where athletes need to be strong and stable in their upper bodies in order to perform tricks such as spinning and catching each of the bars at different heights.

“[It] feels like you're flying in the air, and it's very different from the other events, because it's the only event where you use mostly your upper body strength… It's a lot harder when you start, and it takes a long time to learn, but you kind of just have to use your upper body strength to move you around the bar,” said Heyward.

Heyward stands out as a leader within her gym, keeping everyone on track and helping the other senior teammates take charge of team bonding. 

“There's three of us that are seniors, so we kind of all lead the team… we just kind of keep everyone on task and make sure everyone does everything right, and we also try to keep the team very close,” said Sophia Cassese ‘26, a teammate of Heyward’s.

Despite the impressive situation she is in now, Heyward has encountered setbacks over the years, including her many injuries. 

“She's had a lot of injuries that she's had to come back from. She's hurt her wrist, her back, her finger, her ankle … and she always comes back from it, ending the season strong” said Cassese, recalling Heyward’s positivity and determination.
“She's very focused but still remains positive, even in stressful situations,” said Cassese.

Recently, Heyward committed to Yale University, a school she had never even considered before two years ago. For Heyward, committing to Yale was one of the most memorable moments of her career.
 
“When they offered me, I just felt like I'd been trying to do this for so long and at some points I wasn't even sure if it's gonna work out, but I realized that…I've been trying for so long, and it finally worked out, and it just made me really happy” said Heyward, “I feel like…all the hard work finally paid off”. 

Heyward will undoubtedly remain focused in the years to come, giving all she has to her team, and passing on the wisdom of moving forward to her younger teammates. 

“Focus on what progress you're making, and don’t get so caught up on what you did wrong, because most of the time, you've done more right than you have wrong,” said Heyward. “These small mistakes or these issues that they're having now aren't going to stop them from getting to where they want to be, so just keep going.”


Photo: Charley Hu

After committing to Yale, Heywood feels proud of her accomplishments and looks forward to continuing her career in college.

Taylor Adair-Heywood ’26: gymnastics

From December 5–15, PHS’s Studio Band toured Europe, performing across France, Germany, Austria, Switzerland, and the Czech Republic. 

The band performed a number of different pieces, each with different styles. Some of their songs included Christmas classics such as “All I Want for Christmas is You,” “You’re a Mean One, Mr. Grinch,” and “Let it Snow.” Other pieces included “Creep” featuring vocalist Sofia DiGioacchino ’26, “This Can’t be Love” featuring vocalist Sanya Bhatt ’28, and “New York, New York” featuring vocalist Jacob Zacks ’28. On the trip, the band recorded an album of holiday music at the Eiffel Tower, where they also performed. 

Each piece came with its own challenges, so in preparation for this trip, Studio Band practiced regularly. Countless rehearsals helped the band to put on smooth performances across each of the five countries they visited, and also make sure that they come together cleanly as a whole. During and after school, they would run through each of their songs and host sectionals, weekly hours-long practice sessions for each section, to work on specific parts with those who played the same instruments. The members of the band also practiced on their own time, perfecting their parts and working through tough sections of each of their pieces. 

“[We had] many night rehearsals. Three hours. Literally no break ... we come in, you take everything out, we warm up real quick, and then we start running stuff. Sometimes we [ran] the entire set, and then sometimes [Mr.] Bongiovi would pick certain spots or certain songs to focus on,” said saxophonist Leah Wang ’28.

Articulation and dynamics were especially important when working with each of these songs, as they performed in numerous spaces with different acoustics.

“The notes are challenging [and] there’s this really fast 16th note line. Articulations and dynamics [had] to be on point and we just [had] to sound together,” said Wang.

Alongside the band, Studio Band vocalists had their own preparations for the trip. They often practiced with the band during night rehearsals, as well as on their own time. Each vocalist worked on memorizing their songs and getting used to what they were singing, ensuring that they were comfortable with how each of their pieces fit their voice part.

“I would say by the beginning of November ... we really had to get this album in shape and ready to record. Recently I’ve been as careful as possible not to use my voice, because the worst thing that could ever happen is me being sick or losing my voice. This is a once in a lifetime opportunity,” said Zacks.

