highlights
Jan. 20, 2016 2017 Volume 90, Issue Seven Beverly Hills High School Beverly Hills, California beverlyhighlights.com
New superintendent brings experience to district Jamie Kim news writer Starting Jan. 30, new superintendent Dr. Michael Bregy will take hold of the steering wheel of the district. Upon his arrival from Hyland Park, Illinois, Bregy will find himself in the midst of many challenges that the district is currently facing, but he believes that his extensive experience in school district leadership will allow him to demonstrate his talents in times of crisis. Bregy’s interest in education solidified when he was only in the fourth grade. After teaching elementary, middle and high school students, he became a high school principal at Jacobs High School in Algonquin, Illinois, for six years. “As early as I can remember, I have enjoyed the school environment as I was involved in clubs, activities and athletics,” Bregy said. Bregy also holds seven years of experience as a superintendent in two districts: the Community Union School District 300, comprised of 27 schools and 21,000 students, and the North Shore School District 112, comprised of 12 schools and 4,400 students. “My last school district is located in the beautiful North Shore area outside of Chicago which has so many similarities to Bev-
ON THE WEB “The Servant of Two Masters” primed to bring improv and hilarity to theatre Max Yera co-editor-in-chief
Turf deterioration concerns athletic community Natasha Dardashti multimedia editor
Sam Bernstein staff writer
Boys basketball crushes Hawthorne in first league game Isaiah Freedman staff writer
These stories and more at: beverlyhighlights.com
Career Timeline Jul. 1996- June 2000 Math Teacher, Coppell, TX
Jul. 2000- June 2001 Asst. Principal/Math Teacher, Rockford, IL
Jul. 2001- June 2004 Asst. Principal, Jacobs High School
Jul. 2004- June 2010 Principal, Jacobs High School
Jul. 2010- June 2011 Associate Superintendent, Community Unit School District 300
Jul. 2011- Jan 2017 Superintendent, Community Unit School District 300
Jan. 2017- present Superintendent, Beverly Hills Unified School District Dr. Michael Bregy will become superintendent Jan. 30. Photo courtesy: MICHAEL BREGY erly Hills. This school district is one of the highest performing school districts in Illinois,” Bregy said. However, with some family already living in the Los Angeles area, Bregy decided to make the move to the city. So, he began looking for jobs in the area. “I have been actively, but very selectively, looking for a superintendent position in California during the last two years, but I am not a person who ‘settles’ for anything personally or profes-
info from drmichaelbregy.weebly.com
sionally. I wasn’t looking for simply ‘any job’ in California. I have been interested in BHUSD for a very long time and was incredibly excited to learn I was offered a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to interview for this position,” Bregy said. “I am very far away from retirement so I was looking for a school district who wants to keep a superintendent for the long-term and willing to invest in a leader who has the passion and commitment to call BHUSD ‘home.’”
Indeed, Bregy is now calling Beverly Hills his home, fully immersing himself in his work and the community. “I have moved into Beverly Hills because I believe the superintendent of a school district should live and work in the community in which they are leading. A superintendent is never off the clock, so I hope these conversations occur at various places in the community,” Bregy said. Bregy also expressed his understanding of the current challeng-
es the district is facing. “I am aware of significant financial challenges in our future revenue projections for the school district. One of my main goals will be working with the Board of Education and leadership teams to create a plan aligning the revenues with the expenditures in order to sustain a financially healthy organization,” he said. “No doubt, there will be difficult and emotional decisions to be made in the near future.” However, his initial goal is to get to know the community in order to go forward. “My first goal is to begin ‘listen and learn’ opportunities so that I can meet as many students, staff and community members as possible. It is critical that I take time to hear your voice to learn about your stories, successes, challenges and the expectations you have of me as your new superintendent,” Bregy said. This goal ties in with some of current Superintendent Steve Kessler and Bregy’s shared concerns of Bregy’s entry into the small Beverly Hills community. “Getting to know the community and the district is a lot. The community itself is a lot. I kind of just stepped in, but [Bregy’s] going to have to get to know the community to go forward,” Kessler said. [Continued on page 2: Bregy]
