Since its founding in 1884, Staples High School has had nearly 150 valedictorians.
Until this year, none has been a state record-holding competitive power lifter.
That’s just one of Abe Lobsenz’s many talents. He and salutatorian Mattie Guadarrama have many others – in the classroom, and beyond – as the top two students in Staples’ Class of 2025.
Both will speak at graduation ceremonies.
Lobsenz – like Guadarrama, a graduate of both Long Lots Elementary and Bedford Middle Schools – is an experienced competitor, both athletically and academically. He captained Staples’ math team through the regional meet.
He is also a member of the Connecticut state math team. They traveled to Pennsylvania State University’s basketball arena, where questions were posed on the center court Jumbotron.
“There is never wasted time in math,” says Lobsenz. “You’re always problem-solving.”
He also serves as an editor for Staples’ STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Math) Journal.
Abe Lobsenz
His academic interests are broad and deep. Among his favorite classes: Advanced Placement Spanish with Priscilla Wentworth (“a fun environment, and a little more difficult than other classes”) and Rhetoric and Persuasion with Alexandra McHale (“my heart never pounded so fast as when I had to give a speech”).
Math instructor Anthony Forgette made a great impact. “He was one of the first math teachers who encouraged me to explore on my own,” Lobsenz says. “I went down a rabbit hole, proving a theorem I think is original.” The result: a 12-page published paper.
Another rabbit hole began with encouragement from physics teacher Joanne Klouda.
One of Lobsenz’s “biggest supporters” is non-STEM instructor Suzanne Kammerman. Her AP Government We the People class was also one of his favorites.
Being valedictorian was never Lobsenz’s goal. He waited until junior year to take his first Advanced Placement course. “By some people’s standards, that’s slacking,” he says. “But I wanted to get used to what Staples is about.” He chose his courses carefully, based primarily on his interests.
His advice to younger students: “Take time to adjust. Don’t feel like you have to take a lot of honors classes, especially early. Do the extracurriculars you really want to do. And give yourself time for balance, and to enjoy what you’re doing.
Lobsenz’s interest in power lifting began as a “small, weak” freshman. At the gym with friends, he learned technique and grew stronger. He and his father built a gym in their basement.
After working out up to six days a week, he set state records in his 145-pound weight class in squat (340 pounds), bench press (230 pounds) and dead lift (430 pounds). Those lifts qualified him for national competition.
“The gym is a great place to express yourself physically,” Lobsenz says. “It’s a good feeling to push the limits of what your body can do. The endorphin payoff is satisfying too. And a big part is confidence building, which is important for everything you do.”
When he’s not venturing down academic rabbit holes or in the gym, Lobsenz can be found on his bike, riding around Westport.
He is uncertain of his post-college plans. A top choice is the University of California-Santa Barbara. It has a small, flexible program, without prerequisites but with the opportunity to take graduate-level courses. The campus is gorgeous, with many bike trails and a well-equipped gym.
Soon, Lobsenz will start working on his valedictorian speech. The insights he’s gained from Rhetoric and Persuasion – and the confidence that comes from competitive power lifting – should make for a memorable day.
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Salutatorian Guadarrama has a similar wide-ranging background. He’s been involved in the debate team, Chess Club, National Honor Society, honor societies for science and social studies, and the tennis team.
Outside of school he plays piano. During COVID he taught himself guitar.
Guadarrama also produces music – rap beats, EDM and pop – which he uploads, and makes for friends.
His academic interests include English, history and math. “I’m bad at coding,” he admits.
English teachers Noreen McGoldrick and Heather Coletti-Houde were enormous influences. Math instructor Rasha Tarek was “helpful and patient,” too.
Mattie Guadarrama
Like Lobsenz, Guadarrama did not set out to earn the highest grade point average in his class. “I didn’t want to be in the spotlight,” he says. “It can be tempting to do what other people do, or what people expect you to do. I just did my best, and didn’t worry too much about grades.
“I didn’t know what to take as a freshman. It’s important to be patient. It’s all part of the process. The most important thing is to figure out who you are, and what you’re good at. All of my activities, I’ve wanted to do.”
Being engaged in his classes – “relaxed and talkative” – helped him do well, and find his best friends. Guadarrama “initiated conversations, and learned from other people.”
Taking chances helped make his Staples experience “more than about grades. It was about living, learning, and experiencing a variety of things.”
This fall, Guadarrama heads to the University of Pennsylvania. He may major in mechanical engineering. “It’s applicable to a lot of different things,” he notes.
“I’m open-minded about my future.”