Aside from just the performances, the band had many opportunities to explore the cities and spend time bonding as a group. They visited Christmas markets and museums such as the Holocaust Museum in Germany.

“We got to record an album, which is a super cool experience. And just being in a place where so many really amazing people have made music and also... It was really fun to connect with the people on a trip,” said flutist Katie Schorr ’26.

Studio Band spreads holiday cheer throughout Europe

From November 20-23, PHS’s Spectacle Theatre brought
the comedy, thriller, and beloved board game “Clue” to life.
Set in 1954, the play follows a group of strangers, each with
their own alias, invited to the Boddy Manor by a butler
named Wadsworth. As the night approaches, secrets are
revealed, and the six find themselves trapped in the middle
of a murder mystery.

Rehearsals began early in the school year, with auditions
taking place during the first few weeks of September. There
were two alternating casts and the students
were hard at work balancing memorization
and embodying their characters.

“We [started] off [rehearsal] with everyone
getting together in a circle,” said Jacob Zacks
’28, who played Colonel Mustard. “Sometimes
we [did a] stretch and share, just letting it out
… because part of acting is being vulnerable
and you just have to share everything, the
highs and the lows.”

In just a few short weeks, Drama teacher
Julianna Krawiecki, the director of the play,
worked with the actors, transforming the
production from rudimentary script readings
to complete performances.

Performing Clue also brought on new
challenges for the cast, forcing them to adapt
to its fast-paced nature and comedic style. With
little time to prepare on stage with the set and
tech crew, the actors had to build momentum
throughout the play, keeping up with the brisk
tempo, and creating a synergized act.

“I would say the most challenging part is
keeping the pace up … it’s a very active show,”
said Zacks. “We’re running around a lot, so
keeping the energy up and the pace up is really
important.”

With 14 unique characters, the cast members
worked hard to not only learn, but to truly
embody their roles. Whether they were focused on specific
idiolects, habits, or expressions, the performers put in the
effort to connect with their characters and better understand
how to portray them on stage.

“For Miss White ... working on her physicality [was
hard], because … [she’s] very reserved, very to herself.
She doesn’t really speak unless she’s spoken to. And it’s
hard to convey that on stage, because you would think a
person like that doesn’t really move, but it’s theater, and ...
if I don’t do anything on stage, what I’m doing isn’t gonna
read,” said Serafina Joseph ’26, who played Miss White.

Throughout rehearsals, the performers worked closely
with other members of their cast to learn the lines, blocking,
and other aspects of the show. The connections made
between the cast members helped the performances to
flow smoothly, and their chemistry can be seen both on
and off the stage.

“My favorite part ... [is] getting to work on such a fun show
with such dedicated and talented people.
And it’s really inspiring to see everybody
be so passionate about it,” said Joseph.
What truly stole the spotlight was the
effort and hard work that everyone put
into the show, transforming the fictional
scenes into real life.

“My students have been working really
hard. They built this [community] of
support and I’m really excited for people to
get to come and see all of the work they’ve
put in,” said Krawiecki.

Behind the scenes, the tech crew worked
tirelessly to design the set, build props,
and tailor costumes for the actors. From
managing light cues to constructing
moving set pieces, their work helped
enhance the atmosphere of the show,
keeping the audience immersed in the
show.

The performance was the reflection of the
dedication and efforts presented by the cast,
crew, and director, whose collaboration
presented each scene with a balance of
mystery and humor. Combining the
amusing storyline and the well-developed
characters, PHS’s Spectacle Theatre’s efforts
made Clue not just a play, but an experience
that will be difficult to forget.

“Clue” play keeps audience on the edge of their seats

Volleyball

Coming into the season as two-time state champions, the PHS volleyball team immediately went on a 16 game win streak within the first month, achieving their 31st consecutive win, continued from the previous season. They ended the season with a 20-5 record by winning the state title for the third consecutive year. Other significant games were the two that 
were played in a tri-match against Williamstown and Old-Bridge, two other top-ranked teams in New Jersey. 

“We really got to meet new people and connect, going through losing together, as well as winning,” said Johanna Kraft ’29.