Community concerned over Hawthorne Jamie Kim news editor The possibility of Hawthorne Elementary and Middle School, the oldest and smallest school in the district, closing was brought up at the most recent board meeting on Jan. 10. However, the board currently has no plans to actually close the school. Parents, students and teachers expressed a shared opposition to this idea. However, the board has maintained that this is only a possible idea that the board explored due to having to make a $5 million budget cut. “It was pure fact finding to inform our decision making process,” board member Noah Margo said. As Chief Administrative Officer La Tanya Kirk-Carter explained, maintaining four K-8 schools,
INSIDE
instead of one designated middle school, costs an estimated additional $4 to 6 million. Among the four K-8 schools in the district, Hawthorne, due to construction plans, seems like the best choice if the board decides to close one school. “This one board member said we have to consider every option. For example, it might be a good option for us to close one of the elementary schools. I think he said something like the only school that hasn’t been upgraded, in terms of rebuilding, was Hawthorne,” board president Mel Spitz said. Former student board member, Hawthorne alumnus ‘12 and Beverly grad ‘16 Shawn Ahdout, who penned a letter to the board addressing this issue, believes that the board must find alternative
options to making budget cuts. “Honestly the odds of [Hawthorne closing] actually happening are astronomically low, and I don’t think there’s any cause for concern,” Adhout said. “But, the board does have a serious budget issue that it has to address and the current model of our school district, four K-8s plus a high school, is hard to sustain... The board has to find a way to manage the finances and fix our budget issue.” While the closure of Hawthorne remains inconclusive, members of the community have expressed concerns about one of the K-8 schools shutting down. “I’m quite saddened because it is a great school. Now [my sister] might be separated from her friends, her teachers and from a great school,” Hawthorne alum-
SPOTLIGHT NEWS
nus and junior Dan Kamen said. However, Spitz reassured that Hawthorne will not be closed. “The board had never, ever discussed [closing Hawthorne] as an option before that; [a board member] just brought it up. It got printed in the Courier, and the rest is history, and I can understand it. All the parents, a bunch of graduates and kids that are attending and so forth were really up in arms about it. They don’t want their school closed. I can understand that, so they came to the board to express themselves,” Spitz said. “The board member who had brought it up in the first place explained there is no plan to close Hawthorne--just brought it up as a talking point. Hawthorne is not going to be closed.”
SPORTS
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The Social Media Generation
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What’s inside your teacher’s contract
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Girls varsity soccer falls to rival SAMO
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2 news Bregy Nevertheless, Kessler believes that Bregy will be able to acclimate well. “I’m exceedingly confident that this is a seven-year veteran. He comes from a very wealthy community in Illinois so it seems like this is a really good fit for him,” Kessler said. “In my two conversations with him, [I know] he gets it. We were like brothers talking; we understood each other really well.” Student board member Sam
January 20, 2017
Highlights Schwartz also expressed hopes for Bregy’s ability to lead the district. “With the construction that is currently in progress, and the economic issues facing the district, Dr. Bregy has a large, and quite possibly very difficult task ahead of him. I wish him the best--his success is our success as well,” Schwartz said. BHEA president Telly Tse also showed hopes for future collaboration between Bregy and the union. “I look forward to working with Dr. Bregy and I am hopeful that we will have open and regular conversations. In my experience,
the most successful administrators in BHUSD are those who work closely with BHEA in the decisionmaking process,” Tse said. Even though he’s entering an important position in the middle of the school year in a new city, Bregy says he is ready for the challenge. “Each school year is like a new chapter of a good book and I know that I am jumping directly into the middle of the story. I am hoping that students, staff and community members will feel comfortable enough introducing themselves to me, sharing information and sto-
ries about what matters most to them and how I can be the most successful here in BHUSD,” Bregy said. Bregy believes that with time, he will be able to prove his potential as our new superintendent. “Give me six months and people will see that I am a superintendent who is supportive, nurturing and progressive,” Bregy said. “I am a strong advocate for students and staff who work tirelessly to get and give personal academic success in a highly competitive environment.”
