Visit The Windjammer online at: my.hsj.org/ca/lakewood/windjammer The Windjammer Mayfair High School Volume 53 Number 4 News Briefs Jan. 13- late registration for Jan. 28 SAT exams Jan. 16- Martin Luther King Jr. Day; No school Jan.18- Financial aid workshop for parents Jan.18- PSAT scores back night Jan.20- Last day to turn in The Quill submissions; theme is “I Have a Voice” Jan. 28- SAT exams, Mayfair is now a SAT testing site Jan. 31- Finals Per. 1, 3, 5 (Block schedule) Feb. 1- Finals Per. 2, 4, 6 (Block schedule) Feb. 2- End of first semester; Minimum Day Feb. 3- Furlough Day; No school FAFSA applications are now available online for seniors. Deadline is March 2. For more information talk to your counselor or visit www. fafsa.gov 6000 N. Woodruff Ave. Lakewood, CA 90713 Mrs. Smith as costume-making extraordinaire By Warren Poirier Editor-in-Chief Mrs. Smith, seventh grade honors English and history teacher, advisor of Mayfair Middle School’s CJSF program, and now costume- making extraordinare contributed exceptional energy to the school’s drama and performing arts program in her recent responsibilities in the production of Mayfair’s The Music Man Jr. “She brought a cast of black and white to color,” said Mr. Saunders, director of the musical. Taking inspiration from the two and a half hour movie “The Music Man,” Mrs. Smith then set to work by hand-making all the costumes. “Not only did she costumize costumes for one hundred kids, but she did so threefold - for the three outfit changes needed throughout the production,” said Saunders. The intricate costumes seen in the play took Mrs. Smith over five-hundred hours of sewing, in addition to teaching and helping with the play during after-school hours. However, she did not take on the task alone; she had a team of cast mothers and science teacher Ms. Duacesk by her side. Mrs. Smith said, “When there are that many people, it is a massive undertaking. It was worth it, but I could not have done it Staff Editorial: Monsoon Generosity Monthly Poll: 2011 Bests LEISURE page 3 SPORTS page 4 Boys Basketball Wrestling WEB EXCLUSIVES my.hsj.org/ca/lakewood/ windjammer Guess Who? Online Poll: New Years Resolutions never met before. Furthermore, the freshmen are given the chance to get involved in school activities and therefore increasing school spirit. Approximately eight to ten freshmen were assigned to be with two group leaders in each group, and the linking of new relationships and fun started from there. Most of the activities done by the Link Crew are individually coordinated by the leaders in the groups such as scavenger hunts according to a senior leader, Kassie Caoile. Some leaders have treated their kids to lunches. “I like being in the Link Crew because it gives us a chance to meet other students. My leaders do a lot for us and I really enjoy the program,” said Justin Poirier, a freshman student. A recent activity hosted by the Link Crew invited all the freshmen to a movie night on Dec. 13, where the freshmen watched “Elf” in front of the Big M. Freshman Tanner Phillips said, “I like all the opportunities that Link Crew gave me, like the movie night to bond with my friends.” Not only do freshmen benefit from the Link Crew, but leaders also gain new skills from the program such as social, communication, and leadership skills. “I learned how to communicate with people I don’t know and to put myself out there. It’s definitely a different experience. Everyone should join because you meet a lot of cool people,” said junior Wyahee Tucrkile. “I see a lot of freshmen more excited about school,” said Mr. Irving, the co-advisor of Link Crew. Mr. Irving explained that the program’s long term goal is to make our school campus atmosphere culturally filled with more student involvement and spirit to increase school pride. “We want Mayfair to be more of a friendly campus to prevent bullying and other bad things,” he said. Link Crew continues to benefit its members OPINION page 2 2012 movies without the help of Ms. Duacesk and a handful of moms.” “Smith put in tons and tons of hours, and it was a joy working with her,” said Ms. Duacesk. “The show had well over 200 costumes and some of those I sewed, some moms helped sew, and most came from thrift stores that I embellished and added things to,” said Mrs. Smith. Although most of the students supplied part of the costume themselves, Mrs. Smith was the main one in charge of supplying, fixing, and creating the costumes. But she did not stop there. On all days of production, she was behind the scenes assisting with costume changes and helping actors and actresses remember stage lines. According to Mrs. Smith, the production was fun on and