Girls Soccer

A six-game winning streak to open their season set the PHS girls soccer team up for a varsity record of 13-7, making it their most successful fall season since 2023. During the first 
round of the NJSIAA Central Jersey Group 4 tournament, the varsity team won 2-0 against East Brunswick. The varsity team wrapped up their postseason competitions after reaching the quarterfinals of the tournament. 

“When we have chemistry off the field, it makes it fun,” said Leah O’Neil ’26. “We have all the right inside jokes, and I think that’s what makes the season really special.”

Girls Tennis

Kicking off their 2025 season with a solid five game win streak, the PHS girls tennis team ended with a 12-2 record. Over the course of two months, the team played numerous matches, advancing all the way to state finals where they faced WWPNorth.With the overall match tied 2-2, the outcome hinged on a final singles match, which PHS won after three hours to advance.

“I think that everyone on the team really did enjoy being together, so we had really good team spirit,” said Sophia Bruhn ’27.

Field Hockey

The PHS field hockey team ended their fall season with a varsity record of 10-6. Despite losing their first game, the girls quickly recovered and won 6 straight games. The varsity 
team scored a total of 56 points this season, with their highest-scoring games being against Lawrence (8-1 win), Princeton Day (6-0 win), and Robbinsville (6-0 win). Most notably, as the third-seeded team, they beat second-seed Princeton Day during the CVC semi-final championships. Head Coach Heather Serverson celebrated her 200th win with 
the team after their game against Hopewell. 

“I was just very lucky to be on this team and meet all these girls and learn all the things that I did, whether it was field hockey or not field hockey,” said Maeve Hughes ’29. 

Girls XC

The girls’ cross country team secured a second-place finish at the NJSIAA Group 4 State Championship held at Holmdel Park. This performance earned them a wild card entry into the NJSIAA Meet of Champions, where they placed sixth overall. Their success was built on the lowscore winning format of the sport, 
a principle they demonstrated decisively at the CVC tournament. 
There, the team swept the competition, amassing a winning 
score of just 32 points and finishing well ahead of second-place West Windsor-Plainsboro North, which scored 75. Additionally, PHS placed second at the Varsity B race at the 
Shore Coaches Invitational on October 8th, one of the biggest instate races for the team. 

“All the people worked really hard to achieve their goals, and everyone put their all into it,” said Angelena Gonzalez ’29. “We had a lot of fun, and I really enjoyed just being with 
[the team] in general.

Boys XC

For the first time in program history, the team swept the CVC tournament, winning the varsity title, the JV title, and the first-place overall county title. Additionally, three runners placed in the top ten at the Jerry Hart Invitational at Peddie. The team capped the season with a second-place result at the sectional championship.

“I think definitely the counties win, and the JV counties win, were the most memorable moments, especially like the bus ride home,” said Steven Cenci ’25.

Cheer

The PHS Cheer team earned first place in the Game Day and specialty division at the CVC championship, a feat that hasn’t been accomplished since over 15 years ago. Throughout the fall season, the team cheered at numerous football games throughout the year, including the Homecoming Game. They led the student 
section through cheers and chants to help keep the energy up throughout the game as well as performing multiple stunts, 
showcasing the skill and coordination of the team.

“We were excited to make the routine for competition and looking forward to everything,” said Emily Marchione ’28.

Football

The Tigers concluded a strong season with a 7-2 record, their best since 2014. The year was highlighted by two signature wins: a dominant 35-0 shutout of West Windsor and a dramatic 19-14 comeback victory over Holy Cross in the Homecoming Game, where they overcame a halftime deficit to secure the win.

“This was our best record in a while,” said Aryan Kondakindi ’29. “Despite not making the playoffs, not because our record but because of player ejections, everyone played well and had a highlight this season."

Boys Soccer

The team concluded its season with a 14-2-1 record, which included a tie against Notre Dame. Their postseason run extended to the final match of both the CVC tournament and the state championship. During the season, the team recorded shutout victories over Ewing (7-0) and Hightstown (6-0).

“My favorite memory was probably winning the league,” said Riccardo Meloni ’27. “We did pretty well in the CVC [tournament]. The journey to the final was good."

Kelly Cenci's Work