Understanding the teacher contract Ben Dahan news editor Every student has teachers, and every teacher has a contract. Understanding at least the fundamental contractual obligations between a teacher and his or her district are instrumental in understanding the upcoming conversations about the budget. Salaries Teachers are fundamentally paid based on two things: how long they have been teaching and how many educational units above a bachelor’s degree they have. Using these two metrics, they ascend the salary schedule. “Basically, any teacher who has the same amount of years in service and the same amount of units gets that same payment,” high school coordinator for Beverly Hills Education Association (BHEA) Lisa Dickens said. According to a voluntary study conducted by the California De-
partment of Education in the 2015-16 year, the average paid salary of BHUSD teachers was $72,423, whereas that of LA County was $77,456. In 2013 a formula was passed by the Board of Education and BHEA to close the gap. “I created the formula in 2011 in order to invest in the best education and attract and retain the top teachers to our district, and promised to continue to give raises annually until our teachers are the highest paid in LA County. It took me until 2013 to get a passing vote where the Board unanimously 5-0 voted for the formula,” former school board member Dr. Brian Goldberg said. A certain percent, this year 55 percent, of increased revenue from property taxes from the previous year went to increase salaries district wide. The formula gave teachers a raise of over four percent of their salary in 2016-17.
However, it is maintained that the BHUSD salary schedule is already quite competitive. Teachers can carry over four years, or sometimes more, of experience from another district. In the 2015-16 year, 154 out of 320 teachers had at least 84 units above a bachelor’s degree. New Teachers “When you’re a brand new teacher, you basically get this brand new contract. You’re a temporary employee which means you have to prove yourself,” Superintendent Steve Kessler said. New teachers have two probationary years in which four evaluations are to be conducted. If the district decides to keep them permanently, the teacher gets tenure their third year, and becomes much more difficult to fire for nonfiscal reduction reasons. “We look for how engaged they are with the students, which is number one. We look for class-
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room management. How they are developing with the students? How they are interacting with their parents and how they interact with administrators,” Chief Human Resources Officer Yolanda Mendoza said. All teachers must be informed whether they are working the next school year by March 15. Collective Bargaining Employees of the district also get the option of collective bargaining, where the employees band together in their union(BHEA) and negotiate with the district. There are 10 negotiations directed by the board per year between the district and each union, when union representatives and district negotiators, including Mendoza, meet to manage their agreement. Other entitlements include a limit of 145 student per high school teacher, 10 days of paid sick leave per year and a retirement plan.
Highlights Keith Stone, Ben Shofet, Max Yera, Veronica Pahamova editors-in-chief
Priscilla Hopper, AJ Wolken, Evan Minniti, Isaiah Freedman, Sam Bernstein, Lauren Hannani, Rinesa Kabashi staff writers
Ben Dahan, Jamie Kim news editors
Vivian Geilim opinion editor
Eleanor Bogart-Stuart culture editor
Sophia Goldberg sports editor
Jason Harward design editor
Natasha Dardashti multimedia editor
Gaby Herbst adviser —
Our goal as a student-run publication is to provide reliable, accurate and fair content that informs and intrigues the Beverly Hills community by following the principles of ethical journalism and represents the student body. We will deliver a broad spectrum of coverage through a variety of mediums, including online and print. Highlights is a forum for public expression that is produced by the Advanced Journalism class of Beverly Hills High School, 241 Moreno Drive, Beverly Hills, CA 90212. Letters to the editor may be sent to beverlyhighlights@gmail.com.