off stage. Bonds were created, great experiences took place, and the kids were involved. “It’s like a team,” Mrs. Smith said. As one of the most important roles in that team, Mrs. Smith brought more than the show together. Mrs. Smith said, “You don’t realize how fast the costume changes are. That’s the part that is most fun, the adrenaline rush, handling last- minute crises, and ‘putting out fires’ as I call it. There is nothing more that could be more rewarding.” Mrs. McDaniel/The Windjammer The cast of “The Music Man” strut their costumes. Inside Scoops Where does the money go? Upcoming Friday, January 13, 2012 Photo courtesy of Ms. Monteleone Link Crew members bond during movie night. By Diane Choi Leisure Editor The Link Crew program, which was newly established on Mayfair’s campus this school year, lets seniors and juniors reach out to the freshmen who have promoted from the middle school. The program helps freshmen to integrate smoothly into high school life by getting them connected with upper classmen and peers whom the students have New clubs on campus! Join one of the eight! By Milton Duenas Reporter Have you been wondering about the new clubs here at Mayfair? Well, there happens to be eight new interesting clubs on campus this year. One of the new clubs at Mayfair is the physics club, which is about getting students interested in physics. The advisor is Mr. Ducar and he shows students demos of fun experiments. The meetings for the Physics club are held in room 601 on every other Friday at high school lunch. Another middle school club that has started up is the dolphin club, which is about showing how dolphins are being mistreated. Currently the club is watching a documentary called “the Cove,” which is about how the Japanese are treating dolphins and how they are slaughtering them for many reasons. The advisor of the dolphin club is Mrs. Mazurie and the club’s president is Chris Mcmonas. The meetings are held in room 110 on Tuesdays during middle school lunch. The video club is another new club on campus, which teaches students how to record videos. One interesting thing about the club is that they produce the yearbook DVD. Also the video club has recorded sports events like the Power 106 game, football games and school events like dances, assemblies, and even the musical, “The Music Man Jr.” The president of the club is senior Ryan Bonilla and the meetings are every Tuesday in room 206 during high school lunch. Other new clubs: the metal club, which is about the music. Also there is the government club, advised by Mr. Geddy, which meets in room 427 during high school lunch. Another new high school club is the medical club that meets every Tuesday in room 610. Then there is the science club that meets during high school lunch in room 101 and during middle school lunch in room 100. For more information or questions about the science club go see the advisor Mr. Nishimoto. 2 OPINION PAGE Volume 53, Number 4 Friday, January 13, 2012 6000 N. Woodruff Ave., Lakewood, CA 90713 Monsoon Generosity Staff Editorial Something that makes us here at The Windjammer proud to be students at Mayfair is how generous our school is, especially this past holiday season. The holiday spirit was very present at Mayfair. Many clubs and organizations got into the holiday spirit and were very generous with their time and money. Adopt-a-family, which is when a club “adopts” a family in the Lakewood community, sometimes even families in our own school, and try to make their Christmas the best Christmas possible was a popular choice among clubs such as LAFF Club and ASB. Some clubs such as CSF and Key Club decided to give new toys to children that were brought in by club members. Leo Club not only donated boxes of food for Thanksgiving and Christmas, but also took a group of children to K-mart and allowed them to buy their own presents. Even the faculty got into the spirit with their giving tree in the front office where faculty members picked an ornament that had a family’s Christmas list on it and tried their best to fulfill it. The entire school as a whole was able to donate food to families through Project Shepherd and we were able to raise 4 truck loads of canned food for families in need. Although our school was very generous during the holiday season, what about the rest of the year? Just because the holiday season began doesn’t mean giving has to start, and just because the holiday season ended doesn’t mean the giving has to stop. All of us here at Mayfair did a great job of really making the holidays special for a lot of people, but we should work harder to keep on giving throughout the year. And you don’t have to be part of a