January 20, 2017 Highlights
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January 20, 2017 Highlights
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THE SOCIAL MEDIA
“
I am on social media almost every day. It has helped me keep in touch with friends from cheer camp.” -Claire Cho, 9
Ben Dahan news editor Evan Minniti staff writer Whether it’s the double-tap red heart on Instagram or the dog filter on Snapchat, there is no doubt that social media has become ever prevalent in teenagers’ lives. However, these social media apps are creating a deeper effect than just their surface entertainment purpose. It profoundly affects the political and social opinions of teens. In today’s ever-increasingly digitally-connected age, many teenagers are looking more to their phones and social media platforms to interact with one another. Online, adolescents not only change how they connect with the world, but also how they view it. According to a Pew Research Center survey conducted in 2015, nearly a quarter of teens are “constantly online.” This can reach addiction level. “We have been working with some students where it has become an addiction, where they’ve been spending so much time on gaming or social media that it impacts their day to day life [and] the time they spend on school work or interact with their family,” intervention counselor Ali NormanFranks from the Norman Aid center said. “It does impact them like any other addiction would.” Though the time online can lead to a reduction of in-person interactions, teens can stay social on social media. They can connect with their friends, see what each other are up to, share memories, organize events and even collaborate on school projects. “I think it also allows students to make arrangements to communicate about class events, or projects, or different events, to be able to advertise for programs. I think there are a lot of positive ways students can use social media,” Norman-Franks said. Despite the good social environments social media can provide, it can also prove to be a stomping ground for bullying. “The negatives that I see here in the
spotlight 5
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Social media has changed how I see certain situations, but in a good way.”
-Gabriella Hassid, 10
Norman Aid is the bullying. I think there are a lot more opportunities to bully, to be bullied,” Norman-Franks said. “I think a bully can target a person and they don’t necessarily see the consequences of what they are saying. They don’t see the emotions behind it, whether the person is sad or upset. So, it can be easier for them to continue doing it.” Teens have recently used social media to interact more with political and social issues. The organizers of the anti-Trump protest and the subsequent pro-Trump response that occurred on the secondfloor patio in November were inspired by what they had seen on social media. “I was influenced by the others protesting on the streets and took part in it. I watched the live videos on Facebook and was very moved by it all,” junior Christine Kim, one of the event’s organizers, said. Kim and her fellow organizers utilized social media to help in the organization and execution of the protest. Aside from being used for teens to collaborate with their peers, social media has also become a source of news and a doorway to new perspectives for many. “My political views have changed because of what people share on social media. Seeing the other point of view has allowed me to ask myself deeper questions and have a new understanding of certain issues,” junior Mateo De Camargo-Hanley said. However, some do not take the news on social media as a legitimate source. “I don’t really believe most of what social media articles say because they’re usually biased and not true,” senior Yujin Kim said. Nevertheless, social media has proven to be an instrumental part to social change. “I must say with social media, a lot of movements and events were created and I hope that promoted a lot of change and views within people,” Christine Kim said.
GENERATION
January 20, 2017
6 opinion
Highlights
TV show oversaturation becomes a problem
Isaiah Freedman staff writer The number of scripted television shows has skyrocketed in recent years and the result has been an overwhelmed audience unsure of which show to give a shot. There are now so many TV shows that each one cannot possibly receive the attention it deserves. The overabundance of watchable product has caused a select few shows to receive all the acclaim while a sea of less recognized shows have toiled in anonymity. I want to be careful avoiding the word “problem” when assessing the changing and rapidly expanding TV landscape. More shows means more jobs for actors, crews, network employees and critics covering those shows. It means a wider variety of content for consumers to choose from. Those are not negative developments. However, that doesn’t mean the
Editorial As we mutter “good riddance” to 2016, we ask for plaguing issues, such as the necessity for budget cuts and the ongoing feud with Metro, to leave alongside the closing year--but as we, the District and the newly appointed superintendent Dr. Michael Bregy know, that simply cannot be the case. All in all, we as students have quite a fair amount riding on the stewardship and success of the superintendent, and therefore have several requests for and expectations of newcomer Bregy. Bregy is bound to face many challenges as the administrative head of nearly 4,000 students, such as a proposed $5 million in budget cuts, modernization and the decommissioning of the Venoco oil well--just to name a few. And though he is an experienced administrator and superintendent, his new assignment carries a steep learning curve. Bregy’s old home, Hyland Park, Illinois, is also an affluent community of similar size, but as outgoing Superintendent Steve Kessler said, “There is only one Beverly Hills.” While Kessler was born and bred in Beverly Hills, spent around 40 years teaching our students, dealing with parents, working with staff and rising through the ranks, Bregy is met with the obstacle of learning the tools of the trade specific to Beverly Hills residents, such as how to manage our city’s economic interests as well as our school priorities. With this apparent fact, we as students and civilians of the city ask Bregy to welcome
situation is all sunshine and roses. There are some prickly thorns hiding in the narrative. According to the research firm MoffettNathanson, 419 original series (not counting reality or talk shows) aired last year on broadcast, cable and streaming platforms, compared to a much smaller 210 back in 2009. That was just eight years ago. What will happen in another eight? The full effect of this has yet to be felt, since the number of shows per year is still increasing rapidly. Heavy competition among cable networks and streaming services willing to throw money at many projects have fueled this everspreading fire of content. The situation is not only a matter of quantity overcoming quality, but how there are many more awful shows than ever before. While squabbling networks are part of the problem, a stream of the best screenwriters and actors from movies have flocked to the
us with as opened arms as ours are to him, and to pay attention to the voices that are asking to be heard-whether or not they are above the legal age. We as educated individuals and representatives of the BHUSD student body ask to be acknowledged for our opinions since our total population encompasses the plurality of those who are affected by the plans created by the superintendent. Consequently, in his new position, Bregy will be making a lot of tough yet necessary decisions that will immediately affect long-time students and teachers of the district. Though a firm hand is highly respected and even requested for these serious matters, the editorial board asks for an eye to still be kept on the best interests of the community and the students Bregy is serving. We ask for decisions to be made not only on the basis of duration and ease, but also with an acknowledgment of the culture of the community they will be affecting. Bregy has stepped onto our turf, and we now request that our voices and needs be respected yet again. As a board, we realize that Bregy’s influence stretches further than the Norman halls, but also to the rooms of the Eagles, Bulldogs, Vikings, Huskies and even the citizens of the community--and we ask for Bregy to be mindful of this. With warm embrace, we welcome the new superintendent into his well-earned position, and are looking forward to his attempts to make this transition as seamless as possible for all affiliated parties. With the arrival of 2017, we hope the city’s academic community can raise a glass in a toast to the districtwide success that lies ahead.
small screen. That means those highprofile writers and actors need their own shows, shoveling even more coal into the metaphorical television furnace. In a recent profile in WGA magazine, wonderful screenwriter Richard Price (“The Wire” and “The Night Of”) admitted that television is now the preferred route for him since it allows more time for character development, while movies only have a couple of hours to tell a complete story. “Everything [in the movie industry] is done in two hours. Television is as close as I can get to writing a novel. You cannot develop a character in two hours. Everything, everybody has to be oversimplified. It’s like speed chess,” Price said. As more stars flow into the TV industry, veteran executive producer Danielle Claman Gelber (“Weeds” and “Chicago’s ‘Fire’, ‘PD’ and ‘Med’”) believes streaming has changed viewership for the worse.
“It has taken the sociability out of viewing... It has become an individual product thanks to the ability to watch 10 episodes in a row on Netflix. The collective experience of watching TV with a group of friends has gone by the wayside,” Gelber said. Quality control has deteriorated. In Netflix’s case, “Narcos”, “House of Cards” and “Stranger Things”, among others, have been so successful that it seems like Netflix does not mind how many other awful shows are produced under its watch as long as there are some smash successes cushioned in the lineup. For Netflix executives, the logic behind backing an inordinate number of shows is that for every bust, there could be a “Narcos” lurking out there somewhere. As with anything in life, the executives calling the shots on which shows get produced must ask themselves this question regarding the television landscape: How much is too much?