club or organization to give, there are plenty of hospitals, libraries, and other places that would be happy to have you. The best of 2011 90s’ Cartoons vs Today’s Cartoons And the winner By Amandalynn Peralta “Spongebob” from the rest of the cartoons is...? Poll conducted by Leinorina Fonoti Opinion Editor Reporter As we welcome in the new year, we asked a few people on campus to reflect on the what they consider to be the best of 2011. Best Movie “The best movie for me in 2011 was “The Help,” a movie I just recently watched.” -Amoreyna Papelera Sophomore Best Book “I would choose, “The Help,” as the best book for 2011.” -Mrs.Gomez History Teacher Best Song “‘Motto,’ by Drake” -Ernest Bagner Freshman Best Craziest Moment at School “Senior Seminar would have to be the craziest moment of 2011, everyone who was there knows it was a crazy moment.” -Laurel Afemata Senior Best Artist “The best new artist to me was Big Sean, his song “Dance” is a big hit and everyone knows it and dances to it.” -Anne Pale Senior Best TV Show “Some may not know what this show is, but I chose “Boardwalk Empire” as the best TV show.” -Mrs. Aragon Earth Science Teacher Best Video Game “‘Assassins Creed Brotherhood,’ it’s very interesting and is mostly about war.” -Chelsea Robertson Senior You look outside a window on a sunny afternoon. The year is 1999. A time when amazing music like Sugar Ray and Blink 182 could be heard virtually anywhere. A time when kids actually went outside to play. And a time filled with awesome cartoons. What would you have been watching on that day in 1999? It doesn’t matter if you had cable or not, because I know that whatever you were watching was actually worth watching. Every weekday on cable, there is something called ‘90s Are All That on TeenNick. After 9:00 p.m., Nick plays all the old cartoons that anyone who grew up in the ‘90s knows and loves: “Hey Arnold!,” “Doug,” “Rugrats,” “CatDog,” “Invader Zim,” and a lot more. I miss these old cartoons. They were entertaining and actually funny. Why did none of these old cartoons survive the incoming of the 21st century? One of the only cartoons I can think of that did is “Spongebob.” What separates Katniss Everdeen or Harry Potter? By Melanie Lim Reporter To vanquish a dark lord or to rebel against a capital that forces you to fight for your life? With the new “The Hunger Games” movie coming out on March 23, the books are quickly gaining more and more popularity. Which begs the question “The Hunger Games” or Harry Potter? Harry Potter. One of the most popular book series of our generation, read by many, recently came to an end last summer. People will miss the seven books and eight movies that we grew up with. “I like how at the time of its release, it was a brand new concept for children’s books with the whole wizard world and it was so different from other stories at the time. It also got a lot of kids to start reading,” said junior Amber Cornelious. Harry Potter felt almost real, as if a whole other world was out there and people waited to receive their Hogwarts letter. THE WINDJAMMER STAFF Editor-in-Chief Warren Poirier Co-Editor-in-Chief Shannon Turner News Editor Sarah Carmella Bumacod Opinion Editor Amandalynn Peralta Leisure Editor Diane Choi Sports Editor Jasmine Eileen Gomez Web Editor Breahna Upton from the ‘90s? “The popularity keeps those shows around,” answerd junior Destiny Ziemann. “The bigger the audience the more money they make. Show business is about money, no matter how cool the show is.” ‘90s cartoons were better hands down than most of the cartoons on today. Maybe you have heard of this show on Cartoon Network called “Secret Mountain Fort Awesome.” Do you know what the point of this show is? I don’t even know because after watching something resembling a tennis ball with acne and man hands with girlish fingernails talk for some 30 seconds I turned it off. Don’t think that I am against all cartoons today. I love “Adventure Time” which appears on Cartoon Network and I love “Phineas and Ferb” which appears on Disney Channel. The cartoons that get on my nerves are the ones that make no sense. The ones that have no appeal and aren’t even funny. I know people will agree with me when I say that ‘90s cartoon should be brought back. Copy Editor Itzel Vasquez-Rodriguez Reporters Michelle Cruz Milton Duenas Aaron Eaton Leinorina Fonoti Marysol Gonzalez Monica Haroon Stifon Jones Melanie Lim Guadalupe Santos Yandy Torres Brenda Vidaca Advisor Mrs. Kari McDaniel “I like Harry Potter because you can imagine yourself there,” said senior Sarah Velasco. However, as Harry Potter comes to a close several people are starting to read the soon-to-be movie series, “ The Hunger Games”. “I like how ‘The Hunger Games’ kept me on edge. I couldn’t set the book down once I got reading. I felt like I was absorbed into the story. It was filled with action and romance that kept me on edge,” said junior Adrianna Garcia. Various people like the “The Hunger Games” because it is relatable, very interesting, and has a new story line. The new movie out is predicted to be an exciting and excellent blockbuster. “I’m very excited for the movie and cannot wait! Just seeing the books come to life is amazing and I trust the director and cast in making the movie great for the fans,” said Cornelious. Visit us on the web at: my.hsj.org/ca/lakewood/windjammer e-jammer.tumblr.com twitter.com/windjammer2011 Mayfair High School 6000 N. Woodruff Ave. Lakewood, CA 90713 (562)925-9981 x211 Disclaimer: The views expressed in The Windjammer do not necessarily reflect the views of its staff, advisor, Mayfair’s faculty or the administration. The Windjammer is a student ran newspaper. All stories are student written unless otherwise noted. By Marysol Gonzalez Reporter Since 2011 has ended, we are now waiting for the award season. The two most anticipated award shows, the 54th Annual Grammy Awards and the 84th Annual Academy Awards, are fast approaching. Although nominations for the Academy Awards have not been announced, predictions for both are already being made. For this year’s Best New Artist Grammy award, the most anticipated winner is Nicki Minaj for releasing hit after hit from her album Pink Friday and her numerous collaborations with other artists. Junior Daisy Ulloa said, “I think Nicki Minaj will win this year, I like her music and people always listen to her nowadays.” Another new artist anticipated to win the Grammy for the Best Album is Adele with her album 21. Adele has successfully released singles that have topped the charts and are frequently played on popular radio stations. Junior Alyssa Waters said, “I’m going for Adele, I think her music is moving and I’m pretty sure even people that don’t like her still like her songs and sing along, they’re catchy.” Other anticipated nominees include Jay-Z, Bruno Mars, Lady Gaga, and Katy Perry. This year’s most anticipated Academy Award nominee for Best Actor is Ryan Gosling for his exceptional performance in several movies released this year. Junior Angelica Dominguez said, “I think Ryan Gosling should definitely win because he is good-looking and very talented.” Other predicted Oscar wins are for Michelle Williams for her role as Marilyn Monroe in “My Week with Marilyn” and the psychological thriller “Martha Marcy May Marlene” for Best Picture. The Oscars will be held in January and the Grammys in February. Corrections? If you find a correction in The Windjammer that you feel needs to be addressed, please send the correction to room 211 or email kmcdaniel@ busd.k12.ca.us Do you have an opinion? If you want to express your opinion about an issue, write a “Letter to the editor” and bring it to room 211. All letters must be typed and include a first and last name. No anonymous letters accepted. Distribution: The Windjammer is published 8 times per year on the first Friday of the month. Advertising: For advertising rates please contact Mrs. McDaniel at (562)925-9981 x 211 or kmcdaniel@busd. k12.ca.us Volume 53, Number 4 LEISURE 6000 N. Woodruff Ave. Lakewood, CA 90713 3 PAGE Friday, January 13, 2012 Poll: Would the students go to Where does our dance ticket money go? are hired for the setup of school account’s funds. dances if the dances cost less? By Yandy Torres dances. The venue and whether “The continued support Reporter Monica Haroon/The Windjammer Total of 190 students at Mayfair took the survey which asked if they would go to school dances if the cost was cheaper. 162 answered yes and 28 answered no. The real depression revealed By Breahna Upton Web Editor When you hear the word depression, what do you imagine? A person who never smiles and wears all black? Well, maybe. A person with depression could actually be sitting right next to you, be the most outgoing person in the room, and smiles constantly. We all feel blue once in a while, but a depressed person feels intense internal sadness for a long period of time. It’s a serious medical illness with symptoms including loss of interest in your favorite activities, decreased appetite, and even thoughts of suicide. There are several reasons why teens develop depression. They may feel inadequate over poor grades, social status, abuse, or family issues. Even environmental stress can cause a teen to fall into an abyss of helplessness and sorrow. And according to The National Institute of Mental Health, nearly 18 million Americans are affected by depression. For me, I went several years living with undetected reading problems and Attention Deficit Disorder. I was incessantly chastised for failing grades and inappropriate behavior; and after hearing, “You‘re a failure,” so many times, I started to believe it. As a result from all the negativity that came with my underlying issues, when I was eventually diagnosed with my disabilities, I received an additional diagnosis of depression. I’ve learned to overcome my depression with proper treatment, and if you’re feeling depressed I advise you to avoid “toughing it out” or masking it. Facing depression does not make you “weak.” In fact, learning how to address your setback only empowers you. The worst kind of depression is undiagnosed depression. If you think you may be depressed, contact your doctor immediately. And if you’re contemplating suicide, please call this 24/7, tollfree, confidential National Suicide Prevention hotline: 1-800-273TALK. Remember, you’re not alone and there are better days ahead. There is no doubt that Homecoming, Sadie’s and Prom are all special events. Do students consider the costs involved? How are ticket prices determined? It is common knowledge that after a certain time period, ticket prices go up every week, the most expensive being at the door, but in what ways are our money utilized? According to sdce.edu, the Associated Student Body’s (ASB) purpose is to “promote the interests and welfare of the school, its students and the community.” Mrs. McAndrew, the school activities director, states that the money collected is spent on microphones, custodial and school staffing, hiring of a DJ, portable sound systems, and security for the safety of students. Companies or not the dance takes place at an off-site facility also plays a major role. The total can amount to anywhere between $10,000 to $20,000 to put on a dance. Money generated through students is spent on paper, paints, and decorations needed for assemblies and special events held in the gymnasium. The accounts of both ASB and the Athletics Department are linked together. “Athletics does not receive federal or state funding,” said Mr. Eeles, “it is important to know and altogether avoid confusion.” The sports department runs a Christmas tree sale and a pancake breakfast, traditionally held towards the end of the third or fourth quarter as a means of fundraising money. Snack sales and the purchase of ASB cards also contribute to the How to Defeat Semester Finals Blues Family friendly By Shannon Turner T.V. shows Make sure to check and double Co-Editor in Chief Winter break is over. There is no denying it any longer—finals are approaching and there is no getting rid of them. Have no fear. Whatever you do, don’t convince yourself you don’t need to study for finals, or even worse, that you will do it later. Here are tips for preparing for semester finals the painless way. The memorization test: If you know your final will include memorization, prepare study guides or flash cards that will allow you to easily review the material until you can comfortably get the facts right. The dreaded fill in the blank: Read over all class notes and emphasized sections of your text book. Make note of important dates, people, events, and phrases. Essay questions: Familiarize yourself with all possible content. check for any errors. Math and science tests: Look closely at concepts and be sure to ask for help on anything you don’t understand. Be prepared by keeping track of all formulas, and work slowly enough to avoid any mistakes. Go back and redo the problems if you have time to avoid silly mistakes. Moreover, listen to your teachers. They will most likely tell you what they expect of you, and, believe it or not, the majority of teachers do not design their finals to make you fail; if you need help just ask. Do not pull an all-nighter trying to study, either. Get enough sleep and eat well on test days to help your focus. Period 1, 3 and 5 will test on Tuesday, Jan. 31 and periods 2, 4 and 6 will test on Wednesday, Feb. 1, and don’t forget it’s block schedule. Possibility of life forms on a planet that resemembles earth By Sarah Carmella Bumacod News Editor Now that we are smack in the middle of winter, warm weather seems light years away. And it is. According to washingtonpost.com, on Dec. 5 the National Aeronautics and Space Administration found a new planet, Kepler 22-b, with weather conditions equivalent to an earthly summer’s day. “A newly discovered planet that could support life could mean that we aren’t the only ones in the vast universe,” said sophomore Ron Kem. At 600 light years away, Kepler 22-b is