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culture 7
January 20, 2017 Highlights
‘The Crown’
reigns over other television shows Evan Minniti staff writer
It is 1947 Britain. A dying man is wheezing furiously, collapsing to cough into a toilet. King George VI (Jared Harris), rises to his feet and, in terror, realizes that his phlegm is full of blood. He composes himself and flushes the remains down the pipes. This is the brilliant opening scene of “The Crown” and it perfectly sums up the main idea of the show: behind all the finery of the British Monarchy lies something rotten. “The Crown” finds a young Elizabeth II (Claire Foy) as its protagonist. She has just married Prince Philip of Greece and Denmark (Matt Smith), a dashing gentleman, who is both charming and self-centered. Together they must face the challenges of being the public faces of an antiquated institution in an increasingly modern world. Prime Minister Winston Churchill (John Lithgow) is ar-
Photo courtesy of: BIBLIOARCHIVES FLICKR
guably the second protagonist. Churchill is plagued by both political and physical woes. Churchill’s Conservative Party had just won a tight victory against Labour in which the Conservatives failed to win the popular vote. He shares Philip’s fears of Labour’s socialist republican roots. At the same time his cabinet is maneuvering to replace him with the younger, more liberal Anthony Eden (Jeremy Northam). Foy expertly portrays an Elizabeth who wants to be a loving wife, mother and sister, but whose duties as Queen are transforming her into an increasingly cold and miserable person. Smith brings a surprising level of malevolence to the elegance of Prince Philip. But Lithgow towers above the rest. His Churchill is a terrifically furious old man who doesn’t trust the modern world. He is certain that he can “teach” Elizabeth to
restore the fading British Empire and its conservative values. The tragedy of his character, however, is just how incorrect he is. The cinematography of “The Crown” is fantastic. The majority of the series takes place in post-war Britain, with the main characters struggling to accept that Britain is no longer a major superpower. To convey this, Buckingham Palace and the other royal residences, which should feel elegant and grand, are depicted as dark, cold and decaying. It is a winning combination of expert performances and Peter Morgan’s smart script. Morgan does not present us with either a republican appeal against the Monarchy, nor a Churchill-like reactionary defense of them. He strips away all the magic of them to present them for what they are: human beings in very extraordinary circumstances.
Photo courtesy of: BARNEY MOSS
Trends to ditch and keep from ‘16 DITCH Off-the-shoulder shirts: These revealing, overworn shirts blur the line between sexy and casual. They’re against the dress code anyway, so let’s be civil, people.
KEEP Fade haircuts: We all know the jokes, but at the end of the day, there are many guys who rock this haircut no matter the connotation. Please keep these hairdos, and drop the stigma. Photo courtesy of: LAMEATO FELIZ
Photo courtesy of: GARY SINGH
Tattoo chokers: That rubber, overpriced accessory that you mistakenly think “matches with everything” must go. Some things were left in the 90s for a reason, and this is a perfect example.
Shadowhil merchandise: What once started as a harmless trend blossomed into an overrated sea of mass produced and unoriginal sweatshirts. They are poorly printed and, honestly, not even flattering.
Highlighter: This new makeup movement has became the vogue of all facial couture. Not only does it brighten the souls and cheekbones of all guys and gals, but it also seems to leave people migrating to all things shiny.