the 30th of probable planets that have the potential to host life; however, unlike the other 29, Kepler 22-b is the most like Earth. Junior Sam Cabusora said, “It’s not that surprising that life can be supported elsewhere. The universe is so big that discovering another planet with the possibility of life was bound to happen.” With a temperature of 72 degrees Fahrenheit, the planet orbits around a sun-like star in the area known as the Goldilocks Zone, alluding to the fact that its weather is neither too hot or too cold. Since it is closer to its sun than we are to ours, 290 days make up its one year as 365 make up ours. The new planet is double the size of ours, a size that may be too large for life to exist. Despite the minor differences, its characteristics are closest to Earth compared to any other new planets found, making it Earth’s “solar twin.” Kepler 22-b is the ideal place during this winter wonderland. With its huge surface, uninhabited land, and perfect weather, it’s a wonder why we aren’t there now. It probably has something to do with the fact that it will take an impossibly fast space shuttle and about 22 million years to get there. Rider: Spirit of Vengeance” (Feb. 17), “The Avengers” (May 4), “The Dark Knight Rises” (July 20), and “Resident Evil: Retribution” (Sept. 14) are set to hit movie theaters this year, according to movieinsider.com. For you scary movie buffs, you can look forward to movies like “Paranormal Activity 4” (October) and “The Woman in Black” (Feb. 3). However, if you’re into family-oriented movies, you can watch the animated “Dr. Suess’ The Lorax” on March 2. Senior Marina Jimenez said, “I want to watch ‘The Lorax’ because Dr. Suess movies are always cute.” Lastly, if you want to watch a good comedy, “Scary Movie 5” (April 20) and “The Five-Year Engagement” (April 27) are sure to be some of this year’s funniest films. So, no matter what you are looking for, there are plenty of good movies to watch this year. Movies hitting the theatres in 2012 By Itzel Vasquez-Rodriguez Copy Editor With a new year comes new music, new books, and perhaps best of all-new movies! Here are some of this year’s movies to watch: According to deadline.com, the most anticipated movie for 2012 is -drum roll please- “The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey.” It is based on the prequel to the famous Lord of the Rings series and will be released next December. Another film that hits theaters this year is “Men in Black III,” starring Will Smith and Tommy Lee Jones. This dynamic duo takes part in the third and possibly last installment of the Men in Black series, which arrives in theaters May 25. Other big movies to see include: “The Hunger Games” (March 23), “21 Jump Street” (March 16), and “Mirror Mirror” (March 16), starring Julia Roberts. If you like good action movies, this is your year. Films like “Ghost from students purchasing ASB cards not only benefits the students [directly], such as a free admission to a football game or a discounted ticket price, but it is also a major support to the promotion of the campus’s energetic culture,” said Vice Principal Mr. Eels. “Also, we want to generate funds for an electronic marquee,” said Mr. Eeles. The lack of attendance contributes to the decision to not host a Winter Formal this year said Mr. Eeles. He explained that interest among the general population was high last school year, but instead a loss of money resulted and ASB had to eat the cost. If estimations predict a reasonable number of students will show up, the probability of holding a school dance is high. By Stifon Jones Reporter Spend some nice quality time with your family and catch a good show that you will all enjoy. 2011 had many hit family TV shows such as family comedy, “The Middle,” on ABC, the singing competition, “The X-Factor,” on Fox, the game show, “Minute to Win It,” on NBC, and CBS’s reality television show, “Undercover Boss.” ABC’s hit comedy, “The Middle,” follows the life of two working-class parents raising their three children in Orson, Indiana. Mike, husband and father of the Heck family; Frances Heck, wife and mother; Axl, the son and eldest child; Sue, the middle child and only daughter; and Brick, the youngest child in the family are featured. “The Middle” has received many positive reviews from critics. Robert Bianco of USA Today said, “This series seems to more assuredly offer a first-class version of what so many viewers say they want: a humorous, heartfelt, realistic look at middleclass, middle-America family. “The Middle” is shown on ABC channel 7 Wednesdays at 8 p.m. Another popular family television reality series, “Undercover Boss,” features a senior executive of a company working undercover in their own firm and inspect how the company actually works and figure out how it can be improved, also rewarding their hard working staff in the process. “Undercover Boss” is on CBS channel 2 at 8 p.m. and has been picked up for a third season and will be premiering winter 2012. The popular game show “Minute to win it” is a game show hosted by Guy Fieri that features contestants that compete in 60 second tasks in hopes of winning a $1 million cash prize. The series has currently not been renewed for another season. 