Bomber Jackets: These versatile jackets are airy and flowy, yet stil warm and cozy. With so many different styles, colors and patterns, this article of clothing is the perfect match for any outfit and is a definite must stay. Infographic by: PRISCILLA HOPPER, VERONICA PAHOMOVA
January 20, 2017
8 sports
Highlights
Junior varsity captain raises spirits Veronica Pahomova co-editor-in-chief From the outside, the mass huddle of jumbled teenage girls may seem peculiar, and the shoeon-polished-wood squeaks mask the sounds coming from within the exclusive hodge podge -- but that’s where Megan Saghian’s most prominent case of verbal victory awaken. Within the pregame huddle, Saghian assumes the role of team captain and shouts positive remarks into the group of cheering girls, strengthening each member’s energy with every encouraging syllable. “I’m a great motivator on the court and off the court,” Saghian said with a giggle of a humble brag. “I have to make sure that everyone is getting along well, and I have to make sure that we have good teamwork--it’s chemistry! The key is chemistry!” And chemistry it is. From invigorating huddles, to preppy pregame upliftments, all the way to emotionally riveting post-game speeches, it can be a hard task to find Saghian alone. If she’s not establishing a group bonding session, then she’s convening a one-on-one check in. And if she’s
not doing that, she’s arranging a schedule with girls varsity basketball coach John Braddell. Through her seemingly instinctive leadership capabilities and her zest for success, Saghian has been regard-
John Braddell said. As power forward Amanda Lee states, Saghian’s seemingly selfless persona has lead to a widespread remark of her charismatic value. Her merit to the team, however,
Saghian gives her team a pep talk before their39-38 win over El Segundo on Friday, Jan. 13. Photo by: SOPHIA GOLDBERG ed as one of the most vital members of the team. “I think Megan had done a good job of working with her teammates to solve team issues. Without good chemistry a team can really suffer,” girls varsity basketball coach
does not simply end with her captain position--she’s also a skilled shooting guard. “Not only is she someone who keeps us [together] as team, but she’s [also] a magnificent player,” Lee said. “She gives up the ball
when she needs to and shoots those three’s when given the opportunity.” Though Braddell commends this year’s team for their sportsmanship, with the help of Saghian’s spirit and leadership, he sees a bright improvement for the team next year. “The team is very young. I believe we will improve throughout the season… Great things are to come,” Braddell said. “This year’s team has good chemistry on the court. I think Megan does a good job of being a bridge between players and keeps lines of communication open.” Overall, according to Braddell, Lee and the general team’s mindset, Saghian has surely left her mark on the team that will be remembered until the last freshman leaves. “Megan is always spiriting during games and practices. Whether someone is having a bad day on the court or not, she’s always happy to encourage them to keep working hard. She gives us our pep talks in huddles and always tells us that our energy is what helps us win games,” Lee explains. “The team would severely suffer without her.”
Girls varsity soccer falls to rival SAMO
QUICK hits
Boys varsity basketball destroyed Hawthorne and El Segundo 72-17 and 61-50, respectively, to clinch a CIF playoff spot.
In a nail biter finish, girls varsity basketball squeezed past El Segundo 39-38 to qualify for the CIF playoffs after not participating last year.
Boys varsity soccer lost to El Segundo 1-3 in their first league match.
After being rained out of their first league game against Hawthorne, girls varsity soccer tied El Segundo 0-0 on Jan. 13.
Girls varsity water polo has yet to win this season after losing their first league game 16-1 to El Segundo.
Starting striker Lauren Aviram watches her team from the sideline as her teammates battle for the ball. The girls varsity soccer team lost to Santa Monica High School 2-1 at home. Photo by: VIVIAN GEILIM AJ Wolken staff writer The girls varsity soccer team lost a heartbreaker to Santa Monica High School 2-1 on Wednesday, Jan. 18. This was Beverly’s first league loss, dropping their overall record to 8-3-4 while bringing Santa Monica’s record to 11-2-4. Despite facing their bitter rival, midfielder Lily Manavi stated that the team wanted to think of the
game as just like any other. “We are a strong team and we could take on any opponent if we set our mind to it. [Our] mindset was to just do what we usually do and play well,” Manavi said. Striker Lauren Aviram thought that Beverly had the greater will to win the close game, and should have capitalized on their final attack of the game, where they narrowly missed two shots on goal.
“I was really desperate for a goal for our team on the final attack because we had scored first and I knew that we wanted it more than they did, so I was trying to give it my all,” Aviram said. As Beverly still remains in the hunt for a playoff berth, Aviram looks to improve on her passing ability create more chances for her teammates and to spread out the ball in the upcoming games.
“In this game I would have collected the ball closer to my feet so that I could have given more opportunities to my other teammates. In the future I’m going to try to take more shots and feed the ball down the sideline to my amazing teammates,” Aviram said. The varsity girls soccer team aims to shake off the loss and earn a victory in today’s matchup at Lawndale.
In their most recent meet, the Juan Enriques Memorial meet on Jan. 6, varsity wrestling placed 21st out of 41 with 62 overall team points.
Check next print cycle, coming out on Feb. 3, to receive more sports updates. To see other sports coverage and sports game recaps on your favorite Norman sports team, check
www.beverlyhighlights.com.