4 PAGE Volume 53 Number 4 SPORTS 6000 N. Woodruff Ave. Lakewood, CA 90713 Friday, January 13, 2012 Winter Sports Athletic Spotlights Girls Soccer: Boys Basketball: Wrestling: Girls Basketball: Boys Soccer: Senior Tara McNaught discovered soccer at the age of 5 when her parents signed her up. Now, it’s her third year on the varsity team, playing forward and wearing jersey number 7. McNaught keeps a 3.9 GPA and has been part of several sports teams throughout high school. Freshman year she ran JV track, sophomore year she started JV softball and during junior year she was bumped up to varsity softball. Outside of school she participates in the ‘Great Strides Cystic Fibrosis’ walk every year to raise money for the disease, a disease she has. “A champion is someone who does not settle for that days practice, that days competition or that days performance. They’re always striving to be better. They don’t live in the past,” is the motto McNaught lives by. McNaught would like to shout-out to her, “My mom and dad who support me in everything I do and Coach Sal Marroquin who has helped me progress in my sport. Senior Myles Smith is number 25 and point guard for his fourth year on the varsity basketball team. His father introduced him to the sport and he has been playing travel ball since he was 8 years old. “Myles is one of the most selfless and hardworking guys on the team this year.” said head coach Davis. “One of my greatest influences are my family because they support me and also Vince Carter because he is a beast,” Smith continuted “My favorite memory in basketball would have to be during our trip to San Diego, after winning a game we would go back to the hotel room and just chill,” Smith is currently unsure of what college he will be attending in the fall of 2012 but is certain that he will continue to play basketball. “I want to give a shout-out to my mom, dad, brothers, San Pedro, Marcus, Taylor, Jarrod, Jordan, Mike and lil Mike,” said Smith. Simon Pugne is a senior who has been on the varsity wrestling team for 2 years now. So far this season, Pugne has a record of 7-4 while competing in the 220 lb. weight class. “My greatest influences are my friends and family because thats who I try to win for. I feel doing things only for yourself is meaningless so I use them for my inspiration to win,” said Pugne. Pugne also participated in football his freshman, sophomore and junior year. As well as varsity track for shot put and discuss, recieving 2nd in league his first year competing. Prior to high school sports, Pugne did tae kwon do for 8 years. His favorite memory in wrestling is getting his first pin. “[I want to give a shout-out to] my friends Karlin Canady, Destin Bingham, Jonathan Caal, my other good friends and my girlfriend Jackie Cossio,” said Pugne. Senior Imani Joseph averages double-doubles, including points and rebounds as well as getting her share of blocks, steals and assists. Joseph is a four year varsity player, she is a forward and this year is wearing lucky number 5. “Basketball is one of those sports I did when I was little and I liked it so much that I continued to play it throughout my life,” said Joseph when asked how she was introduced to the sport. Joseph was voted “Most Athletic” by the senior class. Along with basketball she participates in track, this season will be her third year on varsity. Her main events are: high jump which she has a PR of 5’4 and long jump which she has a PR of 16’ 6’’. “My greatest influences are, my mom who really pushes me to do well, my family who supports me and my close friends who are there for me,” said Joseph. Joseph hopes to attend Cal State Long Beach in the fall and will continue to play basketball in college. Senior David Grkinich has been on the varsity soccer team for 3 years but has been playing since he was 5. Every great player has people to influence them, his greatest influences are Carlos Puyol and Nemanja Vidic who both play his position as defender. “They don’t get the fame like goal scorers, but they get the job done,” Grkinich said. He was first introduced to soccer when his parents forced him to play at a young age. But other than soccer, he also played as kicker for the varsity football team his senior year. Holding an honorable GPA of 4.14, and having taken a total of two AP classes; Grkinich is also V.P of the Italian club and treasurer of the French club. Grkinich will be attending Cal State Fullerton in the fall and hopes to continue playing soccer. “[I would like to send a shoutout to] Erica Acosta for always being there for me. Also, to the boys varsity team for putting in so much work,” said Grkinich. By Aaron Eaton Reporter schools in our division which will be better competition for us,” junior Mark Peterson said. “Last season didn’t end like we wanted it to and it has made us come closer this year to work harder. In practice we expect perfection. Perfection is the only way to achieve greatness,” senior, Marcus Harden said. According to Coach Davis, much of the same success as last season can be expected this season. “I think last season was a fluke, and this year we will prove that true,” said junior Brian Wright. The team’s top players are: Dion Wright, Brian Wright, and Myles Smith. New players to the team include: Will English, Kendall Smith, Michael Nwabazor, Kalin Peters, Gio Penate, and Caleb Vanderbaan. Before they started they were ranked #20 by ESPN. “This year I think we’re more determined to win CIF due to the fact we lost last year and we’re more focused,” said senior, Myles Smith. The teams’ top competitors Tara McNaught Upcoming Games Boys Varsity Basketball 1/13 playing Bellflower @ Away 6:30 p.m 1/25 playing Norwalk @ Away 6:30 p.m 1/30 playing La Mirada @ Home 6:30 p.m Varsity Wrestling 1/24 against Norwalk @ Home 6:30 p.m Girls Varsity Basketball 1/13 playing Bellflower @ Away 5:00 p.m 1/25 playing Norwalk @ Away 5:00 p.m 1/30 playing La Mirada @ Home 5:00 p.m Boys Varsity Soccer 1/13 playing Bellflower @ Home 3:00 p.m 1/20 playing Artesia @ Home 3:00 p.m 1/25 playing Norwalk @ Home 3:00 p.m 1/27 playing Glenn @ Home 3:00 p.m Girls Varsity Soccer 1/30 playing La Mirada @ Home 3:00 p.m Myles Smith Simon Pugne Imani Joseph David Grkinich Boys basketball off to a strong start Varsity Boys basketball had a good season last year, and they have been working hard for this upcoming season. There are high hopes to get back to the CIF finals this year. “Last season we made it to the finals because we were hungry for it, and this season we’ve been going through rough times but we’re still looking to make it to championship because we have the same mentality as last season. For this season we have better are Bellflower and La Mirada. “We ask that everyone comes out and support us this year. The support we received last year made a huge difference and created a fun atmosphere for everyone,” Coach Davis said. JV Boys basketball will be trying to win the league again, this season. The top returning players are: Billy Thomas, who is an MVP of JV last year, Josh Anderson, and Melvin Jackson. “I expect a team that will play hard and play together,” said Coach Davis. Boys wrestling taking down the competition By Lupe Santos Reporter Wrestling is in a recovering period this season, rebuilding and strengthening the team is of top priority. Coach Pendleton says that the team as a whole is a more experienced one than last year. Even though they don’t have any seniors that have wrestled for four years, the team is more experienced because it does have third-year varsity juniors including: Michael Craig with a 12-4 record, Ricky Cerda with a 15-3 record, and Micah Ebanculla with a 8-4 record. “Ricky Cerda is leading the team in wins and pins,” said Coach Pendleton, “Chris Bartholomew, Micah Ebanculla, Destin Bingham, Chris Kodesh, and Simon Pugne are our other outstanding wrestlers.” Some of the more experienced wrestlers could become league champions this year, and have a chance to place in CIF. When asked about his hopes for the season, Junior Michael Craig said, “I expect to get at least third in league. I believe the team is strong this year, we have a good line-up. I want to get first place though.” Coach Pendleton said that they do have a shot to win the league championship if they continue to improve. As for the competition, Coach Pendleton says: “Norwalk, Glenn, and La Mirada will be our toughest competition.” On Jan. 10 the boys took on John Glenn in their first league meet. Varsity won 41-30 and JV won 63-9. Cerda, Craig and Bingham all pinned their opponents this meet. Top JV members include Jesse Gutierrez with a 8-1 record. George Kallas with a 4-1 record, Andrew Abellanosa with a 6-2 record. Come out and support boys wrestling this season.
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